Abram's blessing after making aliyah from Egypt

 

 

Scripture Reference

 

Genesis 13:14-17-- 14 The Lord said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, "Lift up your eyes from where you are and look north and south, east and west. 15 All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. 16 I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted. 17 Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you."

 

 

Questions

 

1.     Based on Genesis 13:14-17 what are the two main aspects of the promise?

2.     Based on Genesis 13:14-15 how does the promise concerning the land differ from the promise concerning the land given in Genesis 12:7?

3.     Based on Genesis 13:16 how does the promise concerning Abram's descendants differ from the promise concerning his descendants given in Genesis 12:7?

4.     Based on Genesis 13:16 what picture does Adonai use to show Abram how numerous his descendants will be?

5.     Does the p’shat teach that the promise concerns physical or spiritual descendants?

 

My Answers to Questions

 

·        Question #1—Descendants and land

·        Question #2—The promise in verses 14-15 gives more detail concerning the size of the land (as far as Abram could see) and more detail concerning how long Abram's descendants will have the land (forever).

·        Question #3—The promise in verse 16 gives more detail concerning the number of Abram's future descendants (they will be like the dust of the earth).

·        Question #4—His descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth.  (By the way, that’s a lot of people)

·        Question #5—Physical descendants

 

 

In Summary

 

·        Abram is destined to have a multitude of descendants who will be as numerous as the dust of the earth in number.

·        Abram’s seed will inherit, forever, the land of Canaan.

·        Although the original promise to Abram (Gen 12:1-3) has many aspects, as we continue, we’ll see that the Torah focuses on two PRIMARY aspects-- 1) Abram's Descendants and 2) The Land of Canaan.  The greater detail (concerning the promise of Genesis 12:1-3) given in Genesis 13:14-17 is an example of progressive revelation.  In this process, Adonai progressively reveals more about His plan.  He usually doesn't reveal everything at once.  As time moves along He reveals more and more of His plan.  Thus, we should expect to see more and more details given concerning HOW HE WILL CAUSE ABRAM'S DESCENDANTS TO BECOME A GREAT NATION and HOW HIS DESCENDANTS WILL OBTAIN THEIR LAND.

 

 

May Adonai Bless your Torah study