Day 2

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Day two summary

Day 2: Genesis 18-29.

Genesis 18
Abraham saw 3 visitors standing nearby. Two of the visitors were angels and the other is God.  He immediately got up and asked for some water to be brought to wash their feet, and some food to refresh them. They accepted. Abraham instructed Sarah to make cakes. He chose a choice calf and ordered a servant to prepare it. He also obtained milk and butter. This along with the meat of the choice calf was served to the visitors.

They told Abraham that he would return at about the same time next year and by that time, Sarah will have a son. Sarah overheard what God said and she laughed because she and her husband, Abraham, had already been old and beyond the child bearing age. God reminded them that nothing is impossible in him.
God revealed to Abraham that the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah has been great. Abraham asks God if he will destroy the righteous along with the wicked, and pleads to save them.

Genesis 19

The two angels arrived at Sodom. Lot invited them into his house to wash their feet, feed them, and stay for the night. Before they went to bed, the men of the city of Sodom gathered around Lot and asked him to bring out the two angels so that they could have sex with them. Lot told them not to harm the two angels, and offered them his two daughters. They refused and attempted to break down the door. The angels struck the men outside with blindness so that they didn’t know where the door was.

The angels told Lot to get all of his relatives out of Sodom before they destroy the city. The two men pledged to marry his two daughters refused to leave. Lot took his wife and 2 daughters out of the city. They were instructed not to look back and to flee to the mountains. Lot’s wife looked back and she was turned into a pillar of salt. God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah by raining down burning sulfur.
Lot and his two daughters settled in a cave in the mountains. The daughters made their father drunk with wine and slept with him to conceive. They wanted to preserve the family line. The older daughter had a son called Moab and the younger daughter had a son called Ben-Ammi.

Genesis 20 

Abraham moved to the region between Kadesh and Shur in the Negev. He lived in Gerar for a while. Abraham told everyone that Sarah was his sister. King Abimelech of Gerar did not know that Sarah was Abraham’s wife and he took her.

One night, God spoke to Abimelech in a dream. He told him that the woman he had taken, Sarah, is a married woman. Abimelech appealed to God and said he was innocent because Abraham said she is his sister and he didn’t know about it. God knew he did it with a clear conscience. Therefore, he had kept him from sleeping with her. God commanded Abimelech to return Sarah to Abraham otherwise he and all he own would die.

Abimelech called in Abraham and rebuked him for deceiving him that Sarah is his sister so that he took her. Abraham replied that he was afraid of being killed so he did not say Sarah was his wife. After that, Abim'elech took sheep, oxen, menservants, and womenservants to Abraham. He also gave Abraham 1,000 shekels to cover the offense against Sarah.  Abraham prayed to God for Abimelech and his wife and slave girls’ wombs are opened again.

Genesis 21


Sarah bore a son, as God had promised. Abraham named the baby boy Isaac. Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born to him. Sarah despised the son of Hagar, Ishmael, and she bade Abraham to send them away. Abraham felt distressed because Ishmael was his son but God instructed him to do what Sarah told him to do. God promised to make Ishmael into a nation because he was Abraham’s son.
    Abraham gave some food and a skin of water to Hagar and sent her and Ishmael away. Hagar went wandering around the desert of Beersheba. It happened that the water in the skin was finished so Hagar put the boy under a bush, because she couldn’t stand seeing her son die. An angel called out from heaven and told Hagar that God will make her son into a great nation. God opened Hagar’s eyes and let her see a well of water. She filled the skin with water and gave it to the boy. When the boy grew up, Hagar found wife for him from Egypt.
    One day, Abimelech and Phicol, his commander went to Abraham and asked him to swear an oath by God that he will be kind to him, his children and his descendants. Abimelech did this because he had seen that God was with him in everything he did. Abraham agreed and he took an oath. Later, Abraham complained to Abimelech that his servants had seized the well. Abraham gave sheep and cattle to Abimelech and they made a treaty. Abraham set aside 7 ewe lambs to serve as witness that he dug the well. The place where the two swore an oath is Beersheba. Abimelech and Phicol returned to Philistines. Abraham grew a tamarisk tree in Beersheba and called on God.

Genesis 22

Genesis 22
God tested Abraham’s love for him. He instructed Abraham to travel to Moriah to offer his son, Isaac as a burnt offering.  Abraham built an altar. He arranged wood on the altar he built, and tied up his son and put above the wood. As he was about the kill his son, an angel called out his name and told him not to kill the boy. He had proved that he fears and obeys the Lord. Abraham saw a ram that was caught in a thicket and he offered it as a burnt sacrifice. Abraham named the place ‘Jehovahjireh’, which means God provides. The angel called out to Abraham another time and assured him that God would bless him and make his descendants numerous. He told Abraham that his descendants would take the land of Canaan by conquering the inhabitants, and through him, all nations will be blessed because Abraham obeyed God.

Someone informed Abraham that his brother, Nahor, whose wife was Milcah had 8 sons including Huz, Buz, Kemuel, Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel. Bethuel was the father of Rebekah, Isaac’s wife. Nahor also had 4 children by his concubine, Reumah including Tebah, and Gaham, and Thahash, and Maachah. 

Genesis 23

    Sarah died at the age of 127 years. She died in Kirjatharba, which is Hebron, in Canaan. When she died, Abraham mourned for her. He asked the Hittites to sell him a property to be used as a burial site for his wife, Sarah. The children of Heth replied that he could bury his wife in the choicest tomb. Abraham bowed down and requested them to tell Ephron, the son of Zohar on his behalf to sell the cave of Machpelah to him to be used as a burial site.
     Ephron, the Hittite dwelt among the children of Heth. He declared that he would give him the field and the cave of Machpelah that is in it. But Abraham said he wanted to pay for the field. Abraham weighed out the price according to the term of Ephron, the Hittites and the field including the cave of Machpelah that is in it are deeded to him. Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave of Machpelah.

Genesis 24

    When Abraham was old, he called the chief servant of his household and had him swear that he would get a wife for his son, Isaac, from among his own relatives instead of from among the Canaanite’s women. He swore the oath by placing his hand under Abraham’s thigh.
    The servant brought goods and set out with 10 camels. He came to a well outside the town at evening, a time when woman come to draw water. While at the well, he prayed to God to guide him to the woman whom he choose to be wife for Isaac, Abraham’s son. Rebekah came carrying the jar on her shoulder before the servant finished praying. The servant asked Rebekah for a drink and she let down the jar to give him a drink and water the camels. At this, the servant knew that Rebekah was the one God had chosen to be the wife of Isaac. The servant took out a gold nose ring that weigh 1 beka and 2 gold bracelets weigh 10 shekels. He asked Rebekah whose daughter she was and if there was room at her father’s house for him and the camels. Rebekah replied that she is the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Nahor and Milcah and told the servant that there was plenty of rooms for him and the camels. The servant recounted that the purpose of his journey was to get a wife for his master's son, and how God led him to find Rebekah as the chosen wife for him.
    The servant gave gold jewelry, silver jewelry and clothes to Rebekah. He also gave expensive gifts to Laban (Rebekah's brother) and Rebekah’s mother. With their blessings, he journeyed with Rebekah to return to his master, Abraham. Isaac married Rebekah and was comforted about the loss of her mother.

Genesis 25

Abraham married a woman called Keturah. Keturah gave birth to several children including Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. The sons of Jokshan were Sheba, and Dedan. The sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim. The sons of Midian were Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. Abraham gave his sons gifts and sent them away to the land of the east. He died when he was 175 years old. He left all his possessions to his son, Isaac. He was buried alongside his wife, Sarah, by his sons Isaac and Ishmael in the cave of Machpelah near Mamre. Isaac lived nearby to Beer Lahai Roi after Abraham died.
    Ishmael had 12 sons including Nebajoth, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadar, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. 12 princes according to their nations. Ishmael died when he was 137 years old. Isaac married Rebekah when he was 40 years old. Rebekah was barren so Isaac prayed to God for her to be pregnant. Rebekah conceived twins. The twins jostled each other in Rebekah’s womb before they were born. Rebekah asked God why did this happen and God answered that there are two nations her womb. He said the younger will be greater than the older. Later, Rebekah gave birth to twins sons. The older baby is hairy so he was named Esau. The younger came out grabbing onto the heel of Esau. Therefore, the younger was named Jacob. Isaac was 60 years old when the twins were born.
    Esau like the outdoors but Jacob like to stay in the tents. Esau was a skillful hunter. It happened that Jacob was cooking some red stew and Esau was famished having coming back from hunting. He asked Jacob to give him some stew but Jacob required him to sell his birthright to him first. Esau disregarded his birthright and sold it to Jacob for some stew.

Genesis 26

    There was a famine and Isaac went to live in Gerar.   God appeared to Isaac and instructed him not to go to Egypt. He promised to bless Isaac with descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky. When Isaac stayed in Gerar, he told others that Rebekah is his sister because he was afraid the people would kill him in order to take her for she is beautiful.
     One day Abimelech saw Isaac caressing his wife while looking down from the window. Abimelech called Isaac and rebuked him from lying that Rebekah was his sister because someone could have slept her and brought this wrong upon the whole community.  Abimelech gave an order that anyone who molest Isaac or his wife will be put to death.
    Isaac grew crops and reaped 100 fold that year and he ecame very wealthy. This caused the Philistines to envy him and they filled the wells dug by his father’s servants with earth so that they stopped up. Abimelech asked Isaac to move away because he felt that he had become too powerful. Isaac then moved to the Valley of Gerar. He opened up the wells that were stopped up by the Philistines and gave them the same names.
     Isaac went to Beersheba. The LORD appeared to him and reconfirmed his covenant with him that he would bless him and make his descendants numerous. Isaac built an altar and called on God’s name.
     Abimelech came to Isaac with his friend, Ahuzzath, and Phicol the commander, to make a peace treaty with him. Isaac gave a feast for them and they left peacefully the next morning. The servants of Isaac found another well and call it Shebah. The town is called Beersheba. Esau married a Hittite woman in Canaan when he was 40 years old. His wives were Judith, daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath, daughter of Elon the Hittite They were a source of grief to Isaac and Rebekah.

Genesis 27

 Isaac had become old and he could no longer see. He called in Esau and asked him to hunt for a game and then prepare it for him so that he can bless him before his death. When Rebekah overheard this, she instructed her son Jacob to bring her 2 choice young goats so that she can prepare it in the way Isaac likes it and bless Jacob. Jacob argued that his father will know that he is tricking him and get a curse instead of a blessing because his brother Esau is hairy and he has smooth skin. Rebekah told Jacob to do what she said and let the curse fall on her. Jacob did as his mother told him. After Rebekah prepared the food, Rebekah put the best clothes of Esau on Jacob. She put goatskins to cover Jacob’s hands and the smooth part of the neck. Rebekah handed the meat and bread to Jacob and he brought it to his father, Isaac.
    When Jacob called his father, his father asked who it was. He lied and said he was Esau, the firstborn who had came to serve him the game. Isaac asked how he did hunt the game so fast and Jacob replied that God had given him success. Isaac asked Jacob to come near so that he could know whether he was Esau. Isaac said that the voice he heard is of Jacob but the hands are like those of Esau.
     Isaac did not recognize that it was Jacob and he asked whether he was really Esau. Jacob replied he was. After Isaac had eaten the game, he asked his son to come near to kiss him. When Jacob came near to kiss him, he caught the smell of Esau’s clothes and he blessed him. Isaac blessed Jacob that he will be greater than his brothers and other nations; those who curse him will be cursed and those who bless him will be blessed.
     When Esau came back from hunting, he prepared the game and brought it to the father. His father trembled and said he had already eaten the meal. Esau knew Jacob had stolen away his blessing and he cried. He asked his father to bless him. He blessed him that his descendants will indeed be servant to his brother but they will break off from their yoke when they grow restless. Esau held a grudge on Jacob because he stole his blessing. He planned to kill Jacob after his father's death. When Rebekah was told about this, she instructed Jacob to flee to his brother Laban in Haran. Rebekah told Isaac of her disgust against the Hittite women and did not want Jacob to marry a Hittite wife like Esau did.

Genesis 28

 Before Jacob went to Haran, Isaac instructed him to marry a wife from the daughters of Rebekah’s brother, Laban, who live in Paddan-aram. Rebekah’s father is Bethuel. He blessed him that he will increase in numbers until a community of people is developed. When Esau found out that his parents despised Canaanite women, he went to marry Mahalath, the daughter of Ishmael, who was Nebaioth’s sister.

Jacob stopped at a place after the sunset to rest. He took a stone and put it under his head as pillow. While lying down on the stone, he dreamed of a stairway that reached into heaven. Angels were ascending and descending on the stairway. He saw God standing on the stairway. God told him that he will bless him and give him and his descendants the land on which they are lying, and He would give him as many descendants as the dust of the earth. People will be blessed through him and his descendants. God promised to watch over him and bring him back. He promised not to leave him until what he promised had been accomplished.  After that, Jacob vowed that the Lord would be his God and he would give him tithes of all he had, if God would watch over him and supply him with food and clothes and let him return to the house of his father.

 Genesis 29

Jacob finally arrived at the land that belonged to the eastern people. When he saw the shepherds, he asked them where they were from and they replied they were from Haran. Jacob asked them if they were acquainted with Laban, the grandson of Nahor and asked them about his well being. They replied that he was well and Jacob asked them to water the flocks and send them back to the pasture. As they were talking, Rachel came with the sheep of her father. Jacob went over to Rachel and gave her a kiss. He wept aloud. Jacob told Rachel that he was son of Rebekah, her father’s sister so a relative to him. Laban hurried out to meet Jacob when he heard about it and brought him to his home.
    After 1 week of staying at Laban’s house, Laban told Jacob to name his wages. Laban had two daughters. The older was Leah and the younger was Rachel. Jacob told him that he would work 7 years for him in exchange for Rachel as his wife. After 7 years, Jacob asked Laban to give Rachel as his wife. Laban gathered everyone and held a feast. At the end of the festivity, he gave Leah to him as his wife. He gave Zilpah to as maidservant for Leah. Jacob lay with Leah but he didn’t know until the next morning.
When the next morning comes, he was shocked and he complained about it to Laban. Laban gave an excuse that it was the custom for the older daughter to marry first instead of the younger daughter. He said he will give Rachel to him as wife if he works for him for another 7 years. So Jacob agreed to work for another 7 years, to marry Rachel. At the end of the 7 years, he married Rachel. Laban gave Bilhah as maidservant to Rachel.
    God saw that Jacob loved Rachel and not Leah, and Rachel was barren. At this time, Leah had 4 sons including Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah.