Day 6: Genesis 15-17
Today's morning devotion is Genesis 15-17, which is a narrative of God entering into a covenant with Abram, who God renamed Abraham when Abraham was 99 years old.
What exactly were the Amorites wrongfully doing? And how would it be completed?
Luckily for me, someone named John Piper, who is much better versed in the Bible, explained that the timing was such that God would deliver judgment to the Amorites using Israel. According to John Piper, the Amorites were pagans and idolaters, rightful recipients of God's judgment after plenty of time to repent while living under God's grace.
The power triangle created when Sarai gave Hagar as a wife to Abram was interesting, in that it demonstrated how a stable hierarchy could be upset. Before that marriage, Hagar obeyed Sarai as her servant, and Sarai obeyed Abram as his wife. But after the marriage, Hagar and Sarai suddenly became peers. Worse for Sarai, Hagar one-upped Sarai by conceiving for Abram.
It appeared that once Hagar became a peer to Sarai, Sarai no longer held the same level of authority over Hagar. As such, Hagar's blatant contempt for Sarai was an offense that Sarai could no longer punish directly. So, instead, Sarai makes her case with Abram instead.
The reason I found this passage interesting is that perhaps Paul drew from this when he was telling Christian wives to submit to their husbands in his letter to the Colossians.
Anyway, in reply to Sarai's complaint Abram smartly (in my opinion) re-establishes order with a simple statement.
Abram's words places Hagar back beneath Sarai in the chain of authority. The shift in balance within the power triangle caused the relationships to better resemble a straight hierarchy once more.
What was most interesting to me in today's devotion is that God makes a clear distinction between a blessing and a covenant, a distinction that previously was not apparent to me.
So, what is the exact difference between a blessing and a covenant? Is the difference that a blessing is a one-time gift, whereas a covenant is an everlasting contract?
The iniquity of the Amorites
What exactly were the Amorites wrongfully doing? And how would it be completed?
As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age. And they shall come back here in the fourth generation, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.” (Genesis 15:15-16 ESV)
Luckily for me, someone named John Piper, who is much better versed in the Bible, explained that the timing was such that God would deliver judgment to the Amorites using Israel. According to John Piper, the Amorites were pagans and idolaters, rightful recipients of God's judgment after plenty of time to repent while living under God's grace.
Power triangle: Abram-Sarai-Hagar
The power triangle created when Sarai gave Hagar as a wife to Abram was interesting, in that it demonstrated how a stable hierarchy could be upset. Before that marriage, Hagar obeyed Sarai as her servant, and Sarai obeyed Abram as his wife. But after the marriage, Hagar and Sarai suddenly became peers. Worse for Sarai, Hagar one-upped Sarai by conceiving for Abram.
And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress. And Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be on you! I gave my servant to your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked on me with contempt. May the LORD judge between you and me!” (Genesis 16:4-5 ESV)
It appeared that once Hagar became a peer to Sarai, Sarai no longer held the same level of authority over Hagar. As such, Hagar's blatant contempt for Sarai was an offense that Sarai could no longer punish directly. So, instead, Sarai makes her case with Abram instead.
The reason I found this passage interesting is that perhaps Paul drew from this when he was telling Christian wives to submit to their husbands in his letter to the Colossians.
Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. (Colossians 3:18 ESV)
Anyway, in reply to Sarai's complaint Abram smartly (in my opinion) re-establishes order with a simple statement.
But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your servant is in your power; do to her as you please.” Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her. (Genesis 16:6 ESV)
Abram's words places Hagar back beneath Sarai in the chain of authority. The shift in balance within the power triangle caused the relationships to better resemble a straight hierarchy once more.
Blessing vs. covenant
What was most interesting to me in today's devotion is that God makes a clear distinction between a blessing and a covenant, a distinction that previously was not apparent to me.
God said, “No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him. As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I have blessed him and will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He shall father twelve princes, and I will make him into a great nation. But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this time next year.” (Genesis 17:19-21 ESV)
So, what is the exact difference between a blessing and a covenant? Is the difference that a blessing is a one-time gift, whereas a covenant is an everlasting contract?