Week Ten: Avraham
Contents of this week’s study:
Day One: His Mission Was to Divide
Day Two: Terra the Idolater
Day Three: Covenant with the House of Avraham
Day Five: Lot Lifted His Eyes
Day Six: Lot Pitched His Tent Toward Sodom
Genesis 11 (CJB)
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 eighth 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. Consider: Look up the word “insolent” in the dictionary: ______________ ____________________________________________________.
X _______________________________________.
Hunter6718H 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 ourselvesand 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 deduced that any “city of dedication” outside of God’s holy city, Jerusalem, is a dangerous deception which has the potential to “confuse” mankind into worshipping 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 --- 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 spoken of in scripture?
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 [to cause them to worship him?]) Genesis 11 2) let’s build ourselvesa 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) 5) and not be scattered all over the earth --- as God commanded (in opposition to what had been prescribed) 6) the people are united (unified purpose, 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 (cause or create i.e. confusion about God’s commands) 9) “nothing they set out to accomplish will be impossible for them.” In the KJV: Bereshit 11:6Band now nothing will be restrainedfrom them, which they have imaginedto 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 anti-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: *In scripture, general information such as the statement in today’s study which informs us that “they” (presumably---all the people) traveled until they came to the area of Shinar and there, they built a city”; does not necessarily mean “all the people on earth”.
Consider that our scripture may simply be telling us that “the cursed descendants of Noach’s son, Ham”, followed Ham’s violent great … grandson, Nimrod; choosing to establish a rulership for themselves even though it was clear that rulership/priesthood would be inherited by the descendants of Shem. 1) Would it effect the rest of our narrative if the descendants of Shem and Yaphet were not, necessarily, involved in the building of the city of Bavel? 2) In day four of last week’s study, titled – The Three Peoples; we included Bereshit [Genesis] 9 from Chabad.org. Go back and re-read vs’s 26 and 27 there.
A) In vs 26 Noach blesses the God of ___________. (inferring the idea that Shem rightly served the God of heaven and earth) B) In vs 27, Noach blesses _______________ by saying he will live in the tents of ___________? (Inferring the idea that, although Yephet did not inherit the kingship/priesthood, he would also rightly serve God [the idea of Yapheth turning from some rebellion to rightly serve God may be implicit in this blessing) C) Did Noach bestow any such blessing on his other son, Ham? ____________________________________.
*When God came “down” to Bavel it was to “legally” proclaim a sentence on rebellious man. His mission was to divide these power-hungry 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 and Nimrod.
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 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”; and this is clearly, again to slow the advancement of Rome who was attempting to subjugate the world to its idolatry and governance i.e. the “One World Movement”, and this is what we are fighting again today.
Day Two: Terach the Idolater
~We begin today’s study by looking at Terach’s genealogy.
Genesis 11:10-28 (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, Avram’s [later – Avraham] 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 worshipped 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 Avram and called him His “friend” i.e. God’s covenant partner (because he was of the line who were in covenant). #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, Avram’s wife, was also his half-sister. Note what 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 11:30 (CJB) 30 Sarai was barren — she had no child. *This sad fact appears pointless among all the other information in our text. This statement that Sarai had remained childless among all the childbearing and joy around her seems out of place, however, one interesting idea I’d like to note is that Avram and Sarai did not have a child until they had established themselves in the land of covenant; until they were walking carefully in covenant with God. 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 Moses reveal 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 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. Get scriptures on people from the nations seizing the Tzittzit of a Jew and saying, “take us with you for we have heard God is with you” and the nations returning in repentance for the lies our fathers inherited
*The liberating fact is that you and I, 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. Usually what we were so sure was 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 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. Get link to article on Terach’s idolatry (Chabad?)
Bereshit Chapter 12
Day Three: Covenant with the House of Avram
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 Avram that God chose him; commanding him to take his wife and go to dwell in God’s covenant land. How did Avram overcame 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 your 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, enrich our lives, to bless those who bless His people and to curse those who curse them (fight for), to bring His blessing into the world through His people.
Genesis 12:4-7 (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 “Go”, “give [this] to the poor person over here”, “stop doing this”, “follow My instructions”, etc. you cannot be dragging a rebellious mate with you. We are left here to understand that Sarah, 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 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 God’s people, the needy and all creation; This 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 words; someone who, although he or she may at times stumble and fall, is overcoming their struggles one step at a time and 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, challenge them to learn the truth or gently let them go.
It hurts to say goodbye to someone you have started having feelings for, but I guarantee its less painful than to be 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.
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 of Eden] was actually in Jerusalem. This is the area that Avram and his descendants kept returning to every time they left the land and this is the place God chose to put His name.
Q) Could this reveal God’s ultimate intention to restore His people to our original home, Gan Ayden; Jerusalem?
~Link – Video – Zola Levitt Ministries – “The Tabernacle in the Wilderness”: *You’ll want to watch without distractions! https://www.levitt.tv/media/watch.html/1409Beside?v=1409Beside
Day Four: My Sister, My Wife
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.
*One thing you’ll notice repeatedly is that Avram was a man of worship. He was faithful to build an alter and praise Adonai. If we don’t already, you and I should learn this lesson from him and make time and space in our lives to worship God.
Patriarchs can loose their direction too. Jehovah just gave Avram the land of Canaan. Why didn’t he just begin to live in the land? 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. 1. Look at vs. 8. Where did Avram set up his encampment?
Beit-El (Bethel in most translations) 1008H Bêyth- El, bayth-ale´; house of God; Beth-El, a place in Palestine [Israel). This word is formed from two root words, 1004H bah´-yith; house … family … palace… and 410H ale; primarily All Mighty … also any diety … great … strong … 2. In your own words what would you say Beit- El 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.
3. In your own words what would you say “Ai” means?
He set up his encampment somewhere between Beit- El and Ai, so basically, Avram decided he would camp in the valley of compromise, neither living, exactly, in perverseness, doing wickedly in Ai --- nor in Jehovah’s presence in Beit- El.
Remember when we were studying the calamity that caused Jehovah to remove Adam and Eve from Gan-Eden and we came to the conclusion that our progenitors had chosen to live voluptuously in God’s garden, but had not made the commitment to accept God’s covenant (agreement) and partake of Jehovah’s provision of adoption through the tree of life. Our patriarch Avram made the same mistake, and as we’ll see, his non-commitment took him away from Jehovah’s blessings and direction for a period of time.
Before we move on with our next verses, I want to point out one more detail. We already discussed that Avram was committed to setting up an alter to pray. Look at Genesis 12:8 (below):
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.
Yet, this dedication to prayer, did not save him from what would result from his choice to remain non-committal.
By Matthewjparker] (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.or/wiki/File%3ASunset_in_the_Negev_Desert_near_Yeruham%2C_Israel.jpg
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 they figured other men would greatly desire their wives. See also Genesis 20:2-9 and Genesis 26:6-11 note Abimelech’s words to Avram [Abraham] in vs. 9 (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!”
Note your answers to the following questions in your journal.
1. Do you think Pharaoh and Abimelech acted more honorably in this instance than Abram?
2. If Abraham was unjust why did God continue to bless him?
Genesis 12:14-16 (TLV)
14 When Abram 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 Abram was treated well for her sake, and he got sheep, cattle, male donkeys, male and female slaves, female donkeys and camels.
Note your answers to the following questions in your journal.
1. Why do you think Abram allowed his wife to be taken by Pharaoh?
2. In Biblical times, a king had the right to take any unmarried woman he desired and make her his wife or concubine. Do you think in most cases a woman had any say in the matter?
3. 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. They we’re there as a number to increase the status of the king and anyone with any interest in life would most likely get tired of endless “beauty treatments” pretty quickly. What one word would you use to describe such a life?
4. In Avram and Sarai’s day a married woman was allowed a place of honor. She would be at least somewhat respected. Do you think it took great concern and love on Sarai’s part to agree to put herself in such a compromised position to keep her husband safe?
5. Do you really think Avram thought it was a good trade off to allow Pharaoh to take Sarai in exchange for goats, sheep and slaves?
6. In our scriptures the women were released before the king was intimate with them. How do you think the kings in each of these Biblical accounts found out the women were actually married?
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!”
1. Why was Pharaoh plagued, but Avram was blessed; when it was Avram who had allowed Pharaoh to take Sarai ?
2. God knows the heart and He demands reverence and commitment from those who follow Him. Would you consider the matter of the heart to be a primary reason for whether someone is considered a friend or enemy by Jehovah?
Video on Avraham the Hebrew from One for Israel Ministries: https://www.oneforisrael.org/bible-based-teaching-from-israel/what-does-the-word-hebrew-mean/
Day Five: Lot Lifted His Eyes
Genesis 13:3-11 (CJB)
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.
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.”
10 Lot looked upand saw that the whole plain of the Yarden (Jordan) was well watered everywhere, before Adonai destroyed S’dom and ‘Amora, like the garden of Adonai, like the land of Egypt in the direction of Tzo‘ar.
11 So Lot chose all the plain of the Yarden for himself, and Lot traveled eastward; thus they separated themselves from each other.
Write the following statements in your own words, in your journal. (Note your understanding carefully).
a) Avram has returned to the place of compromise that caused him to end up in Egypt, but this time he is not planning to stay there. He seems to be there merely to separate from his nephew peacefully. b) Vs. 10 Lot Looked up… c) Vs. 10. Lot saw the plain of Jordan was well watered and Eden like.
Day Six: Lot Pitched His Tent Toward Sodom
Yesterday we noted that Avram returned to the place of compromise that caused him to end up in Egypt, but this time merely to separate from his nephew Lot peacefully. I think this place of compromise is really a forewarning of what is about to transpire in the life of Lot.
Genesis 13:10-11 (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. 11 So Lot chose for himself the whole area surrounding the Jordan. Lot journeyed to the east, and they separated from each other.
In the Strong's:
Lifted5375H 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.
*I want you 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 Jehovah that the land could not support them both, yet here in our scripture we have Lot, and you may disagree, but I believe Lot looked at the lush Jordan River Valley before him and craved its richness. He lusted and quickly chose what he believed to be the “best” for himself instead of deferring the choice back to his generous and kindly uncle.
We need to establish this truth before we move on, that what we think is “best” is not always 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”. For “righteous” Lot, this lush place 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. · Write your own conclusion about the idea that Lot lifted his eyes in lust in your journal.
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.
*Oh friends, what a warning to you and I is hidden in the meaning of the name of this river and the valley it watered so abundantly. To descend; 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. · Write your own conclusion about Lot descending into sin in the valley in your journal.
[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. · Write your own conclusion about what "well-watered" might tell us about this place in your journal.
*Up until now [the second encampment in the place of compromise], Lot has traveled with Avram. Yet, now, because they have been so blessed by Jehovah, the land can no longer support these two great nations. Avram generously offers his nephew, Lot, to choose the area where he would like to establish his home.
“Lot lifted his eyes”, this is a strange way of putting what is transpiring here. Do you think the author is trying to tell us something? Do you think we can infer that Lot’s propensity to compromise was triggered in the glamour of this well-watered, fertile plain stretching out before him, and is it interesting to you that our author here compares this valley to “the garden of God” or the garden in the land of Eden? Remember our Shabbat message from this past weekend and how we discussed that the enemy’s traps look “good” (copy God’s plan but with an evil intent [twist]), but are evil and destructive when you scratch the surface.
*Think about how the enemy puts forth anti-Christs, and describe in your journal whether you think he may have disguised this place as a garden like God planted in Eden to lure a godly man [Lot] to his ruin. We need to regularly self-evaluate whether we are being enticed by something that appears beautiful and rich. We need to scratch the surface and test whether the gold we see is only skin deep or if it is truly solid.
Avram didn’t need to live in the lush valley. Jehovah 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 successful and inherited Jehovah’s promise to him.
Remember from our creation section of this study that Eden means; soft, delicate, to live voluptuously. We should also remember that Adam and Eve seemed to have been lulled into a false sense of security, living voluptuously in the garden, and if we look back up at the meaning of "well watered" from the Strong's section (above) we can infer there is a hint at drunkenness. Lot became intoxicated by the sinful lifestyle of the people he chose to live among. This can be a problem for you and I too. The enemy's traps typically seem soft and enticing, appealing to our carnal nature, but they're usually just the opposite when reality actually sets in. Adam and Eve failed to commit to God’s provision of the tree of life. Was this also part of Lot’s downfall?
It is impossible to faithfully serve God when we choose to focus on obtaining the lush life, when we start living to please ourselves. This was most certainly Lot’s downfall. He not only saw the well-watered plain, but he saw the well fed and indulged people who lived there. He longed to indulge his carnal appetites too.
Be Strong and Courageous friends!