Another two chapter night! A lot is going on right now with
Abram and it just makes sense to do two chapters because not much goes on in
each chapter. Let’s dive in!
Genesis 15 is right after Abram saves his nephew. Abram is
talking to God about how a servant of his home will inherit all his possessions.
If you remember Sarai cannot have children. God, being the awesome God that He
is tells Abram that a servant will not gain possession of Abram’s stuff, but a
child of his own will. God even takes Abram outside and tells him to look at
the stars and if he can count the stars, that is how many children he will
have.
God has actually used something similar in the past. He told
Abram before that if he can count the dust, his children can be counted. I know
that most people will understand this but let me explain it, simply. What God
is saying to Abram is that he will have so many offspring that no one will be
able to count them. Meaning, Abram has a bunch of kids to look forward to.
God then tells Abram that the land they are in is Abrams.
Abram of course ask God how he knows he will actually get the land. God pretty
much says, “Okay bring me some offerings and I will tell you” Abram goes and
gathers the offereings that God ask for which happens to be very specific. A
heifer, a goat and a ram but they have to be three years old. Also, a dove and
a young pigeon.
Abram sets out the offerings and swats away the birds that
try to come get it and wait. When the sun goes down Abram falls into a deep
sleep where God speaks to him again. This time God tells him that his descendents
will be mistreated and become slaves for 400 years. That is a seriously long
time. I am sure that Abram felt bad for his descendents. The good news though
is God is going to punish those people and Abram’s descendents will come out
rich and will return to the land that Abram currently resides in.
God also tells Abram that he will live to an old age and be
buried where his father was. That would be nice to know, wouldn’t it?
Genesis 16 is the one that I have a bit of a problem with.
Sarai, as I have already reminded you, cannot have children. Because she cannot
give her husband a son she does something a little…rash. She gives Abram her maidservant
to sleep with. Now, to me this is adultery even if the wife told him he could
do it. Though, we also have to remember that this was a different time and a
woman’s purpose was pretty much to give her husband children.
Abram sleeps with Sarai’s maidservant and the servant
becomes pregnant. The servant, Hagar pretty much gets a big head because she
can give Abram what Sarai can’t. Hagar starts treating Sarai like trash.
Sarai goes to Abram and actually blames him for Hagar’s
attitude problem. Let me just say, Sarai, you are the one that told him to go
to Hagar! To make his wife happy Abram tells Sarai that Hagar is her servant
and can do with her what she wishes. So, Sarai starts treating Hagar like
trash. Can you say drama?
Hagar doesn’t take it for long though. She takes off. Yeah,
she is still pregnant. Sounds to me like a bit of kidnapping since the child she
was pregnant with belonged to Abram. An angel comes to Hagar and ask her why
she is running. Once she tells the angel, the angel tells Hagar that for her
suffering she will have many children, but the one she is pregnant with will be
wild and angry. At least that is how I read it. The angel also tells Hagar that
her son shall be named Ishmael.
After the chat with the angel Hagar returns back to Abram
and Sarai and had her son who they named Ishmael as the angel instructed her to.
At the time, Abram was 86 years old. The funny thing is, when the bible first
begins 86 years old would still be young. Now though, for Abram, he is becoming
an old man.
That’s all folks. Just a side note, there are a ton of names
in the bible. Half the time when you are reading you skim over the names just
to acknowledge their existence, but because you can’t pronounce them you forget
about them. I suggest getting the bible on CD or even going to youversion
website and listen to it there. It really helps. They also have a phone app for
all you people with smartphones. I just know it has helped me, since I am not
skipping over names I can’t pronounce I actually grasp the words better.
Tomorrow is chapter 17. We are moving along quickly and my
bible is all highlighted up! J Be ready for tomorrow. Things are going to get
awesome!
Much Love
Heather
