Friday, March 16, 2007

Gen 13-15/Matt 4/5:1-26

Lot was son of Haran… great ‘hair band’, Haran-Haran (‘Hungry like the Wolf’ biggest hit) came from this area I think. Note: Lot’s dad died so I wonder if there was a little closer bond between he and Abram – I hadn’t remembered that on first read.

Gen 14:18 ‘Salem’ short for Jerusalem. Seems obvious I’m sure, but I didn’t get it at first. Gen15:18 from the Nile (West) to the Euphrates (East) was a lot of land – and, just on the other side of Euphrates was Babylon.

Matt4:5 ‘.. the Devil took him’ Hebrew ‘Satan’, Greek was ‘Devil’.. means accuser or slanderer.. the devil is a personal being not a mere force or influence… the great archenemy of God and leader of the hosts of darkness. I wonder how he ‘took’ him – vision, physical?

Like Abram, Matt4:20.. Peter/Andrew ‘at once’ left to follow Jesus and James/John ‘immediately’ left their boats.. responding to the call!

Matt 5: the Beatitudes .. ie, Declarations of blessedness. My notes indicated that there is debate as to this was a summary/collection of teachings or a single sermon. The point: a standard for all Christians, realizing the demand can not be met on our own.

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