Genesis 17-28 focuses on the beginning of the fulfillment of the covenant. Abraham finally has a son at the age of 100. I was struck at the hospitality of Abraham for the 3 men that came to visit him. He dropped everything immediately and went to have fresh bread baked, a good calf prepared to be eaten and served the men, who happened to be from the Lord. It is a nice reminder of how we are to serve the Lord, with our best and by dropping everything. I did not remember all of the story of the destruction of Sodom. I found it disturbing that within a short period of time of the arrival of the angels, a mob of men demanded to have sex with them and as a replacement Lot offered up his virgin daughters. After reading some commentary and notes out of my study bible, I learned that Lot was being a good host and that came with the expectation of protecting your guests at all costs. Lot’s family was protected, but it is still a difficult event to process. As a mom, I was in awe of and at the same time had difficulty trying to understand Abraham’s obedience to the Lord by agreeing to sacrifice his only son, Isaac as a burnt offering.
“Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” Genesis 28:15
Passage:
Genesis 17-28
Discovered:
- God made a covenant with Abram: I will make you a father of a multitude of nations, make you into nations & kings will come from you, an everlasting covenant; will give offspring all of Canaan, but you must circumcise every man @ 8 days. Abram -> Abraham.
- Sarai -> Sarah: give birth to a son: Isaac; Abraham laughed at this
- Ishmael will be fruitful & father 12 princes, but Isaac will have the covenant.
- 3 men appeared to Abraham, he took care of them, fresh bread, calf & water. (from the Lord) They said they would return in a year & Sarah would have a son, Sarah laughed.
- Abraham argued with God until He promised not to destroy Sodom if there were ten righteous men.
- 2 angels went to Sodom to investigate. Lot them and brought them to his house. The people wanted to have sex with the angels. Lot offers his virgin daughters instead. The angels blinded the men & told Lot & his family to flee because they were going to destroy Sodom. Despite being told not to look back Lot’s wife ignored & turned into a pillar of salt. They settled in a cave on the edge of Zoar
- His daughters were afraid that there would be no family line so they got Lot drunk & laid with him & became pregnant.
- Abraham & Sarah settled in Negeb & told everyone Sarah was his sister so Abimelech took her as his wife but God told Abimelech the truth and he gave Sarah back.
- Sarah gave birth to Isaac & sent Hagar & Ishmael away, but God provided for them
- Abraham obeys God by agreeing to sacrifice Isaac, but stops him after his obedience. God will surely multiply your offspring as stars of heaven & sands on the seashore.
- Sarah died @ 127 & buried in a cave Abraham bought
- Abraham sends for a wife for Isaac, Rebekah, Laben’s sister
- Abraham died @ 175 years old & buried with Sarah. Isaac was blessed.
- Isaac & Rebekah had Esau (hairy, hunter) & Jacob (tent, smooth); twins
- Jacob tricks Esau out of his birthright for a meal
- God renews covenant with Isaac, Isaac becomes wealthy
- When Isaac was old, Rebekah & Jacob trick Isaac into giving his blessing to Jacob. Esau threatens to kill Jacob.
- Rebekah fears for Jacob’s life & sends him away to Laben. On the way, he has a dream renewing the covenant
Help me to remember:
God keeps His promises. Through 3 generations: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – God renews His covenant 4 times
Lord, I ask that
you help me to see your promises in my daily life, such as you are always with us, that you are an everlasting God.
Lord, I am thankful for . . .
your promise of grace, that because I have accepted you into my life, I will have everlasting life with you.
