This simple (and fairly approximate) family tree shows that Shem enjoyed seeing the birth (and death except in the case of Peleg) of the next nine generations - and in fact, although it is not in this chapter, he was alive for the birth of Isaac and almost certainly the death of Abraham, though he may not have physically seen them. One other thought - looking from Abram's point of view. Look how much family he left behind in Ur of the Chaldees. What an act of faith. Heb 11:8

Genesis 11:4 - "And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. " - What were these people trying to do? Did they really imagine that they could build a structure tall enough and strong enough to withstand another flood? What of the promise to Noah that God would no more flood the globe in that manner again? Man seems to have a fascination with building taller and taller structures. One good earthquake, and God brings them crashing to the ground! Oh that man would put his energy into learning the ways of heaven, looking for a city whose builder and maker is God, becoming part of His great name - Acts 15:14 - and using the scattering of God to spread the Good Seed of the Kingdom.

11:31 Whereas we tend to think that Abram was the instigator in the departure from Ur here we learn that his father was the moving force.

12:1 We are so familiar with the details of all the promises to Abram that we maybe forget that the promises developed over time. The first promise spoke of ‘land’

Gen 12:2-3  Once again when we take a look at this covenant made to Abram, we see that it is made up of seven parts, making it a compete and perfect covenant. 

Will make of thee a great nation.
Will bless thee.
Make thy name great.
Thou shalt be a blessing.
I will bless them that bless thee.
Curse him that curseth thee. 
In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.                                                                                                                                         

12:10-20.  We see here a story of deception and unfavourable behaviour from Abraham.  We see him make his way to Egypt - and we can see from what little detail we have that this was not an appropriate move for a man of faith.  Spiritually, to 'go into Egypt' is never a good thing.

Maybe we should conclude that he should have had faith that God would see him through the famine?  Clearly Abraham had things to learn, and it seems that he did not cement that learning until Gen 14 when he makes the choice between the riches of the King of Sodom and the blessing and bread and wine of Melchizedek (14:17-24).

It would seem logical that the time needed for aquisition of this required learning which Abraham needed in God's eyes, was the primary factor in God keeping the fulfilment of His promise to Abraham for such a long time into his life.  What marvellous faith this man had in the end, but it seems that he had somewhat less at this point in his life in today's chapter.

The promises to Abraham and the hope they offer: 12:1-3; Gal 3:8-9; Gen 12:7; Gal 3:16,26,27,28,29; Gen 13:14-17; Gen 15:4-5; Gen 22:16-18. Also, note in Gal 3:16; Gen 12:7 that Christ was the prophesied seed of Abraham.

Sarah was Abraham's wife and half-sister: 12:12-13; 20:11-12.

11:30 Consider how many barren women eventually bore significant sons. This is a hint into the way that God would be the father of Messiah.

12:9 That Abram was to ‘sojourn’ in the land promised to him sets the precedence for how all God’s servants should live in the earth. That is as strangers and pilgrims Heb 11:13

12:3     So whilst the promise was to Abraham and his descendants God always had in his mind to bless gentiles – This was the gospel – Gal 3:8

Abram was considered righteous because he believed Yahweh (Gal 3:6).  He is, thus, recorded as one of Yahweh's faithful (Heb 11:8-10).  As we hear about Yahweh's promises to Abram, we should take careful note.  The reason is, that whatever promises were given to him applies to true believers in Christ (Gal 3:29).

12:12,13 Abram tried to lean to his own understanding rather than rely on Yahweh's guidance (see Prov 3:5,6).  It seems that he told a half-truth.  Sarai was, indeed, Abram's half-sister (Gen 20:12).  There is much to be gained from Abram's example.  But, let us rely on our Heavenly Father's direction rather than our own understanding.

11:10  Gen 10 has given us the table of nations, all the sons of Noah’s children. Now we return to Shem because it is through the seed of Shem that the promises are going to be fulfilled.

11:4 The thinking of the flesh has not changed and of man wanting to make a name for himself, this year the worlds newest tallest building is due to be completed in Dubai.  These tallest structures are a show of confidence, pride and affluence.  Yet all these edifices which man builds to make a name for himself above God's, will meet a time when once again God will put in place one language and a united people.  As we read in Zeph 3:9, a people not building a name for themselves but rather united in praise and glory in serving God.

11:6 both times the word 'one' is used in this verse the meaning is to be properly united, this is also the same for both occurences in v1.  This shows us that the people were very much united in what they were doing and v6 spells out the power of being united even though in this instance a negative way.  We are reminded that Paul many times exhorts us to be united/of one mind, because by being united we can acheive so much more by God's grace 1Cor 1:10, Eph 4:16, Phil 1:27.

v 1-5 First Principles>Kingdom of God>Existed in the past
The Kingdom was intimately connected with Israel. The following important points of Israel's history are to be carefully noted.
1. Abraham was to be called the father of a great nation Gen 12:1-5 
2. Isaac, Abraham's son has a son called Jacob Gen 16 go there for more references
3. Jacob's name was changed to Israel Gen 28:13-14 go there for more references
4. Israel has 12 sons Gen 35:21-26
5. Israel, his sons and families went into Egypt Gen 37 Gen 42-46 Acts 7:1-18
6. 12 tribes of Israel descended from the 12 sons of Israel. They remained in Egypt until the 400 years expired. Gen 15:13 go there for more references
7. At the end of this time, God raised up Moses to be their deliverer. Ex 2-4 Acts 7:18-36
8. The Wilderness Journey from Egypt to Canaan was 40 years long. Exo 16:35 go there for more references.

During the 40 years wilderness journey, the nation became organised, laws were given, officials appointed, the commonwealth of Israel came into existence and BECAME KNOWN AS THE KINGDOM OF GOD. Exo 19:6 go there for more references.

Gen 12:2 First Principles>Promises made to the Fathers
God has unfolded His purpose in the past by promises made at certain stages of human history. Peter calls them exceeding great and precious promises by which we might become partakers of the divine nature 2Pet 1:3-4.
The first promise was made when Adam had transgressed God's law in Eden, and revealed that one would be born whom sin would be overcome and through whom all the evil that resulted from sin would be abolished. Gen 3:15.
1. The hope of the Christian in the promises - Paul's confession - go to Acts 28:20
2. The Promises to Abraham - go to Gen 12:2-7
3. The Promises were repeated to:
    a. Isaac - go to Gen 26:2-4
    b. Jacob - go to Gen 28:13-14
    c. David - go to 2Sam 7:12-16
4. The Promises have not yet been fulfilled - go to Heb 11:39-40
5. The Promises were made on oath - go to Gen 22:16
6. God cannot lie - go to Heb 6:13
7. The Promises are to be established in Christ - go to Acts 13:32-33
8. The future fulfilment of the Promises:
    a. National - go to Jer 31:10
    b. Personal - go to Luke 13:28
    c. Ancestral - go to Matt 1:1
    d. International - go to Jer 31:10
9. All the earth will be filled with God's glory Num 14:20-21, Hab 2:14
First Principles> For information about other First Principles topics, go to Acts 8:12

Gen 12:1;Acts 7:2-3.

12:2 The promise of being a ‘great nation’ was to be fulfilled through Israel because of the way that their faithfulness to God would cause the nations to notice their righteousness – Deut 4:6-8

Psa 15 - A beautiful Psalm which teaches us the way to please our Father.

15:1 David was not asking 'who?' because he did not know. Rather he was asking so that he coud outline the things that he knew would enable him to inherit the kingdom. We should do likewise - think about those things which please the father - Philippians 4:8

• Psalm 14:1 - "The fool says in his heart, there is no God"
• Psalm 15:2 - The true citizen of Zion, "speaks the truth in his heart."
• Psalm 16:9 - The Lord Jesus Christ's "heart was glad" when He faithfully considered the certainty of His resurrection from the dead.

        Our heart is in that list somewhere.

Psalm 15:5 - "He that putteth not out his money to usury."  What do these words mean for us today. We all take interest when the banks pay it, so do we believe that these words do not apply to Gentiles who have embraced the Promises? Under the Law, a brother who was blessed with this worlds goods, was bound to share the blessings of God with his poor brother who might have fallen on hard times - Lev 25:35-38. Only the principle was required to be repaid. The brother blessed with abundance was not permitted to extract more from his brethren than what the Lord required... which was simply the principle sum, nothing extra. So the lesson for today? Do we expect more from our brethren than what the Lord has required or commanded? God requires that we be tough on ourselves, but magnanimous or open handed to our brother - Deut 15, Matthew 5:29-30.

Thought for the Day

14 - The ruler (Matt 19:17) should have realised that Jesus would reprove him for his flattery – Psa 14:1 shows clearly that there is none good.

15 - Following last year’s comment maybe, when you mark your Bible, you would underline the repeated use of ‘He that’ which provides a summary of the way in which we have to behave.

16:4 Those who ‘hasten after another God’ are Absalom and his followers. They were not only rejecting David, the Lord’s anointed. By their rejection of David they were rejecting God. God had explained this type of relationship to Samuel (1Sam 8:7)

"Their drink offerings of blood I will not offer, Nor take up their names on my lips." Psa 16:4

What a strange thing for David to say. Why would he want to offer someones blood offering anyway? That was the task of a priest or Levite.

In v5 David confesses that God is the portion of his inheritance. He proclaims that he is glad with that portion alloted to him. He says the same in Psa 119:57 "You are my portion, O LORD". This portion can be found in Num 18:20-24. God had told the children of Levi that they were to have no share in the deviding up of the land. Everyone else was to have a portion, but their portion would be to do the service of the Lord, for which they would receive an adequate living. God said "I am your portion and inheritance".

In saying what he did, David was declaring that he wanted God to be his inheritance. He loved the things of God far more than any temporary inheritance he could gain in this life. By offering himself in this service, he had become the same as a Levite, and as such he saw it as part of his duty to present to God the offerings of the people. This status as a servant to God has always been open to anyone who genuinely desires it, and are chosen by Him according to His foreknowledge. It is gained by seperating oneself to Him (Exo 32:26). Some examples are Melchisedek, Moses, David, Samuel, Samson, and John. Are we amongst them?

Psa 16:8-11 speaks of Christ. Of that there is no doubt, because Peter says so in Acts 2:25. I wonder if David wrote the whole Psalm to refer to Christ?  If that is so, the expression in Psa 16:6, where he says that the lines, or boundaries, or coasts, have fallen to him in pleasant places, also refers to Christ. Jesus would know of this Psalm, and would therefore look at the land of Israel and apply it to His reign in the Kingdom.

14:4      Godlessness is not something that is in the world and has, therefore, n impact upon us. It is the Godless, not the righteous, who ‘eat up’ God’s people. An example is the way in which the Jewish leaders Luke 20:47 devoured widows’ houses. The wicked, by their actions, undermine the faith of the faithful.

15:2 Whilst, under the law of Moses, men might have thought that it was all about observing detail and knowing – a matter of the head – what one should do, david realised that if the law did to affect his heart then there was little point in his service to God.

Ps. 14 is identical to Ps. 53 with small changes to vs. 5 & 6.

The fool in 14:1 refers to a person who is morally wicked and not to one who is stupid.

16:10 is quoted by Peter (Acts 2:27,31), and by Paul (Acts 13:35).

16:7     In saying ‘my reins also instruct me in the night season’ David is showing us that he meditates upon Scripture. His ‘reins’ here speak of his mind. The mind can only ‘instruct’ if it has been instructed already through reading the Scriptures.

16:1 Michtam comes from a root word meaning engraving.  The reference is to fine, stamped gold.  And so, one can interpret this psalm as: a poem that is a precious as stamped gold.

16:5-6  David speaks as if he is talking about a parcel of land. However David sees his inheritance differently. It is not just a parcel of land. It is ‘the Lord’ because he sees his inheritance as being forever as he speaks of his own resurrection 16:11 speaks of David having pleasure ‘for evermore’.

8:4,13 In saying 'go thy way' Jesus is concerned that those he had healed would not publish abroad what had been done to them. Jesus' concern was that they would respond personally to his message.

8:16 ‘When even was come’ is the end of the sabbath as the parallel account – Luke 4:31,38– shows. So we see, incidentally, the opposition of the Jews to Jesus healing on the sabbath.

We cannot explain the miracles that the Lord performed because they do not comply with known natural laws (see Bro. John Bilello's book Miracles for some ideas). Take for example the quietening of the storm (vs.24-26).  Firstly, this was no mere gust of wind but a furious storm which put life and limb in danger. Jesus, with one rebuke, instantly brought about great calm.  Normally, after a storm abates, there would be water sloshing about for some time until it finally came to rest.  But here the transition was from storm to calm instantly - what a miracle!  Who can understand the power of Yahweh? (Job 26).

8:8      In saying ‘speak the word’ expecting that Jesus would ‘send’ the healing to the servant the centurion recognises the way in which God’s healing power works as outlined in Psa 107:20

Vs.28,31 People, today, who have mental illnesses are not considered as being possessed with demons.  Symptoms and behaviors are better understood, and labels have been attached to identify them.  The first century had no such nomenclature.  And yet, there are people today, who believe in demons, as evil spirits, that exist to roam the world to torment people.  They believe that these superhuman entities have been allowed to move freely, throughout history, to affect their nasty deeds.  But Yahweh, creator of all things, did not make supernatural phenomena to torment individuals.  However, He did create evil (Isa 45:7).  That means Yahweh created the conditions whereby the negative expressions of imperfect human nature could manifest themselves.  Mental illness is one such presentation.

The request from the man to bury his father (v.21) was not that his father had just died.  Jesus would have allowed him time out to do this.  When Elisha was called by Elijah, Elisha requested time to bid farewell to his parents, and this was granted (1Kin 19:19-21).  A temporary time out to put affairs in order is acceptable.  However, the request of the man wishing to bury his father was different.  He was asking for time until his father was dead before following Jesus. This open-ended amount of time was not acceptable to the Lord.  We should not let things in our lives delay our service to the Lord.

8:3 That Jesus ‘touched’ the leper shows that he identified with those he came to save – see in particular the way that Isaiah 53:4 us used in Matt 8:13

8:12  We see an example of Jesus’ words being fulfilled in Acts 7:54 where the opponents of Stephen responded thus when they could not deal with what he said.