Genesis 16 1-16

Genesis

Chapter 16

1-16

1
1 Abram's wife Sarai had borne him no children. She had, however, an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar.
2
Sarai said to Abram: "The LORD has kept me from bearing children. Have intercourse, then, with my maid; perhaps I shall have sons through her." Abram heeded Sarai's request.
3
Thus, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, his wife Sarai took her maid, Hagar the Egyptian, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his concubine.
4
He had intercourse with her, and she became pregnant. When she became aware of her pregnancy, she looked on her mistress with disdain.
5
So Sarai said to Abram: "You are responsible for this outrage against me. I myself gave my maid to your embrace; but ever since she became aware of her pregnancy, she has been looking on me with disdain. May the LORD decide between you and me!"
6
Abram told Sarai: "Your maid is in your power. Do to her whatever you please." Sarai then abused her so much that Hagar ran away from her.
7
2 The LORD'S messenger found her by a spring in the wilderness, the spring on the road to Shur,
8
and he asked, "Hagar, maid of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?" She answered, "I am running away from my mistress, Sarai."
9
But the LORD'S messenger told her: "Go back to your mistress and submit to her abusive treatment.
10
I will make your descendants so numerous," added the LORD'S messenger, "that they will be too many to count.
11
3 Besides," the LORD'S messenger said to her: "You are now pregnant and shall bear a son; you shall name him Ishmael, For the LORD has heard you, God has answered you.
12
He shall be a wild ass of a man, his hand against everyone, and everyone's hand against him; In opposition to all his kin shall he encamp."
13
4 To the LORD who spoke to her she gave a name, saying, "You are the God of Vision"; she meant, "Have I really seen God and remained alive after my vision?"
14
5 That is why the well is called Beer-lahai-roi. It is between Kadesh and Bered.
15
Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram named the son whom Hagar bore him Ishmael.
16
Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore him Ishmael.

Reflection: We as humans mess up God's plan so often. The man was 86 years old. He figured I will not have a child even though God said we would. My wife is old and there is not hope. When his wife offered an unhappy solution he jumped on it forgetting the power of God. The intention of marriage was never one of using the other for bearing children. This small group of people show why it goes against our human way to force the situation. I do like that God protected Ishmael and loved that child without blame for the behavior of the adults.

Genesis 15: 6-21

Genesis

Chapter 15

6-21

6 1 Abram put his faith in the LORD, who credited it to him as an act of righteousness.


7 He then said to him, "I am the LORD who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land as a possession."


8 "O Lord GOD," he asked, "How am I to know that I shall possess it?"


9 2 He answered him, "Bring me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old she-goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtle-dove, and a young pigeon."


10 He brought him all these, split them in two, and placed each half opposite the other; but the birds he did not cut up.


11 Birds of prey swooped down on the carcasses, but Abram stayed with them.


12 As the sun was about to set, a trance fell upon Abram, and a deep, terrifying darkness enveloped him.


13 Then the LORD said to Abram: "Know for certain that your descendants shall be aliens in a land not their own, where they shall be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years.


14 But I will bring judgment on the nation they must serve, and in the end they will depart with great wealth.


15 You, however, shall join your forefathers in peace; you shall be buried at a contented old age.


16 3 In the fourth time-span the others shall come back here; the wickedness of the Amorites will not have reached its full measure until then."


17 4 When the sun had set and it was dark, there appeared a smoking brazier and a flaming torch, which passed between those pieces.


18 5 It was on that occasion that the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying: "To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadi of Egypt to the Great River (the Euphrates),


19 the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites,


20 the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim,


21 the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites."



Reflection: God went out of his way to explain and prove to Abram what his intentions were. Abram trusted and did each thing he was asked. God gives details that don't make sense to me. The fact that his descendants that he isn't if sure if he will have because he is now an old man and still without a child, but these descendants will be enslaved and without wealth. God is revealing so much to Abram. I wonder why?

Genesis 15: 1-5

Genesis
Chapter 15
1-5

1 Some time after these events, this word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: "Fear not, Abram! I am your shield; I will make your reward very great."

2 But Abram said, "O Lord GOD, what good will your gifts be, if I keep on being childless and have as my heir the steward of my house, Eliezer?"


3 Abram continued, "See, you have given me no offspring, and so one of my servants will be my heir."


4 Then the word of the LORD came to him: "No, that one shall not be your heir; your own issue shall be your heir."


5 He took him outside and said: "Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can. Just so," he added, "shall your descendants be."


Reflection: The pain of not having a child must be so great! I have not ever had that issue and yet I can only imagine that longing for a child must be painful. Abram had to trust God not matter what. How hard that really is! So often I find that same trust hard to accomplish because of the children. I am always amazed though that God can really make anything happen.

Genesis 14: 13-24

Genesis
Chapter 14
13-24

13 4 A fugitive came and brought the news to Abram the Hebrew, who was camping at the terebinth of Mamre the Amorite, a kinsman of Eshcol and Aner; these were in league with Abram.

14 When Abram heard that his nephew had been captured, he mustered three hundred and eighteen of his retainers, born in his house, and went in pursuit as far as Dan.

15 He and his party deployed against them at night, defeated them, and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus.

16 He recovered all the possessions, besides bringing back his kinsman Lot and his possessions, along with the women and the other captives.

17 When Abram returned from his victory over Chedorlaomer and the kings who were allied with him, the king of Sodom went out to greet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley).

18 5 Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine, and being a priest of God Most High, he blessed Abram with these words:

19 6 Blessed be Abram by God Most High, the creator of heaven and earth;

20 7 And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your foes into your hand." Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

21 The king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give me the people; the goods you may keep."

22 8 But Abram replied to the king of Sodom: "I have sworn to the LORD, God Most High, the creator of heaven and earth,

23 that I would not take so much as a thread or a sandal strap from anything that is yours, lest you should say, 'I made Abram rich.'

24 Nothing for me except what my servants have used up and the share that is due to the men who joined me--Aner, Eshcol and Mamre; let them take their share."

Reflection: I wonder if this has to do with that idea that God will love us and come after us no matter what. Just like Abram heard about his family member in trouble God loves us in that way. He will come to our aid. Not for His benefit but for our own. Abram did not take any profit for himself. He was fair and he invited his people to help him. He saw to it that his men were repayed not rewarded. Again the glory is given to God not to man.

Genesis 14: 1-12

Genesis

Chapter 14

1-12

1 1 In the days of. . . , Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim


2 made war on Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar).


3 2 All the latter kings joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea).


4 For twelve years they had been subject to Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.


5 3 In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings allied with him came and defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim,


6 and the Horites in the hill country of Seir, as far as Elparan, close by the wilderness.


7 They then turned back and came to Enmishpat (that is, Kadesh), and they subdued the whole country both of the Amalekites and of the Amorites who dwelt in Hazazon-tamar.


8 Thereupon the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) marched out, and in the Valley of Siddim they went into battle against them:


9 against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar-four kings against five.


10Now the Valley of Siddim was full of bitumen pits; and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, they fell into these, while the rest fled to the mountains.


11 The victors seized all the possessions and food supplies of Sodom and Gomorrah and then went their way,


12 taking with them Abram's nephew Lot, who had been living in Sodom, as well as his possessions.



Reflection: Tough times. It looked at first like Lot had chosen the better path. I wonder why they took Lot? God allows the craziest things to happen. I remember being told that the Bible was full of war. I see now that there is always a conflict going on. We think that times are worse now than ever before, but I don't think so. Not deep today, just gald to have the guided words of God to join us.

Genesis 13: 13-18

Genesis
Chapter 13
13-18

13 Now the inhabitants of Sodom were very wicked in the sins they committed against the LORD.

14 After Lot had left, the LORD said to Abram: "Look about you, and from where you are, gaze to the north and south, east and west;

15 all the land that you see I will give to you and your descendants forever.

16 I will make your descendants like the dust of the earth; if anyone could count the dust of the earth, your descendants too might be counted.

17 Set forth and walk about in the land, through its length and breadth, for to you I will give it."

18 Abram moved his tents and went on to settle near the terebinth of Mamre, which is at Hebron. There he built an altar to the LORD.

Reflection: I love how Abram trusted and went where God told him to go. He thanked him and always gave the glory back to God. His focus was building the altar. Lot decided to stay among the wickedness. God did not condemn him but knew that if would be hard for him and his household. He encouraged Abram to avoid those hardships. In return he promised the childless man that his descendants would be more than all the dust of the earth. Wow, that is a huge promise, and Abram trusted. I need faith like that. I need to give God glory and I need to protect myself from influence.

Genesis 13: 1-12

Genesis

Chapter 13

1-12

1 From Egypt Abram went up to the Negeb with his wife and all that belonged to him, and Lot accompanied him.

2 Now Abram was very rich in livestock, silver, and gold.

3 From the Negeb he traveled by stages toward Bethel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had formerly stood,

4 the site where he had first built the altar; and there he invoked the LORD by name.

5 Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents,

6 so that the land could not support them if they stayed together; their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together.

7 There were quarrels between the herdsmen of Abram's livestock and those of Lot's. (At this time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were occupying the land.)

8 So Abram said to Lot: "Let there be no strife between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are kinsmen.

9 Is not the whole land at your disposal? Please separate from me. If you prefer the left, I will go to the right; if you prefer the right, I will go to the left."

10Lot looked about and saw how well watered the whole Jordan Plain was as far as Zoar, like the LORD'S own garden, or like Egypt. (This was before the LORD had destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)

11 Lot, therefore, chose for himself the whole Jordan Plain and set out eastward. Thus they separated from each other;

12 Abram stayed in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the Plain, pitching his tents near Sodom.

Reflection: God was so good to them that they had to separate. They both must have had huge amounts of flocks for them not to be able to graze together. Abram was wise to not let it come between them. He was willing to go the "wrong" way if it was to make Lot happy. I know that I am often jealous and envious of what others get. I need to be more thankful for the gifts I receive and to be thankful for the goodness that comes to others. I need to work to serve my fellow man and be willing to offer them the "better" portion trusting that God will still take care of me.

Genesis 12: 5-20

Genesis
Chapter 12
5-20


5 2 Abram took his wife Sarai, his brother's son Lot, all the possessions that they had accumulated, and the persons they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan,

6 Abram passed through the land as far as the sacred place at Shechem, by the terebinth of Moreh. (The Canaanites were then in the land.)

7 The LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your descendants I will give this land." So Abram built an altar there to the LORD who had appeared to him.

8 From there he moved on to the hill country east of Bethel, pitching his tent with Bethel to the west and Ai to the east. He built an altar there to the LORD and invoked the LORD by name.

9 3 Then Abram journeyed on by stages to the Negeb.

10 There was famine in the land; so Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, since the famine in the land was severe.

11 When he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai: "I know well how beautiful a woman you are.

12 When the Egyptians see you, they will say, 'She is his wife'; then they will kill me, but let you live.

13 4 Please say, therefore, that you are my sister, so that it may go well with me on your account and my life may be spared for your sake."

14 When Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw how beautiful the woman was; and when Pharaoh's courtiers saw her,

15 they praised her to Pharaoh. So she was taken into Pharaoh's palace.

16 5 On her account it went very well with Abram, and he received flocks and herds, male and female slaves, male and female asses, and camels.

17 But the LORD struck Pharaoh and his household with severe plagues because of Abram's wife Sarai.

18 Then Pharaoh summoned Abram and said to him: "How could you do this to me! Why didn't you tell me she was your wife?

19 Why did you say, 'She is my sister,' so that I took her for my wife? Here, then, is your wife. Take her and be gone!"

20 Then Pharaoh gave men orders concerning him, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and all that belonged to him.

Reflection: I find this so sick. I just can't get over how woman were viewed and treated as objects. I know that in our world and in our time it is unique in comparison to history but it is so different that how I feel I am treated by my loving husband. My honor is important to him. He would do more that to just keep me alive.

I see how God protected the women though. Now she did get to be Pharaoh's wife for a short time but God saw to it that his life was not pleasant so that he wanted to "give her back". It bothers me and yet I do love the God will take care of us. Always in spite of us being worthy.

Genesis 12:1-4

Genesis

Chapter 12

1 The LORD said to Abram: "Go forth from the land of your kinsfolk and from your father's house to a land that I will show you.

2 "I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.

3 1 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you. All the communities of the earth shall find blessing in you."

4 Abram went as the LORD directed him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.

Reflection: God really did call this man out. He asked him to change his entire life. In return God promised him greatness. Imagine being told that you will be made a great nation. What does that mean? I wonder if Abram doubted at all. He was already 75 years old and people were no longer living 600 or more years. At 75 he was told that he would a great nation. I would have wondered how. If I am childless now how in the world could God make a great nation out of just me. Abram wasn't like me, he trusted and left his home land. He went were God wanted him to go. Dear God, please help me to be strong in my faith like Abram and to trust you to lead me where I need to go.

Genesis 11: 10-32

Genesis
Chapter 11: 10- 32

10 5 This is the record of the descendants of Shem. When Shem was one hundred years old, he became the father of Arpachshad, two years after the flood.

11 Shem lived five hundred years after the birth of Arpachshad, and he had other sons and daughters.

12 6 When Arpachshad was thirty-five years old, he became the father of Shelah.

13 Arpachshad lived four hundred and three years after the birth of Shelah, and he had other sons and daughters.

14 When Shelah was thirty years old, he became the father of Eber.

15 Shelah lived four hundred and three years after the birth of Eber, and he had other sons and daughters.

16 7 When Eber was thirty-four years old, he became the father of Peleg.

17 Eber lived four hundred and thirty years after the birth of Peleg, and he had other sons and daughters.

18 When Peleg was thirty years old, he became the father of Reu.

19 Peleg lived two hundred and nine years after the birth of Reu, and he had other sons and daughters.

20 When Reu was thirty-two years old, he became the father of Serug.

21 Reu lived two hundred and seven years after the birth of Serug, and he had other sons and daughters.

22 When Serug was thirty years old, he became the father of Nahor.

23 Serug lived two hundred years after the birth of Nahor, and he had other sons and daughters.

24 When Nahor was twenty-nine years old, he became the father of Terah.

25 Nahor lived one hundred and nineteen years after the birth of Terah, and he had other sons and daughters.

26 When Terah was seventy years old, he became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran.

27 This is the record of the descendants of Terah. Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran, and Haran became the father of Lot.

28 8 Haran died before his father Terah, in his native land, in Ur of the Chaldeans.

29 Abram and Nahor took wives; the name of Abram's wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor's wife was Milcah, daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah and Iscah.

30 Sarai was barren; she had no child.

31 9 Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot, son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and brought them out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to go to the land of Canaan. But when they reached Haran, they settled there.

32 10 The lifetime of Terah was two hundred and five years; then Terah died in Haran.

Reflection: Another look at more of the family tree. It must have been so hard on Sarai to have been barren. That line just sticks out to me. My life has been filled with so much fertility. Often I get upset at how careful I need to be. I forget how blessed fertility is. In our world today we don't embrace it like past generations. In today's world it is seen as a curse but in reality it is such a blessing. The family is being laid out and the story is unfolding. God please help me to be thankful to be part of this family. Help me to be grateful to be a part of your unfolding story.