ABRAHAM’S DISTRESS at being childless was caused by his understanding of the afterlife. In the Amorite culture that dominated his world, it was believed that one’s quality of life after death depended on your descendants performing a monthly ritual to provide your food and drink.
HOW EASY it is to rationalize bad behavior by claiming it’s for a good cause! This week, we see a classic example as Rebekah conspires with Jacob to deceive Isaac and Esau to confirm the blessing that God had promised to Jacob before his birth.Continue Reading
THE PROMISE of God to Abraham was fulfilled through Isaac and Jacob. That is made clear in the chapters we studied this week, Genesis 23 through 26. We look at the death of Sarah, the faithfulness of Abraham’s servant, the birth of Esau and Jacob, Esau’s disposition of his birthright, and Isaac’s sojourn in Gerar.Continue Reading
We continue in the book of Genesis with the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, the departure of Hagar and Ishmael, Abraham’s sojourn in the land of the Philistines, and the test of Abraham on Mount Moriah.Continue Reading
WE PICK up the story of Abram at Genesis chapter 15. We talk about Yahweh’s covenant with Abram, including the land promised to his descendants; Sarai’s impatience with the promise of an heir, and the trouble that created with (and for) Hagar and Ishmael; Yahweh’s promise of Isaac and the new names He gave to Abraham and Sarah; and Abraham’s humble, reverent intercession for Sodom.Continue Reading