THE _“AFTER THESE THINGS”_ PHENOMENON- BY PASTOR GREG ELKAN

_He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief;_ – Rom 4:20

Gen 22:20-24 – a brief genealogy of Abraham’s younger brother, Nahor – is agreed by most Bible scholars to be oddly placed. It is located in the middle of the narrative section of Genesis, rather than with the other lists of genealogies found at the beginning of the book. 

While some Bible commentators explain that the genealogy was placed there to give the family history of (soon-to-be-introduced) Rebecca, the wordings of the genealogy and – as already stated – its odd location, seems to indicate an additional message.

Note that the Bible didn’t say that “Abraham’s brother, Nahor, begat twelve sons from a wife and a concubine.” Rather, it says, _“after *these things, it was TOLD Abraham…”_ that his brother, Nahor, had begotten twelve sons from a wife and a concubine.

In case you’re wondering, the “these things” the Bible was referring to is Abraham’s _attempted_ sacrifice of Isaac, his “only” son, (Gen 22:1-19). As at this time, Abraham was at least a hundred and twenty years old. He once had a son – after many, many years of childlessness – named “Ishmael,” but in obedience to God’s command, he sent him and his mother away. Then, some years later after he had had a second son “Isaac”, he attempted to sacrifice him; again, in “obedience” to God’s command. 

Life wouldn’t have been easy for you if you were Abraham. You would have had to face the mockery of your neighbours and even some of your friends. In fact, some people would consider you certifiably mad for your actions of faith. And if you had family, they would be sincerely concerned about you. 

Perhaps, this was why _“after these things”_  they found it necessary to remind him that – while he was galivanting up and down sending away his sons or attempting to sacrifice them all in the name of faith – his _younger_ brother had sired not one, not two, but TWELVE sons! 

Beloved, mockery and verbal attacks are part and parcel of walking in faith. Do not expect everyone around you to understand the decisions you take in obedience to God.  The actions of faith may sometimes look irrational, but as we eventually see in Abraham’s life, they are not crazy.

Because Abraham didn’t allow the ‘report’ he received as he came down from the mountain to discourage him, his physical children today through Isaac number between 14 to 18 _million!_ The descendants of his younger brother Nahor, on the other hand are effectively zero! 

Don’t  let what you hear affect your faith or what God has told you before. 

AMEN...

PASTOR GREG ELKAN

More Blessings await you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus’ Name.