Genesis_Nov 25

GENESIS 1 8:4 save that which was lost” (Mt aroma to God, and the rainbow 18:11). See the difference? No set in the clouds. doubt, little ones need saving, but not seeking, because they First, the ark rested on Ararat, haven’t willingly gone away amazingly on the same day of from the Lord. Something to the year as Christ’s resurrection: consider, at least. “The ark rested in the seventh month, the seventeenth day of Now one thing more. Chris- the month…” (Gen 8:4). In the tians are sometimes apologetic new calendar that the Lord pro- about God’s wrath, but He isn’t. vided in Egypt, this was three His wrath shows that He takes days after Passover, which was seriously what we do. If what on the fourteenth of the month. we do doesn’t matter, then we We can now rest because Christ, don’t matter. I’m not like a piece like the ark of safety, has of fruit that couldn’t help being completed His work. As at Mt. rotten. I choose to sin. But notice: Ararat, so at Mt. Calvary, we the same flood waters that hear this wonderful truth: “It is punished the rejectors of God’s finished!” Christ is now seated message also lifted up the ark to at God’s right hand. safety! In the same way, the wrath of God poured out on But then Noah sent out a dove Jesus at the cross is how the be- from the window of the ark. It liever is saved! Praise God that, returned, unlike the raven, for those who trust Him, all the because it would not rest on a judgment is past! floating carcass. Only when fresh vegetation sprouted did it 8:4 FOUR BEAUTIFUL PICTURES: find a place of rest. The scene at Here is the ultimate reset in history, when Christ’s baptism answers to this. God performed radical surgery to give us hu- The Holy Spirit came down mans another chance. from heaven in the form of a dove and found one clean place The waters took a long time to to rest — on the sinless Son of recede, but once it was over, God God. Again there is rest, but this gave us four beautiful pictures time it is the Spirit. of Christ’s finished work at Calvary. There was the resting of Then third, when they at last the ark, the returning of the came out of the ark, one of each dove, the rising up of a sweet clean animal was offered to the Lord. There was just one pair of the ceremonially unclean ani- mals on board, but three pairs of 51

GENESIS 8:4 the clean ones — plus one. That tion, in those years war was one had been saved for sacrifice unknown, few diseases had (v 20). When this offering was developed, and the genetic bank made, we read, “The Lord was still fairly intact. Yet lifes- smelled a soothing aroma,” or, pans continued to drop. “a savor of rest” (Gen 8:21). God now could rest in the sweetness After the flood, perhaps in of His Son’s offering. Then He part due to intermarrying and put a bow in the clouds so we the change in the planet’s con- can rest — His promise that ditions, the average lifespan never again will He destroy dropped to 120 years (Gen 6:3). humanity with a flood. Then, as men grew wicked faster, the lifespan was short- 8:5-13 TEACH US TO NUMBER OUR ened again. In the days of DAYS: How long have you got on the planet? Moses, about 1500 BC, he We don’t leave in order, do we! Probably good wrote, “The days of our lives are to get your bags packed. seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years, The earth had been swept clean yet their boast is only labor and by the flood. Just one family was sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and left to re-populate the world. we fly away” (Ps 90:10). That’s Noah, we read, is now 600 years about where we are now. old! How could people live that long? One person told me that Moses wrote in that same the ancients used a lunar calen- psalm,  “So teach us to number dar, so a number like that should our days, that we may gain a be divided by 12. Let’s see, then heart of wisdom”  (v 12). Have Noah was actually 50! But we you numbered your days? If you also read in Genesis 5:21, “Enoch sleep eight hours a night, by the lived sixty-five years, and begot time you’re 75, you’ve spent 25 Methuselah.”  So, wow! Sixty- of them unconscious! Food prep five divided by 12 — that means and consumption, two hours per Enoch was five years old when day? That’s a whole month of 24- he fathered his son! No, I’m hour days every year — 6 years afraid that theory won’t work. off your 75! A forty-hour work These people really did live week for 40 years? Another ten much longer. The pace of life years of 24-hour days. And so it was slower, there was no pollu- goes, says Moses; there’s no time to waste. Make every day count for God! “Just a tiny little minute but eternity is in it” (Mays).  52

GENESIS 1 9:25 8:14-22 SPIRITS OR THE SPIRIT? This sparkles in the cup, when it swirls around smoothly; at the isn’t like a beer ad: good-looking people hav- last it bites like a serpent, and stings like a viper. Your eyes will ing a great time. It’s not champagne, either; see strange things, and your heart will utter perverse it’s real pain. things...saying: ‘... When shall I awake, that I may seek another The world, as described in drink?’”  Genesis 8, had a fresh start. Well, almost. The one thing that The CDC says that alcohol hadn’t changed was the human abuse in the U.S. costs far more heart. God paints an honest (due to under-reporting) than portrait of humanity, warts and the estimated $259 billion a year. all. Imagine Noah, listed in He- Worse, alcohol claims about brews 11 as a man of faith, after 100,000 lives each year in Amer- that long time of walking with ica. And who can tell of the alco- God, getting into trouble. hol-related domestic and child “Therefore let him who thinks abuse hidden behind closed he stands take heed lest he doors? I, for one, have enough fall” (1 Cor 10:12). Noah plants a challenges in life without further vineyard, makes wine, gets diminishing my faculties. drunk, and it makes him so un- aware, he’s shamelessly naked. There’s something far better, His son Ham makes fun of it to says Paul in Ephesians 5:18, “Do his brothers, like people today not be drunk with wine, in who are laughing and crying at which is dissipation; but be all the wrong things. His filled with the Spirit.”  brothers wisely cover up their father, avoiding the curse result- 9:25 THE CURSE ON CANAAN: This ing from this shameful act. But is one of the tough questions in the Bible. It’s more of that later. also an amazing miracle: a curse turned into a blessing. While the Bible never con- demns all wine use, it does warn What people often call the curse us in Proverbs 23:29-35,  “Who on Ham (really the curse on has woe? Who has sorrow? Who Canaan) has been abused as an has contentions? Who has com- excuse for enslaving the black plaints? Who has wounds with- man. What a horrid misuse of out cause? Who has redness of the Bible! Ham’s mistreatment of eyes? Those who linger long at the wine...Do not look on the wine when it is red, when it 53

GENESIS 9:25 his father Noah had caused this of all, became the Servant of all severe pronouncement, under- (Mk 9:35). Though we were all scoring God’s insistence that we under the curse of a broken law honor our father and mother. (Gal 3:13), Christ redeems us Here is Noah’s statement in through the Cross, then commis- Genesis 9:25,  “Cursed be Ca- sions us to be servants like naan; a servant of servants he Him: “You, brethren, have been shall be to his brethren.”  This called to liberty;...but through was a serious matter. The under- love serve one another”  (Gal mining of family order leads to 5:13). The world to come will societal collapse. But why was it have this unique form of gov- on Canaan, Ham’s son, instead erning: rule by servant-kings!  of on Ham himself? 10:1 THREE BROTHERS AND THE In Hebrew thought, a curse or HUMAN RACE: The only race in the Bible is blessing on the son reverted to the human race. But there are three families the father. See an example in 1 who work best if helping one another. Kings 11:9-12. God would divide the kingdom of Israel in judging Speaking in the city of Athens in Solomon, but not in Solomon’s the first century, the apostle Paul day, lest it reflect badly on makes the statement that God David. So God waited another “has made from one blood every generation. Thus a curse on nation of men to dwell on all the Ham would have landed on face of the earth, and has deter- Noah! But let’s think about the mined their pre-appointed times outcome of this statement. and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should The Bible consistently demon- seek the Lord, in the hope that strates the way God’s grace they might grope for Him and turns curses into blessing. The find Him, though He is not far Cross is the greatest example. from each one of us” (Acts 17:26- The construction of the 27). It’s true, he says; there are phrase “servant of servants” is many nations, but just one race, familiar to Bible students. We and the proof is this: our blood read of the holy of holies, the is common among all peoples. heaven of heavens, the song of However, Genesis 10 gives a list songs, the King of kings and of the groups from which all Lord of lords, always used as su- peoples in the world today can perlatives. In fact, the Lord Jesus be traced, all from three sub-di- applies the identical idea to Himself who, being the Greatest 54

GENESIS 1 10:6 visions:  “the sons of Noah: 10:6 THE FASCINATING STORY OF Shem, Ham, and Japheth” (Gen 10:1). Shem, not the oldest, is HAM: Ham, pronounced something named first because it was through his line that the Savior like khawm, means “warm” or “hot.” You’ll would come. be surprised with his biography. Arthur Custance proposes: “...a kind of division of One more lesson on the amazing responsibilities to care for the history of Ham. According to the specific needs of mankind at Bible, he was the father of all three fundamental levels — the people of color. Not the swarthy- spiritual, the physical, and the skinned people of the Middle intellectual — was divinely East, who traced their line to appointed to each branch with Shem; nor the lighter-skinned appropriate capabilities. people of the Indus Valley, who were related to Japheth; but the Thus the contribution of Negroid people of Africa, the Shem, in terms of both true Native peoples of North and and false religious concep- South America, and the Asian tions, has been in the realm of people groups — all belong to the spirit. The contribution of Ham. History records a repeated Ham, in whom are all the pattern of migration. While the colored races and who are the sons of Shem stayed local to the originators of the ancient Fertile Crescent (composed of civilizations of both the Old the Nile, Jordan, and Tigris- and the New World, has to do Euphrates Valleys), the sons of with technology which has Ham were pushed to the ex- been unsurpassed. Japheth’s tremities of civilization, often to contribution has been in the inhospitable environments like realm of thought. Thus human the Australian Outback, the potential reaches its climax Arctic, or the Kalahari in Africa. when all three brothers (in There they not only survived, their descendants) jointly but thrived, by being technologi- make their contribution.” cally inventive. It’s also wonderfully true that God is accessible to all the Westerners may think we trace nations, calling on them to seek our technological roots to Greece and find Him because, says and Rome, but they  learned it Paul,  “He is not far from each from the Etruscans, Minoans, one of us.”  and Egyptians, all sons of Ham. Citing over 100 sources, Arthur Custance shows that the basic 55

GENESIS 10:6 tools (like the Archimedes’ name, Jerusalem, the salvation Screw, used from drill bits to center of the world. grain augers), production methods (like metallurgy and In this chapter, the ancients vulcanizing), and domesticated seemed to be living in harmony. animals and field crops all came Verse 1 says, “The whole earth from the sons of Ham. But soon had one language and one the sons of Japheth would move speech.” Imagine! As the people in and dominate the culture. moved from the east along the Japheth developed science, but Tigris-Euphrates River Valley in Ham provided the technology to what is now Iraq, they came to do it. Our world works best the plain of Shinar — the ideal when the three lines of humanity  place to build their new world — specializing in spiritual, phys- headquarters! God had in- ical, and intellectual pursuits —  structed them to spread out work in harmony. Some day it across the earth, but they had will work perfectly, when the other plans.  “Let us build our- true Servant of servants reigns selves a city, and a tower whose and His loyal subjects will be, as top is in the heavens; let us make Revelation 5:9 states, “redeemed a name for ourselves, lest we be ...to God...out of every tribe and scattered abroad over the face of tongue and people and nation.”  the whole earth”  (v 4). Thus began the first concerted effort 11:1 A TALE OF TWO CITIES: We’re to replace God as the admin- builders, from Legos and doll houses to sky- istrator of His own planet. The scrapers, but nothing comes of it if God isn’t project’s name? Bab-el, “The on the project. Gate to God.” But it was the Self God they intended to exalt, in In Genesis 11, we are introduced order to  “make a name for to one of the greatest rivalries in [them]selves.”  history. It is, in the words of Charles Dickens,  A Tale of Two In rich irony, verse 5 says, “The Cities. Dickens’s cities were Lon- Lord came down to see the city”  don and Paris, but the real tale of — away down to their little sand two cities is the story of Babylon, castle! This would be the site of where men determined to make the future  Babylon  (the Greek a name for themselves, versus form of Babel), and both Daniel the city where God placed His and Revelation feature this as the religious, political, and economic system that men built to defy God, the capital of what 56

GENESIS 1 11:9 the New Testament simply and his pseudo-empire will calls  “the world,”  the place watch its destruction too, and where people are trying to be cry,  “Alas, alas, that great city happy without God. And God Babylon, that mighty city! For in said, “This will never do!” — a one hour your judgment has powerful reminder that life lived come” (Rev 18:10). The builders without God is like a Monopoly here worked with substitutes: game. We won’t get to keep any “They had brick for stone, and of it. It all goes back in the box.  they had asphalt [or slime] for mortar”  (v 3). Shockingly, the 11:3 BAB-EL BECOMES BABBLE: Lord’s assessment of the project There’s a lot of money to be made teaching was as follows:  “This is what people foreign languages; we’ve got Babel to they begin to do; now nothing thank for that. that they propose to do will be withheld from them”  (v 6). So In our last study, we saw the He turned their Babel (The Gate United Nations of the post-flood to God) into Babble (meaning world. We read,  “The whole Confusion)—in Hebrew, both earth had one language and one words are spelled BBL. Their speech” (Gen 11:1). The people brains were reprogrammed so seemed at first to have no com- they now spoke different lan- munication problem. But they guages. Thus He fragmented really did, because they had left their knowledge and forced God out of the conversation! them to scatter. This sounds like the first big mistake, when Adam and Eve In our day, the computer has believed the serpent who allowed the reversal of Babel. Is said, “You will be like God.” But there anything modern research humans make pathetic gods— can’t discover? The program Nero, Hitler, Stalin, Mao. You that translates one language to know the list, and it isn’t pretty. another for you, no surprise, is That list will conclude with a called BabelFish! Is the time now final ruler at Babylon, nick- getting close when God will named “the Beast.” Then the speak from heaven and say, Lord will once more say, “Come, “Gentlemen, it’s closing time”?  let Us go down” for the last great battle, and those who have given 11:9 LOOK WHAT GEORGE FOUND!  their loyalty to this man-beast Here’s how a poor Englishman discovered hard evidence that the story of Babel is really true. 57

GENESIS 11:9 Christians don’t believe the were mingled on the mound;… Bible because of archeology; we Their work all day they builded; believe it because it proves, to But to their stronghold in the our hearts and lives, to be God’s night Entirely an end God made; Word. But it’s good to remember In His anger also His secret coun- what Dr. Nelson Glueck said: “It sel He poured forth, He set His may be stated categorically that face to scatter; He gave command no archaeological discovery has to make strange their speech; ever controverted a Biblical Their progress He impeded.” reference. Scores of archaeologi- cal findings have been made Amazing, isn’t it! This is the which confirm in clear outline or Babylonians’ own account of the exact detail historical statements event. People who reject the in the Bible. And, by the same Bible because they say it can’t be token, proper evaluation of trusted haven’t done their Biblical descriptions has often homework. You not only can led to amazing discoveries.” take the Bible seriously; you should. It’s the only real light in Glueck, an American rabbi the darkness!  and archeologist, knows what he’s talking about. His pioneer- 11:11 MAY I INTRODUCE “THE ing work resulted in the discov- FRIEND OF GOD”: More genealogies, but ery of 1,500 ancient biblical sites! this time there’s a punchline — the list ends But the man who uncovered with someone who became God’s friend. many secrets about Babel was George Smith, a poor English- Genesis 11 begins with a rebel- man with little formal educa- lion against God, but people tion. He took his lunch breaks in who fight Him never win. the British Museum — and Cuando Dios confundió su lenguaje  became a master translator of — oh sorry, that’s Spanish —  ancient cuneiform! He’s most fa- when God confused their lan- mous for translating the Epic of guage, they were forced to Gilgamesh, recounting the story scatter. So we read, “they ceased of the Flood. building the city” (v 8). But the chapter ends with someone else Smith was eventually funded abandoning a city, too. When we to excavate in the area of Babel, get to verse 11, we find ourselves and there he discovered an in another of the ten family lists ancient tablet that includes the in Genesis. This time it’s Shem’s; following: “Babylon corruptly to sin went, and Small and great 58

GENESIS 1 12:3 we’re especially interested in are of the faith of Abraham, who this one, because it will lead to is the father of us all.”  our Savior. But near the end of the chapter, we read about a Are you a child of Abraham by man named Terah who, with his faith? “Believe on the Lord Jesus family, left the city of Ur, about Christ, and you will be 130 miles southeast of Birs saved” (Acts 16:31).  Nimrud — the ziggurat thought to be ancient Babel, which is 12:1-3 ABRAM AND THE JOURNEY now named after its first ruler, of OF A LIFETIME: Why is it that the little coun- whom Scripture says, “Nimrod try of Israel is more often than not in the the mighty hunter...And the evening news? Let’s take a trip and see. beginning of his kingdom was Babel” (Gen 10:9-10). The temple Imagine that! God uses 31 verses to the Moon god in Ur was to describe the creation of the constructed in — get this — the vast worlds He spoke into being, 21st Century…BC! then takes the rest of the Old Testament (except for the first 11 Why are we interested in chapters) to tell the story of one Terah? Because of his son, man, Abram, and the family-na- Abram. As Stephen explains in tion that came from him. God Acts 7:2-3, “The God of glory ap- must be a people Person! I may, peared to our father Abraham like David, feel small when I when he was in Mesopotamia... look out at the star-glittered and said to him, ‘Get out of your heavens, and say, “What is man country and from your relatives, that You are mindful of and come to a land that I will him?”  (Ps 8:4).  But did you show you.’”  This is the pivot know that the universe is just point of the Old Testament! the temporary stage God built We’re halfway between Adam on which to enact His love story and Christ, about 2000 BC. The with us? Hebrews 1:10-12 tells first 11 chapters have rushed us that, when He’s finished with through to get to this point. Now the universe, He will fold it up God begins to work out His plan and put it away like work of salvation. We’re excited to clothes: “You, Lord, in the begin- read in Romans 4:16 that salva- ning laid the foundation of the tion is not by good works, earth, and the heavens are the but “of faith that it might be ac- work of Your hands. They will cording to grace, so that the perish, but You remain; and they promise might be...to those who 59

GENESIS 12:3 will all grow old like a garment; Abram exchanged a nice home like a cloak You will fold them up, in Ur for a goat’s hair tent. And, and they will be changed.”  But even though he became very we’re told in Daniel 12:3, “Those rich, he chose tent living for the who are wise shall shine like the rest of his life. Hebrews 11:8-10 brightness of the firmament, and explains,  “By faith Abraham those who turn many to right- obeyed when he was called to go eousness like the stars forever out to the place which he would and ever.”  receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he Well, Abram took a detour on was going. By faith he dwelt in his way to the Promised Land, the land of promise as in a ending up 600 miles later in the foreign country, dwelling in city of Haran. I’m afraid I get off- tents...for he waited for the city track sometimes, too. Thank- which has foundations, whose fully, the Lord doesn’t give up builder and maker is God.” Two on us once we begin the journey things characterized Abram’s of faith. Eventually Abram’s life in Canaan: wherever he father died, and the Lord went, he would pitch a tent and nudged him to keep going. Four build an altar. By this he testified hundred miles later, his family to the people around him that he arrived in Canaan. The KJV was both a stranger and a poetically says, “And they went pilgrim (see Gen 12:7-8). He did- forth to go into the land of n’t belong down here, but he did Canaan; and into the land of belong up there! He had left Ur Canaan they came” (Gen 12:5). and Haran, but he was looking Here they were, in the country for a city, too — a very different where someday the Son of God kind. This one had as its archi- would fulfill Abraham’s tect and builder the God of words,  “God will provide…a heaven. Abram thought Canaan lamb.”  And so He did, was a nice campsite, but some sending “the Lamb of God who day he hoped to put away those takes away the sin of the tent pegs and settle back, no world!” (Jn 1:29). longer a stranger who didn’t belong where he was, or a 12:4-5 A TENT AND AN ALTAR: Take a pilgrim who hadn’t yet reached his destination. Hebrews 11:13- look at your stuff and ask yourself, “Would I 14 goes on to explain the patri- archs’ strategy: “These all died like to go tenting for the rest of my life?” Abram did! 60

GENESIS 12:5 in faith, not having received the but about God. Does He play fa- promises, but having seen them vorites? Do we all have a afar off, and were persuaded of chance? We obviously won’t be them, and embraced them, and able to answer everything in two confessed that they were minutes, but note these verses. strangers and pilgrims on the The Lord says, “Shall I hide from earth. For they that say such Abraham that thing which I do; things declare plainly that they seeing that Abraham shall surely SEEK a country”  (KJV).  Their become a great and mighty na- purpose in tenting was to make tion, and all the nations of the people first curious, and even- earth shall be blessed in him? tually seek for Heaven, too! For I know him, that he will Now, I wonder, do people ask command his children and his me about my hope? Or is it the household after him, and they same as theirs — to feel at home shall keep the way of the Lord, down here? Let’s learn from to do justice and judgment” Abram how to make people (Gen 18:17-19, KJV). homesick for heaven. Does God intend to bless WHY DID GOD Abram alone? No! God CHOOSE ABRAHAM? is not playing favorites. His plan is that through blessing this Some suggest that God’s man  “ALL the nations of the choice of one person over earth shall be blessed.”  And another is a mystery, but is it? why Abram? The Lord tells Not with Abram! But, before we us:  “I know him, that he will go another step in this exciting command his children and his journey from the false worship household after him, and they of the Moon god in Ur to shall keep the way of the Abram’s personal friendship Lord....” God was looking for a with the all-eclipsing God of missionary family who would Glory, we must ask why Abram carry out His plan, teaching was chosen. their children after them. Through this family would Is it fair that God bypassed all come the Scriptures for all, and others to select him? Do we miss the Savior for all, and the Spirit out on the blessings offered to who would go into all the world Abram? These are crucial ques- to spread this glorious mes- tions, not so much about Abram, sage: “Look to Me, and be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I 61

GENESIS 12:6 am God, and there is no blessings or cursings coming ac- other”  (Isa 45:22). As Romans cording to whether or not they 10:12 says, “There is no distinc- obeyed. Near the end of his life, tion between Jew and Greek, for Joshua brought Israel back to the same Lord over all is rich to Shechem to issue his chal- all who call upon Him.” lenge: “Serve the Lord! And if it Abram’s God can be your God, seems evil to you to serve the too! Call on Him!  Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve...But 12:6-7 SHECHEM: THE VALLEY OF as for me and my house, we will DECISION: Bible geography is not trivia; it is serve the Lord” (Jsh 24:14-15). an essential part of life’s tapestry, which is certainly true of Shechem. Here the people chose be- tween Solomon’s foolish son Re- The first campsite for Abram in hoboam and Jeroboam, splitting Canaan was Shechem. The name the country in two, with She- means “shoulder,” and anyone chem becoming the first capital who visits there immediately of the northern kingdom. But sees why. This valley is bounded first it was Abram who here by two mountains: Ebal to the made his solemn choice. As far northeast and Gerizim to the as he knew, there was not southwest. The town sits on another believer in the whole Gerizim’s shoulder. It held a land, but  “Abram passed prominent position because it through the land to the place of controlled north-south traffic on Shechem...And the Canaanites the Patriarch’s Highway, often were then in the land....And called the Ridge Road, linking there he built an altar to the almost all of the important Lord” (Gen 12:6-7). So there! Per- towns in the land. Being in the haps it’s time to dust off that old hill country given to Joseph’s son chorus: “I have decided to fol- Ephraim, it’s no surprise that Jo- low Jesus,” with one verse stat- seph’s tomb was nearby. It also ing, “Though none go with me, became the site of Jacob’s well. still I will follow — no turning back, no turning back.”  The valley and its mountains provided a natural amphithe- 12:8 TENTING BETWEEN HERE AND ater. Thus Shechem became THERE: Every decision is actually two deci- known as the place of decision. sions: if I want to do something more, I have Here Joshua called on Israel to to decide what I will do less. choose loyalty to God, with 62

GENESIS 12:20 Abram and his family pulled up pitched between Bethel and Ai. stakes at Shechem, gathered up Every penny, every minute, their possessions, and headed every thought and word, every twenty miles south to a spot be- ounce of energy, must be either tween the towns of Bethel and spent at Bethel or Ai. As Jesus Ai. The record reads: “And he framed the issue, “Whoever de- moved from there to the moun- sires to save his life will lose it, tain east of Bethel, and he but whoever loses his life for My pitched his tent with Bethel on sake and the gospel’s will save the west and Ai on the east; there it” (Mk 8:35). This world is soon he built an altar to the Lord and to be a pile of rubble, and any in- called on the name of the vestments here will be lost. The Lord”  (Gen 12:8). These towns house of God, however, is the stood like sentinels on either only building that will survive side of the main road, control- the collapse of the universe, and ling traffic through the Central investments made for the Lord Highlands. That’s why, many and the gospel will return eter- years later, Joshua broke the nal blessings. So how’s your in- back of Canaanite opposition by vestment plan?  defeating these key posts. It seems from the account in Jo- 12:9-20 WHEN ABRAM FAILED A TEST: shua 8 that Israel’s troops at- Who said denial is not just a river in Egypt? tacked the smaller fortress at Ai Abram denies his wife, denies God’s care, and because the two towns had a His promises too. non-aggression pact; if someone attacked one town, the other My wife and I were privileged to was obligated to come to their visit Egypt in 1984. Even as the aid. So we read in verse plane came in to land, I could 17, “There was not a man left in see Egypt’s secret. Two green Ai or Bethel who did not go out swaths ran along the Nile River, after Israel.”  and then sand as far as the eye could see. This was why the Often place names have an im- ancient land was called Miz- portance that adds color to the raim, which means “double nar- biblical stories. Bethel means rowness,” referring to the lush “the house of God.” On the river banks. This was very dif- other side of their camp was Ai, ferent from Canaan. God ex- which means “a pile of rubble.” plains in Deuteronomy 11: “The But, you know, everywhere we go in life, we find ourselves 63

GENESIS 12:20 land which you go to possess is Abram and paid him off to leave not like the land of Egypt from the country. Sometimes wealth is which you have come,...but the not God’s blessing, as we shall land which you cross over to soon see. 1 Timothy 6:6 ad- possess is a land of hills and vises: “Godliness with content- valleys, which drinks water ment is great gain.”  from the rain of heaven, a land for which the Lord your God 13:6 LOT AND ABRAM – A STUDY cares” (vv 10-12).  IN CONTRASTS: The author of Genesis uses foils, minor characters to provide contrasts Egypt’s Nile drained a large with the main characters in the drama. portion of the African continent, so there was never a shortage of We evaluate situations in life by water. But Israel was dependent making comparisons. That’s on the rains, or rather, on the why the eye doctor asks, “Is this God who controlled the rains. one better? Or this?” We taste Obedience brought blessing; flavors, squint at wall colors, disobedience, drought. When comparison shop for products, there was drought in Canaan, it and constantly ask ourselves was common to go down to “This? Or that?” When we meet Egypt to seek grain. Thus did the patriarchs, the early genera- Abram, perhaps forgetting tions of the nation of Israel, God God’s promise to care for him. provides such a series of Then, fearing someone would comparisons. Authors some- dispatch him to gain access to times highlight a main character his beautiful wife, Sara, he asked by using what is called a foil: a her to tell a half-truth that she supporting character who has a was his sister. Of course when contrasting personality and the devil gets us to tell a half- values — like setting off a dia- truth, he wants people to believe mond by laying it on black the wrong half! Things went velvet. Well, God does this for us from bad to worse. Pharaoh took to help us see the crucial charac- Sara for his harem. But even teristics and life choices of these though Abram failed his wife, early fathers of Israel. God didn’t fail. Years later, God would send plagues on Egypt to As C.H. Waller points out, deliver His people; on this occa- Abram is placed over against sion He sent plagues to deliver Lot, Isaac against Ishmael, and just one woman. Discovering the Jacob against Esau. In each case, scheme, Pharaoh chastened 64

GENESIS 13:7 says Waller, the relationship gets Biographies — the honest ones  closer: Lot is Abram’s nephew; — give us the opportunity to see Isaac and Ishmael have the same both life choices and, as time father but different mothers; and goes by, their consequences. A Jacob and Esau are twins. But graphic example is in Genesis also, in each case the antagonism 13. The wealth acquired by grows. Lot  leaves  Abram; Ish- Abram and his nephew Lot in mael mocks Isaac; Esau  tries to Egypt has not made life easier. kill Jacob. We read,  “There was strife between the herdsmen of Genesis 13 is a case in point. Abram’s livestock and the The trip to Egypt is disastrous. herdsmen of Lot’s livestock” Abram’s testimony as a God- (Gen 13:7). Too much stuff! truster is tarnished. A maid Abram had learned that the named Hagar, acquired from mess in Egypt had been of their Egypt, lays the trap for 4000 own making, and he wanted it years of trouble between Arabs fixed. First, he knew his relation- and Jews. The wealth they bring ship with the Lord took priority. from Egypt leaves Abram and He also knew that, when you’ve Lot’s servants bickering: “Their lost your way, the path forward possessions were so great that involves going back to where they could not dwell to- you got off track. So, we gether”  (Gen 13:6). And Lot, it read,  “He went on his journey seems, has fallen in love with from the Negev as far as Bethel, Egypt, as we see in our next to the place where his tent had lesson. James 1:5 promises:  “If been at the beginning, between any of you lacks wisdom, let Bethel and Ai, to the place of the him ask of God, who gives to all altar which he had made there at liberally and without reproach, first. And there Abram called on and it will be given to the name of the Lord” (vv 3-4). him.”  Choices! How we need An excellent first step, but now God’s help to make them what to do about the situation wisely!  with Lot? 13:7 LIFE’S CHOICES AND THEIR Abram, the elder, by rights CONSEQUENCES: What’s the going price for should have had first choice. He a charter trip to Egypt in about 2000 BC? was also the one God had called Expensive! Very expensive indeed! there, promising him the land for a possession. But the patri- arch had learned, through the 65

GENESIS 13:7 Egyptian detour, that God knew left” (Gen 13:8). Constant irrita- best. So he let Lot pick first. tions had resulted from the ill- gotten prosperity that Lot and Poor Lot. He had a taste now his uncle had acquired in Egypt. for sophisticated, worldly Egypt. We read, “Lot lifted his eyes and They call money  hard  cur- saw all the plain of Jordan, that rency, perhaps because it’s hard it was well watered everywhere to get, hard to manage, hard to (before the Lord destroyed worry about, and hard to lose. Sodom and Gomorrah) like the So Abram, although the senior garden of the Lord, like the land of the two, and the man whom of Egypt” (v 10). Don’t be fooled: God called to inherit Canaan, Eden and Egypt are nothing seemed to give Lot first choice. alike! Lot saw this as a good What he was really doing was career move, but, as the story entrusting the whole thing into unfolds, we’ll see it cost him just God’s hands. So Lot looked east, about everything! Remember 1 and picked the well-watered John 2:17, “The world is passing plain of Jordan, pitching his tent away, and the lust of it; but he just outside of Sodom. God’s who does the will of God abides Spirit adds this aside: “But the forever.”  men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the 13:8-15 GETTING GOD’S LEFTOVERS: Lord” (v 13). Location. Location. Do the ruthless, money-grubbing misers end Location. up with everything? Not so, says Jesus: “The meek shall inherit the earth.” Bill MacDonald used to say, “If it’s true, ‘When in Rome, do as Abram chose to live out the the Romans do,’ don’t go to principle found in Romans Rome!” But what about Abram? 12:18, “If it is possible, as much He was willing to take God’s as depends on you, live peace- leftovers: “And the Lord said to ably with all men.”  He said to Abram, after Lot had separated Lot, “Please let there be no strife from him: ‘Lift your eyes now between you and me...for we are and look from the place where brethren. Is not the whole land you are—northward, south- before you? Please separate from ward, eastward, and westward; me. If you take the left, then I for all the land which you see I will go to the right; or, if you go give to you and your descen- to the right, then I will go to the dants forever’” (vv 14-15). God was saying, If I’m yours, it’s all yours, because it’s all Mine! 66

GENESIS 14:2 Listen to these lines from  The Abram, but of God’s faithful- Weaver  (a poem of uncertain ness: “The Lord knows how to authorship): “He knows, He deliver the godly out of tempta- loves, He cares; Nothing this tions”  (2 Pet 2:9). Of all the truth can dim. He gives the very things the Lord knows how to best to those Who leave the do, three cheers for this one! choice to Him.” Yes, God is worth trusting!  Christian, don’t be tricked by the seemingly bright prospects 13:16-18 CHOICES HAVE CON- the world offers. It’s all fool’s gold. Lot thought Sodom was a SEQUENCES: Show me your friends and I’ll great place to put down roots. How did he do? Here’s what the know what you’re becoming. Don’t be de- previous verses in 2 Peter 2 say: Lot “was oppressed by the filthy ceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” conduct of the wicked (for that righteous man, dwelling among At the end of Genesis 13, Abram them, tormented his righteous settles into a new place, 35 miles soul from day to day by seeing south of Bethel, at Mamre and hearing their lawless (meaning “fruitful”), near the deeds)”  (vv 7-8).  Self-inflicted, town of Hebron (meaning “fel- too! It’s a good thing God knows lowship”). Fellowship with God how to get us out of such quick- and fruitfulness in life always go sand. Lot will need God’s rescu- together. The Lord there restates ing grace, as our next lesson His promise to Abram regarding shows. But to any believers who the land where his family will have somehow ended up in live and the large number of Sodom’s suburbs, let me leave descendants who will be born, you with these words by P.P. even though at this point Abram Bliss: “Though I forget Him and is childless! wander away, Still He doth love me wherever I stray; Back to His Meanwhile, Lot, who first dear loving arms would I flee, pitched his tent near Sodom, has When I remember that Jesus moved his family  into  Sodom. loves me.”  Sadly, it would not be long until Sodom moved into his family. 14:1-2 GOD’S ETERNAL PROMISE: If However, God does not aban- God counts your hairs and keeps your tears, don His people, even when they surely He stands by as “a very present help wander away. Actually, Peter in time of need.” uses Lot as an example in this way — not of his faith, as with 67

GENESIS 14:2 Genesis 14 begins with the kind leave you with this. Recently of Bible words we might want to Luke Letlow, a husband and skip. But God doesn’t. father of two young children Listen: “In the days of Amraphel and soon-to-be sworn-in con- king of Shinar, Arioch king of El- gressman from Louisiana, a se- lasar, Chedorlaomer king of rious Christian, said this before Elam, and Tidal king of nations, he died unexpectedly of a that they made war with Bera Covid-related heart attack at age king of Sodom, Birsha king of 41: “God doesn’t promise us to- Gomorrah, Shinab king of morrow, but He does promise us Admah, Shemeber king of Ze- forever.” So true! God doesn’t al- boiim, and the king of Bela” (vv ways buffer His people from 1-2). And these $50 names are re- heartaches and tears down here. peated three more times in the But He has guaranteed that these chapter! What’s all this about? temporary difficulties will be It’s for one simple reason. When considered worth it when we see these kings came marauding how He’s woven them together through that region, they dared for our everlasting good.  lay their hands on one fellow with a three-letter name: L-O-T. 14:8-15 ABRAM’S LITTLE ARMY: You God takes the protection of His may not picture yourself as a soldier, but people very seriously. Zechariah every Christian is in the heat of the battle. But 2:8 says, “For thus says the Lord look! There’s our Commander! of hosts: ‘He sent Me... to the na- tions which plunder you; for he In Genesis 14, four marauding who touches you touches the kings had brought their armies apple of His eye.’”  In other down from the north and had words, those who attack the plundered the cities of the plain, Lord’s people are poking God in including Lot and his family the eye! Watch out! from Sodom. Only one man had escaped. At that time there were These kings from Mesopota- many city-states in the region, mia came down into the Levant, with standing armies, but to the land bridge between Africa none of them did the escapee and Asia and Europe, and plun- turn for help. Why? It seems he dered these  “cities of the realized that this was a job for plain,” including Sodom where God—the true God. And so he Lot lived. Everything was taken. went to Abram at Mamre. The Our next study will give the thrilling conclusion. But let me 68

GENESIS 14:18 patriarch was wealthy, and we So in our daily struggles, how read he had “three hundred and good it is to recall the words of eighteen trained servants” (v 14) Romans 8:31,  “If God is for us, in his employ. That’s a very large who can be against us?”  household  but a very small army! 14:16-18 ABRAM MEETS MELCHIZE- A victory over these four sub- DEK: The story of this ancient king-priest sits stantial armies would definitely there, like a biblical bombshell, not exploding put it in the miracle category. So till 2000 years later. with his armed posse, Abram headed north. We read they “went No doubt, Abram was ex- in pursuit as far as Dan.”  Dan hausted. He had been up all day was the current name of the when he heard the news of his ancient city of Laish, where nephew’s family being stolen today, amazingly, you can see away by the four-army confed- the still-standing brick gate of eracy from the north. Arming his the city that dates to Abram’s private militia of 318 men, they time. The northernmost town in traveled 150 miles, probably for Canaan, it sits on the southern several days, and engaged the flank of the snow-capped Mount enemy before dawn. Then we Hermon. read that they chased these soldiers further until they were Traveling through the night north of Damascus, Syria! Now over rough terrain, and fording they have returned to Canaan, several rivers, they then cut and Abram has arrived just through the mountains and outside the soon-to-be-famous caught the armies and their Salem, renamed Jerusalem, the captives sleeping. Using a pincer city of peace. There, in  “the movement, we read,  “He di- king’s dale”, he meets a remark- vided his forces against them by able character, Melchizedek by night, and he and his servants name. He is a Gentile king, but attacked them and pursued also functioning as a priest, not them as far as Hobah, which is of some Canaanite deity, but sur- north of Damascus” (v 15).  prisingly was a  “priest of God Most High” (v 18). Amazing! From Hebron to the Syrian capital is a 160-mile jour- This man will appear and then ney one way. That’s a lot of ups disappear from the page of and downs on a donkey or history in a few verses, but is camel. So how did it turn out? Total victory! All the goods and all the people were safely restored. 69

GENESIS 14:18 destined to show up in the New of God met two more kings. The Testament as a prototype of the first was Melchizedek, king of Lord Jesus Christ. No Jewish Salem. They met in the King’s king could picture the dual roles Dale, the saddle between of Christ as both a king and a Moriah and the City of David, priest, because in Israel God had where to this day you can walk established what we now call along Malki-zedek Street! “the separation of church and Melchizedek, we read in state.” Israel’s kings came from Hebrews 7:2, “first being trans- the tribe of Judah, while her high lated ‘king of righteousness,’ priests came from the tribe of and then also king of Salem, Levi. The name Melchizedek meaning ‘king of peace,’” means “King of Righteousness,” prefigures the Savior who and because he was ruler of would Himself die on Mount Salem, which means “peace,” he Moriah to first provide the gift of is also described as “King of righteousness to us by grace so Peace.” Add to that the fact that, we can  then  experience peace being a Gentile, his genealogy with God. And, surprise, sur- would not be included in the prise, Melchizedek provided Bible. Thus the New Testament Abram with the very things the writer adds that his portrait is Lord gave His people to cropped so he appears to be remember Him: bread and wine. “without father, without mother, without genealogy, having The king of Salem also blessed neither beginning of days nor the patriarch with these end of life.”  In this way he words:  “Blessed be Abram of is  “made like the Son of God Most High, Possessor of God”  (Heb 7:3). Interesting heaven and earth” (v 19). Have character! I wonder what you ever heard the phrase, “You happens next?  took the words right out of my mouth”? Well, here the king put 14:18-24 ENCOUNTERS WITH TWO the words right into Abram’s KINGS: On any given day, we have no way of mouth. Abram didn’t know it, knowing that a test is waiting for us that will but he was about to face tempta- shape the rest of our lives. tion from the king of Sodom. And the sentence Melchizedek After Abram’s battle to rescue just gave him was the line he Lot and his townsfolk, the friend needed for that test. Abram, in response to the king’s ministry,  “gave him a 70

GENESIS 15:1 tithe of all” (v 20). So as Abram would not impose those on the continues his journey, Sodom’s other men. “Let them take their king stops him and says, in portion,”  he explained to effect, “Let’s make a deal.” As Sodom’s king. Here’s a good Scripture put it,  “Give me the example to follow: always be persons, and take the goods for consistent with your own convic- yourself” (v 21). tions, but let others make their own decisions. Oh, no, responds Abram.  “I have raised my hand to the Just after these meetings with Lord, God Most High, the Pos- the king of Salem and the king of sessor of heaven and earth.” He Sodom, Abram had one more wouldn’t take so much as a royal engagement, this time thread or shoelace for fear that with the King of kings. Genesis some day the king of Sodom 15:1 reads,  “After these things would rob God of glory by the word of the Lord came to saying,  “I have made Abram Abram in a vision, saying, ‘Do rich.” How careful we must be not be afraid, Abram. I am your that the praise from our lives is shield, your exceedingly great directed always to the Lord.  reward.’”  In other words, You were right to let the king of 15:1 GOD, THE BELIEVER’S SHIELD: Sodom have the shoelaces and Of the hundreds of pictures used of God in the the rest of the stuff, for My glory. Bible, here’s one that is most encouraging. But Abram, you haven’t lost out. You have Me — I am  “your Having rescued Lot and the exceedingly great reward.” And inhabitants of the cities of the more than that, the Lord adds, “I plain with all their goods, am your shield.”  Abram should have been the one to receive the spoils of war. The psalmist liked this But he decided to relinquish this thought and used it almost 20 right for the honor of God. He times in referring to the Lord. didn’t want anyone claiming What does it mean that the Lord they had a hand in his blessing  is our shield? Well, a shield — only God. However, he did comes between us and our have three confederates who enemy; it’s designed to protect had gone with him on the rescue us. Believers’ lives are edited: operation. He had strong per- nothing can get to us but it must sonal convictions himself, but he first go through the Lord’s heart. And He has promised to elimi- nate anything not for our good. 71

GENESIS 15:1 We say with David in Psalm Genesis 15:6 says,  “And he 18:30, “As for God, His way is believed in the Lord, and He perfect; the word of the Lord is accounted it to him for right- proven; He is a shield to all who eousness.”  That’s it! Abram  trust in Him.” transferred his trust to God, and God transferred a righteous 15:5 WHEN ABRAM BELIEVED standing to Abram. GOD: Take it slow and steady here: this is the We have thought about the creation of the universe out of prototype for God’s only way of salvation. nothing, but this is, by far, a greater miracle! In a moment of Listen in on God’s conversation time, the believer passes from with Abram. We read that the spiritual death into eternal life, Lord “brought him outside and from being alienated to being said, ‘Look now toward heaven, reconciled to God. The Bible and count the stars if you are describes this in-a-moment con- able to number them.’ And He version as being from death to said to him, ‘So shall your life, from great distance to near- descendants be’” (v 5). Until the ness, from being enemies to invention of the telescope, how being God’s children, and of many stars did scientists think being transferred  “from the there were? In the second power of darkness and con- century, Ptolemy’s Almagest con- veyed into the kingdom of the tained 1022 stars. Tycho Brahe Son of His love” (Col 1:13). completed his “thousand-star” catalog in 1598. While signifi- Three New Testament pas- cantly improving positional sages — Romans 4:3, Galatians accuracy, he came up short at 3:6, and James 2:23 — explain 965.  Johannes Hevelius pub- this as the precedent case for lished a catalog based on naked salvation by grace alone. What eye observations in 1687, which did Abram do? He just took God contains 1,564 stars. at His word. Have you? But what does the Bible NO, REALLY. HAVE YOU? say? “As the host of heaven can- not be numbered, nor the sand Never confuse the gospel being of the sea measured, so will I free for you with how expensive multiply the descendants of it was for God. Consider this... David My servant...” (Jer 33:22). There is no wiggle room here. 72

GENESIS 15:6 We ended our last meditation years. If we will just take God at with the question, “Have you?” His word, as Abram did, He will Have you — what? Have you account to us His own right- just simply taken God at His eousness. word? Though they may be well-meaning, unfortunately What has He told us? The two many religious leaders compli- important factors are repentance cate the Bible’s gospel. They and faith. First, we must agree want you to attend services reg- that we are not just sinners be- ularly and contribute financially fore Him, but hopeless sinners. to the church. They say you The longer we live trying to must be baptised, and confess keep His rule book, the more your sins, and do good works, sins we commit. That will never etc., etc., in order to be sure of do. But second, we need to ac- heaven. cept God’s solution, Christ’s death for us at Calvary. Listen to These are good things in their this explained in Romans 6 and place, but, as Dr. John Lennox verse 23:  “The wages of sin is suggests, that’s like a man who death, but the gift of God is eter- is interested in a woman ap- nal life in Christ Jesus our proaching her with a big book. Lord.”  Will you receive Him “This is the rule book,” he says. now?  Well, really it’s a cookbook! “If you will cook me a perfect 15:6 THE FAITH OF ABRAM: Here is supper from this book every one of the most significant days in the life of night for, say, 50 years, I will Abram. It also happens to be a turning point consider marrying you.” in your life, too. Do you see the point? When Genesis 15 is one of the most im- religious leaders tell us that God portant chapters in the Bible. wants us to keep all of His rules Why? The first part tells the for our whole life, and story of the moment when the that then He’ll decide whether Lord accounted to Abram God’s He will receive us into His home own righteousness. The second in heaven, they’re offering the part describes the sealing of the same kind of arrangement. But Abrahamic Covenant, but that’s Jesus is the DOOR. He offers us for our next lesson. Let’s look a relationship on the front end. first at verses 1-6. We’ll have to He invites us to come “as is,” seriously think here, but it will with our inflamed conscience and broken heart and wasted 73

GENESIS 15:6 be well worth it. How was who does not work but believes Abram justified? Did he need to on Him who justifies the keep God’s Law first in order to ungodly, his faith is accounted be declared right by God? This is for righteousness”  (vv 2-5). the Bible’s definition of “justifi- Praise the Lord! Salvation is not cation”: to be judicially declared by our doing but by simple faith right by God. It is the entire in Christ’s work completely subject of Romans chapter 4. done for us. Only believe!  Paul has such high confidence in the historical accuracy of 15:8-9 THE LIGHT SHINING IN THE Genesis that he bases your salva- DARKNESS: The nation that came from tion by grace and not by law on Abram have known more than their share of the chronological order of the dark times, but more of heaven’s glory light, story. Was Abram justified too! before or after he was circum- cised? We’ll look at the subject of The second part of Genesis 15 is circumcision later, but it’s one of the strangest scenes in the sufficient to say it was a law God Bible. As God and Abram dis- gave to the Jewish people. If cussed both the seed and the Abram was circumcised before he land promised, faith sprang up was justified, then the case can in Abram’s heart,  “and he be- be made that we must keep the lieved in the Lord” (v 6). But al- law to be saved. BUT if Abram, most immediately, Abram called  “the father of all those asks,  “Lord God, how shall I who believe”  (Rom 4:11), was know that I will inherit it?” (v 8). circumcised  after  he was justi- Do you ever feel like this? I trust fied, this is a precedent case that God — but how can I know? we also can be saved apart from works and law-keeping. To remove all doubt, the God who promised now makes a Paul writes, “If Abraham was blood-oath, a covenant with justified by works, he has some- Abram. What is a covenant? The thing to boast about, but not word covenant is formed from con, before God. For what does the meaning “together,” and venio, Scripture say? ‘Abraham meaning “I come.” It is a coming believed God, and it was together of two parties in an accounted to him for righteous- agreement. God says, “Bring Me ness.’ Now to him who works, a three-year-old heifer, a three- the wages are not counted as year-old female goat, a three- grace but as debt. But to him year-old ram, a turtledove, and 74

GENESIS 15:12 a young pigeon”  (v 9). These God makes and keeps promises. were killed and the animals But there is a special grouping of (though not the birds) were promises in the Bible called divided in two, forming a path- “covenants.” A promise can way between them. Abram had involve a one-off event, but a to chase away the vultures till covenant is a long-term arrange- sundown, when he fell into a ment between two individuals deep sleep and, we read, a or groups. It’s important to horror of great darkness fell on notice different kinds of cove- him. What did this mean? In a nants, the most significant being vision, he saw and understood. whether the obligations of such an agreement are held by one or The next verse explains that both parties. A good example of Abram’s people, the Jewish a bi-lateral agreement would be nation, would pass through very the purchase of a home. The dark times. But even in the fur- builder agrees to construct your nace of affliction, the Lord, like a house according to the blue- burning torch, would be with prints, and, if you are satisfied them. And so it has come to with his work, you are then pass. Like the darkness in Egypt, obliged to pay for it. If the or the fiery furnace in Babylon, builder doesn’t do his job, or if or the great darkness at Calvary, you can’t pay for the work, the the Lord has known their covenant is broken. In other sorrows and come down to words, either side can cause the deliver them, although they agreement to collapse. have not always recognized it. And in one final time of Great We will see some covenants Tribulation, soon to occur, He like that in the Bible, especially will again come to rescue them, the one made between God and and they will discover their Mes- Israel at Mt. Sinai. But the cov- siah as the Lamb slain to provide enant that God made with an eternal covenant with God —  Abram, recorded in Genesis for everyone, like Abram, who 15:7-21, as well as the New believes His Word.  Covenant discussed in the book of Hebrews, are unilateral agree- 15:12 THE IDEA OF COVENANTS: ments where only one party — in Imagine making a contract with God — and these instances, God — is not a lawyer in sight! God’s word is as good obliged to take all responsibility as gold. for sustaining the covenant. This is crucial to understand. In the 75

GENESIS 15:12 case of Abram, we read, “Now between the Creator and Adam when the sun was going down, and Eve, representing the a deep sleep fell upon human race. The offer made Abram”  (v 12). It was while them lords over earth’s creation, Abram was unconscious that the and they were welcomed into a agreement was sealed. So if personal relationship with God. there was nothing he did The one proviso? To leave set- to make it, there was nothing he ting the standard of good and could do to break it. This is the evil to the Lord. Sadly, we know reason we believe it is  “not by what happened. However, the works of righteousness which Lord promised a Deliverer who, we have done, but according to we discover later, would ratify His mercy He saved us” (Titus a  New  Covenant by His own 3:5). The moment I place my blood, offered to all who receive trust in Him, my salvation is se- Him as their Sin-bearer. cure: I did nothing to make it; so I can do nothing to break it. As The next covenant God made Jonah said, “Salvation is of the with Noah (Gen 9:1-17). It in- Lord” (2:9).  cluded the right to take animals for food (minus their blood), and GETTING THE BIGGER PICTURE: the responsibility for society to execute first-degree murderers UNDERSTANDING GOD’S since the killer had taken the life COVENANTS of one made in God’s image. He also put a rainbow in the clouds Believe it or not, these cov- to declare His promise to never enant-making days are more again destroy the world with a significant than  Runnymede flood. or Independence Hall. But what are covenants and how many are Now we come to the Abra- there? We have considered that hamic Covenant, which has both “a covenant is a long-term ar- temporal arrangements for rangement between two indi- Abraham’s earthly children, viduals or groups.” A covenant Israel, and eternal arrangements with God means an offer to join for Abraham’s spiritual children, Him as junior partners in His those who trust in the Lord. thrilling projects. Amazing, isn’t it! The first arrangement was Two other covenants, the Mosaic and Davidic, will be looked at in greater detail later. But let me conclude with this wonderful truth: in spite of the 76

GENESIS 16:6 repeated failures of people to children.” So when we feel that keep their covenant promises, God has let us down, what do God remains resolute in His we do? Ask Him to help us purpose to have a free, eternal, understand? Not if we’re like and intimate partnership with Sarai — we take things into our us! “He has sent redemption to own hands. Sarai was desperate, His people; He has commanded and she began thinking. If she His covenant forever: holy and couldn’t bear this son — a son to awesome is His name” (Ps 111:9). be the beginning of a new nation Yes, He will prevail!  raised up to share God’s mes- sage with the whole world —  16:1-2 GOOD IDEAS OR GOD’S someone else would have to do it. Why, here was Hagar, her IDEAS? The Wise Man wrote, “There is a way young Egyptian maid. She did all sorts of tasks for Sarai; why that seems right to a man, but its end is the not this? way of death.” How true! We better find this shocking (although surrogate mother- This lesson is titled: “Good Ideas hood is still practiced today), but or God’s Ideas?” Remember the that’s what happens when we proverb:  “There is a way that decide we must do God’s work seems right to a man, but its end for Him. Hagar did conceive, is the way of death”? This story and the son born to her was certainly proves that point. named Ishmael, meaning “God will hear.” He is the father of the Almost every day in the news Arabs. Who named him? The we read about trouble between Angel of the Lord! What a the Arabs and the Jews. Do you rebuke to Sarai. If only she had know where that started? In gone to God with her doubts Genesis 16! Here’s the situation. and fears, wouldn’t God have It had been ten long years since heard and answered? And what God had promised Abram and about us? Instead of taking Sarai they would have a son. things into our own hands, let’s That promise wasn’t made when go to the Lord and remember, they were newlyweds; Abram “God will hear.”  was 75 and Sarai wasn’t far be- hind! This clearly was going to 16:3-6 HAGAR AT WIT’S END CORNER: be a miracle child. But month after month, nothing. Had a visit from an angel lately? Here’s a fas- Finally, Sarai lost hope. She felt that God had, in her words,  - “restrained me from bearing 77

GENESIS 16:6 cinating story about an angelic visit, with a she rested. Pregnant. Homeless. Hopeless. She wouldn’t be the surprise ending, too. last young woman in this pre- dicament. But who showed up There are no fewer than 20 thril- in her time of desperation? The ling stories in the Old Testament Angel of the Lord! He instructed where the Angel of the Lord Hagar to return to serving Sarai, shows up. Perhaps surprisingly, told her that the child would be the first two occurrences are a son, and gave him his name, with this poorly treated Egyp- Ishmael. And then He promised tian maid named Hagar. Even this:  “I will multiply your de- her Hebrew name, Hagar, must scendants exceedingly, so that have been hard to take. It means they shall not be counted for “stranger” or “sojourner,” some- multitude.” Though Abram had one who doesn’t belong. Sounds failed, God would not fail to pretty insensitive! Then she was keep His promise concerning used by her mistress to bear a Abram’s children, no matter child for Sarai and Abram. But how conceived. Here is a as soon as Hagar was pregnant, reminder: there may be illegiti- Sarai realized how wrong she mate acts by adults, but there are had been to suggest this. no illegitimate children. They are all valued by God.  To add insult to injury, Sarai saw she was despised by this 16:10-11 THE ANGEL OF THE LORD: servant woman who so quickly The Person called Jesus at His incarnation not conceived when she was unable only made the universe — He was very busy to. Jealousy in the home is in the time in between. deadly, and so Sarai put it to Abram: who was he going to The “Angel of the Lord” who choose, and choose he must, if appeared to Hagar was ob- there was to be peace in the viously an appearance by God home. Abram passed the buck Himself. Obviously? How so? back to Sarai and told her to do When we are introduced to such whatever she wanted with a heavenly Visitor, there are cer- Hagar. Thus we read,  “Sarai tain clues so we know if it is dealt harshly with her,” and in simply an angel or the Lord response, Hagar “fled from her Himself. Does He accept wor- presence” (Gen 16:6). ship? Does He claim the titles of She ended up in the wilder- ness of Shur, and there she found a spring of water, where 78

GENESIS 17:5 deity? Does He promise, as in One Who Sees.” Yes, He does. this story, to do things only God He sees you, knows your needs, can do? The Angel says, “I will and will come to your aid. Listen multiply your descendants to Isaiah 41:10, “Fear not, for I exceedingly”  (Gen 16:10). Ob- am with you; be not dismayed, viously only God could do that! for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help But here’s the interesting you, I will uphold you with My thing. While He claims to do righteous right hand.”  what only God can do, He also distinguishes Himself from God. 16:15-17:5 TIME FOR NAMES TO BE He says, “You shall call his name CHANGED: Normally we think about new Ishmael, because the LORD has names when babies arrive — but new names heard your affliction” (v 11). It for the parents? seems this Personage both claims to be God but also shows Hagar returned to Abram’s that He is not all of God that encampment, and when her there is. He is both God, and rep- time came, Ishmael was born. In resenting God. This is God the the last verse of Genesis 16, Son, representing God the we’re told that Abram was now Father. Listen to the words of eighty-six years old. More time John 1:18, “No one has seen God passes. When chapter 17 opens, at any time. The only begotten he is now ninety-nine! It’s been Son, who is in the bosom of the almost 25 years since God prom- Father, He has declared ised him a son, and Ishmael, Him.” God the Father and God God makes it clear, was not the the Spirit are invisible, but we son of God’s promise. The Lord can meet God in the person of then announces that both Abram the Son. In these Old Testament and Sarai are going to have their events, the Son appears in names slightly adjusted. From bodily form. Eventually He will now on, Abram would be Abra- take up residence in a real ham; Sarai would be Sarah. In human body when He is born at the Hebrew language, not Bethlehem. obvious in English, the change in each name is made by insert- Hagar is amazed that God ing a single letter, and that letter would care so much about her the same in both names — the that He would personally ap- letter he. The Jewish rabbis have pear to her. So she gives Him a special name, a term of endear- ment — Lahai Roi, or “The Living 79

GENESIS 17:5 had great debates about the the idea of “circumcision” is mentioned 73 significance of this, wondering if God was honoring them by add- times in the Bible, and 45 of them are found ing the letters from His own name YaHWeH. This much we in the New Testament! know. In preparation for this son to be born, when normally we In our last talk, we said that the would be thinking about names stage was almost set for Isaac’s for the child, God is thinking birth. But not quite! What more about new names for the parents! had to be done? Ah, this is a very delicate — but very important —  The man formerly known as topic: circumcision. I’ll simply Abram (meaning “high father”) read what the Lord said: “Every will now be called Abraham, or male child among you shall be “father of a multitude,” for, says circumcised; and you shall be the Lord,  “I have made you a circumcised in the flesh of your father of many nations”  (v 5). foreskins, and it shall be a sign Similarly, we read of his of the covenant between Me and wife,  “As for Sarai your wife, you”  (Gen 17:10-11). God con- you shall not call her name Sarai, cludes, “My covenant shall be in but Sarah shall be her name. your flesh for an everlasting And I will bless her and also covenant” (v 13), and warns that give you a son by her; then I will any Jewish male unwilling to do bless her, and she shall be a this was himself to be  “cut off mother of nations; kings of from his people.” Obviously the peoples shall be from her”  (vv Lord considered this a very 15-16). serious matter. The stage was now almost set We won’t go into details, but for the arrival of the son of clearly they were to always promise. But not quite! If you’re remember that God, not man, going to work with God, here’s has the power to create life. the key, found in Hebrews 10:36 Therefore that life belongs to (KJV), “For ye have need of pa- Him. But more, God would tience, that, after ye have done teach them that this was a sign the will of God, ye might receive of their being cut off from sinful the promise.”  practices and separated to Him in their hearts (see Deut 10:16), 17:10-13 THE STRANGE MARK OF the way this sign is used in the New Testament. The apostle CIRCUMCISION: It’s a touchy subject, but Paul (himself a circumcised Jew) states, “He is not a Jew who is 80

GENESIS 17:17 one outwardly, nor is circumci- joke.” While laughing is most sion that which is outward in the commonly associated with su- flesh; but he is a Jew who is one perficial mirth or overwhelming inwardly; and circumcision is joy, it can also be associated with that of the heart, in the other emotions: relief, embar- Spirit...” (Rom 2:28-29). rassment, surprise, confusion, or even unbelief. In our lesson And to all followers of Christ, today, both Abraham and Sarah whether Jews or Gentiles, he ex- laugh, but express very different plains in Colossians 2:11,  “In reactions to the same statement Him you were also circumcised from the Lord. with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off When Abraham heard God the body of the sins of the flesh, promise that his wife would not by the circumcision of Christ.” only be  “a mother of nations” God help us to live purely in an but would also have a line of increasingly filthy world. How kings in her future, we crucial that we separate our- read, “Abraham fell on his face selves from all that dishonors and laughed”  (Gen 17:17). It Christ; our fellowship with God may be he was actually looking depends on it. In the words of 2 down that line of kings to the Corinthians 6:17,  “Be separate, Messiah Himself, for Jesus says the Lord. Do not touch said,  “Your father Abraham what is unclean, and I will rejoiced to see My day, and he receive you.”  saw it and was glad” (Jn 8:56). Was there any doubt in his 17:17 WHO’S LAUGHING NOW? laughter? The Bible commentary Sometimes our overflowing joy shows itself states, “He did not waver at the in laughter. But sometimes laughter is a tell- promise of God through unbe- tale clue to unbelief. lief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God” (Rom The human race has the remark- 4:20). able ability to laugh. As Proverbs 17:22 says,  “A merry But with Sarah in the next heart does good, like medi- chapter, it was something differ- cine.”  The Mayo Clinic high- ent. Overhearing the conver- lights their article on the benefits sation from her tent,  “Sarah of laughter with the title, “Stress laughed within herself, saying, relief from laughter? It’s no ‘After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?’”  (Gen 18:12). We know 81

GENESIS 17:17 that doubt had crept in, because He provides water for washing the Lord responded, “Why did their feet (the first reference to Sarah laugh?...Is anything too foot washing in the Bible) and hard for the Lord?” (vv 13-14). arranges for what he calls  “a No, nothing is too hard for Him, morsel of bread, that you may and thankfully Hebrews 11:11 refresh your hearts.”  Actually, records, “By faith Sarah herself he orders up a full-course meal  also received strength to con- — fresh-baked bread and butter, ceive seed, and she bore a child tender beef, and milk. when she was past the age, be- cause she judged Him faithful After a reminder to the couple who had promised.”  Yes, faith of their coming son, the two always wins!  angels headed east from Hebron towards Sodom. Then we have 18:1-18 WHEN ANGELS SHOW UP: an interesting aside. The Lord A classic example of God’s promise that an- speaks. He does not appear to be gels have been “sent forth to  minister for speaking to the angels, and He is those who will inherit salvation.” not speaking to Abraham. He is speaking  about  him. In fact, it The writer to the Hebrews (13:2) seems that He is speaking to US, offers us this wisdom:  “Do not the readers of this wonderful forget to entertain strangers, for book. He asks, “Shall I hide from by so doing some have unwit- Abraham what I am doing, since tingly entertained angels.” That’s Abraham shall surely become a what our story today is about in great and mighty nation, and all Genesis 18. the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?” (Gen 18:17-18). Abraham, sitting by his tent door, saw three strangers ap- This is key to our understand- proaching. They are referred to ing of what follows. God will as men, for that’s how they ap- explain to Abraham His mission peared. But as they drew closer, to look for any righteousness in Abraham recognized one of Sodom before He destroys those them — it was the Lord! The wicked cities. In our next lesson, other two, it turns out, were we will answer the question: In angels. Bowing down, Abraham pleading with God, was Abra- says,  “My Lord, if I have now ham trying to get Him to change found favor in Your sight, do not His mind? And do we change His pass on by Your servant” (v 3). mind when we pray? Now that is an important question! 82

GENESIS 19:23 18:20-24 GOD IS LOOKING FOR the Lord, for fifty I would spare the city. Abraham continues, INTERCESSORS: Jesus wept over the unbe- What if there were forty-five? Forty? Thirty? Twenty? Ten? lief in Jerusalem. Who weeps and prays over Each time the Lord says He would spare the city if He found your city? that number. In our last study, we quoted the Don’t think that merciful Lord’s words: “Shall I hide from Abraham was trying to hold Abraham what I am doing...?” back a wrathful God! God told The answer is obviously No, Abraham what He was doing be- because He does tell him. There cause He knew this man thought is a form of speech called anthro- about Sodom like He did. Re- pomorphism. It occurs when member, Abram had also gone God changes His speech to talk to rescue these people. No, God like a man. Here’s one:  “The wanted someone to plead for Lord said, ‘Because the outcry them, just as He’s looking for against Sodom and Gomorrah is people today to pray for sinners great, and because their sin is around us who also need salva- very grave, I will go down now tion. No need to change God’s and see whether they have done mind; He is “not willing that any altogether according to the out- should perish but that all should cry against it that has come to come to repentance” (2 Pet 3:9). Me; and if not, I will know.’” Will you be such a friend of (Gen 18:20-21). God’s?  Of course, God knew it all be- 18:25-19:23. HOW TO INFLUENCE fore His visit. But in this way He was saying this was no rush to YOUR WORLD: Is lasting spiritual influence judgment. God was giving the people of Sodom every chance an inside or an outside job? The answer to show any repentance, any ex- pression of faith. It was like He may surprise you. would look through every closet, behind every door, in What a study in contrasts we every heart, to see if there have in Genesis 18 and 19! Abra- was anything He could salvage. ham lives near Hebron, the place that means “fellowship,” and Now Abraham asks, “Suppose has the Lord over for dinner! there were fifty righteous within Imagine that! They discuss a the city; would You also destroy matter of mutual interest — the the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous?” (v 24). No, says 83

GENESIS 19:23 plight of the wicked city of might sanctify the people with Sodom. The Lord tells him His His own blood, suffered outside plan, and, as He leaves to head the gate. Therefore let us go to Sodom, Abraham lays claim forth to Him, outside the camp, to this hope: “Shall not the Judge bearing His reproach. For here of all the earth do right?” (18:25). we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come” (Heb Meanwhile, Lot, who already 13:12-14). Fellowship with God, has been rescued once, when not friendship with the world, is stolen away with all the other the true path of influence.  inhabitants of the cities of the plain, has moved right back in. 19:24 IT’S GOING TO GET HOTTER No doubt he thought he could be an influence for good there, YET!  Don’t fall for the wrong idea (which and actually ended up “sitting in the gate of Sodom” (19:1), prob- many do), that God is a God of judgment but ably functioning as a judge. But who actually had the greatest Jesus is a loving pushover. influence with Sodom? The man in fellowship with God, sitting Who brought the infamous fire under the tree at Mamre, and and brimstone on wicked interceding for the city? Or the Sodom? Would it surprise you to man who thought he could know it was the One who took work within the system to effect the name Jesus when He entered change? When God came look- the human race? How do I ing through Lot’s hometown, He know? Because Jesus Himself couldn’t find even nine other said, “The Father judges no one, men whom Lot had influenced but has committed all judgment towards righteousness. Even his to the Son”  (Jn 5:22). Like a own sons-in-law thought he Lamb He came to die for our must be joking when he warned sins, but like a Lion He will them about coming judgment. return to deal with all rebels And, as we see in the next lesson, who refuse His offer of mercy. it’s a LOT worse than that, if you’ll excuse the play on words. Listen:  “…when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven Here’s the hard lesson: If you with His mighty angels, in flam- try to work within the system, ing fire taking vengeance on all you end up doing is advanc- those who do not know God, ing the system. What is God’s and on those who do not obey advice?  “Jesus also, that He the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction 84

GENESIS 19:26 from the presence of the Lord Our title, “Remember Lot’s and from the glory of His power, Wife,” is actually a Bible verse, when He comes, in that Day, to spoken by the Lord Jesus Him- be glorified in His saints and to self about 2000 years after the be admired among all those who events in Genesis 19. What was believe”  (2 Thes 1:7-10). Wow! so remarkable about this woman That ought to sober us up. that we are supposed to re- member now — another  2000 When the angels, appearing as years later? Let’s find out. men, arrived at Sodom that even- ing, Lot invited them to his home. Two angels have stayed They said they might just stay in through a tumultuous night at the town square, but Lot knew Lot’s house in the black heart of what went on at night on the city this wicked city. But early in the streets and insisted. A good thing, morning, they urged Lot, his too! When the men of Sodom —  wife, and two daughters to flee both old and young, the Bible says  the city because they knew this — heard these two visitors were was Sodom’s day of judgment. staying with Lot, they surrounded But, we read, “while he lingered, the house and demanded the men the men took hold of his hand, come out to engage in the atro- his wife’s hand, and the hands of cious sin for which Sodom his two daughters, the Lord became infamous. When Lot tried being merciful to him, and they to reason with them, they would brought him out and set him have attacked him if the angels outside the city” (v 16). “Escape hadn’t pulled him back inside. for your life!” they insisted, tell- Things went from bad to worse, ing the family to head to the so the angels blinded the men out- mountains, not looking back. side. Were they repentant? No, Still they dilly-dallied, asking says the Scripture. Even blind, instead if they could escape to a they exhausted themselves still little town nearby, named Zoar. trying to find the door! Say, The angels relented. It was not a reader, will Jesus be your Savior good idea, as we shall see. or your Judge? You  must make that choice!  And Lot’s wife? She just couldn’t let Sodom go. Turning 19:26 REMEMBER LOT’S WIFE: back, she perished with the city. No surprise the New Testament The people of God are like a boat in a troubled records of Lot,  “that righteous man, dwelling among them, sea. The problems start when the sea gets in tormented his righteous soul the boat. 85

GENESIS 19:26 from day to day by seeing and rising from the Sea, the lowest hearing their lawless deeds” (2 place on earth. Pet 2:8). I wonder if you ever feel like that in our increasingly Today called Har Sedom, or wicked world. Paul states, “But Mount Sodom, archeologist Sir evil men and impostors will George Adam Smith describes it: grow worse and worse, deceiv- ing and being deceived” (2 Tim “The glare of Sodom and Go- 3:13). “As it was also in the days morrah is flung down the of Lot,”  said Jesus,  “they ate, whole length of Scripture they drank, they bought, they history. In this awful hollow, sold, they planted, they built; this bit of the infernal regions but on the day that Lot went out come to the surface, this hell of Sodom it rained fire and brim- with the sun shining into it, stone from heaven and de- primitive man laid the scene of stroyed them all. Even so will it God’s most terrible judgment be in the day when the Son of on sin...We feel the flame Man is revealed” (Lk 17:28-30). scorch our own cheeks... Flee from the wrath to come!  Though the glare of this catas- trophe burns still, the ruins of TO HELP US it have entirely disappeared, and there remains in the valley “REMEMBER LOT’S WIFE,” no authentic trace of the names it has torn and scattered to in- LET’S REMEMBER THIS... famy across the world.” You can’t help but notice these You’ve heard of wolves in salt pillars. And they bring sheep’s clothing, but who would before us the solemn words of ever try to fit in by being sheep the Lord Jesus, “Remember Lot’s in wolves’ clothing? Baaaad idea! wife.” What is it that we are to remember? Unlike her husband I’ve often visited the south end who was grieved by the sin of of the Dead Sea area, where Sodom, it seems she gave her Sodom and Gomorrah used to heart to Sodom, and in the end be. For miles around, the barren couldn’t escape it. The sad landscape is covered with record reads,  “But his wife chunks of black lava-like rocks, looked back behind him, and called in the Bible “brimstone.” she became a pillar of salt” (Gen Everywhere it looks like a barren 19:26). She was so influenced by moonscape, with pillars of salt her environment, sadly, you couldn’t distinguish her any 86

GENESIS 20:12 more from the salt pillars ous. Let us live in the town of scattered there.  Zoar, meaning “little.” This the angels reluctantly allowed them “Do not be conformed to this to do. And what happened? We world,”  Paul warns,  “but be read that Lot  “was afraid to transformed by the renewing of dwell in Zoar”  (Gen 19:30). your mind, that you may prove Perhaps a visit showed him that what is that good and acceptable little Zoar was as troubled as and perfect will of God” (Rom Sodom, and he was fearful God’s 12:2). Warning: If you treasure judgment would also fall there. this world, you’ll end up being So he and his daughters headed worldly. Remember Lot’s wife!  where? To the mountains where they had initially been told to 19:30 A RIDDLE ABOUT A MUDDLE: seek refuge. There they found a Here’s a family tree that looks like tumble- cave in which to live. weed. No wonder they go wherever the wind blows. The move to Sodom had been expensive indeed. Lot lost his Here’s a Bible riddle: “Long ago wealth. He lost his peace of two boys were born. Each was mind, being  “oppressed  [lit., the brother of the other one’s worn down]  by the filthy con- mother, and their father was duct of the wicked.” He lost his their grandfather. Who were wife, too. And now he was going they?” That’s the theme of our to lose his reputation because his story today. And, yes, their daughters had learned the sinful mothers were also their grand- ways of Sodom. Getting their mothers, their aunts, and their father drunk, they bore children sisters, too. by him! What shameful behav- ior! And the two boys became How did that happen? Human the fathers of two nations that beings have a very bad habit. We were constant enemies of Israel  often think we know better than — Moab and Ammon. God. When we act independ- ently from Him, we jump from It was Sir Walter Scott who the frying pan into the fire — and wrote, “Oh what a tangled web then blame Him for our trou- we weave, When first we practice bles! When the angels dragged to deceive.” Amen to that!  Lot and his daughters out of Sodom, they were told to flee to 20:1-12 HERE WE GO AGAIN! This old the mountains. Not so, said Lot, the mountains are too danger- tale may seem like an exception, but how 87

GENESIS 20:12 many today trade their family’s security for ble  “because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is temporal advantage? a man’s wife” (v 3). Abimelech the king rebuked Abraham for Some temptations in life we fall his duplicity, and do you know for, then think we’ve learned our how the patriarch tried to excuse lesson. But they show up again, himself?  “Because I thought, and we’re just as weak as the last surely the fear of God is not in time. Down we go again! this place” (v 11). Oh, I see! Well, what about  your  fear of God, Frustrating, isn’t it? It reminds and your trust that He would us that we, in ourselves, need fulfill His promise to give you a the help of God to fend off our son? Could someone in Gerar enemy. This is exactly what hap- kill you before that happened? pened with Abraham in Genesis chapter 20. He was considerably Remember, believers are older than when he was tempted immortal until God has accom- to tell a half-truth about his wife plished His will in us. James 4:15 in Egypt. His scheme was to let says, “You ought to say, ‘If the on that Sarah was his sister, not Lord wills, we shall live and do his wife, so no one would be this or that.’” Isn’t it great to be tempted to kill him to have her. safe in His hands!  He explained: “She is the daugh- ter of my father, but not the 21:1 THE SON OF PROMISE: daughter of my mother; and she Dealing with God you’ll need to learn pa- became my wife” (v 12). tience; after all, He has eternity on His side.  The plan backfired in Egypt —  At last! Twenty-five years of so why not try it again with the waiting comes to an end. The king of Gerar, a region south- first sentence of Genesis 21 west of Hebron near the Med- repeats it so we don’t miss iterranean coast? Sure enough, it. “And the Lord visited Sarah the king of Gerar took Sarah, as He had said, and the Lord did perhaps as a way to make an for Sarah as He had spoken.”  alliance with the wealthy and power chieftain, Abraham. It We may think God’s promises isn’t usually a good idea to think are slow to come, but they are sure the worst about someone, just to come. At 90 years of age, Sarah what Abraham did on this occa- conceived and bore a son to sion. But again the Lord stepped Abraham in his old age. As we in, and that night told the king in a dream that he was in big trou- 88

GENESIS 21:11 will see in future studies, this son arrived? Abraham and Sarah will be used as a picture, or would speak across the cen- prototype, of God’s own Son, turies: Yes, you  can  trust the who also came after a very long Lord. Remember His own words wait, but in answer to the Lord’s to us when doubt crept in:  “Is promise. The new mother again anything too hard for the laughed, not as she had at first in Lord?” Absolutely not!  disbelief, but in joy at the birth of this little boy. 21:9-11 “I” TROUBLE: I’m sure these two boys never thought people would be Is it any wonder that she using them as an object lesson 4000 years said, “God has made me laugh, later. But we do! and all who hear will laugh with me”  (v 6). God’s joy is con- Normally two eyes are better tagious! Nor is it a surprise that than one, but in Abraham’s Abraham capitalizes on this household they spell “I” trouble, wonderful turn of events and and by that we mean Isaac and calls his son Isaac. The Hebrew Ishmael. Two boys claim Abra- word yitschaq means “laughter”! ham’s line. Normally the older The little fellow was circumcised son would be the heir, but God on the eighth day, as God had had something to say about that! said, and became a full-fledged member of the divine covenant When the Angel of the Lord made with his father. spoke to Ishmael’s mother, he described the future of the boy How Sarah delighted in moth- she was expecting: “He shall be erhood in her advanced years! a wild man; his hand shall be Verse 7 records her saying with against every man, and every amazement, “Who would have man’s hand against him” (Gen said to Abraham that Sarah 16:12). Another warlike leader in would nurse children? For I have this region was not what God borne him a son in his old age.”  was looking for to head up His new nation. Almost immediately After perhaps three years, we see hints of the friction that Isaac was weaned, and grateful still exists between the Arabs Abraham made a feast for all to and Jews, the people groups celebrate the goodness of God in from Ishmael and Isaac. faithfully doing as He had promised. I wonder. Is there Sarah right away observed some promise in God’s Word Ishmael scoffing his little half- that you have claimed and longed for, but it has not yet 89

GENESIS 21:11 brother. Interestingly, the word Abraham was certainly con- “scoffing” is the root of the word flicted when Sarah insisted that Isaac, or laughter! He wasn’t Hagar and her son, Ishmael, be laughing with him, but at him! sent away from their encamp- Sarah said to her husband, “Cast ment. But the Lord told him to go out this bondwoman and her ahead, and that, because of His son; for the son of this bond- promise to Abraham regarding woman shall not be heir with his offspring, Ishmael would not my son” (v 11). only survive but thrive, and God would make a great nation from When we come to Galatians 4 him as well. So early the next in the New Testament, we see an morning, Abraham said goodbye allegory that uses these two boys to his other son and his mother, and their mothers to teach a vital and they headed off into the lesson. “Abraham had two sons: wilderness south of Beersheeba. the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. But he What desolate country! Soon who was of the bondwoman their supplies ran out. Hagar was born according to the flesh, placed her boy under a shrub and he of the freewoman and sat some distance away, through promise, which things saying to herself, “Let me not see are symbolic”  (vv 22-24). Ish- the death of the boy”  (Gen mael came by human effort, and, 21:16). Then she began to weep. like those who try to earn God’s salvation, they do not qualify. Now we read something inter- But Isaac, the son of promise, esting in the narrative:  “God received God’s blessing simply heard the voice of the lad” (v 17). based on His word. So it is Not the woman’s weeping, but today. You can’t become an heir her son! He cared about this of God’s blessings by a combina- wild boy. And we should never tion of works and grace either. forget: God not only cares about “For by grace are ye saved the Jews; He cares about all the through faith; and that not of people groups in the Middle yourselves: it is the gift of East. At this moment, like Ish- God” (Eph 2:8, KJV).  mael, many are crying out to the true God, having felt abandoned 21:14-17 GOD BOTH SEES AND HEARS: and hopeless in the faith they once believed. Millions are Some day, says God, the whole Middle East turning to the Lord, many of them after an Ishmael-like from North Africa to Iraq will be “a blessing experience when  “the angel of in the midst of the land.” 90

GENESIS 21:34 God” appears to them. And, as were straightened out on that in this story, they are shown a occasion. This region of Gerar is well of water in their moral the hill country between the desert, and drinking from it, mountains of Judea and the they discover the Answer to Mediterranean coast. And these their desperate thirst. It is the people are the ones later called One who said (in John 7:37- the Philistines, who were such a 38),  “If anyone thirsts, let him grief in the days of Saul and come to Me and drink. He who David, and later Samson. But on believes in Me, as the Scripture this occasion, in Genesis 21, has said, out of his heart will flow Abimelech sees concerning rivers of living water.” Christian, Abraham that “God is with you please pray for the sons of in all that you do” (v 22) and so Ishmael today, as well as the sons seeks a peace treaty with him. of Isaac. They  can  become But immediately Abraham brothers — by sharing the true brings up an issue:  “Abraham faith of Abraham, who rejoiced rebuked Abimelech because of a to see the Christ.  well of water which Abimelech’s servants had seized”  (v 25). 21:25-34 LESSONS IN NEIGHBOR- Easy, Abraham! Lesson 2 in deal- LINESS: It’s better to think the best of people ing with neighbors? Don’ just and occasionally be disappointed than end up think well of them; speak well to being a professional cynic. them. Honest communication is key. Abimelech’s response? “I do At the end of Genesis 21, we not know who has done this have one more incident between thing; you did not tell me, nor Abraham and Abimelech. You had I heard of it” (v 26). remember Abraham had to learn the hard way that one of the first Let’s be like the boy who, whe- principles in neighborly rela- never he heard something neg- tions is to deal with people in ative about a friend, would good faith. Abraham thought respond, “Mebbe ’taint so.” With the worst rather than the best of that matter settled, Abraham the man, and it didn’t go well. and Abimelech  “made a cov- We read,  “Abimelech said to enant at Beersheba”  (meaning Abraham, ‘What did you have “well of the oath”), and seven in view, that you have done this lambs were given as guarantee. thing?’” (Gen 20:10). But things How this reminds us of God offering peace to us through His one perfect Lamb, as John 91

GENESIS 21:34 pronounced: “Behold! The Lamb his inheritance. But, as we saw, of God who takes away the sin there was a serious problem. The of the world!”  (Jn 1:29). Have whole scheme was based not you accepted God’s covenant only on a promised land but on a Lamb?  promised  son. If Abraham was going to be the “father of many THE DIFFICULT JOURNEY OF FAITH nations” (Gen 17:4), that process couldn’t begin until he had at A NOTE ABOUT GENESIS 22: It is al- least one boy! most impossible to exaggerate the significance of the events Finally, after so many years, found in Genesis 22. What we Isaac was born. What joy! What have recorded for us to watch in relief! What assurance that the our mind’s eye is a solemn re- God who makes promises also hearsal for the greatest events in keeps them. Now at last there human history — the crucifixion was a certain hope that this new and resurrection of Jesus, the God-worshiping nation could Son of God! Abraham and his become a reality. Surely all of family are living at Beersheba, those difficult tests in the school about 45 miles south of Jerusa- of God had been worth it, and lem. Isaac has grown into a fine nothing could interfere with the young man, and things could Big Plan now. But what Abra- not be better for the patriarch, as ham didn’t know was that one he delights in the son of his old final exam awaited before he age. But a moment for review. would graduate, and it was, by far, the most challenging test of Thus far, Abram had been all. What if, after all his giving called by “the God of glory” (Acts up for God, he was asked to also 7:2) to first leave his home in Ur give up his only son?  of Chaldea, then the place of his father’s grave in Haran, also in 22:1 THE PURPOSE OF GOD’S TESTS: the Mesopotamian Valley. Liv- The Lord is the best teacher; with Him we ing in various locales in Canaan learn a little and then get the opportunity to (with a disastrous side-trip to live the truth we just learned. Egypt), he finally parted ways with his nephew, Lot. It was In Genesis 22, we have recorded then that the Lord spread out the the seventh visit the Lord makes land of Canaan before Abram as to Abraham. The stage is set with these words: “Now it came 92

GENESIS 22:2 to pass after these things that gods of the Canaanites did, but God tested Abraham, and said the God of the Bible? Certainly to him, ‘Abraham!’ And he said, not! Then why this exception? ‘Here I am.’”  James makes it The answer to that is earth-shak- clear that God never tempts ing, but it will have to wait for people to do evil (Jas 1:13). another lesson. The second ques- tion is just as important. If Isaac However, He can, and does, was going to die, what would give His people tests to chal- happen to the Lord’s promise to lenge them in their relationship Abraham? Wasn’t it based on with Him, or to show them Isaac? Good questions, but if things that are keeping them we’re patient, God will provide from the full life God has for us amazing answers. all. Job in the Old Testament and Peter in the New both compared 22:2 FINAL EXAMS! We’re all in train- these trials to the way the fire ing for reigning, so of course the lessons and works to remove dross from our tests get tougher as we move toward our lives so we may be purified like graduation to glory. gold. In the hymn “How Firm a Foundation,” the poet writes: In Genesis 22:2, God had a “When through fiery trials thy surprise test for Abraham. “He pathway shall lie, My grace, all said, ‘Take now your son, your sufficient, shall be thy supply; only son Isaac, whom you love, The flame shall not hurt thee; I and go to the land of Moriah, only design Thy dross to con- and offer him there as a burnt sume, and thy gold to refine.” offering on one of the mountains Well, in this lesson, the heat for of which I shall tell you.’”  Abraham was certainly going to be turned to high! Our last study concluded with the question, If Isaac was going Here’s what God asked him to to die, what would happen to do:  “Take now your son, your the Lord’s promise to Abraham? only son Isaac, whom you love, Wasn’t it based on Isaac? Re- and go to the land of Moriah, member, Abraham had waited and offer him there as a burnt 25 years until finally his son was offering on one of the mountains born. At this point, Isaac is in the of which I shall tell you” (v 2). vigor of young manhood, a suit- What? Offer up his son, Isaac? able heir to the covenant Jeho- Immediately two big questions vah had made with his father. spring to our minds. First, does God want human sacrifices? The 93

GENESIS 22:2 Recall that his name means “laugh- 22:3 IS IT OBEDIENCE IF I DECIDE  ter,” for, said Sarah,  “God has made me laugh, and all who hear WHEN TO OBEY? Obedience doesn’t only will laugh with me” (Gen 21:6). involve what we do, but also when we do it. But nobody’s laughing now. Yet here we see the remarkable I know it’s hard to imagine, but faith of Abraham! Let me ask just for a moment consider if again the question: Wasn’t the God had asked you to do what promise to make Abraham He asked Abraham to do in the  “father of many nations” Genesis 22. Would what we read based on Isaac continuing to live of the patriarch be recorded of and himself bearing children? us?  “So Abraham rose early in The man who would also be the morning” (v 3). Do you think called “the father of all those who we might have lingered a while believe”  (Rom 4:11) responded at the breakfast table that day? with a resounding “No!” The But he was in a hurry to obey. promise was based on God Him- When I came into the world in self, and, said Abraham, God will 1951, my father had only keep His word, however bleak it recently been decommissioned looks at the moment. as a lieutenant in the Air Force. I’m not kidding when I say that In fact, the Bible records an his instructions to us were not to explanation two thousand years be considered suggestions! A later, in Hebrews 11:19, that watchword in our house became Abraham was willing to obey familiar to our little souls: “Obe- the Lord in offering his dience means now.” If we son, “concluding that God was decided to do what he asked us, able to raise him up, even from but at the time of our own the dead.”  choice, that was not obedience. Abraham followed the same Yes, long before people even guideline. had the Bible that told of the hope of resurrection, this man American scholar Edward believed that the only worth- Robinson (1794–1863), often while life must be based on called “the father of biblical trusting God in every circum- geography,” successfully identi- stance because He always fied more than 200 sites in Israel. proves Himself faithful. I hope On one of his journeys, he rode you believe this, too, because camelback from Beersheba to without such faith it is impos- Mount Moriah, leaving at first sible to please the Lord. light and riding until dark. He 94

GENESIS 22:4 barely made it in three days! So and Sarah would later be buried. with amazement we read, “On Then it was on to Bethlehem, the third day Abraham lifted his what would be a significant eyes and saw the place afar town in the days of his grandson off” (Gen 22:4). No dilly-dallying Jacob, for there Benjamin was for him! It reminds us that pro- born and Jacob’s beloved Rachel gress in the Christian life is de- died in childbirth. Buried by the termined not by how much we roadside, the traditional site of know but by how quick we are her tomb is often visited today. to obey what we know. So it was In fact, the high ground on the with our Savior as He made His southern hills that surround way to the place of sacrifice: “He Jerusalem is still called Ramat steadfastly set His face to go to Rahel, the Hill of Rachel. Just Jerusalem” (Lk 9:51). over its crown you will find a stone chair. Donated by the Say, believer, is there some- widow of famous British artist thing the Lord has asked you to Holman Hunt, if you sit there do for Him, a sacrifice to make, you will have the same vantage some forgiveness to ask or give? point from which Abraham We are encouraged to act “while could see  “the place afar off” it is called ‘Today,’ lest any…be (Gen 22:4), the farthest heights of hardened through the deceitful- Mount Moriah, the site of ness of sin” (Heb 3:13). Today’s Calvary. But though you may the day! never be there to see the place geographically, you can see the 22:4 THE PLACE: What place did place spiritually, as Abraham also did. The Lord Jesus Abraham see? The same place of which it stated, “Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was would be written, “the place which is called glad” (Jn 8:56). Calvary.” There is no place like it when you see it with the eyes of faith. We read in Genesis 22:4, “On the The “watershed of two eter- third day Abraham lifted his nities,” there the desperate need eyes and saw the place afar of man found its answer in the off,”  the place where he had gift of God. There  “Mercy and been called to offer his son. Trav- truth are met together; right- elling north from his encamp- eousness and peace have kissed ment at Beersheba, he would each other” (Ps 85:10). Both the have taken the Ridge Road northeast to Hebron where he 95

GENESIS 22:4 uncaused hatred of humanity had obligated Himself to fulfill and the causeless love of heaven His promise through Isaac, in met, and love won the day! the same way that believers can There God  “made Him who know resurrection awaits us on knew no sin to be sin for us, that the other side of death. we might become the righteous- ness of God in Him” (2 Cor 5:21). The wood was laid on Isaac Sinner, come to Calvary. And (not a little boy but a young believer, never get very far away. man) just as the cross would be laid on the Father’s Son for His 22:5 WHERE IS THE LAMB? When it journey up the same mountain. comes to God’s ways, some questions aren't Then taking the fire and the answered for a really long time. knife, we read, “the two of them went together”  (v 6). But then As Abraham and Isaac ap- Isaac’s question: Fire? Yes. proached Mount Moriah from Wood? Yes. But the lamb— the south, the old man turned to where is the lamb? The father’s the young men traveling with reply was in reality a deferment, them and said, “Stay here with a call to trust the Lord for it: “My the donkey; the lad and I will go son, God will provide for Him- yonder and worship, and we self the lamb”  (v 8). But in a will come back to you”  (Gen deeper sense, that question hung 22:5). We? “We will come back to there unanswered for two mil- you”? But I thought Abraham lennia, until one day John the knew it was just a one-way trip Baptizer  “saw Jesus coming for Isaac. Hadn’t God told him toward him, and said, ‘Behold! to  “offer him there as a burnt The Lamb of God who takes offering” (v 2)? No, the man of away the sin of the world!’” (Jn faith wasn’t thinking of return- 1:29). Another two thousand ing with a container of ashes. If years has rolled, and soon we there was really going to be a will join John the apostle and death on Moriah, he was also say, “And I beheld…a Lamb as it expecting a resurrection! After had been slain”  (Rev 5:6), the all, Isaac had come into the Lamb we will follow wherever world in the first place by way of He goes.  a miracle — a kind of resurrec- tion out of the dead womb of 22:6 TOGETHER: The Father and Son Sarah. Abraham knew that God agreed that we are the living answers to the question, “My God, why have You forsaken Me?” 96

GENESIS 22:8 With the wood fuel on Isaac’s sin for us! The Light of the back, and the fire and knife in World plunged into a horror of Abraham’s hands, we read, “and darkness! The Lord of Life to the two of them went to- taste death for everyone! Whole gether” (Gen 22:6). Then, having civilizations full of sinners full of answered Isaac’s question, at sin, all hurled upon Him. Then least in part,  about the needed the wrath they deserved poured lamb, we read again, “So the two out. And, oh, abandonment by of them went together” (v 8). God, His only delight! Holy ground here! I love the words of We could just as well write H.A. Ironside as he spoke of the over the scene at Calvary,  “So Greater Son of Abraham (Mt the two of Them went to- 1:1). He wrote: “Never were the gether.” Isaac may not have fully Father and the Son so united in understood what he would desire and purpose as when the experience that day, but the Lord Lord Jesus cried, ‘My God, My Jesus knew exactly what the God, why hast Thou forsaken Cross would mean for Him. Me?’” Ah, that’s it! Together! After all, “the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy”  (Rev 22:7-8 THREE VERY BIG IDEAS: With 19:10). He inspired David to Bible ideas, very often the key is under the write the agonizing words of mat, right at the front door. Psalm 22 and moved Isaiah to pen Isaiah 53, recording before- “Where is the lamb for a burnt hand His agony and blood-like offering?...God will provide sweat in Gethsemane. He had Himself a lamb...” (vv.7,8). The also asked His Father some- Bible is not strictly a chronologi- thing:  “that if it were possible, cal book, although many parts the hour might pass from follow a timeline. Instead, it is a Him”  (Mk 14:35). But then He progressive revelation, as Isaiah expressed His willingness to describes it: “Precept upon pre- climb Calvary’s hill with His cept, precept upon precept, line Father in these words:  “never- upon line, line upon line, here a theless, not what I will, but what little, there a little” (28:13). That You will” (v 36). means the first time an idea is introduced in the Word of God, Never think for a moment that it often lays the foundation for the will of the Father and Son that idea through the rest of were at odds. Of course the Sav- ior shrank back from the experi- ence! The Holy One to be made 97

GENESIS 22:8 Scripture. This provides one in- the enjoyment and appreciation dication of the importance of of God Himself. May every one this chapter, because in it we are of us live at the crossroads of introduced to three of the big- love, the Lamb, and worship. It’s gest ideas in the Bible. where we will dwell forever. Here we find the first mention 22:10 “ABRAHAM! ABRAHAM!” Is a of “lamb,” a theme that climaxes test a test if you know it's a test? If Abraham in the book of Revelation with had known it was a test, he wouldn’t have God’s little Lamb on the throne. been tested. We also find the first mention of “love,” which which Paul tells us Far from curious eyes, alone on is the greatest thing in the world the heights of Moriah, like those (1 Cor 13:13). Interestingly, it is Two who met there behind a veil not romantic love, the love of thick darkness, Abraham pre- between a man and woman, but pared to do the deed. I confess the love of a father for his son. my heart quivers as I think of That should be no surprise, any one of my seven beloved because the fountainhead of all children in such a predicament. true love can be traced back to But here are the words:  “And the love of God the Father for Abraham stretched out his hand His dear Son, united in the bond and took the knife to slay his of the Spirit. son” (Gen 22:10). This was not some horrible pagan ritual And it isn’t very far into the where dark savages thought story until, as we watch Abra- they might give    “the fruit of ham and Isaac climbing the [their] body for the sin of [their] slope of Moriah, we can see a soul”  (Mic 6:7).  No, the holy, much larger story unfolding, righteous, loving and merciful with another Father and Son God, the true God, had asked climbing the same mountain to the patriarch to do this. the place of sacrifice two thou- sand years later. Thus we see But of course it was a test. Did another idea here clearly stated Abraham know it was a test? for the first time. Although the Have you ever seen school boys Hebrew word shaw-chaw’ occurs during a fire drill? Do they take a few times earlier in the sense of it seriously? Of course not; they bowing down in reverence, here know it’s just a test! It isn’t a test it is clearly the idea of “worship” if you know it’s a test. As far as (v.5). Worship is the highest occupation of the human soul, 98

GENESIS 22:13 Abraham was concerned, this arrested Abraham and kept him was REAL! He actually had sac- from harming his son is the One rificed his son the moment he described in the New Testament mounted up at Beersheba, and, in these clear and helpful no doubt, had excruciatingly words: “No one has seen God at sacrificed him in his mind a any time. The only begotten Son, thousand times over on the jour- who is in the bosom of the ney north. But, as the riddle Father, He has declared Him”(Jn goes: What was commanded by 1:18). The Seen God is always God, but never intended; it was the Son of God. started, but never completed? Dear Christian, do you under- The answer is the Big Moment stand what this means? Two in our story — the blessed inter- thousand years before His own ruption from heaven:  “Abra- journey to Calvary, at the north- ham, Abraham!” called out the ern peak of Mount Moriah, the Angel of the Lord. Good thing Son of God was there watching Abraham had learned instant another father and son going to obedience, wasn’t it! And whe- the place of sacrifice. He was never I read this story, I try to watching as old Abraham built understand both the joy of Abra- the altar, laid out the wood, ham and the relief of Isaac. You bound his son, and helped him see, I was the one deserving the onto the altar. He saw the sword of Jehovah’s justice at upraised knife glistening in the Calvary. But listen! A cry from sunlight. But more, He knew the heaven!  “Deliver him from profound reverential fear in going down to the Pit; I have Abraham’s heart that would do found a ransom”  (Job 33:24). such a thing. Notice carefully:  Can you take a moment to enjoy “now I know that you fear God, again your sweet deliverance since you have not withheld your today? son, your only son, from Me.” 22:13 THE SUBSTITUTE: Significantly, Again, as we noticed in earlier it was a ram, not a lamb. If caught in the visitations of the Angel of the thicket by any part but its horns, it would Lord, we can see the distinction have been unusable. in Persons but absolute unity of action in the statement.  “You I don’t think there’s any doubt fear GOD…you have not with- that the Angel of the Lord who held your son…from ME.” But what a profound insight we have here! Who was it that 99

GENESIS 22:13 stopped the knife and provided Yet this scene at Moriah sur- a substitute, “a ram caught in a passes the other Old Testament thicket by its horns” (v 13)? The mountains in its literal fulfill- very same One for whom there ment. At first, the Lord only would be no voice from heaven, called the place where he was to no substitute ram! How true the offer his son “one of the moun- words of His detractors:  “He tains of which I shall tell you” (v saved others; Himself He cannot 2). Abraham’s faith journey save”  (Mt 27:42). If He had re- would climax in the same way it turned to the Father without His began, with these words:  “Get redemptive work, there would out of your country, from your be no salvation to offer, and God family and from your father’s would not bear the name “Jeho- house, to a land that I will show vah Jireh.” But God DID pro- you” (Gen 12:1). This is the path- vide! No wonder He is so way of trust and obedience. pleased with His Son. When the Lord calls us to be 22:14 THE MOUNTAIN OF GOD’S His traveling companion on this expedition of a lifetime, we dis- CHOICE: Why Moriah? On its southern peak, cover that He is the starting point, the roadway, and the final the temple would be raised; on its northern destination. No wonder Moriah means “seen of Jah.” Why would peak, the cross would be raised! God take Abraham past scores of mountains to that one? By the “Abraham called the name of keen inner sight of faith, Abra- that place Jehovah Jireh’ (v14). ham understood. When the We have been observing one of story came to its serendipitous the fascinating mountain scenes ending, he looked down the cen- of the Old Testament. Others turies and made this prophecy include Noah at Ararat, Moses at in renaming the place:  “And Sinai, Caleb at Hebron, David at Abraham called the name of the Zion, and Elijah at Carmel. Each place, The-Lord-Will-Provide; as in their own way points to the it is said to this day, ‘In the mountain scenes of the Savior: Mount of the Lord it shall be the mount of explanation and His provided’”  (22:14). We might famous sermon there (Mt 5–7), have expected a grateful father the mount of  transfiguration, to call it The-Lord-Has-Pro- probably Hermon (Mt 17), the vided, but somehow he sur- mount of crucifixion (Mt 27), and mised that this was the place Olivet (Lk 19:29), the mount of His exaltation. 100