Genesis Chapter 16

 

Genesis 16

This chapter continues the story of Abram and his wife Sarai but introduces a new character to their story, Hagar. (Sarai’s Egyptian servant) 

The story of Abram is an example to us how to grow in our own faith. In Romans 4:16 Abraham is called the father of all who believe. He makes mistakes but he does continue to grow spiritually.

Verses 1-6

Sarai’s first recorded words are “the Lord has kept me from having children.” - she speaks her circumstances instead of speaking God’s promises.

Sarai told Abram to take Hagar as his wife and have a child with her. Abram listened to his wife. (Now this is not God’s way of doing things and we are still dealing today with the consequences of that decision).

Hagar had a child and looked down on Sarai and this caused conflict between the two women. 

Vs 5 Sarai is mad at Abram and blames him for the conflict between her and Hagar.

Vs 6 Abrams gave Sarai permission to do what she wanted to Hagar and she dealt harshly with her so Hagar runs away.

Verses 7-16

An Angel found Hagar and asked her where she was going. She told him she was getting away from Sarai.

The Angel told her to return to Sarai her mistress and submit to her because she was pregnant with a son and the Lord was going to make his descendants into a large nation.

Vs 12 She was instructed to name her son Ishmael. The Angel foretold that Ishmael would be a wild man, his hand against everyone and everyone’s against him. In other words, he will live in hostility towards all his brothers. (This is a prophecy given 4,000 years ago that the Jewish people and the Arabs will be in hostility towards each other and that has been going on for 4,000 years).

Hagar called the Lord “the God of seeing” because He looked after her in her time of trouble.

The spring of water where the Angel and Hagar met became known as Beer-lahai-roi.

Hagar the Egyptian believed God’s promise and returns in faith. She comes back obedient to God.

Abram was 86 years old when Ishmael was born.

God has given us these details about Abrams life for us. In some of these stories of Abram he gets it right and in some like this story, he doesn’t. The greatest lesson here is NOT to speak our circumstances but instead speak God’s promises. Speaking circumstances never activates the promises of God.

We can’t rush God by taking matters into our own hands. God had promised to make Abram’s descendants into a great nation in Chapter 12. As they got older the chances of that seemed impossible. Sarai decided to solve things her own way but that ended up causing more problems in their home. This story teaches us that it is better to trust God patiently. 

Genesis Chapter 15

  

Genesis 15

This chapter is about God appearing to Abram in a vision. The story of Abram is important because he is called the Father of all who believe in Romans 4:16. He is an example to us of what growing in our faith looks like.

Verses 1-7

He is an example to us of what growing in our faith looks like. This is the first time God says, fear not (Abram had just gone to war and there was probably the thought of retaliation from those he defeated). I am thy shield is the promise of protection.

 Vs 2-3 In this vision God promises to make Abram a great nation. Abram was baffled with this promise because he and Sarai didn’t have any children. Abram thinks this is impossible. Abram spoke the circumstances not the promise which is what we do in life.

God told him not to worry because his descendants would be equal to the number of stars in the heaven. 

Abram believed the Lord. *being right with God doesn’t activate the promise. - Abram had the promise for 24 years and still nothing happened.

Verses 8-21

Abram asked God how he could be sure his children would inherit the land of Canaan.

God told him to take a heifer, a female goat, a ram, a turtle dove, and a pigeon and cut them in half, except for the pigeon.

Abram did and that night God caused him to fall asleep and experience a “dreadful and great darkness.”

Abraham was told his offspring would be strangers in another land that did not belong to them and they would suffer there 400 years.

After 400 years they would leave with great possessions.

God was going to delay the inheritance of Canaan for 400+ years because the Amorites who lived there were not yet wicked enough to cast out.

God caused a fire pot and a flaming torch to pass through the divided animals.

He made a covenant with Abram to give his children the land from the River of Egypt to the great River. (Euphrates)

Let’s not speak our circumstances but instead let’s speak God’s promises. Just like Abram we have God’s Word that gives us hope for not just a future but for a great future. Our future looks just as bright and just as big. Greater than the stars in the sky. Look up in the sky and when you see all the stars shine above let it be a reminder of the promises of God. It only takes one scripture to overcome the enemy in our life. That is why reading and understanding of God’s Word can change our circumstances completely. God gave us the tools for life in this book and it is up to us what we do with this wonderful gift called the Bible.

Genesis Chapter 14

  

Genesis 14

This chapter happened sometime between 1921-1896 BC. There is a war that took place and Lot was taken as a prisoner.

Verses 1-16

Four kings of the area fought against 5 kings who had rebelled against Chedorlaomer who they had served for 12 years.

The kings of Sodom and Gomorrah lost and their cities were taken captive by their enemies.

In chapter 13 verse 12, Lot had pitched his tent and was living facing Sodom but in this chapter Lot is now living in Sodom. Lot is a believer but making terrible decisions for himself and his family. 

Vs 13 of chapter 14 is the first time the word Hebrew is mentioned.

When Abram heard his nephew was taken prisoner he rallied 318 trained men from his household to rescue Lot. Abram was living in peace, but was prepared for war.

Vs 15 shows that Abram, The Father of Faith who is 85 years old now goes to war using strategy by dividing his forces and attacking by night.

He defeated them and brought Lot, and the women and all the people and possessions back to Canaan.

Verses 17-24 

The king of Sodom (Bera) and king of Salem (Melchizedek) met Abram when he returned from his victory or slaughter.

The name Bera means Son of Evil. The name King of Salem (Melchizedek) means the King of peace.

Melchizedek according to vs. 18 is a King and a priest to God. He blessed Abram and Abram gave him a tenth of all he possessed.

Melchizedek some believe was Jesus showing up in the Old Testament and others believe he was a picture of Jesus.

To be King and priest was not customary and there would be another in the New Testament who was King and priest: Jesus

Vs 18 the bread and wine would have been communion.

Vs 19 He blessed Abram and gave God the glory for deliverance from the enemies of that war. 

Vs 21 The King of Sodom represents satan. In vs 21 he said to Abram bring the people to me and keep the spoils for yourself. He wanted the people’s souls hoping Abram would be more interested in the “stuff” he could obtain.

Abram refused the spoils of war from the King of Sodom because he didn’t want it to be said that the King of Sodom made him rich. 

How often are we more focused on the “stuff” of life than the souls of men?

Luke 12:34 For where your treasure is there will your heart be also.