observations on Genesis, 4
Genesis chapter 16-20 are full of momentous events. In chapter 16, we see the triangle of Abram, Sarai, and Hagar, with Abram's surrogate marriage to Hagar resulting in the birth of Ishmael. We see Sarai's anger, Hagar's flight, and God's promise regarding Ishmael. Hagar returns to Sarai as commanded and in due time gives birth. The consequences of the decisions made in this chapter continue.
In chapter 17, God establishes the covenant of circumcision, a sign of the covenant between God and Abraham. Every male in Abraham's household is to be circumcised. There was to be no exception. I would suppose at 99 years of age, Abraham was the oldest to undergo this procedure. In the midst of the chapter, God renames both Abram and Sarai. Hereafter they are known as Abraham and Sarah. And again they are promised a son of their own.
Chapters 18 and 19 begin with a visit of three strangers. The good news is that Abraham and Sarah will have a son of their own; again they express disbelief. Wouldn't any of us? They'd heard this before, and more than once.
The bad news is that Sodom is probably soon going to be destroyed. Abraham barters with God. (What nerve! But don't we often do the same?) Finally they reach an agreement that if ten righteous souls are found in the city, the city will be spared. The strangers depart and Abraham returns to his tent.
No doubt Abraham was thinking of his nephew Lot. He may have thought that the ten righteous persons would be made up of Lot's household. Abraham must have been distraught when he realized the city and surrounding area had been destroyed. Were Lot and his family included in that?
At the end of chapter 19, there is another sad story with far-reaching implications.
Lot and his daughters are all that remain of his family. His daughters manage to become pregnant by their drunken father and the sons they bear become two groups which would have complicated relationships with Abraham's descendants: the Moabites and the Ammonites.
Then in chapter 20 we see Abraham and Sarah again deceive a foreign king, this time Abimelech, king of Gerar. Once again God intervenes and protects the foreign king and his people from the consequences of Abraham's and Sarah's unbelief. How embarrassing this must have been for this couple whom God had chosen!
Genesis chapter 16-20 are full of momentous events. In chapter 16, we see the triangle of Abram, Sarai, and Hagar, with Abram's surrogate marriage to Hagar resulting in the birth of Ishmael. We see Sarai's anger, Hagar's flight, and God's promise regarding Ishmael. Hagar returns to Sarai as commanded and in due time gives birth. The consequences of the decisions made in this chapter continue.
In chapter 17, God establishes the covenant of circumcision, a sign of the covenant between God and Abraham. Every male in Abraham's household is to be circumcised. There was to be no exception. I would suppose at 99 years of age, Abraham was the oldest to undergo this procedure. In the midst of the chapter, God renames both Abram and Sarai. Hereafter they are known as Abraham and Sarah. And again they are promised a son of their own.
Chapters 18 and 19 begin with a visit of three strangers. The good news is that Abraham and Sarah will have a son of their own; again they express disbelief. Wouldn't any of us? They'd heard this before, and more than once.
The bad news is that Sodom is probably soon going to be destroyed. Abraham barters with God. (What nerve! But don't we often do the same?) Finally they reach an agreement that if ten righteous souls are found in the city, the city will be spared. The strangers depart and Abraham returns to his tent.
No doubt Abraham was thinking of his nephew Lot. He may have thought that the ten righteous persons would be made up of Lot's household. Abraham must have been distraught when he realized the city and surrounding area had been destroyed. Were Lot and his family included in that?
At the end of chapter 19, there is another sad story with far-reaching implications.
Lot and his daughters are all that remain of his family. His daughters manage to become pregnant by their drunken father and the sons they bear become two groups which would have complicated relationships with Abraham's descendants: the Moabites and the Ammonites.
Then in chapter 20 we see Abraham and Sarah again deceive a foreign king, this time Abimelech, king of Gerar. Once again God intervenes and protects the foreign king and his people from the consequences of Abraham's and Sarah's unbelief. How embarrassing this must have been for this couple whom God had chosen!
Labels: observations on Genesis 4
posted by Ebeth | 9:22 AM
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