Genesis 13-17
Today we start in a different translation – the New American Standard Bible. As the name indicates, this is a newer version of something translated before – the American Standard Version of 1901. The NASB was published in 1995 and updated the English to be more modern and smooth out some of the challenging vocabulary. We are in The World Stream as we continue the story of Abram.
Lord God, what a hailstorm of activity Abraham has been brought through. And may we be inspired to trek, and battle, and worship, and react as Abraham does according to God’s bidding. And Lord teach us to learn from Abraham’s mistakes – he had his human nature, as revered as he is.
We all know that his errors are left in the story so that we can know what not to repeat. Also remind us Lord that you care for us as much as you care for Abraham. May it be realized as truth in our hearts and minds. Thank you Jesus, Amen.
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In chapter 13 We see a family split that may initially seem unfortunate, but it serves as a blessing for the future. Abram and Lot have returned from a harrowing trek to Egypt. But they did leave with gifts and possessions and were impressively wealthy now. However these new flocks required more grazing land and that led to their hired herdsmen squabbling [notice Abram and Lot were not particularly at odds]. Abram is beyond gracious and allows Lot to point and claim land. Lot seems to walk by sight – not by faith as we will learn. Plus historically Abram/Abraham and his descendants are to be nearer the intersection of the continents; on the coastal route, not placidly tucked away in a cozy del that seemed fertile and “secure” so to speak. One cannot be a light to the nations while obsessing over cushioned comforts and personal security. Notice that God proclaims huge prominence upon Abram, v.14, after Lot leaves. God was not going to pour blessing upon mixed company. Smart gardeners remove the weeds THEN they fertilize and water. Often a church explodes in growth after a split – after the rabble departs. Please note God’s processes here. It serves as a hint to not fret rejection/non-acceptance from people that God is wisely removing from our future. Once God removes wrong elements from our future, our future is wide open for unlimited blessing, Providence, and guidance. Really, look what God promised Abram!
14 includes a rousing set of battles that include Lot’s newly assumed homeland getting sacked. Lot and family get hauled away as prisoners and many possessions are absconded by rowdy-rogues turned mini-kings from Damascus and Babylon areas. We could initiate a large search into who/where all these kings and armies were from. But the kings were on the obscure side of the scale since the account of these skirmishes do not exist elsewhere in other ethnic literature. Plus a list of geographical explanations becomes difficult to hear. The reaction of Abram is of note. If he can call up 318 trained ruffians who go retrieve Lot plus the others and all the stolen goods that tells us much about Abram. 1] his world is expansive and growing. He had to have an entourage well beyond 1,000 souls. 2] Abram is the leader as they jump at his directives. 3] Abram is a rather crafty military tactician. It’s easy to think of a spiritual sage as a throne dwelling, long-beard type with a robe and sedentary life.  Not Abram. He had serious skills many did not know about. The Babylonian kings were ignorant of Lot’s uncle’s commitment to Lot and his mind for battle.
This victory takes us into the epic encounter with Melchizedek. The name literally means “King Righteous” or ‘righteous king’. Jewish tradition insists that Melchizedek is Shem; Noah’s oldest son. He is the oldest man on earth at ca. 450 years when he and Abram have this meeting. Melchizedek is King of Salem, which 1,000 years later becomes JERU-salem (“jer-UU-suh-lem”). The Valley of Shaveh mentioned here is the entire area that includes Salem. Take note of the interaction. Melchizedek blesses, Abram gives 1/10th of everything to him. That tithe model shadows most all fruitful charities, wealth management and transfers to this day, folks. 90% remaining wealth in the hands of a mindful manager submitted to Elohim accomplishes better and more and lasts longer than 100% in the hands of a selfish secular. This has been proven for millennia. God will not bless endeavors that are not tithed upon. Abram will not receive a concurrent gratuity from the King of Sodom. Abram has a heart for his nephew living there – nothing else about Sodom has any appeal.
come 15 – It has been a series of impressive events for Abram…and God isn’t done yet, not at all. The covenant is renewed with Abram in a manner of epiphanies that Abram will remember for life. His descendants will remember too! Abram is further promised peace, protection, bounty, blessing, children, righteousness. His dream is intense, awesome, even spooky. Abram is assured that his future family will possess land from the Nile to the Euphrates (David takes it this geographical extent). It’s interesting that Abram is informed that there will be intermittent centuries of respite (and slavery) in Egypt. We do well to ingest Abram’s memo here. We likely may not see all that is promised to us in this life during our lifetime. Relax. Do not become frantic or desperate. It will only lead to evil; trying to rush God’s blessings. We see this right away in the next chapter.
16 – Abram has been blessed, and blessed over and again, chapter after chapter – since chapter 12. And here we come to this phase where what God has promised to Abram is doubted -by Sarai (Sarah); Abram’s wife. We know what happened here in #16 and the tension throughout history still occupies the news and the web 24/7 today. Sarai thinks Abram should sleep with someone else to boost along God’s blessing. Is she thinking clearly? Really?! Then Sarai resents her handmaid for being pregnant, even though it was Sarai’s plan.  Again, is Sarai thinking clearly? She banishes Hagar to the desert, because Hagar obeyed her? Is that why? Is Sarai thinking clearly? Then she rips into Abram claiming it’s all his doing; and declares that Hagar despises her…! Uh hum, the opposite is true. Let’s ask a fourth time, is Sarai thinking clearly? Her emotions are contrary to what God has promised in this realm. And it’s a cop out to blame either/or here. Abram knew what to do and who to believe. He knew Hagar-the-call-girl was the wrong method to build his family. It’s also a cop up to blame emotions. It’s been said that the best thing about computers is that they have no emotions. This is also the worst thing about computers; they have no emotions. But we do. Sarai AND Abram are afraid. Sarai ventures into a world of dark thinking and Abraham complies. Same in Eden: Eve ventures into disobedience and Adam complies. These are not good patterns.         Be that as it may, Hagar is going to have Abram’s child (sounds like a band, doesn’t it?) Hagar is instructed to return to Sarai, promised descendants, told what this child and the family line will be like. A prophetic insinuation comes into play that is easy to miss in the literature. Cutting to the chase, here we are ca. 4100 years after this event and Hagar’s offspring are coming into the Kingdom of Christ at a rate of 500,000/month!     And for you history buffs, by the end of Gen.16 it is 2080 B.C.
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17 – Abram is 99 years old when God visits him again. He is given blessing and promises for a fourth time. This emphasizes the certainty of the blessing. God changes his name from Abram; “exalted father” to Abraham; “father of many”. Also, Sarai becomes Sarah. For both it’s a new name as they are entering in to a new thing with their Redeemer. God also institutes circumcision for the males. We don’t need to get medical or descriptively lurid here. You can look up what you find interesting in medical writings. It was a sign that these men are God’s men. The Covenant was a non- negotiable with God. Interestingly among the Jewish women of the world, to this day, there are certain cancers that are basically non-existent. Though these same cancers will plague the wives /or/and/ those “frequented” by uncircumcised men. Ob-Gyn doctors confirm this. There is more than just the medical aspect. It was symbolic that what a man was to love in life was to be loved while being mindful of God. This was a distinct marking in a part of the world that would become infested with sex cults immersed in paganism. These cultic misgivings would eventually decimate the cultures that would settle in these areas between 1800-1400 B.C. [between Jacob and Moses]. It is a large part of why these people needed to be removed by Joshua and posterity. The people of the Covenant were not to mingle, intermarry, or worship together in any manner with sex-cult-pagans. Circumcision was a sanctifying distinctive – a permanent reminder regarding this commitment.
So Abraham circumcised all the males in his household that day. Abraham was also circumcised. The Covenant was further defined and never to be broken.
