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Genesis 11:1-26; 1 Chronicles 1:24-27; Genesis 11:27-31; Genesis 12:1-14:24<\/strong><\/span> Today in Genesis chapter 11 we read about the tower of Babel!\u00a0 You can view the location of the tower at a high level below:<\/span><\/p>\n I probably should not confess this, but I will \u2013 verse 4 made me smile and laugh at myself a bit, which really shouldn\u2019t be funny.\u00a0 This verse reminded me of myself at times: \u201cLet\u2019s build a great city with a tower that reaches to the skies\u2013a monument to our greatness!\u201d<\/em> This verse is obviously not one that made God happy, as we see in subsequent verses.\u00a0 And I guess I have to ask myself \u2013 are there times my life or areas of my life where I am attempting to build something that will be a \u201cmonument to my greatness\u201d?\u00a0 And I\u2019m afraid that the answer is too often yes.\u00a0 Or it surely has been in the past.\u00a0 I pray that I\u2019m turning over the desire to \u201cbe great\u201d over to God more and more these days.\u00a0 I pray that I am not seeking glory for myself \u2013 but seeking glory for God.\u00a0 But, I am afraid that sometimes I revert back to wanting to build a \u201cmonument to my greatness\u201d in my work or volunteer activities or maybe even personal relationships.\u00a0 And this is pride.\u00a0 It was this pride that brought about the building of the tower of Babel \u2013 and it was because of pride that God stopped the building of the tower by giving the human race different languages.\u00a0 In your life today \u2013 are you seeking to build monuments of greatness for yourself?\u00a0 Or are you instead seeking to only glorify God?\u00a0 Below is an oil on panel painting of the \u201cTower of Babel\u201d by Pieter Bruegel, circa 1563:<\/span><\/p>\n Today is a big day in our readings!\u00a0 We are introduced to Abram & Sarai!\u00a0 Genesis chapter 12 is significant in that it transitions our Old Testament readings from being about the world at large to being primarily about a specific man, Abram, his family, and his descendants.\u00a0 Verses 2 and 3 are an amazing promise from God to Abraham: \u201cI 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.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 This is a powerful promise that we will see played out throughout the rest of our Old Testament readings \u2013 and into the New Testament this promise continues and is fulfilled in Jesus \u2013 and continues in us as spiritual descendants of Abram today.\u00a0 I heard somewhere once that one way to paraphrase this promise is \u201cI will bless you, so that you will be a blessing to others.\u201d\u00a0 And I think about that today for our own lives.\u00a0 If we have been blessed by God, is it possible that we have been blessed in part so that we will be a blessing to others?\u00a0 Do you believe that you been blessed by God?\u00a0 Are you passing along that blessing to others in your life?<\/span><\/p>\n The brief story of Abram and Sarai in Egypt is a foreshadowing of what we will see later in Genesis and into Exodus \u2013 the descendents of Abram going into Egypt to escape a severe famine \u2013 and then ultimately leaving Egypt to the north \u201cwith all their household and belongings\u201d (verse 20).\u00a0 I also am intrigued that in the Gospel of Matthew that Jesus as a child went into Egypt, when Mary & Joseph fled Herod\u2019s decree to kill all boys 2 & under around Bethlehem.\u00a0 Egypt plays quite a supporting role in the Bible!\u00a0 Below is a map of Abram\u2019s journey that we read about today:<\/span><\/p>\n These are some great readings today about Abram and his faith!\u00a0 Chapter 13 verse 9 stood out to me today as Abram was trying to settle the arguments between his and Lot\u2019s herdsmen over pastureland: \u201cI\u2019ll tell you what we\u2019ll do. Take your choice of any section of the land you want, and we will separate. If you want that area over there, then I\u2019ll stay here. If you want to stay in this area, then I\u2019ll move on to another place.\u201d<\/em> I guess what I really like about this is Abram is giving Lot the first choice of the land.\u00a0 It seems like Abram is confident that he will personally be okay with whatever 2nd choice is left-over to him because he is in a relationship with God.\u00a0 I like this.\u00a0 And I hope that we each do this in my life from time to time.\u00a0 \u00a0Think about this random example \u2013 parking spaces in a crowded mall can be hot commodities and arguments can ensue.\u00a0 What would it be like if we let others get the first choice and we continued on in confidence that we will be okay with whatever 2nd choice is left-over to us?\u00a0 Who knows \u2013 maybe we\u2019d end up with the parking space in the boonies \u2013 and get an extra quarter mile of a walk for exercise\u2026\u00a0 maybe not such a bad 2nd choice?\u00a0 Is it possible for us to get in the habit of letting others get the 1st choice of things whenever there is an argument about to ensue \u2013 and us being confident that 2nd choice will still be great for us \u2013 maybe in ways we don\u2019t foresee?\u00a0 \u00a0And confident that because we are in a relationship with God?\u00a0 Below is an image of Abram and Lot in Genesis 13 about to part ways:<\/span><\/p>\n Chapter 14 verse 14 also stood out in regards to Abram\u2019s character: \u201cWhen Abram learned that Lot had been captured, he called together the men born into his household, 318 of them in all. He chased after Kedorlaomer\u2019s army until he caught up with them in Dan.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 I don\u2019t know about you\u2026 but I\u2019ll be honest.\u00a0 If my nephew got captured by a band of marauding kings and their army, I\u2019m thinking I might just let my nephew go and chalk it up to very bad luck on his part\u2026\u00a0 But not Abram!\u00a0 When he heard the news that Lot had been captured, it looks like he did not even blink!\u00a0 He called together his household immediately and they were off and running after Kedorlaomer\u2019s army.\u00a0 Yes, they were chasing after an army\u2026\u00a0 again, I\u2019m not so sure I would do this\u2026 though, hopefully, maybe I now would if I can keep in mind Abram\u2019s character here\u2026.\u00a0 What about you?\u00a0 Would you chase after an army?\u00a0 Is there maybe someone in your life who has been \u201ccaptured\u201d by something \u2013 an addiction, a sadness, some bad luck \u2013 and will you go chasing after that person and help to free them from the \u201carmy\u201d that has ensnared them?<\/span><\/p>\n In verses 17 through 20 in chapter 14 we read about Melchizedek.\u00a0 And I definitely would like to get others opinions on this \u2013 Who was Melchizedek?\u00a0 The reason I ask this question is due to <\/span>Hebrews Chapter 7 \u2013 click on this link to read this chapter of Hebrews<\/span>.\u00a0 (Hebrews 7 is well worth the read at this point in our Genesis journey.)\u00a0 My thinking currently is that Melchizedek was a very great priest \u2013 but I don\u2019t believe he was Jesus Christ preincarnate.\u00a0 But, again, I\u2019m willing to listen to others on your thoughts on this.\u00a0 My thoughts on this is that Hebrews 7 seems to be saying that Jesus is \u201clike\u201d or \u201cin the order\u201d of Melchizedek \u2013 but not quite saying Jesus is Melchizedek.\u00a0 I read there are 4 basic theories on who Melchizedek is \u2013 1. simply a king of Salem and Abram was showing him respect, 2. Melchizedek was a standard title for the kings of Salem.\u00a0 3. He was a \u201ctype of Christ\u201d and he illustrates a lesson about Christ.\u00a0 or 4. He was Jesus preincarnate in a temporary body form.\u00a0 \u00a0So \u2013 whaddya think?\u00a0 Below is an oil painting by Peter Paul Reubens, circa 1625, of Abram and Melchizedek meeting:<\/span><\/p>\n Bible.org\u2019s commentary on today\u2019s readings in Genesis titled \u201cThe Unity of Unbelief\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>, \u201cThe Call of Abram\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>, \u201cWhen Faith Fails\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>, and \u201cLot Looks Out for Number One\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>, \u201cThe Rescue of Lot\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.<\/p>\n Worship Video:<\/strong>\u00a0 The call of Abram in Genesis reminded me of Christy Nockel\u2019s song \u201cWaiting here for You:\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
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