God’s Plan Of Salvation – Fact #2 – You Are a Sinner

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Romans 3:23

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

If you are a human being – you qualify as “all.” Sin is sin, and you are a sinner.

1 John 3:4

Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

Sin is the transgression of the law.

1 John 5:10

He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

Sin is unbelief – it calls God a liar.

Isaiah 1:2

Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the Lord hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against Me.

Sin is active and passive rebellion against God.

GOD CAN NOT LIE. HE SAID THAT “ALL HAVE SINNED.” “ALL” INCLUDES YOU. YOU HAVE SINNED AGAINST GOD IN THOUGHT, WORD, AND ACTIONS. YOU HAVE COMMITTED SINS OF COMMISSION AND SINS OF OMISSION – BY DOING WHAT IS WRONG AND FAILING TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT. IN THE PERFECT, SINLESS, SIGHT OF GOD – YOU ARE A SINNER.

Admit this fact to yourself

I AM A LOST SINNER, BECAUSE I HAVE SINNED

God’s Plan of Salvation – Fact #1 – God Loves You

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IT IS AN ETERNAL FACT THAT GOD LOVES YOU WITH AN EVERLASTING LOVE THAT CANNOT BE FATHOMED. IT IS A LOVE SO BOUNDLESS, THAT IT CAN ONLY BE KNOWN THROUGH FAITH.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Just think about the simple word “so,” in the above verse. So simple, yet so expressive. That deep and simple word gives us some concept of the magnitude of God’s love. God so loved you, that He gave His only begotten Son, to be made sin for you, that you might be made the righteousness of God in Him.

2 Corinthians 5:21

For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.

**JESUS CHRIST WAS MADE THAT WHICH GOD HATES – SIN**

**SO THAT YOU MIGHT BE MADE THAT WHICH GOD LOVES – RIGHTEOUSNESS.**

It is because God so loves you, that you can exchange your sins for His righteousness. Is there any greater evidence of love?

CALVARY IS PROOF THAT GOD LOVES YOU – AND IT IS HIS GREATEST LONGING TO SAVE YOU.

Admit this fact to yourself

GOD LOVES ME

God’s Plan of Salvation – Introduction

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As we enter into this all-important focus of Bible Doctrine, please take note of these three important imperatives:

There are seven irrefutable facts revealed in God’s plan of salvation.
It is God’s plan – not man’s.
There is no other plan that can save your lost soul and make you a child of God.

Acts 4:12

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Revisionist history states that the Holy Roman Empire was dissolved, but that is not entirely true. It still exists, and is regrouping for the final phase of the story of the world. At one point, during its zenith – all roads led to Rome. And in a very real sense – all organized religions also lead to Rome – not to God and His salvation. There is only one way – God’s way. And, God’s Way is a Person; and the Person is His Son – Jesus Christ.

John 14:6

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.

GOD’S THREEFOLD PLAN OF SALVATION

I. Christ appeared here, on this earth, to save each and every one of us, from the penalty of sin. He accomplished this, by putting away our sins, through sacrificing Himself on the cross. Heb. 9:26 – For then must He often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.

II. He then appeared in heaven, in the presence of God, after His resurrection, to save us from the power of sin. Heb. 9:24 – For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

III. Christ will appear again on this earth, for the second time, as “Lord of Lords and King of Kings,” to save us from the very presence of sin. Heb. 9:28 – So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Please come back, for an in depth, seven part study of – God’s Plan of Salvation.

Bible Study – Esau’s Disappointment and Enmity

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Genesis 27:30-40

³⁰And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting.

³¹And he also had made savoury meat, and brought it unto his father, and said unto his father, Let my father arise, and eat of his son’s venison, that thy soul may bless me.

³²And Isaac his father said unto him, Who art thou? And he said, I am thy son, thy firstborn Esau.

³³And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed.

³⁴And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father.

³⁵And he said, Thy brother came with subtilty, and hath taken away thy blessing.

³⁶And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?

Esau’s pleading and tears could not undo what had happened. When he so casually sold his birthright for a bowl of pottage, he demonstrated to the Lord just how much he did not care for Spiritual things. His heart and head were filled with fleshly desires. Because of this, a seed of bitterness took root in his soul –

Hebrews 12:15-17

¹⁵Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

¹⁶Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

¹⁷For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

Esau’s repentance was not genuine. He was grieving over what he had lost – not expressing Godly sorrow for what he had done. Children often think they are only wrong when they are caught. Esau was the same as a naughty child, only longing for the blessing, not desiring to be right with the Lord. We can be reminded of the many Replacement Theologists – who attempt to take for themselves all of the blessings promised to Israel – without desiring the conditional basis for the blessings. Many, many people only express sorrow for sin – when they are caught.

³⁷And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him: and what shall I do now unto thee, my son?

³⁸And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept.

³⁹And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above;

⁴⁰And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck.

Isaac predicts that Esau will continue in his warlike mindset – “by the sword thou shalt live.” Certainly, an ominous and accurate statement of where the descendants of Esau are to this very day. Esau ultimately allows his bitterness to turn to anger. Anger, when allowed to proceed unchecked, gives birth to hatred and fighting, and can even lead to murder. Today – the descendants of Esau – are still harboring enmity towards Jacob. Today – they call themselves Palestinians.

TWO WRONGS DO NOT MAKE A RIGHT! FOUR WRONGS ARE EVEN WORSE!!

Isaac was fully aware that God had told Rebekah even before the twins were born that “the elder shall serve the younger.” Isaac also knew that Esau had sold his birthright to Jacob. Despite that, Isaac chose to ignore these rather remarkable facts.
Rebekah attempted to anticipate God, whereby she instigated a terrible deception rather than waiting on the Lord to do His perfect work.
Esau could not have forgotten that he had sold his birthright to his brother Jacob. It would have been proper for him to remind his father of the event, and refuse the blessing outright.
Jacob deceived his father by lying, and acting out the lie that he was his brother Esau.

For a family with so much promise and blessing, they ended in a terrible mess. Esau’s future is described in Obadiah, some refer to this as “The Obadiah War.”

Obadiah 17-21

¹⁷But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.

¹⁸And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau; for the Lord hath spoken it.

¹⁹And they of the south shall possess the mount of Esau; and they of the plain the Philistines: and they shall possess the fields of Ephraim, and the fields of Samaria: and Benjamin shall possess Gilead.

²⁰And the captivity of this host of the children of Israel shall possess that of the Canaanites, even unto Zarephath; and the captivity of Jerusalem, which is in Sepharad, shall possess the cities of the south.

²¹And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the Lord‘s.

Bible Study – Jacob Obtains Isaac’s Blessing

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ISAAC FORGETS TWO IMPORTANT THINGS:

Genesis 27:1-10

27 And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I.

²And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death:

³Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison;

⁴And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die.

⁵And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.

⁶And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying,

⁷Bring me venison, and make me savoury meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before the Lord before my death.

⁸Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee.

⁹Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury meat for thy father, such as he loveth:

¹⁰And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death.

Jacob intends to bless his favorite son, the manly Esau, and requests venison meat. Please notice what is highlighted in red. “Savoury meat.” Death seems imminent to Isaac, even though he would live for many more years. “Savoury meat such as I love,” indicates that Isaac allowed the desires of his flesh to dull his “spiritual sense.” His fleshly lusts caused him to forget two important things:

God told his wife that, “the elder would serve the younger.”
Esau had already sold his birthright to Jacob.

We observe, that fleshly Isaac was ready to set aside God’s divine purpose, and the carnal Esau enthusiastically went along to accept the birthright he had sold to Jacob.

JACOB DECEIVES HIS FATHER

Genesis 27:11-17

¹¹And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man:

¹²My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing.

¹³And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me them.

¹⁴And he went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother: and his mother made savoury meat, such as his father loved.

¹⁵And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son:

¹⁶And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck:

¹⁷And she gave the savoury meat and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.

What cunning! The duplicity of mankind through the ages is evident in this episode. It was not difficult to fool the old man. Goat meat tastes similar to deer meat. Wearing goat skins and his brother’s clothing in order to smell and feel like the outdoor sportsman that Esau was, Jacob was able to fool his elderly, blind father with ease. But that’s not all! In the following passage, highlighted in red, we see that Jacob even contrived to make his deception appear “spiritual.” This added a deeper level of wickedness to Jacob’s sin. In fact, the depth of spiritual wickedness lays Jacob’s old nature wide open for all of us to see. Using the name of God to accomplish evil is the trademark of the Evil One. Satan likes to put the Christian label on some very evil things. The old nature has rule in Jacob’s life at this time, and we can all learn from it.

Genesis 27:18-29

¹⁸And he came unto his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I; who art thou, my son?

¹⁹And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy first born; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me.

²⁰And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because the Lord thy God brought it to me.

²¹And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not.

²²And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.

²³And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau’s hands: so he blessed him.

²⁴And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am.

²⁵And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son’s venison, that my soul may bless thee. And he brought it near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine and he drank.

²⁶And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son.

²⁷And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the Lord hath blessed:

²⁸Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine:

²⁹Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother’s sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.

We’d all like to think that we would never do something like Jacob did. But it is a fact, that our old natures are capable of just about anything, including murder. Our fleshly nature must me subdued, and we must follow Jesus Christ at all costs.

Romans 7:15-25 (KJV)

¹⁵For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

¹⁶If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.

¹⁷Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

¹⁸For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

¹⁹For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

²⁰Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

²¹I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

²²For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

²³But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

²⁴O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

²⁵I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

Bible Study – Esau’s Wives

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Following the history of the Jews, is the story of God’s plan of Salvation. Every saved person can see themselves in this history. In last week’s study, the remarkable focus on wells, and Isaac, who was the son of promise, digging for wells to provide for his tribe. It was also observed, that Isaac’s name is associated with wells seven times! Oh, the deep things of God get deeper and deeper.

We next progress onto the further refining of the line of promise, and the enmity of the flesh towards the things of God.

Esau’s wives . . .

Only two verses are devoted to this subject here, yet they are verses that portend a great deal.

Genesis 26:34-35

³⁴And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite:

³⁵Which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah.

Hittites were idolaters, immoral, and worshipers of demons.
Esau demonstrated why the Lord did not choose him, as this occurred before Isaac even blessed Jacob. The Lord knows us before we are even conceived in the womb.
Esau did not consider his parents in that he actually caused them grief through these marriages. The spirit of rebellion.

It is of interest to those who adhere to the infallibility of God’s Word, how the secularists had long denied the existence of any such people group as the Hittites. As time often reveals all truth – archeologists have proven since 1876, that the Hittites (mentioned over 50 times in Scripture) were indeed a powerful people group during the 15th and 16th centuries BC. They were descended from Heth, son of Canaan (the cursed, youngest son of Ham) and the great-grandson of Noah. Their pagansim resulted in truly despicable practices, which is why they were to be destroyed – not married! When God delivered the Canaanites to be destroyed by Israel His servant – it was to prevent the chosen people from being contaminated by such evil.

Which now brings up the subject, of intermarriage for believers. Why do the saved of the Lord still do it?

For Christians – even dating an unbeliever is unwise.

For Christians – marrying an unbeliever is forbidden.
There can be no harmony between the believer and the unsaved.

2 Corinthians 6:14Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

¹⁵And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

¹⁶And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

¹⁷Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

1 Corinthians 15:33

Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

Marriage is the most intimate relationship on earth. It is prophetically significant in that it portrays the relationship between Christ, and His Bride – the Church. We are to evangelize the lost with the Gospel – not marry them!

Bible Study – Digging for Water

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In the last study, it was told that the Philistines had “stopped up” all the wells that had been dug by Abraham’s servants. It is still happening today. After the “road map to peace” (2002 Counsel on Foreign Relations/Bush Whitehouse) had forcibly moved Jews out of Gaza, rather than dwelling in the homes that were there, the so-called Palestinians razed them to the ground. In the same manner – pagan Gentiles also attempt to “stop up” Living Water wherever it is found. The entire 26th chapter of Genesis deals with Isaac’s wells.

seven times Isaac’s name is associated with wells!!!!!

Genesis 24:62
Genesis 26:18
Genesis 26:19
Genesis 26: 21
Genesis 26: 22
Genesis 26: 25
Genesis 26: 32

Psalm 12:6

The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

Genesis 26:17-33

¹⁷And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there.

¹⁸And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them.

¹⁹And Isaac’s servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water.

²⁰And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac’s herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek; because they strove with him.

²¹And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah.

²²And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the Lord hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.

²³And he went up from thence to Beersheba.

²⁴And the Lord appeared unto him the same night, and said,

I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for My servant Abraham’s sake.

²⁵And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the Lord, and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac’s servants digged a well.

Just as leaven in the Bible represents sin, so does water and wells represent the Holy Spirit and spiritual wells. Wells signify where sheeple can hear God’s Word and drink spiritual water. All Bible believing churches, schools and ministries that give forth the Gospel are spiritual wells. As in Genesis – God wants spiritual wells everywhere – but His enemies ALWAYS try to “stop up the wells.” Just like Isaac’s servants, we should dig new, and reopen wells that are stopped. Isaac reopened the wells that had been stopped, and dug new ones as well, until there was enough for his his tribe. We are of the tribe of Christ. Christians. As the servants of the Lord, we must dig for living water, and make sure the water is kept “clean” (unstopped) at established wells.

When liberalism and occultism enter a ministry, the well becomes stopped. The former “lively water,” becomes thick and stagnant. No refreshment. The ministry loses its lifeline, and sheeple turn away because they receive no water. As sheeple become entangled in false teachings, they cease looking for Living Water. . .

²⁶Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath one of his friends, and Phichol the chief captain of his army.

²⁷And Isaac said unto them,

Wherefore come ye to me, seeing ye hate me, and have sent me away from you?

²⁸And they said,

We saw certainly that the Lord was with thee: and we said, Let there be now an oath betwixt us, even betwixt us and thee, and let us make a covenant with thee;

²⁹That thou wilt do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee, and as we have done unto thee nothing but good, and have sent thee away in peace: thou art now the blessed of the Lord.

³⁰And he made them a feast, and they did eat and drink.

³¹And they rose up betimes in the morning, and sware one to another: and Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace.

³²And it came to pass the same day, that Isaac’s servants came, and told him concerning the well which they had digged, and said unto him, We have found water.

³³And he called it Shebah: therefore the name of the city is Beersheba unto this day.

What are some “well-stoppers” today? atheism, liberalism, cults, New Age philosophies, occult, paganism, abortion, normalization of perversion, and moral relativism. God’s people must continue to be like Isaac in digging new wells, and unstopping old wells, so that Living Water will be available to everyone.

Isaiah 12:3

Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.

Bible Study – Isaac’s Dispute With Abimelech

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What is the old saying – familiarity breeds contempt? We shall see from this study, that it not only breeds contempt, but envy as well.

Genesis 26:6-16

⁶And Isaac dwelt in Gerar:

⁷And the men of the place asked him of his wife; and he said, She is my sister: for he feared to say, She is my wife; lest, said he, the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah; because she was fair to look upon.

⁸And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife.

⁹And Abimelech called Isaac, and said, Behold, of a surety she is thy wife; and how saidst thou, She is my sister? And Isaac said unto him, Because I said, Lest I die for her.

¹⁰And Abimelech said, What is this thou hast done unto us? one of the people might lightly have lien with thy wife, and thou shouldest have brought guiltiness upon us.

¹¹And Abimelech charged all his people, saying, He that toucheth this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.

Abimelech has seen the hand of God on Isaac, as he prospers when no one else does. His command not to touch Rebekah and Isaac is not enough to quell the intense envy that the gentiles have for Israel. He only succeeded in inflaming the conflict – by stressing even more that Isaac had more (and better) than they did.

¹²Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the Lord blessed him.

This is hugely significant for believers. This is something that weary evangelists can take to heart. Isaac sowed in the Promised Land during a time of great famine, and received in the SAME YEAR a hundredfold reaping. It also greatly stresses the relationship between Israel and the Land. The land of Israel only responds to the People of Israel. They are the only earthly, chosen, people.

Isaiah 35:1-2

35 The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.

²It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God.

¹³And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great:

¹⁴For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him.

Of course – as Jews tend to prosper at everything they set their hands to – the natural sinful response is – envy. Everyone must be aware of the so-called Jewish conspiracy. It is no conspiracy. It is God. Period.

¹⁵For all the wells which his father’s servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth.

¹⁶And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we.

isaac has not only re-dug wells, but the ground work has now been laid for conflict, fueled by envy, to fulfill god’s plan for his covenant people. Abimelech fears isaac and sends him away. it is not for abimelech to send issac anywhere – and we will see in the next study – that he does not go far – and –

Isaac’s Focus on Water!

Bible Study – God Confirms Covenant With Isaac

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Only by adhering strictly to Scripture, are we allowed to see the Lord’s complete relationship with mankind. Anytime we veer even slightly into the world, our “world-view” will become corrupted. There are countless books, blogs, websites, Youtubes, and even television programming, devoted to “expanding our understanding of the Bible.” Unfortunately – the “world-view” of whoever is producing these products, will heavily impress itself upon the finished product. It is essential to truly delve into the Word of God in the King James Bible, to understand Him. And, through His Word, we can understand why the Jews were – and still are – God’s chosen people.

Genesis 26:1-5

26 And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar.

[Abimelech = My father is king. It is not a name as much as it is a title, in the same fashion as Pharaoh is. There were several “Abimelechs” recorded.]

²And the Lord appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of:

³Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father;

⁴And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;

⁵Because that Abraham obeyed My voice, and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.

As we progress through the Book of Genesis, we see our Lord further refining the people known as Hebrews. In the above passage, the Lord reconfirms the eternal Abrahamic Covenant. It is not a new covenant. In verse 5, He lists the reasons why He has done so. In verse 4b – He states just how ALL the nations of the world will be blessed through Abraham’s penultimate seed – Jesus Christ.

There are many ministries, religions, cults, and so-forth, dedicated to destroying the Biblical truth of the nature of God’s relationship with Israel. Many even go so far as to trash the Epistles of Paul! It is imperative, for the serious Bible student, to understand the difference between the Nation of Israel, and the Church. It is implicitly laid out in both the Old and New Testaments. God used Israel throughout His-story, and He is still using them. It is my firm belief, that even the Song of Solomon is about our Savior and His Gentile Bride – the Church. This story is told over and over again, in varying scenes, throughout the Old Testament. Jews do not even know why they perform the rituals and rites of the proscribed Feasts – yet all the same – they are portraying the same story.

All O.T. Biblical Covenants are between Jehovah and Israel – the Church is a third party beneficiary! The Church is not a part of the nations of the world – but rather a pilgrim on earth. Israel engages in earthly physical battles, while the Church’s battles are spiritual. Israel has a priesthood, the Church is a priesthood. Israel has Biblical borders and a capitol, while the Church consists of peoples from all nations and tongues. Israel is referred to as the frequently faithless wife of Jehovah, while the Church is referred to as the Bride of Christ. God’s relationship with Israel was one of Subject/King, while the Church’s relationship is one of Bride/Bridegroom.

four fifths of the bible pertains to the jews, while one fifth deals with the church!!!!

Just because the Jewish nation at large does not realize their role, does not mean they are not still players in the scene. They have been blinded in part, and it is not for us to conjecture the full why and how. He tells us in the following passage, that the Jews were blinded so that we may take part in His Salvation. It is one of the mysteries of God’s manifold love for His creatures.

Romans 11:24-26

²⁴For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

²⁵For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

²⁶And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

Bible Study – Death and Burial of Abraham

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Genesis 25:7-11

⁷And these are the days of the years of Abraham’s life which he lived, an hundred threescore and fifteen years.

⁸Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.

Please note that Abraham, God’s faithful friend, was not taken to heaven! He “was gathered to his people.” The faithful were not able to access heaven until Jesus Christ, Abraham’s penultimate descendant, was sacrificed and rose from the dead. All believers were assigned to a division of hell, known as “Abraham’s bosom,” where it can be determined, they received comfort from Abraham himself. . . but. . .were not in torment!

Luke 16:21-23

²¹And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

²²And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

²³And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

Many, many believers labor under the unscriptural belief, that the saints of the Old Testament went to heaven based on the Law and faith. This simply is not found anywhere in the Bible. There is only one way, and it has always been the only way, from before the dawn of time. Please see this study on the two Gospel quandary.

John 14:6

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.

⁹And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre;

¹⁰The field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth: there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife.

Pro-Palestinians and Islamist’s should note – that this land was purchased by Abraham to bury Sarah – not Hagar!

When Abraham gave his son to God, Abraham gained back his son. God does not require anything nearly so dramatic from believers today. But, it is true without doubt, that when we give of ourselves to God, we gain far, far more than we ever gave. If we do not grow in faith and continue in infantile Christianity, we will eventually lose a great deal, because as baby Christians, the tendency is towards selfishness and far too much introspection – AKA – naval gazing!

We see in the following verse, God’s continuing plan for the Salvation of mankind. Though Ishmael was the first born, and natural heir, The Lord knew these men before they were even conceived. He chose the second born – Isaac – for His purposes, just as we choose Him, over our own natural man – who is our first born man.

¹¹And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by the well Lahairoi.

Easton’s Bible Dictionary

I.e., “the well of Him that liveth and seeth me,” or, as some render it, “the well of the vision of life”, the well where the Lord met with Hagar (Genesis 16:7-14). Isaac dwelt beside this well (24:62; 25:11). It has been identified with `Ain Muweileh, or Moilahhi, south-west of Beersheba, and about 12 miles W. from Kadesh-barnea.

Bible Study – Abraham’s Sons by Keturah

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Abraham’s beloved wife Sarah has died, Issac has taken Rebekah as his wife, and now – Abraham the widower – takes a second wife. The significance of this union, is not important until we take into consideration Israel’s past and present enemies. The offspring of Keturah and Abraham feature heavily in wars and prophecies as Israel conquers the Promised Land.

Genesis 25:1-4

25 Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah.

²And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. ³And Jokshan begat Sheba, and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, and Letushim, and Leummim. ⁴And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abidah, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah. As illustrated on the map – the sons of Keturah and Abraham essentially surround the Promised Land. In a previous study, we observed the sons of Abraham and Hagar through Ishmael surrounding the Promised Land on the eastern and southern border. The pivotal verse of chapter 25 of Genesis follows:

Genesis 25:5

And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac.

This is it – the entire borders of the land promised to Abraham, through Isaac and Jacob, by God. This was ALL that Abraham had, given to him through blood contract. The other progeny of Abraham have no rights, or claim to any portion of this land – whatsoever. The insensible hatred the world has for the Jewish nation is demonic, it is nothing new, and has been ongoing from the beginning. When faced with these same tribes during the rebuilding of the Temple, the prophet Nehemiah stated flatly. . .

Nehemiah 2:19-20

¹⁹But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king? ²⁰Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, He will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.

Genesis 25:6

But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country.

^{https://web.archive.org/web/20151017155919if_/http://www.youtube.com/embed/0B5hKbDdkU4?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent}Former “Palestinian terrorist” Walid Shoebat, has stated that his family were Greek in origin! So, as we see, it is not only Arabs and Egyptians claiming the Promised Land – but the tribe of Japheth as well. This can be clearly seen through the “British Israel” and the Mormon’s “American Israel” false/cultic religions. The Vatican is continuously conniving to control portions of the Promised Land. And now Hamas, is clamoring for Gaza to be rebuilt – or else!

Bible Study – Isaac Gets a Bride – Part 4

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As we conclude this segment of Genesis, we can know and love how perfectly our heavenly Father does everything. In the story of Isaac, His father Abraham, and his bride Rebekah, we are made to understand the overreaching story of God’s unfathomable love for His creation – man. In that He had a plan to deliver us from the immediacy of our fallen state, and raise us up to be as His own, for all eternity.

Our last study, left off with Rebekah choosing to immediately leave her home, and follow the unnamed servant back to the promised land, to be the bride of the son of promise.

Genesis 24:62-67

⁶²And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahairoi; for he dwelt in the south country.

⁶³And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide:

As Isaac came in the eventide to meet his bride, so will the Lord Jesus Christ – The Bridegroom – come for His Bride – at the eventide of the church age. Many Bible scholars also believe that the Rapture of the church will take place under darkness as well. It is entirely possible – and thrilling to contemplate!

and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming.

⁶⁴And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel.

⁶⁵For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a vail, and covered herself.

⁶⁶And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done.

The servant finished his assignment – then he left the rest up to God.

⁶⁷And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.

Isaac took Rebekah into his mother Sarah’s tent (tabernacle!) and so will the Lord’s Bride dwell with Him during His earthly reign in the Millennium.

This is a beautiful picture of the future of the church/Bride. The Feast of Tabernacles foreshadows the time when we will dwell with the Lord forever. It is the most joyous of all the Feasts proscribed in Leviticus 23. It is also known as the Feast of Booths, and the Feast of Ingathering! It is the great – Harvest Home – the season of rejoicing!

The Feast of Tabernacles starts five days after Yom Kippur, on the 15th of Tishri, at the full moon, usually falling in late September or early October. It is the third Fall Fast, or Latter Rain Feasts, (Pilgrim Feasts) during which all men were required to be in Jerusalem. During the Feast of Tabernacles, the Temple Mount was brilliantly lit with many torches and candles.

Deuteronomy 16:13-14

¹³Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine:

¹⁴And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates.

The true Sukkot, or Tabernacle is not an annual ceremony of living in booths (Succoths) to Christians. It is not even a future time of peace and rest – because we know that the true Sukkot is a Person! Jesus Christ.

Acts 15:14-18

¹⁴Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.

¹⁵And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,

¹⁶After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:

¹⁷That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.

¹⁸Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

****Interesting side note. Two historically significant events took place during the Feast of Tabernacles – Solomon’s Temple was dedicated (2 Chron. 5:2-3, 12-14; and 1 Kings 8:1-2) and 490 (!) years later the Second Temple was dedicated on the 15th of Tishri, 515 B.C., (Neh. 8:14-18) Anyone care to venture what future event might take place on a future Feast of Tabernacles? Exciting to contemplate!

Bible Study – Isaac Gets a Bride – Part 3

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We left off with the unnamed servant giving praise and thanks to God for leading him directly to the chosen wife for the chosen son. Whereupon she immediately drew 530 gallons of water for the thirsty camels, giving the servant comfort as he was guided by the Holy Spirit.

Genesis 24:28-49

²⁸And the damsel ran, and told them of her mother’s house these things.

²⁹And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban: and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the well.

³⁰And it came to pass, when he saw the earring and bracelets upon his sister’s hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus spake the man unto me; that he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the well.

³¹And he said, Come in, thou blessed of the Lord; wherefore standest thou without? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.

³²And the man came into the house: and he ungirded his camels, and gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and the men’s feet that were with him.

³³And there was set meat before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told mine errand. And he said, Speak on.

³⁴And he said, I am Abraham’s servant.

³⁵And the Lord hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses.

³⁶And Sarah my master’s wife bare a son to my master when she was old: and unto him hath he given all that he hath.

³⁷And my master made me swear, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife to my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell:

³⁸But thou shalt go unto my father’s house, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son.

³⁹And I said unto my master, Peradventure the woman will not follow me.

⁴⁰And he said unto me, The Lord, before whom I walk, will send his angel with thee, and prosper thy way; and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my kindred, and of my father’s house:

⁴¹Then shalt thou be clear from this my oath, when thou comest to my kindred; and if they give not thee one, thou shalt be clear from my oath.

⁴²And I came this day unto the well, and said, O Lord God of my master Abraham, if now thou do prosper my way which I go:

⁴³Behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass, that when the virgin cometh forth to draw water, and I say to her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water of thy pitcher to drink;

⁴⁴And she say to me, Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels: let the same be the woman whom the Lord hath appointed out for my master’s son.

⁴⁵And before I had done speaking in mine heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down unto the well, and drew water: and I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee.

⁴⁶And she made haste, and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: so I drank, and she made the camels drink also.

⁴⁷And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? And she said, the daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bare unto him: and I put the earring upon her face, and the bracelets upon her hands.

⁴⁸And I bowed down my head, and worshipped the Lord, and blessed the Lord God of my master Abraham, which had led me in the right way to take my master’s brother’s daughter unto his son.

⁴⁹And now if ye will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me: and if not, tell me; that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left.

I am Abraham’s servant.

At no point, does the servant draw attention to himself. Before even taking his own rest after such a long journey, he goes about telling the mission that his master set for him. This is loyalty. His loyalty was to “my master.” Loyalty is important – and it is a quality that is sorely lacking today. It is a character trait that gives a refreshing, wholesome substance to an individual. Sheeple need to be loyal to God and His Truth, and also loyal to their families, employers, and their country.

Our “Master” wants His servant’s loyalty – in direct contrast to the desires of the evil one. Satan despises loyalty and influences his own followers to mock and ridicule those who are loyal to God and His truth.

THE UNNAMED SERVANT TEACHES US LOYALTY

Luke 16:10

He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

Bible Study – Isaac Gets a Bride – Part 2

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The unnamed servant has asked the Lord to reveal who the Bride will be – by volunteering to give water to the ten camels.

Genesis 24:15-27

¹⁵And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.

¹⁶And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up.

¹⁷And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher.

¹⁸And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink.

¹⁹And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking.

²⁰And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.

²¹And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the Lord had made his journey prosperous or not.

Camels have a series of physiological adaptations that allow them to withstand long periods of time without any external source of water.^[17] Unlike other mammals, their red blood cells are oval rather than circular in shape. This facilitates the flow of red blood cells during dehydration^[21] and makes them better at withstanding high osmotic variation without rupturing when drinking large amounts of water: a 600 kg (1,300 lb) camel can drink 200 L (53 US gal) of water in three minutes.^[22]^{[23] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camel}

That’s right ! 53 gallons of water for 1 camel!

53 gallons x 10 camels = 530 gallons of water!!!

Rebekah was not a sluggard! as the bride of the son of promise – she portrays the bride of jesus Christ – the church.

²²And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold;

The unnamed servant gives precious gifts to Rebekah, gold bracelets and earrings, tokens of his master’s wealth. The Servant (Holy Spirit) gives tokens of the Father’s riches – endless joy, and boundless peace.

²³And said, Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee: is there room in thy father’s house for us to lodge in?

²⁴And she said unto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, which she bare unto Nahor.

²⁵She said moreover unto him, We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in.

²⁶And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the Lord.

²⁷And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and His truth: I being in the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master’s brethren.

What an example the unnamed servant is to us! He was a faithful steward in every way. He looked after his master’s affairs as if they were his own. Unfaithful stewards will cheat and steal from their masters. In our own service to Christ, as faithful stewards, we must handle our talents, abilities, money, time, and opportunities as faithful stewards of God. In so doing, we will be rewarded for our faithful stewardship at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

The unnamed servant also trusted God implicitly to help him meet his responsibility.

Luke 16:10

He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

Bible Study – Isaac Gets a Bride – Part 1

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Abraham has buried his beloved wife, Sarah, in the cave of Macpelah – which later became the family burial place for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Not Ishmael and Esau!!!

Genesis 24 And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things.

²And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:

³And I will make thee swear by the Lord, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:

Here the very aged Abraham, is adjuring his most trusted servant, to journey to the land of his birth, to find a bride for the son of promise. His instruction to place the hand under his thigh, is deep in covenant meaning. The thigh area is generalized in the Old Testament to mean the area of sexual reproduction, also playing significantly into the symbol of circumcision. It refers to the importance of the son of promise and his progeny – from which the Messiah would come.

Abraham also, in choosing the Gentile bride for Isaac portrays our heavenly Father choosing a Gentile Bride – the church – for His Son – the Christ. If Abraham had chosen a Canaanite bride for Isaac, imagine how differently things would have happened!

⁴But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.

⁵And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest?

⁶And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again.

This is a strong caution to the unnamed servant!

⁷The Lord God of heaven, which took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.

⁸And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again.

The son of promise, Isaac, is not to be brought to that land under any circumstances!

⁹And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter.

Remember – the hand under the thigh refers to the blessed progeny of Abraham, through his covenant with God!

THE UNNAMED SERVANT IS THE PRINCIPAL CHARACTER OF GENESIS 24 –

Luke 16:10

He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

Why is the servant nameless? Because God chose for him to be nameless. A faithful servant never cares about promoting himself, his interest is solely in serving his master. The Holy Spirit never promotes Himself, but always exalts the Son of God.

¹⁰And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor.

¹¹And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water.

¹²And he said O Lord God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham.

This is very significant. The unnamed servant does not rely on his own perspicacity to find a bride for his master’s son. He relies on the God of heaven to do it all!

¹³Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water:

¹⁴And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that Thou hast shewed kindness unto my master.

The unnamed servant states right here that if God is providing the bride, that God is showing kindness to Abraham – not the servant himself!

THE SERVANT (THE HOLY SPIRIT) SEEKS THOSE WILLING TO BELIEVE HIS MESSAGE (THE GOSPEL) EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN THE BRIDEGROOM (CHRIST).

Bible Study – The Birth of Isaac

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The year was approximately 1892 B.C., when the Lord fulfilled His promise to Abraham. Both Abraham and Sarah had laughed when God said that 90-year-old Sarah would have a son. But it was a different story when the promised son did arrive – and joyous laughter would be heard in Abraham’s tent.

GENESIS 21:1-8

21 And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken.

²For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.

³And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.

⁴And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him.

⁵And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him.

⁶And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.

⁷And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age.

⁸And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned.

But for Ishmael, Abraham’s son by Hagar, Issac’s presence caused jealousy and resentment. He had been the apple of his father’s eye until Isaac came – and we can naturally expect jealousy to be demonstrated towards his half brother. At the feast Sarah sees Ishmael mocking, or teasing the little Isaac, who is perhaps 2-3 years old at the weaning. Sarah, knew that Ishmael was old enough, at around age 16-17, to know better.

GENESIS 21:9-13

⁹And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.

¹⁰Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.

¹¹And the thing was very grievous in Abraham’s sight because of his son.

¹²And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.

¹³And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed.

Sarah was very upset at Ishmael’s behavior, and Abraham was upset at losing his son. But the Lord told him that Sarah was right – and that he must cast out the bondwoman and her son. Though it was painful – Abraham obeyed in faith – believing that if he did God’s will, that everything will turn out right.

God cared for Ishmael as he promised Abraham He would. Through this extremity, Ishmael met the Lord; and God promised to make of him a great nation. These are the tender mercies of God, because Abraham believed in faith.

GENESIS 21:14-21

¹⁴And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.

¹⁵And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs.

¹⁶And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bow shot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept.

¹⁷And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.

¹⁸Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation.

¹⁹And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.

²⁰And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.

²¹And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran: and his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt.

AN ALLEGORY OF LAW AND GRACE

GALATIANS 4:22-24

²²For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.

²³But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.

²⁴Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.

GALATIANS 4:28-31

²⁸Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

²⁹But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.

³⁰Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.

³¹So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

Ishmael and Isaac represent a spiritual allegory of law and grace (unmerited favor.) Hagar and Ishmael represent the law at Sinai, while Sarah and Issac represent God’s grace at Calvary. The two principles – law and grace – are always in conflict! They can not coexist. The “law” represents all of man’s best efforts to earn favor with God, while “grace” represents favor from God that is not earned.

The law principle must be “cast out” of our lives in order for us to receive grace. We need grace both for our salvation, and for our daily walk with God. Salvation and victory in the Christian life are always done through faith, not through the law – not through trying to earn God’s favor by good works.

GALATIANS 3:6-7

⁶Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

⁷Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

GALATIANS 3:11

¹¹But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

Even so – to receive God’s grace by faith does not mean we can live any way we choose! Rather – it is His grace that teaches us how we should live!

TITUS 2:11-12

¹¹For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

¹²Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world. . .

Bible Study – Lot Delivered from Judgment

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Lot has returned from trying to persuade his two married daughters and their husbands of the impending doom. They mocked him in the same fashion that the world mocks Christians today. Since they can not see the doom coming – it does not exist in their minds. Forever the fallback of the secularists – prove it!

The angels spend the night in Lot’s home, then awaken him at dawn.

15 And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. 16 And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.

Apparently Lot was “lingering” (vs. 16) – something many people do when presented with the Gospel. They delay leaving their old, sinful life, because they, like Lot, fail to see the gravely perilous situation they are in. We also see that Lot is being delivered, as we are, because of the Lord’s mercy. Not for anything that Lot did – and not for anything that we do.

17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.18 And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord:19 Behold now, Thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified Thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die:20 Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.

21 And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken. 22 Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.

The map at right shows the approximate locations of the “cities of the plain.” Some scholars believe they were farther north, but the location is not germane to this study.

Lot – still the carnal believer – is terrified of being homeless. His weak flesh still has control over his actions. He feels that if he were too far from “civilization” he would not be able to live. He asks to be granted sanctuary in the “little” city of Zoar.

23 The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar.

24 Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven; 25 And He overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.

Many archeologists have attempted to locate the remains of these cities. I find that rather ridiculous, because the Lord “overthrew those cities.” Working in my garden, I often turn the top layer of soil and its weeds completely over. When I go back a few weeks later, the weeds underneath are all dead. If that could happen in my garden in just two weeks – how could something the the Lord completely destroyed still remain after thousands of years? Most experts now agree – that Sodom and the “cities of the plain,” are now what is known as the Dead Sea. They were completely destroyed. The Lord “overthrew” them – even turning them upside down, as one dumps out a garbage pail!

26 But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

NO MAN, HAVING PUT HIS HAND TO THE PLOUGH, AND LOOKING BACK, IS FIT FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD. LUKE 9: 62

27 And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the Lord:

28 And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace.

29 And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt. Genesis 19: 15-29

Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.

Leviticus 18: 22

ALL sexual behavior outside of the God ordained marriage between one man and one woman is sin – gay or straight, plural, animal, whatever – including all fornication and adultery among “straight” people. Christians – when you are intimate with someone- you are permanently joined to them. Only God can separate that. Sexual sin is sin against your own body – and sin against God.

15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.

16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith He, shall be one flesh.

17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is One Spirit.

18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 1 Corinthians 6: 15-18

The Lord Jesus Christ could not have been more clear on this subject –

Have ye not read, that He which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

Matthew 19: 4-6

If you are struggling with sexual sin – no matter if it is homosexuality, pornography, adultery, or fornication – it is the same sin of lust. Jesus can deliver you from this sin, no matter how heinous and unforgivable you feel. You may feel that you are beyond redemption. Jesus came and died to save sinners! If you are truly repentant, and truly want to be delivered – you can be delivered. Do you long to be pure? You can be – just like the thief on the cross next to Jesus. It’s not too late for you. . . repent now, and turn to Jesus Christ.

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which Thou hast broken may rejoice.

9 Hide Thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from Thy presence; and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation; and uphold me with Thy free spirit.

13 Then will I teach transgressors Thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto Thee. Psalm 51: 7-13

Bible Study – Two Angels Visit Lot

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In our last devotional, Abraham has interceded for his nephew Lot, after the Lord has revealed to him the impending judgement of Sodom. We learned two things – that the Lord desires the faithful to know His plans, and that He is receptive to the prayers of His saints. As we enter this lesson – the Lord has left communing with Abraham, and the two angels that had accompanied Him continue on towards Sodom.

1 And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;

Lot “sat in the gate.” meaning he had a position as a civic leader. Lot arises and bows with his face towards the ground in the Oriental custom. [far different from when Abraham prostrated himself to the ground at the appearance of the Lord]

2 And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant’s house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.

Lot, the carnal believer, lives among these people and knows it is not safe for them to remain in the streets all night.

3 And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.

They relent and enter Lot’s home and eat a meal with him. Yet another example of angels having the ability to take on the appearance and function of human flesh. These are not disembodied spirits!

4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: 5 And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.

Many so-called “gay Christians” try to claim that the issue here is hospitality, not homosexuality. This defies all logic. For what possible reason could a hundred or so men have to bang on the door of someone’s home at night? Here is Sodom and Gomorrah, just a few miles from Hebron, Abraham’s home, and Jerusalem, Melchizedek’s home – and the stench of evil is so great that it has reached unto God in heaven! (Gen. 18: 20-21) Only 400 years since the profligate wickedness of the entire world was destroyed by Noah’s flood!

6 And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him, 7 And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly. 8 Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.

Lot attempts to reason with these savages. Here is proof that the men of Sodom are wanting to violate Lot’s visitors, because Lot offers his two young daughters instead. I assure you that what is going on here has nothing whatsoever to do with the Oriental sense of hospitality.

9 And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door.

The Sodomites tell Lot to get away from the door, and then deride him as being in no position to judge them, he being a newcomer. They proceed to threaten Lot with even worse things than they had planned for the two angels. With even more aggression, they almost break the door.

10 But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door.11 And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door.

Through supernatural power, the Sodomites are blinded by the angels – yet Lot is able to leave and seek out his married daughters and their husbands in an attempt to deliver them from the impending doom.

12 And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place:13 For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the Lord; and the Lord hath sent us to destroy it.14 And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law. Genesis 19: 1-14

Recall that after Abram had rescued Lot, and the King of Sodom along with him, Abram declined to keep any of the booty he was entitled to as victor of the war. Abram refused to give the “devil an inch,” if you will. Please don’t underestimate the importance of this. From the beginning – God has been separating the wheat from the tares. In the story of Lot, living among the Sodomites, we see ourselves. We are living in a sinful, fallen world, that daily grows in degeneracy. As the evil grows, those that belong to Christ shall grow more and more uncomfortable living in “Sodom.” The Bible tells us that the immorality of the men of Sodom was a great affront to Lot’s sense of righteousness, as he was a believer in the One True God. The Word also says that for the same reason – our souls will be vexed – but that we will be delivered.

As we try to witness to family, friends, and people we just happen to meet, or we have a King like the King of Sodom, or our churches embrace abomination, and we read things like this – “A Christian Finds Acceptance of Homosexuality in the Bible,” and the whole world treats us with scorn as Lot’s sons – in – law did, we can take strength from the following passage, and know in our hearts that the Lord is yet separating the wheat from the tares until the cup of iniquity is full:

6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;

7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:

8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)

9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

2 Peter 2: 6-9

Bible Study – The Doom of Sodom

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As we left Abraham last week, he was being visited by three angels in human form who appeared out of no where. Abraham was given no warning by his men that strangers were approaching the camp. They were suddenly there at his tent door! After the Lord’s extraordinary and prophetic exchange with Sarah, the men arise to leave . . .

16 And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.

17 And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;

18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?

19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which He hath spoken of him.

This is so wonderful – that the Creator of the universe will share His thoughts with faithful Abraham. In like fashion, the Lord desires us to know all of His plans. That same Creator, Jesus Christ, during His earthly ministry had this to say about the faithful:

Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of My Father I have made known unto you. John 15:15

20 And the Lord said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;21 I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto Me; and if not, I will know.

If the Lord is Omniscient – why does He need to go and see? It is entirely for our benefit, to teach us an eternal truth. That God is interested in the affairs of men, and that He is responsive to the prayers of the faithful.

22 And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the Lord.

23 And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?24 Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? 25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

Who is Abraham thinking of here? His worldly nephew, Lot! How patient the Lord is, already foreknowing what the end result will be. And it is indeed the Lord that Abraham is speaking to. The One Who stays behind to talk to Abraham is Jesus Christ in preincarnate form, known as a Theophany, or more correctly – Christophany. Please recall that Abraham did not worship the king of Salem – Melchizedek, but he “bowed himself to the ground,” [Gen. 18:2] instantly when he saw these visitors. God’s messengers (angels) will never accept worship – but here it was rightly accepted by the only One worthy of worship.

26 And the Lord said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.

27 And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes:

28 Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And He said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it.

29 And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And He said, I will not do it for forty’s sake.

30 And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And He said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.

31 And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And He said, I will not destroy it for twenty’s sake.

32 And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And He said, I will not destroy it for ten’s sake.

33 And the Lord went His way, as soon as He had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.

Genesis 18: 16-33

So many have asked me – what was that long negotiation all about? It was for us! Telling us that no matter how sinful and degenerate the world becomes (for they will surely outnumber us as the Sodomites outnumbered Lot) – the end time judgement will not fall until the faithful are safely taken out of the way. Even if there are only ten Christians left in the whole world! The same judgement that fell on Sodom will happen again, except next time it will be world wide.

Pray without ceasing.

1 Thessalonians 5: 17

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

James 5: 16

Bible Study – Three Angels Visit Abraham

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The Covenant has been sealed by both YHWH and Abraham. The year is approximately 1898 B.C. With the sealing of the Covenant, officially begins the Abrahamic Covenant – and the nation of Israel.

1 And the Lord appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;

Abraham lived in Mamre, a life that could be described as Spiritually rich.

2 And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,

3 And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in Thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from Thy servant:

4 Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:

5 And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.

6 And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth.7 And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcht a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it.8 And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.

Here is evidence that angels can take on the function and form of flesh – because they all ate. Abraham’s visitors are not spirits. But – they are not human beings either. The identity of One of these visitors will be covered in the next devotional.

9 And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent.10 And He said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.

11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?

13 And the Lord said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?

14 Is any thing too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.15 Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And He said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.

Genesis 18: 1-15

There is a distinct difference between Abraham’s laughter of indescribable joy [Genesis 17:17] and Sarah’s laugh of disbelief. Also note in vs. 12, that Sarah laughed within herself – it was not audible laughter. See how the Lord knows our very thoughts? But this extremely significant exchange between the Lord and Sarah is often overlooked.

Sarah is far, far past the age for having children – she is as “good as dead”
She frankly asked if she were to “have pleasure” – meaning would the son be conceived naturally with her “lord” – very old husband
She denied that she laughed
The Lord asked her a question – which went unanswered – “Is any thing too hard for the Lord?”

The Lord had waited until there could be absolutely, positively, no chance of Sarah conceiving a child naturally. In His Sovereign Majesty He states that He will do what man can never do. The unanswered question – “Is any thing too hard for the Lord?” was answered miraculously almost 2,000 years later in reference to the most impossible Conception and Birth. Issac was an impossible conception and birth from dead flesh – Foreshadowing the impossible conception and birth of Jesus Christ – born to give all mankind, spiritually dead in sin – New Birth, not of the flesh, but of the Spirit.

For with God nothing shall be impossible.

Luke 1: 37

Bible Study – Ishmael to be a Nation

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Last week, the focus was entirely on the anticipated son of promise, Isaac. This week, the focus is Ishmael, who up until this point is Abraham’s only son. We learned in the last study, that Ishmael was born after the flesh, while the promised Isaac would be born of the Spirit. It is interesting to observe – that once again God presents us with the two lines – the Godly and the ungodly. . .

Abraham has expressed his desire that the Lord bless Ishmael [Gen. 17 : 18]

20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.

21 But My covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.

22 And He left off talking with him, and God went up from Abraham.

The Lord promises Abraham that his son Ishmael will be blessed with twelve sons, and that they will all be princes. For thirteen years, since Abraham had succumbed to his wife’s manipulation to anticipate God, he has lived according to the flesh. His faith is still in the physical realm. God has “left off talking with him.” It is now time for Abraham to put off the flesh. Please recall that the outward circumcision represents what is to take place internally when the man is fully surrendered to God.

23 And Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all that were born in his house, and all that were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s house; and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the selfsame day, as God had said unto him.24 And Abraham was ninety years old and nine, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.25 And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.26 In the selfsame day was Abraham circumcised, and Ishmael his son.27 And all the men of his house, born in the house, and bought with money of the stranger, were circumcised with him. Genesis 17: 20-27

I am not advocating for or against circumcision – all I am doing is explaining what it means! Also consider that circumcision is the only flesh that can be severed without physical deformation. God would never require anything from us that He would not do Himself. Our Savior was circumcised at eight days old.

AND WHEN EIGHT DAYS WERE ACCOMPLISHED FOR THE CIRCUMCISING OF THE CHILD, HIS NAME WAS CALLED JESUS, WHICH WAS SO NAMED OF THE ANGEL BEFORE HE WAS CONCEIVED IN THE WOMB.

Luke 2: 21 Jesus the Christ was the only One in all of history Who kept the entirety of the Law perfectly. All of it. The last devotional covered the important distinction between the bondage of the flesh or Law, (Hagar) and the freedom of the Spirit, (Sarah). Circumcision is the sign of the Covenant. It is the seal of the covenant, which must be sealed in blood.

A good way to understand this is to think about an important document, which is only considered viable when it has an authentic, impressed or embossed seal. Without the seal – it is fraudulent. Please go here to review God’s part of the Covenant. Now, as we arrive at the end of Genesis 17, both God and Abraham have committed to the Covenant by “sealing” it.

The Jews came to think of the actual circumcision as being more than a sign, and regarded it as their actual justification. It is important to understand that Abraham was part of the Covenant long before he was circumcised. Much like a Biblical betrothal period, in where the bride is considered fully the wife of the groom, but the marriage has not been consummated yet. Paul enlarges this for us –

And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also.

Romans 4: 11

Bible Study – The Promise of Issac

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Our last devotional covered the Covenant between Abraham and YHWH, with circumcision being the sign of the Covenant. The Lord also changed Abram’s name to Abraham – from “exalted father,” to “father of many.”

15 And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.

As God did with Abraham , He changes Sarai’s name to Sarah.

YHWH –

We now see the the “hey” on the end of His name, being attached to end of Sarai’s name, the same as He did to Abraham. Her name becomes Sarah. Remember – this letter – – means “Spirit.”

Sari + = Sar or Sarah

16 And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.

She changes from “princess,” to “Princess of many.” The “Spirit” of God is now in both the mother and father of God’s people. God tells us that He accomplishes these things through His Spirit: “Then he answered and spoke to me, saying, This is the Word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.” (Zech 4:6)

17 Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?

Abraham laughs, not out of unbelief, but out of being overwhelmed. He is satisfied with 13 year old Ishmael. The hopes and dreams of this old man are focused on Ishmael alone.

18 And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!

19 And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.

Genesis 17:15-19

In Galatians 4, we are given the deeper meaning of what has just transpired. The Covenant of the Law (Hagar) is compared with the Covenant of Grace (Sarah). It is the answer to any teacher, preacher, sect or religion, as to why we as believers, are not under the Law.

21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?

22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.

23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.

24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.(Hagar)

25 For this Agar ( Hagar) is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. (Are not the Arabs under bondage to the Koran?)

26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. (He is speaking of the New Jerusalem in Heaven)

27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.

28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. (the descendants of Ishmael to this day persecute the people of The Book)

30 Nevertheless what saith the Scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.

31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free. Galatians 4: 21-31

The flesh is bondage, the Spirit is freedom. Does that mean believers can do away with the Law and live how ever they choose? No. What it means, is that the Law does not give life. Only the Spirit does. As Sarah was so old, she was as good as dead – yet she gave birth to life through the power of the Holy Spirit. As we are dead in our sins, so we give birth to the new man, when we are reborn by the Power of the Holy Spirit.

Bible Study – Circumcision Sign of the Covenant

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Thirteen years have passed since Hagar bare Abram a son, Ishmael. Although Abram loves Ishmael, he and Sarai still have no child. She is well past the age for having children, and certainly this has been a long time of testing.

1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before Me, and be thou perfect.

2 And I will make My covenant between Me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.

3 And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,

4 As for Me, behold, My covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. 5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. 6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.

Look carefully at verse 5 above. Abram’s name had always meant “exalted father.” When God changes Abram to Abraham – it changes to “father of many.” But the even more significant thing is that God attaches part of His own name to Abram’s. YHWH – sounds something like “hey” or the sound made when exhaling strongly.

Abram + = Abram or Abraham

means “spirit.” The letter occurs twice in YHWH. The Lord takes one of the letters and inserts it into the middle of Abraham’s name. This is similar to when God – ” And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” Genesis 2:7

7 And I will establish my covenant between Me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.8 And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.

God has stated His part of the Covenant:

Abraham will be the father of many nations
Abraham will have exalted descendants
This is an everlasting Covenant

Now God states Abram’s part of the Covenant:

9 And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep My covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.10 This is My covenant, which ye shall keep, between Me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.

11 And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.12 And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.

13 He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.14 And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.

Genesis 17: 1-14

Why circumcise? Always keep in mind that the nation of Israel was chosen by God to be a light unto the world. Everything that they experienced throughout the long history of the Old Testament was portraying and preparing for the Messiah.

The outward circumcision is a symbolic representation of what occurs on the inside man when he belongs to YHWH.

” And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.” Deuteronomy 30:6

” Circumcise yourselves to the Lord, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.” Jeremiah 4:4

“But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.” Romans 2:29

[As an interesting side note – from Dr. M.R. De Haan, “Chemistry of the Blood,” that a newborn baby has natural resistance to infection in the first seven days of life – but it is only on the eighth day, that the infant develops blood coagulating ability. While modern science has medications to prevent excessive bleeding – certainly, ancient peoples could not have been aware of this type of blood chemistry. Also. Dr. De Haan states – “Circumcision is probably the greatest factor in the prevention of venereal disease.” While Dr. De Haan wrote his book in 1943, his research has been more recently validated – see here. ]

As we will explore during our journey through the Word of God – outward disease was used of God to represent inward sin.

Bible Study – Sarai and Hagar

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We will now see the fruit of Abram’s Sojourn in Egypt. Recall that it was a crisis in Abram’s faith that lead him to run to Egypt during a period of famine. Rather than fully trusting God’s promise – he went to Egypt, which represents the flesh. Even so, he came out of Egypt more full than when he arrived, which is testimony to God’s faithfulness, even in our time of weakness. But, Abram came out of Egypt with more than goods, he also brought home a slave girl named Hagar.

1 Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.

2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the Lord hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.

3 And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.

Abram is now 85 years old, and he had arrived in Canaan 10 years previously. In our last devotional, Abram had suggested to God that perhaps he could obtain an heir though his servant – Eliezer. God said no. So what just happened in verse two? Abram did not consult the Lord – Abram heeded his wife. Many wives give very wise counsel; but in this case, Sarai’s manipulation was in direct opposition to God’s promise.

4 And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.

5 And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the Lord judge between me and thee.

6 But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.

Hagar conceives easily, and consequently feels superior to her mistress, Sarai. Now feeling the pain of her foolish and impulsive decision, Sarai complains to her husband, who then gives her permission to do whatever she wants to her maidservant. After harsh treatment – pregnant Hagar runs away.

7 And the angel of the Lord found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.

8 And he said, Hagar, Sarai’s maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.

9 And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.

The Lord does not want us to run away from our problems.

10 And the angel of the Lord said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.

11 And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the Lord hath heard thy affliction.

12 And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.

Here, Hagar is given the prophecy of the descendants of Ishmael her son, who will become some of the very same people in conflict with Israel today.

13 And she called the name of the Lord that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?

Thou God seest me – for the first time, God is called “El Roi,” the God who sees.

14 Wherefore the well was called Beer–lahai–roi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.

15 And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son’s name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael.

16 And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.

Genesis 16: 1-16

Again and again, the failure to trust in God’s solemn promises reap terrible consequences.
Ishmael is foreseen to be a “wild man,” and his hand is against everyone, meaning innate violence
Sarai tries to anticipate God – as if He needs help!
Abram gives his wife’s desires precedence over his covenant with God.

To this very day – almost 4,000 years later, the entire world is reaping the repercussions of this tragic episode.

Bible Study – Prophecy of Israel’s Bondage

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In our last devotional, Abram’s extraordinary faith was shown, and God promised Abram an innumerable inheritance. We proceed with the establishment of the the Abrahamic Covenant. It is a detailed procedure, not being fully sealed for 15 years.

7 And He said unto him, I am the Lord that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.8 And he said, Lord God, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?

9 And He said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.

10 And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not.

11 And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away.

It is only my personal take on this – but I believe the covenant animals used here are extremely significant.

The heifer would correlate with the Babylonian empire.

Persia is not included because Persia willingly released Israel.

The she goat is the Grecian empire.

The ram is the Roman empire.

The animals are three years old – each representing a third of Israel’s bondage. The undivided turtle dove would be Israel, and the undivided young pigeon is the offspring of the turtle dove – the church. The fowls that come down to devour the sacrifice, are Satan and his demons.

12 And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.13 And He said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;14 And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.15 And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.16 But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.

God tells Abram of Israel’s 400 years of slavery in Egypt.
He is told of Egypt’s reciprocal punishment
They will come out of Egypt with great wealth
God will afterwards use Israel to punish the Amorites, but not yet. They had not fully descended into the moral abyss. Much like the pagan world today. But – it’s coming!

17 And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.

Notice that Abram does not pass through the pieces! God does.
God is not “cutting” the covenant, He is sealing it with fire! Sealing off His chosen from the pagan nations throughout history, carrying them through, for His purposes. God’s eternal covenant is just that – eternal.

18 In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:19 The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites,20 And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims,21 And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.

Genesis 15: 7-21

Interesting to ponder – the governments of the world all want Israel to give up even more of the tiny patch they hold now. The nations of the world are now much in every way like the “ites” that Israel was commanded to destroy.

9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

2 Peter 3:9-10

Bible Study – Abram’s Faithfulness and Reward

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After the king of Salem departs, the king of Sodom speaks with Abram, but this is an entirely different exchange.

21 And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.

The king of Sodom, is in no position to make such a request. He has been conquered, first by Chedorlaomer and his confederates, then by Abram. Technically – all the spoils belong to Abram.

22 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the Lord, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,

Abram has made a very solemn promise to God –

23 That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:

24 Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion. Genesis 14: 21-24

As far as Melchizedek is an Old Testament “type” of Christ – the king of Sodom is most certainly a “type” of Satan. The Lord has revealed to Abram that the king of Sodom would be first in line to accuse him of coming by his riches dishonestly. How like the evil one – Satan is the “accuser of the brethren.” {Rev. 12:10} Throughout the Bible, Old and New Testaments – the Godly and the ungodly are always presented together.

1 After these things the Word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

2 And Abram said, Lord God, what wilt Thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?3 And Abram said, Behold, to me Thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.

Abram wonders if God means to give him a son though his servant.

4 And, behold, the Word of the Lord came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.5 And He brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and He said unto him, So shall thy seed be.

Abram expresses his concern to the Lord. Yet another test – that resonates with us to this very day.

6 And he believed in the Lord; and He counted it to him for righteousness. Genesis 15: 1-6

What a high watermark in Abram’s faith! When he is first called out of Ur of the Chaldees to travel to an unknown land, he demonstrated complete trust and faith. It was challenging, but not impossible. But here – Abram is trusting in God to do what seems impossible.

Genesis 15:6 is the first record in Scripture of imputed righteousness. Genesis 15:6 is the foundation of the doctrine of justification by faith alone. Abram is Paul’s witness to salvation by faith –

“. . .faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. . .Rom.4:9

There is only one plan of salvation in both the Old and New Testaments – FAITH. Old Testament saints looked forward in faith to the coming Savior, while we look back in faith to the Savior.

7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the Gospel unto Abraham, saying,

In thee shall all nations be blessed.

Galatians 3: 6-8

***Important note: Followers of Les Feldick and other ministries which teach that Old Testament saints received another “gospel,” are grossly mistreating the Word of God. Galatians clearly states that God Himself preached the Gospel to His friend Abraham in Galatians 3:8. There is only ONE Gospel, and has only ever been ONE Gospel.

Bible Study – Mysterious Melchizedek

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Our last devotional covered the exciting rescue of Lot, by Abram, who performed a brilliant coup in the middle of the night with only 318 men. Lot has been restored to his old life, and Abram turns towards home.

17 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king’s dale.

Lot and his household had been taken hostage right along with this “king of Sodom.”

18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.

19 And he blessed him, and said,

Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: 20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand.

And he gave him tithes of all. Genesis 14: 17-20

Melchizedek (Melkhey-Tsedek) is translated as King of Righteousness

Melchizedek was the King of Shalem, which is King of peace

Mysterious Melchizedek has been seized upon by cults and the occult for millenia. Mormons/Masons have a Melchizedek priesthood. With extra-Biblical writings, he has been ascribed variously to be a man, Noah’s son Shem, the Holy Spirit, another supernatural entity, the archangel Michael. . .

The most important thing to remember – always use Scripture to interpret Scripture!

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Abram’s encounter with Melchizedek was around 1913 B.C. While in the Spirit, King David wrote this beautiful prophetic Psalm almost 1,000 years later –

1 The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit Thou at my right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool.

Verse one refers to the past 2,000 years – between Christ’s first coming and His second coming.

2 The Lord shall send the rod of Thy strength out of Zion: rule Thou in the midst of thine enemies. 3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of Thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: Thou hast the dew of Thy youth. 4 The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

5 The Lord at Thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of His wrath. 6 He shall judge among the heathen, He shall fill the places with the dead bodies; He shall wound the heads over many countries. 7 He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall He lift up the head. Psalm 110 1-7

Verses 2-7 is a scene of Armageddon, when “Christ will become King of kings and Lord of lords; He will also reveal His priesthood. He is the altogether unique High Priest established, not after the order of the Levitical priesthood, but after the order of Melchizedek.” {Hidden Prophecies in the Psalms, J.R. Church, p. 315}

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So here it is – right in the middle of the Old Testament – Gentile New Testament Christianity!! Psalm 110!!

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Then in A.D. 64, this incredible passage was written in Hebrews 7 –

1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;

3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.

Verse three seems to indicate that Melchizedek is more than a man, but we must remember that Hebrews was written to the Jews, whose entire thinking was based on the priesthood, and genealogies, specifically the Levite High Priest as the only means to access God. It is being stressed here that Melchizedek, whom was written about in their own book of Psalms, was not part of this Levitical priesthood, not of the bloodline of priests, but better! Even their father Abram tithed to him, and Levi tithed also while the priesthood was “being in Abram’s loins.” Saying he is without mother or father, is demonstrating Melchizedek is not in the Aaronic bloodline.

4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. 5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham: 6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.

7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. 8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. 9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. 10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him. 11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?

12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. 13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.

15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, 16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. 17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. Hebrews 7: 1-17

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The writer of Hebrews (Paul) throughout this last letter to the Jews, is stressing that the Perfect High Priest has made the perfect, final sacrifice. All the priests up until this point had been frail humans, who had to offer sacrifice for their own sins, but this High Priest is the completion of what was begun so long ago. As the Jews would undoubtedly been well versed in the book of Psalms – this was intended to open their eyes to Who Jesus Christ really was.

The focus of both David and Paul – is Jesus Christ – not Melchizedec!

MELCHIZEDEC IS AN OLD TESTAMENT “TYPE” OF CHRIST – A FORESHADOW OF JESUS CHRIST

Both priest and king
Superior to Aaron
Superior to Abram
Offers bread and wine (great symbolism here)

For such an High Priest became us, Who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens

Hebrews 7: 26

And as much as King of Salem, Melchizedec, is Biblical typology of Jesus Christ, next week we will see that the the King of Sodom portrays the devil.

Bible Study – Battle of the Kings

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1 And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations; 2 That these made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar. 3 All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea. (Dead Sea)

4 Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled. 5 And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim, 6 And the Horites in their mount Seir, unto El–paran, which is by the wilderness. 7 And they returned, and came to En–mishpat, which is Kadesh, and smote all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that dwelt in Hazezon–tamar. 8 And there went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar;) and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim; 9 With Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings with five.

Essentially – this is a battle among kings of very small areas. Abraham would have been considered a king, he had approximately 1,000 people in his tribe.

On Chedorlaomer’s side we have:

Chedorlaomer (Hebrew k^edhâr^elâ‘ômer or in consonantal form k-d-r-l-‘-m-r) king of Elam
Amraphel (Hebrew ’am’râph^el or in consonantal form ’-m-r-p-l) king of Shinar (Babylon)
Arioch (Hebrew ’ar’yôwkh or in consonantal form ’-r-y-v-kh) king of Ellasar
Tidal king of Goiim (or king of nations)

On the opposing side we have:

Bera king of Sodom
Birsha king of Gomorrah
Shinab king of Admah
Shemeber king of Zeboiim
the unnamed king of Bela (also called Zoar)

{oldtestamenttimeline.com}

10 And the vale of Siddim was full of slimepits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain. 11 And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way. 12 And they took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.

Here is Lot, Abram’s “brother,” (in the faith) being carried away, part and parcel by the invading armies. Lot, the carnal believer, living in Sodom, is captured by the worldly conquerors, because he chose to live among them – even though he is not a participant in the fight!

13 And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram. 14 And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan. 15 And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. 16 And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people. Genesis 14:1-13

You can see on the map, Abram’s route from Hebron, where his home was, to Dan, where Lot had been taken captive. We can see ourselves in this true story.

We modern day believers, often choose to live among, tolerate, and very often emulate the sinful world
We can be “carried away” by the fleshly world we inhabit
We can be rescued and restored by the Lord, who was personified by Abram in this passage

What can the Christian be carried away by? Lust – in all its forms.

money
sex
things
talent
beauty
love
power

Genesis 14:2 is the first mention of war in Scripture.

We can also see from verse 16, that Lot returns to his former home in Sodom. Why didn’t he learn from this terrible experience? Why don’t Christians learn from their terrible experiences? Why doesn’t Lot take this a a first warning?

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

1 John 2:15

Bible Study – Abram and Lot Separate

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And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south. 2 And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold. 3 And he went on his journeys from the south even to Beth–el, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Beth–el and Hai; 4 Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the Lord.

We see Abram and his caravan returning to the Promised Land. Pharaoh sent Abram away with a great deal of riches, in the form of “sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels.” Gen. 12:15 These gifts were given to Abram by Pharoah when he was entreating for Sarai. In the above passage, we read that Abram also came away with much gold and silver. Even in backsliding – God’s people are blessed.

Abram has “turned back,” and offered sacrifice. True repentance involves a turning, an identifiable change from the sinful path, back to the straight path. Without the “turning,” or repentance – there can be no fellowship with God.

5 And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents. 6 And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together. 7 And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land. 8 And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. 9 Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.

Abram lays out to Lot, a choice, similar to the choices that every believer must make in their lives. Do we take the hard road, full of resistance and challenges? Or do we take the easy road that will give ease and comfort to our flesh?

Abram and Lot represent the two kinds of Christians. Lot – the Carnal believer, and Abram – the Spiritual believer.

10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. 11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. 12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. 13 But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly.

Lot’s worldly vision – only has eyes for the well-watered plain of Jordan. In his eyes, it is even like the Garden of Eden, and the lush land of Egypt. In his covetousness – he blocks out the reality of the depraved moral condition of the men of Sodom. His desire has overruled his faith.

14 And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: 15 For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. 16 And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. 17 Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee. 18 Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the Lord. Genesis 13: 1-18

This is likely the view that Abram had of the Promised land. Not in any way like the lush, well-watered plain of Sodom that Lot chose. Abram remained in the rocky, stubble filled mountains.

Lot – the carnal believer chose the selfish way, the worldly way. He chose not to separate himself from evil and its influence, rather, he chose to live alongside it; in the same fashion that the post modern Christian does; thereby inviting disaster. Like Lot, when disaster comes, the carnal Christian will fail to see it as a warning from God.

15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Romans 3:23

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

1 John 3:4

Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

1 John 5:10

He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

Isaiah 1:2

Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the Lord hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against Me.

Admit this fact to yourself

I AM A LOST SINNER, BECAUSE I HAVE SINNED

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IT IS AN ETERNAL FACT THAT GOD LOVES YOU WITH AN EVERLASTING LOVE THAT CANNOT BE FATHOMED. IT IS A LOVE SO BOUNDLESS, THAT IT CAN ONLY BE KNOWN THROUGH FAITH.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

2 Corinthians 5:21

For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.

JESUS CHRIST WAS MADE THAT WHICH GOD HATES – SIN

SO THAT YOU MIGHT BE MADE THAT WHICH GOD LOVES – RIGHTEOUSNESS.

CALVARY IS PROOF THAT GOD LOVES YOU – AND IT IS HIS GREATEST LONGING TO SAVE YOU.

Admit this fact to yourself

GOD LOVES ME

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Acts 4:12

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

John 14:6

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.

GOD’S THREEFOLD PLAN OF SALVATION

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TWO WRONGS DO NOT MAKE A RIGHT! FOUR WRONGS ARE EVEN WORSE!!

Obadiah 17-21

17 But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.

18 And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau; for the Lord hath spoken it.

19 And they of the south shall possess the mount of Esau; and they of the plain the Philistines: and they shall possess the fields of Ephraim, and the fields of Samaria: and Benjamin shall possess Gilead.

20 And the captivity of this host of the children of Israel shall possess that of the Canaanites, even unto Zarephath; and the captivity of Jerusalem, which is in Sepharad, shall possess the cities of the south.

21 And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the Lord‘s.

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ISAAC FORGETS TWO IMPORTANT THINGS:

Genesis 27:1-10

JACOB DECEIVES HIS FATHER

Genesis 27:11-17

Genesis 27:18-29

We’d all like to think that we would never do something like Jacob did. But it is a fact, that our old natures are capable of just about anything, including murder. Our fleshly nature must me subdued, and we must follow Jesus Christ at all costs.

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Esau’s wives . . .

2 Corinthians 6:14Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

1 Corinthians 15:33

Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

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seven times Isaac’s name is associated with wells!!!!!

Psalm 12:6

The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for My servant Abraham’s sake.

Isaiah 12:3

Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.

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What is the old saying – familiarity breeds contempt? We shall see from this study, that it not only breeds contempt, but envy as well.

Genesis 26:6-16

12 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the Lord blessed him.

Isaiah 35:1-2

Isaac’s Focus on Water!

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Genesis 26:1-5

four fifths of the bible pertains to the jews, while one fifth deals with the church!!!!

Romans 11:24-26

24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

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Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.

11 And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by the well Lahairoi.

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Genesis 25:5

And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac.

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Genesis 24:62-67

Deuteronomy 16:13-14

13 Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine:

**JESUS CHRIST WAS MADE THAT WHICH GOD HATES – SIN**

**SO THAT YOU MIGHT BE MADE THAT WHICH GOD LOVES – RIGHTEOUSNESS.**

¹⁷But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.

¹⁸And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau; for the Lord hath spoken it.

¹⁹And they of the south shall possess the mount of Esau; and they of the plain the Philistines: and they shall possess the fields of Ephraim, and the fields of Samaria: and Benjamin shall possess Gilead.

²⁰And the captivity of this host of the children of Israel shall possess that of the Canaanites, even unto Zarephath; and the captivity of Jerusalem, which is in Sepharad, shall possess the cities of the south.

²¹And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the Lord‘s.

¹⁵And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

¹⁶And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

¹⁷Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

¹²Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the Lord blessed him.

²⁴For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

²⁵For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

²⁶And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

¹¹And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by the well Lahairoi.

¹³Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine:

¹⁴And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates.

¹⁴Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.

¹⁵And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,

¹⁶After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:

¹⁷That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.

¹⁸Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

¹⁵And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.

¹⁶And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up.

¹⁷And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher.

¹⁸And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink.

¹⁹And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking.

²⁰And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.

²¹And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the Lord had made his journey prosperous or not.

²²And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold;

²³And said, Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee: is there room in thy father’s house for us to lodge in?

²⁴And she said unto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, which she bare unto Nahor.

²⁵She said moreover unto him, We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in.

²⁶And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the Lord.

²⁷And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and His truth: I being in the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master’s brethren.