Tag: Genesis 12

Old Story, New Story

Posted on by jovial_cynic

The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.
Genesis 12:1 (NIV)

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
Genesis 1:1-3 (NIV)

If you’ve been following along, you’ll notice that Genesis 12 starts out like Genesis 1.

“Your country” is the dark land of Shinar. Babylonia.

“Your relatives and father’s house” is the idleness of Haran. A vast sea of nothingness.

But God says, “Here, let me show you something. Follow Me.”

Good vs Beautiful

Posted on by jovial_cynic

The sons of God saw that the daughters of humans were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose.
Genesis 6:2 (NIV)

Translators do violence to the text.

This word we translated as “beautiful” here? FIFTEEN TIMES this Hebrew word is used before this, and EVERY SINGLE TIME, the word is “GOOD.”

“Good” is how God described the world he created in Genesis 1. It’s the same “good” of the Tree of good and evil knowledge.

The theological paths you can take here are absolutely tremendous.

The daughters of humanity were GOOD. What does this teach us about women? What does it say about God’s view of them? Who or what corrupts them by way of violence?

There is much water to draw from this well.

Another important link:

When Sarai is taken by Pharaoh in Genesis 12, she is described as beautiful (yawfeh), but when Esther is taken by Xerxes in Esther 2:7, she is described as both good (tov) and beautiful (yawfeh). And actually, the whole book of Esther links Haman with the concept of “falling,” which is the same root word as the Nephilim in Genesis 6. One might argue that Haman is Nephilim, and both the Pharaoh and King Xerxes are like “sons of God” who take women they please.

Remember

Posted on by jovial_cynic
The story of Abram in Egypt is book-ended with the same specific altar on both sides, sitting between Bethel and Ai.In both cases, the text says he “called upon the name of the Lord.”

There are two lessons that jump out.

Then he proceeded from there to the mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; and there he built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord.
Genesis 12:8 (NASB)

And he went on his journeys from the Negev as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, to the place of the altar which he had made there previously; and there Abram called on the name of the Lord.
Genesis 13:3-4 (NASB)

First, repeating things is a way to highlight the story. It’s underlined, bolded, italicized and blinking: REMEMBER THIS! A great famine will drive the people of God into Egypt, where a Pharaoh will take what is not his. But remember God’s mighty hand; you will be rescued. Remember!

Second, the rabbis say that “called upon the name of the Lord” can mean that Abram preached. He told people who God was.

But imagine how different his preaching was before and after being in Egypt. What lessons has Abram learned? Experience, suffering, seeing God rescue… these things change a person. They grow a person.

After the first altar, Abram is still willing to let his barren wife be taken away, fearing for his own life.

After the second altar, he is willing to accept a barren land, allowing Lot to take the fertile plain of the Jordan, trusting that God can turn barrenness into fruitfulness.

Burdened with Riches

Posted on by jovial_cynic
Genesis 13 tells us that Abram was “very rich” in material possessions, but remember where he got those possessions: from Egypt. Empire.

Look:

Therefore [Pharaoh] treated Abram well for her sake; and he gave him sheep, oxen, male donkeys, male servants and female servants, female donkeys, and camels.
Genesis 12:16 (NASB)

The Hebrew writers want you to know something. This word “rich” in v2 is “kabad.” It can mean “rich,” but it also carries the connotation of “heavy.” Burdened. Slowed. It’s not entirely good.

Now Abram was very rich in livestock, silver, and gold.
Genesis 13:2 (NASB)

Later, we’ll read about Hagar, who is one of those possessions. I think we’d agree that a concubine leads to trouble.

But also, this passage in Genesis 13 is almost immediately followed by the land being unable to “bear the weight” of Lot and Abe’s posessions. Again – “heavy.” Burdened. This leads to another problem in the story.

And yet… it seems that God blesses, despite our possessions.