21.There is bad laughter (disbelieving God) and good laughter (joy in the Lord). Sarah experienced both. I guess having a child when you are elderly can have that effect.
Ah, the under-appreciated "Feast of Weaning." You don't see these things celebrated these days like they used to be.
The story of Hagar and Ishmael is a good example of God not punishing a child for his parents' mistakes.
22.
God called Abraham. Abraham's immediate response was "Here I am." It worked this way with Isaiah later, too. Jonah? Not so much. "Here I am" is a good response whenever God calls you. It's called willingness. Try it.
Hmm...hard to be willing when God's telling you to kill your kid. That would take some faithfulness...
...especially when you have 3 days to think about it...
...and when your kid starts asking questions...
"God will provide." Good answer, Abe. Guess what? He did.
If you're Abraham, when you get home, do you tell Sarah what happened? Maybe some things should just stay between a father and a son. The book didn't come out until later, anyway.
23.
Ephron, the Biblical equivalent of a funeral director. A little bit of feigned compassion, and - boom - you cash in on 400 shekels of silver.
Of course, Abraham's descendants would get the last laugh a few hundred years later when the Canaanites are driven out of the Promised Land. I'm not one for karma, but God certainly knows what's up.
24.
Weird where a person had to put his hand to swear an oath back then. A handshake seems a little less awkward.
Rebekah: beautiful, virgin, hospitable, up for a good adventure...all good qualities in a godly wife.
25.
Notice that God is starting to establish a track record of hearing prayers and having mercy on barren wives. It's almost like we're dependant on Him for the blessing of procreation.
Ah, the infamous battle between daddy's boy and mama's boy. Jacob may have been the victor, but he definitely lost style points in the process.
Wow, 5 days, and we're half done with Genesis. We're cruising now!
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