Episode 293 - "Family drama for Jacob" - Genesis 30:1-24

Last week’s episode was the story of how Jacob got two wives when he only wanted one. He loved his uncle Laban’s youngest daughter, Rachel, and readily agreed to work seven years for his uncle in order to marry her. But on the night of the wedding, Laban brought his older, less attractive, daughter Leah to the bridal chamber, and Jacob consummated the marriage without knowledge of the deceptive switch until the next day. Laban argued that it was customary to marry off the oldest daughter first. It’s interesting that he failed to mention that to Jacob when Jacob first agreed to work for Laban for seven years. But out of the kindness of Laban’s heart, he suggested that he would allow Jacob to also marry Rachel the following week, provided that Jacob would work another seven years for Laban. Jacob agreed.

We concluded the episode after reading that the LORD opened Leah’s womb and she had four sons with Jacob, but Rachel was barren. Understand the significance of that. The unloved wife had four sons, and the one Jacob loved had none. You can only imagine the tension that would develop between the sisters. So, as we pick up the story this week where we left off, we no longer have to imagine. The conflicts come to a head.

Let’s read the Scripture. Note: As sons are born, Leah and Rachel appear to give a reason why they gave their sons the names we see. Each of those reasons contains a word which, in the Hebrew language, the name of the son sounds like that word.

Gen. 30:1 When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she envied her sister. She said to Jacob, “Give me children, or I shall die!” 2 Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel, and he said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?” 3 Then she said, “Here is my servant Bilhah; go in to her, so that she may give birth on my behalf, that even I may have children through her.” 4 So she gave him her servant Bilhah as a wife, and Jacob went in to her. 5 And Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son. 6 Then Rachel said, “God has judged me, and has also heard my voice and given me a son.” Therefore she called his name Dan. 7 Rachel’s servant Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. 8 Then Rachel said, “With mighty wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister and have prevailed.” So she called his name Naphtali.

Gen. 30:9 When Leah saw that she had ceased bearing children, she took her servant Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as a wife. 10 Then Leah’s servant Zilpah bore Jacob a son. 11 And Leah said, “Good fortune has come!” so she called his name Gad. 12 Leah’s servant Zilpah bore Jacob a second son. 13 And Leah said, “Happy am I! For women have called me happy.” So she called his name Asher.

Gen. 30:14 In the days of wheat harvest Reuben went and found mandrakes in the field and brought them to his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.” 15 But she said to her, “Is it a small matter that you have taken away my husband? Would you take away my son’s mandrakes also?” Rachel said, “Then he may lie with you tonight in exchange for your son’s mandrakes.” 16 When Jacob came from the field in the evening, Leah went out to meet him and said, “You must come in to me, for I have hired you with my son’s mandrakes.” So he lay with her that night. 17 And God listened to Leah, and she conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son. 18 Leah said, “God has given me my wages because I gave my servant to my husband.” So she called his name Issachar.

Gen. 30:19 And Leah conceived again, and she bore Jacob a sixth son. 20 Then Leah said, “God has endowed me with a good endowment; now my husband will honor me, because I have borne him six sons.” So she called his name Zebulun. 21 Afterward she bore a daughter and called her name Dinah.

Gen. 30:22 Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb. 23 She conceived and bore a son and said, “God has taken away my reproach.” 24 And she called his name Joseph, saying, “May the LORD add to me another son!”

We’d finished the last episode after Leah had given Jacob his fourth son, and Rachel was still barren. What is already evident is that Leah is distraught over the fact that Jacob doesn’t love her like he loves Rachel, and she thinks that her success in bearing him sons will draw his affections to her. Rachel is distraught over the fact that she has not had any children, and she essentially blames it on Jacob. Jacob, who has not had a history of strong faith in God, responds, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?” (Gen 30:2). I must admit that Jacob’s response reminded me of how easy it is for us to put ourselves in the place of God when it’s convenient, but we quickly absolve ourselves of that when things aren’t working out as we would like. The fact of the matter is that Jacob’s response is spot on. He is not in the place of God, and neither is Rachel. I think there’s a truth there that Jacob and Rachel need to learn to seek the LORD and trust in him.

The drama builds when Rachel gives her servant Bilhah to Jacob to have children by her. We saw how Sarah’s plan to do this to provide offspring for Abraham backfired, and the reader should probably be thinking, “Oh . . not again.” Bilhad gives Jacob two sons. But now Leah, who had stopped conceiving, was not going to be outmaneuvered by her sister; she gave her servant Zilpah to Jacob, and two more sons were born.

Just when you thought the drama couldn’t get any hotter, Rachel agreed to let Jacob sleep with Leah one night in exchange for some mandrakes that Leah’s son Reuben had gathered. Apparently, these are roots and may have been believed to help with fertility, which would explain why Rachel was so eager to get some. We’re not sure why Reuben would have gathered them. Anyway, how pathetic that Jacob’s attention was the object of a barter. Moses wrote that God heard Leah and opened her womb, and she conceived a fifth and sixth son. Leah then had a daughter named Dinah. She will be the center of another story soon to come.

Finally, in verse 22, we read that God remembered Rachel, heard her prayers, and opened her womb. She conceived and bore a son, whom she named Joseph. She gave thanks to the LORD and asked for another one.

The count of the sons between Leah, Rachel, and their servants is eleven. The story of Jacob’s children pauses there. But we’ll soon read about the next family drama.

As always, I believe the important question we should answer is, “Why is this here?” Since Moses is writing this specifically to the descendants of these children born to Jacob and his wives, and he’s writing it at a time when they are about to enter the Promised Land, Moses is writing this story to remind them that the LORD is in control. They can make decisions and go about their lives. But reflecting back to Jacob’s words to Rachel that he was not in the place of God to control things. Yet, God was present and he heard Rachel and was compassionate to her inability to have children. He did what no human could do and made it possible for her to have a son. The LORD was also empathetic to Leah’s grief that Jacob did not love her like he loved Rachel. These truths are essential for all of us to learn. The LORD is compassionate, and he is in control. May we learn to trust him in all things.

Episode 292 - Jacob gets out-Jacobed - Genesis 29

Gen. 29:1 Then Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the people of the east. 2 As he looked, he saw a well in the field, and behold, three flocks of sheep lying beside it, for out of that well the flocks were watered. The stone on the well’s mouth was large, 3 and when all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone from the mouth of the well and water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place over the mouth of the well.

Gen. 29:4 Jacob said to them, “My brothers, where do you come from?” They said, “We are from Haran.” 5 He said to them, “Do you know Laban the son of Nahor?” They said, “We know him.” 6 He said to them, “Is it well with him?” They said, “It is well; and see, Rachel his daughter is coming with the sheep!” 7 He said, “Behold, it is still high day; it is not time for the livestock to be gathered together. Water the sheep and go, pasture them.” 8 But they said, “We cannot until all the flocks are gathered together and the stone is rolled from the mouth of the well; then we water the sheep.”

Gen. 29:9 While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess. 10 Now as soon as Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, Jacob came near and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother. 11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept aloud. 12 And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s kinsman, and that he was Rebekah’s son, and she ran and told her father.

Gen. 29:13 As soon as Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister’s son, he ran to meet him and embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban all these things, 14 and Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh!” And he stayed with him a month.

Gen. 29:15 Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?” 16 Now Laban had two daughters. The name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance. 18 Jacob loved Rachel. And he said, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.” 19 Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; stay with me.” 20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.

Gen. 29:21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my time is completed.” 22 So Laban gathered together all the people of the place and made a feast. 23 But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and he went in to her. 24 (Laban gave his female servant Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her servant.) 25 And in the morning, behold, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?” 26 Laban said, “It is not so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn. 27 Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years.” 28 Jacob did so, and completed her week. Then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife. 29 (Laban gave his female servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her servant.) 30 So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served Laban for another seven years.

Gen. 29:31 When the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. 32 And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben, for she said, “Because the LORD has looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.” 33 She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because the LORD has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also.” And she called his name Simeon. 34 Again she conceived and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will be attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi. 35 And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “This time I will praise the LORD.” Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she ceased bearing.

“Little” details in biblical stories are often significant. Otherwise, why would the author write the details? As this story of Jacob’s approach to his destination unfolds, we’re told about the well and the large stone that covered the mouth of the well. Some people interpret this to suggest that all the shepherds at the well were, collectively, unable to move the stone. Yet, Jacob’s ability to move it himself was evidence that God was with Jacob and gave him the strength to move the stone himself. I would concede that’s a possibility. But let’s look at the story as a whole and see if there’s another possibility.

After Moses provided the seemingly pointless details about the shepherds, the well, and the stone that covers it, he records that Jacob inquired about Laban. The shepherds state that they know him, that he is well, and (drum roll) here comes his daughter. Jacob’s response to this in verse 7 is essentially, “Hey guys! Why don’t you water your sheep and get lost?” It seems to me that Jacob wants them to leave so he can “move in on” Laban’s daughter. But the shepherds respond to Jacob that the custom is to wait until all the flocks are present and they all get watered together. We aren’t told why this is. Perhaps it’s an accounting to make sure that everyone is ok. If a shepherd or shepherdess doesn’t show up within a reasonable amount of time, someone will know to go looking for them.

What happens after that is that Jacob is not concerned about the custom. When Rachel arrived, he rolled the stone away, watered her sheep, and revealed his identity to her. He is then united with Laban and the family and stays with them a month. After that month, Laban proposed a working arrangement with Jacob and asked him what Jacob would want in return for working for his uncle. Jacob asked to serve Laban for seven years, and in exchange he would marry Rachel, Laban’s younger of the two daughters. Moses tells the reader in verse 17, “Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance.” This detail sets the tone for the rest of the story. It shows the contrast of the two daughters that draws Jacob’s attention to Rachel, and it leads the reader’s imagination to a possible or potential rivalry. Laban agreed to this deal.

After seven years of service, there was a wedding. But Laban put Leah in the bride chamber instead of Rachel, and Jacob unknowingly consummated the marriage with Leah. He was unaware of this switch until the next day, when it was light. Jacob had been “out-Jacobed.” Laban gave the excuse that it was not customary to marry off the younger daughter before the older one. Then, Laban told Jacob that after the wedding ceremony was over, Jacob could marry Rachel in return for another seven years of service. Jacob got married twice within just over a week. Laban was truly more of the master manipulator between the two. Yet, Jacob agreed.

After this, we see how Jacob’s love and attention to Rachel created a rivalry between the sisters. Moses wrote that the LORD opened Leah’s womb because he saw that she was “hated.” Therefore, the LORD gave her four consecutive sons while Rachel was barren.

This is a story about the LORD fulfilling his promises to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and their descendants. Yet there are things this story reveals about the LORD that we can learn that may help guide and feed our faith. For one, the LORD doesn’t always intervene in the actions of fallen and self-serving people to stop them from doing stupid and sinful things. Yet, he may intervene at times to remind people that he loves them, even if they are not receiving affection from those of whom they would expect it. This story also manifests that the LORD will accomplish his will and fulfill his promises in spite of ourselves. I am reminded of Paul’s words in Romans 8:28 “For we know that God works all things together for good to those who love the LORD and are called according to his promise.” Laban, Jacob, Rachel, and Leah all have things to learn about the LORD. The LORD patiently and sovereignly works to reveal to them and, indirectly, to each reader of this story, that he is both a good and great God.

Episode 291 - "Jacob's dream" Genesis 28:10-22

Gen. 28:10 Jacob left Beersheba and went toward Haran. 11 And he came to a certain place and stayed there that night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place to sleep. 12 And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! 13 And behold, the LORD stood above it and said, “I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. 14 Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 15 Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” 16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.” 17 And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”

Gen. 28:18 So early in the morning Jacob took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it. 19 He called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of the city was Luz at the first. 20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, 21 so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God, 22 and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God’s house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.”

We pick this story up as Jacob left home in a north-northeastern direction. He is leaving his home before his father Isaac dies, and Esau carries out his threat to kill Jacob for stealing his blessing from Isaac. The plan is to go where his extended family lives to find a wife. At some point, he lay down to sleep for the night and had a dream. The dream was of a ladder between heaven and earth on which angels were going up and down between heaven and earth. At the top stood the LORD, who spoke to Jacob. The first thing he said was, “I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac.” (v. 13) This is important because, first of all, when Isaac had asked Jacob (thinking he was Esau) how he got the meat so quickly, Jacob replied, “The LORD your God granted me success” (Gen. 27:20). Notice that this response speaks more about Jacob’s lack of faith rather than an expression of faith. Secondly, despite Jacob’s apparent reluctance to trust in Isaac’s God, Isaac prays for him upon his departure that God will bless him and give him the promise of the Abrahamic Covenant. So, God ensured that Jacob understood who was speaking to him in this dream.

This introduction is followed by a promise to confer upon Jacob the promises of the covenant the LORD made with his grandfather Abraham and to Isaac, his father.

Why would God appear to someone he knew did not trust him? Furthermore, why would he promise to bless and protect that person? It must be that God knew something that Jacob did not yet understand. God had a plan and assured Jacob that he would fulfill that promise. This dream is so amazing that Jacob woke up. But Jacob didn’t do what we might expect. He didn’t dismiss it as a wild dream irrelevant to reality.

This dream got Jacob’s attention. Jacob’s response to this revelation is one of beginning faith. He believes the LORD was present and that he has just had a very special encounter with the God of his father and grandfather.

In the morning, Jacob had not rationalized away the experience. Instead, Jacob memorialized this place and named it Bethel, meaning “house of El (God).” He then vowed that if the LORD did everything he said he would, “Then the LORD will be my God” (Gen. 28:21). The LORD’s revelation through this dream had ignited in Jacob a fire of faith in the LORD.

What is it about this story that impresses me? This story reveals that Jacob is human. We can identify with someone who is capable of making all kinds of schemes to get what we want. We can empathize with him when the LORD was simply Isaac’s God, but Jacob had his doubts. I’m also impressed that the LORD understood all of that and was so patient with Jacob, and then revealed himself and made him promises before Jacob had turned the corner. Finally, I love Jacob’s positive move toward the LORD after the LORD revealed himself in the dream. I want to be as excited as Jacob when I have those moments of understanding how God has revealed himself and graciously draws me to him.

Episode 290 - "Jacob's obedience and Esau's spite" - Genesis 28:1-9

Gen. 28:1 Then Isaac called Jacob and blessed him and directed him, “You must not take a wife from the Canaanite women. 2 Arise, go to Paddan-aram to the house of Bethuel your mother’s father, and take as your wife from there one of the daughters of Laban your mother’s brother. 3 God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, that you may become a company of peoples. 4 May he give the blessing of Abraham to you and to your offspring with you, that you may take possession of the land of your sojournings that God gave to Abraham!” 5 Thus Isaac sent Jacob away. And he went to Paddan-aram, to Laban, the son of Bethuel the Aramean, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob’s and Esau’s mother.

Gen. 28:6 Now Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Paddan-aram to take a wife from there, and that as he blessed him he directed him, “You must not take a wife from the Canaanite women,” 7 and that Jacob had obeyed his father and his mother and gone to Paddan-aram. 8 So when Esau saw that the Canaanite women did not please Isaac his father, 9 Esau went to Ishmael and took as his wife, besides the wives he had, Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, the sister of Nebaioth.

I don’t know about you. But Isaac seemed pretty upset when he realized that Jacob had deceived him, causing him to give Jacob the blessing he intended to give Esau. Yet, in this segment, Jacob appears to have a “What’s done is done” attitude. There’s no apparent conflict between Isaac and Rebekah for her part in the scheme. Of course, I’m assuming that Isaac knew Rebekah had a part in the deception. More importantly, it appears to me that Moses is showing us how Isaac is acting according to the pattern of his father Abraham, and concurs with Rebekah that Jacob should go to the land of their family, where Abraham had come from, and where Abraham had sent his servant to find a wife for Isaac. He sent Jacob there with another blessing. In this blessing, he instructs or reminds Jacob from where his blessings will come. We have no indication yet that Jacob trusts his father’s God. Yet he does obey his parents.

This sets up the contrast to what Moses reveals next concerning Esau. Esau had already taken multiple wives who were Hittites, which echoes back to Cain's descendant Lamech, who married two wives and was very defiant to the LORD (Gen 4:17-19). Now, Esau decided he would spite his parents even more by taking another wife, and this time it was a daughter of Ishmael. This is a slap in the face to Isaac. Esau was quite willing to do what his dad wanted, anticipating what he would get in return. But when Jacob deceived Isaac and stole the blessing, Esau revealed that he was never worthy himself to receive the blessing. Later, when Jacob’s descendants left Egypt after 400 years in bondage, the LORD gave them the Law, primarily summed up in the Ten Commandments. One of the commandments was to “Honor your father and mother.” (Ex. 20:12)

I was tempted to continue further into the text again this week. But I found this section to make me think about how things don’t always go as I would like. Sometimes, I may feel cheated in some capacity, that some injustice has been done, and my inclination might be to desire retribution on everyone I believe to have had a part in it. But that’s not right. I think Isaac shows us the right way. Our priority is to act in a right way and pray that the LORD will bless those he wants to bless through the situation. He’s the one in control, and the LORD can turn the circumstances into something very special.

Next week, we’ll look into Jacob’s experience on his flight to his uncle Laban’s home.

Episode 289 - "Jacob steals the blessing" - Genesis 27

Gen. 27:1 When Isaac was old and his eyes were dim so that he could not see, he called Esau his older son and said to him, “My son”; and he answered, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Behold, I am old; I do not know the day of my death. 3 Now then, take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me, 4 and prepare for me delicious food, such as I love, and bring it to me so that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die.”

Gen. 27:5 Now Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to his son Esau. So when Esau went to the field to hunt for game and bring it, 6 Rebekah said to her son Jacob, “I heard your father speak to your brother Esau, 7 ‘Bring me game and prepare for me delicious food, that I may eat it and bless you before the LORD before I die.’ 8 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice as I command you. 9 Go to the flock and bring me two good young goats, so that I may prepare from them delicious food for your father, such as he loves. 10 And you shall bring it to your father to eat, so that he may bless you before he dies.” 11 But Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, “Behold, my brother Esau is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man. 12 Perhaps my father will feel me, and I shall seem to be mocking him and bring a curse upon myself and not a blessing.” 13 His mother said to him, “Let your curse be on me, my son; only obey my voice, and go, bring them to me.”

Gen. 27:14 So he went and took them and brought them to his mother, and his mother prepared delicious food, such as his father loved. 15 Then Rebekah took the best garments of Esau her older son, which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob her younger son. 16 And the skins of the young goats she put on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck. 17 And she put the delicious food and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.

Gen. 27:18 So he went in to his father and said, “My father.” And he said, “Here I am. Who are you, my son?” 19 Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn. I have done as you told me; now sit up and eat of my game, that your soul may bless me.” 20 But Isaac said to his son, “How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?” He answered, “Because the LORD your God granted me success.” 21 Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come near, that I may feel you, my son, to know whether you are really my son Esau or not.” 22 So Jacob went near to Isaac his father, who felt him and said, “The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” 23 And he did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau’s hands. So he blessed him. 24 He said, “Are you really my son Esau?” He answered, “I am.” 25 Then he said, “Bring it near to me, that I may eat of my son’s game and bless you.” So he brought it near to him, and he ate; and he brought him wine, and he drank.

Gen. 27:26 Then his father Isaac said to him, “Come near and kiss me, my son.” 27 So he came near and kissed him. And Isaac smelled the smell of his garments and blessed him and said,

“See, the smell of my son

is as the smell of a field that the LORD has blessed!

28 May God give you of the dew of heaven

and of the fatness of the earth

and plenty of grain and wine.

29 Let peoples serve you,

and nations bow down to you.

Be lord over your brothers,

and may your mother’s sons bow down to you.

Cursed be everyone who curses you,

and blessed be everyone who blesses you!”

Gen. 27:30 As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, when Jacob had scarcely gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, Esau his brother came in from his hunting. 31 He also prepared delicious food and brought it to his father. And he said to his father, “Let my father arise and eat of his son’s game, that you may bless me.” 32 His father Isaac said to him, “Who are you?” He answered, “I am your son, your firstborn, Esau.” 33 Then Isaac trembled very violently and said, “Who was it then that hunted game and brought it to me, and I ate it all before you came, and I have blessed him? Yes, and he shall be blessed.” 34 As soon as Esau heard the words of his father, he cried out with an exceedingly great and bitter cry and said to his father, “Bless me, even me also, O my father!” 35 But he said, “Your brother came deceitfully, and he has taken away your blessing.” 36 Esau said, “Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has cheated me these two times. He took away my birthright, and behold, now he has taken away my blessing.” Then he said, “Have you not reserved a blessing for me?” 37 Isaac answered and said to Esau, “Behold, I have made him lord over you, and all his brothers I have given to him for servants, and with grain and wine I have sustained him. What then can I do for you, my son?” 38 Esau said to his father, “Have you but one blessing, my father? Bless me, even me also, O my father.” And Esau lifted up his voice and wept.

Gen. 27:39 Then Isaac his father answered and said to him:

“Behold, away from the fatness of the earth shall your dwelling be,

and away from the dew of heaven on high.

40 By your sword you shall live,

and you shall serve your brother;

but when you grow restless

you shall break his yoke from your neck.”

Gen. 27:41 Now Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob.” 42 But the words of Esau, her older son, were told to Rebekah. So she sent and called Jacob, her younger son, and said to him, “Behold, your brother Esau comforts himself about you by planning to kill you. 43 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice. Arise, flee to Laban my brother in Haran 44 and stay with him a while, until your brother’s fury turns away— 45 until your brother’s anger turns away from you, and he forgets what you have done to him. Then I will send and bring you from there. Why should I be bereft of you both in one day?”

Gen. 27:46 Then Rebekah said to Isaac, “I loathe my life because of the Hittite women. If Jacob marries one of the Hittite women like these, one of the women of the land, what good will my life be to me?”

There is so much tension and drama in this short story that it almost seems wrong to say anything about it because it just speaks for itself. However, there are some valuable insights we can glean from observing how this story relates to the broader narrative of Genesis and the Bible.

First, do you remember when Rebekah was expecting twins and they fought within her womb, and the LORD revealed to her that the older would serve the younger? Secondly, do you recall that Jacob received that name because he was grabbing Esau’s heel when they were born? The significance of those details becomes more apparent here.

The scene begins when Isaac, who had become very old and had lost his sight, called Esau to go out and get him the meat that he liked and prepare it so that he would bless him, bequeathing to him the leadership of the family and the majority of the inheritance. Rebekah heard of Isaac’s plan and quickly took action to have Jacob receive the blessing instead of Esau. Why would she do this? For one, we’ve already been informed that Esau was Isaac’s favorite son because Esau was a hunter and Isaac enjoyed the food he brought home. On the other hand, Jacob was Rebekah’s favorite. More importantly, I think Rebekah did this because of what the LORD had revealed to her. She knew before they were born that Jacob would be the leader and the one who would carry the seed. I think she’s acting upon that revelation from God. While Rebekah’s actions were deceptive, we could argue that she was acting out of faith.

Rebekah laid out the plan to Jacob and addressed his concerns, and he agreed to go along with it. This detail bothered me for years. Why should he receive the blessing when he is gaining it through deception? That doesn’t seem fair. Then, a few years ago, I saw something in the dialogue between Isaac and Jacob after Jacob gave him the meat Rebekah had prepared. Isaac, thinking that Esau is standing near him, asks how he got the meat so quickly. Jacob’s response was, “Because the LORD your God granted me success.” Do you see that? The LORD is not Jacob’s God. The LORD is his father’s God. The blessing will only be beneficial if the LORD is Jacob’s God, and this moment in the story creates a new conflict that will prompt the reader to wonder, “How will the LORD become Jacob’s God?” The LORD revealed to Rebekah what would happen with Jacob and Esau. So, in light of Jacob's statement, we must wonder how the Lord will work this all out.

No sooner had Jacob pulled off the deception and received the blessing than Esau came home with the meat from his hunt, and Isaac and Esau realized what had happened. The significance of Jacob grabbing Esau’s heel is revealed through Esau’s comment about Jacob’s name and his actions. The picture here is that one who grabs a heel is a cheater. I think it’s amusing that Esau uses the sale of his birthright as an accusation against Jacob, since it was Esau who had no regard whatsoever for his birthright. Jacob didn’t deceive him. He was just opportunistic, and Esau now regretted it, blaming Jacob for his poor decision. The bottom line is that Esau was so angry and planned to kill Jacob once Isaac died.

Rebekah learned of Esau’s plan and found a good reason to have Isaac send Jacob away to her brother Laban’s place. The misery caused by their Hittite daughters-in-law, whom Esau had married, was the justification she used to convince Isaac that she didn’t want Jacob to take a wife like them. That was good enough for Isaac.

What I draw from this story is that God doesn’t wait for people to get all their stuff right before he will work in their lives. What will follow this story is the journey of Jacob to his uncle Laban’s place, the LORD’s self-revelation to Jacob, and the promises he makes to him, and Jacob’s resolution.

This is a picture of God’s grace and patience with people.

Episode 288 - "Abimelech recognized God's presence with Isaac" - Genesis 26:17-35

So Isaac departed from there and encamped in the Valley of Gerar and settled there. 18 And Isaac dug again the wells of water that had been dug in the days of Abraham his father, which the Philistines had stopped after the death of Abraham. And he gave them the names that his father had given them. 19 But when Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and found there a well of spring water, 20 the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac’s herdsmen, saying, “The water is ours.” So he called the name of the well Esek, because they contended with him. 21 Then they dug another well, and they quarreled over that also, so he called its name Sitnah. 22 And he moved from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it. So he called its name Rehoboth, saying, “For now the LORD has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.”

Gen. 26:23 From there he went up to Beersheba. 24 And the LORD appeared to him the same night and said, “I am the God of Abraham your father. Fear not, for I am with you and will bless you and multiply your offspring for my servant Abraham’s sake.” 25 So he built an altar there and called upon the name of the LORD and pitched his tent there. And there Isaac’s servants dug a well.

Gen. 26:26 When Abimelech went to him from Gerar with Ahuzzath his adviser and Phicol the commander of his army, 27 Isaac said to them, “Why have you come to me, seeing that you hate me and have sent me away from you?” 28 They said, “We see plainly that the LORD has been with you. So we said, let there be a sworn pact between us, between you and us, and let us make a covenant with you, 29 that you will do us no harm, just as we have not touched you and have done to you nothing but good and have sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed of the LORD.” 30 So he made them a feast, and they ate and drank. 31 In the morning they rose early and exchanged oaths. And Isaac sent them on their way, and they departed from him in peace. 32 That same day Isaac’s servants came and told him about the well that they had dug and said to him, “We have found water.” 33 He called it Shibah; therefore the name of the city is Beersheba to this day.

Gen. 26:34 When Esau was forty years old, he took Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite to be his wife, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite, 35 and they made life bitter for Isaac and Rebekah.

This is the second half of a two-part story. In our last episode, a famine had driven Isaac to find a better place to shepherd his flocks and herds. The LORD instructed him not to go to Egypt. So, he stayed in the area where the Philistines were, and he tried the same strategy his father, Abraham, had used to protect himself: he told the Philistines that his wife, Rebekah, was his sister. King Abimelech quickly discovered the truth and instructed his citizens to leave Isaac and Rebekah alone.

Isaac continued to dwell there, and the LORD blessed him and caused him to become very wealthy. This evoked jealousy among the Philistines, and so Abimelech told him to leave the area.

As we pick up the story in verse 17, we see that the Philistines were doing everything in their power to force him to move farther away. They kept filling up the wells where Isaac was keeping his flocks and herds, so that they had no water. Finally, Isaac’s workers dug a well, and the Philistines left it alone. Isaac credited the LORD for “making room for him” in the land (Gen 26:22). He went up to Beersheba, where the LORD appeared to him and reaffirmed his covenant promise that he had made with his father Abraham. Isaac built an altar and worshipped the LORD.

The next thing that happened was that Abimelech, along with his military commander and an advisor, went to visit Isaac. I’m sure Isaac was thinking, “What now?” It’s pretty evident in his words in verse 27. To paraphrase, “What are you doing here? You hate me and kicked me out of your region.”

Abimelech strikes me as a quick learner. It seems to me that he had Isaac leave to ease the political situation with his citizens, who were jealous of Isaac’s success. But his response to Isaac’s question acknowledges that the LORD was with Isaac. Abimelech and his top leaders want to ensure that, although they had Isaac leave their area, they do not want to be at odds with Isaac and his God. So, they made a covenant of peace with Isaac. This peaceful relationship between the Philistines and the people of the Abrahamic covenant would not last forever. But for now, the LORD was establishing Abraham’s descendants in the land of Canaan in a peaceful existence.

The story quickly turns to his son Esau. If you recall, Esau was the older son who readily sold his birthright to his younger brother Jacob for a bowl of soup. Here, Moses writes that Esau took two wives, and both of them were daughters of Hittites. The whole purpose of this little detail is to show how Esau stands in contrast to Abraham and Isaac. Abraham made sure that Isaac’s wife was not a local girl who worshipped the various gods of the people in the land. Esau takes his wives with no consideration for their values. Moses writes that these daughters-in-law made life “bitter for Isaac and Rebekah” (v. 35).

What stands out to me most in this story is how the LORD makes himself known, and when people recognize that, they have choices to make. Do I want to be in harmony with this God and his people (such as Abimelech did with Isaac), or do I just want to do whatever I want with no consideration of the consequences (as Esau)?

Episode 287 - "Like Father, Like Son" - Genesis 26:1-16

Gen. 26:1 Now there was a famine in the land, besides the former famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Gerar to Abimelech king of the Philistines. 2 And the LORD appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; dwell in the land of which I shall tell you. 3 Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you and will bless you, for to you and to your offspring I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath that I swore to Abraham your father. 4 I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, 5 because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.”

Gen. 26:6 So Isaac settled in Gerar. 7 When the men of the place asked him about his wife, he said, “She is my sister,” for he feared to say, “My wife,” thinking, “lest the men of the place should kill me because of Rebekah,” because she was attractive in appearance. 8 When he had been there a long time, Abimelech, king of the Philistines, looked out of a window and saw Isaac laughing with Rebekah his wife. 9 So Abimelech called Isaac and said, “Behold, she is your wife. How then could you say, ‘She is my sister’?” Isaac said to him, “Because I thought, ‘Lest I die because of her.’” 10 Abimelech said, “What is this you have done to us? One of the people might easily have lain with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us.” 11 So Abimelech warned all the people, saying, “Whoever touches this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.”

Gen. 26:12 And Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold. The LORD blessed him, 13 and the man became rich, and gained more and more until he became very wealthy. 14 He had possessions of flocks and herds and many servants, so that the Philistines envied him. 15 (Now the Philistines had stopped and filled with earth all the wells that his father’s servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father.) 16 And Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us, for you are much mightier than we.”

It would seem most appropriate to title this study, “Like Father, Like Son.” So this particular story about Isaac parallels his father Abraham's, right? There was a famine in the land, and Abraham had gone down to Egypt. (Gen 12:10) Do you remember what happened? Abraham was worried the Egyptians would kill him to take Sarah, his wife, and give her to Pharaoh. So, he had Sarah tell people she was Abraham’s sister. Later, Abraham tried the same trick with Abimelech, King of the Philistines. God protected Sarah both times in order to protect the seed. Now, in Genesis 26, after Abraham has died, there’s another famine in the land. God told Isaac, Don’t go to Egypt! But stay here in this land (where the Philistines are) because God is going to give this land to his progeny. (Gen 26:1-5) In fact, the LORD fully affirmed the covenant promises he’d made to Abraham with Isaac. God was demonstrating that he intended to fulfill the promises he made to Abraham and his descendants.

So what happens next? Isaac told the Philistines that Rebekah was his sister. He tried the same trick his dad had used twice to save his own skin. But this time the LORD did not need to strike Abimelech with some condition or warn him in a dream not to touch Rebekah. Instead, Abimelech witnessed Isaac “laughing” with Rebekah. Scholars suggest that this laughter was not common humor, but more of a playful interaction characteristic of a husband and wife. The bottom line is that the LORD protected Rebekah in the same way he’d prevented sexual encounters in the two situations with Abraham and Sarah. Once again, a pagan king appears to act more righteously and have a sincere fear of the LORD than Isaac does.

As promised, the LORD blessed Isaac in the land, and he was very successful. He became wealthy to the extent that the Philistines envied him. So, they started to fill in wells dug by Abraham’s servants so that his flocks and herds would not have access to water. So, Abimelech, apparently playing the role of the politician, told Isaac to leave.

I’ve chosen to make this story a two-part episode due to its length. If you haven’t read the rest of the story yet, I assume that you can envision the Philistines being envious of Isaac’s success, and you are not surprised at the actions of the Philistines. But from what we know about the Abrahamic covenant and what God had already done for Abraham and Isaac, how do you think it will work out for the Philistines by sending Isaac away from them? Will they be more successful now that Isaac has left? Why or why not? We’ll see how this works out next week.

Some scholars have suggested that these stories cannot be historically accurate because of the similarities between what Isaac did in telling the Philistines that his wife Rebekah was his sister to what his father Abraham did. In my opinion, the similarities with variances in some of the details lend credence to these accounts being very accurate to the historical events. It seems unbelievable to me that the author or later people who had the opportunity to edit or make changes for stylistic purposes would have overlooked the similarities. They would certainly have changed it if they thought it was too coincidental to be true. Instead, these stories have been preserved because people have been convinced they reflect actual events.

Most importantly, in these stories, we see the humanity of people like Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and Rebekah. They seem like real people with the same fears, doubts, and inclinations as normal people. They are not superheroes. But God chose to use them for a special purpose, and he did it despite their human limitations and frailties. It’s an encouragement to think that God may use us for his purposes and will protect us and use us for those purposes.

Episode 286 - "Esau despised his birthright" - Genesis 25

Abraham took another wife, whose name was Keturah. 2 She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. 3 Jokshan fathered Sheba and Dedan. The sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim. 4 The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah. 5 Abraham gave all he had to Isaac. 6 But to the sons of his concubines Abraham gave gifts, and while he was still living he sent them away from his son Isaac, eastward to the east country.

Gen. 25:7 These are the days of the years of Abraham’s life, 175 years. 8 Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people. 9 Isaac and Ishmael his sons buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, east of Mamre, 10 the field that Abraham purchased from the Hittites. There Abraham was buried, with Sarah his wife. 11 After the death of Abraham, God blessed Isaac his son. And Isaac settled at Beer-lahai-roi.

Gen. 25:12 These are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s servant, bore to Abraham. 13 These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, named in the order of their birth: Nebaioth, the firstborn of Ishmael; and Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 15 Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. 16 These are the sons of Ishmael and these are their names, by their villages and by their encampments, twelve princes according to their tribes. 17 (These are the years of the life of Ishmael: 137 years. He breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people.) 18 They settled from Havilah to Shur, which is opposite Egypt in the direction of Assyria. He settled over against all his kinsmen.

Gen. 25:19 These are the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham fathered Isaac, 20 and Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean, to be his wife. 21 And Isaac prayed to the LORD for his wife, because she was barren. And the LORD granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22 The children struggled together within her, and she said, “If it is thus, why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the LORD. 23 And the LORD said to her,

“Two nations are in your womb,

and two peoples from within you shall be divided;

the one shall be stronger than the other,

the older shall serve the younger.”

Gen. 25:24 When her days to give birth were completed, behold, there were twins in her womb. 25 The first came out red, all his body like a hairy cloak, so they called his name Esau. 26 Afterward his brother came out with his hand holding Esau’s heel, so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.

Gen. 25:27 When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents. 28 Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

Gen. 25:29 Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted. 30 And Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!” (Therefore his name was called Edom.) 31 Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright now.” 32 Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” 33 Jacob said, “Swear to me now.” So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

I am not one inclined to believe that the Bible has filler, information that has no purpose. Genesis 25 has plenty of information that, on the surface, may seem irrelevant filler. Let me see if I can remind us of a few facts that might help us understand the purpose of some of this information.

First of all, we need to remember God’s promise to Abraham to give him a vast land and innumerable descendants. The LORD told Abraham that he would use him and his descendants to be a blessing to all nations. The problem for some time was that Abraham and his wife Sarah had no children and were getting old. They tried to help God by Abraham having sexual relations with Sarah’s servant Hagar. She conceived and had a son named Ishmael. But this wasn’t God’s plan. Ultimately, the LORD gave Abraham and Sarah Isaac. Isaac was the son of promise and the one through whom a descendant (the seed of the woman) would ultimately come to defeat the serpent (devil) and restore life and remove the curse upon the ground.

At this point in the story Sarah has died and Isaac has a wife through whom the reader should expect more descendants. But Moses tells us that Abraham took another wife and had multiple sons by her. The point of Genesis 25:1-6 is to explain that the LORD is fulfilling his promise by giving Abraham multiple descendants. However, they are not the children of the promise. So, they will not share the inheritance with Isaac. Therefore, Abraham sends them away from Isaac as he had done to Ishmael.

Genesis 25:7-11 clarifies that Abraham died and the LORD blessed Isaac. God’s plan of redemption and hope will come through Isaac.

Genesis 25:12-18 shows how even though Ishmael was not the son of the promise, the LORD still blessed him because of his relationship with Abraham.

Genesis 25:19-23 is interesting because now the focus is on Isaac. There is a brief mention that Isaac’s wife, Rebekah, was barren. But this detail is not dragged out and repeated as it was for Sarah. The resolution was simply that Isaac prayed for her and she conceived. It emphasizes Isaac’s relationship with the LORD and that the LORD answered his prayer. In verse 22, a conflict in this story develops when we learn that Rebekah has conceived twins and they are struggling within her. She inquired of the LORD why this was, and she received the answer that there are two nations within her, they will be divided, and the older will serve the younger. This is an important detail to remember for later. When they were born, the older was named Esau and the younger Jacob. Jacob was grabbing Esau’s heel. Bible interpreters have often suggested this as a foreshadowing of Jacob “tripping” his brother.

We know nothing about their childhood because the next thing we read about is what they are like as young men. Esau became a hunter, and Jacob was a “quiet man, dwelling in tents” (Gen 25:27). Esau was Isaac’s favorite because of the meat he brought home, but Jacob was Rebekah’s favorite. Already, we sense another conflict coming, right?

Genesis 25:25-34 is the core part of the story in this chapter. Esau had been out hunting and came home very hungry. Remember that he was the older son and therefore possessed the birthright, which would have entitled him to a greater inheritance and authority from his father. Jacob had made some stew, and Esau wanted some. Jacob would only give some to him in exchange for the birthright. Esau seemed to have no problem with that and, as Moses puts it, “Esau despised his birthright” (Gen 25:34). This is the first incident in which we see how the older would serve the younger.

Even in the less exciting details of chapter 25, there is evidence that the LORD fulfills his promises and that his word is true. I like to be reminded of that. It encourages me to be thankful and trust in him.

Episode 285 - Rebekah becomes Isaac's wife - Genesis 24:22-67

Gen. 24:22 When the camels had finished drinking, the man took a gold ring weighing a half shekel, and two bracelets for her arms weighing ten gold shekels, 23 and said, “Please tell me whose daughter you are. Is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?” 24 She said to him, “I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor.” 25 She added, “We have plenty of both straw and fodder, and room to spend the night.” 26 The man bowed his head and worshiped the LORD 27 and said, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his steadfast love and his faithfulness toward my master. As for me, the LORD has led me in the way to the house of my master’s kinsmen.” 28 Then the young woman ran and told her mother’s household about these things.

Gen. 24:29 Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban. Laban ran out toward the man, to the spring. 30 As soon as he saw the ring and the bracelets on his sister’s arms, and heard the words of Rebekah his sister, “Thus the man spoke to me,” he went to the man. And behold, he was standing by the camels at the spring. 31 He said, “Come in, O blessed of the LORD. Why do you stand outside? For I have prepared the house and a place for the camels.” 32 So the man came to the house and unharnessed the camels, and gave straw and fodder to the camels, and there was water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him. 33 Then food was set before him to eat. But he said, “I will not eat until I have said what I have to say.” He said, “Speak on.”

Gen. 24:34 So he said, “I am Abraham’s servant. 35 The LORD has greatly blessed my master, and he has become great. He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male servants and female servants, camels and donkeys. 36 And Sarah my master’s wife bore a son to my master when she was old, and to him he has given all that he has. 37 My master made me swear, saying, ‘You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell, 38 but you shall go to my father’s house and to my clan and take a wife for my son.’ 39 I said to my master, ‘Perhaps the woman will not follow me.’ 40 But he said to me, ‘The LORD, before whom I have walked, will send his angel with you and prosper your way. You shall take a wife for my son from my clan and from my father’s house. 41 Then you will be free from my oath, when you come to my clan. And if they will not give her to you, you will be free from my oath.’

Gen. 24:42 “I came today to the spring and said, ‘O LORD, the God of my master Abraham, if now you are prospering the way that I go, 43 behold, I am standing by the spring of water. Let the virgin who comes out to draw water, to whom I shall say, “Please give me a little water from your jar to drink,” 44 and who will say to me, “Drink, and I will draw for your camels also,” let her be the woman whom the LORD has appointed for my master’s son.’

Gen. 24:45 “Before I had finished speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came out with her water jar on her shoulder, and she went down to the spring and drew water. I said to her, ‘Please let me drink.’ 46 She quickly let down her jar from her shoulder and said, ‘Drink, and I will give your camels drink also.’ So I drank, and she gave the camels drink also. 47 Then I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bore to him.’ So I put the ring on her nose and the bracelets on her arms. 48 Then I bowed my head and worshiped the LORD and blessed the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me by the right way to take the daughter of my master’s kinsman for his son. 49 Now then, if you are going to show steadfast love and faithfulness to my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, that I may turn to the right hand or to the left.”

Gen. 24:50 Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, “The thing has come from the LORD; we cannot speak to you bad or good. 51 Behold, Rebekah is before you; take her and go, and let her be the wife of your master’s son, as the LORD has spoken.”

Gen. 24:52 When Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed himself to the earth before the LORD. 53 And the servant brought out jewelry of silver and of gold, and garments, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave to her brother and to her mother costly ornaments. 54 And he and the men who were with him ate and drank, and they spent the night there. When they arose in the morning, he said, “Send me away to my master.” 55 Her brother and her mother said, “Let the young woman remain with us a while, at least ten days; after that she may go.” 56 But he said to them, “Do not delay me, since the LORD has prospered my way. Send me away that I may go to my master.” 57 They said, “Let us call the young woman and ask her.” 58 And they called Rebekah and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” She said, “I will go.” 59 So they sent away Rebekah their sister and her nurse, and Abraham’s servant and his men. 60 And they blessed Rebekah and said to her,

“Our sister, may you become thousands of ten thousands,

and may your offspring possess the gate of those who hate him!”

Gen. 24:61 Then Rebekah and her young women arose and rode on the camels and followed the man. Thus the servant took Rebekah and went his way.

Gen. 24:62 Now Isaac had returned from Beer-lahai-roi and was dwelling in the Negeb. 63 And Isaac went out to meditate in the field toward evening. And he lifted up his eyes and saw, and behold, there were camels coming. 64 And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she dismounted from the camel 65 and said to the servant, “Who is that man, walking in the field to meet us?” The servant said, “It is my master.” So she took her veil and covered herself. 66 And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. 67 Then Isaac brought her into the tent of Sarah his mother and took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.

Even though this is a bit longer than I normally take, I felt it best to follow this story through to its close. It’s simply a beautiful story of God’s faithfulness to Abraham and Abraham’s servant's faith. Up to this point in the story, Abraham’s servant has sought to honor his task to the best of his ability and with complete trust in the LORD. He’d asked the LORD for a specific sign that would confirm his right selection of a wife for Abraham’s son Isaac. The LORD brought Rebekah to the well where the servant was, and her interaction with the servant was in accordance with the sign requested by the servant.

This section begins with Rebekah revealing that she indeed is a relative of Abraham. This was one of Abraham's requirements for his servant that the wife taken for Isaac should be from his kin. This was all the servant needed to confirm the LORD had answered his prayer. The servant had sought the LORD’s provision in accordance with the covenant relationship between the LORD and Abraham. Now the servant gives thanks and worships the LORD for answering that prayer. What an appropriate response.

What follows is that the servant is welcomed at the home of Rebekah’s family, where his chief priority is to inform them of who he is and his mission. He recounts all the details of what has transpired and how the LORD has blessed his mission by leading him to Rebekah. It’s a testimony to others of what the LORD has done.

After Laban and Bethuel agree that this is from the LORD, the servant’s priority is to complete his assignment and return to Abraham with Rebekah. This leads us to the final element of the servant’s assignment: Will Rebekah agree to go with him and become Isaac’s wife? She does, and the story is closed when they are brought together and Isaac took her into his tent, and he loved her, and he was comforted after his mother had died.

What I think is most important in this story is how the servant responds at every significant moment. He’s perfectly obedient to the assigned task. He seeks the LORD’s work in the success of his task. He blesses the LORD when the LORD answers his request. He testifies to others about the LORD’s amazing work in bringing it all about.

Episode 284 - The LORD answered a prayer for a wife for Isaac - Genesis 24:10-21

Gen. 24:10 Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and departed, taking all sorts of choice gifts from his master; and he arose and went to Mesopotamia to the city of Nahor. 11 And he made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time when women go out to draw water. 12 And he said, “O LORD, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham. 13 Behold, I am standing by the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. 14 Let the young woman to whom I shall say, ‘Please let down your jar that I may drink,’ and who shall say, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels’—let her be the one whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I shall know that you have shown steadfast love to my master.”

Gen. 24:15 Before he had finished speaking, behold, Rebekah, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, came out with her water jar on her shoulder. 16 The young woman was very attractive in appearance, a maiden whom no man had known. She went down to the spring and filled her jar and came up. 17 Then the servant ran to meet her and said, “Please give me a little water to drink from your jar.” 18 She said, “Drink, my lord.” And she quickly let down her jar upon her hand and gave him a drink. 19 When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking.” 20 So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough and ran again to the well to draw water, and she drew for all his camels. 21 The man gazed at her in silence to learn whether the LORD had prospered his journey or not.

In our last episode, we began with the story of Abraham, who was getting very old and wanted to find a wife for his son Isaac. Abraham insisted that Isaac not marry a Canaanite woman who would likely lead Isaac away from the LORD. He sent his most trusted servant to his homeland and relatives to search for a wife for Isaac there. The primary point is the strong commitment Abraham had to the LORD and trust in his promises to Abraham and his descendants.

This next section focuses on the servant who goes out to fulfill Abraham’s wishes. When he reached his destination, the first thing Moses recorded that he did was to pray and ask the LORD for success on behalf of Abraham. In his prayer, I see a man who has been as impacted and formed by God’s faithfulness to Abraham as Abraham himself. There is nothing about this prayer that is self-seeking. Abraham has already absolved the man of responsibility of the results, providing that he simply acts per his directions to go to Abraham’s homeland, among his relatives, and look for a wife for Isaac there. Abraham’s servant is not responsible for the results. He is only responsible for being obedient to the instructions he was given. There are any number of ways in which he might have sought to fill the basic requirements of this assignment. But his priority was to seek favor and success from the LORD based upon Abraham’s covenant relationship with the LORD. The whole thing here is his humility in seeking first, the LORD’s will in this matter, and secondly, that the LORD’s answer shows his “steadfast love” to Abraham. What a model of humility and servanthood.

In his request to the LORD, he considered a means by which he might recognize that the LORD was truly granting his request. He prayed, “Behold, I am standing by the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. 14 Let the young woman to whom I shall say, ‘Please let down your jar that I may drink,’ and who shall say, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels’—let her be the one whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I shall know that you have shown steadfast love to my master.” This is quite specific. But it’s not an attempt to trick the LORD as if he will establish the rules by which the LORD would be obligated to fulfill this request. Rather, the request suggests that the servant is desiring the LORD to provide a wife for Isaac who is also humble and servant-minded. It’s beautiful!

Moses wrote that before he finished the request, Rebekah, Abraham’s niece came to the well. The servant didn’t waste any time approaching her and asked her for a drink. She responded exactly in the manner the servant had requested of the LORD.

I love the way Moses records the servant’s reaction. “The man gazed at her in silence to learn whether the LORD had prospered his journey or not.” (Gen 24:21) Are you imagining this as I am? I’m envisioning this old guy sitting near the well with a mix of shock and amusement on his mind. Maybe even the thought, “Well, that was easy” went through his mind, followed by “Was that just a fluke?”

I think there are prayers that the LORD is just waiting for people to ask and he starts to answer them before they are finished being asked. It’s God’s way of saying, “I’m with you. I want to give you what is best for you. But I want you to want what I have in store for you.”

What can we learn from this? In all things seek what is good and right from the LORD and for the benefit of all instead of seeking our own interests. Humility and servant-mindedness are valued by the LORD.

Episode 283 - "Finding a wife for Isaac" - Genesis 24:1-9

Now Abraham was old, well advanced in years. And the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things. 2 And Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household, who had charge of all that he had, “Put your hand under my thigh, 3 that I may make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell, 4 but will go to my country and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son Isaac.” 5 The servant said to him, “Perhaps the woman may not be willing to follow me to this land. Must I then take your son back to the land from which you came?” 6 Abraham said to him, “See to it that you do not take my son back there. 7 The LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from the land of my kindred, and who spoke to me and swore to me, ‘To your offspring I will give this land,’ he will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there. 8 But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free from this oath of mine; only you must not take my son back there.” 9 So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master and swore to him concerning this matter.

Isaac is the promised, miracle son of Abraham and Sarah and is the one through whom the LORD will ultimately bring numerous descendants. But that can only happen if he marries and has children. So, this next story tells us how Isaac gains a wife. It’s a long story. So, I’m going to break it down in smaller chunks to point out some things we can learn along the way.

The story opens with Abraham being old. He was 100 when Isaac was born, and now Isaac is of an age to marry. So, he’s really old. He called an elderly servant of his who was, clearly, a very trusted individual. He made the servant swear an oath to not find a wife for Isaac from among the Canaanites where he was dwelling, but that he would go to Abraham’s home country and relatives and find a wife among them for Isaac. The first point that I want to make here is that this is not an issue of racism or ethnocentrism. What is at stake here is purity in faith. Abraham knew that the Canaanites worshipped other gods. If his son Isaac married a Canaanite woman, there would be a temptation to accommodate her faith, lead Isaac and any children they might have away from the LORD, and bring an abrupt end to the covenant the LORD made with Abraham. The harmony of a common faith within a household is an essential theme throughout the Scriptures. The LORD warned King Solomon not to take foreign wives for this exact reason: they would lead him away from faithfulness to the LORD. Solomon failed to heed that warning, and the result was exactly as the LORD had warned. This led to a division of the kingdom after Solomon died.

Abraham’s servant was diligent to ask questions to make sure he had the expectations correct and worked through the “what if” possibilities with Abraham. He didn’t want to make such a strong promise and be unable to fulfill it. His first question was, “Perhaps the woman may not be willing to follow me to this land. Must I then take your son back to the land from which you came?” (Gen 24:5) Abraham’s response was an emphatic negative. Why? That seems like a reasonable alternative. Abraham explained to his servant that the LORD had led him from that land to the land of Canann and promised to give him the land they were on. If Isaac were to go back to his father’s homeland and wanted to marry someone, there would be pressure to stay there. Therefore, Abraham told his servant that in such a case, he would be free from the oath.

What we see here in the big picture of this story is a strong trust of Abraham in the LORD’s covenant promises. Abraham had some missteps earlier in his life. But the LORD had led him to grow in his faith of the LORD and his promises. He believed that the LORD would provide those descendants, that they would come through Isaac, and that the LORD would provide the wife who would most likely live and act in concert with Isaac’s faith.

May the LORD grant us such confidence in him that we would not trust our human reasoning over God’s word.

Episode 282 - "Sarah's death - A Model of Faith" - Genesis 22:20-Genesis 23

Gen. 22:20 Now after these things it was told to Abraham, “Behold, Milcah also has borne children to your brother Nahor: 21 Uz his firstborn, Buz his brother, Kemuel the father of Aram, 22 Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel.” 23 (Bethuel fathered Rebekah.) These eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham’s brother. 24 Moreover, his concubine, whose name was Reumah, bore Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and Maacah.

Gen. 23:1 Sarah lived 127 years; these were the years of the life of Sarah. 2 And Sarah died at Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her. 3 And Abraham rose up from before his dead and said to the Hittites, 4 “I am a sojourner and foreigner among you; give me property among you for a burying place, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.” 5 The Hittites answered Abraham, 6 “Hear us, my lord; you are a prince of God among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs. None of us will withhold from you his tomb to hinder you from burying your dead.” 7 Abraham rose and bowed to the Hittites, the people of the land. 8 And he said to them, “If you are willing that I should bury my dead out of my sight, hear me and entreat for me Ephron the son of Zohar, 9 that he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he owns; it is at the end of his field. For the full price let him give it to me in your presence as property for a burying place.”

Gen. 23:10 Now Ephron was sitting among the Hittites, and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the hearing of the Hittites, of all who went in at the gate of his city, 11 “No, my lord, hear me: I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. In the sight of the sons of my people I give it to you. Bury your dead.” 12 Then Abraham bowed down before the people of the land. 13 And he said to Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land, “But if you will, hear me: I give the price of the field. Accept it from me, that I may bury my dead there.” 14 Ephron answered Abraham, 15 “My lord, listen to me: a piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver, what is that between you and me? Bury your dead.” 16 Abraham listened to Ephron, and Abraham weighed out for Ephron the silver that he had named in the hearing of the Hittites, four hundred shekels of silver, according to the weights current among the merchants.

Gen. 23:17 So the field of Ephron in Machpelah, which was to the east of Mamre, the field with the cave that was in it and all the trees that were in the field, throughout its whole area, was made over 18 to Abraham as a possession in the presence of the Hittites, before all who went in at the gate of his city. 19 After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah east of Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. 20 The field and the cave that is in it were made over to Abraham as property for a burying place by the Hittites.

Having just finished the remarkable story of Abraham demonstrating he was willing to trust the LORD in offering Isaac up as a sacrifice, the story has to move on. Moses writes a little detail of how his brother, back in his homeland, is having children. Notice the little sidenote that one of the sons, Bethuel, was the father of Rebekah. This is a detail to tip us off that the reader will hear more about Rebekah later on.

The next story is about Sarah's death and burial. She lived to the age of 127 years and died in the land of Canaan. To be clear, the Hittites with whom Abraham barters for the cave were descendants of Heth, who was a son of Canaan. This story is the back-and-forth conversation between Abraham and the residents of the land about Abraham having a place to bury Sarah. They insisted that he just bury his wife. Then Abraham responded that he would like to entreat the owner, Ephron, of a specific cave and pay him full price for the property. Like the men, Ephron suggests that Abraham can just take the cave for nothing. But, he also casually threw out the value of the property as 400 shekels of silver, which Abraham counted out to purchase the cave.

I don’t know that there’s any profound spiritual truth in this story that we need to glean and apply to our lives. I think this story is intended to communicate to the Israelites that Abraham was not a thieving bully. Rather, Abraham acted honorably around the residents in the land when he was living there. I believe it’s possible that Abraham has reason to believe that by him taking a cave to bury Sarah and not purchasing it outright would result in a perceived obligation to later concede to their demands and expectations. Abraham was wise enough to manage the exchange without putting him or Isaac in jeopardy of compromising themselves with these pagans.

Likely, the most important thing is that Sarah has died without receiving the promises made by the LORD to them. Yet, Abraham buries her in the land that he has purchased in faith that the LORD will ultimately fulfill all the promises he has made to them. The author of Hebrews says this of Abraham and Sarah,

“Heb. 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

The point is that the author of Hebrews understood that Abraham and Sarah didn’t expect their death to be the end of the line. God had proved himself faithful to his word and powerful to accomplish anything. That’s a good lesson for us.

Episode 281 - "God will provide for himself the sacrifice" - Genesis 22:1-19

Gen. 22:1 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. 5 Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” 6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. 7 And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 8 Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together.

Gen. 22:9 When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. 11 But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 12 He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called the name of that place, “The LORD will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided.”

Gen. 22:15 And the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven 16 and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, 18 and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.” 19 So Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beersheba. And Abraham lived at Beersheba.

As strange as it may sound, this is one of my favorite stories in the Bible. Why? Well, I’ll get to that. For now, I want to invite you to set aside tendencies to think, “How can a loving God ask Abraham to sacrifice his son?” or something like that. The reason is that I don’t think that was the intended response this story was supposed to evoke from the original audience.

If we examine this story in light of the greater story that’s happening, we recall that the primary problem that needs to be solved is the problem of sin, the curse, and death. God wanted his creatures to have life in fellowship with him. In light of Adam and Eve’s choice to disobey God and bring the curse into the world and death, the LORD provided hope for a restoration to the way the LORD intended it. That hope was to be found in the “seed of the woman” who would crush the head of the serpent (Satan). There have been a series of characters revealed throughout Genesis that appear to be qualifiers, but none of them completely fit the bill. The story leads us forward to Abraham and a promised son through whom he would have innumerable descendants. As Abraham and his wife Sarah advanced into old age with no biological son, they came up with ideas on how to help the LORD fulfill that promise. What we notice is that the LORD let them make these choices to show them his power and to build their faith.

Finally, when Abraham is 100 years old and Sarah is 90, the LORD gives them a miracle son, Isaac. Clearly, Isaac is either the seed, or the seed will come through him since through him, Abraham’s descendants will be innumerable “like the stars.” This context brings us to the shock component of this story. Our response, as I think what was likely for the original audience would have had, should be, “What is God doing? How can there be multiple descendants through Isaac, if he has not yet married and had children and is dead?”

Our next question might be, “How is Abraham going to worm out of this or will he really do it?” That question is answered rather quickly. Notice that Moses didn’t record Abraham questioning or arguing with God. Instead, he set out for the destination God gave him for this sacrifice. As many times as I’ve read this or thought about it, I get uncomfortable at this point. I can’t believe he’s going through with this.

Perhaps the most important thing about this story is revealed when Isaac, making a logical observation, asks Abraham, “Where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” (Gen. 22:7) Abraham responded, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” Stop there. Did Abraham just lie to Isaac, or is it possible that Abraham heard something come out of his mouth and thought to himself, “Where did that come from?” The fact of the matter is that God did provide Isaac as a miracle son. So, technically, Abraham’s answer is correct while not revealing the details to Isaac. This answer, though, will be fulfilled by what appears to be a prophetic utterance by Abraham. It will also have a more significant fulfillment in the future.

The plot of this story moves quickly. They arrived, Abraham bound Isaac and was about to slay him on the altar. Then the LORD stopped him at the last second. What happened next was that Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. Many Bible teachers have observed that this was an important detail to the Jewish audience because a sacrificial animal could not have any deformities or blemishes. This detail suggests that the animal was perfectly fine and acceptable. So, God provided a sacrifice for himself, and Isaac lived. This is a picture of what God actually did with his own Son Jesus many years later. John the Baptist pointed to Jesus and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29). Paul infers the comparison in Romans 8:31-32: “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” When we look at this story in hindsight, we see a patient God who needed to develop Abraham’s complete trust in him, and this was the final test that he passed with flying colors. We see a loving God who provided a substitute so that Isaac could live, and later, he provided a substitute so that the world might live.

The last part of this story in Genesis 22:15-19 is the message from the angel of the LORD affirming how he is undoubtedly going to bless Abraham. “And in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.” This is an affirmation that the promised seed is yet to come and will bless the nations of the earth. That’s Jesus. That is the good news.

Episode 280 - "Abimelech's covenant with Abraham" - Genesis 21:22-34

Gen. 21:22 At that time Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army said to Abraham, “God is with you in all that you do. 23 Now therefore swear to me here by God that you will not deal falsely with me or with my descendants or with my posterity, but as I have dealt kindly with you, so you will deal with me and with the land where you have sojourned.” 24 And Abraham said, “I will swear.”

Gen. 21:25 When Abraham reproved Abimelech about a well of water that Abimelech’s servants had seized, 26 Abimelech said, “I do not know who has done this thing; you did not tell me, and I have not heard of it until today.” 27 So Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and the two men made a covenant. 28 Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock apart. 29 And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs that you have set apart?” 30 He said, “These seven ewe lambs you will take from my hand, that this may be a witness for me that I dug this well.” 31 Therefore that place was called Beersheba, because there both of them swore an oath. 32 So they made a covenant at Beersheba. Then Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army rose up and returned to the land of the Philistines. 33 Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba and called there on the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God. 34 And Abraham sojourned many days in the land of the Philistines.

Does the name Abimelech sound familiar? (Scholars suggest that Abimelech is not a name but a title like Pharaoh or Caeser.) Go back to Episode 277 and review that. He was the king of Gerar (the people were Philistines), to whom Abraham had told Sarah to say that she was his sister because he was afraid the Philistines would kill him to take her. That was the second time Abraham pulled that stunt.

Furthermore, he did this soon after the LORD had revealed to Sarah that she would soon conceive and have a son by Abraham. One of the purposes of the story is to heighten the tension through the threat to the promised “seed.” The conflict is resolved by the LORD appearing to Abimelech in a dream and telling him that he’s a dead man because he has another man’s wife. Abimelech feared the LORD and did what the LORD told him to do by giving Sarah back to Abraham and having Abraham pray for him to heal him and all in his household. The irony in the story was that Abraham’s excuse was that he didn’t think anyone in the land feared God. Yet, Abimelech demonstrated fear of the LORD when Abraham’s actions revealed a greater fear of Abimelech than of the LORD. The bottom line is that the LORD preserved the promise of the son in Abraham and Sarah.

In this story, Abimelech approaches Abraham and desires to make a covenant with him. Abraham has been allowed to stay in that region, and it seems that he doesn’t want to run crossways with God again, so he wants to have a peaceful relationship with this one who is favored by the LORD. The second part of this story is about a conflict that arises between Abimelech’s people and Abraham over a well. The conflict is quickly and peaceably resolved. The purpose here is to show that not only has the LORD preserved the promised son to Abraham and Sarah, but he has also given them peace in the land that he was promised to Abraham and his descendants. This is an essential story at this point of the greater narrative of Genesis because Moses is writing this primarily for the Israelites who were about to enter this promised land 400 years later. This story would testify to them that the LORD would be with them to fulfill his covenant promises to them by blessing them with all they needed and giving them peace with their neighbors. But they needed to trust the LORD.

The story closes with Abraham planting a tamarisk tree there and calling upon the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God. I believe these two things go hand in hand. Abraham would have no purpose in planting a tree if he didn’t think he would be around for a while to enjoy it. Furthermore, he trusted the LORD to sustain its life with water. His confession that the LORD is Everlasting God expresses his faith the LORD will not go away or let him down concerning his promises. Abraham is learning.

What I love about Abraham is that he is so human. It is not difficult to empathize with him in his failures and celebrate his successes in his walk with the LORD. May we learn and grow in our faith, confessing and holding fast to the conviction that God is our shield. He is good and faithful to fulfill his promises. He is everlasting. He is not going away.

Episode 279 - "The Son of Flesh and the Son of Promise" - Genesis 21:8-21

Gen. 21:8 And the child grew and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned. 9 But Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, laughing. 10 So she said to Abraham, “Cast out this slave woman with her son, for the son of this slave woman shall not be heir with my son Isaac.” 11 And the thing was very displeasing to Abraham on account of his son. 12 But God said to Abraham, “Be not displeased because of the boy and because of your slave woman. Whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for through Isaac shall your offspring be named. 13 And I will make a nation of the son of the slave woman also, because he is your offspring.” 14 So Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, along with the child, and sent her away. And she departed and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.

Gen. 21:15 When the water in the skin was gone, she put the child under one of the bushes. 16 Then she went and sat down opposite him a good way off, about the distance of a bowshot, for she said, “Let me not look on the death of the child.” And as she sat opposite him, she lifted up her voice and wept. 17 And God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. 18 Up! Lift up the boy, and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make him into a great nation.” 19 Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink. 20 And God was with the boy, and he grew up. He lived in the wilderness and became an expert with the bow. 21 He lived in the wilderness of Paran, and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt.

This is one of those stories in the Bible that make us feel uncomfortable. Perhaps we think that Sarah is cruel and unfair for demanding that Abraham send away Hagar and Ishmael. Abraham certainly doesn’t like this proposal, and after all, wasn’t this all Sarah’s idea in the first place? She made her bed. Now, lie in it. Once again, I suggest that we press the pause button on our 21st-century western lens of interpretation and judgment. Let’s examine what is going on in the scope of God’s plan that has been revealed so far.

The scene is that of the celebration for Isaac, who has been weaned. He’s a young child. It seems to be such an insignificant thing that sets Sarah off that she demands Abraham send away Hagar and Ishmael. What happens is that Sarah sees Ishmael laughing at Isaac. Why it is such a significant thing to Sarah is not clearly defined. Perhaps she’s insecure. Maybe she’s never come to terms with the consequences of her suggestion that Abraham have relations with Hagar and conceive a son. But I find it interesting that the Hebrew word that is translated, “laughing,” is the exact same verb and form as the response of Lot’s sons-in-law when Lot told them to get out of Sodom because the LORD was going to destroy it. They laughed at him. The laughter was not simple amusement. There was a sense of derision in the laughter. Sarah had laughed herself at the LORD’s prophetic announcement that she would have a son within the following year. One thing we can be sure of is that Sarah knows that nothing is impossible with God, and he will fulfill his promises.

Furthermore, Sarah understands that her biological son Isaac is the son promised by the LORD. Perhaps in her newfound wisdom, she recognizes Ishmael’s laughter as a potential threat to what the LORD has promised to Abraham and Sarah. Sarah’s demand upon Abraham to send them away may seem rooted in jealousy and insecurity, but it may also be the LORD’s wisdom to her to manifest or guard what the LORD will reveal through Isaac.

Abraham, like us, is upset by this demand. But notice that the LORD spoke to Abraham to affirm that he should do what Sarah has told him. What is essential to notice through the rest of this story is that even though Ishmael is not the son of the promise and was the result of Abraham and Sarah trying to bring about the promise in their own way, the LORD does not despise Hagar or Ishmael—quite the contrary. God promised to “make a nation of the son of the slave woman also.” (Gen. 21:13).. Then verses 15-21 are all about the LORD providing for Hagar and Ishmael. Verse 20 records, “And God was with the boy, and he grew up.” God did not abandon Hagar and Ishmael. God permitted the separation of Ishmael from Isaac because, as he told Abraham, “through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” (Gen. 21:20). This means that the LORD has a special purpose for the son of the promise. This sounds a lot like a fulfillment of the promised seed of the woman back in Genesis 3 that will crush the head of the serpent.

Many years later, the apostle Paul, in writing to the Romans about the Gentiles being saved through faith in Jesus Christ, cites Genesis 21:20 and explains, “This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.” (Romans 9:8) Paul understands that what the LORD was doing with Ishmael and Isaac was to foreshadow how we as Gentiles could attain the same hope of eternal life. We don’t gain it by being a physical descendant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob or observing the Law of Moses. We gain it by faith in the promised seed, the promised Son, Jesus Christ.

I would encourage you to read Romans 9-11 this week. Paul writes about God’s work through the Jews and his work among the Gentiles and how it reveals the grand mercy of God to all. He concludes Chapter 11 with the following:

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

“For who has known the mind of the Lord,

or who has been his counselor?”

“Or who has given a gift to him

that he might be repaid?”

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. (Romans 11:33-36)

Episode 278 - "The LORD does what he said he would do" - Genesis 21:1-7

The LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did to Sarah as he had promised. 2 And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him. 3 Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore him, Isaac. 4 And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. 5 Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. 6 And Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh over me.” 7 And she said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”

I hate to treat these first seven verses of Genesis 21 by themselves because what we have here is just part of the story. Yet this section reveals important theological truth for us to understand today, and I don’t want to gloss over it.

Notice verse one, “The LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did to Sarah as he had promised. What is this revealing? Who was the original audience, and why would they need to know this? The answer to this latter question is the Israelites whose parents came out of Egypt and who themselves were about to be led into the land God had promised Abraham and his descendants. Their parents had witnessed God do amazing things but quickly and repeatedly fell into disobedience. They wouldn’t consistently obey what the LORD told them to do. They did not trust him. It was important for this generation who was entering into the Promised Land to trust and obey the LORD.

This first verse strongly affirms that the LORD is faithful to do what he says he will do and fulfill his promises. Is that important for people who identify with the LORD today? Absolutely! Verse 2 continues to affirm that the LORD’s fulfillment of his promise matches the timing of the fulfillment as well. The LORD left no ambiguity as to what he would do, and he acted in exact accordance with that promise.

Verses 3-4 also reveal something very important in the story, for the understanding of the Israelites entering the land and for us today. Abraham responded to the LORD’s fulfilling his promise by obeying the LORD’s command to circumcise his son Isaac. That was the sign of the covenant the LORD made with Abraham. The right heart or attitude of obedience to the LORD should be one of desire and willingness. It should not be obeying as though out of duress. It seems to me that the spirit of both Abraham and Sarah is one of gratitude and amazement at what the LORD has done for them by giving them this miracle son. The way Moses tells this story makes it feel like Abraham didn’t waste any time responding in obedience to the LORD because of what the LORD did for them. Moses reminds his audience of the miracle quality of Isaac’s birth by stating that Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born. (v. 5)

Do you remember what happened when the LORD visited Abraham and Sarah at their tent and revealed that Sarah would have a son by Abraham about the same time the next year? Sarah laughed. The context of that scene suggests that skepticism was coincidental with her laughter.

But now I hear a sense of amazement and joy. She laughs because it’s so unlikely for a 90-year-old woman to have a child, much less if the man is 100. It’s funny. I laugh, too, when thinking about it. Just as long as it doesn’t happen to my wife and me. We would not find that too funny.

We have some good thoughts for this week. The LORD is faithful to his word and promises. In light of who the LORD is and what he does, we should obey him with joy and amazement.

Episode 277 - “No! He didn’t! What? Really? Wow!” - Genesis 20

Gen. 20:1 From there Abraham journeyed toward the territory of the Negeb and lived between Kadesh and Shur; and he sojourned in Gerar. 2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. 3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.” 4 Now Abimelech had not approached her. So he said, “Lord, will you kill an innocent people? 5 Did he not himself say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this.” 6 Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I did not let you touch her. 7 Now then, return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, so that he will pray for you, and you shall live. But if you do not return her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.”

Gen. 20:8 So Abimelech rose early in the morning and called all his servants and told them all these things. And the men were very much afraid. 9 Then Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, “What have you done to us? And how have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and my kingdom a great sin? You have done to me things that ought not to be done.” 10 And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What did you see, that you did this thing?” 11 Abraham said, “I did it because I thought, ‘There is no fear of God at all in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’ 12 Besides, she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father though not the daughter of my mother, and she became my wife. 13 And when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, I said to her, ‘This is the kindness you must do me: at every place to which we come, say of me, “He is my brother.”’”

Gen. 20:14 Then Abimelech took sheep and oxen, and male servants and female servants, and gave them to Abraham, and returned Sarah his wife to him. 15 And Abimelech said, “Behold, my land is before you; dwell where it pleases you.” 16 To Sarah he said, “Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is a sign of your innocence in the eyes of all who are with you, and before everyone you are vindicated.” 17 Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, and also healed his wife and female slaves so that they bore children. 18 For the LORD had closed all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.

As I read this, I decided that this blog and podcast should be called, “No! He didn’t! What? Really? Wow!” You would think Abraham would have learned his lesson from his time in Egypt since he pulled the same thing on Pharaoh.

This story takes an entire chapter. So, we’re not going to do a deep dive into it. But that’s ok because I think it’s most important to see how this story fits in the greater narrative. Let’s recall what has just happened, according to Genesis. First, Abraham got a visit from the LORD. The LORD told Abraham and Sarah that Sarah would have a son sometime in the next year at the age of 90. Then, the LORD revealed that a cry had gone up against the evil cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, and Abraham, knowing that his nephew Lot and his family lived there, reminded the LORD that surely he wouldn’t destroy the righteous along with the wicked. Lot and his daughters were saved from that judgment by obeying the command of the angels to leave and not look back.

So, in Genesis 20:1, Abraham moved again. Why? We’re not told. But it might be a reasonable speculation that, as one with many livestock to feed, he’s moving his animals to a different area. Whatever the reason, its location is in the direction of Egypt, although not that far. It’s southwest of the Dead Sea. He’s stayed in Gerar, where a man named Abimelech was the king. He was a Philistine. These are the same people with whom Israel will have much conflict later in time. They did not worship the LORD. The giant Goliath, whom David would kill many years later, was a Philistine. For the Israelites who had come out of Egypt and were entering the land promised by God to Abraham and his descendants, this story would help them understand the long history their ancestors had with the Philistines.

The real problem in this story is revealed in verse 2. Abraham did the exact same thing that he did in Egypt: he told the Philistines that Sarah was his sister and had Sarah go along with it. He did this to protect himself. As was the case with Pharoah, Abimelech took Sarah into his harem. Now, I don’t know why a king wanted another wife and one that was 90 years old as well. He’s probably not thinking about having more children by her. But maybe he didn’t know she was 90. Maybe she’s aged exceptionally well. We’ll just take this at face value. We’ve already been made aware that Sarah will have a son. So, would that son be from Abimelech or Abraham? Abraham has put the certainty of his and Sarah's bringing about the promised “seed” at risk.

Here’s where the real irony sets in. The pagan Philistine king is visited by the LORD in a dream who tells him that he’s going to die because he has another man’s wife. The LORD had spoken directly to Abraham and told him that he and his wife Sarah would have a son together. However, Abraham’s actions don’t evidence a strong conviction that that he’s buying it. Conversely, the pagan Abimelech believed every word the LORD revealed to him in a dream.

Then, Abimelech appealed to the LORD, “LORD, will you kill innocent people?” (v. 4) Who does that sound like? That was Abraham’s argument to the LORD when he knew what the LORD would do to Sodom and Gomorrah. For a pagan, Abimelech has some pretty good theology happening at the moment. The great irony happening is humorous. But don’t miss the extent of God’s grace to Abimelech. God didn’t have to reveal anything to Abimelech. But he spoke a clear message to him and actually prevented him from sinning with Sarah. (v. 6) Then, he gave Abimelech a chance to do what was right. That’s what the LORD did with Cain, remember? But Cain chose to ignore the LORD’s warning and did what he wanted. Abimelech obeys the LORD’s instruction and blesses Abraham.

The story closes with Abraham praying to God to heal Abimelech, his wife, and female servants so that they would have children. (v. 17)

I think we often look to the Bible for instruction on what we should do. We open its pages to find tips for a happy marriage and so forth. But I really think the Scriptures are more about revealing who God is and what he is like. In this story, we are reminded again that Abraham, whom God chose, is human with weaknesses like everyone else. Yet, God will not abandon the plan that he has for Abraham and Sarah. God steps into the story to ensure that what he has promised will come about. It reveals that the LORD is able and willing to reveal himself to anyone or everyone. Furthermore, as he did with Abimelech, he protected him from ignorantly sinning and, with the new knowledge, gave him the choice to obey or disobey. God showed grace and mercy to a pagan king.

This is what our God is like. May this lead us to trust the LORD and know that his ways are good.

Episode 276 - "Lot's daughters and a foreboding of things to come" - Genesis 19:30-39

30 Now Lot went up out of Zoar and lived in the hills with his two daughters, for he was afraid to live in Zoar. So he lived in a cave with his two daughters. 31 And the firstborn said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is not a man on earth to come in to us after the manner of all the earth. 32 Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve offspring from our father.” 33 So they made their father drink wine that night. And the firstborn went in and lay with her father. He did not know when she lay down or when she arose.

34 The next day, the firstborn said to the younger, “Behold, I lay last night with my father. Let us make him drink wine tonight also. Then you go in and lie with him, that we may preserve offspring from our father.” 35 So they made their father drink wine that night also. And the younger arose and lay with him, and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose. 36 Thus both the daughters of Lot became pregnant by their father. 37 The firstborn bore a son and called his name Moab. He is the father of the Moabites to this day. 38 The younger also bore a son and called his name Ben-ammi. He is the father of the Ammonites to this day.

Sometimes, the Scriptures tell stories that may not have some profound theological truth or application that we need to take to heart for ourselves. Sometimes, its purpose is to give us information that helps us better understand the greater story that is happening. I think that’s the case in this story of what happens with Lot after he and his daughters escaped from Sodom and Gomorrah shortly before the LORD destroyed those cities.

The scene is that Lot and his daughters are living in a cave, and the daughters conspire together to have children by their father. Their reasoning is basically, “There aren’t any men left ‘in all the earth’ (v.31) to give us descendants. Is that true? As we read further into Genesis, we’ll find that Abraham sends one of his servants to his family back in his homeland to find a wife for his son Isaac. It appears to me that these daughters of Lot who were engaged to men who refused to listen to Lot’s warning about the LORD destroying Sodom and Gomorrah were not accustomed to trusting or seeking the LORD’s provision for them. There is no indication whatsoever in this text that their plan is from the LORD.

They know their plan would not be accepted by their father because they immediately plan on getting him drunk and removing such inhibitions that he would have if he were sober. The reader should not overlook the parallel to Noah. Just like Noah’s drunkenness led to Ham’s sin, this plan of Lot’s daughters will not go well either. Both of them get pregnant by their incestuous intercourse with their father.

While Moses doesn’t specifically call this out as evil, the reader is left to interpret this as the story transitions from the wicked culture of Sodom and Gomorrah and God’s judgment upon them to Lot’s hesitancy even to leave before the destruction and bartering with the angels as to where he would go. Then, his daughters get him drunk and sleep with him on two consecutive nights. Moses concludes this by giving us the names of the sons born through incest. Moab would be the father of the Moabites, and Ben-ammi, the father of the Ammonites. Remember, this story is written to the Israelites who’ve come out of Egypt and are being led back to the land the LORD promised to Abraham. Do you think the Moabites and Ammonites will reappear in future stories? You can bet it. They will not throw a welcome party for the Israelites.

This story would help the Israelites understand the history of these people groups. Even though there will be conflict between Israel and each of these people who worship other gods, we’ll also see the LORD reveal his grace and sovereign will in future stories. For instance, Ruth is a Moabitess who trusts in the LORD and will become an ancestor to David and, ultimately, Jesus.

Episode 275 - "Offered mercy from the Imminent Wrath of God" - Genesis 19:12-29

Gen. 19:12 Then the men said to Lot, “Have you anyone else here? Sons-in-law, sons, daughters, or anyone you have in the city, bring them out of the place. 13 For we are about to destroy this place, because the outcry against its people has become great before the LORD, and the LORD has sent us to destroy it.” 14 So Lot went out and said to his sons-in-law, who were to marry his daughters, “Up! Get out of this place, for the LORD is about to destroy the city.” But he seemed to his sons-in-law to be jesting.

Gen. 19:15 As morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be swept away in the punishment of the city.” 16 But he lingered. So the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the LORD being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. 17 And as they brought them out, one said, “Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away.” 18 And Lot said to them, “Oh, no, my lords. 19 Behold, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have shown me great kindness in saving my life. But I cannot escape to the hills, lest the disaster overtake me and I die. 20 Behold, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one. Let me escape there—is it not a little one?—and my life will be saved!” 21 He said to him, “Behold, I grant you this favor also, that I will not overthrow the city of which you have spoken. 22 Escape there quickly, for I can do nothing till you arrive there.” Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.

Gen. 19:23 The sun had risen on the earth when Lot came to Zoar. 24 Then the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the LORD out of heaven. 25 And he overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. 26 But Lot’s wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.

Gen. 19:27 And Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the LORD. 28 And he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and toward all the land of the valley, and he looked and, behold, the smoke of the land went up like the smoke of a furnace.

Gen. 19:29 So it was that, when God destroyed the cities of the valley, God remembered Abraham and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow when he overthrew the cities in which Lot had lived.

I can’t help but notice the presence of God’s mercy and imminent wrath in verses 12-14. The angels allowed Lot to intercede for others, to give them a chance to obey the warning and escape. Otherwise, they would experience the divine wrath of God. Tragically, his future sons-in-law took Lot’s warning and exhortation as a joke and did not heed his word.

As I write this blog post in January of 2025, we have a little more understanding of the sense of urgency to heed warnings regarding rapidly moving catastrophic fires. Terrible fires are destroying vast neighborhoods around Los Angeles, California. Winds at speeds of 100mph are giving people little time to prepare for evacuation. At least a few dozen people have died, and it’s yet to be determined what the loss in property will ultimately be. As fast as the fires have spread, many people have heeded the warnings and have escaped to safety. Sodom and Gomorrah was about to be utterly destroyed within a very brief span of time with no time for people to escape. The reason for it stated again was, “because the outcry against its people has become great before the LORD.” (Gen. 19:13) Yet, as Abraham had interceded for Lot, Lot was allowed to intercede for others. But they did not respond positively to that warning.

Surprisingly, at the eleventh hour, when the angels were about to destroy the city. Lot lingered. (Gen 19:16) The angels had to take them out of the city. Why did they bother? The answer is given to us: because the LORD was “merciful to him.” (Gen 19:16) When we think of this story of Sodom and Gomorrah, we don’t often think of grace and mercy, do we? We think of God’s wrath and judgment. But this story demonstrates plenty of God’s grace to Lot, his family, and others. Unfortunately, no one outside of Lot’s family will receive it, and Lot is not demonstrating the ideal response to God’s grace to him. He was slow to leave and then petitioned the angels to let him go where he wanted rather than where they directed him. After the angels told him to take his family, escape to the hills, and “Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley” (v. 17), Lot convinced the angels to let him go to the small city of Zoar. They conceded. But after they arrived, Lot’s wife looked back. She directly disobeyed their command from the LORD. We’ve seen that before in Genesis, haven’t we? It always leads to problems. Lot’s wife was judged for it.

Moses made an important statement about this judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah in verse 29. Speaking of this judgment, he writes, “God remembered Abraham and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow.” (Genesis 19:29) This is not saying that God had forgotten Abraham. It informs the reader that God is acknowledging his covenant promise to Abraham, and Lot, as part of Abraham’s family, is receiving the benefit of God’s protection from this judgment. It seems to me that this is what happens with us who’ve placed our faith in Christ. We may be like Lot and we don’t always act the way we should. But because of our relationship to Christ, we receive the benefits that offers. God demonstrates amazing grace and mercy to us each day.

Episode 274 - "God is not blind to injustice" - Genesis 19:1-11

Gen. 19:1 The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed himself with his face to the earth 2 and said, “My lords, please turn aside to your servant’s house and spend the night and wash your feet. Then you may rise up early and go on your way.” They said, “No; we will spend the night in the town square.” 3 But he pressed them strongly; so they turned aside to him and entered his house. And he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.

Gen. 19:4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house. 5 And they called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them.” 6 Lot went out to the men at the entrance, shut the door after him, 7 and said, “I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly. 8 Behold, I have two daughters who have not known any man. Let me bring them out to you, and do to them as you please. Only do nothing to these men, for they have come under the shelter of my roof.” 9 But they said, “Stand back!” And they said, “This fellow came to sojourn, and he has become the judge! Now we will deal worse with you than with them.” Then they pressed hard against the man Lot, and drew near to break the door down. 10 But the men reached out their hands and brought Lot into the house with them and shut the door. 11 And they struck with blindness the men who were at the entrance of the house, both small and great, so that they wore themselves out groping for the door.

Does anything strike you as unusual about this segment? Genesis 19:1 says, “The two angels came to Sodom in the evening.” Where did these angels come from? This is another opportunity for us to exercise one of the most important principles of interpretation: examining the context. If we back up to Genesis 18:22, we read that the “men” that had visited Abraham (Gen. 18:2) “turned from there (where Abraham was residing) and went toward Sodom. Could these angels be those men?

But wait a minute! There were three men who visited Abraham. (Gen. 18:2) If they are angels, what happened to the third angel? Remember that the story of Abraham’s visitors began with “And the LORD appeared to him.” (Gen. 18:1) I speculated that one of the three “men” might be a Christophany (a pre-incarnation appearance of Christ). This theory has support in Genesis 18:22 when, as the men turned toward Sodom, Abraham “still stood before the LORD.” It would seem that the other two continued on toward Sodom in order for them to carry out their mission to bring judgment upon Sodom and Gomorrah while Abraham petitioned the LORD to spare the righteous.

What happens when the two men approach the town is intriguing to me as well. The fact that Lot is at the gate of the city and that he offers hospitality does not seem all that strange. What intrigues me are Lot’s words to the angels and his sense of urgency for them to stay with him and to leave the next morning. Is Lot saying indirectly, “You don’t want to stay here long”? I could be reading that into this text. This may simply be a customary means of showing hospitality to strangers. But it sure seems that the narrative is heightening the tension of imminent conflict.

That conflict develops very quickly in the story. Apparently, others were at the gate or near the city and saw Lot take the angels into his home. Before long, the word got out, and the men of the town, “young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house” (Gen. 19:4). This was not a welcoming committee. They had a collective evil spirit that was common among every male in town. A scene like this, where all the men of the town are surrounding the house, trying to break in and have their way with Lot’s guests, helps us understand Lot’s insistence and urgency for the visitors to stay with him and leave first thing in the morning. Lot knows the culture in which he resides. In verses 6-8, Lot steps outside his home to dissuade them from their intent.

Personally, I find Lot’s speech disturbing. First, he addresses them as “brothers.” He is not. He’s related to Abraham. They are, in all likelihood, Canaanites. The second disturbing thing is that he offers them his virgin daughters for them to gang rape instead of his guests. At the very least, he tells them that their intent is wicked. (v. 7) They respond to this by becoming more violent. They do not recognize him as a brother. They call him a “fellow” who “came to sojourn” and “has become the judge.” (v.9). These people have no regard for Lot, his visitors, or anyone else.

What happened next was the men of the town tried to break into Lot’s house. The visitors pulled Lot back into the house and caused blindness upon the men at the door.

I’m going to pause in the story at this point to call our attention to a few things. First, I want to think back to Genesis 18 when the LORD asked, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?” (Gen. 18:17). The explanation and revealing of his plans are in verse 20. “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave.” My question is, “From who is this outcry coming?” I doubt that it’s coming from the men of Sodom. Perhaps it’s their wives. Maybe it’s from others who witnessed or experienced similar treatment while in the town. I don’t have an answer. But my observation that corresponds to this is that it doesn’t escape the LORD’s notice. God sees injustice. God may not react or address injustice right away. I don’t think this pervasive evil attitude developed overnight. But the LORD does notice, and the LORD cares, and the LORD will act accordingly. Lastly, as the story reminds us, the LORD will not sweep away the righteous with the wicked. Those who the LORD sees as righteous, he will deliver from the judgment that he brings upon the wicked. We often don’t think about God’s grace in the Old Testament. We tend to think of it as a New Testament concept. But we are going to witness God’s grace in this story.