Thursday, April 12, 2012

Genesis Chapter 19












Genesis Chapter 19


Genesis Recap:Chapter 1: Creation of everything including man
Chapter 2: Creation account of Man and Woman in the Garden
Chapter 3: The Fall of Man, The Curse pronounced
Chapter 4: Cain and Abel, Seth
Chapter 5: The Genealogy of Adam
Chapter 6: Announcement and Preparation for the Flood
Chapter 7: The Flood
Chapter 8: Exiting the Ark
Chapter 9:  The Rainbow, Noah drunk, Command to eat meat
Chapter 10: The Table of Nations
Chapter 11: The Tower of Babel, Birth of Abraham
ISRAEL EXISTS FROM HERE TO END OF THE BIBLE: PROMISED, THEN EXISTENT
Chapter 12:  The Call of Abraham, Promise of a Great Nation
Chapter 13: The Migration and Separation of Abraham and Lot
Chapter 14: The War of the Kings, Kidnap and Rescue of Lot by Abraham, Melchizedek
Chapter 15:  God's Unilateral Covenant with the Cleft Animals, Promise of an heir
Chapter 16:  The Birth of Ishmael to Hagar
Chapter 17: The Covenant of Circumcision, Promise of a Son named Isaac
Chapter 18: The Visit of the Three Men, Promise of a Son, Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah foretold
Chapter 19:  The Angels Destroy Sodom and Gomorrah

(Genesis 19:1 [KJV])
A
nd there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;

  • There were originally three men (Genesis 18:21-22)
  • One stayed back with Abraham
  • Therefore these two angels alone were given the power and authority to destroy two entire cities with their inhabitants
  • Lot is found in the city gate, as a greeter to what?
  • This bowing to the ground is not worship, because the angels ignored it.
(Genesis 19:2 [KJV])
And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.

  • Washing one's feet (or having others do it) was and is still customary in the desert, due to wearing sandals, plus the dusty ground.
  • It's as though he is saying, "Whatever you two do, do not stay out here at night, and make sure you get up before everyone else and leave quickly!"
  • The angels showed no fear of man at all (and rightly so), fully and perfectly willing to stay in the street all by themselves, all night long.
(Genesis 19:3 [KJV])
And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.

  • His demeanor towards them is gentle, showing he is related to Abraham.
  • In addition, he is firm. It is as though he knows why they should not stay out in the streets and is saying, "Trust me. You do not want to stay out here. It is not safe. You had better be inside at night."
  • He confirms this is the reason they come inside the house in verse number eight
  • It would be hard to be gentle after living like this for so long.
(Genesis 19:4 [KJV])
But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:

  • "But before they lay down" It does not take long for the entire city to want to do wickedly against these angels.
  • These were men, not women. Men after men, not women after men.
  • They knew men entered the house, and not women
  • When you "compass the house round" you are trying to ensure that the people inside have no escape available to them at all.
  • "Both old and young" indicates the pollution had spread so much, even to the younger generation
  • "All the people from every quarter" indicates that it was not just young and old, but city-or cities-wide
  • This shows an insatiable appetite for lust, since there are plenty of others in the city to "know"......there were new men.
(Genesis 4:7 [KJV])
If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. 


(James 4:5 [KJV])
Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? 

(Genesis 19:5 [KJV])
And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.

  • This is blatantly forceful to demand such things of a neighbor in their own house........almost like it was expected of Lot to comply
  • To know someone biblically means to have sexual relations with them.
  • They specifically asked for the men, which means they were watching their every move, looking for an opportune time to launch the attack
"TO KNOW", BIBLICALLY(Genesis 4:1 [KJV])
And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.


(Genesis 4:25 [KJV])
And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.


(1 Samuel 1:19-20 [KJV])
And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her. Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD.


THE OPPORTUNE TIME:

(1 Peter 5:8 [KJV])
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:


(Genesis 19:6 [KJV])
And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him, I will say this for Lot. Apparently he felt safe enough to do this, because he has to have told them previously that he himself was off-limits. Otherwise, no reason to risk a certain physical encounter. The shutting the door behind himself really guarantees no escape and makes him doubly vulnerable.
(Genesis 19:7 [KJV])
And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly. Lot is being very protective of his guests He is about to feel their sting for using the word "wickedly" The wicked part was wanting to know the men inside. 

(Genesis 19:8 [KJV])
Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.

  • Lot offers up his own offspring's flesh (which is of his own flesh) to these guys
  • here is a controversy and people think that there is a contradiction as to how many daughters Lot had, but it is possible that either
    • 1Lot lied about them not knowing men, or
    • He had other daughters
    • They were betrothed and not married, wanting to keep the sons-in-law safe in the house
    • This is not a contradiction
  • In his eyes, the rape of his daughters was better than sodomy of his man guests
  • It is obvious that, when angels and devils manifest a human form, they are indistinguishable from fully fleshly people
  • "for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof" in Abraham's eyes, these men came in for protection from the men of the city, but these angels will soon demonstrate that it is Lot who will need to flee for his own protection.
  • Of course, it is not as though the angels, about to destroy the entire two cities, had anything to fear from man, nor needed Lot's house for protection.
  • It is a need for Lot to have them close to him and not vice versa.
(Genesis 19:9 [KJV])
And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door.

  • Their response indicates maybe that he knew that it was a safe bet, since they were not interested.
  • This is why women feel very safe around effeminate men. They simply are not interested in women!
  • They turned down the daughters and then threatened to "know" Lot. This is an actual threat of rape, with the use of the words "worse with thee, than them"
  • Some things never change. "Who are YOU to judge ME?" is still used today to justify this behavior.
  • Notice that they intended to break the door to get at the men (angels).
(Genesis 19:10 [KJV])
But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door.

  • Apparently the angels knew better and saved Lot's skin, because Lot was not as safe as he thought he was.
  • They also did not discuss, argue or otherwise. There was a finality to this city that the angels knew about and Lot did not.
(Genesis 19:11 [KJV])
And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door.

  • "Small and great" is here repeated, indicating that the two groups indeed both were ripe for judgment..
  • It also indicates that, when it comes to ultimate judgment, age will not matter. ALL were blinded
  • Sodomites recruit; they do not generally reproduce, which is why there are generations of them in a society.
  • The angels have their timing for destruction and it is after Lot is out of the city, not before. They could have started right there with these men.
(Genesis 19:12 [KJV])
And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place:

  • The sons are never mentioned again, only the sons-in-laws
  • This is sort of like Noah, his wife, sons and their wives...a covering
  • They will be given the same choice.
  • The difference is in the outcome
(Genesis 19:13 [KJV])
For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it.

  • "Waxen great" means that this has grown huge, for some time
  • Since the LORD stayed back with Abraham in the plains of Mamre, the phrase "before the face of the LORD" shows His Omnipresence.
  • The state/condition of a society, nation, culture or even a person has to wax pretty badly for God to finally say, in His longsuffering, "Enough is enough"
(Genesis 18:22 [KJV])
And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.  

Proverbs 15:3
The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.
1 Peter 3:20
Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. 

(Genesis 19:14 [KJV])
And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.

  • Whenever people warn of judgment, there are those who, for whatever reason, do not want to hear it.
  • For whatever reason, his sons-in-laws took this a little too personally
***********************************************************************


Genesis Recap:
Chapter 1: Creation of everything including man
Chapter 2: Creation account of Man and Woman in the Garden
Chapter 3: The Fall of Man, The Curse pronounced
Chapter 4: Cain and Abel, Seth
Chapter 5: The Genealogy of Adam
Chapter 6: Announcement and Preparation for the Flood
Chapter 7: The Flood
Chapter 8: Exiting the Ark
Chapter 9:  The Rainbow, Noah drunk, Command to eat meat
Chapter 10: The Table of Nations
Chapter 11: The Tower of Babel, Birth of Abraham


ISRAEL EXISTS FROM HERE TO END OF THE BIBLE: PROMISED, THEN EXISTENT


Chapter 12:  The Call of Abraham, Promise of a Great Nation
Chapter 13: The Migration and Separation of Abraham and Lot
Chapter 14: The War of the Kings, Kidnap and Rescue of Lot by Abraham, Melchizedek
Chapter 15:  God's Unilateral Covenant with the Cleft Animals, Promise of an heir
Chapter 16:  The Birth of Ishmael to Hagar
Chapter 17: The Covenant of Circumcision, Promise of a Son named Isaac
Chapter 18: The Visit of the Three Men, Promise of a Son, Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah foretold
Chapter 19:  The Angels Destroy Sodom and Gomorrah

NETANYAHU TURNS TABLES IN INTERVIEW


Part ONE:

Even those who aren't particularly sympathetic to Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu could get a good measure of satisfaction from this interview with British Television during the retaliation against Hamas' shelling of Israel.

The interviewer asked him: "How come so many more Palestinians have been killed in this conflict than Israelis?"

Netanyahu: "Are you sure that you want to start asking in that direction?"
Interviewer: Why not?

Netanyahu:  "Because in World War II more Germans were killed than British and Americans combined, but there is no doubt in anyone's mind that the war was caused by Germany 's aggression.
And in response to the German blitz on London, the British wiped out the entire city of Dresden, burning to death more German civilians than the number of people killed in Hiroshima ....
Moreover, I could remind you that in 1944, when the R.A.F. tried to bomb the Gestapo Headquarters in Copenhagen, some of the bombs missed their target and fell on a Danish children's hospital, killing 83 little children.
Perhaps you have another question?"

Part TWO:

Benjamin Netanyahu gave another interview and was asked about Israel 's occupation of Arab lands. His response was, "It's our land".

The reporter was stunned - read below "It's our land...

It's important information since we don't get fair and accurate reporting from the media and facts tend to get lost in the jumble of daily events.

"Crash Course on the Arab-Israeli Conflict."

(Just minutes to read!) Here are overlooked facts in the current & past Middle East situation.

A Christian university professor compiled these:

Facts:

1. Nationhood and Jerusalem: Israel became a nation in 1312 BC, two Thousand (2000) years before the rise of Islam.
2. Arab refugees in Israel began identifying themselves as part of a Palestinian people in 1967, two decades after the establishment of the modern State of Israel.
3. Since the Jewish conquest in 1272 BC, the Jews have had dominion over the land for one thousand (1000) years with a continuous presence in the land for the past 3,300 years.
4. The only Arab dominion since the conquest in 635 lasted no more than 22 years.
5. For over 3,300 years, Jerusalem has been the Jewish capital.
Jerusalem has never been the capital of any Arab or Muslim entity. Even when The Jordanians occupied Jerusalem, they never sought to make it their capital, and Arab leaders Did not come to visit.
6. Jerusalem is mentioned over 700 times in Tanach, the Jewish Holy Scriptures.
Jerusalem is not mentioned even once in the Koran.
7. King David founded the city of Jerusalem. Mohammed never came to Jerusalem.
8. Jews pray facing Jerusalem. Muslims pray with their backs toward Jerusalem.
9. Arab and Jewish Refugees: in 1948 the Arab refugees were encouraged to leave Israel by Arab leaders promising to purge the land of Jews.
Sixty-eight percent left (many in fear of retaliation by their own brethren, the Arabs), without ever seeing an Israeli soldier. The ones who stayed were afforded the same peace, civility, and citizenship rights as everyone else.
10. The Jewish refugees were forced to flee from Arab lands due to Arab brutality, persecution and pogroms.
11. The number of Arab refugees who left Israel in 1948 is estimated to be around 630,000. The number of Jewish refugees from Arab lands is estimated to be the same.
12. Arab refugees were INTENTIONALLY not absorbed or integrated into the Arab lands to which they fled, despite the vast Arab territory. Out of the 100,000,000 refugees since World War II, theirs is the only refugee group in the world that has never been absorbed or integrated into their own people's lands.
Jewish refugees were completely absorbed into Israel, a country no larger than the State of New Jersey...
13. The Arab-Israeli Conflict: the Arabs are represented by eight separate nations, not including the Palestinians. There is only one Jewish nation.
The Arab nations initiated all five wars and lost. Israel defended itself each time and won.
14. The PLO's Charter still calls for the destruction of the State of Israel. Israel has given the Palestinians most of the West Bank land, autonomy under the Palestinian Authority, and has supplied them.
15. Under Jordanian rule, Jewish holy sites were desecrated and the Jews were denied access to places of worship. Under Israeli rule, all Muslim and
Christian sites have been preserved and made accessible to people of all faiths.
16. The UN Record on Israel and the Arabs: of the 175 Security Council resolutions passed before 1990, 97 were directed against Israel.
17. Of the 690 General Assembly resolutions voted on before 1990, 429 were directed against Israel.
18. The UN was silent while the Jordanians destroyed 58 Jerusalem synagogues.
19. The UN was silent while the Jordanians systematically desecrated the ancient Jewish cemetery on the Mount of Olives.
20. The UN was silent while the Jordanians enforced an apartheid-like a policy of preventing Jews from visiting the Temple Mount and the Western Wall.. These are incredible times. We have to ask what our role should be.
What will we tell our grandchildren about what we did when there was a turning point in Jewish destiny, an opportunity to make a difference

(Genesis 19:15 [KJV])
And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.

  • Suddenly it seems the angels are in a real hurry!
  • The daughters "which are here"......perhaps there were more?
  • But.....it must be understood that the blinding of the men at the door was in the evening, and this is now morning.
  • Even in His urgency, God stayed His Hand of judgment in order to allow Lot and his family a good time to rest!
  • God is in the mindset of......."Yer on borrowed time. Have a nice night. Relax. Tomorrow, you are toast."
(Genesis 19:16 [KJV])
And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.
  • Notice the sons-in-law are not mentioned here.
  • Surely a death angel's hand is large enough for three more people to save their lives.
  • There is also no sign of the blinded people at the door. It may be that either the rest who presumably were not blinded got the message to back off or all of the people in the city were blinded
(Genesis 19:17 [KJV])
And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.

  • The angels were about to have a true scorched-earth policy.
  • What if they did not obey? What happened to Lot's Wife?
  • Why the command to look ahead only?

    (Matthew 10:35-39 [KJV])

    For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

    And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.

    He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 

    And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.



    (Luke 9:57-62 [KJV])
    And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.  And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. 
    And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.   Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.


    (Genesis 19:18-19 [KJV])
    And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord: Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die:
    • Lot apparently had either traveled locally to know this, or the reputation of the surrounding areas was enough to make him want to avoid the surrounding mountains
    • He did not want to go "out of the frying pan and into the fire", so to speak.
    • Lot may be showing a lack of faith, since it is obvious that God was going to send him to a place of refuge, not another Sodom and Gomorrah!
    (Genesis 19:20 [KJV])
    Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.

    • People think it is safe to "disappear" into a city and blend in.
    • This is actually an odd time to question God, when He says, "Hurry!"  "Get out!" "I will destroy the city!"  "Don't look back!"
    • Repeating how it is a little one in a statement and a question shows a sort of childish attitude
    • If the city you are in is not influenced by you, but you are influenced by it, then maybe the mountains are the correct choice, as the angels had said in the first place.
    • People, even the most faithful ones like his uncle Abraham, question God. This is universal and recorded throughout Scripture.
    (Genesis 19:21 [KJV])
    And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken. 

    Obviously three things going on:
    1. Lot was making the same bad decision as moving to Sodom and Gomorrah
    2. This "little one" city was not quite as wicked but maybe close to it ( will not overthrow it), since the angels seemed to avoid destroying it also, because of Lot being there.
    3. The Angel will not destroy the city because now Lot is there with his wife and daughters, something Abraham pleaded for in his talk with the angels. Apparently he did not even have to stop at ten!
    (Genesis 18:32 [KJV])
    And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy [it] for ten's sake.

    (Genesis 19:22 [KJV])
    Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.

    • Since the angels said that they could not destroy the city without them being gone from it, it shows the protection God affords those who follow him
    • The total number then of escapees is four. Lot, his wife and two daughters
    (Genesis 19:23 [KJV])
    The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar.

    • They left before first light, when those who have been up all night are still asleep
    • Now the sun is up. It must have been awfully bright since night time would have been better to make a "hot rock" show, but apparently it was visible even to those in the distance
    (Genesis 19:24 [KJV])
    Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; 

    • Only by His grace He waited until Lot and his family was gone.
    • That same grace saves today, but this story reveals the choice we make-stay in Sodom and perish, or leave with righteous Lot, and be saved.
    • Notice it says "the LORD" did it, not the angels
    • Angels represent God and are His right hands....
    (2 Peter 2:7-9 [KJV])
    And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed [his] righteous soul from day to day with [their] unlawful deeds;) The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: 


    http://creationwiki.org/Sodom

    Archaeological Discoveries

    Today, many people believe that they have found the devastated ruins of these ancient cities. The suspected sites are thought to be located exactly on a fault line along the eastern side of a plain south of the Dead Sea. Bab edh-Dhra, which is thought to be the modern name for Sodom, and Numeira, thought to be Gomorrah, were destroyed at the same time by some catastrophe that left debris about three feet thick.[1] The Associates for Biblical Research published an article in 1999 reporting the "The Discovery of the Sin Cities of Sodom and Gomorrah".[2]

    The escape of Lot from Sodom by Gustave Doré
    In 1980, Ron Wyatt observed some strange formations near the Dead Sea, which are believed by some to be the remains of large city structures, although others question the credibility of these assertion. Sulfur balls have also been discovered in the region. According to Genesis 19:24 God rained down burning sulfur on the cities and the entire plain.[3] Answers In Genesis generally disputes Wyatt's claims. For this particular discovery, they point out that sulfur balls have been known to occur naturally, and chemical testing from 'building ash' at the site indicates that the formations are not burnt buildings.[4]
    The 1st century Jewish historian Flavius Josephus mentions Sodom in his the wars of the Jews book four,chapter eight.


    The country of Sodom borders upon it. It was of old a most happy land, both for the fruits it bore and the riches of its cities, although it be now all burnt up. It is related how, for the impiety of its inhabitants, it was burnt by lightning; in consequence of which there are still the remainders of that Divine fire, and the traces [or shadows] of the five cities are still to be seen, as well as the ashes growing in their fruits; which fruits have a color as if they were fit to be eaten, but if you pluck them with your hands, they dissolve into smoke and ashes. And thus what is related of this land of Sodom hath these marks of credibility which our very sight affords us.[5]



    (Genesis 19:25 [KJV])
    And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.

    • This is the original "scorched earth policy"
    • The only reason to do this is to serve as a reminder, a future lesson
    (Genesis 19:26 [KJV])
    But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

    • Looking back means wanting to go back and can lead us back
    • Often the consequences of continuing in our former life are deadly, such as drugs, sex, violence, etc. DON'T LOOK BACK!
    • Perhaps her possessions were there, her friends, etc.
    • It would appear that her sons and sons-in-law are there, but either way, she was not to look back. Period. Jesus spoke a lot about all of this:
    • This salt would have melted to the ground, eventually.  God could have turned her into Granite or whatever He wanted to.
    • The "Dead" Sea is salt, where these two cities were.......she became part of that
    (Luke 17:31-33 [KJV])
    In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. Remember Lot's wife. Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. 

    (Luke 21:36 [KJV])
    Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. 

    (Matthew 10:37 [KJV])
    He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
    (Matthew 19:29 [KJV])
    And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. 

    (Genesis 19:27-28 [KJV])
    And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the LORD: And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace.

    • Abraham no doubt had a nice city view, prime real estate. Now he has a view of smoke, flames, ashes and the smell of death
    • All of this in one night, which shows that, when God withdraws His Hand of protection, destruction of the highest order is swift and complete.
    • We are ripe for this as well....

    • Killing babies no different from abortion, experts say Parents should be allowed to have their newborn babies killed because they are “morally irrelevant” and ending their lives is no different to abortion, a group of medical ethicists linked to Oxford University has argued.  

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9113394/Killing-babies-no-different-from-abortion-experts-say.html


    • It says that "newborn babies are not “actual persons” and do not have a “moral right to life”. 
    • The academics also argue that parents should be able to have their baby killed if it turns out to be disabled when it is born.
    • The journal’s editor, Prof Julian Savulescu, director of the Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics, said the article's authors had received death threats since publishing the article. 
    • He said those who made abusive and threatening posts about the study were “fanatics opposed to the very values of a liberal society”.
    • They argued: “The moral status of an infant is equivalent to that of a fetus in the sense that both lack those properties that justify the attribution of a right to life to an individual.”
    • Rather than being “actual persons”, newborns were “potential persons”. They explained: “Both a fetus and a newborn certainly are human beings and potential persons, but neither is a ‘person’ in the sense of ‘subject of a moral right to life’. 
    1. Their point:  BOTH are OK to murder
    2. God's point:  NEITHER are OK to murder


    (Genesis 19:29 [KJV])
    And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt.
    • It appears that God spared Lot for the sake of answering Abraham's questioning of how many righteous it would take-apparently there were not even ten
    • The answer was not even four, and then not even three, after Lot's wife was turned into a pillar of salt. God did not spare the city.
    • Abraham might have not known about Lot's state living there in that city, having presumably lost much contact with him since they parted company, relying instead on the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah's reputation through reports coming out of them
    (Genesis 19:30 [KJV])
    And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters.

    • Sometimes our first choice on where we want to go does not work out.
    • God always provides a way of escape
    (1 Corinthians 10:13 [KJV])
    There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear [it]. 

    (2 Peter 2:9 [KJV])-ON LOT
    The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: 

    (Genesis 19:31 [KJV])
    And the firstborn said unto the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth:

    • Having lost their spouses to the fire and brimstone, the daughters merely had to wait on God to bring new ones.
    • Most likely this was because they were so INfected and AFfected by their lives there that they could not wait and therefore resist anything to get children
    • Pretty sure "there is not a man in the earth" means "there is not a man close by us right this minute"
    (Genesis 19:32 [KJV])
    Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.

    • It may be that, living in Sodom, Lot's daughters saw a lot of things that made them inured to nakedness and fornication, since they were, according to Lot earlier, virgins: all that was required was glass windows, or getting out of the house, plus two eyes.
    (Genesis 19:8 [KJV])
    Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.
     

    (Genesis 19:33 [KJV])
    And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.

    • Failing to wait on God to bring new husbands, nor wanting to move away from the cave to live with Abraham again, they figure that the only way to have offspring is their way, not God's.
    • There is not a natural way to do this, since Lot feared God
    • How drunk do you have to get to "perceive not when she lay down, nor when she arose"?
    • Genesis 7:18-27, Noah got drunk also.
    • 2 Peter 2:7-8 may explain why he did not question the actual actions of the angels at all..........he knew that the cities were ripe for judgment.
    (2 Peter 2:7-8 [KJV])
    And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed [his] righteous soul from day to day with [their] unlawful deeds;)
    (Genesis 19:34 [KJV])
    And it came to pass on the morrow, that the firstborn said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.

    • As if the first time was not enough, they do it again, this time the same results
    • Lot never even realized this after the first night.
    • Perhaps he was way, way too intoxicated.
    • Who gets that drunk with their daughter and thinks it is OK?
    • Who gets that drunk with their daughter and thinks it is OK TWO NIGHTS IN A ROW???
    (Genesis 19:35 [KJV])
    And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger arose, and lay with him; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.

    • The result of not knowing what happened the first time is the second time.
    • Both parties are to blame here: Lot for allowing it ignorantly and the daughters for deliberately doing this evil deed.
    (Genesis 19:36 [KJV])
    Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father.

    • Both intended and unintended consequences are still consequences
    • This proves that when you push the envelope, God lets you get the results you thought you wanted.........you THOUGHT you wanted.
    (Genesis 19:37 [KJV])
    And the firstborn bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day.


    • The significance is that these groups of people are enemies to Israel in the future
    • One of them, Ruth, becomes part of the lineage of the Saviour to Israel, showing that even this God can use.
    (Ruth 4:10-22 [KJV])
    Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye [are] witnesses this day. And all the people that [were] in the gate, and the elders, said, [We are] witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem: And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which the LORD shall give thee of this young woman.
    So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son.And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed [be] the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel.
    And he shall be unto thee a restorer of [thy] life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him. And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it.
    And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he [is] the father of Jesse, the father of David.
    Now these [are] the generations of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron, And Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab, And Amminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat Salmon, And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed, And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.
     

    (Matthew 1:1-6 [KJV])
    The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren; And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram; And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon; And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her [that had been the wife] of Urias;
    (Genesis 19:38 [KJV])
    And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.


    • The Ammonites were giants as well 
    • The name of neither daughter, nor the sons, sons-in-laws, nor Lot's wife, are ever mentioned in Scripture.
    • The sons of the daughters, Moab, and Ammon are.
    • Solomon married an Ammonite, which led him astray
    (Deuteronomy 2:20-21 [KJV])
    (That also was accounted a land of giants: giants dwelt therein in old time; and the Ammonites call them Zamzummims; A people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakims; but the LORD destroyed them before them; and they succeeded them, and dwelt in their stead: SOLOMON
    (1 Kings 11:1-8 [KJV])
    But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, [and] Hittites;
    Of the nations [concerning] which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: [for] surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. 

    For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, [that] his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as [was] the heart of David his father. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as [did] David his father.
    Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that [is] before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.
    (Ezra 9:1 [KJV])
    Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, [doing] according to their abominations, [even] of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.
    (Nehemiah 4:7-8 [KJV])
    But it came to pass, [that] when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, [and] that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth, And conspired all of them together to come [and] to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.



    TWO LESSONS:
    • God cannot overthrow the righteous with the wicked
    • He does sometimes take home those He cannot use because of their sin, who no longer glorify Him, but the world and their flesh.

    Genesis Chapter 20

    Genesis Chapter 20


    (verse 20:1 [KJV])
    And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar.
    • The last thing Abraham was seen doing is watching Sodom and Gomorrah burn to ashes.
    (verse 20:2 [KJV])
    And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.
    • Abraham: Suffers from R.K.S. Repetitive Knucklehead Syndrome
    • Apparently Sarah is still a very good looking woman, even at her age!
    • Some things never change. This is a repeat of Egypt.
    (verse 20:3 [KJV])
    But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man's wife.
    • This is where we get the phrase, "Yer a dead man!"
    • This time God does not plague the household. He simply threatens Abimelech with death
    • God does not even tell Abimelech whose wife she is. Because in adultery it does not matter whose wife, just that it is someone's
    (verse 20:4 [KJV])
    But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation?
    • Abimelech talks right to the LORD
    • This is the same sort of plea that Abraham did with Sodom and Gomorrah
    • He knew that his death was the end of Gerar, or God also meant and said that afterwards, the consequences of this sin would spread to all of Gerar.
    (verse 20:5 [KJV])
    Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.
    • This time it appears that Sarah is conspiring in this lie also, not considering that perhaps Abimelech would take her to be his wife.
    • The last time we are told only Abraham said she was his sister

    (Genesis 12:19 [KJV])
    Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way.

    (verse 20:6 [KJV])
    And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.
    • Mercy is extended to Abimelech
    • It shows that there was no way of knowing outside of the LORD telling him that Sarah was Abraham's wife
    • The Glory is all God's, again.
    (verse 20:7 [KJV])
    Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.
    • Abraham is called a prophet here. He never told the future, which indicates that this is simply one who speaks the Word of God.
    • Abraham is also being called to pray for Abimelech, even though God promised that he would not die if he returned Sarah to Abraham
    • We are called to prayer to talk to God and agree with Him and His Will.
    • This is why in verse 4 he said, "wilt thou slay also a righteous nation?"
    (Psalms 105:8-16 [KJV])
    He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations. Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac; And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant: Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance: When they were but a few men in number; yea, very few, and strangers in it. When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people; He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes; Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm. Moreover he called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole staff of bread.



    (verse 20:8 [KJV])
    Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were sore afraid.

    • The fear of death has a way of waking people up sometimes.
    • This conversation with God apparently was at night, when he would have laid down with Sarah to have relations
    • He probably did not sleep well through the night.
    (verse 20:9-10 [KJV])
    Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done. And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing?
    • Very similar to Pharaoh's response
    • The What and the Why, and then the "Get out!"
    • God is rebuking Abraham through Abimelech. He can use anyone!
    (verse 12:18-19 [KJV])
    And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife? Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way. 



    (verse 20:11 [KJV])
    And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife's sake.
    • He basically tells Abimelech that he knows the culture of stealing the wife, killing the husband.
    • This was apparently a widespread custom and common knowledge then.
    • Last time he was simply caught and told to leave.
    • This time he has to explain his reasoning to his accuser-then leave!
    • His reason is at least the same as the first time
    (verse 12:11-13 [KJV])
    And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon: Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive. Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.



    (verse 20:12 [KJV])
    And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.

      "You're right! She is my sister, but only my half sister."
    (verse 20:13 [KJV])
    And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father's house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt shew unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother.
    • The kindness is that Sarah is to lie and (if God does not intervene) expose herself to Abimelech's advances
    • The kindness of Abraham is to ask this of her........
    (verse 20:14 [KJV])
    And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and womenservants, and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife.
    • The same end result as with Egypt.
    • Mercifully, God in His Sovereign Future Plan for Israel lets Abraham go unscathed............again.
    (verse 20:15 [KJV])
    And Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee.
    • Again, this has to be from God, since Abraham has done so much damage to his own reputation that, without God, he himself would be "a dead man"
    *******************************

    (verse 20:16 [KJV])
    And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other: thus she was reproved. 


    This is not turned down by Abraham, maybe because he felt so bad, or was embarrassed or ashamed or even afraid.

    (verse 20:17 [KJV])
    So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.
    • God is merciful and gracious. He healed Abimelech's house and gave him children. This may have been an additional reason why Abimelech took Sarah as his wife. He could not have children with his current wife.
    • This shows that Abimelech was obedient and either did ask Abraham to pray for him, or God simply laid it upon Abraham's heart to pray for him. " and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live" (v.7)
    (verse 20:18 [KJV])
    For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham's wife.
    • The consequences of sin are often widespread to others innocent of that sin.
    • This model is throughout Scripture, cover to cover.


    Genesis Chapter 21


    Genesis Chapter 21

    (Genesis 21:1 [KJV])
    And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken.
    • Finally, promise fulfilled!
    • "as he had said" is an understatement
    • God always delivers on His promises. Always.
    • God "visits" to give children infrequently in the Scriptures


    (1 Samuel 2:21 [KJV])
    And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the LORD.


    LUKE 1:5-20

    (Genesis 15:4 [KJV])
    And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.

    (Genesis 17:15-16, 19 [KJV])And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be. And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.... And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.
    (Genesis 18:10 [KJV])And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.

    (Genesis 18:14 [KJV])Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.


    (Genesis 21:2 [KJV])
    For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.
    • Abraham is old and older now
    • This is the time God meant
    • She bore ABRAHAM a son vs. she herself had a son
    (Genesis 21:3 [KJV])
    And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.
    • The real laugh is now on Sarah and Abraham
    • Outside of Christ, the birth of Isaac is probably the most expected, hoped for, waited for, anticipated birth ever in the history of mankind.
    • Previously, for Ishmael, God did not say "that was born unto him"
    • He is "born unto Abraham", Sarah "bare to him"
    (Genesis 16:15 [KJV])
    And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son's name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael.
    (Genesis 21:4 [KJV])
    And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him.
    • Abraham's obedience: It's been too long to mess this part up!
    • "His son" again is repeated
     (Genesis 21:5 [KJV])
    And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him.
    • "born unto him" is repeated
    • This is truly a miracle baby, on purpose
    • Isaac is a type of Christ: both births are humanly impossible
    ISAAC AS A TYPE OF CHRIST
    1. Abraham was "as good as dead". Joseph was not even involved
    2. Sarah was past childbearing years; Mary a virgin
    3. Isaac was promised; Jesus was promised
    4. Isaac was offered up in sacrifice but not sacrificed; Jesus was offered up as a sacrifice and crucified
    5. Both carried the wood to their place of sacrifice
    6. Both are children of faith
    7. Both mothers were doubting
    8. Both were named ahead of time
    9. The enemy tried to destroy the Plan of God before, during and after the births
    10. Sarah and Mary both believed God in the end
    11. Both sets of parents were given the child's name beforehand
    THE QUESTIONING OF SARAH AND MARY
    (Genesis 18:12 [KJV])
    Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?

     (Luke 1:34 [KJV])
    Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
     THE FAITH OF SARAH AND MARY
     (Hebrews 11:11 [KJV])
    Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
    (Luke 1:38 [KJV])
    And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

    THE FAITH OF ABRAHAM AND JOSEPH
    (Romans 4:17-19 [KJV])
    (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb:

    (Hebrews 11:12 [KJV])
    Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

    (Matthew 1:18-25 [KJV])
    Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
    Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.
    But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
    And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
    (Genesis 21:6 [KJV])
    And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.
    • Amazing how that story today is still told, the name, the account-and people still laugh!
    (Genesis 21:7 [KJV])
    And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age.
    • Not only was Abraham too old, but his wife was even worse off, being past her childbearing years
    • All according to the plan of God
    • Abraham had six other sons with Keturah after Sarah died (Genesis 25:2)
    • Sarah further indicates that she will also be breastfeeding!
    (Genesis 21:8 [KJV])
    And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned.
    • Isaac was for sure a loved boy
    • He was raised in the way of righteousness
    • This sort of celebration would have included everyone in Abraham's life, from family, to servants, to neighbors
    • The neighbors were also Philistines (21:34, below)
    THE LORD OF ABRAHAM, OVERLOOKING SODOM
    (Genesis 18:19 [KJV])
    For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

    (Genesis 21:9 [KJV])
    And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.
    • Ishmael is the firstborn son and sixteen years old by now, a typical teenager
    • Often the oldest boy is spoiled
    • He was an only child as well, so Isaac is his first competition for affection
    • In addition to this, Isaac is only his HALF-brother, he may not have had Sarah as his mother, but he DID have Abraham as his father and Hagar as his mother. 
    • Natural resentment and jealousy always builds.
    • Earlier Sarah was resentful of his mom, Hagar
    • Now the reverse has happened, but with the same reaction from Sarah...
    • This is why Ishmael is the child of the flesh.........because he hates the idea that Isaac is the child of the promise and he is not. He wants his will done, not God's.
    • Perhaps Abraham was so good a father that Ishmael did not want to lose him in any way.

    (Luke 22:42 [KJV])
    Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
    (Genesis 21:10 [KJV])
    Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.
    • This is the age old struggle with Israel and her eventual enemies
    • Ishmael is now a nobody in here eyes
    • This is the child she forced on Abraham
    • This is early but the decision is already coming back to bite here with the mocking.
    • This is not just about not being an heir...........she wanted distance between them. He could have not been an heir and stayed there.
    • Sarah was not a bondwoman, but a free woman, her son being a type of Christ who is of faith and frees us
    • Hagar was a bondwoman, whose child is of the flesh and not of faith, and which enslaves us
    • As God commanded Abraham this time to obey Sarah, it is for the purpose of casting out the flesh and keeping the child of the promise of God, of faith.
    • This is also God's command to us-cast out the flesh, let in the faith.
    • The second part of the verse shows Sarah's disdain for Ishmael, since she is very adamant that Ishmael will not have any part of the inheritance, the promise of God to Isaac
    THE BONDWOMAN, HAGAR

    (Genesis 21:10 [KJV])
    Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.
     (Genesis 21:12 [KJV])
    And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
     (Genesis 21:13 [KJV])And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed.

    (Galatians 4:23 [KJV])
    But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.

    (Galatians 4:30-31 [KJV])
    Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.


    ISAAC, NOT ISHMAEL


    ISHMAEL
    3 times chapter 16
    5 times chapter 17
    POST ISAAC 2 times chapter 25--Genesis 25:9, 25:12
    Mostly referred to as "the child", "the boy", "the lad" after that.


    ISAAC
    123 times Genesis-James 2:21,
    Isaac is called out by name throughout.
    Genesis 17:19 ISAAC is first used and 74 times total in Genesis alone, vs. 10 for Ishmael, whose name is ONLY in Genesis
    Do a search for Isaac and read every verse

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    (Romans 9:7 [KJV])
    Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
    (Hebrews 11:18 [KJV])
    Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: ******************************************
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    (Genesis 21:11 [KJV])
    And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son.
    • His wife telling him to throw out his son probably bothered Abraham greatly
    • Regardless of how a child is born, God loves that child and expects its parents to love it also
    • He may have not been Sarah's son, but he was in fact Abraham's
    (Genesis 21:12 [KJV])
    And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
    • God most likely knew that Isaac would be persecuted as an innocent lad, as Israel is today, and Ishmael would grow into a threat.
    • Notice here Abraham is told to "hearken unto her (Sarah) voice"........meaning no trouble for him this time!
    • Letting Ishmael go away was the solution, and a way to fulfill the "great nations" prophecy
    • These great nations, if left with Isaac in direct contact, would become a direct contact warring faction in close proximity
    • It was absolutely impossible, we know today, for them to exist side by side
    (Genesis 17:18 [KJV])
    And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!
    • To this day, there is no human solution in the war in the Middle East against God's chosen people, Israel. We are all still in Abraham's shoes
    • Love your enemies, even though they hate you and want you dead, applies to the church and Israel
    • Israel is today still surrounded by "great nations" of enemies, descendants of Ishmael
    • The nation of Abraham and Isaac (and later Jacob, Israel) is still God's chosen people of great and precious promises.
    • Israel's enemies constantly war against her, killing innocents, building up arms, and want her annihilated permanently, forever
    • The world still tries to make peace between the sides, without success
    • This is also the story of ourselves: The flesh and the Spirit
    • Comparing this to sin, we must cast it off, cast it out.
    The Lesson: There was then for Abraham, no human solution. Ishmael was his son, and not Sarah's his wife's. Sarah had the resentment, but Abraham did not:

    (Galatians 4:21-31 [KJV])
    Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

    (Genesis 21:13 [KJV])
    And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed.
    • The fleshy people of the world outnumber the people of faith, the Christians, many times over. Some things never change.
    • The enemies of Israel, surrounding the nation of Israel, outnumber the people of Israel many times over, still today.
    (Genesis 17:20 [KJV])
    And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.
    (Genesis 21:14 [KJV])
    And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.
    • Hot desert, hot wilderness
    • Food and water, a little provisions
    • No word on if he gave her any money
    • Only place she knew to go back to was Egypt
    • Ultimately though, Ishmael being the representation of the flesh, works and the law today as Islamic Republics, must be separated from the child of Promise, of Grace and Faith-Isaac.
    • The same can be said for Hagar, the woman of the flesh and Sarah, the woman of faith.
    (Genesis 21:15 [KJV])
    And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs.
    • Water is everything, physically and spiritually
    • You can go a long time without food
    • Abraham was rich, but gave them so little to subsist on. Perhaps he believed God's promise of making Ishmael a great nation, like he believe with Isaac being born and will soon believe when asked to offer him as a sacrifice.
    • In the desert, most is three days without water.
    • God is everyone's Living Water: Jew, Gentile, Egyptian, Samaritan
    • At the very least he had some shade, for now.
    THE REAL LIVING WATER: JESUS
    (Jeremiah 17:13 [KJV])
    O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters.

    (Zechariah 14:8 [KJV])
    And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be.

    (John 4:10 [KJV])
    Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

    (John 7:38 [KJV])
    He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
    (Genesis 21:16 [KJV])
    And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept.
    • A mother would never want to see her child die
    • It is obvious in the human realm that death was certain and imminent
    • In the desert with no living water is where God finds us and we can know the source of our water.
    (Genesis 21:17 [KJV])
    And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.
    • The mother cried, but God heard Ishmael.
    • This has to have been comforting to Hagar
    • She has heretofore heard about or heard God talking to Abraham and Sarah so she probably did not expect to hear directly from Him any longer
    • Sarah had earlier (chapter 16) kicked Hagar out after Ishmael was born, but God personally spoke to her to tell her to return to Sarah
    (2 Corinthians 1:3-6 [KJV])
    Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
    (Genesis 21:18 [KJV])
    Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation.
    • Stand up
    • Have personal touch
    • Believe the promise
    • God asks the same of us
    •   Stand
    •   Touch the LORD Jesus Christ
    •   Believe
    STAND
    (Ephesians 6:11, 13-14 [KJV])
    Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil...

    ...Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

    TOUCH
    (Matthew 9:20 [KJV])
    And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:
    (Matthew 14:36 [KJV])
    And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.


    BELIEVE
    (Acts 16:31 [KJV])
    And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
    (Acts 19:4 [KJV])
    Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

    (Genesis 21:19 [KJV])
    And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.
    • Sometimes the answer is right with us, but because of our lack of faith, we never even see it.
    • God opens eyes to His provisions and Himself
    (Genesis 21:20-21 [KJV])
    And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer. And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran: and his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt.
    • Out of all of the things promised to Hagar in regards to the lad, the best was the fact that "God was with the lad"
    • The return to Egypt to live and find Ishmael a wife is why there is such an abundance of Israel haters there today, surrounding her, wanting to wipe her out.
    (Genesis 21:22 [KJV])
    And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest:
    • For someone who is an unbeliever to say that to a believer, there has to be something visible in their life
    • Most likely he is looking at the abundance of riches in the physical realm Abraham had.
    • He also has to have heard of his exploits over the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah and the rescue of Lot.
    (Genesis 21:23 [KJV])
    Now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son's son: but according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned.
    • The above is clear because he may not trust Abraham and his descendants to be a good neighbor
    • The same outward appearance of the abundance of physical blessings can be said of some mega-churches today. The world does not (rightly) trust them to do right, but they do see the physical, earthly riches that they possess.
    (Genesis 21:24 [KJV])
    And Abraham said, I will swear.
    • Very short sentence, very certain answer. It was all he had to do and his word was apparently immediately accepted
    (Genesis 21:25 [KJV])
    And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech's servants had violently taken away.
    • Often, when people go around not trusting all or many other people, it is simply because they themselves are shifty in some way.
    • Stealing water is like stealing life itself. Wells of water were and still are scarce in the Middle East.
    • The well had been dug by Abraham (v.30) anyways
    (Genesis 21:26 [KJV])
    And Abimelech said, I wot not who hath done this thing: neither didst thou tell me, neither yet heard I of it, but to day.
    • It may be that he did not know because his servants did not ever tell him what they were doing
    • Abraham will have to trust God to protect him during this time
    (Genesis 21:27 [KJV])
    And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and both of them made a covenant.
    • It may be that they did the same thing that God did with him, split the animals and this time, walked through the middle to affirm the covenant.
    • This was a portion of the gift that Abimelech had given Abraham earlier
    (Genesis 21:28-29 [KJV])
    And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves. And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by themselves?
    • Seven is the perfect number
    • This was perfect confirmation and a contract to be complete
    (Genesis 21:30 [KJV])
    And he said, For these seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well.
    • This was to prevent any and all future disputes
    (Genesis 21:31 [KJV])
    Wherefore he called that place Beersheba; because there they sware both of them.
    • Beersheba means "the well of the earth" or "the well of the oath" or "the well of the many"
    • It is possible that Abraham wanted to even share this, just not have it taken by force and removed from himself.
    • “well of the seven,” where there are to the present day two principal wells and five smaller ones. It is nearly midway between the southern end of the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean."
    (Genesis 21:32 [KJV])
    Thus they made a covenant at Beersheba: then Abimelech rose up, and Phichol the chief captain of his host, and they returned into the land of the Philistines.
    • Isaac returned here later on and tried to reopen the wells.
    • The peace with Abraham and the Philistines was apparently not transferable to Isaac
    (Genesis 26:15-16 [KJV])
    For all the wells which his father's servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth. And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we.
    http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/vie/Beersheba.html
    (Genesis 21:33 [KJV])
    And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God.
    • A good use for water is to appreciate it and thank God for it
    (Genesis 21:34 [KJV])
    And Abraham sojourned in the Philistines' land many days.
    • As long as he was not in Egypt, he was in God's will
    • Everyone has to live some place
    • Every place was enemy territory before they had a homeland
    • We are all sojourners on this planet
    • They as a group were already strangers in Egypt as it was
    (Exodus 22:21 [KJV])
    Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.


    (1 Peter 2:11 [KJV])
    Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;


    (Hebrews 11:13-16 [KJV])
    These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.