Reread Gen 15
Let’s break down yesterday’s reading a little more. I thought of several questions I have had and the answers I found as I researched them. Why did the Lord tell Abram to take these 5 animals? These were the animals that would be acceptable sacrifices later when God would give the law to Moses. All these animals pointed to the sacrifice of Jesus. The animal that people brought determined what they could give and what type of sacrifice they were doing. There was the sin offering, the trespass offering, the freewill offering, etc. If they were wealthy, they could give a heifer. If they were poor they gave a pigeon. All were acceptable to God.
Why did God say in the 4th generation they shall come out: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full? If you look in Ex. 5 it says, “5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me.” God was waiting till the 4th generation to judge the Amorites because he is merciful and he gave them the longest possible amount of time to repent.
What was the significance of the smoking furnace and the burning lamp? A furnace has to do with judgment and trials that produce a result. For some, the trial might cause them to rebel and become worse through the furnace, but to others it is a purifier and the result is pure gold. The only place the Bible mentions the smoke of a furnace is in Rev. when it is talking about the smoke that comes from the pit. (Rev. 9:2) The pit is referred to as a furnace. The burning lamp has to do with hope and revelation. The covenant that God was making with Abram was a two-edged sword, it would bring judgment (the 400 years of affliction) and light (their deliverance). God’s Word is like a smoking furnace to those who read it and disobey, or a burning lamp to those who read it and obey it.
Lord, help us to allow the burning lamp to lead us through all our lives.
3 comments:
Ginny, I've been doing some research on "for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete." other versions say "...not yet full." Do you have any thoughts on where our generation stands in this context? I know God is patient and long suffering, yet being just means there is a time for judgement.
Thanks,
Amy
Yes, as far as America stands I feel like we are heading towards and are in judgment right now. When we were attacked on 9-11 it was a turning point for our nation. It was like Gods shield of protection had been breached or lifted. Now we have insurance for terrorist attacks! Never before has the weather been so strange and destructive. There is a great book out called "Eye yo Eye". And it is the account of every time we go against Israel and how immediate danger falls on America. Right now we have a president who hates Israel. Of all the things we need to fear about him, that is the worse. I don't know if this answers your question or not, but the Ammorite would be any nation that turned its back on Israel.
Wow. That is sobering. And then in light of today's news about the man in Miami eating the homeless man - I mean, WHAT???? So many lines have been crossed, I can't imagine He will tolerate it. Thank you for your answer. I hadn't realized Ammorite would be any nation who doesn't support Israel.
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