Genesis 15:1

Genesis 15:1 says, After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.  After Abram rescued Lot, he received an assurance from God that he did not need to be afraid.  I believe that when we go through a bad situation that God will always be there to reassure us, whether we are successful or not.  Verse two asks, And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?  Abram was still questioning God.  How often do we question God when things don't go exactly as we think they should.  Abram said that he was still childless, which was not what he thought would be true by this time.  Verse three adds, And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.  Abram basically said that God had failed.  We may often look around at the conditions in the world and feel that God has failed us, but He never has and never will.  Abram said his servant's child would be his heir.  Verse four declares, And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.  God told Abram that he was wrong.  If we ever question God's promises, we can be certain that we are the ones who are wrong.  Instead of questioning, we should just be patient and wait on God in faith.  Verse five adds, And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.  God brought Abram out and told him to look at the stars and asked if he could number them.  Then, God promised Abram that he would have descendants that would not be able to be numbered.  Abram was still looking at the world in physical terms and not spiritual ones.  The God Who created the universe could certainly give Abram an heir when He promised to do so.  God is still capable of fulfilling His promises to us.  Verse six says, And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.  Like Abram, when we believe God's promise of salvation through Christ, it is counted to us as righteous.  It is our belief that brings us righteousness.  Verse seven adds, And he said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.  God promised Abram a land for himself and his descendants.  He promises us a heavenly home, which is for all who believe in Him.  Verse eight asks, And he said, Lord GOD, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?  We may want to ask the same thing at times about our heavenly home, but we must simply believe God.  Verse nine declares, And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.  God gave Abram instructions to follow, just as we have instructions to put our faith in Christ in order to attain salvation.  Verse ten says, And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each pierce one against another: but the birds divided he not.  Verse eleven adds, And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away.  Abram sacrificed the animals but not the birds.  He also kept the birds away from the sacrifice.

Genesis 14:14

Genesis 14:14 says, And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.  Abram heard about Lot being taken captive and armed his trained servants, three hundred and eighteen of them, to go after Lot.  This was not many men to be pursuing a great army, but Abram had God on his side.  When we are facing great odds, we need to be sure that God is with us and that we are following His will.  Verse fifteen states, And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus.  Abram was not a military man, and this is the only battle we have recorded of his participating in.  We are not necessarily called to be military people, but as followers of Christ we are a part of His army.  I believe that God led Abram to his strategy, and we must allow God to lead us to ours.  Verse sixteen says, And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.  We aren't told much about the battle, but Abram was successful and brought back everything.  Verse seventeen declares, And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king’s dale.  This tells us that Chedorlaomer and his allies were destroyed.  Verse eighteen adds, And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.  There is more than one interpretation as to whom Melchizedek was, but we do know that he was a king and a priest.  This would mean that he was not set aside exclusively for the priesthood.  As followers of Christ, we may be called to serve in more than one capacity.  Verse nineteen states, And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:  Melchizedek blessed Abram in the name of God.  We cannot really bless people out of our own abilities, but must always do so by calling on God's blessings for others.  Verse twenty adds, And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.  God was blessed for having brought success to Abram, and Abram gave a tithe to Milchizedek.   We must always be quick to give God the glory when we are successful in our battles against sin.  Verse twenty-one states, And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.  The king of Sodom would have been satisfied to simply have his people returned to him, at least at this time.  Verse twenty-two declares, And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,  Verse twenty-three adds, That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:  Abram refused to take any of the goods and gave God the credit for the victory.  Abram did not want anyone to think that he had become rich at someone else's expense.  We today must always look to God to guide us and must never attempt to serve Him simply for material gains.  Verse twenty-four concludes, Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.  Abram said he only wanted the food that his men had eaten, but that those who went with him, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre should be allowed to take what they wanted.  We should never attempt to limit what God blesses others with, but we also should never feel that God has to bless us materially.  Abram went only to rescue Lot and not to enrich himself.  We are challenged to present the gospel to the lost that they might be spiritually rescued, but we are never to do so in an attempt to enrich ourselves.

Genesis 14:1

Genesis 14:1 says, And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations;  Verse two adds, That these made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar.  War broke out, the first war that we have a record of in scripture, and Sodom and Gomorrah were involved in it.  This was close to Abram, but especially close to Lot.  Followers of Christ today are often caught up in wars and are sometimes the targets of those at war.  Verse three states, All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea.  I believe this means the war was fought in the valley of Sidom.  Verse four adds, Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.  I would interpret this to mean  an uprising after the initial defeat.  Chedorlaomer and his allies won, and the people of Sodom and Gomorrah and their allies were under his rule for twelve years, then they rebelled.  We hear a lot today about people rebelling against those in power over them, often without success.  Verse five declares, And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim,   Verse six adds And the Horites in their mount Seir, unto Elparan, which is by the wilderness.   Those allied with Chedorloamer soon routed those who were rebelling against them.  Sometimes, those with the military power win today, but we as followers of Christ can be certain that ultimately we will be on the winning side, even if it is not in this lifetime.   Verse seven states, And they returned, and came to Enmishpat, which is Kadesh, and smote all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that dwelt in Hazezontamar.  Then verse eight adds, And there went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar;) and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim;  This again speaks of a battle in Siddim, but since these cities had already been under the rule of Chedorlaomer for twelve years before the revolt, I believe this must be a second battle.  Verse nine states, With Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings with five.  There were three kings fighting with Chedolaomer against five who had rebelled, including those of Sodom and Gomorrah.  Verse ten declares, And the vale of Siddim was full of slimepits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain.  The kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled to the slime pits, and those that didn't follow them fled to the mountains.  This would imply that the two kings abandoned their those that they ruled over.  We know that it is not unusual for ruler to put their own safety first if they are attacked, often abandoning their subjects.  Verse eleven says, And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way.  The conquering armies took all the goods, or material wealth, of Sodom and Gomorrah with them.  Taking away their wealth meant Sodom and Gomorrah would no longer be a threat.  Controlling the resources of a country today often leaves those living there subjected to another country.  Verse twelve declares, And they took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.  This was a big mistake on the part of those in victory.  They took Lot and his goods with them.  Even if we are taken captive in this life, we can be certain that God has already given us everlasting freedom, and He will never leave us alone without hope.  Verse thirteen declares, And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram.  News reached Abram about Lot being taken captive.  We can assume that the battle wasn't close enough for Abram to know about it, or that it just didn't concern him.  There are many wars today that we know very little about, even in these days of instant communication, and Christians are caught up in many of them, but I don't believe that we are called to conquer them all.  God has already defeated them for those who follow Him, though it may not be in this lifetime.

Genesis 13:12

Genesis 13:12 says, Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.  Lot chose to live in the cities of the plain and set up his camp near Sodom.  Lot had seemingly left Abram, who had brought him to the land, when he saw what looked to be an ideal place to live.  The land was good and it was close to city, but unfortunately the city was one filled with very wicked people.  We should never be more influenced by what looks good than we are by what God would have us do.  Verse thirteen states, But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.  As just stated, the people of Sodom were wicked and sinners before God.  Though we may often be sent by God to live among sinners, we are not told that this was the case with Lot.  I believe he was there more out of fascination with the city than with bringing God's word to the people there.  We must make certain that if we find ourselves in a place filled with sin that we are there because God sent us there and not because we are fascinated by the sin.  Verse fourteen declares, And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:  God was directing Abram in his choice of the land after Abram separated from Lot.  Personally, I believe that this was when Abram really did what God instructed him to do and left all his kinsman.  Verse fifteen says, For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.  God promised to give Abram and his descendants all the land he could see forever.  God promises us a land we cannot see, a heavenly home,  forever as well.  Verse sixteen adds, And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.  This is still part of God's promise to Abram.  God again promised to make Abram the father of a great nation.  Since Sarai and Abram had no children at this time, and even Lot who may have been viewed as almost a son was gone, Abram may have wondered how this was going to happen.  We should never look at our situation to determine what we can do, but we must always look to God's promises.  When we truly put our faith in God, we can do anything He calls us to do.  Verse seventeen continues, Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.  Abram was told to take some action, to walk the land.  When God calls us to do something today, He expects us to take action.  Verse eighteen states, Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD.  Abram moved his tent to the plain of Mamre, in Hebron.  There, he built another altar to God.  Abram never left his worship of God behind him, and neither should we.  We must keep our relationship with God first, wherever we are.

Genesis 13:1

Genesis 13;1 says, And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south.  Abram left Egypt.  He had not distinguished himself as a man who trusted God while he was there.  Verse two states, And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.  Even though Abram had failed Sarai and God, God was still at work fulfilling His promise to Abram.  Even if we occasionally fail to obey God, if we have truly accepted Christ as our Savior and Lord, God will never forget His promise to us.  Verse three adds, And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai;  Abram went back to where he had first settled.  During the famine nor after, Abram never went back to his homeland.  When we accept Christ, we should never want to go back to where we were before spiritually.  Verse four says, Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD.  Abram went back to the altar and called on God.  We do not find any evidence that Abram called on God when he made his plans in Egypt.  When we have strayed away from God, we need to go back to the altar and call on Him again.  I don't believe that the altar is necessarily a physically place, but it is a spiritual place where we meet God.  Verse five states, And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents.  Lot was also prospering.  Verse six states, And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.   God had allowed both Abram and Lot to prosper so much that the land could not contain them.  I still do not believe that God intended for Abram to bring Lot along, since Lot was not a part of God's promise to Abram.  I do know that we should be careful to do exactly what calls us to do, and if we don't then we can expect problems.  Verse seven declares, And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.  Trouble arose between the herdmen of Abram and Lot.  Sometimes, being richly blessed can cause problems.  Verse eight adds, And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.  Abram took the initiative to solve the problem.  We, as followers of Christ, should always take the initiative to attempt to resolve problems between others and us.  This is especially true of problems with fellow Christians.  In verse nine Abram asks, Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.  After asking Lot if there were not plenty of land, he then gave Lot his choice of the land.  We must remember that God's promise was to Abram and not to Lot.  Even if we give others first choice in material matters, it does not change God's promise to us.  Verse ten states, 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, as thou comest unto Zoar.  Lot saw what looked like the perfect land.  Things of this world may look perfect to us, but if we are following our own sight and not God's will, then they will never be.  Verse eleven declares, Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.  Lot chose what looked like the best land for himself.  As Abram's nephew who was along at Abram's invitation, we would have thought that he would have told Abram to choose, but he didn't.  People today too often are still too selfish in their dealings with others.

Today we in America celebrate Memorial Day, a day to remember all those who died in service to the country.  It was originally called Decoration Day, and originated shortly after the Civil War, and became a national holiday in 1971.  We are just discussing the first war recorded in the Bible, though war was never God's intention.  Still, war has been a part of human history almost from the beginning, and we need to remember those who gave their lives to support American during the wars that have been faught.  Most of all, I believe, we need to remember God, Who promises us a world where war will no longer exist, after Christ returns in judgment.  Today, hopefully you will take a few moments to remember why we celebrate this day and ask God to guide us toward a more peaceful world.   Since this is an American holiday, I have referred to Americans who died in service to their country.

Genesis 12:9

Genesis 12:9 says, And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south.  Abram still had not settled permanently.  Though Abram was in the land of promise, there was a famine there as we see in verse ten, so he left temporarily.  Verse ten states, And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.  Abram did not use the famine as an excuse to return to his homeland, but went further still.  When people become followers of Christ, they can expect difficulties in life, but they must never use those difficulties as an excuse to return to where they were before accepting Christ as their Savior and Lord.  Verse eleven says, And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon:  Abram began to waver in his faith in God when he entered Egypt.  He evidently didn't believe that God would keep him safe.  Verse twelve adds, Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive.  Abram feared that the Egyptians would kill him if they knew that Sarai was his wife so that they might have her.  Again, this shows very little faith in God's promise.  Verse thirteen concludes, Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.  Abram devised his own plan to save himself, but he was not too concerned about what this would do to Sarai.  Our own plans of salvation will never work, but we must always put our faith in God's plan.  Verse fourteen states, And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair.  What Abram had feared would happen did.  Sometimes, the things that we fear may happen will, but this is the time that we must put our faith in God even more.  Verse fifteen says, The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house.  Sarai was taken into the house of the Pharaoh because she was a good looking woman, I guess we could say.  Verse sixteen declares, And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels.  The Pharaoh was in effect buying Sarai, whom Abram had called his sister, from Abram, and Abram was willing to go along with it.  Our plans may not only save us problems, but they may materially reward us, but if they are not based on faith in God and His promises, they will ultimately fail.  Verse seventeen says, And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram’s wife.  Abram may have been willing to sell Sarai, but God still had His plan and promise in effect.  God brought a plague on Pharaoh's house because of Sarai.  Sarai was a part of God's plan to build a nation, and He would not let her go, even if Abram had.  As followers of Christ, we cannot use other people, especially other Christians, for our own benefit.  Verse eighteen asks, And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife?  The pharaoh called Abram and asked why he had lied about Sarai being his wife.  It is bad when those who do not profess to know God can question the auctions of those who do, especially if it is based on something the the believer did that was wrong.  There was no way that Abram could justify his actions.  Verse nineteen adds, Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way.  Even the pharaoh recognized that what he was about to do was wrong.  Verse twenty declares, And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had.  Pharaoh sent Abram and Sarai and all that they had away.  I believe that Abram's lack of faith created a lot of problems, but God was still at work in his life.  Our lack of faith at times may create problems, but if we are truly followers of Christ, He will be at work to rescue us from our foolish plans.