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What is the Gospel of Peace: Genesis
Week Ten: Abraham and Lot
Contents of this week’s study:
Genesis 10 and 11:
Day One: His Mission Was to Divide
Day Two: Terra the Idolater
Genesis 12:
Day Three: Covenant with the House of Abraham
Day Four: My Sister My Wife
Genesis 13:
Day Five: Lot Lifted His Eyes
Day Six: Lot Pitched His Tent Toward Sodom
Genesis 10 and 11
Day One: His Mission Was to Divide
Remember (or look up [below]) which of Noah’s sons; Shem, Ham or Yaphet produced the line which brought Nimrod (the ruler of Babel).
Genesis 10:6-12 (CJB)
6 The sons of Ham were Kush, Mitzrayim, Put and Kena‘an. 7 The sons of Kush were S’va, Havilah, Savta, Ra‘mah and Savt’kha. The sons of Ra‘mah were Sh’va and D’dan. 8 Kush fathered Nimrod, who was the first powerful ruler on earth. 9 He was a mighty hunter before Adonai — this is why people say, “Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before Adonai.” 10 His kingdom began with Bavel [Babel], Erekh, Akkad and Kalneh, in the land of Shin‘ar. 11 Ashur went out from that land and built Ninveh, the city Rechovot, Kelach, 12 and Resen between Ninveh and Kelach — that one is the great city.
The Jewish sages said Avram, who lived at the same time as Nimrod (the sages said Tarach, Avram’s father worked producing idols for Nimrod and his pagan religion) was the eleventh generation from Noach. Guessing that Tarach, Avram’s father, and Nimrod were comparable in age, Nimrod would probably be the sixth to tenth generation from Kush, Noach’s grandson.
In the Strong’s:
Mighty 5248H gibbowr, ghib-bore: … powerful; by implication – warrior, tyrant: --- champion, chief, x excel, giant man, mighty (man, one), strong (man), valiant man. From same (PR) as 1397H gheh´-ber; … from 1396H gaw-bar, (PR); to be strong; by implication – to prevail, act insolently: --- exceed, confirm, be great, be mighty, prevail, put to more (strength), strengthen, be stronger, be valiant.
X _______________________________________.
Consider: Look up the word “insolent” in the dictionary:
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________.
Hunter 6718H tsayid, tsah´-yid; … the chase, also game (thus taken): … from a form of 6679H tsood; (PR); to lie alongside (i.e. in wait); by implication – to catch an animal (figuratively – men); … : --- chase, hunt, sore, take provision.
X _______________________________________.
Adonai (Lord in the KJV) 3068H Yehôvâh, yeh-ho-vaw´; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; … Jewish national name of God…
Bereshit 11:1-4 (CJB)
The whole earth used the same language, the same words. 2 It came about that as they traveled from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shin‘ar and lived there. 3 They said to one another, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them in the fire.” So they had bricks for building-stone and clay for mortar. 4 Then they said, “Come, let’s build ourselves a city with a tower that has its top reaching up into heaven, so that we can make a name for ourselves and not be scattered all over the earth.”
We will learn in our next segment of scripture that it was the city called Bavel [Babel], which means “confusion”, that was the city where the people were building the tower (a symbol of power and authority over the masses).
*This was, most certainly, another “city of dedication”; which is why God confused the languages of the people and scattered them. Remember in our study of Kayin and Hevel [Cain and Abel] we introduced the idea that any “city of dedication” outside of God’s holy city, Jerusalem, is a dangerous deception which has the potential to “confuse” mankind into worshiping idols and/or approaching God in a way He did not prescribe; and, therefore, commit sin.
Look again at the end of vs. 4 (underlined above) and note the base intention of the people in building this “city of dedication”.
Understanding that this was the root motivation for building Bavel and the tower, was building this city an act of rebellion against God’s decrees? ______________.
*Remember what God told Noach he and his offspring were to do in chapter 9 (from last week’s study [re-posted below]).
Bereshit 9:7 (CJB)
7 And you people, be fruitful, multiply, swarm on the earth and multiply on it.”
Again, in our discussion of Kayin’s city which he built and named after his son, “Hanokh” i.e. Dedication; we noted that any “city of dedication” outside of God’s holy city, Jerusalem, is an abomination to God. Think about all the examples you know of a “city of dedication” outside Jerusalem, and realize these cities are all a deception, just like Kayin’s Hanokh and Nimrod’s Bavel; which God hates because God’s people can be corrupted to worship a false deity or approach God in a way which God, the Eternal King, did not prescribe.
We must wonder, could one of the entities you thought of be the deception spoken about in the end of days prophecies, and could this idea reveal insight about the possible identity of the anti/false-Messiah (comparable to Kayin and Nimrod), spoken of in end times prophecy?
Bereshit 11:5-9 (CJB)
5 Adonai came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. 6 Adonai said, “Look, the people are united, they all have a single language, and see what they’re starting to do! At this rate, nothing they set out to accomplish will be impossible for them! 7 Come, let’s go down and confuse their language, so that they won’t understand each other’s speech.” 8 So from there Adonai scattered them all over the earth, and they stopped building the city. 9 For this reason it is called Bavel [confusion] — because there Adonai confused the language of the whole earth, and from there Adonai scattered them all over the earth.
Many scholars, of course, see insights about the false Messiah (king) and the end of days in this brief narrative about Nimrod and his “city of dedication”. Let’s explore this idea by trying to dissect our scripture just a little.
Genesis 10:8
1) “Kush fathered Nimrod, who was the first powerful ruler on earth.” (this man was the first ruler to dominate and subvert people [possibly, to cause them to worship him?])
Genesis 11
2) let’s build ourselves a city --- A city outside Jerusalem, God’s Holy city.
3) with a tower that has its top reaching up into heaven (symbolizes rulership over the earth)
4) so that we can make a *name for ourselves (a title: in opposition to what had been prescribed by God)
5) and not be scattered all over the earth --- (as God commanded)
6) the people are united (unified purpose, resources and mind set)
7) they all have a single language (the best way to slow the progression is to make it so they cannot conspire together)
8) and see what they’re starting to do (i.e. causing or creating confusion about God’s commands and plan for the redemption)
9) “nothing they set out to accomplish will be impossible for them.”
In the KJV: Bereshit 11:6b "and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do."
In the Strong’s:
Impossible (restrained in the KJV) 1219H bâtsar, baw-tsar´; (PR); to clip off; specifically…, to gather grapes; also to be isolated (i.e. inaccessible by hight or fortification): --- cut off, (de) fenced, fortify, (grape) gather (-er), mighty things, restrain, strong, wall (up), withhold.
X ________________________________________.
Set out [to accomplish] (Imagined [to do] in the KJV) 2161H zâmam, zaw-mam´; (PR); to plan, usually in a bad sense: --- consider, devise, imagine, plot, purpose, think (evil).
X _______________________________________.
*As we discussed before, every example in scripture of a “ruler” or religious authority who introduces or commands an alternate way to God is a “type” of antichrist (false-Messiah) and reveals some insight into what the final false-Messiah (remember, messiah means king, and in scripture usually refers to the one who is anointed to rule Israel) will be like.
See if you feel the following videos reveal some insight about the false-Messiah in comparison to Nimrod.
~Link – Youtube video – 119 Ministries – “A Biblical Profile of Nimrod: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNIYZd7ZuiM
Message goes from minute 1-10
~Link – Youtube video – A Rood Awakening – “The Easter Story”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWGdpORGmxk
Journaling:
Write your thoughts about the following ideas in your journal.
*When God came “down” to Bavel it was to “legally” proclaim a sentence on rebellious man. His mission was to divide the peoples into obscure and isolated groups (70 nations) to slow the advance toward a “global government”.
I assure you, even today, globalism is an affront to God. The contemporary push to implement a “one world government and religion” under the guise of Socialism is the resurrection of the dissident nature of past anti-Messiahs like Kayin, Nimrod, Hitler and many false religious leaders.
Note what Yeshua says He came to do in the scripture below:
Matthew 10:34 (CJB)
34 “Don’t suppose that I have come to bring peace to the Land. It is not peace I have come to bring, but a sword!
Listen to how the Orthodox Jewish Bible puts this verse;
Matthew 10:34 (OJB)
34 Do not think that I have come to bring shalom al haaretz *(peace and unity on the earth); I have not come to bring shalom but a cherev (sword).
In the Strong’s:
Sword/Cherev2719H chereb, kheh´-reb; drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement: --- axe, dagger, knife, mattock, sword, tool, From 2717H khaw-rab´; (PR); to parch (through drought) i.e. (by analysis)- to desolate, destroy, kill: --- decay, (be) desolate, destroy (er), (be) dry (up), slay, x surely, (lay, lie, make) waste.
X _____________________________________.
Just as He did when He judged Bavel; in Matthew 10:34 Yeshua says He came to “divide [His people out]”. This also, clearly revealed Yeshua's mission to slow the advancement of Rome who was attempting to subjugate the world to its idolatry and governance i.e. the “One World Movement”. Today we are once again facing the same attempt at subjugating mankind to a "One World" entity by power hungry elitist.
At the top of a page in your journal (etcetera) write the title "The One World Movement". Now write the sub-title "The One World Government" and note some of the world events happening today that could be considered evidence that a new "Bavel (confusion)" is rising --- or has risen at somepoint in the past --- to usurp and twist the message God communicated in scripture and to subjugate the world to the power of a single ruler or governing body.
Next, write another sub-title "The One World Religion" and note details of what you know about contemporary ecumenical movements being grouped together as a new, non-Biblical religion.
Finally, write your thoughts on Revelation 18:1,4-5a (CJB)
1) After these things, I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, the earth was lit up by his splendor. 2 He cried out in a strong voice, “She has fallen! She has fallen! Bavel the Great!
4) Then I heard another voice out of heaven say:
“My people, come out of her!
so that you will not share in her sins,
so that you will not be infected by her plagues,
5) for her sins are a sticky mass piled up to heaven,
and God has remembered her crimes.
Day Two: Terach the Idolater
We begin today’s study by looking at Terach’s genealogy.
Genesis 11:10-26 (CJB)
10 Here is the genealogy of Shem. Shem was 100 years old when he fathered Arpakhshad two years after the flood. 11 After Arpakhshad was born, Shem lived another 500 years and had sons and daughters. 12 Arpakhshad lived thirty-five years and fathered Shelach. 13 After Shelach was born, Arpakhshad lived another 403 years and had sons and daughters. 14 Shelach lived thirty years and fathered ‘Ever. 15 After ‘Ever was born, Shelach lived another 403 years and had sons and daughters. 16 ‘Ever lived thirty-four years and fathered Peleg. 17 After Peleg was born, ‘Ever lived another 430 years and had sons and daughters. 18 Peleg lived thirty years and fathered Re‘u. 19 After Re‘u was born, Peleg lived another 209 years and had sons and daughters. 20 Re‘u lived thirty-two years and fathered S’rug. 21 After S’rug was born, Re‘u lived another 207 years and had sons and daughters. 22 S’rug lived thirty years and fathered Nachor. 23 After Nachor was born, S’rug lived another 200 years and had sons and daughters. 24 Nachor lived twenty-nine years and fathered Terach. 25 After Terach was born, Nachor lived another 119 years and had sons and daughters. 26 Terach lived seventy years and fathered Avram, Nachor and Haran.
Let’s highlight a few facts about Terach, Abram’s [later – Abraham] father and note why he might be important to our narrative.
#1 Avram’s father, Terach, worshipped idols.
Joshua 24:2 (TLV)
2 Then Joshua said to all the people: “Thus says Adonai, God of Israel: ‘From ancient times your fathers—Terah, the father of Abraham and the father of Nahor—lived beyond the River and worshiped other gods.
#2 Terach was a descendant of Noach’s son Shem, the son who inherited the priesthood from his father, Noach. This is why God later chose Abram and called him His “friend” i.e. God’s covenant partner; because he was of the line who were in covenant, he left the pagan city where he grew up and Abram became obedient to his covenant oaths to God, thus Abram is called the first Hebrew [Ivrim](one who crosses over to keep covenant with God.
#3 Terach had lived in a pagan land called “Ur of the Chaldees [Chaldeans]”, modern day South-Eastern Iraq.
#4 Terach fathered three sons; Avram, Nachor and Haran.
< Haran fathered a son and called his name Lot.
<Haran died and was buried in Ur.
< Nachor married the daughter of Haran, his deceased brother (he married his niece).
< There are some who debate about whether Sarai, Abram’s wife, was also his half-sister.
Note what Abraham [Abram, actually Avraham] later tells King Abimelech (below).
Genesis 20:12 (CJB)
“12 But she actually is also my sister, the daughter of my father but not the daughter of my mother, and so she became my wife.”
#5 We are not told whether Terach ever denounced his idolatrous past. Although he left Ur to travel toward the promised land, we know he did not get to live in the land of Israel. Genesis 11:31-32 (below) tells us that the family lived in Haran until after Terach died.
Genesis 11:31-32 (CJB)
31 Terach *[Terah] took his son Avram, his son Haran’s son Lot, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Avram’s wife and they left Ur of the Kasdim (Chaldees) to go to the land of Kena‘an (Canaan). But when they came to Haran *[a place they presumably named after Avram’s brother Haran] they stayed there. 32 Terach lived 205 years, and he died in Haran.
You may wonder; if Avram and Sarai did have the same father, why the author doesn’t say Terach took his son and daughter, but in ancient pagan cultures when a woman married, she left her family and became part of her husband’s clan. In our Exodus study, we’ll see that Moses revealed God’s opposing standard when Moses escapes Egypt and lives with Zipporah’s family. Moses also points out, as he writes the narrative of Adam and Havah, that a man must leave HIS father and mother to be joined to his wife—and, as we know, Messiah left His father to sojourn with man to claim His bride.
Note that, although our text does not tell us Terach’s motivation for leaving Bavel or if he actually returned to the covenant with God, we are told that it was Terach who left; taking Avram, Sarai and Lot (Terach’s grandson) with him.
Even after the horror of the flood and the passing of the priesthood through their line, at some point between Shem and Terach, God’s people again fell to worshiping idols. God warns repeatedly in scripture that we are to be carefully mindful to not fall to worshiping, serving or bowing to false deities. Don’t doubt how easy it is for us, even today in our so-called “progressive” world, to walk into this very trap. In fact, I will venture to say that you and I are more in danger of committing this crime than any previous generation. The very fact that we consider the crime of “idolatry” an antiquated issue and, therefore, think of it as part of the past; sets us up to fall into this transgression against God; but perhaps we already have committed the sin of idolatry.
Zechariah 8:23 (TLV)
23 A day is coming when 10 men, people from every nation speaking every language will grab the cloak of a Jew and beg him, “Let us come with you because we have heard the True God is among you and we want Him to save us, too.”
The word that is translated as "cloak" here is better rendered "wing" which is a reference to the Tzitzit which were commanded by God in the Torah.
The liberating fact is that if we come to God with deep sorrow and renewed resolve to leave our disobedience in the past, His desire is to forgive (expunge our record of crimes against Him). Returning to build a relationship with God is solely dependent upon your choices today. Ask God to forgive you and to help you change your heart --- then move forward with Him. If you fall again, be like King David; allow yourself to be completely broken over your failures; knowing that your eternal Father sees your desire to obey and be pleasing to Him.
Lamentations 3:22-24 (TLV)
22 Because of the mercies of Adonai
we will not be consumed,
for His compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning!
Great is Your faithfulness.
24 “Adonai is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore I will hope in Him.”
Once we experience closeness with the Almighty, falling in sin is a traumatic event which we now understand has the ability to separate us from God forever. Giving in to doing those forbidden, vulgar things we were so sure were the anecdote to our weariness and longing, results in emptiness and feelings of failure, but if you have fallen and stepped outside God’s standards you need to see that when we fall, even if it’s gossip [lashon harah], a lustful thought that we choose to entertain or not following through with our oaths (promises) to God, you are not beyond help.
This should be our prayer always; “When I fall, let me fall into you God; into your grace and mercy; into your tireless love; into your great strength that I may learn to walk circumspectly and overcome the weaknesses that allow me to compromise with those things which separate me from You.”
Journaling:
Read the following article and journal your thoughts on today’s study and what you took away from the ideas expressed in the article.
Link - Article - Chabad.com - The Life of Avraham (quick read)
https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/246612/jewish/Abraham.htm
Bereshit Chapter 12
Day Three: Covenant with the House of Abraham
Genesis 12:1 (TLV)
12 Then Adonai said to Abram, “Get going out from your land, and from your relatives, and from your father’s house, to the land that I will show you.
We have to wonder what it was about Abram [Avram] that God chose him; commanding him to take his wife and go to dwell in God’s covenant land. How did Avram overcome the idolatry of his father to be found so faithful that God appointed Him and his descendants to be God’s special people.
Avram’s example proves that, not only does your walk with the King not depend on how your ancestors lived, but also, if you make teshuvah (in true regret, turning from disobedience and returning to God and His ways) your relationship with God is not even hindered by your own past.
The covenant God made with Avram required that he be willing to leave His family, friends and his home; and GO to inhabit God’s land.
Genesis 12:2-3 (TLV)
2 My heart’s desire is to make you into a great nation, to bless you, to make your name great so that you may be a blessing. 3 My desire is to bless those who bless you, but whoever curses you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.
This is what it means to be in covenant with God. We give Him our loyalty and devotion, obey His commands and serve as His representatives in this world. For His part in the covenant, God promises to bring us to dwell with Him in His land for eternity, enrich our lives in this present age, to bless those who bless His people (love, help and fight for) and to curse those who curse them.
Genesis 12:4-5 (CJB)
4 So Avram went, as Adonai had said to him, and Lot went with him. Avram was 75 years old when he left Haran. 5 Avram took his wife Sarai, his brother’s son Lot, and all their possessions which they had accumulated, as well as the people they had acquired in Haran; then they set out for the land of Kena‘an and entered the land of Kena‘an.
This is also one of the reasons we are so sternly warned against marrying someone who has not committed to walk in covenant with God. When God tells you “follow My instructions”, “Go work in this difficult mission field”, “give [this] to the poor person over here”, “stop doing [this]”, etc. it is vastly more painful to be dragging a rebellious mate with you.
We are left to understand that Sarai, also, chose to obey God’s command to move. Your ideal spouse is someone with the same level of commitment to God and His statutes. It is vital in your walk that you have someone who will grow with you, work alongside you and encourage, nurture and pray for you. A true “believer” is humble, generous and committed to walking in covenant with the Father; this person is dedicated to his or her family, God’s people, the needy and all creation. The person you need at your side is someone who constantly hungers to know God in a deeper way; and who, in reverence for the King of the Universe, has developed a passion to study His word; and, although he or she may at times stumble and fall, is overcoming their struggles one step at a time. Your ideal mate is striving to be a faithful representative of God and His kingdom.
If you are in pursuit of someone who falls short of this kind of commitment (not your currnet marriage partner), gently challenge them to learn the truth, but if they refuse, let them go. It hurts to say goodbye to someone you have started having feelings for, but I guarantee its less painful than being covenanted to someone who demands your time at the expense of your relationship with your King and lives life according to a worldly standard.
No judgement, I just felt God wanted me to share this at this time.
Genesis 12:6-7 (CJB)
6 Avram passed through the land to the place called Sh’khem, to the oak of Moreh. The Kena‘ani were then in the land. 7 Adonai appeared to Avram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to Adonai, who had appeared to him.
The Kena’ani [Canaanites] were descendants of Ham through his son Canaan, whom Noach cursed for being disrespectful. God promised His land (the land of Canaan), Israel today, to the descendants of Avram way back when Avram entered the land for the first time; thousands of years ago.
Remember what we learned in an earlier part of this study, that many scholars are starting to believe that Gan-Ayden [the garden in Eden] was actually in Jerusalem. This is the area that Avram and his descendants kept returning to every time they left the land, and Jerusalem is the place God chose to put His name.
Journaling:
Just like Avram and Sarai, you and I are a product of our history, and just like Avram and Sarai, you and I have either -- had to make -- or now must make the big decision to unbuckle ourselves from the past and learn to walk uprightly in covenant with our King.
Write at least a couple paragraphs in your journal telling your Biblical history: Bible believing ancestors, childhood in Sunday School, parts of the Bible you've read or studied previously, How dedicated you have been until this assignment to studying God's statutes and decrees to learn to walk in covenant with Him, spiritual hurdles you've had to deal with, if you have been involved with some kind of peganistic practice, have been atheist or agnostic, never had any real exposure to what it means to be part of God's kingdom, etc.
This is your personal history and the documentation of how, just like Avram and Sarai, you left all you have ever known to journey forward as a "friend [covenant partner] of God". How you have become -- and are growing as a Hebrew e.g. someone who crosses over to keep covenant with the King of the Universe.
Day Four: My Sister, My Wife
Genesis 12:8-10 (CJB)
8 He left that place, went to the hill east of Beit-El and pitched his tent. With Beit-El to the west and ‘Ai to the east, he built an altar there and called on the name of Adonai. 9 Then Avram traveled on, continuing toward the Negev. 10 But there was a famine in the land, so Avram went down into Egypt to stay there, because the famine in the land was severe.
Avraham the worshiper:
One thing you’ll notice repeatedly is that Avram was a man of worship. He was faithful to build an altar and praise Adonai. If we haven't already, you and I should learn this lesson from Avram and make time at the "altar" (place where you pray) to worship, thank and shema [listen to] God.
Avraham the human:
Patriarchs can loose their direction too. God just "gave" Avram the land of Canaan. Why didn’t he just begin to live in the land and trust that God would provide? Sometimes you and I, like Avram, forget the fact that God has a plan for us revealed in small glimpses through His directives, provision and even the hardships we face.
Q. In vs. 8 where did Avram set up his encampment?
From the Strongs:
Beit-El (Bethel in most translations) 1008H Bêyth- El, bayth-ale´; house of God; Beth-El, a place in Palestine *[Israel). The word is formed from two root words, 1004H bah´-yith; house … family … palace… and 410H ale; primarily All Mighty … also any diety … great … strong …
3. In your own words what would you say “Beit-El [Bethel]” means?
_______________________________
Ai 5857H ‘Ay, ah´-ee; … from 5856H ‘îy, ee; a ruin (as if overturned): --- heap, from 5753H ‘ âvâh, aw-vaw´; (PR); to crook, literally or figuratively (as follows): --- do amiss, bow down, make crooked, commit, iniquity, pervert, (do) perverse (-ly), trouble, x turn, do wickedly, do wrong.
Q. In your own words what would you say “Ai” means?
_______________________________
He set up his encampment somewhere "between Beit- El and Ai", so, did Avram camp in the valley of indecision/compromise, no longer living in perversity in Babylon, nor entering fully into God’s presence in Beit-El?
Remember when we were studying the calamity that caused God to remove Adam and Havah from Gan-Ayden and we came to the conclusion that our progenitors had chosen to live voluptuously in God’s garden; that they had not made the commitment to walk wholeheartedly in covenant with God and partake of God’s provision of adoption through the tree of life. Our patriarch Avram made the same mistake, and as we’ll see, his non-commitment caused serious problems which could have ended in disaster - if God [Hashem] hadn't intervened.
Genesis 12:11-13 (CJB)
11 When he came close to Egypt and was about to enter, he said to Sarai his wife, “Here now, I know that you are a good-looking woman; 12 so that when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife,’ and kill me but keep you alive. 13 Please say that you are my sister, so that it will go well with me for your sake, and so that I will stay alive because of you.”
This is the first of three accounts of a man having this same fear of being murdered by foreign men because the other men would greatly desire their wives. Note Abimelech’s words to Avram (we'll study this insident soon) in the verse added below.
Genesis 20:9 (TLV)
9 Then Abimelech called to Abraham and said to him, “What have you done to us, and how have I sinned against you, that you brought great sin upon me and my kingdom? You’ve done to me things that should not be done!”
See also Genesis 20:2-9 and Genesis 26:6-11.
Genesis 12:14-16 (TLV)
14 When Avram came to Egypt, the Egyptians did see that the woman was very beautiful. 15 Indeed, Pharaoh’s officials saw her and they raved about her to Pharaoh. Then the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house. 16 But Avram was treated well for her sake, and he got sheep, cattle, male donkeys, male and female slaves, female donkeys and camels.
Genesis 12:17-19 (CJB)
17 But Adonai inflicted great plagues on Pharaoh and his household because of Sarai Avram’s wife.
18 Pharaoh called Avram and said, “What is this that you have done to me? Why didn’t you tell me that she was your wife?
19 Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her to be my own wife? Now therefore, here is your wife! Take her, and go away!”
Journaling:
The Plaguing of Pharaoh
Note your answers to the following questions in your journal.
1. Why was Pharaoh plagued on account of Sarai when it was Avram who had told her to leave out some facts about their relationship, and he had also allowed Pharaoh to take her?
2. Why do you think Avram allowed his wife to be taken by Pharaoh?
a) He was afraid of being killed b) He really wanted to get rid of Sarai c)He wanted Pharaoh to give him riches d) Other
3. Do you really think Avram thought it was a good trade off to allow Pharaoh to take his wife in exchange for goats, sheep and servants?
4. Do you think Pharaoh and Abimelech acted more honorably in this instance than Avram?
5. If Avram was unjust why did God continue to bless him?
Detail 1. Life for a woman in a king’s harem was anything but exciting. Most women would spend only one night with the king and then never be summoned again. Women in a harem become nothing more than a number and were used merely to increase the status of the king.
Anyone with ambition or value for life would quickly get tired of being a decorative element in the king's court.
Q) What one word would you use to describe such a life? OK, you can use more than just one word.
_______________________________
Detail 2. In Avram and Sarai’s day a married woman occupied a place of increased honor; she would be afforded a level of respect.
Q) Given the above facts do you think it took great concern and love on Sarai’s part to give up her status as a wife and agree to put herself in such a compromised position to keep her husband safe?
_______________________________
Genesis 12:20 (CJB)
20 So Pharaoh gave orders concerning him to his men, and they sent him on his way with his wife and everything he had.
Bereshit Chapter 13
Day Five: Lot Lifted His Eyes
Genesis 13:1-4 (CJB)
1 Avram went up from Egypt — he, his wife and everything he had, and Lot with him — into the Negev. 2 Avram became wealthy, with much cattle, silver and gold. 3 As he went on his travels from the Negev, he came to Beit-El, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Beit-El and ‘Ai,
4 where he had first built the altar; and there Avram called on the name of Adonai.
Q) Although we're about to be told that, just like his uncle, Lot has been blessed by God, does our scripture tell us that Lot also saught the Lord when they returned with their caravan to the camp near Beit-El?
X ___________
Genesis 13:5-9 (CJB)
5 Lot, who was traveling with Avram, also had flocks, herds and tents.
6 But the land could not support their living together, because their possessions were too great for them to remain together.
7 Moreover, quarreling arose between Avram’s and Lot’s herdsmen. The Kena‘ani and the P’rizi were then living in the land.
8 Avram said to Lot, “Please, let’s not have quarreling between me and you, or between my herdsmen and yours, since we’re kinsmen.
9 Isn’t the whole land there in front of you? Please separate yourself from me — if you go to the left, I will go to the right; if you go to the right, I will go to the left.”
Q) Do you think Avram was suggesting Lot should leave God's land and claim, instead, a place where he could enrich himself even more than God was already blessing him?
X ___________
Genesis 13:10 (TLV)
10 Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the whole area surrounding the Jordan was well watered in its entirety (before Adonai destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah)—like Adonai’s garden, like the land of Egypt — till you come to Zoar.
In the Strong's:
Lifted 5375H nâsâ, naw-saw´; (PR) to lift, in a great variety of applications, (literally and figuratively) (absolute and relative) as follows: --- accept, advance, arise, (able to, [armour] suffer to) bear (-er, up), bring (forth), burn, carry (away), cast, contain, desire, ease, exact, exalt (self), extol, fetch, forgive, furnish, further, give, go on, help, high, hold up, honorable (-man), lade, lay, lift (self) up, lofty, marry, magnify, x needs, obtain, pardon, raise (up), receive, regard, respect, set (up), spare, stir up, swear, take (away, up), x utterly, wear, yield.
X _____________________________________________________.
The phrase "lifted his/her eyes" is a euphemism for seeing or realizing something which he/she has previously not seen or realized. This phrase is meant to alert the reader to the idea that the subject of the text is in the path of a revelatory or life changing event or opportunity; this can be good or bad.
Jordan 3383H Yardên, yar-dane´; a descender, Jarden, the principal river of Palestine *[Israel], from 3381H yaw-rad´; (PR) to descend (literally to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc, or figuratively to fall); (causative) to bring down (in all the above applications): --- x +-abundantly, bring down, carry down, cast down, cause to come (-ing) down, fall (down)… sink, subdue, take down.
X _____________________________________________________.
[Well] Watered 4945H mashqeh, mash-keh´; (properly) causing to drink, i.e. a butler; by implication (intransitively), drink (itself); figuratively a well-watered region: --- butler (-ship), cupbearer, drink (-ing), fat pasture, watered, from 8248H shaw-kaw´; (PR); to quaff, i.e. (causative) to irrigate or furnish a potion to: --- cause to (give, give to, let, make to) drink, drown, moisten, water. ·
X _____________________________________________________.
Genesis 13:11 (TLV)
11 So Lot chose for himself the whole area surrounding the Jordan. Lot journeyed to the east, and they separated from each other.
*We need to remember that the reason Lot and his uncle Avram needed to separate in the first place is because they had been so blessed by God that the land around Beit-El could not support them both, yet here in our scripture we have Lot wanting more. You may disagree, but I believe these verses reveal that Lot looked at the lush Jordan River Valley and craved its richness for himself. He lusted and quickly chose what he believed to be the “best” instead of being contented with what he had and deferring the choice back to his generous and kindly uncle.
Let's establish this simple truth before we move on. What we think is “best” is not always what is actually best, and may not be what is best for us in the long run. Just because something or someone looks good on the outside doesn’t mean that it is “good” --- or perhaps, its not what is good for us.
For “righteous” Lot [2 Peter 2:7], this lush valley became a trap that cost him everything including his family. Think about how Paul [Rabbi Sha’ul], repeated frequently in his letters in the New Testament [Brit Hadasha], the importance of being satisfied with what we have and living a modest, generous life.
1 Timothy 6:7-9 (TLV)
7 For we brought nothing into this world, So we cannot take anything out of it. 8 But having food and clothing, with these things we shall be content. 9 But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and a trap and many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.
Up until returning to the encampment in the place of compromise, Lot has lived under Avram's guidance. Yet, now, because they have been so blessed by God, the land can no longer support these two, potentially, great nations. Avram generously offers his nephew, Lot, to choose the area where he would like to establish his new home, and Lot foolishly chooses to leave God's land and turn back to the East.
Do you think we can infer that Lot’s propensity to compromise was triggered by the lure of this well-watered, fertile plain stretching out before him, and is it interesting to you that our author here compares this valley to “Gan-Ayden"?
A trap (part of a test for a believer) often looks “good” on the surface, but the destructive power crouches in the blind spot which exists when our eyes are lifted in selfish desires and haughtiness. We need to regularly check our dreams and desires so they don't lead us into the trap of self-aggrandization. A trap which has the power to publicly expose our flaws and weaknesses, and also to rob and destroy all that we hold dear.
*Oh friends, what a warning you and I should see revealed in the meaning of the name of this river and the valley it watered so abundantly. The Jordan river sits at the lowest elevation of any river in the world, and we can see here that Lot descended to that which he thought would be exalting.
It is impossible to faithfully serve God when we switch our focus to obtaining the lush life and start living to please ourselves in this world. This was most certainly Lot’s downfall.
Journaling:
Write your thoughts about Lot "lifting his eyes" --- to go down into the Jordan River Valley (the lowest river on earth) --- thinking he would be exulted in this self-indulgent, lowly place.
Day Six: Lot Pitched His Tent Toward Sodom
Yesterday we noted that Avram returned to the place of compromise that had caused him to end up in Egypt, but this time merely to peacefully separate from his nephew Lot. Perhaps this place of compromise has now become a forewarning of what is about to transpire in the life of Lot.
Genesis 13:12-13 (CJB)
12 Avram lived in the land of Kena‘an; and Lot lived in the cities of the plain, setting up his tent near S’dom [Sodom]. 13 Now the men of S’dom were evil, committing great sins against Adonai.
From the Strong's:
Sodom 5467H Cedôm, sed-ome´; (from an unused root…) to scorch; burnt (i.e.) volcanic or bituminous district...
X _______________________________________.
Avram didn’t need to live in the lush valley. God blessed him for his willingness to follow, obey and guard his heart. In the end, Lot lost everything and ended up in a hideous sin with his own daughters while Avram remained faithful and lived in God's blessing.
Read the following points, write any additional thoughts you may have and answer the questions in your journal.
a) Avram has returned to the place of compromise which caused him to end up in Egypt, but this time he is not willing to compromise his relationship with God, nor is Avram planning to stay there. Avram seems to have stopped in the valley of compromise merely to compromise with his nephew so they can peacefully separate from one another.
b) Vs. 10 Lot Looked up…
c) Vs. 10. Lot saw the plain of Jordan was well watered and Eden like, and Lot chose all the plain for himself.
Q-1) Could Lot's choice to turn to the East --- back in the direction he came originally --- now leaving God's Holy land, reveal a weakness in his understanding or commitment to God? X ____________
Q-2) Do you remember what we discovered it means to go out of God's holy land --- to the East? X _______________________________
______________________________________________________.
The sins of Sodom:
Ezekiel 16:49-50 (CJB)
49 The crimes of your sister S’dom were pride and gluttony; she and her daughters were careless and complacent, so that they did nothing to help the poor and needy. 50 They were arrogant and committed disgusting acts before me; so that when I saw it, I swept them away.
Journaling:
1) Write the ideas, from this whole week, which have changed your understanding of what it means to belong to God's kingdom and any insight you have gained about how important it is that we are truly devoted, following and listening to Hashem [God].
2) Read the following short article and write your thoughts in your journal.
Link - Article - One for Israel Ministries - "Avraham the Hebrew":
https://www.oneforisrael.org/bible-based-teaching-from-israel/what-does-the-word-hebrew-mean/
Quick Read
Week Ten of our Gospel of Peace [GOP] study is now Complete. Be Strong and Courageous!
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