DBG - January 5 - Genesis 13-16

This chapter tells of the fateful separation of Abram and Lot.

vs. 3 – This is where he camped in 12:8

vs. 4 – Abram is likely thanking God for delivering him for the troubles in Egypt for direction in the days ahead.  Note that Lot is not mentioned.

vs. 6 – Wealth at this time was largely measured in the number of livestock you owned.  The number of animals owned by Abram and Lot was too great for the pastures available to them.

vs. 7 – The note about the presence of the Canaanites and Perizzites tells that Abram and Lot did not have full control of the pastures they were fighting over.  Also any sign of weakness or disagreement between them could have been exploited by these.

vs. 11 – The area that Lot chose was on the north side of the Dead Sea in the fertile Jordan River Valley.  Sodom and Gomorrah were on the south side.  Lot does not seem to have intended to end up there, but was too comfortable getting closer to them.

vs. 14-17 – God again reaffirms His covenant promises of 12:1-3.

This chapter tells of Abrahm’s rescue of Lot and his paying tithes to Melchizedek.

vs. 1-9 – This is backstory to what is about to occur.  A coalition of armies from the east (probably the areas of Babylon, Asshur, and Elam) had invaded and defeated the local kings in the area south of the Dead Sea.  The local kings were subjugated for twelve years and then rebelled.  The kings of the east returned and wreaked havoc across the region, dominating all that opposed them.   Now the armies of nine kingdoms were set to battle on the south side of the Dead Sea in the Vale of Siddim.

vs. 10 – The site of the battle was full of pits full of hot bitumen/asphalt.  This dangerous terrain worked against the local kings who were soundly defeated.

vs. 12 – Lot had moved into Sodom by this time (8 years later according to Reese’s Chronological Bible) and was taken captive amidst the spoils taken by the eastern kings.

vs. 14 – Abram leads a force numbering only 318 men of his house against the undoubtably thousands of soldiers under the eastern kings.  The enemy had by now moved to Dan on the far north end of Canaan.

vs. 15 – Abram divides his already miniscule forces for a sneak attack at night that routs the enemy and harasses them as they retreat over fifty miles northward.

vs. 15 - There is a really neat little Hebraism here. Hobah is described in Hebrew as being to the “left” of Damascus. In our modern times we usually thing of north as being “up”, but in ancient Israel, east was “up”. If you are headed east, north is to the left.  Therefore, Hobah would be north of Damascus, which is exactly where it is!

vs. 17 – As Abram travel south, he is met at the valley of Shaveh (near modern Jerusalem) the local kings that had just been defeated at the Valley of Siddim.

vs. 18-20 – Melchizedek is both the king of Salem (Jerusalem) and a priest of the true God.  He is mentioned again in a Messianic prophecy in Psalm 110:4, which is further discussed in Hebrews chapters 5-7.  Some have speculated that he is Shem or even a preincarnate Christ.  However, the prophecy says Christ was a priest like Melchisedek; that is, a priest outside of the tribe of Levi whose authority was based on his family tree.

vs. 20 – The first mention of tithing (giving 10% to God)

vs. 23-24 – Abram refused to have any dealings with the king of Sodom.  Unlike his nephew Lot, he knew not to have ties the wicked people there.

This chapter records the sealing of the covenant agreement between God and Abram.  This is one of the most amazing chapters in Scripture if you will take time to understand what is transpiring.

vs. 4 – God will still provide the promised heir in His own time.

vs. 6 – A great verse testifying that Abram, like us, was saved by grace through faith.

vs. 8 – Abram is asking God for a sign to seal the promises that He had made him.

vs. 9-10 – The contract being made here is what may be called a blood covenant.  The sacrifice of animals was used to signify that if any party in the agreement should fail to hold up their end of the bargain their lives were forfeit.  It is as solemn an oath as can be made.  Usually the two parties in the agreement would walk between parts of the divided sacrifice as a sign of their commitment.

vs. 11-12 – God delays His appearance.  Abram does all he can to protect the sacrifice but succumbs to sleep.

vs. 13-17 – God adds this prophecy to the terms already promised to Abram.  Abram’s descendants (Israel) would be dominated and enslaved by the Egyptians.  This would last four hundred years until God would deliver them with spoils from the victory.  The time of deliverance would come in the fourth generation (Levi>Kohath>Amram>Moses).  Part of this timing had to do with the judgment of the Amorites. Abraham himself would have a good, long life.

vs. 17 – Again, traditionally the two parties in the covenant walked between the divided portions of the sacrifice to seal their commitments.  However, God does not allow Abram to take part in this.  The furnace and lamp represented God making the commitment with Himself.  The fulfillment of these promises had nothing to do with Abram’s abilities or strength.  Since God cannot fail it is as sure a promise as there can be. 

vs. 18 – These borders for the Promised Land are far greater than what Israel traditionally controlled.  The southern border is the “river of Egypt”.  Some think is the Nile River but I think is a river border, likely the Wadi el-Arish near the present day Egypt/Israel border.  The northern borders is the Euphrates River.  This was not accomplished by Abram or even Joshua.  David and Solomon controlled a lot of this territory, but some of it was through client kings.  The full realization of this promise is likely in the Millennial Kingdom.

vs. 18-21 – These are the Canaanite tribes whose territory would one day belong to Israel.

This chapter records Abram’s second lapse of faith.

vs. 1 – Where did Sarai get an Egyptian handmaid?  Probably from their visit there in chapter 12.

vs. 2 – Sarai is appealing to a tradition common in the ancient world, where a barren wife provided a surrogate to raise up heirs.  Frankly, this is an attempt to accomplish God’s will through human machinations.

vs. 4 – The culture of the ancient world often looked down on barren women.  Hagar has in a sense surpassed her former master by having a child.

vs. 5 – Sarai is basically blaming Abram for what has happened and expecting him to fix it, and if he does not, that the Lord should intervene.

vs. 6-7 – Hagar runs away and heads back toward Egypt.

vs. 7 – This is the first mention of a remarkable figure, “the angel of the Lord”.  Angels are literally messengers from God who perform their duties faithfully.  They do not accept worship and they do not speak with authority.  “The angel of the Lord” however, does accept worship and does speak with authority.  I believe this figure to be the Preincarnate Christ.  For more information, see https://www.gotquestions.org/angel-of-the-Lord.html

vs. 10 – Note that the “angel of the Lord” speaks with authority here, saying “I will…”

vs. 11 – Ishmael means “who God hears”. 

vs. 13 – Note that it says the LORD (Hebrew – Jehovah), not an angel, spoke with her and that God, not an angel, saw her.

vs. 14 – Beerlahairoi means “the well of him that liveth and seeth me"

vs. 15 – Abram is 86 years old at the birth of Ishmael.

We see here some the highs (the rescue of Lot, the tithing to Melchizedek, the covenant with God) and the lows (having a child with Hagar) in the life of Abram.  Abram was a great man, but a man nonetheless.  It was not his personal righteousness that God honored, but his faith in God.  Like Abram, our faith may sometimes fail, but the promises of God never will!

Note also the compassion shown by God toward Hagar.  Even though she is far from being a hero in Scripture, God still takes time to personally seek her out.  While we do not know how this affected her personal faith, there may just be echoes here of the woman at the well in John 4.  Christ Himself sought out these weary and outcast women.  Oh, the wondrous love of our Savior that seeks those the world casts away!

There are few hymns that refer directly to these chapters, though there are themes found here woven in hundreds and thousands of songs.  Our hymn for today, “Melchizedek a Type of Christ”, was written by Issac Watts.  It takes up the theme of Christ being foreshadowed in Melchizedek, with great emphasis on the actions of Melchizedek in Genesis 14.

King of Salem, bless my soul,
Make a wounded sinner whole1
King of righteousness and peace,
Let not thy sweet visits cease!

Come! refresh this soul of mine
With thy sacred bread and wine!
All thy love to me unfold,
Half of which can not be told.

Hail, Melchizedek divine!
Great high priest, thou shalt be mine;
All my pow'rs before thee fall,
Take not tithe, but take them all!