Genesis 37 ~ Joseph's Brothers Plot to Kill Him

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The Bible tells us that Israel (Jacob) loved his son Joseph best as he was his child of old age. Although this chapter doesn't say it I wonder if it had anything to do with Rachel being his mother and this was Israel's first and true love. Remember she is no longer alive. Israel worked 14 years for her hand in marriage. She was not blessed with as many children as Leah or the handmaidens and she died giving birth to Benjamin. I am sure all this played a part in Israel's mind as he beheld Joseph. He gave him the position of assistant at the age of 17 and asked him to report back on his brother's behavior. He would bring back nasty tales of their misbehavior. This could not have endeared him to his brothers, nor did the special coat Israel had made for him with many colors. Another thing that really irked his brothers was the dreams he would have. When he would relate them to his brothers, I can picture them rolling their eyes and asking "Who does he think he is?" because the dreams would depict him having a higher station in life than them.

The brothers were out in the field tending the flocks, when Israel sent him to Shechem to check on his them. While he was traveling out to see them they were plotting his death. One brother, Reuben pretended to go along with the plan, but only agreed partially. The brothers wanted to kill him then cast him in a well. Rueben asked them to only toss him in the well but not to cause him direct harm. He secretly planned to return and rescue him after to return to his father. When he arrived the brothers pounced on him removing the coat of many colors.  Then they placed him in the well.

The brothers sat down to eat and saw from afar some Ismaelites coming. Greed over took them or perhaps they did not truly want their brother to die, but to be removed from their lives; so they sold him as a slave for 20 pieces of silver; dipped his coat into goat blood and planned to tell their father he had been murdered by an animal. Reuben, who had not been with them at the time, came and checked the well to pull him out and he was gone. Reuben questioned his brothers regarding his brother's disappearance. Then the other brothers presented the bloodied tunic to Israel and asked him if it was Joseph's. Their father went into deep mourning and was unconsolable for many days.

Joseph was again sold, this time to Potiphar in Egypt. Potiphar held a high position under the pharoah.

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Genesis 36 ~ The brothers part on friendly terms

 Genesis 36 lists Esau's descendants then advises that both Jacob (Israel) and Esau lived in Canaan but both were so wealthy that the land there could not support both of them so Esau took all his possessions and he and his family traveled to Seir. 

Along with a list of Esau's descendants we also find a succession of kings listed in this chapter. Esau was the father of the Edomites. 

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Genesis: 35 ~ Jacob and Esau bury their father

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Forgive me, my computer is acting like the weather; strange. For two days I have tried to post this entry and I keep getting shut out. Today started sunny with blue skies, and now there are very dark gray clouds accompanied with hail and snow. Hmmm.... My family has three birthday parties going on today regardless of the weather. :-)

Well, it was busy back in the day too. :-) Jacob was instructed by God to get his family gathered together and move to Bethel located in Canaan. Jacob rounded them up and advised them to cast out all false gods, remove earrings (thought to be connected with pagan worship), bathe and change into clean clothes. After this preparation they began their journey. Once their Jacob did as instructed and built an altar. God told Jacob to remember that God is the same God who saw him through his trepidation of reuniting with Esau. He is a faithful God.

Deborah, Rebekah's nurse passed away and was buried under an Oak tree.

God appeared to Jacob and blessed him reminding him that his (Jacob's) name now was Israel as he is the father of many nations and will be fruitful. Israel built a memorial here anointing it with oil.

Rachel, being pregnant, went into a stressful labor. She named her son Benoni (meaning affliction), as she breathed her last breath,  but his father renamed him Benjamin meaning son of the right hand. She was buried on the road to Ephrath (Bethlehem) and Israel placed a stone there. He now has twelve sons.

Reuben, another of Israel's sons, laid down with his father's concubine, Bilhah. The Bible states Israel was deeply offended by this action.

Israel went to visit his father Isaac who was then 180 years old and his father passed away. Esau and Israel buried him near his kinsmen. 

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Genesis: 34 ~ Dinah's brothers avenge her rape

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Dinah, who was one of Jacob's children born to him through Leah went to visit some of the women of the land. One of men of a high position there saw her and found her to be desirable so he took her forcibly then asked his father to ask for her hand in marriage. Her father was very saddened when he heard of what took place. He considered it an outrage and an intolerable act even though Shechem's father, Habor was acting quite civil and welcoming the family with open arms even offering the choicest spots of land.

 

Dinah's brothers were working in the field when Habor came calling, but they came in and heard enough of the conversation to understand that their sister had been defiled and had not been returned to them so they plotted against the men there while pretending to go along with the plan. They advised that they could not intermarry with others who were not of the same faith and one of the requirements to make the others acceptable was circumcision. Shechem's family considered that to be a fair request so they set about to have all the men circumcised.

When all the males were tender from the circumcision; Levi, and Simeon set about to rescue their sister, slaughter the men of the town, ransack their belongings and take their cattle in payment for the defilement of their sister. Once Jacob saw what his son's had done he knew that he could not stay because if the countrymen had decided to form an army against him he would be badly outnumbered so he planned on leaving town quickly. 

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Genesis: 33 ~ Jacob prepares to meet Esau

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Jacob looks up and sees his brother accompanied by about 400 men. Quickly he repositions his family placing the servants and their families in the front, Leah and her children next then Rachel and Joseph last. He walked on ahead bowing as he went. His family and servants also bowed low. Jacob bowed continually until he reached his brother and his brother ran to greet him hugging, kissing him and weeping. Then Esau looked around and asked who the people were. Jacob responded that this was the family that God so graciously bestowed upon him. Then Esau asked why was the cattle given to him and Jacob answered that he had plenty and wanted to earn his brother's favor. Esau advised him that he had plenty already and Jacob could keep his herds, but Jacob insisted tellin his brother that entering his presence was like entering the presence of God as his brother was so gracious to receive him thus after the wrong he had done.

Esau offered to travel with him, but Jacob stated he prefered to travel slowly for the sake of the children and cattle. Later he arrived at Shechem and purchased land from Hamor and pitched his tent.

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Genesis: 32 ~ Jacob prepares to meet his brother and wrestles an angel

Jacob had been nervously planning for his meeting with his brother. He realized that he had cheated him of his birthright and that his brother, Esau had planned to kill him after their father passed so he was humbling himself, deciding what to say and what to present to his brother as gifts. His prayers were fervent as he called upon God reminding Him that He had advised him to come back to his father's land and had promised to bless him. He sent three servants on ahead with gifts of cattle and messages of his repect and servitude to his brother while he stayed the night in camp. He prayed that his brother would forgive him.

During the night he took his two wives, eleven children and two maid servants and crossed the ford of Jabbok. There he encountered an angel. When he encountered him they were all alone. They wrestled till dawn with Jacob not relinquishing telling the angel he would not let go without the angel's blessings.  He struck Jacob in his hip socket hurting his sciatic muscle which caused him to limp and the angel, out of respect,  changed his name from Jacob to Israel. Israel renamed the place they fought at Peniel meaning "I have seen God face to face yet my life has been spared."


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Genesis:31 ~ Jacob Flees From Laban

Jacob heard that Laban's sons were saying that he had wrongfully accumulated their father, his uncle's wealth and they were very upset about it. He also noticed a difference in the way that Laban behaved towards him so the Lord told him to leave and go back to the home of his father and the Lord would be with him on his journey.  

He sent for his wives and told them that they knew he had worked hard for their father and their father's blessings and his had come about from God. He told them that his share, the speckled and the spotted sheepand goats had grown stronger and multiplied more because of God. God knew that Laban had cheated him so he blessed him all the more.  After that the sisters, his wives, told him that their father had sold them to him and promised them a share of the money, which they never received, so they had felt cheated also. He advised the sisters where to meet him at and told them they would be returning to his father's land. 

Meanwhile as they are preparing to leave, Laban is shearing his sheep and Rachel went into his tent and removed Laban's false idols and brought them with her. Jacob had traveled three days with his family before Laban realized they were gone. He took some relatives with him and chased him for a week but was warned by God in a dream not to threaten or harm Jacob. 

When Laban caught up with Jacob's camp he questioned Jacob asking why he would take Laban's daughters and grandchildren without telling him. Laban then said that he understood that Jacob was homesick but asked why he would not let him celebrate with him and kiss everyone goodbye and asked Jacob why he would take his gods. Jacob told him to feel free to search the tents that he not taken them, so they did. Now Rachel had hidden them in a pillow which she sat upon as they searched. She excused herself from standing stating that she was on her period.

Jacob was upset at their false accusation and asked Laban why he would act thus? He reminded him of how he worked long hours for 20 years in all kinds of weather tending his flocks and no harm ever came to them. Laban argued back that the flocks were his, the daughters his too, but for the sake of his daughters he made a pact with Jacob and a memorial stone was created then and there. Neither man was to pass this stone. Jacob lived on one side and Laban the other, peacefully. They offered sacrifice to God and ate then made camp for the night and slept. 

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Genesis 30: Jacob divides the flocks

Jacob's two wives are competing to bare him the most children even going so far as to offer their hand maidens to bear children also. Jacob has worked a total of 14 years for the privilege of marrying the sisters and is now ready to leave his father in law's property and start out new with his wives and children.

Laban realized that the reason his flocks were so prosperous was because  of God's blessing upon Jacob so he agreed to settle up with Jacob and to allow Jacob to take all the speckled, spotted or dark animals and to leave the white ones behind with his uncle/father in law. Then Jacob secretly arrived at a plan to cause his animals to be healthier and produce more. He left there wealthy and prosperous taking the best of the flocks with him.

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Genesis: 29 ~ Jacob falls in love

 

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As Jacob was traveling he saw three droves of sheep waiting near a well with a large stone covering the mouth of the well. Many shepherds came and rolled the stone away to water the sheep and he asked them if they had heard of his kinsmen, Laban. They advised him that not only did they know Laban, but his daughter Rachel was coming with their flock. When he saw her he burst into tears and kissed her. After he told her that her father was his uncle she rushed home to tell him and Jacob came along to talk to Laban. 

Jacob offered to serve him 7 years for the privilege of marrying Rachel as he had fallen in love with her. She was beautiful and shapely. Her older sister Leah, the Bible says, had lovely eyes. Laban agreed that he could and Jacob began his labor of love. After the term was completed  Jacob asked for his bride. 

Laban invited all the neighbors and family and a wedding ceremony and feast were held. Once it became dark, Laban switched daughters and in the morning Jacob found that he had consummated his wedding night with the older sister, Leah. He confronted Laban about the trick and his uncle explained that it was customary that the older sister married first so if he still wanted to marry the younger one he must work another 7 years. The bridal week was completed with Leah and then he was given Rachel in marriage and had to begin his next seven years of labor.

Because the Lord saw that Leah was unloved he opened her womb and allowed her to bare children, but not Rachel. Leah had 4 sons for Jacob; Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah.

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Genesis 28 - Jacob's Dream

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Isaac and Rebekah were both concerned that their sons marry properly so Isaac commanded Jacob not to marry a Canaanite woman but to return to his maternal grandfather's home and pick a wife from his daughters. He expressed his desire that God would bless him and his descendants.

Now we learn that Esau already had wives but when he heard that his father expressly asked his twin not to marry a Canaanite he chose to wed his father's brother Ishmael's daughter, Mahalath, or his cousin.

Jacob was traveling and stopped to get some rest. In a dream he saw a stairway leading to heaven and God's messengers going up and down the stairway. He also saw the Lord standing beside him and telling him that he would be blessed and the land he was sleeping on would be his. In the morning Jacob took the stone he rested his head on the night before and poured oil on it calling the are  Bethel. He vowed that if the Lord did protect him and keep him safe he would worship him and give 10% tithe and offering.

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Genesis 27 - Jacob Deceives his Father

 

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This chapter hurt me to my heart. Let me summarize for you and see if you agree; first of all Isaac is becoming old and is fearful that he may not live much longer so he called his first born, Esau to him  asking him to please go out and hunt something and bring him home some wild game, then prepare a meal for him so his father could give him the blessings that are rightfully his.

Esau's mother, Isaac's wife is standing in the next room eavesdropping. Because she favors the younger twin son she is planning on how he could get the blessings belonging to his brother. She told Jacob to go kill a couple of choice kids and bring them to her so she could prepare a tasty meal to trick him. She took some furs and tied them to his arms and on his neck to trick her husband as his eye sight was going and he would surely want to touch his son knowing the rivalry there was between the two and suspecting that Jacob may try something such as this. Jacob was afraid the deception would not work, but after his mother told him her plan and convinced him that it would work, he took his father the food and drink prepared by Rebekah. Isaac did question his voice and needed the reassurance of his touch, which convinced him, as Esau was hairy and Jacob smooth of skin.

Isaac ate and drank then gave Jacob Esau's blessings and inheritance, then Esau came in with his fresh killed game and prepared the food for his father. After bringing him the meal his father cried out, "Who are you?" Isaac began to tremble uncontrollably as he told Jacob that he had just blessed his twin. Esau burst into bitter sobs and pleaded for a blessing too to which Isaac responded that there was only blessing and he had already appointed to his brother to be his master and given him all the servants and crops, "what can I do for you, son?"

Esau was  burning with rage and plotting to kill his brother after they both mourned for their father, but when Rebekah got wind of this she sent for Jacob and sent him away till his brother's anger could subside. She told Isaac that she did not want Jacob to marry a Hittite woman. ~ The New American Bible

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Genesis 26 - Like Father Like Son

 

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Did Isaac know that his father traveled with his mother claiming her as his sister as he feared that a man would happen upon them and kill him to take her as bride? (Both his mother and his wife were women with exceeding beauty.) The Bible does not say, but Isaac had to travel with Rebekah from his home as there was a famine. While they traveled, he would tell anyone who asked that they were brother and sister and who do they come across, but King Abimelech? Remember how upset he was at Abraham for this same trick? He was not happy with Isaac for pulling the stunt either. When Abimelech witnessed the closeness of the two he questioned Isaac and Isaac confessed. Then the king commanded all to not harm either of them fearing that God would wreak havoc upon his country again. 

The Lord promised to bless him and he did even though Isaac had many problems with wells. He would find that they had been filled with dirt time and time again. He finally was able to find water in one, the same day that he made peace with his enemies. 

His son Esau married at the age of 40.

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Genesis 25 ~ Two Nations were in her Womb

 

Abraham remarried and his new wife bore him 6 more sons. He deeded everything he owned to his son Isaac and left the others grants to his other sons while sending them onward to the land of Kedem, or east to Arabian soil.

Abraham lived to be 175 and his sons Isaac and Ismael buried him next to his first wife Sarah in the cave. Isaac made his home in Beerlaharoi. Ismael, living to be 137 years of age,  fathered twelve chieftains.

Isaac had married Rebekah when he was 40 and had yet to have a child with her. He prayed to God and God hearing his plea caused Rebekah to become pregnant with twins. The twins constantly jostled one another in her womb and she prayed to God regarding her pregnancy, to which God answered

"Two nations are in your womb. two peoples are quarreling while still within you; But one shall surpass the other, and the older shall serve the younger."

And it came to pass, as the Lord had told her.

Thank you for visiting with me today. May God richly bless you and the reading of His word. 

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Genesis 24 ~ Abraham Looks for a Wife for Isaac

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Abraham conferred with his senior servant regarding the finding of a suitable wife for his son Isaac. He made the servant swear to procure a wife from Canaan for Isaac but was adamant that his son should not go back home to find her. He wanted the bride to be to come to his son.

He, the servant, took many gifts and ten camels to the land of Nahor and stopped to pray for a sign so that he would know the woman when he saw her. He intended to approach the wells at nightfall when the women would be drawing water. He asked God to let this woman not only offer him water but his camels as well. As he approached the woman at the well he noticed she was beautiful, she was a virgin. In conversation he learned she was the daughter of Abraham's brother. Gifts were given to Rebekah and she led the servant to her home.

Her brother Laban ran out to greet her seeing the gifts of jewelery she wore and she told him what had transpired at the well as he hurriedly made haste to meet their guest and make him welcome. A family meeting was held and after they discussed Abraham's wishes and God's intercession, Rebeckah was asked if she would like to return with the servant for marriage. Abraham had sent gifts for the family, which were left and more gifts were given to Rebekah. Rebekah prepared for the trip with hand maidens and after returning Isaac and Rebekah were married. This brought much comfort to Isaac after the loss of his mother.

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Genesis 23 ~ Abraham mourns the death of Sarah

 

Genesis 23 tells us that Sarah died at the age of 127 years of age. Abraham performed the customary mourning rites then set about to find a place to bury her. He was considered an alien in the country they were living in but the residents had a profound respect for him. It was demonstrated in the reading because as he addressed the Hittites wanting to buy a plot of land he was told that he had only to tell them what plot he wanted and it would be given to him outright as a gift as they saw him as a man of God. He told them where he would like to bury her in a particular cave he had in mind and insisted they intercede so that he could pay a fair price to the owner of the land. The transaction was made and the burial took place in the field of Machpelah, facing Mamre (Hebron) in the land of Canaan.

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Genesis 22 ~ Abraham places his son on the altar

 

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So far, the obedience of Abraham has really been remarkable. How long did he wait for this son from wife? He is more than 100 years old. His son is but a boy and God commanded him to take his son to the land of Moriah. He took with him two servants but left them a ways back as he and his son went on alone. His son asked him where the offering was and he told Isaac, God will provide. He actually tied him up, placed him on the altar and lifted his hand high above his son with the knife when God interceded telling him not to harm his son as God no longer questioned his loyalty and devotion. He provided him with a ran in the thicket which Isaac and Abraham then used to prepare for sacrifice. 

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Genesis 21 ~ Sarah laughs

Sarah laughed earlier in Genesis. She laughed at the idea that a woman of her age would bear a child, especially one who had gone through menopause but now she is laughing with joy as she is holding her healthy son Isaac. Abraham circumcised him at 8 days of age. Later in the chapter Sarah got upset when she saw her husband's first child playing with her own son and demanded that Abraham make Hagar and the boy, Ishmael  leave.

God spoke to Abraham and promised him both sons would father great nations and advised him to do as Sarah asked so early the next morning Abraham gave provisions to Hagar and her son and sent them on their way. As they wandered aimlessly in the wilderness of Beer-sheba they ran out of food and water but God heard the boy crying and sent them help.

Later Abraham and Abemilech made a pact at Beer-sheba.

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Genesis 20 ~ Sarah is rescued

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Sarah was exceedingly beautiful and Abraham was afraid that he would be killed anytime they travelled so had asked Sarah to withold information regarding their marriage and only say that they were siblings.  They were in the region of Negeb and she did as he had asked and said that they were brother and sister (they shared the same father).

Abimelech, the king of Gerar took her as his wife but found that he was unable to touch her and the wombs of every female in the kingdom were closed. He was struck with an ailment and advised in a vision that Sarah was not to be touched because she belonged to another. He was destraught and questioned Abraham as to why he had done such a thing! After Abraham explained his dilemma, Sara was released and they were given gifts. The health of Abimelech's kingdom was restored.

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Genesis 19 ~ Sodom is destroyed

 

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In the last chapter we read that outcries had reached God regarding the depravity of Sodom and Gomorrah. Remember this is where is Abraham's nephew went to settle down. Abraham plead with God to spare the righteous. God sent two angels to the city and Lot was at the gate as they approached. The angels must have appeared normal because it is only later that their secret is uncovered. Lot graciously took them home to feed them and offer them sanctuary. The townspeople crowded around his home wanting to perform lewd acts upon Lot's visitors. Lot even offered his two virgin daughters to the men to get them to leave the men alone. The angry crowd threatened the "men" and Lot stating they would do worse to him than what they wanted to do the strangers but then the angels miraculously snatched Lot and brought him inside while striking the riotous mob with a blinding light rendering them helpless. 

It was then that Lot realized these "men" were of God and had come to save him and his family from the destruction of the city. They asked him to round up his family but his future son-in-laws only laughed when instructed to depart for their lives. The angels instructed them to not turn back but to look forward only. Lot's wife disobeyed and when she looked back upon the destruction of the city she became a pillar of salt. Only Lot and his daughters were able to escape and find refuge in a small city called Zoar. The city Of Sodom was destroyed by raining sulfurous fire.

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Lot's daughters had lost their fiances and plotted together so that their family line could continue to get their father drunk and lie with him while he was inebriated. The older one named her son Moab and the younger hers Ammon.

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Genesis 18 ~ Sarah doubts and Abraham pleads

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Abraham received three visitors as he sat outside his tent one hot day. He made a great deal of fuss over them asking Sara to prepare food for them and he picked a tender choice steer to have it prepared for them. Sara overheard them foretelling of her giving birth within the year and she laughed knowing that she had already passed menopause. Then the Lord queried Abraham asking him if there was anything too marvelous for God to do?

Later in the same chapter God told Abraham of His  plan to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah for their sinful and wicked ways. Abraham plead for their lives until God told him if ten righteous men could be found in all of Sodom and Gomorrah He would spare their lives.

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Genesis 17 ~ God's covenant

I deliberately made this photo look less clear. I think sometimes we do this to God's word. Instead of trying to understand exactly what God has for us we choose to make the picture less clear than what God intends. Abram never did that. He took God at His word, literally.  

In this chapter Abram is told his name will now be Abraham and his seed will be multiplied, Sarai's name is changed to Sarah. God promises to bless them with children, many children, and not just children but great nations. He also commanded that baby boys be circumcised at the age of 8 days old. Abraham, aged 99 and his son, Ismael, aged 13 were then circumcised along with all the males of the households.

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Genesis 15 and 16 ~ Desperate Measures



The Lord's messenger visits Hagar

I apologize for not posting yesterday. I had gotten sick. I still read my scripture and typed up my brief compilation but then my computer starting acting strangely so I placed it in safe mode and ran the anti virus. I lost last nights notes as they were on a notepad. When the computer froze I could not save anything. If you love your computer as much as I do mine, you will understand how protective I am. I must take steps to make sure it continues to function properly. We must do the same with our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. We need to take time out to safeguard our health. If we take health for granted we lose it. Part of safeguarding our spiritual health is to spend time with God.

Abram had a vision while sleeping. In his vision the Lord spoke to him and advised him that He was his shield and would make his reward very great. Abram's response was to lament about his childlessness. He may have been wondering how he would have more children than you can count stars in the skies when he had yet to have his firstborn. God told him that he was still going to father a great nation, though there would be a period where they would be oppressed but after a time would have great wealth and victory over their opressors.

Abram was not the only one despondent over not having children, so was his wife, Sarai so she asked her husband to sleep with her maid that they may perpetuate their line.

Once her maid became pregnant, Sarai felt that her maid had lost respect for her because of her inability to become pregnant. Sarai resented Hagar became abusive to her resulting in Hagar running away. God knew her heartache and sent a messenger who told her to go back and God would bless her offspring. She was to name her infant son Ishmael. Abram was 86 at the time of the baby's birth.

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Genesis 14 ~ Abraham Rescues Lot

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During a rebellion all of the food supplies of Sodom and Gomorrah were seized and the victors took them for their own. Along with their prizes they captured Lot and all that he owned. A fugitive got word back to Abram who gathered up an army and rescued his nephew. After he was victorious bringing back Lot and his possesions plus other captives he was greeted by some of the kings (verses 17 and 18).

Because of his victory God was praised. The king offered him gifts, which he refused advising the king that his God does not want him to take so much as a thread or a sandal strap so that no one could claim to have made him rich.  He returned the captives.

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Genesis 13 ~ Abraham and Lot Part Ways

Abram and his nephew were traveling together and had much wealth between the two of them. The herdsmen of both began to quarrel and realizing that this may cause a rift between the two of them Abram said let us separate. If you want to go to the left, I will go to the right, if you want to go to the right, I will go to the left. Lot saw how well watered and lush the vegetation was in the plains of Jordan so he made his journey in that direction and Abram stayed in Canaan. Lot ended up settling in the sinful city of Sodom. Abram was visited by God and told that he would own all the property which he could see. He offered an offering and praised God's name.

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Genesis 12 ~ Abraham is sent away

The Lord advised Abram to leave his father's home and travel to a land He would show him. He took with him his wife, Sarai who was also his half sister, being the daughter of his father Terah. As they travelled there was a great famine so they needed to stay in Egypt for awhile. 

Afraid that the Egyptians would kill him so that they could take Sarai as their own wife because she was exceedingly beautiful, he asked her to tell them that (he) Abram was her brother so he would be spared. Pharoah wanted to take Sarai as his own wife but to protect her the Lord struck the household with plagues. The Pharoah summoned Abram and questioned him. When Abram confessed, Sarai and Abram were sent packing along with all the gifts that had been bestowed upon Sarai.

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