Genesis continues   The Genealogy of Jesus in Genesis, from Matthew 1:1-17 Abraham (Also Abram) Exalted father or father of many Genesis 17:5 Isaac Laughter Genesis 18:12 Jacob (Or Israel) Deceiver Father of the 12 Tribes Judah Praise Gen 46:12, (Tamar) mother of Perez & Zerah Perez He who bursts forth Gen 38:29 Genesis 15   Abram had a vision.  God told Abram his reward will be great.  Abram reminds God he has no heir, no children of his own.  God again promises that Abram’s heir shall come from his own body.  Abram’s descendents shall be as great as the stars in the heavens.               “And he (Abram) believed in (trusting in, relied on, remained steadfast to) the Lord, and He counted it to him as righteousness (right standing with God)”  Genesis 15:6 (Amp)   Prophecy in Genesis God told Abram his descendants will be strangers dwelling in a land (Egypt) for 400 years as slaves before they inherit what will come to be called the Promised Land (Genesis 15:13) and they will go back to Canaan.  Abram offers a sacrifice.  God sealed the covenant by Himself passing between the pieces.  The eternal land grant is promised. Historical Insert “The evidence suggests that the Genesis patriarch narratives belong to the period between Ur-Nammu and Hammurabi, the out side limits being 2100-1550 BC, that is the Middle Bronze Age.”  (Johnson, p. 11) Genesis 16   But Sarai remained childless despite God’s promise.  Sarai comes up with her own plan to help what God promised Abram to come true.  Sarai tells Abram he should take Hagar as a second wife and have a child with her.  In those days, Hagar's child would then legally belong to her mistress Sarai.  And Abram thought this was a great idea and sleeps with Hagar and Hagar became pregnant.    Then there is the predictable strife between the wives.  Hagar is not respectful to Sarai and Sarai complained to Abram about Hagar's behavior.  Abrams tells Sarai to deal with this the way she wants to as Hagar belongs to Sarai.    Sarai commands Hagar to hit the road and Hagar leaves.  But the Angel of the Lord appears before Hagar and prophesies to her:   The angel of the LORD also said to her:     “You are now with child     and you will have a son.     You shall name him Ishmael,     for the LORD has heard of your misery.    He will be a wild donkey of a man;     his hand will be against everyone     and everyone’s hand against him,     and he will live in hostility     toward all his brothers.”  Genesis 16:11-12 (NIV)     Ishmael is foretold and promised.  All of the faith of Islam descend from Abraham through Ishmael.  God predicts there will be strife between Ishmael and Abraham’s other descendents through Isaac who is to come shortly.  This is a prophecy that has been continually fulfilled.  Observe the thousands of years of fighting and violence between the descendants of Abraham through Isaac (Hebrews or Jews) and the descendants of Abraham through Ishmael (or Muslims).   Hagar returned to Abram and Sarai and has a son Ishmael.  Abram was 86 years old when Ishmael is born. Genesis 17   Thirteen more years pass.  God presented Himself before Abram and confirmed His covenant with Abram.  God told Abram he will now be called Abraham.  And that Sarai will now be known as Sarah.  The promise of land is renewed and is given as an everlasting possession to Abraham and his descendants.    Circumcision:   God introduced circumcision and said this will be a sign of the covenant between Me (God) and you.  A son is promised through Abraham by Sarah.  Sarah is now 90 years old.  Abraham wants God to include Ishmael under God’s blessing.  God told Abraham that the covenant will be between God and Isaac but that He had heard Abraham’s plea for Ishmael and that Ishmael will become a great nation.  (e.g., the nation of Islam).  All of the men become circumcised in Abraham’s household.  This act of circumcision, by including others in the household also blesses them.  “Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed, who is Christ.”  Galatians 3:16 NKJV Psalm 144 KJV   A Psalm of David. 1    Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight: 2    My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me. 3    LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him! 4    Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away. 5    Bow thy heavens, O LORD, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke. 6    Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them. 7    Send thine hand from above; rid me, and deliver me out of great waters, from the hand of strange children; 8    Whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood. 9    I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee. 10    It is he that giveth salvation unto kings: who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful sword. 11    Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood: 12    That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace: 13    That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store: that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets: 14    That our oxen may be strong to labour; that there be no breaking in, nor going out; that there be no complaining in our streets. 15    Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.   Genesis Chapters 18-20 Continued Sources Used.