Read the Selected Scriptures from Gen. 12-17

We should note that we have posted on the lives of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph (Gen. 12-50).  Here is where you can find these on our blog (https://ronandcindy.blogspot.com/):

Ø Ch. 11-25 2015, 3/31-5/5 (Abraham, Isaac)

Ø Ch. 25-50 2015, 5/6-6/12 (Jacob, Joseph)

Now, let us return to more devotional thoughts as we journey through Genesis.

·       12:1-3: Here we have the ingredients of the Abrahamic Covenant.  But the covenant is not established until Gen. 15.  What we have here is leadership from the LORD with the promise of blessing. 

·       15:19-21: Here there are 10 “nations” that occupy Canaan.  We see God’s grace and mercy: the “iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”  In the story of Abraham he has a friendly relationship with various significant figures who were Amorites.  They fight together to retrieve Lot (Ch. 14).  He buys a funeral cave from one (Ch. 23).  Of course, there are also the 5 cities in the Jordan Valley where Lot settled, that were destroyed by the LORD.  But men are held accountable by a just and righteous God.  He was not going to give Abraham the land until it could no longer be entrusted to the Canaanites.  The Kenites might have been the descendents of Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro.  Note also that there are no “Philistines” in this list.  Eventually this list of 10 nations will be reduced to 7 nations when Moses leads Israel out of Egypt.

·       16:2,5: Sarai is all over the place in “invoking” the LORD.  First, “the LORD” has prevented me from having a child.  Then, after Abraham did what she suggested, she says, “the LORD judge between you and me.”  I have seen this so often, and perhaps even at times in my own life, that people will tell you, “I think this or such-and-such is that the Lord wants me to do.”  Then, 2 weeks later, they have changed their minds.  We want people to think we are quite holy, so we invoke the Lord’s name as we set out in what we want to do.  The real issue is, of course, was Abraham following the LORD’s leading?  The same as with Adam.  Husbands are accountable, not to be tyrants, but to be leaders/shepherds of their families. 

·       17:17: Abraham “laughed.”  The word is yishaq, to laugh or mock.  Let the “mock” idea sink in.  Abraham is mocking God, challenging His plan.  “It ain’t gonna happen.  Let Ishmael be the promised son.”  God told Abraham before that a son would come from his body (15:4).  Maybe Abraham thought he could use Hagar to satisfy the plan.  But now God says the son will come from Sarah’s body (17:19).  Later, Sarah will laugh at/mock God for this (18:13).  But the son will be named Isaac, “he laughs.”  God will mock the faithless couple who mocked Him.  Check out Ps. 2:1-3: same term!  We mock God when we doubt His promises.