Genesis 21, For God made me laugh

Gen 21:1-2, And the LORD visited Sarah AS HE HAD SAID, AND THE LORD DID for Sarah AS HE HAD SPOKEN. For Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, AT THE SET TIME OF WHICH GOD HAD SPOKEN TO HIM.

Num 23:19, “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. HAS HE SAID, AND WILL HE NOT DO? OR HAS HE SPOKEN, AND WILL HE NOT MAKE IT GOOD? 

HE is faithful and if HE says anything HE will do it! That’s the God we serve! HE IS FAITHFUL!

Gen 21:6, And Sarah said, “God has made me laugh, and all who hear will laugh with me.” 

Gen 18:12, Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old, SHALL I HAVE PLEASURE, MY LORD BEING OLD ALSO?” 

This is the second time Sarah laughed, but in astonishment! First time she laughed in doubt, but now she knows that HE IS FAITHFUL TO HIS WORD!

Psa 138:2, I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; FOR YOU HAVE MAGNIFIED YOUR WORD ABOVE ALL YOUR NAME. 

HE IS FAITHFUL AND TRUE, HE CAN’T LIE!

Genesis 20, She is my sister?

Gen 20:2, Now Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “SHE IS MY SISTER.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. 

Once again Abraham stumbled again with the same lie as before! It’s easy to slip back into sinful habits! Even Abraham is not immune!

Ecc 7:20, FOR THERE IS NOT A JUST MAN ON EARTH WHO DOES GOOD AND DOES NOT SIN. 

Gen 20:5-6, …IN THE INTEGRITY OF MY HEART AND INNOCENCE OF MY HANDS I HAVE DONE THIS.” And God said to him in a dream, “Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart. FOR I ALSO WITHHELD YOU FROM SINNING AGAINST ME; THEREFORE I DID NOT LET YOU TOUCH HER. 

Abimelech may have become sick, had a migraine or got busy with work but, God provided a way for him not to sin against the LORD!

1Co 10:13, …but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, BUT WITH THE TEMPTATION WILL ALSO MAKE THE WAY OF ESCAPE, THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO BEAR IT. 

we are sinful people to the heart, yet the LORD is always looking out for his own! HE knows, MAN LEFT ALONE WILL ONLY LEAD TO RUIN! HE IS THE SHEPARD TO ALL WHO TRUST IN HIM!

Genesis 19, driven by their lust

Gen 19:4-5, …THE MEN OF SODOM, BOTH OLD AND YOUNG, ALL THE PEOPLE FROM EVERY QUARTER, SURROUNDED THE HOUSE. And they called to Lot and said to him, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? BRING THEM OUT TO US THAT WE MAY KNOW THEM CARNALLY.”

Jud 1:7, as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, HAVING GIVEN THEMSELVES OVER TO SEXUAL IMMORALITY AND GONE AFTER STRANGE FLESH, ARE SET FORTH AS AN EXAMPLE, SUFFERING THE VENGEANCE OF ETERNAL FIRE.

The depravity of man has no limits, even in their blindness they were driven by depravity & lust! They are examples of what will happen if we follow this path!

Gen 19:22, Hurry, escape there. For I cannot do anything until you arrive there.” Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. 

THIS WORLD IS QUICKLY BECOMING LIKE SODOM AGAIN, YET HE REMAINS FAITHFUL!

Luke 21:36, Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass,

THE LORD SHALL TAKE OUT HIS PEOPLE, THOSE WHO FOLLOW HIM AND KNOW HIM! HE COMES QUICKLY AND SHALL JUDGE THE EARTH!

Genesis 18, the outcry from Sodom

Gen 18:12-14, Therefore Sarah laughed WITHIN HERSELF, saying, “AFTER I HAVE GROWN OLD, SHALL I HAVE PLEASURE, MY LORD BEING OLD ALSO?” And the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?’ IS ANYTHING TOO HARD FOR THE LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.”

Interesting here is that the LORD was hearing her thoughts that she had laughed within herself! NOTHING IS TOO HARD FOR THE LORD, If we are faithless, He remains faithful; 2Ti 2:13,

Php 4:13, I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME. 

Gen 18:21, I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the OUTCRY AGAINST IT THAT HAS COME TO ME; and if not, I will know.” 

It reminds me of Genesis 4:10, “THE VOICE OF YOUR BROTHER’S BLOOD CRIES OUT TO ME FROM THE GROUND”.  The wicked desires of these people surpassed their human compassion! They didn’t care if they hurt/killed children, but only wanted to satisfy their lust!

Psa 98:9, FOR HE IS COMING TO JUDGE THE EARTH. WITH RIGHTEOUSNESS HE SHALL JUDGE THE WORLD, AND THE PEOPLES WITH EQUITY. 

Genesis 17, Everlasting Covenant

Gen 17:7, And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an EVERLASTING COVENANT, TO BE GOD TO YOU AND YOUR DESCENDANTS AFTER YOU.

Jer 33:20-21, “Thus says the LORD: ‘IF YOU CAN BREAK MY COVENANT WITH THE DAY and MY COVENANT WITH THE NIGHT, so that there will not be day and night in their season, THEN MY COVENANT MAY ALSO BE BROKEN WITH DAVID MY SERVANT…

As long as we see the sun, the moon and the stars in the sky HIS Covenant remains with the Jewish nation! NO REPLACEMENT THEOLOGY!

Gen 17:16-17, And I will bless her AND ALSO GIVE YOU A SON BY HER; …Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?”

Rom 4:19, AND NOT BEING WEAK IN FAITH, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 

Looks like Abram laughed in unbelief yet, this is not the case! He knew it was impossible for them to have children But WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE FOR THOSE THAT BELIEVE IN HIM!

Genesis 16, Trusting in the LORD!

Gen 16:2, So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the LORD has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.” AND ABRAM HEEDED THE VOICE OF SARAI. 

Sarai knew that Abram would be the father of many nations, BUT SHE THOUGHT THAT SHE CAN HELP OUT GOD by giving Hagar to her husband! She trusted her own wisdom rather seeking, believing & calling on the LORD for help!

Gen 16:5, Then Sarai said to Abram, “MY WRONG BE UPON YOU! I gave my maid into your embrace; and when she saw that she had conceived, I became despised in her eyes. THE LORD JUDGE BETWEEN YOU AND ME.” 

Sarai blamed Abram for her mistake, but it’s true! Abram should have believed in the promise of GOD also! THIS IS THE WORK OF THE FLESH!

Rom 8:5, For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 

Pro 3:5-6, TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND LEAN NOT ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING; IN ALL YOUR WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM, AND HE SHALL DIRECT YOUR PATHS.

Genesis 15, Our LORD AND SHIELD

Gen 15:1, After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, “DO NOT BE AFRAID, ABRAM. I AM YOUR SHIELD, YOUR EXCEEDINGLY GREAT REWARD.” 

Pro 30:5, Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. 

Gen 15:5-6, Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “SO SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS be.” AND HE BELIEVED IN THE LORD, AND HE ACCOUNTED IT TO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Rom 9:6-8, … For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “IN ISAAC YOUR SEED SHALL BE CALLED.” That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; BUT THE CHILDREN OF THE PROMISE ARE COUNTED AS THE SEED.

Rom 11:19-20, You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith…

We have been grafted in to the family of GOD, we are heirs to and EXCEEDING GREAT REWARD! According to the world Abraham had no chance for a son, BUT WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE!  MATT 19:26!

Genesis 14, King and Priest Jesus

Gen 14:18-20, Then Melchizedek KING OF SALEM brought out bread and wine; he was THE PRIEST of GOD MOST HIGH. And he blessed him and said: “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And he gave him a tithe of all.

Melchizedek, king of Salem (the original name for Jerusalem) & Priest of the MOST HIGH! (Elyon)!

Heb 7:1-3, For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, …, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “KING OF PEACE,” WITHOUT FATHER, WITHOUT MOTHER, WITHOUT GENEALOGY, HAVING NEITHER BEGINNING OF DAYS NOR END OF LIFE, but made LIKE THE SON OF GOD, remains a priest continually.

Melchizedek is a type of JESUS both King & Priest. JESUS HAS NO BEGINNING AND NO END! HE IS A PRIEST AND KING FOREVER! HE IS WORTHY TO BE PRAISED! JESUS SAID!

Joh 5:46, If you really believed Moses, you would believe me, BECAUSE HE WROTE ABOUT ME. 

Heb 10:7, THEN I SAID, ‘BEHOLD, I HAVE COME—IN THE VOLUME OF THE BOOK IT IS WRITTEN OF ME—TO DO YOUR WILL, O GOD.’ ” 

HE IS AND WILL ALWAYS BE KING & PRIEST!

Genesis 13, Lot lifted up his eyes

Gen 13:10, AND LOT LIFTED HIS EYES AND SAW ALL THE PLAIN OF JORDAN, THAT IT WAS WELL WATERED everywhere (before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar. 

1John 2:15-16, Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. FOR ALL THAT IS IN THE WORLD—THE LUST OF THE FLESH, THE LUST OF THE EYES, AND THE PRIDE OF LIFE—IS NOT OF THE FATHER BUT IS OF THE WORLD.

Gen 13:12, Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent even AS FAR AS SODOM.

As 2Cor 5:7 says, FOR WE WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT, Abram was walking by faith in his GOD, but LOT was guided by the lust of the eyes!

WHEN WE ARE GUIDED BY LUST, DESIRE OR EVEN OUR HEARTS WE END UP CLOSER TO THE WORLD BUT FURTHER FROM THE LORD!

2Tim 2:22-23, Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.

WALK BY FAITH & KNOW THAT HE IS WITH YOU!

Genesis 12, the Promise of God

Gen 12:1, NOW THE LORD HAD SAID TO ABRAM: “GET OUT OF YOUR COUNTRY, FROM YOUR FAMILY AND FROM YOUR FATHER’S HOUSE, TO A LAND THAT I WILL SHOW YOU. 

Terah & his family (Abram) lived in Haran until his death, Yet before they got to Haran God had already told Abram to leave his country!

Act 7:2, …The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, BEFORE HE DWELT IN HARAN,

I believe that Abraham was taking care of his father Terah and, in his mind couldn’t leave because he needed help! Upon his death, God repeated HIS command to Abram!  HE DOESN’T GIVE UP ON US THAT EASILY!

Rom 4:3, For what does the Scripture say? “ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS ACCOUNTED TO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.”

Gen 12:3, i will bless those who bless you, and i will curse him who curses you; AND IN YOU ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH SHALL BE BLESSED.”

This promise still holds true today! ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH SHALL BE BLESSED BECAUSE OF THE COMING MESSIAH! HE CAME ONCE AS PER THE SCRIPTURES AND HE WILL COME AGAIN!  BE PREPARED FOR HE IS NEAR!