Genesis 23-25, Settling Accounts

Abraham’s final years, his son Isaac’s marriage and twins Jacob and Esau. Their life trajectories begin.

Genesis 22: Surrender Isaac

Isaac was born in chapter 21, when Abraham was 100 years old. Hagar and Ishmael, the Egyptian servant and her son by Abraham (at Sarah’s prompting) were sent away.   Years went by, and God came to Abraham and asked him to give up, as a burnt offering, this miracle son through whom He had promised …

Genesis 17-21: Covenants

At 99 years of age, Abram (meaning ‘exalted father’) was renamed Abraham (meaning ‘father of nations’), and his wife Sarai was renamed Sarah – both of these changes made by God.  God repeated His promise, clarifying that the covenant people would be born of Sarah (Isaac), and laid out the terms of Abraham’s obedience (and …

Genesis 1-3: Creation to Fall

God exists outside of time.  At some point, He decided to make people and, of course, a place for them to live.  These chapters provide an account, in varying degrees of detail, of how He set about doing just that. He spoke into existence all that is… then He reached down to the surface of …

Genesis 4-9: Fall to Flood

God had told Adam that the price of rebellion would be death.  So it was, though the people remained physically alive, the souls within them had died.  Physical death came to one of the innocent animals in the garden, providing a covering both for rebellion and for their nakedness, of which they were suddenly ashamed. …