Israel has just finish defeating the two powerful kings of the Amorites, Sihon and Og of Bashan; they were the dreaded enemies of both Moab and Midian. Now that we were able to destroy the Amorites so easily, Moab and Midian both fear that they will be the next to fall to us.
Instead of fighting us directly, they have put together a plan to undermine Israel’s son’s relationship with Yehovah. After a summer campaign on the east side of the Jordan we have gathered at Shittim on the plain of Moab to spend the winter before we start a new campaign on the west side of the Jordan in the spring.
It appears to me that some of Israel (remember they are the ezrach men) have become complacent and perhaps willing to covenant with our enemies instead of destroying them. Some of us began to take their daughters, eat their meat which has not been slaughtered to Yehovah and, worst of all, bowed down and served other elohim (lawmakers and judges) besides Yehovah.
And he, Israel abode in Shittim, and the people became wanton for Moab’s daughters [×‘× ×•×ª, benot], and they [Moab] called to the people to slaughter [לזבחי, zeh-vach] to their elohim (lawmakers and judges), and they did eat; and the people bowed down to their elohim. (Num 25:2-3)
The Time of Life and the Passover are intimately related; it is the day that the spiritual man is born.
Genesis chapter 18 follows 17! That may sound obvious to some, but these chapters are very closely linked. The casual reader will miss what is there. I did not see it until I read the same account in the book of Yasher. Here is what it said.
Yasher 18:1-4 (1) And Abraham rose and did all that Elohim had ordered him, and he took the men of his household and those bought with his money, and he circumcised them as Yehovah had commanded him. (2) And there was not one left whom he did not circumcise, and Abraham and his son Ishmael were circumcised in the flesh of their foreskin; thirteen years old was Ishmael when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. (3) And in the third day Abraham went out of his tent and sat at the door to enjoy the heat of the sun, during the pain of his flesh. (4) And Yehovah appeared to him in the plain of Mamre, and sent three of his ministering angels to visit him, and he was sitting at the door of the tent, and he lifted his eyes and saw, and lo three men were coming from a distance, and he rose up and ran to meet them, and he bowed down to them and brought them into his house.
Genesis says,
Then Yehovah appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. (Gen 18:1)
The Time Of Life Is The Moed
Genesis chapter 18 recounts the visit of Yehovah’s three messengers (all men) sent to Abraham, while he was sitting at the door of his tent in the heat of the day, who tell Abraham that Sarah, his woman, will have a son when Yehovah returns to them at the “moed,â€Â the Time of Life, in the following year. Continue reading The Time of Life→
How old was Abram when he left Noah’s house? How old was Abram when Yehovah 1st spoke to him? How old was Abram when he departed Haran the first time? How old was Abram when he saved Lot? How old was Abram when he took Hagar? How old was Abram when he took Isaac to Mount Moriah? How old was Abram when he took Keturah? How old was Abram when he died?
If you love Yehovah’s word as much as I do, and like to see how all the pieces fit together then here is a time-line for the life of Abram / Abraham that I know you will love.
Life of Abram / Abraham
0 – 10 years old Abram lived in a cave (Yasher 8:35-36)
This is part 2 of 2 in the series “The way of Balaam.” Here is a link to part 1, “The way of Balaam”
Balaam brought forth 4 messages from Yehovah; the first 2 were the result of his encounter with Yehovah through divination and the latter two were the utterance of the man whose eyes are opened and was moved by spirit Elohim. All 4 messages were about Yehovah’s spiritual men, Israel: Who they are, where they came from, where they are going and what they will do in the last days.
Israel (please don’t confuse the Israel I am talking about with the STATE OF ISRAEL which is currently in the promised land) is depicted as an ox who will eat up their enemies as it eats up grass.
So Moab said to the elders of Midian, “Now this company will lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.” (Num 22:4)
Elohim [Israel’s lawmaker and judge] brings them out of Egypt; he has strength like a wild ox. “For there is no sorcery against Jacob, nor any divination against Israel. It now must be said of Jacob and of Israel, ‘Oh, what Elohim has done!‘ Look, a people rises like a lioness, and lifts itself up like a lion; it shall not lie down until it devours the prey, and drinks the blood of the slain.” (Num 23:22-24)
“God brings him out of Egypt; he has strength like a wild ox;he shall consume the nations, his enemies; he shall break their bones and pierce them with his arrows. ‘He bows down, he lies down as a lion; And as a lion, who shall rouse him?‘ “Blessed is he who blesses you, And cursed is he who curses you.” (Num 24:8-9)
What can grass do to defend against a hungry ox, or what prey, a lion? The same thing that the nations can do to defend themselves from Israel. NOTHING! We must ask our selves (I’m speaking to men) “Am I numbered among the nations?” Or Yehovah’s called out people? Hint: Continue reading The Way of Balaam 2→
In Genesis 13 Abram leaves Egypt after Pharaoh gave him more silver, gold, sheep, goats, cattle, camels and male and female servants, including Hagar the daughter of one of his concubines. Abram had 300+ of Nimrod’s servants (men with their families) who came with him out of Babylon (including Eliezer, who Nimrod had given him after he was saved from the furnace), and 72 more men that came with him out of Haran and all the souls which were born to his household. Lot too has many servants, tents and livestock.
In a very real sense, the camp of Abram and the camp of Lot are like two traveling cities and require a large “footprint” in the land to sustain them; and because of this, Lot needs to leave. There is just not room enough for the two of them; and he chooses to go down to Sodom which by the sea, a land described in Yasher as “the garden of Yehovah.”
But not long after he is there Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, Nimrod (Amraphel) king of Shinar, and two other kings come raiding from the North with 8oo,000 men. And on their way back north they raid the city that Lot and all his people are in and take them as slaves.
When Abram receives the word about Lot being taken captive, he fields 318 trained servants who were born in his house. Think for a moment. How many families must Abram have in his camp to have 318 men who are trained and ready to fight?
This chapter of Yasher begins with a brief overview of Babylon; where they stand morally and politically.
Nimrod’s other name, Amraphel, is mentioned for the first time here.
Yasher 11:6 And Nimrod (the king of Shinar) dwelt in Babel, and he there renewed his reign over the rest of his subjects, and he reigned securely, and the subjects and princes of Nimrod called his name Amraphel, saying that at the tower his princes and men fell through his means.
7 And notwithstanding this, Nimrod did not return to the Lord, and he continued in wickedness and teaching wickedness to the sons of men. …
The sons of Ham are at war with one another, and Chedorlaomer, the king of Elam is now ruling over Nimrod (a.k.a. Amraphel).
Yasher 11:9 At that time there was war between the families of the children of Ham, as they were dwelling in the cities which they had built.
10 And Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, went away from the families of the children of Ham, and he fought with them and he subdued them, and he went to the five cities of the plain and he fought against them and he subdued them, and they were under his control.
These two men will play a significant role later on in Genesis 14.
And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations, that they made war with Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). (Gen 14:1-2)
Abram at Terah’s house
Abram is now 50 years old; he has lived with Noah and Shem for 39 years and a cave for 10. Because of the signs in the heavens that were associated with his birth Nimrod tried to kill him at that time. Now, believing it is safe, Abram leaves Noah’s home and returns to his father Terah. On his arrival Abram finds that his father’s house is also the dwelling place for a host of idols and swears in Yehovah’s name to destroy them before 3 days are up.
Yasher 11:16 And Abram came to his father’s house and saw twelve gods standing there in their temples, and the anger of Abram was kindled when he saw these images in his father’s house.
17 And Abram said, As Yehovah liveth these images shall not remain in my father’s house; so shall Yehovah who created me do unto me if in three days’ time I do not break them all.
This is the story of how Abram gets rid of the idols in his father’s house.
For more teachings like this one (beginning at Genesis 1), visit our Join Us for Sabbath page.
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