Arms Reaching

Howdy – Today’s reading is from Genesis chapters 16-18 and covers Abram becoming Abraham, Sarai becoming Sarah, Hagar and Ishmael, the Lord promises a son for Sarah (Isaac) and Abraham negotiates for mercy regarding Sodom and Gomorrah. You can find today’s reading at:

https://www.biblegateway.com/reading-plans/beginning/2023/01/05?version=NIV

Things to ponder today:

Why did Sarai offer Hagar to Abram?

What is the significance of Ishmael?

Did Abraham get God to change his mind regarding Sodom and Gommorah?

From yesterdays reading:

Why did Abram say Sarai was his sister? – The bible tells us that Abram was concerned that the Egyptians would kill him and take Sarai as their wife because of her great beauty, even at 65 years old. Many people ask why did Abram and Sarai lie? Many bible scholars say Abram and Sarai did not lie, per se, but omitted to complete truth to the Egyptians. They say that Sarai was Abram’s half sister, and his wife. Regardless of did Abram and Sarai really lie or not. The fact that the did not “Trust in Lord” but choose to “lean on thier own understand” was a sign of spiritual immaturity, yet the Lord forgave them and continued to bless them.

Why did Lot choose the plain of the Jordan to resettle? – Lot choose the easy path, he saw that it “was well watered, like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt.” Therefore he choose what he thought it was the best land so instead of allowing Abram, his uncle and head of thier family decide. We will soon see the disaster that follows.

Who is Melchizedek? – Melchizedek, whose name means “king of righteousness,” was a priest of the Most High God. Melchizedek is mentioned several times in the bible, and many scholars believe that Melchizedek was Christ appearing in human form while others say he was a Christ like prophet. Are Melchizedek and Jesus the same person? A case can be made either way. I will let you research and come to your own conclusion.

What was the sin of the Amorites, and what does “for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure” actual mean? Genesis 15 provides several prophecies; First Abram’s descendants will be held as slaves for four hundred years (Egypt). Then God will punish the nation that enslaves them and they will leave that nation with its possessions. Then they will return to the promised land and conquer the inhabitants, the Amorites among them. The phrase “has not reached its full measure” simply means all things necessary to fulfill these prophecies were still in future.

That’s it for today…

Thank you for participating – Brother Jack