Scripture Blog

This weblog is my personal online scripture journal. I try to read the scriptures each morning as I exercise on my cross-trainer. It has a great impact on my life and my testimony of the Savior and his restored church. The journal is really for my own benefit but I have set it up as a web log in hopes to benefit anyone else that may be interested. "For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost..." 1 Nephi 10:19

Monday, January 06, 2014

Genesis 21

One of Abraham's great attributes is that he was a peacemaker.  We see his willingness to obey the Lord as he is commanded to leave Haran.  In my mind, it seemed apparent that there was family conflict.

Later we see him willing to let Lot choose what area or land he would prefer when the land on which they lived was not sufficient for both Abraham's and Lot's servants and animals.

We find him making peace with pharaoh, even the king of Sodom, but even though a peacemaker, still willing to defend his family when Lot is taken captive.

And we even see him being a peacemaker as there seemed to be a conflict with the king of the Philistines over a well where -

"...Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech's servants had violently taken away."  (Old Testament | Genesis 21:25)

Obviously Abimelech was unaware of this conflict saying -

"...I wot not who hath done this thing: neither didst thou tell me, neither yet heard I of it, but to day."  (Old Testament | Genesis 21:26)

But even though Abraham was in the right, in order to keep peace -

"Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and both of them made a covenant.
28 And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.
29 And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by themselves?
30 And he said, For these seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well.
31 Wherefore he called that place Beer-sheba; because there they sware both of them.
32 Thus they made a covenant at Beer-sheba: then Abimelech rose up, and Phichol the chief captain of his host, and they returned into the land of the Philistines."  (Old Testament | Genesis 21:27 - 32)

Because of Abraham's willingness to make peace instead of being right, he was blessed for -

"...Abraham sojourned in the Philistines' land many days."  (Old Testament | Genesis 21:34)