Day 6
Genesis 11:10-13:18
(11:10-32 | 12 | 13)
It must be nice, as a Biblical translator, when you come across passages like Genesis 11:12-26. Verses 12-26 follow pretty much exactly the same format in chunks of two verses. The only exception is verse 26, which only deviates slightly, and doesn't have a partner verse. These verses detail the descendants of Shem, Noah's son, and show the direct line between him and Abram. From this point on, the focus shifts on to Abram who, along with his nephew Lot, his wife Sarai, and his father Terah, settled together in a place called Haran.
At the start of chapter 12, two things happened to Abram. Firstly, he was called by God to leave his father's household in Haran and to just go wherever God told him. Secondly, he was made two incredible promises by God; 1) "I will make you into a great nation" (v. 2), and; 2) "To your offspring I will give this land" (v. 7). Now by this stage, Abram was 75 years old (v. 4) and Sarai was barren (11:30). Their chances of having children were not good. So when God promised to make Abram a great nation, and to give the land of Canaan to his offspring, he probably took some notice.
Moving on to the second part of the chapter, when Abram and Sarai were travelling through Egypt. Abram feared that the local population would kill him and take his wife because she was so beautiful. So in order to keep himself alive, Abram asks Sarai to tell everyone they're brother and sister. The Egyptians fall for it, and treat Abram well for Sarai's sake. Pharaoh wants to take her as his wife. Luckily, God intervenes, and Pharaoh learns of the deception. When Abram acted out of self-interest and self-preservation, he nearly caused two people to dishonour him, each other and God. Perhaps Abram should have had faith that God would have the situation under control and told the truth from the start.
In chapter 13, God makes Abram another incredible promise. When Abram and Lot realise that their respective possessions and entourages were too large to be able to occupy the same land, they decide to part ways. Once Abram and Lot part, the LORD tells Abram "I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted." Abram and Sarai are still childless at this point, so for Abram to have even one descendant would have seemed incredible. I doubt Abram really understood the scale of what God was promising him that day. God wasn't just promising him one child, but that would have been enough.
Matthew 5:21-42
(5:21-42)
On the surface, this passage is just about how to avoid sinning against others. But it is also very counter-cultural. It is tackling unhealthy contemporary practices, an I think a lot of the advice is still relevant for today. Take a look for yourself and see what you think.
Psalm 5:1-12
(5)
David is still in a period where he is under attack from his enemies. He asks simply that those who love the LORD be blessed and under his protection. He also asks that God does something with his enemies; the people who are after David are also enemies of the LORD. The last few psalms have been odd for me because I struggle to relate to David's situation of having actual physical enemies. While I can appreciate the spiritual aspect, I can't appreciate the need he has for something to be done in the physical. One thing does strike me though, and this is verse 3; "In the morning, I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation." David isn't just writing these as throw-away prayers. He isn't just writing for the fun of it, he genuinely believes that God will come and deliver him from his enemies. He not only believes, but he expects it to happen. It's easy to say you expect something to happen when you prayer. However, expectation is different in your heart to in your head. I find David's faith staggering and a little bit inspiring.
Genesis 11:10-13:18
(11:10-32 | 12 | 13)
It must be nice, as a Biblical translator, when you come across passages like Genesis 11:12-26. Verses 12-26 follow pretty much exactly the same format in chunks of two verses. The only exception is verse 26, which only deviates slightly, and doesn't have a partner verse. These verses detail the descendants of Shem, Noah's son, and show the direct line between him and Abram. From this point on, the focus shifts on to Abram who, along with his nephew Lot, his wife Sarai, and his father Terah, settled together in a place called Haran.
At the start of chapter 12, two things happened to Abram. Firstly, he was called by God to leave his father's household in Haran and to just go wherever God told him. Secondly, he was made two incredible promises by God; 1) "I will make you into a great nation" (v. 2), and; 2) "To your offspring I will give this land" (v. 7). Now by this stage, Abram was 75 years old (v. 4) and Sarai was barren (11:30). Their chances of having children were not good. So when God promised to make Abram a great nation, and to give the land of Canaan to his offspring, he probably took some notice.
Moving on to the second part of the chapter, when Abram and Sarai were travelling through Egypt. Abram feared that the local population would kill him and take his wife because she was so beautiful. So in order to keep himself alive, Abram asks Sarai to tell everyone they're brother and sister. The Egyptians fall for it, and treat Abram well for Sarai's sake. Pharaoh wants to take her as his wife. Luckily, God intervenes, and Pharaoh learns of the deception. When Abram acted out of self-interest and self-preservation, he nearly caused two people to dishonour him, each other and God. Perhaps Abram should have had faith that God would have the situation under control and told the truth from the start.
In chapter 13, God makes Abram another incredible promise. When Abram and Lot realise that their respective possessions and entourages were too large to be able to occupy the same land, they decide to part ways. Once Abram and Lot part, the LORD tells Abram "I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted." Abram and Sarai are still childless at this point, so for Abram to have even one descendant would have seemed incredible. I doubt Abram really understood the scale of what God was promising him that day. God wasn't just promising him one child, but that would have been enough.
Matthew 5:21-42
(5:21-42)
On the surface, this passage is just about how to avoid sinning against others. But it is also very counter-cultural. It is tackling unhealthy contemporary practices, an I think a lot of the advice is still relevant for today. Take a look for yourself and see what you think.
Psalm 5:1-12
(5)
David is still in a period where he is under attack from his enemies. He asks simply that those who love the LORD be blessed and under his protection. He also asks that God does something with his enemies; the people who are after David are also enemies of the LORD. The last few psalms have been odd for me because I struggle to relate to David's situation of having actual physical enemies. While I can appreciate the spiritual aspect, I can't appreciate the need he has for something to be done in the physical. One thing does strike me though, and this is verse 3; "In the morning, I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation." David isn't just writing these as throw-away prayers. He isn't just writing for the fun of it, he genuinely believes that God will come and deliver him from his enemies. He not only believes, but he expects it to happen. It's easy to say you expect something to happen when you prayer. However, expectation is different in your heart to in your head. I find David's faith staggering and a little bit inspiring.
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