Tag: Abraham

January 10, read the Bible in a year in PowerPoint; with comments.

Today we read about circumcision and its importance; in John 7 and one of the four chapters in Genesis selected for today. But that is just one part of the story.

John 7:1-24. Jesus pointed out that according to Jewish law, circumcision is more important than keeping Sabbath, so, if the eighth day is on a Sabbath, it must be performed on that day, but healing on a Sabbath is not permitted.

In Genesis15 God promised Abram a son. Abram believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness.

But in Genesis 16 Abram badly wanted an heir, so Sarai, being too old, gave her handmaiden Hagar to be the mother of Abram’s son, Ishmael. Sarai regretted what she had done, and Hagar was sent away with Ishmael into the wilderness.

Thirteen years later, in Genesis 17, Ishmael was back with Abram,  God  promised Abram his seed of promise, changed Abram’s name to Abraham and Sarai’s name became Sarah, established with an eternal covenant, the covenant of Circumcision, and it was performed on Abraham, Ishmael and all Abraham’s male servants.

Which brings us to Genesis 18 with Abraham still waiting for his promised offspring. He was visited by three angels that promised him he will have a son within a year. Sarah heard it and found it laughable, but God confirmed this promise, and was also proclaiming the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham tried to bargain with God at no avail.

The question to ponder: Why is circumcision important for Jews and Muslims, but not for Christians? Hint: read the Acts of the Apostles, chapter 15.

January 9, read the Bible in a year; in PowerPoint, with comments.

The four chapters chosen for today are thought provoking and begins with

John 6:25-71. Jesus had fed the five thousand and been seen walking on water. In spite of these miracles the Jews demanded a sign. Jesus responded in kind by saying he is the bread of life, and if people want to have eternal life they must come to him and eat of his flesh and drink of his blood. When hearing this, many abandoned Jesus, but Peter said: To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.

Then in Genesis 12 Abram was called to leave his home in Ur. He obeyed and traveled to a land he did not know, promised by God, but when a famine came he went to Egypt and acted deceitfully rather than trust God completely.

In Genesis 13 Abram and his sidekick Lot went back from Egypt and separated their paths. Lot chose the fertile plain of Jordan, and Abram went to the hills of Mamre.

Finally in Genesis 14 Lot got in trouble and was taken captive by a local Mafia. Abram rescued Lot, and on the way back gave a tithe to Melchizedek, king of Salem – (later to become Jerusalem), after God had given him success in battle.

Question: Who was Melchizedek, and why is that important? He is mentioned again in Psalm 110 and in Hebrews 5-7.

John 8, The sinful woman, the validity of Jesus’ testimony, before Abraham was born, I am!

The verses 7:53 to 8:11 are not in the earliest manuscripts, but have been added later, maybe as late as around 1100 A.D. The stylistic differences hint at not being written by the apostle John. They did however exist as a separate document from the first century, and were added to complete Jesus dialogue at the feast of Tabernacles. The verses could have been placed elsewhere, since they break up Jesus dialogue at the Temple. However, they were at some time accepted as inspired and are included in most manuscripts (Textus Receptus).

“Go and sin no more”, Jesus last words to the woman, after not condemning her for her past but looking to the future.

Hebrews 11, the great faith chapter.

This chapter has a special meaning to me since I am an immigrant. Yet I realize I am a pilgrim and heaven is my real home.

We can prove from the laws of physics (the preservation of energy and matter but with a constantly increasing entropy) that we cannot possibly exist apart from creation. Yet creation from God’s command must be accepted by faith.Abel sacrificed the firstfruit of his flock, which pointed forward to Jesus being the lamb of God, giving his life for us.

In the upper hand corner is a piece of the book of Enoch, found among the Dead Sea Scrolls.

 

Abraham’s journey was a two step journey. He went to Haran and dwelt there until his father died.

But Abraham also went to Egypt when famine struck the promised land.

This is what it means to be a pilgrim. The Jews had been scattered all over the earth ever since the fall of Israel. They were looking for a homeland to return to.

In the Balfour Declaration of 1917, the United Kingdom became the first world power to endorse the establishment in Palestine of a “national home for the Jewish people.” The British government confirmed this commitment by accepting the British Mandate for Palestine in 1922 (along with their colonial control of the Pirate Coast, Southern Coast of Persia, Iraq and from 1922 a separate area called Transjordan, all of the Middle-Eastern territory except the French territory). The European powers mandated the creation of a Jewish homeland at the San Remo conference of 19–26 April 1920. In 1948, the State of Israel was established.

And so began the prophetic clock to tick again for the Jewish People.

 

 

She is called Rahab the prostitute. An alternate translation would be Rahab the innkeeper, for she was an independent woman that kept an inn.

Yes, thanks to Jesus death on the cross for our sins, his burial and resurrection we have the privilege to be allowed to enter His rest.

Genesis 25, The death of Abraham, his family tree, Esau and Jacob born.

After Sarah’s death Abraham married one of his concubines. Keturah already had six sons with Abraham, according to first Chronicles 1:32-34

 

Ishmael was there at Abraham’s death, and helped bury Abraham. Thus he had not moved far away yet.

Of particular interest is Ishmael’s second son, Kedar. His name is closely associated with Arabia. But Kedar lived much closer to Jerusalem than what the Muslims suggest. They claim he moved to what is now Mecca, but according to Isaiah 60:7 he must have lived much closer.

All Kedar’s flocks will be gathered to you,
    the rams of Nebaioth will serve you;
they will be accepted as offerings on my altar,
    and I will adorn my glorious temple.

The lambs and other animals used for sacrifices were raised much nearer Jerusalem so they could more easily be driven as herds.

 

And this is the reason God said: Esau have I hated.  Esau did not consider the spiritual dimension of his birthright.

 

 

Genesis 22, Abraham tested, God will provide himself a lamb.

On the third day.

 

Isaac submitted willingly.

This is now the eighth name of God introduced.

On the stone on mount Moriah where Abraham offered up his son Isaac is now standing The Dome of the Rock. It was originally a church – shrine, but after the Muslim takeover of Jerusalem it has become a Muslim shrine. To justify the takeover of Jerusalem the Muslims claimed Muhammad made a night trip from Mecca to Jerusalem, called “The story of Isra” It is mentioned in the Quran [17:1] KHALIFA: Most glorified is the One who summoned His servant (Muhammad) during the night, from the Sacred Masjid (of Mecca) to the farthest place of prostration, whose surroundings we have blessed, in order to show him some of our signs. He is the Hearer, the Seer.  The Isra’ story, greatly elaborated by tradition, relates that Muhammad made the journey astride Buraq (q.v.), a mythical winged creature, in the company of the archangel Gabriel. Muhammad meets Abraham, Moses, and Jesus in Jerusalem; he then officiates as leader (imam) of the ritual prayer (salat) for all the prophets assembled and establishes his primacy among God’s messengers. For the full story go to: “http://www.geocities.com/khola_mon/myth/Miraj.html”

The dome of the rock is on top of the temple mount, sacred by Jews, Christians and Muslims alike.

It is so important that it is also on the Iranian 1000 Rial bill.

In the Quran Abraham also offers up his son.

After explaining God’s intervention the Quran introduces the birth of Isaac, which to a Muslim means the son of Abraham offered up on mount Moriah was Ishmael.

 

 

 

 

Genesis 21, the birth of Isaac, Hagar and Ishmael sent away, the treaty at Beersheba.

Ishmael was the firstborn son, but not the son of promise.

 

Hagar wandered in the dame areas as she had walked with Abraham before.

The battle of Beersheba occurred in 1917, when the Turks of the Ottoman Empire were routed.

Leading the charge was the Fourth Light Horse Brigade. They look more like camels to me.