Genesis
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Having overcome Laban, Jacob prepares for his next obstacle on his way back home — his scorned brother, Esau. On the journey, the angels of the Lord meet him, and for some reason, Jacob sees it fit to rename that place Mahanaim, meaning “two camps” — one for himself and one for God and His angels (Genesis 32:1–2). This figurative split becomes a reality when Jacob learns that Esau is coming to meet him with four hundred men. Fear grips him once more. He quickly divides his household into two camps, thinking, “If Esau comes and attacks one group, the…
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After twenty long years of deceit, servitude, and strained relationships, Jacob finally reached his breaking point. The once mutually beneficial relationship between him and his uncle Laban had soured beyond repair. What began as a place of refuge after Jacob’s flight from Esau had turned into another prison of manipulation. Yet, God’s voice broke through the tension and gave Jacob the courage he needed to return home. Then the LORD said to Jacob, ‘Go back to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you.’Genesis 31:3 (NIV) In the fields, far from listening ears,…
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After a long journey of nearly 500 miles from Canaan, Jacob finally arrived at a well in the land of the eastern peoples—wearied and empty-handed, bearing nothing with him except the promise of God. Nearly a century earlier, at perhaps this very spot, Abraham’s servant Eliezer had met Rebekah. As Jacob spoke with shepherds waiting to water their flocks, a young woman approached with her sheep. “While Jacob was still talking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherd. When Jacob saw Rachel daughter of his uncle Laban, and Laban’s sheep, he went over and…
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With the tension in the family boiling over, Jacob is sent away under the guise of finding a wife, but in reality, he will be on the run for his life. Esau is waiting for the day of his father Isaac’s death, harbouring a fixed resolve to kill Jacob. Rebekah, gripped by the fear of losing both sons urgently convinces Isaac to send Jacob away to her family in Haran. But unlike Abraham’s servant who once travelled to fetch Rebekah with wealth and company, Jacob sets out with nothing. A seventy-seven-year-old man with no escort, no riches, and no inheritance,…
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Isaac was growing old, and his failing eyesight could scarcely distinguish the faces before him, though he recognised Esau more clearly than anyone else. Esau, the rugged hunter, the favoured son, the one who supplied his father with the meals he loved. Yet, while Esau’s wives were a continual source of grief to Rebekah, Isaac chose to overlook his son’s decisions, intent on bestowing the family blessing upon him. Rebekah might have reminded Isaac of what God had revealed to her, but often we press forward with our own stubborn will. “When Esau was forty years old, he married Judith……
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The story of Isaac mirrors that of his father Abraham—of mistakes repeated but also of faith that endures. When a famine, similar to the one during Abraham’s time, ravaged the land, Isaac, like his father before him, moved toward Gerar in search of refuge. Yet here, God gave a direct command: The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. – Genesis 26:2 (NIV) Egypt, though fertile, had always represented a place of compromise for God’s people. Abraham had gone there and faltered in faith, and…
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Abraham took another woman, Keturah, as his wife—likely during Sarah’s later years—and fathered six more sons through her. Whether she was regarded as a wife or a concubine, this later union brought him additional offspring. However, unlike Isaac, these sons were not included in the inheritance. They were given gifts and sent away toward the east, removed from the land set apart for the promised line. It was a deliberate distancing, not born of rejection or disregard, but of discernment. Abraham understood that Isaac was not merely another son, but the one through whom God’s covenant would be fulfilled. The…
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At first glance, Rebekah’s departure from her homeland to marry Isaac may appear to be a simple arranged marriage. But this union is far more than a romantic or cultural arrangement—it is a powerful testimony to God’s providence, faith in action, and the unfolding of His covenant promises. Rebekah does not merely become Isaac’s wife; she steps into the role of matriarch, entering Sarah’s tent and taking her place in the ongoing story of Israel’s destiny. Abraham’s Instructions After Sarah’s death and with Abraham now very old, his focus is on an important task—ensuring that God’s covenant continues through Isaac.…
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At first, the recording of Sarah’s death and burial may seem an arbitrary decision by the author, yet it stands out for a remarkable reason. Sarah is the only woman in the Bible whose age at death is recorded. Unlike other prominent matriarchs such as Eve, Rebekah, or Bathsheba, Sarah’s passing is marked with exceptional detail. Why is her death given such prominence? Beyond the grief of loss, this moment signifies something far greater: it marks Abraham’s first legal acquisition in the promised land of Canaan. More than a burial narrative, this account reflects an act of faith and a…
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Some time after Abraham had sent Hagar and Ishmael away, the LORD once again spoke to him. This time, the conversation between them was not about a promise or a blessing, but a sacrifice —one that would shake the very foundation of Abraham’s faith. God asked for the one thing Abraham held most dear: his only remaining son, Isaac, the son of whom he loved. Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.” – Genesis 22:2…
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While in Gerar, God used Abraham to restore fertility to all the women in Abimelek’s household, yet Sarah remained barren. But not long after, the LORD was gracious to Sarah as He had promised. She conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the appointed time God had foretold. Abraham named him Isaac, meaning “he laughs”—a sign of how their initial sceptical laughter had turned into one of joy. Each time they called his name, they would be reminded of how God’s promise, once met with doubt, had been faithfully fulfilled. The child grew and was…
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For many readers like myself, this chapter feels like a case of déjà vu. It seems as though we’ve read this story before—until we flip back a few pages and realize, “Oh, that was with a different king.” The storyline is nearly identical, only with a new setting, a different king, altered circumstances, and a different point in time—yet it’s still the same old Abraham. Now Abraham moved on from there into the region of the Negev and lived between Kadesh and Shur. – Genesis 20:1 (NIV) Escaping From God Abraham left the place where he had met God and…
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With the men of Sodom blinded and fumbling outside Lot’s door, the angels urged Lot to stop wasting any more time and let them carry out what they had come for. They told him to get his things ready and gather his family — if there was anyone else Lot wanted to save, now was the time to get them. Lot had pledged his daughters to marry two men from Sodom. Yes, the same daughters he had just moments ago offered to be raped were virgins, waiting to be married. So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who…
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After meeting Abraham, the two angels who accompanied the LORD arrived at the gates of the city of Sodom. It was evening time, and Lot, Abraham’s nephew, was sitting in the gateway of the city when, much like his uncle, he saw the heavenly beings enter his town. Upon seeing them, Lot urged them to stay at his house for the night, where they could wash their feet and rest before continuing their journey in the morning. Lot’s hospitality may seem unusual to us, but in the ancient world, most towns lacked inns or motels as we know them today.…
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After finishing their meal and renewing their promise to Abraham and Sarah, the three men stood up to leave. Abraham accompanied them as they looked down toward Sodom. At this moment, the LORD revealed His plans to Abraham—to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. God chose to inform Abraham of His plans to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah not only because Lot, Abraham’s beloved nephew, lived in those cities, but also because God was partnering with Abraham in His greater purposes. This was more than just a family matter—it was about relationship and trust. God was drawing Abraham into His…
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Once, while Abraham was sitting at the entrance of his tent during the heat of the day, he saw three strangers coming his way—or at least he thought they were strangers. However, as they came closer, he seemed to recognise them, or at least one of them. He warmly invited them to stay for a meal. As it turned out, it was the LORD who had come to visit Abraham near the great trees of Mamre. Abraham had set up his tent near the great trees of Mamre and had even formed alliances with the surrounding tribes. We see him…
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When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and identified Himself as God Almighty, El Shaddai. At the sight of the LORD, Abram fell facedown in reverence, and the LORD instructed him to live in faithful obedience and be blameless in his conduct. God’s expectation for Abraham to be blameless did not imply sinless perfection but rather wholehearted devotion, integrity, and faithfulness. The Hebrew word tamim signifies completeness and moral uprightness rather than flawlessness. Just as Abraham’s righteousness was credited to him through faith, so too we are made righteous before God through Jesus Christ, who took…
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After a decade of waiting for God’s promise to be fulfilled, Abram and Sarai grew impatient and took matters into their own hands. Sarai suggested that Abram conceive a child with her servant, Hagar, and he willingly agreed. In doing so, he followed Sarai’s counsel rather than trusting in God’s timing and the covenant established with him. This decision mirrors the events in the Garden of Eden, where mankind once again placed human reasoning above divine guidance. Circumventing God’s Plan Hagar, a slave girl whom Abram acquired in Egypt, was merely a pawn in the scheme devised by Sarai and…
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Abram had just emerged victorious in battle, yet his heart was not at ease. He had refused the plunder offered by the king of Sodom, choosing instead to honour the LORD, as affirmed by the priest-king Melchizedek. Even in his triumph, a quiet emptiness lingered, perhaps triggered by Lot’s decision to return to Sodom, leaving Abram without an heir. …the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision:“Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” – Genesis 15:1 (NIV) It was in this moment of uncertainty that the LORD appeared to Abram. God…
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Around the time Abram and Lot had parted ways, a cold war was brewing among the kings of the region. For twelve years, the local kings of the Jordan Valley—Bera (king of Sodom), Birsha (king of Gomorrah), Shinab (king of Admah), Shemeber (king of Zeboyim), and the king of Bela (Zoar)—were subject to Kedorlaomer, king of Elam, and his allies: Amraphel (king of Shinar), Arioch (king of Ellasar), and Tidal (king of Goyim). However, in the thirteenth year, the five Jordanian kings rebelled against Kedorlaomer’s rule. In response, in the fourteenth year of the conflict, Kedorlaomer and his allies launched…
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During his entire time in Egypt, Abram did not call on the name of the Lord. In fact, it was Pharaoh who had to expel him, as Abram—who had initially gone to Egypt to survive the famine—had become comfortable there enjoying the benefits of his deceit. However, as soon as he left Egypt and returned to the land God had promised him, he sought to reconnect with God. He traveled from place to place until he reached the very spot where he had first built an altar, and there, he called on the name of the Lord once again. Ever…
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In the ancient world, where farming heavily relied on rainfall, a prolonged drought had a much more drastic impact on food supplies. In the Bible, famines are often the reason people migrated in search of the most basic necessity—food. Abram follows this pattern during one such famine, taking a detour to Egypt, and it seems that on this journey, he is moving away from God. Throughout his travels, we see Abram building altars, but not in Egypt. Why is that? What made this particular expedition different? When we look at this incident in Abram’s life, it becomes clear that there…
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From a scattered world to the blessing of all nations through one family, the author of the book of Genesis focuses on a single family hereon. God calls Abram to leave his father’s household and hometown, sending him to scatter even further. At the ripe old age of seventy-five, Abram accepts God’s call and leaves his father’s household to follow God’s voice. Abram and his family were idol worshipers (Joshua 24:2), yet God chose not only to reveal Himself to Abram but also to deliver His redemption plan for all mankind through him. The author of Genesis traces Abram’s roots…
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The survivors of the flood and their descendants all spoke the same language and shared a common speech. They travelled together as one large family, staying close to one another as they journeyed eastward. In the Bible, moving eastward often symbolizes a departure from God’s presence. When Adam and Eve were exiled from the Garden of Eden, they moved eastward. After Cain murdered his brother, he also went east away from the presence of the LORD. Similarly, when Lot separated from his uncle Abraham, he headed eastward and ended up in the corrupt cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. As people…
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After spending almost a year in the ark, Noah and his family were instructed by God to leave once the land had dried. They brought with them the animals, birds, and creatures, and were commanded to multiply and fill the earth. Upon exiting, Noah built an altar and offered burnt sacrifices of clean animals and birds to the Lord. God blessed Noah and his family, giving them a fresh start and the command to grow in number and populate the earth. The fear and dread of you will fall on all the beasts of the earth, and on all the…
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Many Mesopotamian and Assyrian narratives include flood stories that bear similarities to the story of Noah. The Babylonian version, for instance, describes a flood triggered by one of their gods, who was so annoyed by the noise coming from the earth that he decided to destroy the entire planet. This depiction feels less like a divine being and more like a grumpy uncle fed up with his neighbours’ loud music. In contrast, the biblical flood narrative stands apart. It is not driven by the arbitrary whims of a deity but by God’s purpose to bring humanity back to the Garden,…
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The LORD had warned Cain about the sin he was about to commit, but Cain, like his parents, gave in to temptation and allowed sin to rule over him by killing his brother. Afterwards, Cain denied responsibility, claiming he was not his brother’s keeper, and lied to the LORD. The LORD rebuked him, saying his brother’s blood cried out from the ground. As a result, the LORD banished Cain, declaring that the ground, which had received his brother’s blood, would no longer yield crops for him. Cain was sentenced to live out the rest of his life as a restless…
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In the Garden, we saw the disobedience of two of God’s creations—mankind and the serpent—leading to their exits from the sanctuary. The author then introduces two new characters, brothers—a farmer and a rancher, who try to live in communion with God. They start out right, just like Adam and Eve, until one of them allows sin to rule over him, causing yet another level of separation from God. Adam made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, “With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man.” Later she…
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Tempted by the promise of wisdom and autonomy, mankind disobeyed God by eating from the Tree of Knowledge, prioritizing their desires over obedience. This act shattered their innocence, introducing shame, guilt, and a fractured relationship with God, symbolized by their attempt to cover their nakedness. In response, the LORD confronted the serpent, woman, and man, issuing His judgment. To the serpent, He declared a curse above all creatures, condemning it to crawl on its belly and prophesying enmity between the serpent and the woman’s offspring—a foreshadowing of ultimate victory over evil as her offspring would crush the serpent’s head while…
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At the end of both creation accounts, we saw mankind in its purest state. The man and woman, created in the image of God, lived in a world of perfect harmony. They had nothing to hide—both from God and from each other. They were naked and felt no shame. But all of that was about to be changed as following the desires of their heart would cause mankind to lose their innocence. We are introduced to a mysterious and cunning figure: the serpent, described as more crafty than any other creature. But who exactly is this serpent? It may be…
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While the first creation account in Genesis (Genesis 1) notes that entire mankind was created together on the sixth day, this second account appears to show a time gap between the creation of man and woman. Why was there a need to create woman, why did God designate her as a ‘helper,’ and what does a holy union truly mean in God’s eyes? The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” – Genesis 2:18 (NIV) Man needs a companion because, although God visited the Garden in…
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The second chapter of the Book of Genesis presents a different perspective on the creation story. While the initial account lays out the creation of the world in a structured, day-by-day sequence, culminating in the creation of mankind on the sixth day, this provides a more intimate look at the relationship between God and mankind. “This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, when the LORD God made the earth and the heavens” – Genesis 2:4 (NIV) Some scholars interpret this chapter as a detailed retelling of the events from the third to the…
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This opening verse of Genesis provides the foundation for understanding the beginning of creation. The phrase “God created the heavens and the earth” reveals that not only was the earth formed, but the heavens, too, came into existence through God’s command. Before this, only God existed—He transcended even the heavens and the angels, having no beginning. The Spirit of God was present even before the earth took shape, hovering over the formless waters. This signifies God’s presence and active role in creation, setting the stage for what would come next. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.…
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The first book of the Hebrew Bible, translated as In the Beginning, fittingly opens with the phrase “In the beginning,” and is named Genesis. The events chronicled in Genesis were originally passed down orally, shared as stories recounting the forefathers’ interactions with Yahweh. These narratives were preserved among the Israelites, serving as a reminder of their ancestors’ experiences with God as they journeyed through the wilderness. Authorship Genesis covers the longest timeline of events in the Bible, beginning with the creation of the world—an indefinite period—and spanning to the second millennium BC when Abraham set out on his journey. While…
The Jordan Valley 