The Hebrew Name Game Rides Again! Genesis 22:20-24

May the mumbling commence!

Just in case you missed it, here it is again… the Hebrew Name Game!  Read from Peterson’s The Message:

After all this, Abraham got the news:  “Your brother Nahor is a father!  Milcah has given him children: Uz, his firstborn, his brother Buz, Kemuel (he was the father of Aram), Kesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel.”  (Bethuel was the father of Rebekah.)  Milcah gave these eight sons to Nahor, Abraham’s brother.

            His concubine, Reumah, gave him four more children: Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and Maacah.  (Genesis 22:20-24)

Now read the same passage from the NIV translation:

Some time later Abraham was told, "Milcah is also a mother; she has borne sons to your brother Nahor:  Uz the firstborn, Buz his brother, Kemuel (the father of Aram), Kesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph and Bethuel."  Bethuel became the father of Rebekah. Milcah bore these eight sons to Abraham's brother Nahor.  His concubine, whose name was Reumah, also had sons: Tebah, Gaham, Tahash and Maacah.  (Genesis 22:20-24)

Baby announcements are so exciting!  But what a difference between the NIV and Peterson’s work!  It’s exceptional in the NIV that Milcah is proclaimed as a mother first.  Peterson proclaims the fatherhood of Nahor… while that’s more typical, it’s not consistent with the Hebrew.

The mother is not only named (which happens few and far between in Hebrew genealogies of the Old Testament) she is also proclaimed.  Nahor, the father, plays second fiddle.  I wonder about the story behind these baby announcements in this fashion.  The rest of the genealogy is typical, focusing on sons and leaving out daughters that most likely were born, too.

Peterson takes this wonderment out of the text.  I miss it… plain and simple.

There is one daughter mentioned.  Bethuel is the father of Rebekah.  This statement stands out and foreshadows the next movement of the narrative.  Rebekah, as we will see, will become the wife of Isaac.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out

The Lord Provides for All Who Follow Him. Genesis 22:11-19

May the mumbling commence!

When we honestly and completely seek God’s will, the Lord will provide.  It was true for Abraham.  It’s true for us.  Read from Peterson’s The Message:

            Just then an angel of God called to him out of Heaven, “Abraham!  Abraham!”

                “Yes, I am listening.”

                “Don’t lay a hand on that boy!  Don’t touch him!  Now I know how fearlessly you fear God; you didn’t hesitate to place your son, your dear son, on the altar for me.”

                Abraham looked up.  He saw a ram caught by its horns in the thicket.  Abraham took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son.

                Abraham named that place God-Yireh (God-Sees-to-It).  That’s where we get the saying, “On the mountain of God, he sees to it.”

                The angel of God spoke from Heaven a second time to Abraham: “I swear – God’s sure word! – because you have gone through with this, and have not refused to give me your son, your dear, dear son, I’ll bless you – oh, how I’ll bless you!  And I’ll make sure that your children flourish – like the stars in the sky!  like sand on the beaches!  And your descendants will defeat their enemies.  All nations on Earth will find themselves blessed through your descendants because you obeyed me.”

                Then Abraham went back to his young servants.  They got things together and returned to Beersheba.  Abraham settled down in Beersheba.  (Genesis 22:11-19)

Now read the same passage from the NIV translation:

But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!"

"Here I am," he replied. 

"Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son." 

Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son.  So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, "On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided." 

The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, "I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me." 

Then Abraham returned to his servants, and they set off together for Beersheba. And Abraham stayed in Beersheba.  (Genesis 22:11-19)

Abraham was ready to sacrifice his son, Isaac.  Laughter would die.  Isaac was the son who the promise would come through.  Isaac was the inheritor of the covenant promise.  How would God provide an heir for Abraham now?

Abraham knew that God brought life out of the nearly dead bodies of him and Sarah.  Abraham believed God could repeat that miracle and bring Isaac back from the dead.  The knife was poised.  Abraham, likely with tears in his eyes, had the knife poised to kill Isaac.

But the Lord intervened.  God provided, just as Abraham had told Isaac.  God provided.  That’s much clearer to understand than Peterson’s “God-See-to-It”.

And was Isaac Abraham’s dear son (Peterson), or was Isaac Abraham’s only son (NIV)?  We might say there is also Ishmael… I think that’s what Peterson is hinting at.  But for the sake of the covenant promise, there’s only Isaac.  Isaac is Abraham’s only son.  That foreshadows the sacrifice that God will make with Jesus.  It should not be diluted with incorrect semantics.

And Abraham was always ready to heed the call of the Lord.  Abraham never “settled down” (Peterson).  He may have stayed at certain places for a time, but Abraham was always ready to move when God told him to.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out 

An Amazing Sacrifice of Love! Genesis 22:1-10

May the mumbling commence!

When you signed up to follow the Lord, were you ready to make a most unthinkable sacrifice?  I’m not sure Abraham knew what he was in for.  I’m not sure we are either.  Read from Peterson’s The Message:

            After all this, God tested Abraham.  God said, “Abraham!”

                “Yes?” answered Abraham.  “I’m listening.”

                He said, “Take your dear son Isaac whom you love and go to the land of Moriah.  Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I’ll point out to you.”

                Abraham got up early in the morning and saddled his donkey.  He took two of his young servants and his son Isaac.  He had split wood for the burnt offering.  He set out for the place God had directed him.  On the third day he looked up and saw the place in the distance.  Abraham told his two young servants, “Stay here with the donkey.  The boy and I are going over there to worship; then we’ll come back to you.”

                Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and gave it to Isaac his son to carry.  He carried the flint and the knife.  The two of them went off together.

                Isaac said to Abraham his father, “Father?”

                “Yes, my son.”

                “We have flint and wood, but where’s the sheep for the burnt offering?”

                Abraham said, “Son, God will see to it that there’s a sheep for the burnt offering.”  And they kept on walking together.

                They arrived at the place to which God had directed him.  Abraham built an altar.  He laid out the wood.  Then he tied up Isaac and laid him on the wood.  Abraham reached out and took the knife to kill his son.  (Genesis 22:1-10)

Now read the same passage from the NIV translation:

Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!"

"Here I am," he replied. 

Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about." 

Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about.  On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance.  He said to his servants, "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you." 

Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, "Father?"

"Yes, my son?" Abraham replied.

"The fire and wood are here," Isaac said, "but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" 

Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." And the two of them went on together. 

When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.  Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.  (Genesis 22:1-10)

Although there are some differences, the NIV and Peterson’s work have the same Spirit and heart.  The language has simply been updated a bit.  God was asking Abraham to sacrifice someone he most loved, his son Isaac.

And, true to his practice, the very next day set out early in the morning with a heavy heart.  And Abraham did not get there the first day either.  Abraham, Isaac and the two servants traveled for three days before arriving to the place God would show them (hmm… that echoes the first call of Abram to go to the land that the Lord would show him).  

Imagine that: three days to second guess and change your mind.

And Isaac knew that something was up.  Apparently this wasn’t the first time they went to worship together before.  Isaac knew that something important was missing.  

And Isaac also showed great faith.  There’s no record of Isaac struggling.  Both were ready to make the ultimate sacrifice that foreshadows the sacrifice that God will make with his beloved Son, Jesus.  

What an amazing sacrifice of love!

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out

Echoes of the Past. Genesis 21:22-34

May the mumbling commence!

What about the call of the Lord to bless others?  Let’s think about that as we read the rest of Genesis chapter twenty-one.  Read from Peterson’s The Message:

            At about that same time, Abimelech and the captain of his troops, Phicol, spoke to Abraham: “No matter what you do, God is on your side.  So swear to me that you won’t do anything underhanded to me or any of my family.  For as long as you live here, swear that you’ll treat me and my land as well as I’ve treated you.”

                Abraham said, “I swear it.”

                At the same time, Abraham confronted Abimelech over the matter of a well of water that Abimelech’s servants had taken.  Abimelech said, “I have no idea who did this; you never told me about it; this is the first I’ve heard of it.”

                So the two of them made a covenant.  Abraham took sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelech.  Abraham set aside seven sheep from his flock.

                Abimelech said, “What does this mean?  These seven sheep you’ve set aside.”

                Abraham said, “It means that when you accept these seven sheep, you take it as proof that I dug this well, that it’s my well.”

                That’s how the place got named Beersheba (the Oath-Well), because the two of them swore an oath there.  After they had made the covenant at Beersheba, Abimelech and his commander, Phicol, left and went back to Philistine territory.

                Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba and worshiped God there, praying to the Eternal God.  Abraham lived in Philistine country for a long time.  (Genesis 21:22-34)

Now read the same passage from the NIV translation:

At that time Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his forces said to Abraham, "God is with you in everything you do.  Now swear to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or my descendants. Show to me and the country where you are living as an alien the same kindness I have shown to you." 

Abraham said, "I swear it." 

Then Abraham complained to Abimelech about a well of water that Abimelech's servants had seized.  But Abimelech said, "I don't know who has done this. You did not tell me, and I heard about it only today."  So Abraham brought sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelech, and the two men made a treaty.  Abraham set apart seven ewe lambs from the flock, and Abimelech asked Abraham, "What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs you have set apart by themselves?" 

He replied, "Accept these seven lambs from my hand as a witness that I dug this well." 

So that place was called Beersheba, because the two men swore an oath there. 

After the treaty had been made at Beersheba, Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his forces returned to the land of the Philistines.  Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called upon the name of the Lord, the Eternal God.  And Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines for a long time.  (Genesis 21:22-34)

Our past actions echo throughout our lives – for good or for evil.  Abraham’s actions and thoughts toward Abimelech and his people are echoing in this passage.  Abraham had behaved poorly toward Abimelech, while Abimelech had responded with grace and humility.  Yet God restored Abraham.  God restored Abraham so that he might be a blessing to all people.

But Abimelech wanted assurance that Abraham would treat him fairly in response.

I still do not like Peterson’s turn of phrase “God is on your side” over the NIV “God is with you”.  The difference is too far apart, and abuse of the Scripture too tempting.  We’ve seen it too many times to count already.  Why give the idea more credence?

I also do not like the attitude difference between Abraham complaining (NIV) and confronting (Peterson) Abimelech.  Peterson grants Abraham a raised standing over Abimelech that simply was not there.  Abraham, in many ways, is still at the mercy of Abimelech.  He gives Abimelech seven female ewes (NIV), which are quite valuable because of their ability to produce more sheep… rather than simply saying sheep (Peterson).

The last issue that I will take up is the matter of their agreement with one another.  I don’t know about you, but I think there’s a significant difference between making a treaty and making a covenant.  I see a treaty as more temporal and a covenant as more long-lasting or even eternal.  I do not like Peterson’s use of covenant in this context.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out

Actively Seeking God's Will. Genesis 21:14-21

May the mumbling commence!

There comes a point when we need to leave our own plans and machinations behind.  We must follow the will of the Lord for our lives.  It’s often painful.  But it’s always the best thing for us to do in the long run.  Read from Peterson’s The Message:

            Abraham got up early the next morning, got some food together and a canteen of water for Hagar, put them on her back and sent her away with the child.  She wandered off into the desert of Beersheba.  When the water was gone, she left the child under a shrub and went off, fifty yards or so.  She said, “I can’t watch my son die.”  As she sat, she broke into sobs.

            Meanwhile, God heard the boy crying.  The angel of God called from Heaven to Hagar, “What’s wrong, Hagar?  Don’t be afraid.  God has heard the boy and knows the fix he’s in.  Up now, go get the boy.  Hold him tight.  I’m going to make of him a great nation.”

            Just then God opened her eyes.  She looked.  She saw a well of water.  She went to it and filled her canteen and gave the boy a long, cool drink.

            God was on the boy’s side as he grew up.  He lived out in the desert and became a skilled archer.  He lived in the Paran wilderness.  And his mother got him a wife from Egypt.  (Genesis 21:14-21)

Now read the same passage from the NIV translation:

Early the next morning Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. He set them on her shoulders and then sent her off with the boy. She went on her way and wandered in the desert of Beersheba. 

When the water in the skin was gone, she put the boy under one of the bushes.  Then she went off and sat down nearby, about a bowshot away, for she thought, "I cannot watch the boy die." And as she sat there nearby, she began to sob. 

God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, "What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there.  Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation." 

Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink. 

God was with the boy as he grew up. He lived in the desert and became an archer.  While he was living in the Desert of Paran, his mother got a wife for him from Egypt.  (Genesis 21:14-21)

Peterson almost imperceptibly continues his softening of the break between Abraham and Hagar and “the boy”.  It can be seen in the use of “my son” rather than “the boy”.  “I can’t watch my son die.”

There is also the question about the presence of God with the boy.  Was God “on the boy’s side” (Peterson)?  Or was God simply “with the boy” (NIV)?  I think it’s an important distinction. 

So many times, we like to think that God’s on our side.  But that’s not the right way to be thinking.  The better idea… a better question would be: Are we on God’s side?  Then God will be with us.

Indeed, may we look beyond our distress and see the provision and path that the Lord has put before us.  May we jettison our own plans and machinations so that the will of the Lord will be done in our lives.  Then God will be with us because we have chosen God’s Way.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out

Bitter Fruit. Genesis 21:9-13

May the mumbling commence!

As we sow, so shall we reap.  The decision to “help” God along with the promise of many descendants continued to reap divisive fruit.  Read from Peterson’s The Message:

One day Sarah saw the son the Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham, poking fun at her son Isaac.  She told Abraham, “Get rid of this slave woman and her son.  No child of this slave is going to share inheritance with my son Isaac!”

The matter gave great pain to Abraham – after all, Ishmael was his son.  But God spoke to Abraham, “Don’t feel badly about the boy and your maid.  Do whatever Sarah tells you.  Your descendants will come through Isaac.  Regarding your maid’s son, be assured that I’ll also develop a great nation from him – he’s your son, too.”  (Genesis 21:9-13)

Now read the same passage from the NIV translation:

But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking, and she said to Abraham, "Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac." 

The matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son.  But God said to him, "Do not be so distressed about the boy and your maidservant. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.  I will make the son of the maidservant into a nation also, because he is your offspring."  (Genesis 21:9-13)

Jealousy is rearing its ugly head.  My mother calls it the green-eyed monster.  And it is a monster – scarier than anything Hollywood can come up with.

One thing that always impressed me about this passage is that Ishmael was never mentioned by name.  He was simply the boy or Hagar’s son.  His name was erased from the text to make it easier to send him away.  That’s why I was surprised that Peterson included his name.  He’s softening that blow.

The blow is also further softened by Peterson calling the nation that comes from Ishmael to be great.  That adjective is missing from the NIV.  Really, the blow should not be softened at all.

The blow is the outcome of the triangle of love and devotion amongst Abraham, Sarah and Hagar.  The fruit of this sowing is the bitter jealousy played out between Ishmael and Isaac.  Yes, we get in trouble when we try to “help” God along with His promises to us.  God’s timing is always the best.

When we refuse to wait on the Lord, we set ourselves up for much hurt and pain.  We’ll see more of these things as we continue on in chapter twenty-one of Genesis.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out 

Thanksgiving For the Grace of God's Fulfilled Promises. Genesis 21:1-8

May the mumbling commence!

God comes through with His promises… always.  And the promise given to Sarah and Abraham was no different.  Read from Peterson’s The Message:

            God visited Sarah exactly as he said he would; God did to Sarah what he promised: Sarah became pregnant and gave Abraham a son in his old age, and at the very time God had set.  Abraham named him Isaac.  When his son was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him just as God had commanded.

            Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born.

            Sarah said,

                        God has blessed me with laughter

                        and all who get the news will laugh with me!

            She also said,

                        Whoever would have suggested to Abraham

                        that Sarah would one day nurse a baby!

                        Yet here I am!  I’ve given the old man a son!

            The baby grew and was weaned.  Abraham threw a big party on the day Isaac was weaned.  (Genesis 21:1-8)

Now read the same passage from the NIV translation:

Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised.  Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him.  Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore him.  When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God commanded him.  Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. 

Sarah said, "God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me."  And she added, "Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age."  The child grew and was weaned, and on the day Isaac was weaned Abraham held a great feast.  (Genesis 21:1-8)

God’s promise will come in due time.  God is punctual with His promises.  And that fact means grace for us.  I like the gracious nature of the NIV at the beginning of this passage.  And I like the blessedness of the laughter in Peterson’s work. (Though it is but one interpretation of the Hebrew that sometimes has a bitter connotation to it.)

And I like the hope that was born where there was no reasonable expectation of hope.  I lament that Peterson edits this hope out.  In the NIV, Sarah speaks about nursing children – plural.  Peterson speaks of only one baby – singular.  Sarah’s hope was rekindled, and she did not doubt that the Lord could give her more children after Isaac.

That’s amazing grace!  It’s no wonder that a great feast was held at the weaning of Isaac.  It was a big shindig… a big party.  It was unbridled thanksgiving to God.

How appropriate on the week of Thanksgiving, here in the US!

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out