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Genesis 18: A Son Promised to Sarah/Abraham Intercedes for Sodom (NLT)

The LORD appeared again to Abraham while he was camped near the oak grove belonging to Mamre. One day about noon, as Abraham was sitting at the entrance to his tent, he suddenly noticed three men standing nearby. He got up and ran to his meet them, welcoming them by bowing low to the ground. "My lord," he said, "if it pleases you, stop here for a while. Rest in the shade of this tree while my servants get some water to wash your feet. Let me prepare some food to refresh you. Please stay awhile before continuing on your journey." "All right," they said. "Do as you have said." So Abraham ran back to the tent and said to Sarah, "Quick! Get three measures of your best flour, and bake some bread." Then Abraham ran out to the herd and chose a fat calf and told a servant to hurry and butcher it. When the food was ready, he took some cheese curds and milk and the roasted meat, and he served it to the men. As they ate, Abraham waited on them t

Genesis 17: Abram is Named Abraham (NLT)

In Chapter 17, the Lord appeared to Abram and said, "I am the God Almighty; serve me faithfully and live a blameless life. I will make a covenant (there's that word again) with you, by which I will guarantee to make you into a mighty nation." At this Abram fell face down in the dust. Then God said to him, "This is my covenant with you: I will make you the father of not just one nation, but a multitude of nations! What's more, I am changing your name. It will no longer be Abram; now you will be known as Abraham, for you will be the father of many nations. I will give you millions of descendants who will represent many nations. Kings will be among them! I will continue this everlasting covenant between us, generation after generation. It will continue between me and your offspring forever. And I will always be your God and the God of your descendants after you. Yes, I will give all this land of Canaan to you and your offspring forever. And I will be your God."

Genesis 16: The Birth of Ishmael

Sarah, Abram's wife, had no children. So Sarah took her servant, an Egyptian woman named Hagar, and gave her to Abram so she could bear his children. "The Lord has kept me from having any children," Sarah said to Abram. "Go and sleep with my servant. Perhaps I can have children through her." And Abram agreed. So Sarah took Hagar and gave her to Abram as a wife. (Ten years after Abram arrived in Canaan.) So Abram slept with Hagar, and she became pregnant. When Hagar knew she was pregnant, she began to treat her mistress Sarah with contempt (disgust, scorn). Then Sarah said to Abram, "It's all your fault! Now this servant of mine is pregnant, and she dispises me, though I myself gave her the privilege of sleeping with you. The Lord will make you pay for doing this to me!" Let's recap... Sarah gave Hagar to Abram as a substitute wife, a common practice of that time. A married woman who could not have children was shamed by her peers and was o

Genesis 15: The Lord's Covenant with Abram

The Lord spoke to Abram in a vision and said to him, "Do not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you, and your reward will be great." Abram replied, " O Sovereign Lord, what good are all your blessings when I don't even have a son? Since I don't have a son, Eliezer of Damascus, a servant in my household, will inherit all my wealth. You have given me no children, so one of my servants will have to be my heir." Then the Lord said to him, "No, your servant will not be your heir, for you will have a son of your own to inherit everything I am giving you." Then the Lord brought Abram outside beneath the night sky and told him, "Look up into the heavens and count the stars if you can. Your descendants will be like that, too many to count!" Let's recap. Abram wasn't promised wealth or fame; he already had that. Instead, God promised descendants like the stars in the sky or the grains of sand on the seashore (22:17), too numerous to

Genesis 13-14: Abram and Lot

In Genesis 13-14 shows us the relationship between Abram and Lot. In chapter 13, it tells us about the separation of Abram and Lot and what made them separated. Let's begin shall we... Abram with his wife and Lot and all that they owned left Egypt and traveled north to the Negev and then toward Bethel. They camped at a place where Abram had built the altar before and there he began to worship the Lord. Now Lot, who was traveling with Abram and Sarah, was also very wealthy with sheep, cattle, and many tents. The land could not hold both Abram and Lot with all their flocks and herds living so close together. There were too many animals for the pastureland. So an argument broke out between the two. At that time Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land. Abram talked it over with Lot. "This arguing between our herdsmen has got to stop," he said. "After all, we are close relatives! I'll tell you what we'll do. Take your choice of any section of th

Genesis 12: God Promises a Nation to Abram

Genesis chapter 12 tells us the story of Abram. It shows us what God is promising to Abram and what his calling is in the generations to come. Let's begin... The Lord told Abram, "Leave your country, your family, and your father's house, and go to the land that I will show you. I will cause you to become the father of a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and I will make you a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you." (Genesis 12: 1-3) Let's recap. When God called him, Abram moved out in faith from Ur to Haran and finally to Canaan. God then established a covenant (there's that word again) with Abram, telling him that he would found a great nation. Not only would this nation be blessed, God said, but the other nations of the earth would be blessed through Abram's descendants. Israel, the nation that would come from Abram, was to foll

Genesis 11: 10-31: From Shem to Abram

The last half of chapter 11 is the descendants of Shem. Who is one of three sons of Noah. Shem was 100 years old when Arphaxad was born, which was 2 years after the flood. Arphaxad was the father of Shelah Shelah was the father of Eber Eber was the father of Peleg Peleg was the father of Reu Reu was the father of Serug Serug was the father of Nahor Nahor was the father of Terah Terah was the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran Haran had a son named Lot. But while Haran was still young, he died in Ur of the Chaldeans, the place of his birth. Meanwhile, Abram married Sarai (Sarah), and his brother Nahor married Milcah. Sarah wasn't able to have any children. Terah took his son Abram, daughter-in-law Sarah, and grandson Lot and left Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Canaan. But they stopped instead at the village of Haran and settled there. Terah lived another 205 years and died while in Haran.

Genesis 11:1-9 The Tower of Babel

The first half of chapter 11 talks about the tower of Babel. At one time the whole world spoke a single language and used the same words. As the people migrated eastward, they found a plain in the land of Babylonia and settled there. They began to talk about the construction projects. They built a great city with this tower that reached the skies with great piles of burnt bricks and collected natural asphalt to use as mortar. It was a monument to their greatness. The tower would bring them together and keep them from scattering all over the world. The brick used to build this tower was man made and not as hard as stone. Just to give you an idea what the brick was made out of. The Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. "Look!" he said. "If they can accomplish this when they have just begun to take advantage of their common language and political unity, just think of what they will do later. Nothing will be impossible for them! Come, l

Genesis 10: The Descendants of Japheth, Ham, and Shem

Chapter 10 gives the family genology of Japheth, Ham, and Shem. The descendants of Japheth were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. The descendants of Gomer were Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. The descendants of Javan were Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Rodanim. Their descendants became the seafaring peoples in various lands, each tribe with its own language. The descendants of Ham were Cush, Mizraim (Egypt), Put, and Canaan. The descendants of Cush were Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. The descendants of Raamah were Sheba and Dedan. One of Cush's descendants was Nimrod, who became a heroic warrior. He was a mighty hunter in the Lord's sight. His name became proverbial, and people would speak of someone as being "like Nimrod, a mighty hunter in the Lord's sight." He built the foundation for his emprie in the land of Babylonia, with the cities of Babel, Erech, Akkad, and Calneh. Mizraim was the ancestor of the Ludites, Anamites,

Genesis 9: God's Covenant with Noah/ Noah's Sons

In Genesis 9 it talks about God's covenant with Noah and Noah's three sons: Japheth, Shem, and Ham. If anyone who doesn't know what covenant means is it is a promise between God and Noah. God blessed Noah and his sons and told them, "Multiply and fill the earth. All the wild animals, large and small, and all the birds, and fish will be afraid of you. I have placed them in your power. I have given them to you for food, just as I have given you grain and vegetables. But you must never eat animals that still have their lifeblood in them. And murder is forbidden. Animals that kill people must die, and any person, for to kill a person is to kill a living being made in God's image. Now you must have many children and repopulate the earth. Yes, multiply and fill the earth!" Here God explains why murder is so wrong: To kill a person is to kill one made in God's image. Because all human beings are made in God's image, all people possess the qualities that d

Genesis 8: The Flood Recedes (NLT)

Let us finish the story of Noah tonight in the next 2 chapters. Chapters 8 & 9. God sent a wind to blow across the waters, and the floods began to disappear. The water sources ceased their gushing, and the torrential (pouring, violent) rains stopped. So the flood gradually began to recede. After 150 days from the time the flood began, the boat came to rest on the mountains of Ararat. Two and a half months later, as the waters continued to go down, other mountain peaks began to appear. Let's recap. The floods came and covered the earth for 150 days (5 months). Then, another 150 days for the floods to recede when the boat rested on the mountain of Ararat. Two and half months later (74 days), other mountain peaks began to appear. So basically, Noah and his family were in the boat for a year and two weeks when they see the mountain peaks. It doesn't stop there, cause the water is still receding as I am still typing. Let's continue. After another 40 days, Noah opened

Genesis 7: The Flood Covers the Earth (NLT)

In Genesis chapter 7, the day finally came when the Lord said to Noah, "Go into the boat (ark) with all your family, for among all the people of the earth, I consider you alone to be righteous." Verses 2-4 is very interesting what God wants Noah to do. "Take along seven pairs of each animal that I have approved for eating and for sacrifice, and take one pair of each of the others. Then select seven pairs of every kind of living creature will survive the flood. One week from today I will begin forty days and forty nights of rain. And I will wipe from the earth all the living things I have created." Let's recap. Pairs of every animal joined Noah in the boat; seven pairs were taken of those animals used for sacrifice. Scholars have estimated that almost 45,000 animals could have fit into the boat, along with Noah's family.  45,000 animals... Yeah, my thoughts exactly. Ok back to the story. So Noah did exactly what the Lord had commanded him. Noah was 600

Genesis 6: The Flood (NLT)

In Genesis chapter 6 is when where we begin the story of Noah. Noah was a righteous man of God, because at this time the human population grew rapidly, and the Lord observed the people's wickedness, and he saw all their thoughts were consistently and totally evil. The Lord was sorry he had ever made them. Now wait a second...if the Lord apologized that he ever made them, then why did he make them in the first place? Doesn't he know everything that was going to happen? Did he want the readers to get a clear understanding why he wiped out the human population? I believe so...don't you? Let's continue... Now we're at the story of Noah. Noah was a righteous man of God. He loved God, and enjoyed a very close relationship with God. Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. God saw the whole earth was being currupted and filled with violence. This is what God said to Noah, " I have decided to destroy all living creatures, for the earth is filled with violen

Genesis 5: Descendants of Adam

In Genesis chapter 5, it gives us the descendants of Adam. Here is the family tree. When Adam was 130 years old, he became the father of a son who was just like him—in his very image. He named his son Seth. 4 After the birth of Seth, Adam lived another 800 years, and he had other sons and daughters. 5 Adam lived 930 years, and then he died.   6 When Seth was 105 years old, he became the father of [ b ] Enosh. 7 After the birth of [ c ] Enosh, Seth lived another 807 years, and he had other sons and daughters. 8 Seth lived 912 years, and then he died.   9 When Enosh was 90 years old, he became the father of Kenan. 10 After the birth of Kenan, Enosh lived another 815 years, and he had other sons and daughters. 11 Enosh lived 905 years, and then he died.   12 When Kenan was 70 years old, he became the father of Mahalalel. 13 After the birth of Mahalalel, Kenan lived another 840 years, and he had other sons and daughters. 14 Kenan lived 910 years, and then he died.   15

Genesis 4: Cain and Abel/ Descendants of Cain/ Birth of Seth (NLT)

Genesis 4 tells us the story of Adam and Eve's two sons Cain and Abel. Cain is a farmer and Abel is a shepherd. Cain is the older brother between him and Abel. Well anyways, the harvest came and Cain presented some of his crops to the Lord as gifts, and Abel did the same thing with the best firstborn lambs from his flock. What's interesting is that God accepted Abel's lamb over Cain's crop. Which shocks me, cause I would have accepted both their gifts if I were God. Though God had a purpose to this story and he wants the reader to understand the purpose of this story. Cain gets angry and God asks why he's angry. Then God adds even more to why Cain is angry. Genesis 4:7 "You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.” So basically Cain did something not right in the eyes of God. Ok, what did Cain do that wasn&#

Genesis 2:5-3:24: The Man and the Woman-Paradise Lost: God's Judgement

Genesis chapter 2 shows us how God made man (Adam). Springs came up out from the ground and watered the land, then God formed man from dust from the ground and breathed the breath of life in the man's nostrils, and the man became a living person. I don't know about you, but that is pretty freaky and cool at the same time. The Lord God planted a garden in Eden aka. (The Garden of Eden) where he placed Adam in. God told Adam to watch over the garden and God gave him this one warning, just one. God told Adam that he may freely eat the fruits of every tree in the garden, except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If Adam ate from that tree, he would surely die. Pretty self-explanatory don't you think. This is interesting what God says next. God said "It is not good for man to be alone." So God put Adam into a deep sleep. As Adam slept, God took a rib out Adam and closed up the opening. God formed a woman out of the rib. Stop right there....God took one rib o

Genesis 1:1-2:4: God's Creation

In Genesis chapter 1 it tells us the story of God's creation. God's creation. Think about this for a minute. What are you picturing? Is it the mountains, the water (ocean, sea, rivers etc.), the land, sky. God created everything in 6 days. 6 DAYS!!!! You know how long it takes to build an average house? 9-12 months. God created the whole universe in 6 days. General Contractor builds house in 9-12 months. Lets look into Genesis chapter 1. In Day 1, God created the heavens and the earth. Then God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. Then God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light "day" and the darkness "night." Day 2, God said, "Let there be space between the waters, to separate water from water." God made this space to separate the waters above and waters below. And God called the space "sky." In Day 3, God made dry ground and called it "land" and the waters "seas." Then G

Happy New Year!!!!

Happy New Year everyone!!!! I hoped everyone had a wonderful Christmas last week. It is officially over the countdown to my New Year's Resolution. So let us begin this new journey together and go in depth into God's word.