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Wednesday 8/12/26

Thru the Bible: Old Testament Review – Genesis Pt. 4

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Thru the Bible Old Testament Review – Genesis Pt. 4

We  covered Abram/Abraham but I left out three things of note:

• El Shaddai first appears in the Bible in Genesis 17:1. In this verse, God appears to Abram when he is 99 years old. God says, “I am Almighty God,” introducing the covenant to multiply him and change his name to Abraham. 

Gen 17:1-5  When Abram was 99 years old, the LORD appeared to him and said,

“I am the Sovereign God. Walk before me and be blameless.  (2)  Then I will confirm my covenant between me and you, and I will give you a multitude of descendants.” 

(3)  Abram bowed down with his face to the ground, and God said to him, 
(4)  “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of a multitude of nations.  (5)  No longer will your name be Abram. Instead, your name will be Abraham because I will make you the father of a multitude of nations.”

• God changed Abram’s name.
  • In the ancient Near East during the time of Abraham (Abram), renaming a person or an object was a clear and powerful sign of sovereign authority, ownership, and control over them.
  • It represented both Authority as well as full ownership
• The charge to Abraham – You will KEEP covenant with Me and enter into the shedding of blood through circumcision.
  • This was done AFTER Abraham was declared right with God via faith – “Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” – Genesis 15:6
  • Done in the male because of the bloodline.
  • The cutting is done in the symbol and organ through which new life is conceived to illustrate that this is a multi-generational covenant with God and the offspring of those who enter into the covenant.
  • Why the eighth day? Several reasons but two are of particular significance…
    • It “could” symbolize the “new beginnings” this covenant was instituting by going beyond the “sabbath” to the first new day.
    • Additionally, vitamin k is responsible for the production of Prothrombin and coupled together with it causes blood coagulation. New born males are particularly vulnerable to hemorrhaging and damaging vital organs between days 2-5 and it is during days 5-7 that vitamin K is produced in sufficient quantities to aid in the coagulation process. Interestingly enough – on the 8th day of a baby boy’s life prothrombin is actually elevated above 100% normal levels – they are at their peak of life and is therefore the PERFECT day to circumcise the infant.

Finally, last week, I had mentioned that Abraham met several rulers and people who already knew the true God, El Elyon (God Most High), before or during their encounters with Abraham. I mentioned this as proof of a short duration of time following the flood and the tower of Babel in which all the world would have been aware of the God of Creation, the God of the great Flood, the God of Noah and the God who confounded the languages at the Tower of Babel. These examples reveal that knowledge of God existed outside Abraham, but I did not provide examples. Here are a few…

Melchizedek (King of Salem)

• Who he was: King of Salem and a priest of God Most High.
• The encounter: He brought bread and wine out to bless Abraham after a battle in Genesis 14:18-20.
• The evidence: Melchizedek blessed Abraham in the name of “God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.” Abraham acknowledged this by giving him a tenth of everything. 

Abimelech (King of Gerar)

• Who he was: Philistine king of Gerar.
• The encounter: Abraham stayed near Gerar and told people Sarah was his sister in Genesis 20:2-7.
• The evidence: God came to Abimelech in a dream. Abimelech called God “Lord” (Adonai) and spoke of his own “integrity of heart and clean hands.” God acknowledged that Abimelech acted in innocence and kept him from sinning.

Pharaoh (King of Egypt)

• Who he was: The ruler of Egypt during an earlier famine in Genesis 12:17.
• The encounter: Pharaoh took Sarah into his house after Abraham called her his sister.
• The evidence: God inflicted serious plagues on Pharaoh and his household because of Sarah. Pharaoh recognized the divine hand behind the plagues and rebuked Abraham for the deception. 

Hittite Leaders (Children of Heth)

• Who they were: Local Canaanite town leaders where Sarah died in Genesis 23:6.
• The encounter: Abraham tried to buy a burial site for Sarah.
• The evidence: The Hittites addressed Abraham with respect. They called him a “prince of God” (nasi Elohim) among them, showing they recognized God’s hand and favor upon his life.

In Genesis 22 we focused upon how God tests our hearts with the example of Abraham offering Isaac.

Segue into Isaac… Chapter 23 – The Death of Sarah

• Sarah lives a total of 127 years, her death occurring just about 10 years before Eber who was part of Babel.
• Abraham weeps over the death of his wife. Up to this point Abraham has appeared to me much like a barrel-chested brutish man with the demeanor of a cowboy…swagger and all, but this chapter reveals another side to this great man. His love for his wife and his reputation among his neighbors tell us much about him.
• Abraham’s relationship with the Hittites is good.
  • There is mutual respect between them.
  • Abraham is revealed as a man who was honorable and likable.
  • He purchases a field with a cave in which to bury his dead, beginning with Sarah.

Chapter 24

• Abraham was getting old (by their standards) and so he instructed his most trusted and long-standing servant Eliezer with the honorable task of finding a wife for his son Isaac in his native land.
  • He was faithful and diligent to perform all Abraham had asked of him.
  • He was unashamed of God (Who he referred to as the God of my Master Abraham).
  • He openly praised and prayed to God in the presence of others.
  • He refused to be comforted even after his long journey until he had spoken to Laban’s household ALL his Master Abraham had appointed him to say.
• Isaac loved Rebekah and was comforted concerning the death of his mother.

Something I heard yesterday, in what was again, a timely fashion for the purposes of this lesson, was that in this real life story of Abraham, we see the redemption story.

Abraham, whose name means FATHER of a multitude, would represent the Father God.

Isaac,  whose name means SON of laughter, would represent Jesus.

Rebecca, which means ensnarer or captivating and is used poetically to represent ‘captivating beauty’, as such she would represent the chaste and purified Bride of Christ purchased at great cost.

But Eliezer who would he represent? Well what are the meanings of the name אליעזר ‘ĕlı̂y‛ezer means “God is my help” or “God of help.” In fact, going one step further, the Hebrew word ezer (עֵזֶר) which is part of Eliezer’s name can mean both the abstract noun “help” and the person providing it, a “helper“. The word El of course is God’s name so it would be also proper to define his name as God my HELPER – making Eliezer represent the Holy Spirit Who is the one preparing the Bride for Christ.

With that in mind you might want to go back and re-familiarize yourself with the story.

Chapter 25

• Abraham marries again, a woman named Keturah and has several children with her.
• Abraham lives long enough for them to grow up and have kids of their own before sending them off to the east laden down with gifts.
• Isaac is Abraham’s only heir to the covenant and so gives everything he owns to him before he dies.
• Abraham’s death was at 175 years of age. He was buried in the cave he purchased from the Hitties. Ishmael even came with Isaac to bury their father.
• Ishmael’s death was at 137 years. He had 12 sons who all became princes.
• His children settled from Havilah to Shur (near Egypt) all the way to Assyria.

Isaac, Son of Laughter

Chapter 25b – Isaac’s boys are born in 2006 B.C.

• Isaac was 40 when he married Rebekah
• Rebekah was barren
• Isaac’s purpose was to have offspring and perpetuate the covenant.
  • To fulfill God’s purpose in his life REQUIRED him to seek and trust God.
  • He prayed for his wife to conceive.
• Rebekah prayed and sought God concerning having a child.
  • God answered HER and gave her insight into their future. Before the twins were born, God told Rebekah that she carried two nations, that one people would be stronger than the other, and that “the older shall serve the younger“. This was a divine prophecy indicating not just foreknowledge but God’s will.
• Children are born to him at 60 years old.
• The two boys are born first Esau and then Jacob. Though even then, Jacob attempted to supplant his brother Esau by grabbing his heel as they were being birthed.
  • Esau became a hunter.
  • Jacob dwelt in tents.
• The parents favored opposite sons.
  • Isaac loved Esau
  • Rebekah loved Jacob.

We know very little about the childhood of Jacob and Esau, but we are given enough to know something of their character. 

• Esau was a blunt, burly man who cared little for his birthright.
• Jacob was a more sensitive type, who comes off like a passive aggressive individual. He is a conniver, liar and deceiver who uses these traits to get what he wants while maintaining a buffer between himself and any danger or the person he is using. He was called a “tent dweller” which no doubt was not a favorable designation. Jacob valued things, but like his mother he did not trust or respect authority.

We know of the deception and treachery regarding the birthright. First in Jacob’s using Esau’s hunger against him and then, in deceiving his father to obtain what his brother willingly forfeited. No appeal to his father or to God is ever evidenced in either himself or Rebekah. They took matters into their own hands to secure a future God had already promised.

This is VERY much like what happened in the life of King Jeroboam I. God sent the prophet Ahijah to meet Jeroboam in secret. Ahijah tore a cloak into twelve pieces and gave ten to Jeroboam, stating that God was giving him rule over the ten northern tribes of Israel. And a lasting dynasty if he would simply follow His commands.

Despite this divine guarantee, Jeroboam grew deeply paranoid once he took power and manipulated situations to protect what God had already promised.

Chapters 26-35

• In keeping with family tradition, Isaac lied and called Rebekah his sister.
• Isaac went to the king of the Philistines during a famine.

Jacob appears to be a very careful, cautious man who often seemed to allow family to stand between himself and any expected danger.

He used relationships to absorb conflict, deflect threats, and secure his safety during crises with his father Isaac, his brother Esau and his uncle Laban.

• Rebekah favored Jacob and devised the plan for him to obtain the birthright through deceiving his father Isaac.
• She promised Jacob that if discovered the penalty would fall upon herself, rather than him.
• She also shielded him from Esau’s wrath and suggested that he flee to Laban her brother for safety and distance from Esau. (in chapter 29 Isaac encouraged him likewise).
• Jacob has his dream of the stairway to heaven in Bethel where God promises to be with him, provide for him and bring him safely back to this land which he will inherit.
• Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God is with me and protects me on this journey I am taking and gives me food to eat and clothing to wear,  (21)  and I return safely to my father’s home, then the LORD will become my God.  (22)  Then this stone that I have set up as a sacred stone will be the house of God, and I will surely give You back a tenth of everything You give me.” – Genesis 28:20-22  
• Between Genesis 28 and 32 Jacob flees his brother Esau, lives in Paddan–aram for over twenty years working for his uncle Laban, marries Laban’s daughters Leah and Rachel, has eleven of his twelve sons and a daughter. 
• All the names of the twelve have significant meaning on their own but of particular note are the sons born directly through Leah who names her sons with her heart’s emotions, dreams and intentions…until she turns her heart towards God.
  • Reuben – means Behold a son “Now my husband will love me.”
  • Simeon – means Heard “The Lord has heard that I am unloved.”
  • Levi – means Joined to “Now  this time my husband will be joined to me for bearing him 3 sons.”
  • Judah – means Praised “Now I will praise the Lord.”
• Jacob calls Rachel and Leah out to an open field to confront them about Laban’s changing attitude. He used his marital bond to secure their loyalty before confronting Laban.
• When leaving Laban, Jacob ran away secretly while Laban was shearing sheep. He relied on the family unit to move together as a self-contained protective group.
• He journeys back toward his homeland by God’s command. 
• Between chapters 32-34 Jacob fears meeting his brother Esau, who comes to him with 400 men. 
• Jacob prays and divides his people and flocks into groups, sending them ahead of him in massive droves of livestock as a buffer between himself and his brother.
• Jacob even put his wives and children in front of him, placing the least favored maids first and Rachel and Joseph last to absorb the first wave of any attack.
• Jacob spends the night alone and wrestles with either God or an angel of God until dawn.
• His hip is put out of joint, but he refuses to let go until he receives a blessing.
• His opponent renames him Israel (meaning “one who wrestles with God“) because he struggled with God and humans and won. 
• Remember that to name a thing or person points to authority and ownership.
• Upon meeting Esau, Jacob bows down to the ground seven times, but Esau runs to meet him, hugs him, and weeps. 
• They make peace, and Esau returns to Edom while Jacob travels on to Succoth and Shechem.
• In Genesis 35, after returning safely to the land of Canaan, God tells him to go up to Bethel. 
• Jacob obeys, purifies his household of foreign idols, builds an altar, and formally worships God as the Lord, honoring the promise he made decades earlier that if God provided for him and brought him safely back to his homeland, he would make God his God.
• God then appears to Jacob again, blesses him, and reaffirms the covenant promise and the name Israel.
• His sons caused quite an uproar in Shechem in retribution of Dinah’s humiliation which she in part brought upon herself in that day venturing off on her own into a foreign city. 

Genesis 35-50

Now between Genesis 35-50, which is the end of the book of Genesis, the biblical narrative shifts its focus from Jacob and his return to Bethel to the sweeping epic of his favored son, Joseph. 

Joseph was born in 1915 B.C. when his father Jacob was 91 years old.

This section details Joseph being:

• The favored son.
• His dreams of grandeur which were unwisely shared with his brothers and father,
• His being sold into slavery in Egypt.
• His fear and honor of God.
• His his rise in influence before being accused of rape and sent to prison.
• His prophetic gift of discerning dreams  in prison
• His advancement even while in prison.
• His rise to power and authority in Egypt
• His wisdom in preparing Egypt for famine.
• His eventual relocating of his entire Israelite family to Egypt during a severe famine.

Eventually, the time comes for Jacob to die at the age of 147 in 1859 B.C.

He blesses all his sons with prophetic forth-tellings of their futures which all pan out later.

He blesses Ephraim and Manasseh in place of Joseph, blessing the younger above the older by divine guidance.

Joseph died at 110 years old in the year 1805 B.C.

Moses was not born until 278 years later in 1527 B.C. 

We will not discuss the 400 years and the type of slavery until the exodus next week. This is one of the things AI pointed out to me that I only partially knew a long time ago, but to which it added information which completed the picture for me.