The Mystery of Canaan

After the flood, Noah and his family left the ark, and Noah planted a vineyard. He drank too much of the wine and became drunk. His son Ham saw him uncovered in his tent and told his brothers. Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it across their shoulders, walked backward into Noah’s tent and covered his nakedness without looking on their father. When Noah realized what had happened while he slept, he cursed Ham (also called Canaan). From Ham came the Babylonians, Syrians, Canaanites (Ammorites, Hittites, Jubusites) and Philistines – enemies of God’s people. Yet God called Abraham out of Ur (Babylon) to leave this land and go to a land where He would lead him, The Promised Land, a land flowing with milk and honey, Canaan.

The Mystery

Why would God lead Abraham to a cursed land? Abraham’s son, Isaac, had twins – Esau and Jacob. Through a strange set of circumstances, Esau sold his birthright to Jacob and Jacob stole his brother’s blessing. Jacob fled back to Haran (Babylon) to find a wife. He worked for his uncle Laban twenty years – seven for his wife Leah, seven for his wife Rachel and six for the livestock. Then he left Haran to return to the land of promise. This whole page-turner story is in the Book of Genesis, chapters 6-31. Jacob’s family was filled with jealousy, deception, manipulation and idolatry. How could God put up with all their sin and drama? How did He not grow weary and lose patience? Yet, He kept His promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to make them into a great nation and people in the land of promise.

During a great famine, Joseph, Jacob’s son through Rachel, was sold into slavery in Egypt, but he became the governor under the Pharaoh. He brought Jacob and his family to live there, where they were slaves for four hundred years. Then God called Moses to rescue Israel and take her back to the land of promise.

God’s Mercy

God led Israel by a cloud during the day and a pillar of fire by night. When they complained, He heard them and comforted them. He provided for them and brought them back to the Promised Land. He defeated all the nations that lived there – the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Jubusites and Philistines. Israel lived in houses they did not build and ate fruit from vineyards they did not plant. It was out of God’s great mercy and provision, even though they sinned against Him many times, again and again. God’s mercy gives me hope when I think I’ve failed too many times. His love and forgiveness are unstoppable.

Prayer

Holy and merciful God, thank you for your great plan for Israel. Thank you that nothing stopped You from giving her the land. Thank you for your plan of salvation – that we don’t suffer for our sin because Jesus took it to the cross with Him. All who believe this are free to love and serve you. Thank you! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Promises Kept

14297239 – dome of the rock and western wall in jerusalem, israel

“The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you'” (Genesis 12:1-3).

Count the Promises

God called Abram (later called Abraham), out of his own country, Ur of the Chaldeans, (Mesopotamia then, Iraq today), and He made three basic promises to him: To make him into a great nation, to bless him and to make his name great. God led Abraham to Canaan and defeated the surrounding nations there to give him the land. Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born, but he never saw God’s promises fulfilled before he died. Rebecca and Isaac gave birth to twins, Esau and Jacob. Jacob had twelve sons who became the fathers of the tribes of Israel. Years later a famine came to the land of Canaan and Jacob took his family of 75 to Egypt where Joseph, the son he thought was dead but was governor and second in charge to the Pharaoh, gave his family the best land in Egypt and took care of them. Jacob and Joseph died in Egypt, but before Joseph died he said to his brothers, “I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land He promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob” (Genesis 50:24).

A Remnant to a Nation

Joseph was 110 years old when he died in Egypt. He was embalmed and placed in a coffin, but he made his brothers promise that his bones would be carried back to Canaan, the Promised Land, when God rescued His people. Four hundred years later, Abraham’s family grew from 75 to over a million people, a great nation. The Bible says that Moses led more than 600,000 men, which does not include women and children, out of Egypt and back to Canaan (Exodus 12).

Promises Kept

God promised to make Abraham into a great nation, to bless him and to make his name great. Abraham didn’t live to see these promises fulfilled, but he lived by faith. He longed for a better country – a heavenly one. Like us, this earth is not our home. We are just passing through, but by passing through we can be God’s light in this dark world, and we can trust in His promises. Is there one that you rely on? I am trusting the promise found in Deuteronomy 20:6: “God will show love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments.” That includes my children and grandchildren. Like Abraham, I may not see the salvation of my family, but I put my hope in the God of the promise.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you for your promises. Through their fulfillment we learn that you are a God who is faithful. We put our hope in you.

The Mystery of Sodom and Gomorrah

Panoramic view of the Jordan River valley, south of the Sea of Galilee. Northern Israel

God called Abraham out of Ur of the Chaldeans in Mesopotamia (Babylonia) to go to Canaan, now known as Israel. Abraham took his wife Sarah and his nephew Lot with him. Both Abraham and Lot were wealthy and had many possessions and livestock. Along the way Abraham’s herdsmen argued and fought with Lot’s herdsman. When they arrived in Canaan, Abraham said to Lot, “Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herders and mine, for we are close relatives. Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left” (Genesis 13:8-9). Lot chose the whole plain of the Jordan River, which was well watered, like the garden of the Lord.

I have thought that Sodom and Gomorrah were located south of the Dead Sea, but the Biblical account here indicates that Lot settled in the Jordan valley. It is believed that the place he chose is north and east of Jerusalem, on the east side of the Jordan River and north of the Dead Sea.

There is archeological evidence of a great fire in this area during the time when the angels practically had to drag Lot, his wife and two daughters out of Sodom. They were told to get out of town and not to look back. It’s possible that Lot’s wife was from this area, and that it was the only life she knew. Most likely she enjoyed the good life of the rich and famous. I believe she left her heart in Sodom. She had no time to plan or pack. She had to hurry and get out of her home before it was destroyed. Evidence proves that she did not go willingly and she did not believe the angels. When she and her family arrived at Zoar, she looked back and became a pillar of salt.

It makes sense that the southern Jordan valley just north of the Dead Sea would have salt deposits and that Lot’s wife could have turned to salt in her unbelief. She paid a huge price for not believing in the God of Abraham and Lot.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the rich history of the Holy Lands. Help us to learn from the people who lived there. Transform our unbelief into a greater faith in you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lift Up Your Heads

City Gate of Hazor 4000 years old

This city gate of Hazor, a prominent Philistine city in the Bible, was uncovered by archeologists in 2014. It is 4,000 years old, which means Abraham entered Hazor through this gate. What an amazing find! If I could do my life over again, I think I’d like to be an archeologist so I could discover these things that prove the Bible is true.

Although we live in troubling times, we can look up and refocus on our God, because Someone greater than Abraham will enter the gates of the New Jerusalem. “Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle . . . The Lord Almighty–he is the King of glory” (Psalms 24:7-10).

Imagine what it will be like to be in the New Jerusalem when Jesus enters the gate. Here is a mystery: We won’t have to struggle to see Him as Zacchaeus did when Jesus entered Jericho. When we see Him, it will be as a Bridegroom coming for His bride. The church is the bride of Christ, and He will come for you as if you were the only one, and He will come for me as if I were the only one. Heaven is personal. It is a real place. It is safe and secure because no evil will enter. So “Lift up your heads . . . be lifted up you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.”

Prayer: Thank you, Father God for the awesome hope we have of being with you forever. Help us to live in light of Eternity. When trouble comes, help us to refocus on Jesus and trust Him to partner with us even now. In Jesus’ name, Amen.