February 3-9 | GENESIS 12-14

Digging for Spiritual Gems: (10 min.)

Ge 13:8, 9—How can we imitate Abraham when resolving disputes? (w16.05 5 ¶12)

12 A Scriptural account in which God’s servants peacefully resolved a potentially divisive issue is the one mentioned earlier involving Abraham and his nephew Lot. Both men possessed livestock, and their shepherds apparently quarreled about grazing land. Eager to eliminate tensions, Abraham offered Lot first choice of the areas where their respective households would settle. (Gen. 13:1, 2, 5-9) What a good example! Abraham sought peace, not his own interests. Did he lose out because of his generosity? Not at all. Immediately after this incident with Lot, Jehovah promised Abraham great blessings. (Gen. 13:14-17) God will never allow his servants to suffer lasting loss for acting in harmony with divine principles and settling differences in a spirit of love.[1]

Ge 14:18-20—How did Levi pay “tithes through Abraham”? (Heb 7:4-10; it-2 683 ¶1) Melchizedek king of Salem was a priest (ko·henʹ) extraordinary. The Bible gives no record of his ancestry, his birth, or his death. His priesthood was not by inheritance, and he had no predecessors or successors in office. Melchizedek held both the office of king and of priest. His priesthood was greater than the Levitical priesthood, for Levi, in effect, paid tithes to Melchizedek, since he was still in the loins of Abraham when Abraham offered tithes to Melchizedek and was blessed by him. (Ge 14:18-20; Heb 7:4-10) In these things Melchizedek foreshadowed Jesus Christ, the “priest forever according to the manner of Melchizedek.”—Heb 7:17.

What spiritual gems from this week’s Bible reading would you like to share regarding Jehovah God, the field ministry, or something else?

Ge 12:1: Abram was old and childless when his faith in Jehovah was test when he was asked to go to a land he never been before. This took real faith, love and trust for Abram to leave prosperous Ur and all its comforts. Good example to keep mind when Jehovah asked us to go preach to people we do not know, for Abram did just so. (1Jo 2:16)

Ge 12:1-3: Abrahamic covenant went into effect when Abraham crossed the Euphrates on his way to Canaan on Nisan 14, 1943 B.C.E: 430 years before Israel was delivered from Egypt. (Ex 12:2, 6-7, 40-41) It remains in effect until the blessing of the families of the earth and the destruction of all God’s enemies has been accomplished. (Ge 17:7; 1Co 15:23-26)

Ge 12:5: Those people that went with were most likely servants. However, Abraham and Sarah doubtless shared their faith with those who were willing to listen. Some ancient Jewish pa-raph-ra-ses say the people referred to were also proselytes: people who had joined Abraham and Sarah in worshipping Jehovah. When we learn something good from the Bible, could we share it with someone? (wp17 No. 3 p. 14 “What a Beautiful Woman You Are”)

Ge 12:7: Jehovah the revealer of secrets, for we are now starting to get a glimpse of where the promise seed or offspring of Ge 3:15 is to come from Abraham to bless all who put faith and doing the will of Jehovah.

Ge 12:11-13: Abraham was neither a liar nor a coward, as some critics have charged because Sarah was his half sister. Abraham was being caution for he knew that nothing was more important than God’s purpose to produce a special offspring or seed that the nations would be bless. We need to be cautious when persecution breaks out for the safe of our friends.

Ge 12:14-20: Jehovah took it upon himself to become a secure dwelling for Abraham and for his descendants. (Ge 12:3) Jehovah fulfilled his promise when he prevented Pharaoh of Egypt from violating Sarah and doing away with Abraham. We can sure that Jehovah will do the same for those doing his will. (Ps 105:14-15)

Ge 13:4: Abram gave priority to Jehovah’s worship wherever he went. We to can follow his example when we take a trip or vacation by leaving a tracts or witnessing, or maybe visiting a Kingdom Hall or Conventions in other areas where we are staying.

Ge 13:8-9: What a beautiful model Abraham provides in handling differences! Never should we sacrifice peaceful relationships for the sake of financial gain, personal preferences, or pride.

Ge 13:10-11: A warning for us to be careful of being seduce by the beautiful of materialism for righteous Lot chose well-watered region and cities without counsel from the order men or did not defer to Abram in this matter. Today, what seem good can lead one away from their relationship with Jehovah. May we heed the warning found at 1Jo 2:15-17 so that we do not pass away with this world. (Eze 16:48-50)

Ge 14:14-17, 20: We must have the faith, trust and courage like Abram had in Jehovah if we want to survive Satan world. We see here Abram was going against an army that the combined forces of Canaan were unable to defeat and his vastly outnumbered troops. Yet we see that Jehovah know how to protect and deliver his faith servants. (2Pe 2:9; Ps 34:19; 1Co 10:13; 2Ti 4:18; Re 3:10)

Ge 14:19, 22: This tells us two things about Jehovah he is the Most High God which emphasizes Jehovah supreme position above all others. (Ps 83:18) Also that Jehovah is the creator of the heaven and earth, which is why Jehovah deserves to be praises, honor and glorify. (Re 4:11, 14:7, 19:10; Mt 5:16)

Ge 14:20: Showing respect and honor to those Jehovah selected to take the lead among his people like Abram did with King and Priest Mel·chizʹe·dek. This is what we are told at Heb 13:17 “Be obedient to those who are taking the lead among you and be submissive” and if we don’t we warn here “for this would be damaging to you.” (Eph 5:21; 1Pe 5:5; 1Th 5:12)

visit JW.ORG Official WEB

from Blogger http://meekspaceng.blogspot.com/2020/02/digging-for-spiritual-gems-february-3-9.html