Ishmael (Hagar mom) "God will hear" Isaac (Sarah mom) "he laughs" Zimran (Keturah "incense" mom) "musician" Jokshan (Keturah) "snarer" Medan (Keturah) "contention" Midian (Keturah) "strife" Ishbak (Keturah) "he releases" Shuah (Keturah) "wealth"  Read less

18:1,17,22- Three men, 2 were angels 1 was God appearing as a man (preincarnate Christ?), they ate with Abraham, God asked the angels opinion, they went off from God to Sodom to get Lot (even as Abraham was asking for God's mercy He was already preforming it.) and to prepare to destroy the cities. 19:1,3-4,11,21- Two angels came to Sodom, they ate and prepared to sleep at Lot's house, they blinded the men of the city, they had the authority to grant Lot's request to not destroy Zoar so he could escape to it. 21: 17- The Angel of God called to Hagar from the sky to tell her not to be afraid. 22: 11- The angel shouts from heaven to Abraham to not kill Isaac. 22:15- The angel calls again from heaven to tell him what the LORD says. 24:40- Abraham believed that God would send his angel before his servant to get a wife for Isaac. His servant believed too. 28:12 Jacob dreams of a ladder to heaven where the angels ascend and descend on it at the top was the LORD. 31: 10-13 - angel of the LORD appeared to Jacob in a dream and told him what to do about the sheep during mating season. He also reminded him of the promise that was made to him at Bethel and told him to take his family and leave to return to Canaan. 32:1-2 Angels of God met Jacob at Mahanaim on his way home, after his parting from Laban. 32:24-30 Jacob wrestled with a "man"- angel or God incarnate. His name was changed to Israel and he had a limp from then on.  Read less

Gen 19 Lot recognized the 2 men as special. Lot hesitated to leave the city. I guess he wasn't quite sure he believed the "men" even though he had seen what had happened the night before when they had blinded the men of the city. God was merciful to Lot even though he hesitated in unbelief and fear. He was merciful on two counts- because of His promise to Abraham and because of Lot himself. Lot was afraid to go to the mountains where the angel directed him, but that was where he eventually ended up anyway, because he was afraid of the people of Zoar. The angel had authority to not destroy the city of Zoar when Lot asked to go there. Moab and Ammon came from Lot and his daughters. Moab and Ammon were/are relatives of the Jews.  Read less

After God speaks w/ Job, Job's response is humility, repentance, and acknowledgement that he had spoken out of misunderstanding and ignorance. Job's received what he had asked for, to have a conversation with God, it has been marvelous to him; there is a tone of joy even in the midst of the humility, a sense of wonder. Job was not wrong in his theology about sin and calamity, he hadn't misrepresented God, but his friends were and God lets them know He is angry w/ them for how they represented Him. He is angry enough to say it twice. Interesting that there restoration required them to go to Job with their burnt offerings and he, like a priest, was to offer it up for them and pray for them. Job was in the process- helped him to forgive them. Good to see the friends obey and repent. They had encountered God, as well, and were changed in there understanding of God. God brought greater blessing to Job in the end, twice as much. All his family and former friends came and feasted w/ him in his home and they consoled him and comforted him becz of the trials-their understanding was transformed and they responded in a manner that was appropriate; to come alongside to comfort and not to judge. Interesting note that at the end Job's daughters are named and not his sons; it also says that they were in his will along w/ his sons. Why is this put in? Jemimah-dove Keziah-sweet scented spice Keren-happuch-the horn or child of beauty  Read less

Job 32 - 37 Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the clan of Ram. (Elihu - "He is my God". Barakel -"God blesses". Buzite - "contempt". Ram - "high or exalted".) Are all Elihu's response to Job and his friends. He is younger and he is angry with all of them; Job for his refusal to admit his sin and that God was punishing him for it, and the friends for not being able to refute Job's arguments and thus "condemn" God. He is younger so waited to hear what his elders would say but, now he must speak. His first mistake is that he spoke out of anger. His second is that he is under the same assumption: that Job is being punished for some sin, because of all the calamity that has befallen him is the evidence. (32: 2;36: 21) Third he believes he has to defend God. (36:2) He speaks truth about God, but again its truth mixed with error. This is why God tells us not to judge; because we can never know all that is going on and when we make judgments we step onto tenuous ground risking harm to those we judge and ourselves as well. When we judge we face judgment, we risk moving further from the truth rather than closer to it. Elihu does speak truths about who God is but instead of using them to encourage Job he turns them against him. Truths about God: 1. "The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life. (4). 2. "Behold, I belong to God like you; I too have been formed out of the clay. (6). 3. "But if a special messenger from heaven is there to intercede for a person, to declare that he is upright, God will be gracious and say, 'Set him free. Do not make him die, for I have found a ransom for his life.' (23-24) - Messiah 4. There is no truer statement than this: God will not do wrong. The Almighty cannot twist justice. Who put the world in his care? Who has set the whole world in place? If God were to take back his spirit a and withdraw his breath, all life would cease, and humanity would turn again to dust. (34:12-15) 5. "For God carefully watches the way people live; he sees everything they do. No darkness is thick enough to hide the wicked from his eyes. For it is not up to mortals to decide when to come before God in judgment. (21-23) 6. But it is wrong to say God doesn't listen, to say the Almighty isn't concerned. And it is even more false to say he doesn't see what is going on. He will bring about justice if you will only wait. (35: 13-14). 7. "Look, God is all-powerful. Who is a teacher like him? (22) 8. "Look, God is exalted beyond what we can understand. His years are without number (26) 9. "Listen, Job; stop and consider the wonderful miracles of God!  Read less

Job 31 Here Job continues in his defense talking of numerous types of sin that he has not committed and if he had he would wish for earthly judgment to bring correction so that he would not have to stand before God's judgment throne. He talks of how he has behaved: 1 He made a covenant w/his eyes not to lust after women. "For ust is a shameful sin, a crime that should be punished. It is a devastating fire that destroys to hell. It would wipe out everything I own. (11-12). 2. He is a man of integrity, he doesn't lie. (5) 3. He is fair to his servants because, "how could I face God? What could I say when he questioned me about it? For God created both me and my servants. He created us both." (14-15) 4. He has helped the poor, widows, homeless, and orphans. He has provided money, food, clothing. He hasn't taken advantage or harmed them in any way. (16 -23) 5. He hasn't put his trust in money nor does his happiness depend on his wealth (24-25) 6. He hasn't worshiped anything but God. (26-27) 7. He has not rejoiced when his enemies have come to ruin or harm (29) 8. He has never cursed anyone or asked for revenge. (30) 9. His household/servants follow his example and give to the hungry. (31) 10. He has opened his doors to all, even strangers. (32) 11. He has even treated his land properly and those who work it (38-40) He is not afraid to be tried publicly, to show proof of his innocence.  Read less

In chapter 30 Job expresses his sorrow, his pain, and his feelings of abandonment by God. Depression, weariness, the feeling of being brutally cast down, persecuted, and not heard are all feelings he expresses. God doesn't hold these things against Job, He doesn't reject him or punish him. The full measure of the test had to be completed to accomplish His purposes. When we/others are in the midst of struggle and times of darkness we need not fear abandonment from God or Father even when we express our feelings of despair. He does hear and He is in motion on our behalf we just can't see it yet.  Read less