God’s Covenant with Abram

After Abraham's great victory and the blessing by Melchizedek, the LORD came to Abraham, as if to encourage him or to give him confirmation of the actual blessing from God. The fact that God starts of with "Do not be afraid" suggests there were some reason for Abraham to be afraid, perhaps due to the possible revenge by the defeated kings. In any case, God reassures Abraham and promises him greater things, to which Abraham replied that he had no heir at the moment.

God's reply to Abraham was the specific promise of his own child and descendents too many to count. This leads to the all important action of "Believe" by Abraham, to which God credits that as righteousness. This is one of the first indication of God's system in which he "accounts" our Believe in Him (in what he says and what he promises) and sees us righteous in His eyes. It is this righteousness that allows us to be in relation and communion with him. It is this same righteousness that is credited to us when Jesus takes our sins upon himself and we believe in Him.

Abraham then had a dream in which details Abrahams descendents going into captivity in Egypt and then being delivered out of Egypt. Then God made a clear covenant promise to Abraham exactly which land will be given to his descendents. Those lands, which is the Holy Land in the Middle East of today still belonged to the children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacon. Although politically not all those lands are under modern Israel, when God made a promise, that promise lasts forever.

One interesting note is from v16 that "the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete". It is for this reason that God let the Hebrews remain in Egypt for 400 years, and until the exact time when the wickedness of the Amorites reached a level that God decided to put a stop to it. So as Israel comes out of Egypt, Israel becomes God's agent to bring judgement by conquering the promised lands inhabited by the Amorites and others.

Genesis 15

 1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”
2 But Abram said, “Lord GOD, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 Then Abram said, “Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed one born in my house is my heir!”
4 And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.”
5 Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”
6 And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.
7 Then He said to him, “I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to inherit it.”
8 And he said, “Lord GOD, how shall I know that I will inherit it?”
9 So He said to him, “Bring Me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.”
10 Then he brought all these to Him and cut them in two, down the middle, and placed each piece opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds in two.
11 And when the vultures came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.
12 Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, horror and great darkness fell upon him.
13 Then He said to Abram: “Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years.
14 And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions.
15 Now as for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried at a good old age.
16 But in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”
17 And it came to pass, when the sun went down and it was dark, that behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a burning torch that passed between those pieces.
18 On the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying:
“To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates—
19 the Kenites, the Kenezzites, the Kadmonites,
20 the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim,
21 the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.”

Melchizedek and Abraham

These are the events leading to the blessing on Abraham by Melchizedek, the priest of the Most High God. It started with a confederation of kings from Babylon (Shinar), Larsa (Ellasar), Elam and the Tidal. Amraphel is believed by some to be the famous Babylonian king Khammu-rabi, while Chedorlaomer also had a reputation. This confederation had conquered a number of nations including Sodom and Gomorrah - which were the sin cities destroyed by God later.

Anyway, the conquered cities rebelled and was subsequently defeated by Chedorlaomer and his allies. The victors carried off various bounty from the defeated nations, among them was Lot's family who was living near Sodom. Abraham learnt about this nephew's capture and raised a small band of army to pursue the victorious captors. The size of Abraham's army would indicate God's helping hand on the mission, also Abraham was mainly concern of rescuing his nephew, hence his mission to attack at night rather than face a normal daylight battle.

The interesting part of the story is during the celebration of Abraham's successful mission. The king of Sodom went out to thank Abraham and offered him various riches. Abraham flatly refused and even said "I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich' ". Abraham must have known about the sinful state of the nation-city of Sodom and would not associate with it in any way.

This is in stark contrast to Abraham's ready acceptance of the blessings given by Melchizedek, remarkably known as the priest of the Most High God - clearly Abraham and Melchizedek served the same God. Notice the use of bread and wind by Melchizedek in this blessing - pointing to our Lord's teaching of the communion. This is also one of the first places that mentions the paying of tithe.


Genesis 14

Lot’s Captivity and Rescue

 1 And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations,[a]
 2 that they made war with Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar).
 3 All these joined together in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea).
 4 Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.
5 In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings that were with him came and attacked the Rephaim in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh Kiriathaim,
6 and the Horites in their mountain of Seir, as far as El Paran, which is by the wilderness. 7 Then they turned back and came to En Mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and attacked all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites who dwelt in Hazezon Tamar.
8 And the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) went out and joined together in battle in the Valley of Siddim
9 against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of nations,[b] Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five.
10 Now the Valley of Siddim was full of asphalt pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled; some fell there, and the remainder fled to the mountains.
11 Then they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions, and went their way.
12 They also took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.
13 Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, for he dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre[c] the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner; and they were allies with Abram.
14 Now when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants who were born in his own house, and went in pursuit as far as Dan.
15 He divided his forces against them by night, and he and his servants attacked them and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus.
16 So he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the people.
17 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley), after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him.

Abram and Melchizedek
 
18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High.
19 And he blessed him and said:
      “ Blessed be Abram of God Most High,
      Possessor of heaven and earth;
 20 And blessed be God Most High,
      Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.”

   And he gave him a tithe of all.
21 Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, and take the goods for yourself.”
22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth, 23 that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich’—
24 except only what the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men who went with me: Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.”

Abram Inherits Canaan

After the deception in Egypt, Abraham was allowed to leave Egypt not only with his family and life from the King of Egypt but also along with his possessions and more. One would see Abraham as blessed, but to be cautious we refrain from attributing any cause or effect to Abraham's recent deception. Perhaps we can view that Abraham walked with God in most of his life, despite his occassional weaknesses.

Abraham's nephew Lot was still with him when they left Egypt. Both their possessions and lifestock increase to such degree that their staff were arguing. Abraham took the initiative and offered Lot a choice of the land. Lot chose the best part of the land leaving Abraham with the other part. The land Lot chose looked fertile and the was the thriving but evil city of Sodom - something that looked good, but rotten at the core.

However, as Abraham gave up the fertile land for his nephew, God made another promise, this time more detailed, that Abraham's descendents would inherit large amounts of land beyond what Abraham could see and also uncountable number of descendents.


Genesis 13

 1 Then Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, to the South.[a]
 2 Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold.
 3 And he went on his journey from the South as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai,
 4 to the place of the altar which he had made there at first. And there Abram called on the name of the LORD.
5 Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks and herds and tents.
6 Now the land was not able to support them, that they might dwell together, for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together.
7 And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. The Canaanites and the Perizzites then dwelt in the land.
8 So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between you and me, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are brethren.
9 Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me. If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left.”
10 And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere (before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar.
11 Then Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan, and Lot journeyed east. And they separated from each other.
12 Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent even as far as Sodom.
13 But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the LORD.
14 And the LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: “Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are—northward, southward, eastward, and westward;
15 for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants[b] forever.
16 And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered.
17 Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you.”
18 Then Abram moved his tent, and went and dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre,[c] which are in Hebron, and built an altar there to the LORD.

Promises to Abram

Abraham was living in Haran where his father Terah brought them from the land of the Chaldeans. It was here that the LORD told Abraham to go out of Haran. From the text itself, it may be that Abraham was told to go to the land of Canaan before they set out from Haran. In any case, Abraham displayed faith and obedience to God as he moved his whole family out of Canaan. Here the great promises made by God to Abraham, the promise of blessings, of being the source of a great nation and a special protection from God that those who bless Abraham will be blessed and those who curse him, will be cursed. Note that this blessing and cursing promise extends not only to Jews but the other descendents of Abraham from the line of Ishmael and also the line of Esau.

The second part of this chapter also displayed the very human weakness of Abraham. Before judging Abraham for apparent lack of faith or cowardice, we should just imagine ourselves in that position. Egypt seemed to be a great nation at that time, and Abraham knew that he was a foreigner. He knew he would be in the complete mercy of the Egyptians. Knowing this, he still entered Egypt perhaps out of desperation of the famine, and Egypt may a little source of food left. It is easy for us to think that Abraham should trust God to protect him, which is true. But it shows that Abraham is also human, and there are times in his life, just like ours, where he decided to take action to protect himself and his family. Though not mentioned here, it easy to imagine that Abraham would also have seen his mistake and repented before God.



Genesis 12

 1 Now the LORD had said to Abram:
      “Get out of your country,
      From your family
      And from your father’s house,
      To a land that I will show you.
 2 I will make you a great nation;
      I will bless you
      And make your name great;
      And you shall be a blessing.

 3 I will bless those who bless you,
      And I will curse him who curses you;
      And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

4 So Abram departed as the LORD had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.
5 Then Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people whom they had acquired in Haran, and they departed to go to the land of Canaan. So they came to the land of Canaan.
6 Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem, as far as the terebinth tree of Moreh.[a] And the Canaanites were then in the land.
7 Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” And there he built an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him.
8 And he moved from there to the mountain east of Bethel, and he pitched his tent with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; there he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD.
9 So Abram journeyed, going on still toward the South.[b]


  
10 Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to dwell there, for the famine was severe in the land.
11 And it came to pass, when he was close to entering Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, “Indeed I know that you are a woman of beautiful countenance.
12 Therefore it will happen, when the Egyptians see you, that they will say, ‘This is his wife’; and they will kill me, but they will let you live.
13 Please say you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your sake, and that I[c] may live because of you.”
14 So it was, when Abram came into Egypt, that the Egyptians saw the woman, that she was very beautiful.
15 The princes of Pharaoh also saw her and commended her to Pharaoh. And the woman was taken to Pharaoh’s house.
16 He treated Abram well for her sake. He had sheep, oxen, male donkeys, male and female servants, female donkeys, and camels.
17 But the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife.
18 And Pharaoh called Abram and said, “What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife?
19 Why did you say, ‘She is my sister’? I might have taken her as my wife. Now therefore, here is your wife; take her and go your way.”
20 So Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him; and they sent him away, with his wife and all that he had.

Job’s Repentance and Restoration

In all the book of Job, most of it was about Job or his friends arguing or lamenting. It is not until this final chapter that we see the full restoration of Job and in fact he had greater blessings than before. A few points to note that when God at last spoke to him, Job realised he had spoken without understanding and in the process said wrong things about God. He admitted the sovereignty of God, and repented of his complaints.

In this short chapter, it is easy to gloss over the blessings upon Job after his repentance. Looking at the details, we see Job's restoration to the point that he became an intercessor / priest where God chosen him to present the burnt offerings from his friends to God. This shows God's deep relationship with Job. This spiritual restoration would have pleased and satisfied anyone, but God also chose to bless and restore Job materially.

To be specific, Job was blessed with more than he had before the disasters. His farm business thrived. Being older, he still was able to have another seven sons and three daughters, exactly the same number before the disasters. No doubt it was still painful for him to lost the first 10 children, he had the pleasure to raise another ten. Also note that the new ten children did not seem to indulge in themselves as much as the first ten. Job got to see his children for four generations. Another unusual aspect was his three daughters getting an inheritance in a time when it was usually given to males only.

Job 42

 1 Then Job answered the LORD and said:
 2 “I know that You can do everything,      And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.
 3 You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,
      Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
 4 Listen, please, and let me speak;      You said, ‘I will question you, and you shall answer Me.’
 5 “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear,      But now my eye sees You.
 6 Therefore I abhor myself,      And repent in dust and ashes.”
7 And so it was, after the LORD had spoken these words to Job, that the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.
8 Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and My servant Job shall pray for you. For I will accept him, lest I deal with you according to your folly; because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.”
9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the LORD commanded them; for the LORD had accepted Job.
10 And the LORD restored Job’s losses[a] when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.
11 Then all his brothers, all his sisters, and all those who had been his acquaintances before, came to him and ate food with him in his house; and they consoled him and comforted him for all the adversity that the LORD had brought upon him. Each one gave him a piece of silver and each a ring of gold.
12 Now the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys.
13 He also had seven sons and three daughters.
14 And he called the name of the first Jemimah, the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-Happuch.
15 In all the land were found no women so beautiful as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers.
16 After this Job lived one hundred and forty years, and saw his children and grandchildren for four generations.
17 So Job died, old and full of days.

God describes the Leviathan

God continues speaking to Job by describing another great beast - the Leviathan. Some believe this can be a legendary sea monster. In any case, the Leviathan is an awesome creature which no man can control. The point is God made the Leviathan and how much more powerful God is - v11 "Everything under heaven is Mine." From v14-v20, one can easily identify his creature as the legendary fire-breathing dragon of many cultures.

Why is God in his infinite wisdom choose to describe two awesome animals in response to Job's whinging and whining? No doubt God is rebuking Job, but almost in a manner of a Father telling a story to His children. Rather than direct rebuke, God lovingly points out the limited power of man not so much physically, but rather is position relative to the Creator of all things. And perhaps ultimately, as seen in v34, it is to put our pride in check should we think we know enough to tell God what is right or wrong, or question God's justice.


Job 41

 1 “Can you draw out Leviathan[a] with a hook,     Or snare his tongue with a line which you lower?
 2 Can you put a reed through his nose,      Or pierce his jaw with a hook?
 3 Will he make many supplications to you?      Will he speak softly to you?
 4 Will he make a covenant with you?      Will you take him as a servant forever?
 5 Will you play with him as with a bird,      Or will you leash him for your maidens?
 6 Will your companions make a banquet[b] of him?      Will they apportion him among the merchants?
 7 Can you fill his skin with harpoons,      Or his head with fishing spears?
 8 Lay your hand on him;      Remember the battle—       Never do it again!
 9 Indeed, any hope of overcoming him is false;      Shall one not be overwhelmed at the sight of him?
 10 No one is so fierce that he would dare stir him up.      Who then is able to stand against Me?

 11 Who has preceded Me, that I should pay him?      Everything under heaven is Mine.
 12 “I will not conceal[c] his limbs,      His mighty power, or his graceful proportions.
 13 Who can remove his outer coat?      Who can approach him with a double bridle?
 14 Who can open the doors of his face,      With his terrible teeth all around?
 15 His rows of scales are his pride,      Shut up tightly as with a seal;
 16 One is so near another      That no air can come between them;
 17 They are joined one to another,      They stick together and cannot be parted.
 18 His sneezings flash forth light,      And his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.
 19 Out of his mouth go burning lights;      Sparks of fire shoot out.
 20 Smoke goes out of his nostrils,      As from a boiling pot and burning rushes.
 21 His breath kindles coals,      And a flame goes out of his mouth.
 22 Strength dwells in his neck,      And sorrow dances before him.

 23 The folds of his flesh are joined together;      They are firm on him and cannot be moved.
 24 His heart is as hard as stone,      Even as hard as the lower millstone.
 25 When he raises himself up, the mighty are afraid;      Because of his crashings they are beside[d] themselves.
 26 Though the sword reaches him, it cannot avail;      Nor does spear, dart, or javelin.
 27 He regards iron as straw,      And bronze as rotten wood.
 28 The arrow cannot make him flee;      Slingstones become like stubble to him.
 29 Darts are regarded as straw;      He laughs at the threat of javelins.
 30 His undersides are like sharp potsherds;      He spreads pointed marks in the mire.
 31 He makes the deep boil like a pot;      He makes the sea like a pot of ointment.
 32 He leaves a shining wake behind him;      One would think the deep had white hair.
 33 On earth there is nothing like him,      Which is made without fear.
 34 He beholds every high thing;      He is king over all the children of pride.”

God challenges Job

This seems like another difficult passage. God continues His challenge to Job. Job finally answers with humility and realizing His unworthiness to have a debate with God. The it seems like God is challenging Job of whether Job can exercise justice on the wicked and the proud. God also brings the Behemoth to illustrate that only God is control of all the animals including the fearsome behemoth. Some believe the behemoth to be a hippopotamus while others think it may be the wooly mammoth. In any case, God shows his majesty and power to Job by reminding him who is really in control.

Job 40

 1 Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said:
 2 “Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him?      He who rebukes God, let him answer it.”

 3 Then Job answered the LORD and said:
 4 “ Behold, I am vile;      What shall I answer You?       I lay my hand over my mouth.
 5 Once I have spoken, but I will not answer;      Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further.”

6 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:
 7 “Now prepare yourself like a man;      I will question you, and you shall answer Me:
 8 “ Would you indeed annul My judgment?      Would you condemn Me that you may be justified?
 9 Have you an arm like God?      Or can you thunder with a voice like His?
 10 Then adorn yourself with majesty and splendor,      And array yourself with glory and beauty.
 11 Disperse the rage of your wrath;      Look on everyone who is proud, and humble him.
 12 Look on everyone who is proud, and bring him low;      Tread down the wicked in their place.
 13 Hide them in the dust together,      Bind their faces in hidden darkness.
 14 Then I will also confess to you      That your own right hand can save you.
 15 “Look now at the behemoth,[a] which I made along with you;      He eats grass like an ox.
 16 See now, his strength is in his hips,      And his power is in his stomach muscles.
 17 He moves his tail like a cedar;      The sinews of his thighs are tightly knit.
 18 His bones are like beams of bronze,      His ribs like bars of iron.
 19 He is the first of the ways of God;      Only He who made him can bring near His sword.
 20 Surely the mountains yield food for him,      And all the beasts of the field play there.
 21 He lies under the lotus trees,      In a covert of reeds and marsh.
 22 The lotus trees cover him with their shade;      The willows by the brook surround him.
 23 Indeed the river may rage,      Yet he is not disturbed;       He is confident, though the Jordan gushes into his mouth,
 24 Though he takes it in his eyes,      Or one pierces his nose with a snare.