Though the Bible pulls no punches
in telling where Abraham failed,
the record of his faith is beautiful
Genesis Chapters 12, 13
Through Genesis chapters 1 through 11, God primarily stays to one genealogy line, 1st born to 1st born son, which ultimately counts down to Jesus, Messiah, in he fulfillment seen in the NT. Then Genesis switches to one man's life in ch 12. Here, the Biblical history branches out to include other familial lines and other sons. God now records how the pagan world interacts and intervenes with, and attempts to interrupt, His plan of Salvation for the world. With this new information of the pagan religions man creates, we see the sin from which we need salvation. From Genesis 12 to Revelation, the Bible includes all the problems, evils, and anger that come against the people of God.
Genesis Chapter 13 records a shameful occurrence where Abram, (before God changed his name), totally forgets God's in control. In fear, he tells a lie and puts his wife, Sarai, in a dangerous position. By telling the Egyptians Sarah is his sister, her beauty is seen by the king who takes her into his harem. God intervenes and rescues them both from the situation. We could easily hear Jesus speaking to Abram, "Why were you afraid, O you of little faith?"
Genesis Chapter 14, 15
Chapter 14-Abram with his little 300+ ill-equipped army goes up against a larger force of battle trained veterans. But Abram has the Commander of the Greater Army fighting his battles. Of course--Abram wins!
Chapter 14:18 we meet a greater God-fearing man than Abram, Melchizedek. I don't have any trouble with his lack of explanation. In this place in the Bible, he is the only other Godly man described other than Abram. That is a very important point about God's omniscience.
After the battle, that rescued Abraham's captive nephew Lot, the king of Sodom comes out to meet Abraham. He isn't concerned with anything but the return of his stuff that was taken. But after watching Abram give of his stuff to Melchizedek, he says to Abram, "Okay, you want the spoils of war? Fine, just give me the people who will build up my prosperity again." (I assumed & paraphrased)
(more paraphrase) Abram replies, "God gave me the victory and I know it. My gift to God has nothing to do with the stuff but I am acknowledging from where the victory comes. I do not share your greed. Take your stuff."
Melchizedek, because he knows what God did for Abram, praises God and blesses Abram for his faith. That is what Abram needed after the battle. He needed a brother in Christ to wash the world off of him. He needed the cleansing of an understanding brother.
After a serious battle, we need someone like-minded to come along side to cleanse us and comfort us.
In this way, we see Melchizedek in the book of Hebrews, where he is mentioned as the picture of Christ, our Comforter, our Cleanser, and the One who comes along side for Strength, Power and most of all Leadership in worship to God the Father when/because we are weak.
Chapter 15 begins Abram's next leg of his walk with God. We see a new Abram after the battle and his new exciting knowledge of God. We each need this growth and it is so awesome when we advance in our walk with Jesus.
Genesis Chapters 16, 17
Abram fails and in lust takes Sarah's slave as a wife, though she is only the wife of his flesh. I think Hagar was likely pleased to become his token wife. As a slave, she had no rights and if Sarah never allowed her to marry, then she had no chance of become a mother or having a husband. It was probably very pleasant for her to become Abram's wife too as he was THE leader of a huge entourage of people. I am not sure but that Abram wasn't unhappy with taking a second wife. It was a common practice and Hagar was likely very pretty. Since she was around all the time, it would seem the natural thing to do, though the wrong thing to do in God's sight.
In Chapter 17, God changes Abram's name to Abraham and gives him the great promise that resounds throughout the world today. God makes the awesome covenant sealing the future of Abraham's descendants as God's people and Him as their God forever. God is keeping that covenant with Abraham's people today. All the promises in the Bible for Israel and their Messiah will come true. God cannot lie.
Genesis 18, 19--Abraham's faith & Lot's failed witness
Genesis 18 records another Christophany, or OT appearance of Christ, when He comes to test Abraham's faith in God's sovereignty. This is my opinion, but I think Abraham was in prayer for his nephew when Jesus showed up. In conversation, Jesus explains the judgement He's bringing on Sodom & Gomorrah and Abraham immediately jumps in with intercessory pleas for Lot.
Jesus seems well pleased with Abraham's request, yet, in the end, it appears Abraham quits asking, knowing God must do something and will do something, even if Lot is taken also. Abraham understands Lot's salvation depends on the man's own relationship with God.
It seems Lot was saved through faith, (2 Peter 2:7) and is in heaven today, but entered the gates with his robe smoking! (Cor 3:11-16, Jude 23). Lot's short biography in Genesis is a sad commentary on what happens when we suppress our witness, or hide our Christianity.
As a side note with no reason except an interesting observation---Lot seemed more comfortable living in cities. He was definitely not the outdoor type.
Genesis Chapters 20,21,22,23
Chapter 20: If you don't think ALL of you're actions won't effect unbelievers, think again. Abraham let down his trust in his God and a pagan king had to tell him his witness was rotten. (Gen 20:9)
Chapter 21: If you need proof God knows the future, here is a beautiful example of prophecy looking FAR down through history. The banishment of Hagar is reiterated in Galatians 4, as God, through Paul, explains the difference between saved and unsaved Israel. God had a plan. The difference between saved and unsaved anyone.
Chapter 22: A lot has been said about Abraham sacrificing Isaac. What I will say is, I love the name YHWH Yireh--The LORD Will Provide.
Chapter 23: Abraham loved Sarah. The only land he ever owned, he bought to bury Sarah. Through all those years of traveling with over 300, possibly 500 to 1000, (Gen 14:14), people in his nomadic group, many must have died and been buried wherever the group happened to be. Now, Abraham is concerned with his wife's grave site. She is important to him. Love
Genesis Chapter 24. A great chapter of faith (Here I take a lot of personal speculation without proof)
Apologies to Bible Commentators, (who definitely know more than I do) I don't think this servant is Eliezer of Damascus, named in Ch 15, but here nameless. Since about 40-50 years have past, he's quite likely one of Eliezer's offspring. (Just saying)
That said, this is fact, the only 'Hebrew patriarchs' in record in Genesis, are Abraham, Isaac & Jacob. God is building the Jewish nation on one man, Abraham, With the exception of Isaac, all others in Abraham's entourage are slaves, servants, or hired help.
BUT--it is reasonable this servant is a God-fearing believer. He prayed a very sincere, direct, specific prayer of faith, (vs 12-14), which God answered with a great miracle. (Vs 19),(Unbidden, this woman watered ten camels of a stranger! His exact prayer!)
We see his faith and acknowledgement of God when he humbly prostrated himself before God in thanksgiving, oblivious to who noticed. There at the well in front of Rebekah, (vs 26), (and probably all the other women come to get water) And in the presence of Rebekah's family (vs 52).
I think he had God-given discernment of the pagan-ness and greed of Rebekah's family and wanted to get away quickly. (vs 54) And Rebekah seemed willing to get out that house without any customary long goodbyes. Maybe she saw something in his servant that interested her about her future husband. Maybe the servant was able to tell her about her husband's God on the way back.
Genesis 24 is a great chapter of faith in action and of answered prayer.
Abraham is a great man to study with much to learn in his faith and his failures.
