Today’s reading begins and ends with a sacrifice. Abraham is asked by God to offer up the son of promise, Isaac, in chapter 22. In chapter 24, Rebekah leaves her home to marry Isaac.
Isaac was a young man when this final test came to Abraham’s faith. A burnt offering was always to be a male animal, was the best the offerer had, and was to be wholly consumed by fire. It was an expression of dedication to God. Abraham knew that Isaac must live since God was going to establish the covenant with him (Genesis 17:19).
On Mount Moriah, Abraham built an altar. When Isaac inquired how they could offer a sacrifice without a sacrificial animal, Abraham responded: “My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.” (Genesis 22:8). Abraham’s faith had grown over the years until he knew that God never makes a mistake and he believed “Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead” (Hebrews 11:19).
If we fail to develop our faith, we will be afraid to trust God during great testings and tribulation. Isaac’s willingness to be offered reveals a picture of Christ: “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.” (John 10:17-18)
A Testimony, Family, and Life in Ruin – Genesis 19
Lot ruined his testimony so much that his family thought he was joking when he warned of God’s judgment. Does your life make your testimony for Christ a joke? Lot’s family is ruined. His two remaining daughters who were unmarried were so warped by the wickedness of their hometown that they plotted incest with their father. The two sons born of incest became the progenitors of Moab and Ammon, Israel’s longstanding enemies.
Same Song, Second Verse – Genesis 20
Abraham reverts to lying about his wife again. Again God graciously intervenes to protect Sarah. Abimelech demonstrates proper submission to God. God demonstrated that Abraham did not have to resort to fraud for his protection, he could trust in the Almighty God. Honesty is still the best policy!
Finally, He’s Here! – Genesis 21
“as he had said” (vs.1) – This is always what God does! After twenty five years the suspense is over with the earlier laughter of derision turning to rejoicing! “Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant.” – 1 Kings 8:56
The birth of Ishmael
The promise of a son did not come quickly enough for Abraham and Sarah. Impatience led them to make their own plan instead of waiting on God. One mistake quickly leads to another. Abraham goes in to have a son by his wife’s maid, Hagar. She was an Egyptian (I wonder when they picked her up?).
Hagar conceives and Ishmael is born, but he will not be the son promised to Abraham. Genesis 16:12 describes prophetically the life of Ishmael. In keeping with God’s promise to make many nations of the descendents of Abraham (Genesis 17:7), Ishmael will be the father of a great nation (Genesis 17:20). In fact, Ishmael is the father of the Arab nations. Do you think the description of Genesis 16:12 is an accurate description of Ishmael’s modern descendents? “And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.”
Abraham the Intercessor
The LORD visited to confirm his covenant and make it clear – the promised seed will come through Sarah. The LORD’s message is also about impending judgment. The sins of Sodom and Gomorrah were so great that it was a visitation from God. When Abraham hears the news, he draws near to God and begins to ask for his mercy on the cities. He begins by pleading with the LORD not to destroy the city if 50 righteous men are present. The request continues until Abraham has the assurance that the city will be spared if there are ten righteous present.
Cities were dependent on the prayers of one man! We must intercede for the cities of our land. Who will cry out for the cities of America? Who labor to evangelize the cities? Who will see men made righteous through the blood of the Lamb? We must labor and pray before judgment comes upon our nation! It is also remarkable that God stopped answering Abraham’s prayer only when Abraham stopped asking.
Beware – Your actions are affecting others.
“And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt…” (Genesis 13:10). Lot’s decline began with Abraham’s failure in the end of chapter 12. In a time of famine, Abraham didn’t seek the Lord. He went to Egypt and behaved foolishly. Lot picked up a taste for the things of Egypt while following Uncle Abraham to Egypt. What tragic results! Later we will read about Abraham’s maid Hagar (an Egyptian) and we will see more tragic consequences of a trip to Egypt. Don’t follow after the world! Be faithful to God! Your decision will affect your life and the lives of many others.
Understanding God’s promises enables us to deal with conflict.
When facing a conflict with his nephew Lot, Abraham gives us a great example. God had just promised the land to Abraham. He didn’t try to fight Lot for it. Having a firm grasp of God’s promises will prepare you for adversity. When others attack or offend you, commit it to the Lord. What other lessons can we learn from Abraham’s dealings with Lot? How about posting some thoughts at the end of this entry!
The Tower of Babel occurred somewhere near 2242 BC. How do I know that you ask? Well, after years of careful research into the genealogies of the Old Testament I was able to calculate in reverse from the time of Christ to the Tower of Babel! Okay, I admit – I didn’t do the research, but it has been done. The confusion of the languages at the tower is one of the great events of world history. God clearly reveals the origin of modern languages. Why were the languages confused? After the flood, mankind was instructed to disperse and fill the earth (Genesis 9:7). While heading east, what seems to have been most of the post-Flood group, under the leading of the powerful Nimrod (Genesis 10:8-10), decided to stop and establish a city as a monument to their pride and for their reputation. This was likely more like a ziggurat than a tower.
Although chapter 11 divides the people into many different groups, the focus of God’s redemptive plan for mankind shifts to one family – the family of Abraham. The promises given to Abraham extend throughout all of Scripture and find ultimate fulfillment in Revelation 20. The covenant included 1) the coming Savior (Genesis 17:7-8; Galatians 3:8, 16), 2) the land, 3) a nation, and 4) divine blessing and protection. This covenant is unconditional in the sense of its ultimate fulfillment of a kingdom and salvation for Israel, but conditional in terms of immediate fulfillment.
