Genesis 15:5 - He took him outside and said, "Look up at the heavens and count the stars - If indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be."
Genesis 19:26 - But Lot's wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.
Genesis 22:7-8 - Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, "Father?" "Yes, my son?" Abraham replied. "The fire and wood are here," Isaac said, "but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." And the two of them went together.
These three verses cover a LOT of events and a LOT of history. It covers God's covenant with Abraham, the destruction of the cities of Sodom & Gomorrah, and then Abraham's prepared sacrifice of his only son from his wife Sarah. So, let's break down each one even though they all revolve, basically, around the life of Abraham.
Abraham was worried about this matter as he did not have any sons and he was climbing in age daily. God promised him early on that he would have lots and lots and lots and lots and lots (you get the point, right) of descendants and his name would live forever. Abraham believed Him, but is wife wasn't so sure. Especially since the first promise of a child didn't take place within her timing. She asked Abraham to bed with her maid and they had a kid and it was pretty messy after that! (Women!)
Now, God made a lofty promise to Abraham...I mean, can you count all the stars? Can you even count all the stars you can visibly see when facing one direction? Another verse within the story of Abraham tells him his offspring will be numerous as the sands of the beach...really! That's a lot of mouths to feed! This would make any man happy. He would have descendants! He would have heirs! This was uber-important in those days. But, isn't it almost as important today?
While we have limited views of the world as Americans, many countries still carry on a similar practice to what Abraham was wishing for. There are tribes and nations all over the earth that have many children in hopes of many descendants to carry on the family line. Even in America, most families want at least one male child to carry on the family name...or it dies out and where is the legacy in that?
For example, if my brother was the only McPherson male child born (excluding cousins, etc.) the McPherson line would currently die when he dies as he has no male offspring. And, if you look in other countries, like China, the male children are preferred over female children. Boys were pretty important back then!
Basically they couldn't find any righteous. The angels told Lot and his family to high tail it out of the city and were specific in saying "DO NOT LOOK BACK". What gets me here is that the family actually had a face-to-face with God's messenger. They got told what to do (get out and don't look back) and the consequence (death) if you looked back.
Now, like I said yesterday, I believe Dad is compassionate and full of love. But, like any parent, sometimes He has to be tough - you know, tough love. This was one of those times. He had some cleaning up to do and no one needed to see it done. He was adamant that His rules be followed. And the rules weren't that hard...get out and don't look back. But, curiosity killed the cat...
Lot's wife must of have been curious. Even though there was no one "righteous" in the city, I'm sure there may have been "good" persons there. They were losing their friends, their church, their business, their associates, their house, their belongings, the family Bible!!! Women tend to be more thoughtful and emotional than men. It must have been hard for her to cope with everything that happened that hour. She was told to abruptly leave her home never to return or look back upon the life they had there.
It makes this story sad because I think curiosity and emotions got the better of her. More disturbing is the thought that God knew she would look back. Maybe that was the plan all along? Maybe she was a bad apple? Maybe she was a thorn in the side of Lot and a reason he wasn't fully focused on God? And why salt?
Just let this be a lesson to you: Why Dad loves us and wants us to be happy, He is like any father. There are rules sometimes that cannot be broken and when they are broken, there are consequences.
Genesis 22:7-8 - These verses are an amazing tribute to a wonderful Father/Son relationship that exists between God and Abraham and Abraham and Isaac. First, God has just told Abraham to take his only "begotten" son from his wife Sarah and sacrifice him as a burnt offer to God. And Abraham obediently complies with the task. Can you imagine what was going through Abraham's mind? In addition to some questions and thoughts below, I imagine the scenes of the Isaac's life were passing before his father's eyes. Why God? He's my only son...what about your promise? I love him. This is going to cause me to die. What about Sarah, she'll never recover the loss. What will I do? Will you give me more sons? I've raised him since he was born. Oh, remember that baby smile? Oh, I think I'm going to be sick!
But Abraham knew God had his best interest at heart. He knew God could see the big picture and knew that God would still keep his promise. Now, as reassuring as all this "knowing" is, I'm sure Abraham was still having that inner turmoil. He was human...like you and me. He was probably emotional inside. Maybe he sorta shut down on the outside. He was doing his best, surely, coping with this so Sarah and Isaac wouldn't pick up on what was to come. Thanks to Abraham's trusting relationship with God, he was able to obediently carry to the task.
Now, on the flip side, you have a great relationship going between Abraham and Isaac. I'd have to assume that Isaac may have been a little spoiled. But he was very respectful and trusting of his father. To me, it is like looking at the relationship of God with Abraham in human form. Isaac didn't know Abraham's instructions, but trusted his dad knew the big picture and the sacrifice would go without a hitch. He had faith in his father to trust his words "God himself will provide the lamb..." Isaac knew his dad would protect him and knew that his dad, Abraham, had his best interest at heart. Simply like God has ours at heart.
It should be noted this is the first time the word lamb is used in the Bible. Also, I like how God has Isaac to sacrifice his only son (ignoring his offspring with the maid) for the greater good of humanity. This same thing would happen years later when God would send down Jesus...the sacrificial lamb...to die for our humanity. It should also be noted that this segment of the story has a happy ending in that God actually provided a sacrificial ram just before Abraham was about to slit open Isaac. Can't imagine trying to explain that to my only son....
Tomorrow's verses:
Genesis 25:8 - Then Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age, an old man and full of years; and he was gathered to his people.
Genesis 26:34-35 - When Esau was forty years old, he married Judith daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and also Basemath daughter of Elon the Hittite. They were a source of grief to Isaac and Rebekah.
Genesis 28:22 "...and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God's house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth."
Enjoy!
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