Tag: Genesis

Lot and the destruction of the cities

January 22, 2020

Chapter 19 in Genesis has so many disturbing aspects to it that I must restrain myself or we will be here all day.

Only two of the three men who visited Abraham arrive at Sodom.  Scripture calls them messengers.  They want to spend the night outside, but Lot won’t allow it.  He knows what will happen.  All the men in the city demand that Lot send them out.  The Bible is clear as to what they want.  That is why sodomy is the name for forced homosexual activity.

The Ammonites and the Moabites are introduced as the children of Lot by his two daughters.  This chapter has incest and homosexuality.  Were these “the good old days?”

Here we go, again.  Many things about chapter 20 of Genesis seem to be Deja Vu.  Abimelech takes Sarah just as was done in chapter 12.  The deception is planned to save Abraham’s life.  I call this a deception and not a lie because Sarah was his half-sister.  They had the same father, but not the same mother.

Abraham’s explanation to the king of Gerar is that he feared for his life.  God calls the Patriarch a prophet and tells Abimelech that despite Abraham, Jehovah will protect him and his family.  Once again, the errors of the humans are corrected by the Almighty.  This still happens today.  Often, we don’t give Him the credit when He rescues us.

Today’s reading from Genesis 21 announces the birth of Isaac to Sarah and Abraham.  This time of joy is soon disturbed by another problem.   Ishmael is making fun of the baby and Sarah demands that he and his mother leave.

God intervenes after they are forced out and shares that Ishmael will be the ancestor of his own nation.  Many of the Arab countries that are at war with Israel today trace their heritage and hatred of the Jews to Ishmael.

The chapter ends with the formation of a treaty with Abimelech the Philistine.  This started as a battle over a well which was always at a premium in this desert area.  Once again good judgment is shown by the father of Isaac.

©Copyright 2020 by Charles Kensinger

Not Sarai’s son

January 21, 2020

Baby 001Genesis 16 tells Sarai’s idea of how they could have a child.  It was in common use in their culture.  As our times and current popular opinions often lead us in directions God would not approve Abram and Sarai made a similar mistake.  A child by another woman was not in Jehovah’s perfect will.

This hiccup did not surprise Him.  His promise of the number of people groups that would come from the Patriarch is increased even more through Ishmael.  While this was not the original plan it did not destroy God’s goal.  Often, we delay God, but can never derail Him.

In Genesis seventeen we are introduced to circumcision as a symbol of nationality.   Even today Hebrew males have their foreskin removed eight days after their birth.  The ceremony is called a bris.  It is equivalent to the Baptism of babies in certain Christian denominations.  Without it, your son will not be part of the inheritance of Abraham.

God also changes Abram’s name from Exalted Father to Father of Many.  This is also the chapter where Sarah’s name is changed, and God includes her in the biological lineage of the nations and kings to come.

The name of the child to carry the covenant is interesting. Isaac means He Laughs. Every time Abraham and Sarah called their son, they would be reminded of the fact they thought this child being born was laughable.

We’ve arrived in chapter 18 of the first book in the Old Testament. Abraham sees three men coming towards his tent. He implores them to stop and eat with him. They stayed for several hours. Long enough to butcher and cook a calf. This is a much longer process than thawing steak in the microwave.

Some believe this was an early incarnation of Jesus with two angels. Others view the three as representing the triune Godhead. The Lord announces that the child will be born within a year. This time, it is Sarah’s turn to laugh at the idea.

The purpose of the visit is to warn Lot and Abraham that Sodom and Gomorrah will be destroyed. Abraham convinces God not to follow through if only ten righteous people can be found. This story continues tomorrow.

Abram’s travel plans

January 21, 2020

Map of the Middle East 002

Genesis chapter 12 is what we will read today. We are continuing to follow the chronological order. God’s instruction to Abram was to go to a land that He would show him.  Anyone want to make travel plans this way?  Promises are made to him.  Blessings and cursing would be dependent on him.

Being called by God does not guarantee that all our decisions will be good.  The story of Abram telling Sarai to lie about being his wife does not seem to indicate his honesty and desire to protect his wife.   God protected Sarai when her husband would not.  God often protects us from ourselves.  Currently, Abram was not a man of faith in Jehovah.

The story of nephew Lot begins here in Genesis chapter thirteen.  Lot and Abram both had large flocks and herds.  As nomads, they constantly moved around to find new grazing grounds.  Their shepherds and herdsmen were fighting over the best grass.

Previous incidents did not demonstrate any Godly wisdom from the Patriarch.  However, this time he approaches the situation with much discernment.  He allows Lot to choose which direction to go.  There is no bad ground here.  Only good, better or best.  To the human mind, Abram goes to the wrong area.  It is not the best.  We’ll talk about this when we read other chapters.

God promised to fill all the land around Abram with his offspring.  This included where Lot had gone.  Jehovah always remembers His promises.

Our story starts with a war that involved Abram’s nephew Lot in Chapter fourteen of Genesis.  His side is defeated, and his uncle comes to their aid.  The smaller force is successful in recovering property and freeing Lot and others including women.

Abram gives the priest of Salem a tithe of the proceeds from the rescue.  Melchizedek is honored and blesses Abram.  Apparently, he is a worshiper of Jehovah.  The Patriarch also refuses to accept profit from the King of Sodom for the rescue.  This is one of Lot’s first problems with his choice of place to reside.

Melchizedek has a short scene here. In Paul’s writings, we read that Christ is a priest on the order of this man. He predates the Aaronic priesthood. He is different from what we normally think of as a priest of Yahweh.

Jehovah makes an everlasting covenant or agreement with Abram today in Genesis chapter fifteen. The method of securing a legal agreement was by splitting animals and laying them out in a manner where you could pass between the two halves. The animals were laid out and a firepot representing God passes through. Abram believes and it was counted as faith. He still was not perfect but did believe that this promise would be kept. That is all God wants us to do. Believe Him one step at a time.

©Copyright 2020 by Charles Kensinger

In the beginning

January 8, 2020

Dwingello 1 galaxy 001

I started a previous attempt to publish my comments about the entire Bible in a systematic way for a year. I failed to complete it.

Today we start with Genesis chapter one. We are reading in chronological order. I will make some observations on each scripture. Use the comments under my post to share your thoughts or ask questions. We will attempt to answer all the questions.

Genesis chapter one begins “In the beginning God.” God is called the creator of everything. Many ask, “If God created everything, who created God?” That is why God is God. He has no beginning or end. He is eternal. That is what is meant by “In the beginning God.” It wasn’t until the fourth day that the sun, moon, and stars were made.

On the sixth day, all land animals are created including man. Man is made in the image of God. Other verses will explain this later. The first command is given to mankind, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.

We move on to the seventh day and God resting from His work in Genesis 2.  God did not need to rest, but we do. He set the example for us.

Man Is created from just dust and given the task of naming all the animals.  Often, we are told that language was developed slowly by people. God created it along with man. A dog is not man’s best friend, that is why a woman was created.  Every man needs a wife for a best friend. Unlike man, she was not made from dust. She was formed from the body of Adam himself.

Marriage is first mentioned here in the Bible. A man leaves his mother and father for his wife. Note that there was only one man and one woman. That is enough to begin a family. God called them good in chapter one. We are also told there is no shame in a man and wife being naked together.
The story of the fall of man is very controversial. It is told in Genesis chapter three. If you deny the existence of sin, then no consequences exist for the actions. Without sin and its punishment salvation is not required for anyone. Arguing that God set Adam and Eve up to fail seems plausible.

There is also an argument about why there is a snake in the story. You could argue that a disservice is done to the serpent.

The most intriguing question is “What happened to the second tree?” According to chapter two, God placed the tree of knowledge of good and evil and the tree of life in the center of the garden. The serpent enticed Eve to eat from the tree that would cause spiritual death. Satan continues to tempt us with things that will cause us harm. He does not care about us as God does. This was just the first act of sabotage for humans. He continues to do this today if we allow it.