Hope for Hagar and Ishmael

Lot

The events which take place after Lot and his family flee Sodom are very strange. I haven't known what to write. Why did Lot's wife turn to a pillar of salt when she looked back towards Sodom? Why was the story of incest between Lot and his daughters considered so important that it was included in Scripture.  What are we supposed to learn from these passages?

Perhaps, Lot's wife looked back because much of her mind and heart belonged to that city.  As a result, her life was not spared.  Even in the New Testament, Jesus asks his apostles to leave everything they have and follow him.  One cannot partially follow God.  You are either giving your life to Him, or not.  Lot's wife could not fully let go of her past, and follow the Lord's messengers, so she could not be saved.

This has been the most difficult concept for me to come to terms with in reading the Bible.  It is very cut and dry.  We follow God and are saved, or turn away from him (as Lot's wife did in a very literal way) and are lost. Having once been a non-christian and having many friends with different beliefs or lack there of, it is difficult for me to think that they will not be "saved."

But when I look at my past before I became Christian, or to be completely honest, even afterwards when I didn't understand I had to live like Christ, not just pray to him,  this concept begins to make more sense. Frankly, I either overcomplicated life or was in denial of the problems my bad habits were creating.   Because they I had no idea what God could provide for me, I made decisions that lead me further away from His love. Life became hard for me because I left no room for God to act in my life.

Pastor Joel Osteen often mentions the idea of "God's favor" in his sermons, and it was not something I experienced firsthand until I started taking a few small steps back towards God.  All of a sudden, it was like whenever I took 1 step in the right direction, God took 3 towards me.  I began to see how I was meeting more loving and successful people. Now, I feel that I am always in the right place at the right time.  I trust in God to take whatever problems I have and show me how to overcome them.  That doesn't mean I never have worries.  Like everyone, I sometimes get scared either about my future or a problem.  The only difference is I give it up to God and know that since I am His child he has a great plan for me, and as long as I take action and follow Him, he will make things happen in my life.  Again, this doesn't mean bad things can't happen to good people, it only means that when we have divine guidance by our side there is nothing we cannot overcome.  Our faith and our action in working to get closer to God in all that we do, is actually our biggest tool, but before I understood this, I was lost.

I found it difficult to give up past habits and the sins that turned me away from God rather than towards him.  I was Lot's wife, looking back at the burning city, longing to still have all those things that were only making me temporarily happy.  And as I long looked back, I couldn't moved forward.  I had to let go, and now I feel saved.

The lesson is that God can only rescue us,if we want to be rescued.  If we want to follow him, then we can't look back.  We can only move forward.

***

As for the incest which took place between Lot and his daughters, I could not understand why that was included in Scripture until I did a little research. The children born of Lot's daughters after this event were Moab and Benn-Ami.  They are considered to be the fathers of the Moabites and Ammonites.  Though both of these cultures are considered to have descended from the Semites, they eventually moved towards the east, and later allied with the Syrians against David and his army.  Though the Hebrews and Ammonites sometimes got along and even intermarried, many of their interactions were hostile.  This story may have been a way for Israelites to illustrate the dysfunction of the Ammonites, whom were often their enemies throughout Biblical history. 

This passage is also the last time that Lot is mentioned in Genesis.

Visitors and Messangers

Who were the three visitors who came to Abraham's tent in Genesis 18?  Abraham must have known they were divine messangers.  When he sees them he bows low to the ground.  He commands Sarah and his servants to lay out food before them, and treats them as his honored guests.  There is no mention of their names, or where they come from.  We only know that Abraham noticed these three men standing close by his tent after the Lord appears to him.

During their meal, one of the visitors announces that Sarah will give birth to a son within the year.  Sarah over hears this and laughs. (It isn't surprising then that Isaac's name means laughter) After the meal is over, God reveals his plan to destroy Sodom and Gemorrah.  As Abraham pleads for the lives of the innocent, two of the visitors who shared the meal with Abraham, now referred to for the first time as angels, enter the city of Sodom. What happened to the third visitor?  Was he an angel too?

I did some research online and found mixed results.  Many medieval and renaissance paintings depict the third visitor as God himself.  Other scholars see the visitors as three angels, the third one not being mentioned in Genesis 19 because his one role was prophesying the birth of Isaac. I feel the real importance lies in that this is the first time they are mentioned in Scripture.  They also play an extremely active role in the story.  They may appear as men, but the way Abraham and Lot interact with them proves their divine nature.

Though Lot does not know these men, he also greets them by bowing down to the ground.  Once they enter the city of Sodom, Lot insists that they seek shelter in his home rather than sleeping in the town square.  He also prepares a meal for them, at which time they east unleavened bread ( the first time this recurring them is seen in Scripture)  The cruel townspeople surround Lots house, threatening to break down the door in order to have sex with the angels.  I was unable to understand God's need to destroy Sodom until I read this passage.  It's hard to come up with anything more sacrilegious then sexually assaulting an angel.

"Look I have to daughters who have never slept with a man.  Let me bring them out to you and you can do what you like with them. But don't do anything to these men, for they have come for protection under my roof."~ Genesis 19:8  When I first read this passage, the feminist in me became incredibly angry.  I momentarily lost all of my respect for Lot's moral character.  But after reading it over and meditating on it, I remembered that Lot had no sons, which means that his daughters would have been his most precious assets.  Their lives and their purity would have been extremely important to him as their father.  His daughters' safety would have normally been his number once concern.  Reading it over once more through the eyes of Lot, rather than with my own feminist 21st century mind, I realized this statement speaks more to the divinity of the angels than it does about the degradation of women.  A girl's virginity would have been considered the most important and pure thing.  A father would want to protect it above all else.  But the angels are so divine, pure, and full of light that his daughters' innocence does not even compare to that of these divine messengers. Lot will protect the angels at all costs.

What he doesn't understand is that the angels are their to protect him. He does not understand their power until the evil townspeople break down the door, and the two angels strike them all with blindness.  They had in fact been sent to deliver Lot and his family out of the city.  Through these two divine men, God is able to keep his promise to Abraham that he would save the righteous from the city. 

I have always believed in angels, and I love that they take such an active role at this point in Scripture.  It inspired me to read more about these divine beings and their role in our religious and spiritual lives.  I am very excited to get to know God's messengers better as they are introduced to us in our journey through the Bible. <3

Wife of a Prophet

 "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices in the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." ~1 Corinthians 13:4-7

I do my best each night to write down my schedule for the following day.  I keep my calendar close by my bed and before my husband turns out the light I will jot down a list of "to do's."  My to do list includes errands and tasks to complete for my business. I will also block out a section of the day for quality time with my son.  Sundays are marked "God +Family."  Then there is always the all important "Me Time."  It's the best way I have found to help me manage my spiritual life, family life, and business life.  And in this juggling act, I also have to make time for my marriage.

My husband's cousin Rebecca gave me some good advice at my wedding reception.  She told me that being a mom was important, but to always remember to give my husband the time and commitment he deserves.I have to admit that on my wedding day that seemed like a given.  Now that we have built a life together, I see how work, kids, etc. can sometimes get in the way of our time together.  My husband works hard all day to support us in the short term, while I do my best to build a business that will allow us to thrive in the long-term.  When we get home, most of our time is devoted to our son.  It's easy to forget that we need to get back in touch with what brought us together in the first place, our romantic love for one another.

Our dreams are so big.  Bigger sometimes than what even our families can see for us.  We yearn for the day when we can have our own place, buy a nice car, have another baby.  But living in the moment is just as important.  Appreciating and trusting one another now should come first and foremost. 

Sarai is a role model for me as a wife.  She followed her husband on this pilgrimage to an unknown land which God had promised to her husband.  She left the city of her birth to travel through a strange country.   She followed her husband and supported him when God promised him that he would be the father of many nations.  That must have been so frightening for her, knowing that she was barren.  Sarai sacrificed her own emotions when she offered Hagar to Abram in order to provide him with a son.  She went against every jealous instinct inside her heart in order to make her husband's vision for the future come true.  In the moment in which she made that decision, she sacrificed her own well-being for her husband's dream.  Is there any love more pure than that? 

As we know, her decision eventually lead to bitterness between both her and Hagar. For, as my grandmother would say, we cannot build a strong house on a bad foundation.  She did not believe that she could bear a child as an older woman.  In fact she even laughed when the three angels visited Abraham and told her that she would have a son within the year.  Even after God changed her name to Sarah, and promised her that she would be the mother of Isaac, she had a hard time believing in God's promise.  This fault makes her more human to me.  She struggled with her faith as we all do.  And even though it may have taken decades,  God finally brought Sarah and Abraham's dream to reality with the birth of their son Isaac. 

The love story between Abraham and Sarah is an example to my husband and I, and to all married couples, of what love truly is and should be within a marriage.  It is also a tale of Hope.  Nothing is impossible with God.  And if we continue to serve him in all that we do, and we continue to trust in him, our dreams will come to fruition.  Let our marriages be unselfish relationships of complete and total love.  Let us not forget the base romantic relationships on which are families are made. <3

A Note on Easter

Conversion has been a process for me.  Even after I came back to the church, I made some great mistakes.  I continued to stumble and fall.  But when I look back, even to a year or two ago...I have come a long way.  This year my relationship with God has grown exponentially.  I've learned that believing is not enough.  Belief is just the first step of many.  If we are Christian, than we must do as Christ did.  Walk as He did.  Love as He did.  Sacrifice as He did.

In the past, I prayed mostly to God or to Mary.  I did not feel as connected to God the Son as I did God the Father.  Though God blessed me with many things to be thankful for as I grew up, I also dealt with many adult issues at a young age.  God the Father was a comforting figure.  I could rest in Him.  My problems seemed so big.  Too big for a little girl like me.  But to Almighty God they were less than dust.  I could surrender my struggles to Him, and all would be taken care of.  However, it was not until this year that I began to truly understand the importance of Christ.

As an adult, I am attracted to the story of Jesus because of his humanity.  He struggled as I do.  As all of us do. He suffered more than any of us will ever have to, and was courageous in the face of great evil.  I get emotional when I think of Jesus' agony in the garden of Gethsemane.

"'Father if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will but yours be done.' An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground."   Luke 22:42-44

Knowing that he experienced a greater fear than we will ever endure, died, and conquered the grave so that we may live forever gives me unspeakable love for my Lord.  Knowing that he lived, laughed and loved as we do makes him seem more tangible and reachable.  I used to wonder why Easter is considered the highest holiday in the Catholic church.  Though Christmas is holy because it marks the birth of the Savior, Easter is the fulfillment of his purpose on Earth.   This is the first year that I have come to fully realize that.

When "The Passion of the Christ" first came out in theaters a few years ago I didn't see it because I thought it was more important to make a movie about Jesus' life than the manner in which he died.  Looking back now, I feel much differently.  Being God, Jesus could have saved himself.  He could have run or hid, or denied the accusations of the high priests.  He could have stayed away from Jerusalem as his apostles had begged him to do.

But he didn't

There is a reason he allowed himself to go through that pain, and to rise again.  And because his death and resurrection were part of God's plan, it is important for us to understand what he went through.  Though we will never grasp that experience fully, we must do our best to know his sacrifice.  For everything that he sacrificed was for us.  To ignore that, is to ignore His love.  Therefore, I would encourage you to read the last few chapters of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John this week.

As we mourn over the final hours and the death of Jesus over these next few days, so will we celebrate his resurrection this Sunday.  I wish you all a wonderful and happy Easter, as well as a reflective and spiritual final few days of Lent.

God Bless!

From Abram to Abraham

"The Lord had said to Abram, 'Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." ~Genesis 12:1-3

 When imagining a prophet, I used to think of an old man with a white beard who communicates with God as we do daily with any ordinary human being.  I envision someone without fault, who walks with God and lives in a constant state of righteousness.  Reading of Abraham's life has completely changed my view of what a prophet is.  Born Abram, son of Terah, Scripture gives no reason as to why this man was chosen above all others to be the father of many nations. Like Noah, Abram is not described as exceptional in any way.  His actions show his true character.  Abram's bravery, faith and obedience are evident throughout the major events of his life which take place after he is first called upon by God.  And yet...

He is not perfect.

Abraham makes mistakes.  In fact, sometimes he makes the same mistake several times in a row, but because his heart belongs to God, he is always able to recover from the setbacks he creates for himself.  This was a great relief to me.  I know that I have made some big personal mistakes in the past, and to know that God is forgiving and ready to help us make the best of our past errors was extremely comforting to me. I hope that you are able to receive that happy message into your heart as well when you read Genesis 11-25.

When Abram first answers God's call, there is no indication that he has any idea where he is being led.  He is wandering through the land guided only by his faith.  How scary!  I would be terrified!  Did he not worry about where he would sleep?  How he would survive?  How he would support his wife, nephew and the rest of his caravan?  He was responsible for the lives of all these people and he had no idea where he was going!!!  But God knew, and that was all that mattered to Abram.

When they finally arrive in the land of the Canaanites there are already people inhabiting that land, but God tells him that his descendants will inhabit that territory in the future.  Abram then builds an altar to the Lord in thanks for this great gift.  At this time, his wife Sarai is considered barren and he himself is over 75 years old.  He has left the rest of his immediate family behind to embark on a quest which leads him to a land that is already populated by people of another culture. But Abram's great faith does not allow him to question God's ways.  Though God's promises must have seemed impossible, Abram knew that God had indeed given him the gift of land and numerous descendants.  This reminded me of a quote I once heard. "Faith is believing in something you cannot yet see with human eyes."  This story is such a great illustration of that definition!

Soon after, a great famine strikes the land. Abram and his people are forced to migrate to Egypt.  While there, Abram becomes overwhelmed by fear.  Sarai was extremely beautiful, and fearing that someone would kill him in order to take her as their wife, Abram lies, and claims to be her brother.  When Pharoah hears of her beauty, he calls her to his palace.  Thinking that Abram is her brother, Pharoah showers him with gifts.  Of course, God is not pleased by this and inflicts plagues upon the Pharoah's household.  Once Pharoah comes to the realization that Sarai is actually Abram's wife, he becomes fearful of Abram's God and sends them both away unharmed.   The fascinating part is that Abraham makes the same mistake again in Negev several years later.   Further on in Scripture, his son Isaac fabricates a similar story in Negev as well.  The king takes Isaac's wife, Rebekah, into his palace thinking that she is Isaac's sister, and after God curses his household, she is released.    Perhaps the moral here is that lessons that go unlearned by the parents are often passed on to the children.  It is no rarity for father and son to share the same faults and make similar errors in life.

The next portion of scripture highlights the special relationship between Abram and Lot.  Lot is the only man in Abram's family who accompanies him on this journey of faith.  His father, Harran, passed away when Abram and his family were still residing in Ur.  Perhaps Abram was a father figure to Lot, but it is clear that they valued each other's friendship.  According to Scripture Abram and Lot are accompanied by other people. (the Bible never mentions specifics as to who these "people" are or how they are related to either of Abram or Lot) By the time their caravan reaches a place called Bethel they have acquired so many people, animals, and riches; that the land cannot support their two parties, and tensions rise among the herders.   

"So Abram said to Lot," Let's not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herders and mine, for we are close relatives. Is not the whole land before you? Let's part company.  If you go to the left, I'll go to the right; if you go to the right, I'll go the left." ~ Genesis 13:8-9

So Abram and Lot seperate.  I found this to be a remarkably loving decision, especially considering the time and place in which they lived.  Many men in their situation would have resorted to violence, each one claiming the land as his own.  Abram loves Lot so much that he does not care which portion of the land Lot takes for himself, and Lot cares so much for Abram in return that he does not even try to claim the land where they are currently settled, but moves to the plains of Jordan. How many times have we bickered over what is ours versus what belongs to another?  In this chapter of Genesis we learn that preserving a friendship is vastly more important than any material wealth we feel is rightly ours.

Unfortunately for Lot, the territory he chooses for himself and his people is soon overcome by a great war.  The armies of Sodom and Gomorrah were defeated.  As the remaining soldiers were driven back into the Valley of Siddim, many of them found themselves stuck in tar pits, adding to the grisliness of this battle.  The victorious armies then took all the plunder from Sodom and Gomorrah, as well as Lot and his people.  Who knows what cruelty him and his people faced at this time?

When Abram hears that his nephew has been kidnapped and taken prisoner he raises an army of 318 men. I had no idea that Abraham was a warrior as well as a prophet of the Lord!. Even more shocking, is that Abram would have been an old man at this time.  However, he is not one to let age stop him from saving his nephew and best friend.  His men stalk the armies of Lot's captors during the night before beginning the attack.  Not only does Abram win this battle, but he recovers Lot, his people, their possessions, and all of the captured women as well!  Again, Abram shows us his exceptional character through his actions.  Most people would begin mourning if they heard the news that their loved ones had been carried off by an army.  It would be a lost cause, but apparently Abram's sense of duty knew no bounds.

The kings of the defeated army meet with Abram after Lot's rescue.  This passage in the Bible is the first mention of several important themes present throughout Scripture. 

"Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram saying, 'Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God Most High, who delivered enemies into your hand.' Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything." ~ Genesis 14:18-20
 
I am assuming that because of King Melchizedek's description, he must have believed in one God as Abram did, or he was a holy man of a different religion who converted after seeing how God blessed Abram.  After all, at this time in history, believing in one God would have been an extreme rarity.  It is also the first time that the sharing of bread and wine is mentioned in the Bible.  A holy priest saying blessings over bread and wine does sound familiar to something many of us do every Sunday doesn't it? :)  I am beginning to understand how many of these small passages are preparing the way to the New Testament.

Since I returned to church in 2004 I have heard the word "tithing" mentioned here and there.  One religion that takes tithing very seriously is the Church of Latter Day Saints.  Most of us know them as Mormons, though nowadays most of them prefer to be called LDS.  Practicing LDS give 10% of their income each year back to the church.  I believe Judeo-Christian religions in general hold tithing as an important practice, but in my own personal life I see my LDS friends being the most active in doing so.  I have to admit that I have never personally practiced tithing, though I have been giving it a lot of thought lately.  In fact, only a few days after I had a good talk with my dear friend Michael about tithing did I read this passage. :)  This is the first chapter in Scripture which mentions donating a tenth of what we own to something holy.  I am also a firm believer in getting back what we give out.  I'm not saying that we should start tithing because we want more money to come.  We should give without expecting anything in return, but the Universe always rewards good deeds and I guarantee if we start doing this we will see big rewards.  Not necessarily financially, but in the way we feel, our personal relationships, and who knows what other areas of our life will be impacted by it.  Because let's face it, doing a good deed makes us feel happy inside!  And it makes others happy too. :) 

When the King of Sodom attempts to trade goods for Abram's people, Abram refuses.  He will accept nothing from the evil king. He does not want the knowledge that part of his wealth came from bartering with such a sinful person.  The moral?  Do not make deals with people who have bad intentions.  Wouldn't you rather your wealth and success to be attributed to your good works and accomplishments, rather than your associations with bad people? Of course!

At this point in time, Abram is very distraught.  God is promising him that he will be the father of many nations and yet he has not conceived a child with his wife Sarai.  God makes a covenant with Abram, promising him a son and descendants as numerous as the stars.  I was listening to Joel Osteen online a few weeks ago.  He was saying how important it must have been to Abram that anytime he began to doubt what God had told him, he could go outside and see the stars and remember God's promise.  God wants so much for us.  We only have to reach out and grab it.  There is nothing preventing us from accomplishing the things that others "greater than us" have already accomplished.  It is only our mindset that stops us.  Sometimes our dreams, like Abram's, take a long time to come to fruition. Yesterday, my friends and I had a dream board party where we cut out pictures that represented goals we want to reach and put them on a poster board.  Whenever we begin to doubt ourselves we can look at that board and remember what we are working towards.  This is what God gave Abram.  A giant dream board in the sky, so he would always know, even in times of hardship, that his dreams were in the process of becoming a reality. :)

God also predicts the future migration of the Hebrews to Egypt, their enslavement, and their journey back to the Promised Land.  In this passage we get a small peak at the next book of the Bible, the Book of Exodus.

We will cover some of the subsequent chapters on Hagar, Ishmael, Sarai/Sarah, Isaac, Lot and the Angels in later posts.  However, I will quickly touch upon two more major events in Abram's life.  When Abram is 99 years old God appears to him again.  He changes Abram's name to Abraham, meaning father of many nations.  God also informs him that Sarai will now be called Sarah, and have a son with Abraham called Isaac.  When Abraham hears this he laughs heartily. They are both close 100 years old in age, but God promises him that his covenant will be with Isaac.  He also promises that Ishmael will be a father of nations as well.  Though he is not Sarah's son, he is still blessed for he is of Abraham.  Then God demands that all men in Abraham's household be circumcised and that all future male children be circumcised on the 8th day after their birth.  It sounds like an odd request, but since Abraham and his people were wandering from place to place (and probably rarely bathing) this may have been a sanitary measure and a way to prevent disease.  Abraham must have also been a powerful leader and expert seller of ideas because that same day, he, and every other male in his caravan are circumcised.  Scripture does not even mention him questioning this command from God, as strange as it may have sounded.

In fact, the only time Abraham every questions one of God's intentions is when he announces the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah to Abraham.  Both cities had become ruled by sin to such an extent that we do not understand until we hear of Lot's experience the night when the city burned.  Perhaps Abraham pleaded with God because he knew his nephew resided in Sodom, or perhaps it was also because he thought of the innocent men, women, and children who might be destroyed along with the city.  But it is obvious through his words that Abraham is not at all pleased with God's decision.  Abraham is so upset by this that he is bold in arguing with the Lord.  "Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked?....Far be it from you to do such a wicked thing- to sweep the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike.  Far be it from you!  Will not the Judge of all the earth to right?" ~Genesis 18:23-25  In the end, God promises Abraham to save any righteous people in the city.  This is a really great example not only of Abraham's sense of duty and justice (one that goes so far that he would question God), but of also not fully realizing the scope of God's plan.  Once we finally understand what is going in Sodom in the following chapter we do not at all doubt God's decision in destroying it.  In our own lives, there are times when we do not understand why God is placing certain trials in our life, but God has a bigger picture in mind.  So that in the end, our suffering and questions only lead to greater things. :)

Introduction to the Epic of Abraham

I have heard the Bible described as a great love story. Reading about Abraham finally helped me to begin to understand that concept.  Despite, Abraham's mistakes and hardships,  God never abandons him or his family.  He is constantly working behind the scenes to make sure that the promises he made to Abraham are upheld.  Abraham's life reads like an epic. His story takes us from Ur, to Canaan, to Egypt, and back again.  While we knew nothing of Noah's wife, Sarah is as complicated a character as Abraham.  The relationships between the members of his family are complex.  Most fascinating of all is the introduction of angels into Scripture.  They play an active role throughout Abraham's life.  There are so many inspiring and interesting aspects to this story that I would strongly advise anyone reading this blog to read Genesis 12-25, reread it, and reread it again! :)

Up until this point I have deconstructed each story we have come upon in chronological order.  For this portion of scripture   I would rather break it down character by character.  Abraham's relationship with God is at the center of the story, but the life experiences of Sarah, Hagar, Isaac, Lot, Ishmael, and others hold great lessons for us as well.