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EVANGELICAL BIBLE COLLEGE OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA


COMMENTARY

ABRAHAM

GENESIS 12:1 - 25:11

by

DR JOHN McEWAN

[BOO !1-2"

R#$%' 1( J)*# 2+11

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WHO IS JESUS CHRIST,

Professor Simon Greenleaf was one of the most eminent lawyers of all time. His Laws of Evidence for many yearswere accepted by all States in the United States as the standard methodology for evalating cases. He was teachingLaw at a niversity in the United States when one of his stdents as!ed Professor Greenleaf if he wold apply his Laws

of Evidence to evalate an historical figre. "hen Greenleaf agreed to the pro#ect he as!ed the stdent who was to bethe sb#ect of the review. $he stdent replied that the person to be e%amined wold be &ess 'hrist. ProfessorGreenleaf agreed to nderta!e the e%amination of &ess 'hrist and as a reslt( when he had finished the review( SimonGreenleaf personally accepted the Lord &ess 'hrist as his Savior.

Professor Greenleaf then sent an open letter to all #rists in the United States saying in part ) personally haveinvestigated one called &ess 'hrist. ) have fond the evidence concerning him to be historically accrate. ) have alsodiscovered that &ess 'hrist is more than a hman being( he is either God or nothing and having e%amined the evidenceit is impossible to conclde other than he is God. Having conclded that he is God ) have accepted him as my personalSavior. ) rge all members of the legal profession to se the Laws of Evidence to investigate the person of the Lord&ess 'hrist and if yo find that he is wrong e%pose him as a fa!er bt if not consider him as yor Savior and Lord.

HOW CAN I BE SAVED,

S.$/%0* %& $%.b.# 0 .. 3#3b#& 0 /4# 4)3* c#

Salvation is the most important nderta!ing in all of God*s niverse. $he salvation of sinners is never on the basis ofGod*s merely passing over or closing His eyes to sin. God saves sinners on a completely righteos basis consistent withthe divine holiness of His character. $his is called grace. )t relies on God so man cannot wor! for salvation neither canhe deserve it. "e need to realise that the creation of this vast nmeasred niverse was far less an nderta!ing than thewor!ing ot of God*s plan to save sinners.

However the acceptance of God*s salvation by the sinner is the most simple thing in all of life. +ne need not be rich( norwise( nor edcated. ,ge is no barrier nor the color of one*s s!in. $he reception of the enormos benefits of God*sredemption is based pon the simplest of terms so that there is no one in all this wide niverse who need be trnedaway.

H06 '0 I b#c03# C4%&/%*,$here is bt one simple step divided into three parts. -irst of all ) have to recognise that ) am a sinner /omans 0120341203 E5e!iel 67183 &ohn 9128:.

Secondly( realising that if ) want a relationship with ,lmighty God who is perfect( and recognising that ) am not perfect( )need to loo! to the Lord &ess 'hrist as the only Savior 6 'orinthians 69103 6 Peter 21283 lsaiah 90143 &ohn 0164:.

$hirdly( by the e%ercise of my free will ) personally receive the Lord &ess 'hrist as my Savior( believing that He diedpersonally for me and that He is what He claims to be in an individal( personal and living way &ohn 61623 01043 ,cts641063 8162:.

T4# #&)./& 0 S.$/%0*$he reslts of this are nbelievably wonderfl1;y sins are ta!en away &ohn 612

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CONTENTS

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INTRODUCTION

$HE L)-E +- ,@/,H,;

,braham was from Ur of the 'haldees in the ;esopotamian valley in what is now !nown as )ra and wait. He wasborn abot 26>> years before 'hrist and is therefore as far before the -irst ,dvent of the Lord &ess 'hrist as we are

after it. "hilst those in "estern Erope were very primitive peoples( living in nsanitary conditions at this time( those inUr were advanced with pper class homes having hot and cold rnning water. He therefore represents a very great andadvanced ancient civilisation. He was a leader in his generation and cold have prospered and remained rich andpowerfl within his own 'ity State.

Ur at the time of ,brahamIs birth and early life was a centre of prosperity and cltre( and had relative peace tonderta!e commerce and retain the gains made( withot losing them to the ne%t invader. $here was no financial benefit(nor any political or social incentive to leave his home( especially to leave it for 'anaan. He was leaving cltre andmoving to( what we wold call( a third world area.

,lthogh the cities of 'anaan were significant at this time( they were small by 'haldean standards( and were heavilyfortified( for the times were dangeros in 'anaan( and the bands of tribes from the ,rabian Peninsla wold occasionallysweep in to loot and pillage. )t was not the sort of place a good trader went to ma!e wealth( for there was plenty to bemade in the more cltred 'ity States arond his homeland.

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Significant e%cavations have been completed in this area over the last 69> years. , great deal has been learned abotthe life and times of Ur and itIs neighbors in the second and third millennim @'. ,braham lived arond the period26>>?6> @'. )t was a time of great prosperity and power for Ur as a city( which may have been the most prosperos ofthe cities of the -ertile 'rescent modern )ra( Syria: in that day. $he archaeological remains are still e%tensive( with twoto three storied bric! hoses with internal cortyards the norm. )n ,brahamIs day arond 08(>>> people may have livedin the city( with p to a arter of a million people in the srronding sbrban area. )t was a large city by ancient worldstandards.

,s a city it was dominated by itIs religios strctre( a giant stone pyramid( called a Jiggrat. $his particlar one wasbilt by ing Ur?amm arond 2660?2>>> @' the days of Aavid and Solomon( over > years after ,braham:( and then later again byebchadne55ar and his son abonids between 4>9?909 @':.

Ur drops ot of prominence arond the 8 thcentry @'( and after the Gree! conest of the Persian Empire by ,le%ander(it is left to fall into rins. $he Ephrates /iver changes corse and the silting p on the canals changes the cityIs fortnesand it is abandoned by 2>>@' and is covered by the seasonal wind blown sands from the ,rabian deserts.

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-rom this brief discssion( it is clear that there is no financial reason for ,braham to leave his home city. $his is thecentre of cltre and wealth for the entire region( and even after the @abylonian State gains pre?eminence( it remains agreat religios city( the focal point of pagan worship and pilgrimage. )t is this reason alone that loo!s to be the one thatmade ,braham leave a place that had been his ancestorIs home for possibly a thosand years or more. ,bram leavesbecase of the religios natre of his home city3 he re#ects its paganism and see!s a pre and tre relationship with thecreator God( not a pagan dance with the gods of their fantasy. Specialists in the field of ancient religion tell s that there

are over 0>>> gods in the pantheon of the Smerians and their descendents. Systematic lists of the gods have beenfond in a nmber of sites throgh this region.

$he stories of the gods and how they came into being are many( bt there are common themes that rn throgh all theancient cltres of man from manIs common origin in this region. /efer to the @$@ stdy on @,@EL $+"E/ +-@,@EL( /EL)G)+( and ,$)+S +/)G)S +- ,$)+S.

ames of some of the deities crop p in biblical history. Prominent amongst these are ;,/AU( @EL( ,S$,/$E(,SHU/. $he great literary religios masterpieces of this area( the Epic of Gilgamesh( and the Enma Elish( had beenwritten for hndreds of years before ,bram was born. $hese stories( the only ones amongst many to have srvived innearly complete form( tell of tales of evil and debachery amongst the gods and goddesses. $he pagan religion was onewithot real absolte morality otside power and position. $he rlers cold do what they pleased and the people wererged by their religion to rela%( bring their worship to the State gods( en#oy their place in society and change nothing.

$radition rled and it sited those in power. /eligion was the tre opiate of the peopleD )t bond them firmly into

sperstition and fear( with no hope for life eternal( bt it was comfortable( and there was enogh hope to hold peoplender itIs spell. ,rond this time also in the civili5ation of the )nds Malley( the /igveda is written( beginning the form ofreligion !nown today as Hindism.

$he Epic of Gilgamesh ends with the hero weeping over the dst that is the lot of man. $he second tale of Gilgamesh(titled Gilgamesh( En!id and the etherworld( tells of a visit to the after life( and describes the after death state ofman!ind. $he state is far from a vision of heaven( becase the dead are in all sorts of states( from rela%ed( to in torment(and the reasons are not moral( bt rather how they died and the care ta!en by the priests to do the fneral rites properlyD

/eligion was abot the ordering of society and the !eeping of the masses in their place in time and eternity. )t was @abeltype religion3 the satanic conterfeit was the dominant form of faith in ,bramIs dayD )t is this reason that he leaves hishome and heads to a place where he can shine li!e light in the dar!ness( withot the power of any satanic state pttingthe light ot ic!ly. Had ,bram started to worship God in Ur he wold ic!ly have been !illed by the priesthood and soall dissent may have been e%tingished. He is told to leave( and head to the edge of civili5ation( where there is not law

and order( becase only there will he be free to worship and witness to trth withot any centrali5ed power being able toe%tingish the growing flame of trth.

UrIs temple( and 5iggrat comple% rns a parallel corse to the faith and history of )srael. $he great centre of paganismof the early world was Ur( ,braham leaves it #st after it gains absolte pre?eminence( and itIs 5iggratKtemple is rebiltagain at the time Solomon bilds the great $emple in &ersalem( and then rebilt and repaired again afterebchadne55ar destroys the &ersalem $emple. )t may be that this city was the satanic opposite to &ersalem in itIsday and that the ,ngelic 'onflict at this time centred arond the conflict between &ersalem and Ur?@abylon. /efer tothe @$@ stdy( ,@/,H,; -,)$H( ,GELS?S,$,)' '+U$E/-E)$S( /EL)G)+( also( 'H/)S$), L)-E AES$)C( A)SPES,$)+S?GE$)LES +/ -,;)LC.

,bram will enter Egypt also in this period of history. "ith the two hndred year time frame 26>> 6> @' for the lifespan of ,bram it is difficlt to identify e%actly the Pharaoh he met with( bt an overview of Egypt at this time also is seflbefore we start.

$he Egyptian +ld ingdom dynasties rled from arond 2474 2676 @'. $he great Pharaohs of the forth dynasty(Snefr( hf( and hafre( 2460?28

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cltred peoples. Mast antities of tablets in the ,!!adian langage have been nearthed from the period arond,brahamIs life from three cities( ,marna( Ebla and Ugarit.

$he $ell el?,marna site has yielded p abot 09> ma#or cneiform docments. $hey date from later than the days of,braham( arond 68>> 60>> @'( bt give good insights into the langage( cltre( religion and politics of that day.$hey are predominantly copies of letters sent to other !ings and abot politics of the day. ,s this is the time from arondthe E%ods and invasion of the land by &osha( they shed good light on the times #st before the conest.

Ebla was a city of abot a arter of a million inhabitants in what is now orthern Syria( half way between Hamath and,leppo. +ver 2>(>>> tablets were discovered in 6 @' when the city was conered anddestroyed by a !ing of Ur( aram Sin( who rled Ur 22>> years later( as hepromises he will do to ,bram. "e stand at eal distance from the Lord as ,bram was( and await his second advent.,bramIs arrival pon the scene of history is startling and ot of order with his cltral and religios bac!grond. His calland his life is spernatral( not natral3 he sees beyond the details of this life and lives for the ne%t.

,fter the Pharaohs of Egypt have started to lavish their times and money pon the great pyramids and later their greattombs in the Malley of the ings( they still spend their lives en#oying all that cltre cold give them( and held tenacioslyto religios tradition. $hey were religios people( bt ,bram becomes a man of faith( of relationship with God. ,bram willestablish new traditions and will move forward in nderstanding and relationship with God. ;oses will do the same( aswe will see in E%ods. $hey stand in a new path( the path of faith3 determined to serve the Lord their God( rather thanflfil the e%pectations of their cltre and live #st as their ancestors did( in pleasant dar!ness. Ephesians 216?6>(Hebrews 6616?64.

,bram is not a &ew3 at this point he is a 'haldean Semitic Gentile. $o be a &ew is to be a descendent of ,braham( )saac

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and &acob. $here are no )sraelites( or &ews( ntil the twelve sons of &acob( bt their ancestors( these three great andyet frail men( set the e%ample of faith for s( as Hebrews in their day. )n fact in history the term &ew isnIt sed ntil theretrn of the e%iles from @abylon( and denotes the remnant of the dominant tribe of &dah and the srvivors of the othertribes that clng to them for their srvival. ,bram became a Hebrew by obeying God*s "ord. $he scholars tell s that theword Hebrew means( one who crosses the river3 the river being the Ephrates river of ;esopotamia.

)t was a word that probably indicated derision and laghter3 for to these people( why wold yo cross the great river(when all yo have is on this side. $o face shame( derision( inslt and misnderstanding is what it was for ,bram to be a

Hebrew and cross the river and head away from cltre( power and inflence( and become a wanderer pon the earth.Genesis 6216?0( Hebrews 66104?8>( 6216?0. "e will discss this below when we e%amine the first three verses of thispassage in Genesis.

)n these verses from Genesis and Hebrews( yo have got an introdction to what it is in essence spiritally( to be a &ew.$he &ews as a nation and people( were fonded on being obedient to God( and stepping otside their cltre of origin(with all itIs creatre comforts and tranil life style.

Stephen gronds his defence of the new path of ;essianic &daism( two thosand years later( firmly in the life andwor! of ,braham( &oseph( and ;oses. ,cts =16ff. Stephen arges( ite rightly( that the 'hrch is simply the ne%t stepalong the path of faith( with itIs dynamic changes( ebbs and flows( that the Lord has called all his servants to throgh theages. "e step ot of the e%pected( and do the demandedD ,s Stephen identifies( the tre followers of God are alwaysot of step with the political and religios power bloc!s in their society.

Hebrew means the one who crosses the river( leaving their old life behind( with all itIs comforts and going to the place

God has for them( no matter how hard and strange it is at times. God*s promises are that he will bild for ,bram aheritage. /e?read Genesis 6216?0. He says( ) will three times in these verses ? ) will ma!e yo a nation( ? ) will blessyo( ? ) will ma!e yor name blessed. ,bram had a nation and a blessed name and inheritance in his native city( bt Godpromises him a greater place and blessing than he can have if he stays pt in Ur.

God calls each of s( #st as he called ,bram ot of the midst of Ur( and he has a plan for s( which has been ine%istence since eternity past( #st as it was for ,bram. God has the ability to deliver on his plan( #st as he did for ,bram./efer to the @$@ stdies( G+A ,@)L)$C +- G+A( ',LL)G( A)M)E AE'/EES( A)M)E GU)A,'E $HE ")LL +-G+A.

$he two dominant themes of the boo! of Genesis can be classified as faith and failre3 or on the narrow path( and offthe path. ,braham is not yor plaster cast saint type of person3 he is a real flesh and blood( sccess and failre typeperson. "hat made ,braham great was when he fell he did not stay down( he got p( confessed his sin( got right withGod( and moved on. "e are called directly to be li!e or father in faith ,braham. /omans 816?67.

$his means that we are called to wal! in the path of God( not the path of man3 called to stand for the trth of God( andmove ot of or comfort 5one in faith at times. "e are to be people who desire a contry( and that contry is heaven.Hebrews 66164( 02?8>.

"e are to be ready to wal! the narrow way of God( rather than the broad way of manIs pleasres( for or life goals areeternal life goals( not the goals of the temporary world we wal! throgh. ;atthew =162?68. "e wal! with ,braham whenwe wal! the pilgrim path he wal!ed. Hebrews 66160( 6 Peter 2166.

How did ,bram fail here this first timeN $he answer is given in Genesis 6612=. $he answer in a word is $erah3 ,bramIsfather. ,bram*s father*s name means delay. He was a delaying factor in ,bram*s life right p ntil his death in the city ofHaran( in the north of the ;esopotamian valley.

,s we will see as we advance in this stdy( the names of the people and places have significance. ,bram meant father

of high and windy places( or e%alted one( whilst his brother ahor meant sleepy( whilst Haran means a dried pplace. ,braham*s wifeIs name( Sarai( means nag( or contentios one. She was apparently very attractive btcontentios. Eventally she became Sarah or princess. Each of these names will be woven into the points ;osesdraws ot as he tells the story passed to him on the clay tablets he received when the people left Egypt. )n the ancientworld names were given to babies after dominant characteristics emerged( or prophetic words were received( so they arenot O;ythic memories rewor!ed by ;oses( bt actal names recorded on the clay tablets passed to him.

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$he family of ,braham was his biggest problem ntil he was almost 6>> years old with Sarai being a problem to him ntilthey were in their early nineties. $he problems they were having were a mirror of what was happening in their spiritallives. $hey had problems ntil eventally Sarai bowed before the Lord and before her hsband and called him lord asreferred to in 6 Peter 019?=. ,s a reslt she was no longer physically barren( and spiritally she started matring. $hephysical mirrored the spirital( and often still does in or own lives. $his is ;osesI point as he writes p their story( from

the material passed to him on the clay tablets he had received. /emember the story of the people of the line of ,bramwas on different tablets and ;oses gets a pile of these( and from them writes p the boo!s of the Pentatech dring theyears of the E%ods. He wor!s( mch as 'hrchill did as English Prime ;inister( writing the History of the EnglishSpea!ing Peoples as he battled for their srvival.

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Genesis is divided into a series of boo!s( or tablets. Genesis 218( 916( 4116( 6616>( 6612=( 29162( 0416( 0=12. Each ofthese sections comprise separate sets of tablets handed down to ;oses. $hese were li!ely the clay tablets( pon whichwas the cneiform writing of the day in the ,!!adian langage that was the linga?franca( or common bsiness langageof the day( and has been discovered in clay tablets from throghot the ;iddle East from this time.

'lay tablets with family information pon wold be handed down from generation to generation as a record of familyhistory( title to land( and lists of properties owned at different times. ,ll these sorts of details are fond in the clay tablets

fond in e%cavations and all crop p in the Genesis accont. $he story of ,braham draws on nmeros tablets( and thismay e%plain itIs easy division into sections or stories as we go throgh( for each storyKepisode of the life of ,bram and hisfamily were recorded on separate tablets.

$his is not myth we are handling here( bt history written p from written records by ;oses( who acts as the divinelyinspired editor. Some of the liberal theologians( who hate the historical natre of scriptre( attac! the trth of the Genesisaccont with the argment that these people were pastoralists by lifestyle and as sch were( oral in tradition( rather thanvaling the written word. $his is to ignore the storyIs specifically recorded details( and has been addressed above. /eferto the @$@ @)@LE )SP)/,$)+( PE$E$EU'H( and also GEES)S ,A /EMEL,$)+( GEES)S 616 .

)f the tradition of ,bram was a primarily oral tradition( it wold be e%pected that oral memory feats wold be recorded andencoraged( yet they are notD +ral tradition was secondary to writing throghot the biblical period3 the oppositeargment comes from liberal theology( and began in the late 67thcentry of or era( and itIs prpose was and remains( tobrea! down scriptral athority and reliability. )t is based on false hypotheses and lac! of archeological data. "e nowhave this information( and the recent clay tablet discoveries blow away the German Liberals and establish ,bram as a

solidly historical figre( with this section of genesis well gronded in real history.

$his man ,bram was a city dweller( and his family had been for 2>>> years before his birthD ;oses was a city man also(and a man edcated to PhA level in all the edcation of the Egyptians( and it is he who ties the tablets together. $hecivili5ations of the ;iddle East are places where written records were crcial in all dealings( and so written acconts ofpast history and present ownership of things was the norm for ,bram.

$his contines in )sraelIs history( and when they enter Egypt 8>> years later they enter another literate cltre where lac!of written records and written s!ills wold not have given the family of &acob any standing at all. $hic!( illiteratepastoralists from the hill contry were despised in all the great civili5ations of the ancient worldD )t was cltre that theEgyptianIs valed( not herdsD

$his man ,bram( and his descendents remained people of cltre and writing throgh the centries. @eware of accontsof ,bram that refer to him constantly as a shei! of the desert( for they show they are in the realm of fairy tale( not

scriptre. $his was a cltred city man( who chose to live in tents( in the fertile hill contry of 'anaan( in obedience toGodIs "ord( bt who was a man of literatre and cltre( a man spea!ing a nmber of langages( and li!ely able to readand write in them all. He li!ely has his own library from the family archives boght from Ur with him.

@y application to s today( ,braham sets the e%ample of matrity( and revoltionary decision ma!ing( in the conte%t of adeep literary cltral heritage. "e are to model orselves on this man( cltred and edcated( wherever we findorselves living. He set GodIs wor! and radical obedience to it ahead of all other things( yet too! advantage of all that theworld had to offer him to achieve the eternal goals God has given.

&st so( as we grow spiritally or capacity for life grows within s( and or mastery of the technology and cltre of orown age will develop also. $he best personal investment yo can ma!e for yor happiness is to grow in the grace and!nowledge of the Lord. $his will not only help yo in eternity with eternal rewards bt yor life here will be one oftremendos blessing and stable witness to the lost. Co will have peace and prosperity in yor sol that will ma!e yorfriends envy yo. )t will enable yo to witness to them as to how yo are different and point them to 'hrist( #st as we will

see ,braham was able to do in his age. He was an ambassador by the way he lived to all he met. /efer to the @$@'H/)S$), L)-E ,;@,SS,A+/SH)P.

G+AIS GU)A,'E

,bram was ordered by God to leave his own town bt he did not comply with those instrctions completely becase hetoo! his father along as shown in Genesis 66106?02. $his was cltrally normal bt spiritally it was a disaster( for thecarnal members of the family delay the spirital application in ,bramIs life.

)n Genesis 6216 ,braham had been told to go to a place that God wold show him. )n verse = we see that Godcommends ,bram when he arrives in the land to which he was directed all those years before. However his father camealong as far as Haran( the great trade termins of the $igris and Ephrates rivers. , read throgh of Genesis 6612=?02records that $erah too! ,bram to the north( and lived in Haran( yet other passages ma!e it clear ,bram was called fromUr. How do we reconcile these apparent contradictionsN

$he senior member of the family is in charge as far as the ancients were concerned. $he e%planation is apparently that,bram e%plained his vision and instrction from the Lord to his father and the e%tended family( and father agrees to go

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half way( leads the family that far( and then stays there. Haran was at the half way point on the road to 'anaan( and itwas a place where the power and cltre of Ur was dominant( and wold be for another two hndred years.

$hese merchants cold ma!e serios money here and they did( bt spiritally it was a barren place. )t was a place ofcompromise( bt a place of prosperity. "e mst be carefl in or own lives( becase financial prosperity is notnecessarily the sign that we are where God wants s to beD

)t was here that they shold have got their camel train throgh Syria and into 'anaan. ,bram however stayed in Haran

ntil $erah died. ;any believers get very entangled with their own family and do the right thing by family e%pectationsand fail to follow throgh flly for God. $his means that their obedience to the Lord is compromised. $his may or may notbe the case with ,bram( bt he certainly prospered here( and maybe he reasoned that this set him p for the move into'anaan. Haran was certainly a spiritally dried p place for ,braham. He was a very good bsinessman and he grewrich materially bt spiritally he was impoverished by his stay here.

$he Lord had to end $erah*s life so that ,braham cold move on. Each of s( if called to great things by God and allwor! that is ors is the great wor! of or lifeD:( will have delayKdistraction factors that need to be addressed. /efer to the@$@ stdy( 'H/)S$), L)-E SEP,/,$)+( -/U)$ +- $HE SP)/)$( G+A?A)M)E GU)A,'E .

-rom e%perience two things can happen to believers who do not proceed. +ne is that they are pt on the shelf( and theblessings that wold have been involved in their obedience( go to others. $he other is( if they only go part of the way theLord may get his prning hoo!s ot and prne off the reasons why they do not progress. &ohn 6916?7.

)t is important to realise however that even if yo fail God( He does not fail yo. 2 $imothy 2166?69. $hs even thogh

,braham has apparently wasted many years in Haran God is going to deal with him( teach him things there and blesshim there( for he remains a child of GodIs( #st as we do( even in or disobedience. ,lso if yo fail and waste yor time(the moment yo realise what yo have done( confess it and move on. )f yo are alive He still has a prpose for yor life(and will bring blessing ot of crsing( teaching yo things( even throgh yor disobedience. /omans 7127ff. "hen Godhas finished with yo( yo will die and not one second beforehand. "e !now or role on earth is over( only when we areloo!ing at the Lord face to face. Psalms 4712>( 664169( &eremiah 2816?6>( 0

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BABEL: TOWER OF BABEL

6. ;E,)G ? @abel means confsion.$he tower was bild nder the direction of imrod in @abylon as a tower to reach heaven Genesis 3 6616?

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h: $,H)$) ? "hen 'aptain 'oo! went to $ahiti to observe the transit of Mens( he fond a hge coral pyramid. He wastold that it was associated with the !ings. $he !ings were mmmified and it was believed they went p to heaven throghthis stepped pyramid.

=. $here is a comparison between @abel and the 'hrch.a: ;an commenced in nity at the tower of @abel Genesis 6616:.$he chrch commenced in nity ,cts 216 :.b: $he tower( a great strctre( was bilt sing vast resorces and hman energy. Genesis 6610?8: $hey were still of one

langage Genesis 6614: bt had wrong motivation.Aring the period of the early /oman 'atholic 'hrch( great strctres were bilt( they had a common langage Latin:and a common nity.c: $here came pon the people a mltitde of langages Genesis 661=?

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,yrians of )ndia Parsees:.

Son 8 ? &avan ? father of the Gree!s and /omans of ancient times.Sons of &avan Genesis 6>18:Elishah ?,eolian Gree!s$arshish ?Aorian Gree!sittim ? 'ypriotsAodanim ? $ro#ans.

Son 9 ? $bal. His descendants settled the area soth of the @lac! Sea. $obols! probably came from $bal.

Son 4 ? ;eshoch ? father of the /ssians.

Son = ? $iras ? father of the $hracians and )llyrian Gree!s.

8. $HE AES'EA,$S +- H,; ? Genesis 6>14?2>

Son 6 ? 'sh. @lac! ? Ethiopians and ,fricans.Aescendants of 'shQeen of Shebaimrod ? imrod became a hnter of men before against: the Lord. Genesis 6>17?160:Ldim ? father of all the ;oors and the Hamitics of the Peninslas of Erope ? Sicels.,namim ? father of the Egyptians of $hebes.Lehabim ? father of the Libyans.aphthim ? father of the Egyptians of ;emphis.Pathrsim ? father of the Sothern Egyptians.'aphtorim ? father of the Philistines.

Son 0 ? Pht. @lac! ? orth ,frica( Sothern Spain( )taly and Greece.

Son 8 ? 'anaan1 "hite ? ,morites and inhabitants of Palestine.Aescendants of 'anaan Genesis 6>169?616

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g: He had faith that provision wold be made for )saac Genesis 2217:.h: He recognised that God had provided &ehovah &ireh: Genesis 22168:.i: He had faith that a bride wold be miraclosly provided for )saac from his own people Genesis 2810(8:.

8. P/)')PLESa: $he whole process of the 'hristian life starts and depends on faith /omans 0127:.b: )t ta!es faith to become a missionary Genesis 62183 Hebrews 6617:.c: ,braham*s faith cased him to pt God first Genesis 62173 Hebrews 6616>:.

d: -aith in God is reflected in a gracios attitde Galatians 9120:.e: -aith provides corage in time of danger( especially in relation to war Psalm 6710:.!: "ith faith everything is possible ;atthew 6=12>:.

ANGELS: COUNTERFEITS OF SATAN

6. Aoctrine of Aemons 6 $imothy 816:

2. 'ommnion $able 6 'orinthians 6>12>?26:

0. ;inisters 2 'orinthians 66162?69:

8. Gospel 2 'orinthians 6610?8:

9. Spiritality Galatians 012?0:

4. /ighteosness ;atthew 6:

7. Gods 2 $hessalonians 210?8:

?20:

8. +r physical bodies will be replaced by immortal bodies 2 'orinthians 916?8: ? conformed to the body of 'hristPhilippians 012>?26:

9. "e shall be li!e him 6 &ohn 012: seeing His glory and reflecting it in orselves 'olossians 018( &ohn 6=122:.

4. "e will be rewarded becase of wor!s of faith L!e 6

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6>. "e shall !now all things perfectly 6 'orinthians 60162:

66. "e will receive an incorrptible inheritance. 6 Peter 610?9: !ept by or all powerfl God in heaven.

DISENSATION OF THE GENTILES OR FAMILY

6. Scriptre1 Genesis 6?66

2. Limits1 ,dam to ,braham.

0. Aivided into $hree Sectionsa: $he ,ge of )nnocence Genesis 6127?0122:b: $he ,ge of /ebellion Genesis 0120?712>:c: $he ,ge of ations Genesis 7126?66102:

8. 'haracteristicsa: +ne Langage. Genesis 6614:b: +ne race ? the Gentiles Genesis 6614:c: o written scriptred: o missionary agency3 every believer responsible for the gospel ? particlarly the father.e: ;eans of salvation ? belief in 'hrist. /omans 810:f: $ime span ? appro%imately 2(>>> yearsg: ;a#or #dgments ? oah flood: Genesis =:h: ,t death believers went to Paradise.i: ,t death nbelievers went to $orments.#: Priesthood ? speciali5ed ? particlarly the father.!: $he Law ? no ;osaic Law.l: Holy Spirit ? assisted a selected few believersm: Environment ? perfect in the garden( progressively worse after sin Genesis 6106( 016=?67:.n: Satan ? )n heaven and on earth.o: /ebellion. ,dam and Eve. $ower of @abel. Genesis 6616?

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=. -reedoms in a nation are to be protected1a: E%ternally by military forces. @elievers shold defend their own contry.b: )nternally by police forces and corts /omans 6018:. 'apital pnishment is an integral part of law enforcementGenesis

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8. P/)')PLESa: 'oncentration of power cases oppression and degeneracy /evelation 60164?67:.b: God promotes nationalism and #dges internationalism. $here is no sch thing as the brotherhood of man. ;an isdivided into two grops1 believers who are children of God /omans 7168?6=:( and nbelievers who are children of thedevil &ohn 7188:.c: God confsed tonges langages: at the $ower of @abel. God gave the gift of tonges in the early chrch to give thegospel in foreign langages 6 'orinthians 62?68:.d: ;an is always attempting by his own wor!s to pll God down from heaven. God #dges man*s wor!s and will not allow

man to operate otside His plan mbers 22?28:.e: @abel and the 'hrch1i: Started in nity ? the chrch started in nity being in one place in one accord ,cts 216:.ii: ,mbition for power ? a power strggle commenced in the chrch with several bishoprics attempting to gain spremepower 6 Peter 910:.iii: ;an?made nity ? nder the medieval papacy the chrch was one over a large area of the !nown world with onelangage( L,$). /eligios internationalism.iv: 'onfsion of langages ? the reformation cased each contry to worship and have the @ible in their own langages.'hristian nationalism.

GOD: ABILITY OF GOD

6. $he declaration of Aivine Power ? ;atthew 6

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that there will be an end. $hogh the niverse will end( the plan of God( as it came from before the niverse( contineson in its effect after this niverse is ended and has been replaced by the new one. 2 Peter 016>?60( /evelation 26167.

2. $he plan centres on the person and wor! of the second person of the $rinity3 it centres arond the person of &ess'hrist. Ephesians 618?4( 6 &ohn 0120.

0. Entrance into the plan of God is dependent pon grace. $he sovereignty of God e%pressed in the divine decrees hehas made abot the plan( meet manIs free will at the 'ross. Grace T faith salvation. @y saving people by grace( GodIs

perfect holy character is not compromised by the transaction. o?one is saved by wor!s( for there is nothing that acreatre of space and time can do to impress the creator of space and time( nor is there anything that sin can do toimpress or pressre holiness. &ohn 0164?04( Ephesians 217?1=(

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c: Geographical will of God ? "here does He want me to beN

=. ,n e%ample of the will of God ,cts 66: ? the Gidance of Petera: Gidance throgh prayer vs 9:b: Gidance throgh the mind vs 4:c: Gidance throgh the word vs =?6>:d: Gidance throgh providential circmstances vs 66:e: Gidance throgh the filling of the Spirit vs 62:

f: Gidance throgh fellowship and comparison of data vs 60?69:g: Gidance throgh remembering Scriptre vs 64:

BIBLE: INSIRATION

6. $he principle of inspiration is fond in 2 $imothy 0164: ,ll Scriptre is God breathed. G!. $HE+ PEUS$+S.

$he Holy Spirit commnicated to the hman athors God*s complete plan 2 Samel 2012( 0( )saiah 9?60( 06128( Aaniel 6>1

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d: 'opies of ;oses* @oo! of the Law were to be made for ings. Aeteronomy 6=167?2>:

e: God ac!nowledged the @oo! of the Law as having been written by ;oses( and commanded that it be the rle ofcondct for &osha. &osha 616?7( 710>?09:

f: &osha accepted it as the writings of ;oses( and copied it. Aeteronomy 66124?02( &osha 710>?09:

g: He added to the boo! probably the last part of Aeteronomy 08 abot ;oses* death. &osha 28124:

h: &osha ordered all )srael to obey $he @oo! of the Law of ;oses. &osha 2014:i: Aring the period of ings it was the Law. Aavid recognised it. 6 'hronicles 6418>:ii: Aavid ordered Solomon to !eep it. 6 ings 210:iii: )t was fond and obeyed by &osiah and )srael. 2 ings 2217( 2016?28( 2 'hronicles 08168( 09162:iv: &ehoshaphat had it taght to all )srael. 2 'hronicles 6=1 with E%ods 2>362( 2616=:

m: $he ,postles ascribed the Law to ;oses. ,cts 6010> years it has been the nified belief of all &ewish scholars and the common people that ;oseswrote the Pentatech.

o: Heathen writers sch as $acits( &venal( Strabo( Longins( &lian and others agree withot estion to ;oses*athorship.p: Leaders of heathen religions sch as ;ohammed ascribe it to ;oses.

9. )nternal evidence proves one athor1?

a: $he Pentatech was written by a Hebrew spea!ing the Hebrew langage( and cherishing the sentiments of his nation.

b: )t was written by a Hebrew acainted with Egypt and ,rabia( their cstoms and their learning. Egyptian science wascareflly concealed from strangers( and was for priests and the /oyal -amily only. ;oses is the only !nown Hebrew whocold have flfilled this reirement. ,cts =122( Hebrews 66120?2

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=. Genesis introdces Satan for the first time. 016?67:/evelation shows the final doom of Satan. 2>16>:

7. Genesis shows the first attempt to discredit the "ord of God. 016?9:/evelation promises a crse on those who alter the "ord of God. 2216:.

2. ,n ,mbassador does not spport himself. "e are sstained and protected by God Philippians 816

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=. Separation is commanded from other believers who re#ect @ible doctrine. 2 $hessalonians 0168( 69:

CHRISTIAN LIFE: FRUIT OF THE SIRIT

6. $he filling of the Holy Spirit prodces frit in the life love( #oy( peace( long sffering( gentleness( goodness( faith(mee!ness( temperance:. Galatians 9122?20: ote that frit is singlar ? all the characters are prodced at the sametime in the filling of the Holy Spirit.

2. $he -rit of the Spirit is also listed as follows1?/omans 6816= ? /ighteosness( Peace( &oy'olossians 0162?69 ? 'ompassion( indness( Hmility( Gentleness( Patience( -orgiveness( Love( Peace( $han!flness6$hessalonians 610 ? -aith( Love( Endrance( Hope

2. )n principle( it is the imitation of God Ephesians 916:. $he reason we are left on the earth after salvation is to prodcefrit. &ohn 69164( Philippians 816=:

0. "e prodce frit by hearing the word ;ar! 812>?27: and applying it to or lives. Hebrews 812:

8. -ailre to grow and prodce frit means divine discipline even to the point of the believer*s early departre from thislife. L!e 6014?< &ohn 6912:

9. /ewards in eternity are distribted on the basis of faithfl prodction. 6 'orinthians 016>?69( 2 'orinthians 916>:

4. -rit is not to be confsed with spirital gifts. $hese are listed in /omans 6214?73 69167?63 Ephesians 816: and other places.

=. +ne can !now 'hristians by their frit ;atthew =164?2>3 L!e 4180?893 6&ohn 016> V 663 &ohn 6917: especially by theirlove &ohn 60109: bt not by their gifts( as Satan can imitate them 2$hessalonians 21

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GENESIS CHATER 12

$his chapter begins the life of ,braham( and the record of his life may be divided into for sections.6. 'hapters 62 ? 68 $he 'all and move into 'anaan.2. 'hapters 69?64 $he promise of an heir and the 'ovenant made with him.0. 'hapters 6=?26 His new name and covenant sign circmcision.8. 'hapters 22 29 $he final test and the conclsion of his life of -aith.

GENESIS 12:1-!

# 0 /4## 8#/ */%0*= *' I 6%.. b.#&& /4##= *' 3>#/4y *3# 8#/@ *' /40) &4./ b# b.#&&%*8: ! A*' I 6%.. b.#&& /4#3 /4/ b.#&& /4##= *' c) 4%3 /4/ c)/4/4##: *' %* /4## &4.. .. 3%.%#& 0 /4# #/4 b# b.#&'

REFLECTION

"e are not told how the Lord spo!e into ,bramIs life. God spea!s in different ways at different times to different people(meeting the need of each person in the best way to secre that personIs nderstanding and obedience. /efer to the @$@stdy on A)M)E GU)A,'E. God spea!s into ,bramIs life( and orders him to move from all he has !nown( and go into

the n!nown. $he direction is apparently ite specific( as verse = ma!es it clear he has arrived at the place the Lord toldhim to go.

;oses is carefl in his wor! with the tablets and records simply what is there( word for word in this case. ,bram was toldmore than he records on the tablets( and from the conte%t we can tell at times that he had more information( bt selectedonly the !ey points to record. $his was common in a time where each word had to be carved into wet clay and theprocess was laborios.

Economy of words was the norm ntil papyrs becomes more freely available( and even then no words were wasted incorrespondence. 'lay was sed to record material ntil the forth centry of or own era( with bro!en pottery often sedfor letters and lists in the /oman period. "ith this in mind( we will see that liberal attac!s pon the @iblical record areoften argments from silence in the te%t( and as sch are illegitimate and betray a lac! of nderstanding on the part ofthe critic. $he minimm of material was recorded( and so we mst be carefl in or dedctions and e%trapolations fromwhat we have before s.

Let s loo! closely at the commands and promises here.6. Get ot of yor contry.2. Leave yor fatherIs hose.0. Separate from yor e%tended family.8. Go to a land that ) will show yo.

)f ,bram is obedient to these things then( the Lord promises for things.6. ) will ma!e of yo a great nation2. ) will greatly bless yo( and e%lt yor name.0. ) will crseK#dge those who crse yo.8. ,ll the peoples of the earth will be blessed in yo.

,bram is told( get ot of yor contry. )t is an eivalent command to -leeD -rom or earlier discssion of the cltreand religion of his people we can see that paganism was strongly entrenched. "e cold even go as far as to say it

appears that Ur was SatanIs stronghold at this time. 2 'orinthians 6>10?4( /evelation 2160. His land was prosperosand strong( bt was corrpt in itIs wealth( and deceptive in itIs religion. )t was the place of tranillity and distraction( andhad he stayed there( there wold have been no banner of trth nfrled( no light to the world. ,cts =16?8( Hebrews 6617?6>.

+r contry is to be heaven( not any place with a flag down here pon the earth. "e may love or contry( bt or lovefor or land is to be tempered by or love for the Lord and or desire to serve Him and do his wor!. "e are called( li!e,bram( to leave loyalty to nation state and love the Lord and his wor! alone( and leave all that in the natral man wevale( and hold to and serve spirital realities alone. Psalms 8916>?66( L!e 68124?00( 2 'orinthians 4168?=16.

$o leave yor fatherIs hose was a thing nheard of in this day and age. ,t this time most people grew p( lived and diedwithin 9 !ilometres from their place of birth. Unless catastrophe led to their enslavement( or they were merchants( peopledid not leave their home village and travel anywhere. $hey stayed within the bonds of family and !inship. $o leave yorfather( and ta!e athority over yor own destiny( rather than accept his was a revoltionary concept that wold have set

fear in the hearts of all rlers and priests.

,bram needed to leave Ur( for to head in a different direction than his father was to rebel against the very order( stabilityand strctre of the nation state. $o leave his fatherIs religion( and adopt a new one was a thing nheard of. God was

ABRAHAM 22

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as!ing ,bram to move beyond a point that no man had dared cross for years. Godly men and woman had !ept tremonotheism alive throgh all the years since the flood( bt each generation had declined( and by ,bramIs day there werefew who stood where the Lord had ordered ,dam and later oah to stand. Genesis 0168?20( 8129?24( 712>?

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$his is GodIs plan for each of s3 that we might be a blessing in or own generation and that then the memory of scontines to bring #oy and praise to GodIs holy name down the years after or death. Had ,bram stayed in Ur( and notgone down the path of worship of the one tre God( he wold have had a great fneral from his townIs people( and woldhave been honored by them as one of their great citi5ens( bt his tomb wold be as forgotten as all the others.

,brahamIs tomb is not forgotten even today and his spirital legacy is celebrated before all man!ind arond the world byall who love God. )n his day he mst have seemed to be wal!ing away from fame and renown( yet in obedience to Godhe was wal!ing in the path of greatest fame and renown( and he was a blessing to all nations( world wide.

$rly GodIs will opens the doors of blessing. Let s wal!( as ,bram did( in the place of greatest impact( and greatestblessing. )f we simply love this life( then we will lose everything we vale( bt if we love the Lord and serve him with allor heart( then we have the best that this life can give( and we have the #oy of life eternal. ;atthew 6>10

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e: Service &ohn 6=1673 ;atthew 2712>:f: Sffering Philippians 6123 'olossians 6128:g: -tre glory /omans 7167?263 6 Peter 21:.

8. $he believer is a heavenly man and a stranger or pilgrim on the earth. Hebrews 016(6 Peter 2166:.

9. $he believer is an ambassador from Heaven. 2 'orinthians 912>:.

CHRISTIAN LIFE ; BLESSING OF THE BELIEVER

6. Scriptre views blessing as a sense of peace and happiness. Peace eirene: in the ew $estament means bothinner tranillity of sol and great prosperity of Life. $his is PalIs prayer for all believers that they might !now theblessing of tre God given prosperity. /omans 61=( 6'orinthians 610( 2'orinthians 612( Galatians 610( 'olossians 612(Ephesians 612( Philippians 612( 6$hessalonians 616( 2$hessalonians 612( 6$imothy 612( 2$imothy 612( $its 618( Philemon0

2. $o be spiritally minded is peace( /omans 714:( i.e. to be thin!ing as God wold have s thin!. Peace meanscontentment( tranillity and spirital prosperity in life. Pal ses this prayer as a greeting in many of his letters. )t issimilar to the Hebrew greeting( Shalom( which implies peace and prosperity.

0. @lessing comes by giving God and His righteosness first place. $he details of life sch as money( hose( car( #ob(marriage partner are then able to be sorted ot correctly. ;atthew 4106?08( 6'orinthians 6>160( cf. Philippians 8166.

8. @elievers shold not have it as their aim in Life to be the richest person in the cemetery. L!e 62164?26. Having eyeson money first is a foolish thing. ;atthew 4126 cf. &ames 916?4. Godliness and contentment are God*s will for yor life(irrespective of wealth or possessions 6 $imothy 414?62:

9. +r intimate relationship with &ess 'hrist is or treasre 2 'orinthians 814?=:.

4. "e have been blessed with every spirital blessing in 'hrist ? we share everything that He is Ephesians 610:

=. God often ses material blessings to accompany spirital blessing 0 &ohn 2:. However( we are to be content in allcircmstances Philippians 8166?60:

7. @lessings from God inclde sch things as1a: Peace Psalm 2

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CHRISTIAN LIFE: CAACITY FOR LIFE

6. &ess prayer for all believers is that we might have #oy flfilled in s. &ohn 6>16>( 6=160. His prayer e%presses thedesire for s all( that we might have his #oy within s3 a fontain of #oy welling p within or sols( so that we can re#oicein him in every sitation of life. /efer -rit of $he Holy Spirit.

2. Pal repeats this prayer to the 'orinthians in 2 'orinthians . )nthis last passage we see Pal demonstrating the spirit of #oy( the reality of tre capacity for life in all sitations that lifecan dish p for him. He is re#oicing in the power of God to bring him throgh all things with #oy and strength( and bringhim to the end of his life( thogh withot earthly riches( with heavenly rewards beyond manIs imagining. 2 $imothy 814?7(67.

CHRISTIAN LIFE: ROSERITY OF THE CHURCH AGE BELIEVER

6. early every letter of Pal opens with the prayer greeting( Grace mercy and peace to yo all from God.... i.e. Godslove in action( nmerited favor and blessing in all areas of life and peace. Eirene prosperity( a rela%ed mental attitde(rest in sol( no strife.

2. Peace of God which passes all nderstanding shall !eep yor hearts and minds throgh 'hrist &ess Philippians81=. Peace of mind greatest prosperity of allD $his is what the wealthy crave for and the lac! of it is why they often

sicide D

0. )srael loo!ed to blessing in time as the !ey thing. -or them( powerKmoneyKstats sign of spirital blessingD $his isnot necessarily so for or age of history. $here is no direct promise to 'hristians that spiritality monetary wealth. $heprinciple of ;atthew 4106 ?08 applies to s. Pt God first and do not worry abot ftre( i.e. apply doctrine and get towor!. Lord will not see yo short( 6 'orinthians 6>160( yo will never be pshed beyond what yo are able( withdoctrine( to stand:. )n )srael to be in poverty #dgement( bt this is not so for the 'hristian( Philippians 8166( )nwhatever state ) find myself there ) am content.

8. 'hristian matrity spiritally minded T Peace and Prosperity( c.f. carnally minded death. /omans 714. $o becarnally minded concerned for things that decayD living deathD "e are to be concerned for things of eternalconseence liberated.

9. ot having or eyes on earthly treasres. ;atthew 4126 ? for where yor thoghts are there yor sol rests and livesD

Qestion for yo( "here does yor sol live todayN $rn to &ames 916?4 /ead:. @1 &ames is writing to believerswith n#st bsiness practises. $rn to L!e 62164?26 /ead:. $he warning is clear( don*t be the richest man in thecemeteryD

4. +r treasre is hidden in earthen vessels doctrine in the solD 2 'orinthians 814V=

=. /iches Gods word. 'olossians 0169V64. $he reslt of this others blessed and comforted.

7. Prosperity for believer frit of Spirit in the Sol. Galatians 9122( Ephesians 610. Love( #oy( peace( long sffering(gentleness( goodness( faith(.....

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)f this physical prosperity is part of Gods will for s( then we can rela% with it( for can only give as we prosperD 6'orinthians 6412 shold $he point in these verses is that God pors when we have the spirital capacity to cope and seit. /ead 6$imothy 414?62

CHRISTIAN LIFE: STABILITY

6. God is able to !eep s and bless s Ephesians 012>( Hebrews =129:.

2. Stability comes when we !now God3 when we have grown p in his "ord. ;atrity brings with it stability 2Peter 0167(2$imothy 6162:.

0. $he alternative to a stable life of faith is to be tossed abot by every pressre3 this occrs when there is no doctrinalapplication in the life &ames 614( Ephesians 8168( /evelation 017:.

8. @elievers need stability to stand fast against the wiles of Satan who is a danger to those with no doctrine1 "e are toldto1

a: Stand fast in the word 6'orinthians 64160.

b: Stand fast in or liberty Galatians 916 cf. /omans 6816ff( 71

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e: P/+;)SE ,nd ) will bless them that bless thee.-UL-)LL;E$ $his is seen in the rise of many nations eg @ritain in the 6#* )*/0 4%3@ *' L0/ 6#*/ 6%/4 4%3: *' Ab3 6& $#*/y *'%$# y#& 0.' 64#* 4# '#/#' 0)/ 0 H* 5 A*' Ab3 /00> S% 4%& 6%#= *' L0/ 4%& b0/4#?& &0*= *'.. /4#% &)b&/*c# /4/ /4#y 4' 8/4##'= *' /4# &0).& /4/ /4#y 4' 80//#* %* H*@ *' /4#y 6#*/ 0/4 /0 80%*/0 /4# .*' 0 C**@ *' %*/0 /4# .*' 0 C** /4#y c3#

REFLECTION

,t the age of =9 ,braham( now a very wealthy man( moves ot of Haran and into 'anaan( which means the place ofrest. $his is significant becase for ,bram there is rest in his sol when he is in the place God called him to be. )t ise%actly the same for each of s. Co will have rest in yor sol when yo are obedient to God and when yo aregeographically in the will of God. ,t times they have great hardship( stress( and threat in the land( for they are part of the,ngelic 'onflict( as we are( bt they have rest Shalom: in their sols.

"hen ,braham( )saac and &acob are in the land they have peace and spirital prosperity( when they are ot of the landthey are ot of blessed fellowship with God. "e will( li!e these great past saints !now failre at times in or own lives(and li!e them we can retrn to blessing by getting bac! in the will of the Lord for or life. "e are at all times in or ownlives either in or ot of fellowship( as Pal observes in /omans =. $he challenge is to spend as mch time in fellowshipwith the Lord rather than ot of fellowship. /evelation 016

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,bram also ta!es his wife Sarai. She will be a hindrance to his spirital life and a daily challenge to him for the ne%tfifteen years( bt ,bram will receive blessing from her in the end( and she will learn from him( and both will be blessed intheir old age with their son. $his will be what we wold term today( a dysfnctional hosehold( with contentiosness andadltery( and with severe and lasting conseences for their sins( bt righteosness and GodIs plan will trimph in theend.

;oses mentions the roll call of obedient senior participants in the #orney to 'anaan. He also refers to the significantwealth and servant nmbers that they have gathered in Haran. $here has been blessing in Haran( becase GodIs hand

remains pon his servant even as he delays. God can wait( and does for s. He see!s to bless sD

$hey all went ot nder the leadership of ,bram and headed for 'anaan( and into 'anaan they came. ;oses dobles pthe langage here as a way of emphasi5ing the #orney( the challenges( and the goal directed behaviors that God see!sand finds from ,bram( and see!s and often doesnIt find from s. ;any head ot in a direction( bt they never followthrogh and arrive at their destination. ,bram follows throgh( and whatever becomes of the others over time( they alsoshare the perils of the #orney and they arrive in 'anaan after many wee!s travel.

God see!s or follow throgh( and e%pects obedience to wor! ot throgh daily application. $his is the path of blessingand tre ambassadorship. ,bram has entered the place of his service. "hile 'anaan is the place of spirital rest in theplan of God( it is also a place where enemies are nmeros. )t is no pictre of heaven( bt a pictre of service in thistogh earthly battlefield( into which we are called to stand for trth and fight within. /efer to the @$@ stdy on'H/)S$), L)-E SE/M)'E ;+AEL SE/M,$( and also S+LA)E/.

ASTORAL AND LIFE ALICATION

6. How well do we finish the tas! the Lord assigns sN $he Lord calls s to wal! in his path for or life andcomplete the tas! assigned to s. Each of s has a path to wal!( and or completion of that tas! is the grondsfor or rewards in eternity. Each of s is #dged against or tas!ing( not the life or wor! of anyone else. Let sset or minds to the tas! before s( and no other. &ohn 26126?20.

2. "e mst ta!e people at their promises( and encorage their good commitments. )f a person wants to serve theLord and wal!s ot with s in faith( then we are to encorage and spport them( so that they might reach theLordIs goal for them( bt if they falter and head away( we are still to press on. "e are not to need spport fromanyone other than the Lord and the Holy Spirit. God alone is to be or portion( and pon him alone we are tolean. ;en will fail s( bt God will not fail s. Let s press on( whether people stand with s or not. ,bram wasright in allowing Lot to e%press his faith( and he was right to separate from him when he had to. "e are to beattached to the plan of God alone( and see! the LordIs well done( not any praise from men.

DOCTRINES

CHRISTIAN LIFE: SIRITUALITY AND CARNALITY

6. ,ll 'hristians have the Holy Spirit indwelling them. "hen we allow Him to control or lives( we are said to be filledwith the Spirit or wal!ing in the Spirit.

2. $he filling of the Holy Spirit can be lost bya: Grieving the Spirit ? by sinb: Qenching the Spirit ? by not sbmitting to His leadingc: $his is called being carnal( or controlled by the flesh( the old sin natre.

0. $he filling of the Holy Spirit can be regained by

a: confessing sin 6 &ohn 61

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Rb 'arnal ;an ? , person regenerated or born again bt living his life nder the power of his old sin natre. Prolongedactivity in this area prodces a 'hristian who is still a baby. 6 'orinthians 016?8:. Eivalent to the l!ewarm person inthe chrch of Laodicea.

Rc Spirital ;an ? , person regenerated and living generally in the power of the Holy Spirit. He discerns the differencebetween the things of God and man. 6 'orinthians 2166?60: He has fellowship with God in his daily life. Ephesians 9167?2>: Eivalent to the hot person in the chrch of Laodicea.

=. 'arnality

Ra $he believer possesses an +ld Sin atre after salvation 6&ohn 617( /omans =168(69:.

Rb. $he +ld Sin atre is desperately wic!ed &eremiah 6=1

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0. Service in the big things reires by faithflness in the small things.

8. ;onotony and difficlties are transformed into the opportnities with the correct attitde ;atthew 4100:

9. Everything we do shold be as nto the Lord 'olossians 016=:

4. Service to 'hrist is acceptable to God and approved of men /omans 68167:

=. +r wor! shold be completed. &ohn 8108( 6=18( ,cts 2>128( 2 $imothy 81=:

7. $he e%ample of 'hrist. ;atthew 2>127( L!e 2212=( Philippians 21=:

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CHRISTIAN LIFE: SOLDIER: CHRISTIAN SOLDIER IN EHESIANS

6. General Scriptre Ephesians 4166?6=.$his passage relates to the armor which the /oman soldier wore and analogises its se into the spirital realm.

2. USE +- $HE ,/;+U/ Ephesians 4166Pt on the whole armor of God. Ephesians 4166a. "e are instrcted to pt on EAU+ G!: ? this means to clothe

? it is a command by God to the 'hristian soldier. "e are to clothe orselves or to dress orselves. "hole armorP,+PL), G!: ? the complete armor of God $HE+S G!: tre sorce of the armor is God.

$he whole armor of God is given in Ephesians 4168?6=. )t comprises1?a: $he @elt of $rth Ephesians 4168ab: @reastplate of /ighteosness Ephesians 4168bc: @oots Ephesians 4169d: Shield Ephesians 4164e: Helmet of Salvation Ephesians 416=af: Sword of the Spirit Ephesians 416=b

P/)')PLES1i: $he /oman soldier wore all his armor for his own safety and protection.ii: "hen the /oman soldier was highly disciplined he rled the world.iii: "hen the /oman soldier became degenerate the Empire declined and fell.iv: $he /oman soldier was in the army = days a wee!.

0. SP)/)$U,L ,,L+GCa: ,s 'hristian soldiers we wear or armor for or own safety and protection.b: "hen we are highly disciplined in the 'hristian life we are very effective in or warfare.c: )f we become degenerate or apostate or 'hristian witness and effectiveness declines and we become casalties inthe spirital warfare.d: $he 'hristian soldier is in the battle = days a wee!. , part time soldier never amonts to an effective soldier.

$hat ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Ephesians 4166 b.to stand histemi G!: ? to hold yor grond. "e are in a spirital warfare and the prpose of the armor is to hold orgrond against the foe. the wiles methodeia dia G!: ? tactics( cnning or frad of the devil diabolos G!:."e therefore have the whole armor of God to enable s to stand firm against the devil*s tactics.

P/)')PLE1 @y learning the tactics li!ely to be employed by yor opponent the 'hristian soldier is able to go on theoffensive sing the sword of the Spirit ? the "ord of God. verse l=:.

8. $HE EE;C Ephesians 4162:-or we wrestle not against flesh and blood bt against principalities( against powers( against the rlers of the dar!nessof this world against spirital wic!edness in high places.

"restle ? the wrestling he pale estin G!: hand to hand combat not wrestling as a sport. not against flesh and blood not against other members of the hman race( bt against1?

a: P/)')P,L)$)ES arche G!: /ling demons.

b: P+"E/S e%osia G!: ? Aemons with athority( officers in the demon army.

c: /ULE/S +- $HE A,/ESS +- $H)S "+/LA !osmo!rator G!: ? world rlers( demons close to the seats ofgovernment sch as the demons of Aaniel 6>160( 2>:.

d: SP)/)$U,L ")'EAESS ) H)GH PL,'ES pne mati!os poneria G!: ? the demon army.

Qite clearly or fight is against a spirital foe. -rom Hebrews 21= we !now that as hman beings we are inferior toangels. $herefore in order to have sccess against sperior forces we mst have God*s armor.

9. @E P/EP,/EA Ephesians 4160:"herefore ta!e nto yo the whole armor of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all(to stand.

Since the resrrection ascension and session of &ess 'hrist the attac! of Satan has moved from the line of 'hrist to theindividal believer. +r dependence on the whole armor is imperative yet many believers re#ect part or all of the armor.$here are many casalties as a conseence."e are again e%horted to pt on the whole armor of God.

4. $HE @EL$ +- $/U$H Ephesians 4168a( )saiah 6619:

ABRAHAM 32

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Stand therefore having yor loins girt abot with trth.

$he /oman belt was a wide girdle of leather worn arond the waist from which hng the scabbard for the sword andloops for rations and eipment. $he leather belt was spported by a cross sholder strap stdded with metal plates withthic! leather strips hanging down to protect the lower body. $he belt therefore was the basic armor on which thedefence of the soldier was based.

P/)')PLE1 +r basic defence is the trth contained within the "ord of God. $he sword of the Spirit hangs secrely to

the believer by means of the promises contained within it. $he greater or trst in the trth of God the greater orprotection against the enemy.

=. $HE @/E,S$PL,$E +- /)GH$E+USESS Ephesians 4168b( )saiah 9>> promises forthe 'hristian wal! inclding )saiah 8616>3 6 'orinthians 6>1603 6 &ohn 818.

6>. $HE HEL;E$ +- S,LM,$)+ Ephesians 416=a3 )saiah 9

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GENESIS 12:-(

A*' Ab3 &' /40)84 /4# .*' )*/0 /4# .c# 0 S%c4#3= )*/0 /4# .%* 0 M0#4 A*' /4# C**%/# 6&/4#* %* /4# .*' A*' /4# LORD ##' )*/0 Ab3= *' &%'= U*/0 /4y #' 6%.. I 8%$# /4%& .*': *' /4##b)%.'#' 4# * ./ )*/0 /4# LORD= 640 ##' )*/0 4%3 A*' 4# #30$#' 03 /4#*c# )*/0 30)*/%* 0*/4# #&/ 0 B#/4#.= *' %/c4#' 4%& /#*/= 4$%*8 B#/4#. 0* /4# 6#&/= *' H% 0* /4# #&/: *' /4## 4# b)%.'#' *./ )*/0 /4# LORD= *' c..#' )0* /4# *3# 0 /4# LORD ( A*' Ab3 0)*#y#'= 80%*8 0* &/%.. /06' /4#&0)/4

REFLECTION

/emember the athor of these words is ;oses( writing some 9>>T years later( dring the E%ods. He selects names andplaces on the #orney of ,bram( to ma!e theological points( and nderline principles that the Lord moves him toemphasi5e for the E%ods generation.

-rom a nmber of places throgh which ,bram passes( ;oses identifies some !ey mar!ers( the names of which give apointer to the spirital realities nderlying the story. ,bram heads steadily for the centre of the land and arrives at thepoint that is the centre( and where he can pase and reflect pon the call of God. He is now there3 at the centre of theplace he has been told to go. Sichem or Shechem( is the blls eye of the land. He is now geographically where he isspposed to be.

,t the place where obedience is completely flfilled( the Lord spea!s again to ,bram. )t is e%pected by some today that

the Lord will spea! to them abot things every day( and throgh his revealed "ord he will( as we open it( bt directinstrction li!e what we see here is occasional( and occrs only after obedience is flfilled to an earlier revelation.

$he LordIs leading is constant( bt he gives new directions when the old ones are flfilled by obedience. ;any wonderwhy the Lord does not spea! often to them( bt the answer is simple3 they have not followed the first instrction( and ntilthey do there will be no secondD /efer again to the @$@ stdy on A)M)E GU)A,'E.

$o celebrate and affirm the word of the Lord( ,bram nderta!es a sacrifice on the model received throgh the godly lineof ,bel and Seth. He celebrates GodIs revelation by approved and acceptable worship. /emember( there is a right wayto come to the Lord and an arrogantly wrong way. $his is at the heart of the story of 'ain and ,bel( as well as beingPalIs warning to the 'orinthians abot the dangers of arrogant and stpid condct at the 'ommnion $able. Genesis0126( 810?7( also refer to 6 'orinthians 6612=?08.

@lood sacrifice was the only way to approach God( for man had to first accept his sinfl state and bring thesbstittionary sacrifice. ,bram pts p an altar( offers the sacrifice from the floc!s( and comes before God( as a Son of,dam( as a sinner in need of a Savior. He pic!s a place that will have lasting significance to the &ewish people later(with @ethel RHose of God on the west( and ,i R@ro!en Aown Place on the east. /efer to the @$@ stdy @L++AS,'/)-)'E( S,LM,$)+ ,$+E;E$( and "+/SH)P.

Even in ;oses day @ethel was !nown as L5 Genesis 2716

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DOCTRINES

BLOOD SACRIFICE

6. Ever since the earliest recorded time God has reired a blood sacrifice for sin. )t is implied by the coats of s!inprovided by the Lord in the garden after ,dam and Eve had attempted to clothe their na!edness with leaves. ,belbroght an acceptable animal sacrifice( nli!e 'ain*s who broght an nacceptable bloodless offering.

2. $he reirement for blood sacrifices was contined with oah after the flood3 cf. the near sacrifice of )saac by,braham:3 and was established as a reirement not only by the Passover lamb bt also in the Levitical offerings.

0. "hen recording the will of God for )srael in the matter of food and the abstinence from eating any manner of blood;oses states -or the life of the flesh is in the blood3 and ) have given it to yo pon the altar to ma!e atonement for yorsols1 for it is the blood that ma!eth an atonement for the sol.

8. )t is clear from the above that the life of an innocent victim the animal sacrifice: acted as a shadow ntil the once andfor all payment was paid with the tre sacrifice of 'hrist.

9. $here is an absolte necessity of the nie sacrifice of the Lord &ess 'hrist as indicated by the phrase the blood of'hrist. /omans 0129( Ephesians 61= ( Hebrews 127( Ephesians 61=( 6 Peter 6167?6:

l: @oldness to enter. Hebrews 6>16

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d: ,tonement in the +ld $estament refers to the se of animal sacrifices to pictre the saving wor! of 'hrist.e: $he two concepts of atonement +ld and ew $estament: are broght together in /omans 0120?24:

0. ,tonement is nlimiteda: "hen &ess 'hrist was #dged on the cross for sins he paid for the sins of the entire hman race( not #st the elect./omans 914( 2 'orinthians 9168?69( 6 $imothy 214( 816>( 2 Peter 216( 6 &ohn 212:b: Limited ,tonement( the concept that 'hrist died for believers only is incorrect.

8. Unlimited ,tonement eliminates sin in the nbelievers* indictment at the Last &dgment.a: "hen 'hrist died on the cross( He was #dged for all sins of the hman race.b: $herefore the isse in salvation is not sin( bt faith in 'hrist. People choose either to accept the wor! of 'hrist &ohn0167(04:( or their own good wor!s to gain the approval of God.c: $herefore( hman good will be the basis of the nbelievers* indictment at the Last &dgment. /evelation 2>162:

CHURCH: WORSHI AND RAISE

6. $he Hebrew word sed in worship is Sho!o ? to bow down.

2. $he Gree! words are as follows1?a: pros!eo ? prostrate yorself. 6 'orinthians 6819:b: sebomai ? lac! of arrogance. ;atthew 69116

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64. Praisea: Praise and than!sgiving are lin!ed in worship. 6 'hronicles 2010>:b: "hen they praised the Lord at the dedication of Solomon*s $emple the glory of the Lord filled the hose of God. 2'hronicles 9160(68:c: Praise always glorifies God. Psalm 9>1206d: "hen Pal and Silas praised God by singing hymns in prison God acted for them. ,cts 64129:e: $he &ews were delivered when they sang praises to the Lord. 2 'hronicles 2>126(22:f: Praise is important in missionary wor!. Psalm ?00 Aistrst ;any deaths de toails

Giants Enter 'anaan m 6016?68107 Aistrst Aeath of fearfl spies."andering in desert

o water "ater m 2>12?60 Aistrst ;oses stri!es roc! indisobedience. "ill notenter Promised Land.

"anderings 'ross &ordan &osha 016?6= $rst )srael crosses &ordanon dry grond

9. Salvation faith is the complete trst in the Lord &ess 'hrist( who died for yor sins and rose from the dead to give yoeternal life. ,cts 64106( /omans 812>?29:

4. ,nything added to becomes wor!s( and therefore nllifies faith /omans 818:

=. -aith is shown otwardly by confession with the moth. /omans 6>1

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60. @y -aith God gives the sol assrance of the reality of things never yet seen by the natral man. Hebrews 6616?0:

68. $he trimphs of faith in daily life are illstrated for the believer in Hebrews 6616?0?60( 6 Peter 917

=. @y faith maintain the habit of thin!ing and meditating on spirital vales and priorities ? Philippians 814??64:c: inappropriate marriage partners sch as close relations as specified in Levitics 67:.d: adltery or fornication as this cases the destrction of the one flesh principle by forming another one flesh. ;atthew91023 6

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GENESIS CHATER 1!

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and ta!es the area that Lot doesnIt select the hill contry of &dea. Lot is selfish( pleasre centred( see!ing the easypath( and self centred( and so( li!e all who ta!e the broad way( ;atthew =160( his choice eventally cases hisdownfall. ,braham relies on the Lord and scceeds. $he powerfl Principle here is to be seen clearly even before westart the stdy. "hen yo pt yor life in the hands of the Lord yo will never be cheated or miss ot. Co never lose ifyo let God choose.

GENESIS 1!:1-1

# /4## / /4# %&/: *' /4## Ab3 c..#' 0* /4# *3# 0 /4# LORD 5 A*' L0/ .&0=64%c4 6#*/ 6%/4 Ab3= 4' .0c>&= *' 4#'&= *' /#*/& A*' /4# .*' 6& *0/ b.# /0 b# /4#3= /4/ /4#y3%84/ '6#.. /08#/4#: 0 /4#% &)b&/*c# 6& 8#/= &0 /4/ /4#y c0).' *0/ '6#.. /08#/4# A*' /4## 6& &/%# b#/6##* /4# 4#'3#* 0 Ab3?& c//.# *' /4# 4#'3#* 0 L0/?& c//.#: *' /4# C**%/# *' /4##%%/# '6#..#' /4#* %* /4# .*' A*' Ab3 &%' )*/0 L0/= L#/ /4## b# *0 &/%#= I y /4##= b#/6##* 3#*' /4##= *' b#/6##* 3y 4#'3#* *' /4y 4#'3#*@ 0 6# b# b#/4#* ( I& *0/ /4# 640.# .*' b#0# /4##,/# /4y.= I y /4##= 03 3#: % /40) 6%./ /># /4# .#/ 4*'= /4#* I 6%.. 80 /0 /4# %84/@ 0 % /40) '#/ /0/4# %84/ 4*'= /4#* I 6%.. 80 /0 /4# .#/ 1+ A*' L0/ .%/#' ) 4%& #y#&= *' b#4#.' .. /4# .%* 0 J0'*= /4/ %/6& 6#.. 6/##' #$#y 64##= b#0# /4# LORD '#&/0y#' S0'03 *' G0304= #$#* & /4# 8'#* 0 /4#LORD= .%># /4# .*' 0 E8y/= & /40) c03#&/ )*/0 0 11 T4#* L0/ c40 4%3 .. /4# .%* 0 J0'*@ *' L0/0)*#y#' #&/: *' /4#y /#' /4#3.$#& /4# 0*# 03 /4# 0/4# 12 Ab3 '6#..#' %* /4# .*' 0 C**=*' L0/ '6#..#' %* /4# c%/%#& 0 /4# .%*= *' %/c4#' 4%& /#*/ /06' S0'03 1! B)/ /4# 3#* 0 S0'03 6##6%c>#' *' &%**#& b#0# /4# LORD #c##'%*8.y 19 A*' /4# LORD &%' )*/0 Ab3= /# /4/ L0/ 6&/#' 03 4%3= L%/ ) *06 /4%*# #y#&= *' .00> 03 /4# .c# 64## /40) / *0/46'= *' &0)/46'=*' #&/6'= *' 6#&/6': 15 F0 .. /4# .*' 64%c4 /40) #&/= /0 /4## 6%.. I 8%$# %/= *' /0 /4y #' 0 #$#1 A*' I 6%.. 3># /4y #' & /4# ')&/ 0 /4# #/4: &0 /4/ % 3* c* *)3b# /4# ')&/ 0 /4# #/4= /4#* &4../4y #' .&0 b# *)3b##' 1 A%= 6.> /40)84 /4# .*' %* /4# .#*8/4 0 %/ *' %* /4# b#'/4 0 %/@ 0 I 6%..8%$# %/ )*/0 /4## 1 T4#* Ab3 #30$#' 4%& /#*/= *' c3# *' '6#./ %* /4# .%* 0 M3#= 64%c4 %& %*H#b0*= *' b)%./ /4## * ./ )*/0 /4# LORD

REFLECTION

$HE L)-E +- $HE ',/,L @EL)EME/ '+$/,S$EA $+ $HE @LESS)G UP+ $HE SP)/)$U,L

Lot prospers in his choice( and for a long time he appears to have won( and obtained the best portion. His floc!s are ot

on the plains( and he moves into town to a mansion and even becomes a #dge in Sodom. $his is shown by the phrase"he sat in the gate" Genesis 6

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,bram is bac! at the place of worship and he is able to rest and reflect pon what the Egyptian e%perience really meansfor him( especially as the famine has eased. $here is still a shortage of fodder( bt he is able to worship and thin! now.He is hngrier now for fellowship with God( than for more wealth( Psalms 2419?7( 8216?2( 4916?2( 7816?2( 6>?62(Ephesians 4168?6&= *' 4#'&= *' /#*/& A*' /4# .*' 6& *0/ b.#/0 b# /4#3= /4/ /4#y 3%84/ '6#.. /08#/4#: 0 /4#% &)b&/*c# 6& 8#/= &0 /4/ /4#y c0).' *0/ '6#.. /08#/4#

A*' /4## 6& &/%# b#/6##* /4# 4#'3#* 0 Ab3?& c//.# *' /4# 4#'3#* 0 L0/?& c//.#: *' /4#C**%/# *' /4# #%%/# '6#..#' /4#* %* /4# .*'.

"ealth withot spirital focs to give it meaning( and modify its lst( will lead to self?centeredness and argment( and soit does here. $he servants from both menIs camps end p fighting each other. @lood is shed in this fighting3 it is not a bitof yelling and pshing3 very li!ely swords are drawn. $hese men were heavily armed in these days and this was seriosstrife( and was a bad loo! in front of the pagans( to whom both grops were spposed to be witnessing.

$he after effects of the droght bring tempers to a boiling point and the staff are only reflecting the performance targetsthat their masters have given them. $hey are desperate for gra5ing and water( and it is clear from their desperate battlewith each other( that they have been told by Lot and ,bram to go for it( and get the land and water( and that they arebeing assessed for prodction and stoc! losses( and are being #dged if they lose too many animals to the droght.

-inancial and bsiness pressre is driving this( and the two older men are responsible for this atmosphere of rivalry. $hisis as bad an atmosphere as any lean and mean money hngry corporate bsiness in todayIs world. )t is a to%ic bsiness

environment and the Lord holds these men responsible for it( and ,bram as the senior man rightly( if belatedly( ta!esaction.

$hey are both wealthy and are loc!ed in a rivalry to be better and bigger than the other. $here was no way that theycold stay close to each other. $he battle was over cattle space( rather than sheep or goats( so it was the best pastrethat was being foght over( for the smaller animals cold fare on rogher land.

Strife is a biblical sign of carnality. Heated argment is a sign that people are self centred and have forgotten their godlyambassadorial role pon the earth. $he behavior of these men is a sign that their masters have operated in a spirit ofcarnality for some time. $his is a frit of the +ld Sin atre( and God has called ,bram to live at a different level( and inthe power of God he is able to( as are we all. Galatians 9164?22( $its 010?=( &ames 0168?67( 816?0. /efer to the @$@stdy on -/U)$ +- $HE H+LC SP)/)$( -/U)$ +- $HE +LA S) ,$U/E and also ",L)G.

V#& ; 1! A*' Ab3 &%' )*/0 L0/= L#/ /4## b# *0 &/%#= I y /4##= b#/6##* 3# *' /4##= *' b#/6##*

3y 4#'3#* *' /4y 4#'3#*@ 0 6# b# b#/4#* ( I& *0/ /4# 640.# .*' b#0# /4##, /# /4y.= I y/4##= 03 3#: % /40) 6%./ /># /4# .#/ 4*'= /4#* I 6%.. 80 /0 /4# %84/@ 0 % /40) '#/ /0 /4# %84/ 4*'= /4#* I6%.. 80 /0 /4# .#/

,bram now ta!es the leadership role( a role he shold have e%ercised many months before this. He sei5es theopportnity and directly addresses the real isse3 there shold not be strife between them as two grops of believers.$he fact that he identifies that the strife is between not #st the herdsmen( bt between Lot and himself tells s that hehas been neglectfl of problem solving for too long. $heir witness has been bad( and the Lord holds them responsible forthis. 'olossians 819( 6 $hessalonians 81

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point. ,bram( by doing this see!s to win LotIs favor bac! by his noble gestre( with a hope that spiritally he may beable to assist him at some later point.

,bram see!s to restore fellowship with this man( even if it costs him seriosly financially to do so. $his is a good stdy inleadership recovery after failre to e%ercise good problem management. $re biblical leadership ta!es responsibility forfailres to e%ercise itIs fnction and ta!es definitive action to resolve what can be resolved( and end conflict ic!ly./efer to the E@'", LE,AE/SH)P ;,U,L for a fll discssion of biblical leadership principles.

1+ A*' L0/ .%/#' ) 4%& #y#&= *' b#4#.' .. /4# .%* 0 J0'*= /4/ %/ 6& 6#.. 6/##' #$#y 64##= b#0# /4#LORD '#&/0y#' S0'03 *' G0304= #$#* & /4# 8'#* 0 /4# LORD= .%># /4# .*' 0 E8y/= & /40) c03#&/)*/0 0 11 T4#* L0/ c40 4%3 .. /4# .%* 0 J0'*@ *' L0/ 0)*#y#' #&/: *' /4#y /#'/4#3.$#& /4# 0*# 03 /4# 0/4# 12 Ab3 '6#..#' %* /4# .*' 0 C**= *' L0/ '6#..#' %* /4# c%/%#& 0 /4#.%*= *' %/c4#' 4%& /#*/ /06' S0'03 1! B)/ /4# 3#* 0 S0'03 6## 6%c>#' *' &%**#& b#0# /4# LORD#c##'%*8.y.

Lot is a carnal believer( seeing only as a pagan sees( and thin!ing only by means of his +ld Sin atre. He thin!s ofobvios sorces of wealth( and obvios resorces on that particlar day. He loo!s down at the Male of Sodom. ;osesses the phrase on the clay tablet e%actly as ,bram has carved it( for this area is totally changed by ;oses day. )t was in,bramIs day an incredibly fertile area( p to 6>>> feet below sea level( with a micro?climate( lots of water and lshvegetation. )t was li!e the Garden of Eden.

Lot ma!es his choice and heads east. $here are no ceremonies( no altar( no prayer for blessing( no pleasantries( #st thesad separation of men who sed to be friends( and were still relatives( bt wold not see one another again for some

time( and then only after tragedy. Genesis 6816?62( Proverbs 2=16>( Hebrews 6>128?29.

;oses ses the very phrases and place names that have srvived in clay tablets from Ebla( from 0>> years before,bram. one of these cities will srvive the tectonic e%plosion that forms the Aead Sea( and the only e%tra?biblical recordof these cities e%istence for 8>>> years was discovered on these tablets from Ebla in the 6s of or era. Until that timeno?one had evidence in the modern world that the record of ;oses was correct( bt the Ebla discovery records the tradeof that great city with Sodom( Gomorrah and the five cities of the plain( e%actly the phrase ;oses ses later. $he claytablets he had from ,bram( and sed to write Genesis( record trth( not myth. "e have history before s here( notfancifl invention.

Lot selects with his eyes( not his spirital discernment3 he sees water( greenery and lsh palm forests. )n the tail end of adroght the Male of SidimKSodom was a beatifl place( and so why woldnIt yo select itN "e donIt get baffled when weloo! at LotIs choice( it is the normal hman one( bt that is ;oses point here. $his man does not figre on other thingsthat the Holy Spirit wold have directed him on differently. He does not factor in the evil of the people of the cities of the

plain.

$heir homose%ality has become a byword throgh the ages( bt their mrderos hnger for new se%al pleasreswold lead them into even greater evils( as we will see in Genesis 6

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Lot and for his blessing( for we will see his intercession on LotIs behalf in Genesis 67 below( and his readiness to se allhis military strength to resce Lot. Genesis 68.

,bram has separated from his nephew( bt his heart is still bond to this man( who he !nows he has failed( by his ownpoor e%ample and his failre to act to stop financial competition getting to this place. ,bram remains ready to pray( and )believe does so daily for Lot( and he is ready and prepared to act to save him if he can( ris!ing his own life in theprocess. $his also is or call when we separate from any carnal believer. Galatians 9129 418. /efer to the @$@ stdySEP,/,$)+. )f we have failed to act as we shold in the past( we have the God given brden to pray for them into the

ftre.

V#& 19-1 A*' /4# LORD &%' )*/0 Ab3= /# /4/ L0/ 6& /#' 03 4%3= L%/ ) *06 /4%*# #y#&=*' .00> 03 /4# .c# 64## /40) / *0/46'= *' &0)/46'= *' #&/6'= *' 6#&/6': 15 F0 .. /4#.*' 64%c4 /40) #&/= /0 /4## 6%.. I 8%$# %/= *' /0 /4y #' 0 #$# 1 A*' I 6%.. 3># /4y #' & /4# ')&/ 0/4# #/4: &0 /4/ % 3* c* *)3b# /4# ')&/ 0 /4# #/4= /4#* &4.. /4y #' .&0 b# *)3b##' 1 A%=6.> /40)84 /4# .*' %* /4# .#*8/4 0 %/ *' %* /4# b#'/4 0 %/@ 0 I 6%.. 8%$# %/ )*/0 /4## 1 T4#* Ab3#30$#' 4%& /#*/= *' c3# *' '6#./ %* /4# .%* 0 M3#= 64%c4 %& %* H#b0*= *' b)%./ /4## * ./ )*/0 /4#LORD

otice the first words here. $he Lord spea!s with ,bram after he has separated from Lot. "hen we compromise or faithin or associations with those who are not moving forward spiritally( we hinder the wor! of the Spirit within s andthrogh s. "hen we fail to inflence them for trth and spirital advance( we need to separate orselves from them andtheir organi5ations and move on to the LordIs goals for or life( nder the SpiritIs power. ,bram can claim GodIscharacter and promises( and rest in the certainties associated with GodIs plan for him and his descendents according to

faith. Psalms 0=126?8>.

Lot believes he has the land of Sodom for his inheritance( bt the whole land is given to ,bram( and LotIs blessing wasonly by association with ,bram. God repeats the blessing and promise of the entire land to ,bram. LotIs tenre istemporary( indeed will only be a few years( before he flees into the ,rabian montains forever. ,bram is encoraged tolift p his eyes in faith and see well into the ftre and see his seed inheriting the land. He is encoraged to loo!beyond the present reality to see the final one nder God. one who stand against the promises of God will remainstanding long. )saiah 818.

,s ;oses read these things in the clay tablets his heart mst have raced within him( for the Lord refers bac! to thesevery promises in his words to him. E%ods 0016?0( mbers 0816?62( Aeteronomy 2416?8. $he psalmist also loo!s bac!and gives praise for this trth 9>> years after ;oses. Psalms 6>917?64.

)n verse si%teen the promise regarding ,bramIs posterity is repeated also. He will have descendents that are more

nmeros than the dst of the earth. He is told that it will be hard to nmber his descendents( sch will be their nmber.)f we calclate his physical and spirital children( this indeed ma!es sense( for all those( ,rab and &ew who descendfrom this man are in the million millions( and add to them the believers down the ages of other races and yo have a vastmltitde beyond manIs comprehension to nmber and conceive of. LotIs choice has not changed the plan of God for,bram( nor has it redced his blessing by one millimetreD

GodIs plan is not altered( nor are we disadvantaged by any decision of man against s. "e are in GodIs hands( and evilor foolish men can do nothing to alter or detract from or blessing at the hands of God. Let s re#oice and worship( as,bram worshipped. $his verse became an encoragement to frther faith?rest wal!ing for the early chrch( and so let itbe for s an encoragement and a strength. /omans 8160?29( Hebrews 6617?64.

,bram is encoraged to wal! again throgh the land and re?claim it by faith. $he Lord will often call s to reclaimpromises and relay or fondations( so that we might be strengthened as we rest secrely pon the fondationaldoctrines of or faith. $o stdy old trths again is a good thing. ) re#oice in the advice ) was given to read throgh the for

gospels every year( lest ) forget the words of the Lord &ess 'hrist in my theological stdy elsewhere. )t was good adviceand has corrected many false theologies down the years when ) have done itD

)n verse 67 ;oses records that ,bram bilds another altar( this time in the plains of ;amre( and it will be here that heleads several tribal leaders to the Lord. He is now operating in worship in the heart of the land. ote he is in a plain( bthe does not have danger( for he is in his tent( and he is in the place of fellowship. $he danger of the enemy raider orinvader is still real( and will become actal in the ne%t chapter( bt ,bram is in prayer and worship at his altar daily( andso is well warned of the Lord( when he needs to head into the hills again for safety. "ith the Lord there is secrity in allthe places he leads s. Psalms 6416?

8/9/2019 31-2 GENES

31-2 GENESIS Ch 12-25

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Transcript of 31-2 GENESIS Ch 12-25