Let Nothing Move You

Hey, guys. Had some things come up to where the planned episode on Genesis 32 wasn't able to be recorded in time, so I called an audible and decided to cover something for fun. The Ladder of Jacob is a pseudepigraphic work (falsely attributed scripture) from the 100s-200s AD. It is not scripture, but still has some insights we can glean from it.

Who wrote the Ladder of Jacob? Why is it non-canonical? Is there anything we can learn from it? Is it Gnostic? How does it combine Genesis 28 and 32? How does it show a false take on angels? Who is Sariel? What does as above, so below mean?

How did God protect him on his journey to Laban's house? Is Laban a villain or a complicated man? How did Rachel and Jacob fall in love? Why was Leah switched with her sister to be married to Jacob? Is cousin marriage allowed in scripture? Is polygamy allowed in scripture? What should Jacob have done to better control his messed up marriages? How was God sovereign throughout this whole ordeal? Why would Laban cheat Jacob if he knew he was the reason he had been doing so well? Why did Jacob flee back home? Why would Rachel steal an idol from home if she worshiped God? How was the final dispute between Jacob and Laban settled?

Why did Rebekah want Jacob to lie to Isaac? Was Isaac wrong to favor Esau? If the birthright was already Jacob's, why was it likewise wrong for him to steal the blessing too? Is there a reason craftiness isn't always the best idea? What was the purpose of the blessing? How did Isaac's blindness come into play for this interaction? What blessing did Esau receive? Why did Jacob have to flee his home to Laban's house? How did Esau learn the wrong lesson from Isaac and Rebekah wanting Jacob to marry better than him? How was God faithful to Jacob in the midst of this flight?

Why did Abraham remarry? Was he wrong to have additional children outside Isaac and Ishmael? What nations came about as a result of this union? What was Ishmael's legacy? Why would God allow Rebekah to be barren for a time? What was Isaac's prayer and how did it show his faith to God? What is the significance of Esau and Jacob's births? Is it okay for parents to have favorite children? Why was Esau in the wrong for giving up his birthright and why was Jacob wrong for demanding it? How was Isaac like his father? Is this the same Abimelech as before or someone else? How should we treat those who harm us? What was the issue with Esau's Canaanite wives?

So a quick PSA here. I recorded this episode while I was not in the best state of mind and also spend a while explaining what I'm going through and how it's affecting my performance. If this is something that interests you, then listen as usual. If you want to skip ahead to the Bible reading, then please go to 21:30.

Who was the servant Abraham sent to find Isaac a wife? How did Sarah's death effect his decision-making? Why would Abraham not allow Isaac to marry a Canaanite? When should we pray for immediate answers to prayer? How did Rebekah show she was worthy of the servant's search? Why was it important for Rebekah to leave her family behind? Who is Laban and how does he come into play here? How was Isaac like his father?

Why would God order Abraham to sacrifice Isaac? How is God not like the gods of the Canaanites? Would Abraham really have done it if God hadn't intervened? Why would God require sacrifices anyways? What is the significance of the Angel of the Lord being there? Is the Angel of the Lord Jesus? If so, what does this mean? How does this foreshadow Jesus' sacrifice on the cross? How did Sarah die and what is her legacy? Why is it okay to mourn and express grief and how much is too much? Why were there Hittites in Canaan? How does buying land help Abraham and his descendants out?

Why did Abraham think he could get away with a sin he already committed? Why is a half-truth still a lie? How can Abraham be called a prophet? How was Abimelech innocent? What was the significance of Isaac's birth? Should Abraham have sent Hagar and Ishmael away like Sarah wanted? How can Philistines be in Canaan hundreds of years before recorded history has them there? Does this mean scripture isn't infallible?

This week Christian is joined by Karai Roe of the Foreign Saints Podcast to discuss Genesis 19 and how it should and shouldn't be interpreted. Why did the angels go to Sodom? Why was Lot waiting for travelers at the gate? How was Christian wrong to call Lot not righteous? When should we admit our mistakes and bad judgment calls? Was Jesus involved in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah? Why did Sodom and Gomorrah have to be destroyed? Were they destroyed because of homosexuality? What were Sodom's sins? Why was hospitality so important in the ancient world? Why was Lot's wife turned into a pillar of salt? How should we handle the incest between Lot and his daughters?

You can catch the Foreign Saints Podcast here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-foreign-saints-podcast/id1679032899

What does God Almighty mean when He calls Himself El Shaddai? Why would God make the ritual of circumcision? What is the importance of this covenant made with Abraham? Why did God change Abram's name to Abraham and Sarai's name to Sarah? Should Christians get circumcised today? How does Ishmael come into play in all this? Why did Abraham laugh at what God had to say and how does that contrast Sarah laughing? Why did the ancient world hold hospitality to be so sacred? Why did God want to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah? Why did God allow Abraham to bargain with Him to protect the cities from destruction?

Can Christian deliver the message this week while sick? Why is it so wrong for Abram to go through alternate means to have an heir? Why is there no hero in this story? What are the sins of Abram and Sarai? Who is Hagar and why is she important? Who is the Angel of the Lord and why does He speak with such authority? Why would Hagar return to her abusers? Who is Ishmael and why is he important?