This would require the work of developing personal relationships, parenting, politics, diplomacy and administration, education, the healing arts, and other social occupations. Again, God blessed Abraham and multiplied his possessions all the more. Abraham and Sarah were very happy with their new son Isaac; however, God had a test for Abraham. It takes place at the gate of the city where business was done in public. Yet the Bible pictures the kingdom of heaven as a generous, even extravagant, banquet (Isa. Rather, he is a model of a wise and hard-working person who conducts his business openly and makes fair use of appropriate legal protections. Abraham - Abraham - The Genesis narrative in the light of recent scholarship: The saga of Abraham unfolds between two landmarks, the exodus from “Ur of the Chaldeans” (Ur Kasdim) of the family, or clan, of Terah and “the purchase of” (or “the burials in”) the cave of Machpelah. God knew that Abraham would struggle with the call set before him, but He also knew that his struggle would produce great growth and faith. Finally, Abraham was blessed with the patience to take a long-term view. [1] Abraham could have been so wealthy that he did not need to bargain, and/or he could have been wishing to buy a measure of good will along with the land. You are free to share (to copy, distribute and transmit the work), and remix (to adapt the work) for non-commercial use only, under the condition that you must attribute the work to the Theology of Work Project, Inc., but not in any way that suggests that it endorses you or your use of the work. Hospitality fosters good relationships, and Abraham and Sarah’s hospitality provides an early biblical insight to the way relationships and sharing a meal go hand in hand. By the time we see him in Genesis 12 he is a monotheist, a worshipper of one God. The builders sought fame for their own sake, yet they remain anonymous to this day. Abraham replies that God will provide an offering. Beliefnet is a lifestyle website providing feature editorial content around the topics of inspiration, spirituality, health, wellness, love and family, news and entertainment. These matters can only be volunteered by the guest. He thus maintained good relationships with everyone involved. Throughout this journey, he worked hard and experienced grief and blessings. It is the LORD who speaks in verses 13, 20, 26, and 33. Unless otherwise noted, the Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, Copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you. His father Terah had 3 sons: Abraham, Nahor and Haran. God did indeed make Abraham famous, not for his own sake but in order that “all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Gen. 12:3). However, Genesis 18:1 says that it was “the LORD” (Yahweh) who appeared to Abraham. Genesis 12 showed us the beginning of God’s work in Abram’s life. The comparison between Abraham’s immediate family in chapter 12 and Noah’s other descendants in chapter 11 highlights five contrasts. However, unpleasant choices, no matter our feelings about them, are not the same as having no choice at all. Colleagues, customers, suppliers, even adversaries, respond strongly to generosity and remember it for a long time. Also in Genesis 12, observe the statement in verse 7. Zacchaeus was responding, of course, to the relational generosity of Jesus, who had unexpectedly, and uncharacteristically for the people of that time, opened his heart to a detested tax collector. Persevering in prayer (Gen 18, 20:17)- Abraham pleaded earnestly with God for the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah. He apparently used two words for God -- El, the generic Canaanite name for the cosmic deity and Yahweh. Another key theme thus emerges for the theology of work: God’s design is for people to work in healthy networks of relationship. Perhaps nothing establishes trust and good relationships as solidly as generosity. Sarah, also known as Sarai, is the wife of Abraham. The tower builders, in comparison, took no thought for how their project would affect future generations, and God criticized them explicitly for this lapse (Gen. 11:6). Abraham shows us that real confidence in God doesn’t rule out times when His incredible promises are hard for us to see. Abraham had not yet come to the end of his journey. 3. While individuals certainly had their own responsibilities and were accountable for their actions, the communal nature of the family business generally stands apart from our contemporary culture of personal achievement and the expectation to show ever-increasing profits. They seem to have feared that spreading out in an apparently hostile world would be too difficult for them. . The central ridge of land in Canaan is rocky and does support much vegetation for grazing. Pastoral nomads cared for sheep and goats to obtain milk and meat (Gen. 18:7-8; 27:9; 31:38), wool, and other goods made from animal products such as leather. Abraham's story, like those of the other patriarchs, most likely had a substantial oral prehistory, and his name is apparently very ancient, as the tradition found in Genesis no longer understands its original meaning (probably "Father is exalted" – the meaning offered in Genesis 17:5, "Father of a multitude", is a popular etymology). Mesopotamia was one of the earliest regions to be inhabited after the greatFlood, and it was here that Abraham lived his early life. [2] These families needed seasonal mobility and thus lived in tents of leather, felt, and wool. God called Abraham into a covenant of faithful service, as is told at the beginning of Genesis 12. Even in the face of all these obstacles and tests, Abraham continued to trust God, believing that the heavenly ruler would re-establish his reign over the earth through his descendants. In Genesis 15:6 it says, "Abram believed the Lord, and he reckoned it to him as righteousness." Most of the time, he wasn’t able to see the path ahead, but he held strong to the promise in his heart. Here are some leadership lessons from Abraham based on Genesis 12-14. Until this very day the child of Abraham, the … Also in Genesis 12, observe the statement in verse 7. All these types of work, and the workers who engage in them, come under God’s authority, guidance, and provision. Please also opt me in for Exclusive Offers from Beliefnet’s Partners, From time to time you will also receive Special Offers from our partners. Abraham's faith grew as God revealed himself. God called him away from the city of Haran toward the land of Canaan where Abraham would never settle into a fixed address. Abraham's immediate response is to give a tenth of everything to Melchizedek. Julian Pitt-Rivers, “The Stranger, the Guest, and the Hostile Host: Introduction to the Study of the Laws of Hospitality,” in Contributions to Mediterranean Sociology, ed. When God told Abraham and Sarah that they would have a child in their old age, they both laughed. Yahweh is sometimes translated \"Jehovah\" in the KJV and expressed as the \"LORD\" in the KJV, NIV, RSV, NRSV, etc., following the Jewish tradition of not pronouncing the divine name, but substituting Adonai, \"Lord,\" instead. The skills required to maintain these herds would have involved grazing and watering, birthing, treating the sick and injured, protecting animals from predators and thieves, as well as locating strays. Over 40 Old Testament references are made to Abraham. Abram and Sarai tried to make sense of... Sarah. God justifies Abram because of his faith, and justification is an act of God full of promise. It is therefore fitting that at the end of his life when Jacob conferred blessings on his sons, he testified that the God of his fathers had been “my shepherd all my life to this day” (Gen. 48:15). No one can understand the Old Testament without understanding Abraham, for in many ways the story of redemption begins with God’s call to this patriarch. In Genesis 12, we read of Abraham (then called Abram) leaving Haran, where his father Terah had settled, and setting out to find the promised land. 3 From the Negev ( F ) he went from place to place until he came to Bethel, ( G ) to the place between Bethel and Ai ( H ) where his tent had been earlier 4 and where he had first built an altar. Following his father Terah, Abraham journeyed, not south toward Canaan, but north west. The initial results of Abraham’s journeys were not promising. So, a land would be given to the descendants of Abram - that's the essence of the first promise. Every resource on our site was made possible through the financial support of people like you. In Genesis 15:6 it says, "Abram believed the Lord, and he reckoned it to him as righteousness." The three men say that Sarah will have a son, but Sarah, who is now ninety years old, laughs. [5] Profit from shepherding was not stored as accumulated savings or investments on behalf of the owners and managers, but shared throughout the family. At Sarah’s bidding, Abraham sends Hagar and Ishmael away. 2 Abram had become very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold. / The two birds were not cut in half. As Hebrews 11:8 puts it, he had to “set out, not knowing where he was going.” In the world of work, believers must perceive the contrast in these two fundamental orientations. Pharaoh berates Abraham for taking this course of action, yet God's response to a later, similar incident (Gen. 20:7, 17) shows more of compassion than judgment. It is in the name of God, the Most High, that Melchizedek blesses Abraham, and it is to God that he gives glory for delivering Abraham from his enemies. The Lord appeared to Abram and said, "To your descendants I will give this land." Although many passages in the Bible warn that wealth is often inimical to faithfulness (e.g., Jer. God told him, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love and go to the land of Moriah and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you” (Genesis 22:2). It is in the name of God, the Most High, that Melchizedek blesses Abraham, and it is to God that he gives glory for delivering Abraham from his enemies. Isaac was the name of the son that came from the union of Abraham and Sarah; it would be through Isaac that the nations would be blessed. Similarly, people in difficult situations often convince themselves that they have no choice but to do something they regard as wrong. A leader is a … The traditional understanding of these verses emphasizes their proximity to Abraham’s circumcision in the preceding chapter and provides examples of ethical behavior to be emulated. 34:25-31). Abraham's faith grew as God revealed himself. Later God changed Abram’s name to Abraham and he became the father of Israel. Eventually, the two had to part company in order to support their business activities (Gen. 13:11). 13 So Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev, with his wife and everything he had, and Lot went with him. In all situations, we are stewards of God’s resources, though it may not always be clear whether God’s purposes are better served by giving away resources or by protecting them. We would like to think Abraham believed God at once without any doubt, but this is not the case. [6] Leaders had to know how to tap the wisdom of the group in order to make sound decisions about where to travel, how long to stay, and how to divide the herds. In addition, his wife Sarai's name was changed to Sarah, for she would be a mother of nations. I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son.’ Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, ‘I did not laugh.’ But he said, ‘Yes, you did laugh.’”(Genesis 18: 13-15). Elsewhere we have seen Abraham give up what was rightfully his to keep (Gen. 14:22-24). He swiftly paid the agreed amount. The altar got built but still no … B. Eerdmans, 2000), 972. 2. John H. Walton, Victor H. Matthews, and Mark W. Chavalas, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2000), 44. This account gives Abraham’s age at this time as 75, but Genesis 11 and Acts 3 suggest that Abraham was much older than this when he left Haran. Genesis 12:4 records that, after God called Abraham, he went “as the LORD had told him.” The author of Hebrews uses Abraham as an example of faith several times, and refers specifically to this impressive act: “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going” (Hebrews 11:8). He communicated clearly. I. Howard Marshall, A. R. Millard, J. I. Packer, and D. J. Wiseman (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1996) 829. Genesis 18 tells of a fascinating series of events in which three men appear to Abraham, and one of them speaks to Abraham as the LORD and promises Abraham that they will return the next year and Sarah will bear a son in her old age. 20:14), Abraham immediately agreed to Ephron’s price and paid it “according to the weights current among the merchants” (Gen. 23:16). However, this was not God’s plan. It was generally considered a requirement of decent people to offer refreshment, food, and lodging.[8]. Better working relationships and more effective communication are often fruits of hospitality. He was sensitive to the negotiating process and politely avoided accepting the land as a gift. When you read this promise of land to the descendants of Abram (or Abraham), one thing immediately comes to mind. The story of Abraham contains the first mention in the Bible of God’s righteousness assigned to man as the sole means of salvation (Genesis 15:6). Its progress cannot be adequately measured by quarterly reports! Godly work is willing to depend on God’s guidance and authority, and it desires to grow widely as a blessing to all the world. He invited the three men to eat and killed a calf for them. Abraham’s fears seem to have made him forget his trust in God’s faithfulness. Abraham would have to fast for forty days Abraham would need to find ten righteous people living in it Abraham would have to organize and army and kill all the wicked people Abraham would have to preach in the city for forty days Genesis 18:23-32. Victor H. Matthews, “Nomadism, Pastoralism” in Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible, eds. The story of Abraham and Sarah’s generous hospitality to three visitors who came to them by the oaks of Mamre is told in Genesis 18. Produced by TOW Project, Bible Study: Wednesdays, Oct. 14 - Dec. 16, Theology of Work Project Online Materials, 10 Key Points About Work in the Bible That Every Christian Should Know, Beyond Rank and Power: What Philemon Tells Us About Leadership, Abraham’s Faithfulness Contrasted with the Faithlessness of Babel (Genesis 12:1-3), Her First Step to Launching a Business Was to Trust in God Instead of a Man (Click to Watch), The Pastoral Lifestyle of Abraham and his Family (Genesis 12:4-7), Abraham’s Journey Begins with Disaster in Egypt (Genesis 12:8-13:2), Abraham and Lot Parted: Abraham’s Generosity (Genesis 13:3-18), Abraham and Sarah’s Hospitality (Genesis 18:1-15), Abraham’s Dispute with Abimelech (Genesis 20:1-16; 21:22-34), A Burial Plot for Sarah (Genesis 23:1-20), Abraham and Lot Parted: Abraham's Generosity (Genesis 13:3-18), Jacob's Unethical Procurement of Esau’s Birthright and Blessing (Genesis 25:19-34; 26:34-28:9), Jacob’s Transformation and Reconciliation with Esau (Genesis 32-33), Joseph Rejected and Sold into Slavery by His Brothers (Genesis 37:2-36), The Schemes of Potiphar’s Wife and Joseph’s Imprisonment (Genesis 39:1-20), Joseph’s Interpretation of Dreams in Prison (Genesis 39:20-40:23), Joseph's Promotion by Pharaoh (Genesis 41:1-45), Joseph’s Successful Management of the Food Crisis (Genesis 41:46-57; 47:13-26), Joseph Creates a Long-term Agricultural Policy and Infrastructure (Genesis 41:46-57), Joseph Relieves the Poverty of Egypt’s People (Genesis 47:13-26), Applications from Joseph’s Management Experience (Genesis 41:46-57; 47:13-26), Joseph’s Dealings with His Brothers (Genesis 42-43), Judah’s Transformation to a Man of God (Genesis 44:1-45:15), Jacob’s Family’s Move to Egypt (Genesis 45:16-47:12), God Meant All for Good (Genesis 50:15-21), Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. In the end, he received the title deed to the property with its cave and trees (Gen. 23:17-20). Nevertheless, Abraham trusted God and believed God could accomplish what He had promised. The patriarchal narratives repeatedly mention the great wealth of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Gen. 13:2; 26:13; 31:1). 7. Abraham lived for 175 years from around 2165BC-1990BC. But when this didn’t take place as quickly as Abraham thought it should, he became impatient with God and took matters into his own control. The generation of Jesus Christ is traced back to Abraham by St. Matthew, and though in Our Lord's genealogy, according to St. Luke, he is shown to be descended according to the flesh not only from Abraham but also from Adam, still St. Luke shows his appreciation of the fruits of descent from Abraham by attributing all the blessings of God on Israel to the promises made to Abraham. Confronted by Abimelech about his lie (the second one), Abraham says, I did it because I thought, There is no fear of God at all in this place, and they… The Family Tree of Abraham is found in the Book of Genesis along with his life story. Biblical account Hagar. Abraham plays an important role in the Christian faith. Abraham's first son Ishmael was born to him and his wife's Egyptian maid Hagar and 12 … Adopted by the Theology of Work Project Board July 1, 2013. I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” This is the first time God makes these promises to Abraham. 3:19), meaning that the payoff date was more than a thousand years in the future. Moreover, Abraham’s descendants would become a populous nation whose members would be as innumerable as the stars in the sky. . I. Howard Marshall, A. R. Millard, J. I. Packer, and D. J. Wiseman (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1996) 828-31. He feared that the Egyptians might murder him to obtain his beautiful wife, Sarah. God promised Abraham children (Genesis 15:5; 22:17). This r… Before we start I just want to say that I will refer to Abraham as Abraham in this text, even though his name in this period actually was Abram and not yet Abraham (he only got the name Abraham in Genesis 17). Here are some leadership lessons from Abraham based on Genesis 12-14. Ungodly work stems from the desire to depend on no one but ourselves, and it restricts itself narrowly to benefit only ourselves and the few who may be close to us. No matter how Abraham and Lot would prosper in the future, the fact that Abraham let Lot make the choice displayed generosity and established trust between him and Lot. In this zone, the villagers were responsible to offer hospitality to strangers. Victor H. Matthews, “Nomadism, Pastoralism” in Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible, eds. He invited the three men to eat and killed a calf for them. It is stated in this verse that the event took place “even the selfsame day.” The covenant with Abraham occurred on the very same day, the 14th day of the first month at even. World Travel and Tourism Council, Travel and Tourism Economic Impact 2012, World (London: 2012), 1. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. In addition, it seems that Abraham’s forcefulness actually improved relationships between himself and Abimelech. While Abraham’s faith had been tested, he proved his faith by his obedience to God. In verse 1, God is “visiting” Abraham (in a vision) because Abraham was recuperating from his circumcision.In verse 2, Abraham sees potential guests, and therefore, in verse 3, breaks off his vision with God to tend to his potential guests. Did his faith in God to make good on his promises fail so quickly? In doing so, they rejected God’s purpose for humanity to “fill the earth” (Gen. 1:28). By contrast, God made Abraham into the original entrepreneur, always moving on to fresh endeavors in new locations. This lifestyle was inherently more God-centered in that Abraham would have to depend on God’s word and leadership in order to find his significance, security, and success. Mesopotamia was one of the earliest regions to be inhabited after the greatFlood, and it was here that Abraham lived his early life. Sign up for Beliefnet's Bible Reading newsletter. God would continue to fulfill that promise over a thousand years after Abraham’s death, until its completion in His Son Jesus Christ. The local Hittites freely offer a choice tomb. Persevering in prayer (Gen 18, 20:17)- Abraham pleaded earnestly with God for the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah. Although these promises were not fully realized by the end of Genesis, they initiated the covenant between God and the people of God through which the redemption of the world will come to completion in the day of Christ (Phil. He called him out of darkness to go to a land that he would show him later. He received people and animals from Pharaoh during his stay in Egypt, and the precious metals would have been the result of commercial transactions, indicating the Lord as the ultimate one to bestow blessing. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. B. Eerdmans, 2000), 971. The story of Abraham contains the first mention in the Bible of God’s righteousness assigned to … Abraham's immediate response is to give a tenth of everything to Melchizedek. Hospitality (Genesis 18)- Abraham was very hospitable to strangers. T.C. He understood his status in the land and treated its long-term residents with respect. Scripture also tells us that he was 86 when his first son Ishmael was born through Hagar, 99 when he was circumcised and 100 when his son Isaac was born through Sarah. Abraham is the ancestor of the Israelites and of many Arabian groups, but his family, despite God’s promise, is often threatened. 5. Moreover, hospitality workers have in their own right the opportunity to refresh people, create good relationships, provide shelter, and serve others much as Jesus did when he made wine (John 2:1-11) and washed feet (John 13:3-11). Mutual dependence among the members of a family or tribe and awareness of their common ancestry would have resulted in great solidarity, as well as vengeful hostility toward anyone who would disrupt it (Gen. Before we go through this let us go back to Exodus 12:41. Lot’s eye fell to the east and the plain around the Jordan River, which he regarded as “like the garden of the Lord,” so he chose this better portion for himself (Gen. 13:10). This would have been a tremendous shock to any parent; to be blessed by a long awaited child, only to have God tell you to sacrifice that child. Joseph’s work was to create a solution responding to the impact of the famine, and sometimes our work is to heal brokenness. The Bible shifts its focus in Genesis 12 from the history of the entire human race to a man named Abram, the first Hebrew, and he lived in Ur of the Chaldees. The Bible shifts its focus in Genesis 12 from the history of the entire human race to a man named Abram, the first Hebrew, and he lived in Ur of the Chaldees. David Noel Freedman, Allen C. Myers, and Astrid B. Beck (Grand Rapids: Wm. ( H) where his tent had been earlier 4 and where he had first built an altar. It was Abraham whom God chose to be the father of many nations, simply because it was His will. In sum, God promised Abraham fame, fruitfulness, and good relationships, by which meant he and his family would bless the whole world, and in due course be blessed themselves beyond imagining (Gen. 22:17). He used the site only for the purpose he stated during the negotiations. He called him out of darkness to go to a land that he would show him later. In the present case of his demanding access to the well according to his treaty rights, Abraham ensured the resources needed to keep his enterprise functioning. In contrast, the tower builders believed that by their own skill and ingenuity, they could devise a tower “with its top in the heavens” (Gen. 11:4), and in so doing achieve significance and security in a way that usurped God’s authority.[1]. This required the work of worship, atonement, discipleship, and other religious occupations. He transacted business openly and honestly, doing so in front of witnesses. His first wife was Sarah, who lived 127 years and died around 2028BC. Abraham’s name was originally “Abram”, which means ‘the father is exalted’. After all, Sarah is well past the age of childbearing. The invitation may include a time span statement for the period of hospitality, but this can then be extended, if agreeable to both parties, on the renewed invitation of the host. (Grand Rapids: Wm. A son was born from this union; his name was Ishmael. The altar got built but still no … [3] Because a family could not be entirely supported through shepherding, it was necessary to practice local agriculture and trade with those living in more settled communities.[4]. Fourth, Abraham was willing to let God lead him into new relationships. Thirteen years pass between the events of chapter 16 and the beginning of chapter 17. When God began working with Abram (his name was later changed to Abraham), God gave him a command and an amazing promise. This remains true today. 13:2). Their fear of engaging the fullness of creation coincided with their decision to substitute human ingenuity for God’s guidance and grace. He falls on his face, symbolic of submission, trust and worship. Who were the three men who appeared to Abraham in Genesis 18? Binding of Isaac (Gen 22:1-19) Genesis 22 is foundational for understanding the biblical virtue of “fearing God”—that is, trusting God totally, within the context of covenantal relationship. Abraham had a long and challenging journey. Conflict-resolution skills were necessary to settle inevitable disputes over grazing land and water rights to wells and springs (Gen. 26:19-22). “Nomads,” in New Bible Dictionary, 3rd ed., eds. Anthropological studies of this period and region suggest the families in these narratives practiced a mix of semi-nomadic pastoralism and herdsman husbandry (Gen. 13:5-12; 21:25-34; 26:17-33; 29:1-10; 37:12-17). When we cease to aspire for more than we can attain on our own, our aspirations become insignificant. Based on a work at www.theologyofwork.org. The second group of promises is more general and goes beyond posterity and land. In fact, there are certain passages that indicate Abraham’s strong faith that God would not take his son at all (Genesis 22:5, 8). Before we start I just want to say that I will refer to Abraham as Abraham in this text, even though his name in this period actually was Abram and not yet Abraham (he only got the name Abraham in Genesis 17). They had a son in their old age and called him Isaac, which means laughter. We know that his wife Sarah and his nephew Lot came with him, but so did an unspecified number of people and possessions (Gen. 12:5). The hospitality industry accounts for 9 percent of the world gross domestic product and employs 98 million people,[2] including many of the less-skilled and immigrant workers who represent a rapidly growing portion of the Christian church. Join us for a study, then try it with your own group. Again, God blessed Abraham and multiplied his possessions all the more. As Abraham anticipated, one of the Egyptians—Pharaoh, in fact—did desire Sarah and she “was taken into Pharaoh’s house” (Gen. 12:15). Like Abraham, people in every kind of work have to discern when to act generously to benefit others, and when to protect resources and rights for the benefit of themselves or their organizations. However, God intervened by stopping Abraham from killing his son and by providing a sacrifice in the form of a ram caught in the nearby brush. 3 From the Negev. Genesis 12:1-20. David Noel Freedman, Allen C. Myers, and Astrid B. Beck, eds. Once the invitation is accepted, the roles of the host and the guest are set by the rules of custom. Mitchell. Abraham stands “before the LORD” in verse 22. The guest is expected to reciprocate immediately with news, predictions of good fortune, or expressions of gratitude for what he has been given, and praise of the host’s generosity and honor. Abram believed God and went. The narrative of Abraham and Sarah in Genesis revolves around the themes of descendants and land promised by God. Did survival really require him to lie and allow his wife to become a concubine, or would God have provided another way? First, Abraham puts his trust in God’s guidance, rather than on human device. Working the land would require occupational skills of shepherding, tent-making, military protection, and the production of a wide array of goods and services. In the earlier case of dividing the land with Lot, Abraham’s willing surrender of first choice to Lot laid the ground work for a good long-term working relationship. Abraham, the first patriarch in the book of Genesis, is a figure of memory, legend, and faith. When people break bread together, or enjoy recreation or entertainment, they often grow to understand and appreciate each other better. For example, to soften the attitude of his offended brother Esau prior to their meeting after a long time, Jacob was able to select from his property a gift of at least 550 animals: 200 female goats with 20 males, 200 ewes with 20 rams, 30 female camels with their calves, 40 cows with 10 bulls, and 20 female donkeys with 10 males (Gen. 32:13-15). The stranger has the right of refusal, but this could be considered an affront to the honor of the host and could be a cause for immediate hostilities or conflict. The host provides the best he has available, despite what may be modestly offered in the initial offer of hospitality.
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