In the twelfth and thirteenth chapters of Genesis the term "pray" with this reference number is used three times.
The first time pray is used is in Genesis Chapter 12 verse 13. Abram and Sarai are sojourning south as the Lord requested. They are just entering into Egypt when Abram makes a request to Sarai. He wanted Sarai to tell the Egyptians that she was his sister instead of his wife. He wanted her to say that so the Egyptians wouldn't kill him, for she was beautiful. This is what he said to her:
"Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee."
Here we find our first characteristics about prayer:
1. Prayer can be an urgent request for the purpose of overcoming possible life threatening situation(s).
2. Prayer can be from one person to another person especially if they are family.
3. Prayer is a form of communication.
4. Prayer is a communication between two parties.
Notes:
1) Is one of the characteristics, is that prayer between people can show a lack of trust in God? Why did Abram want Sarai to lie? Did he think that the Lord would not uphold His promise of making Abram "a great nation"(Gen 12:2)? Did Abram forget that God said He would bless him, and make his name great, and that he will be a blessing"(Gen 12:2)? On that hand, we would say "yes". But Abram has been doing everything the Lord has told him to do so far.
2) On this same note, can prayer between two people get their purpose from serving us, as much as glorifying God?
The next verses I will look at are those in chapter 13. In this chapter, Abram's group and Lot's group were starting to experience strained relations. In verses eight and nine, Abram uses the term "pray" again to a family member and also as an urgent request. But this urgent request was not specifically for his life, but for the purpose of retaining a family relationship close. Here are the verses:
8 "And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdsmen and thy herdsmen; for we be brethren."
9"Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left."
Here we will add one more characteristic:
5. Prayer can be an urgent request for the purpose of retaining an important relationship between family members
What I found out today is prayer is a strong term when used between family members.
Tomorrow I will see if answering prayers of others is always a good thing. The notes made today may turn into characteristics tomorrow.
The first time pray is used is in Genesis Chapter 12 verse 13. Abram and Sarai are sojourning south as the Lord requested. They are just entering into Egypt when Abram makes a request to Sarai. He wanted Sarai to tell the Egyptians that she was his sister instead of his wife. He wanted her to say that so the Egyptians wouldn't kill him, for she was beautiful. This is what he said to her:
"Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee."
Here we find our first characteristics about prayer:
1. Prayer can be an urgent request for the purpose of overcoming possible life threatening situation(s).
2. Prayer can be from one person to another person especially if they are family.
3. Prayer is a form of communication.
4. Prayer is a communication between two parties.
Notes:
1) Is one of the characteristics, is that prayer between people can show a lack of trust in God? Why did Abram want Sarai to lie? Did he think that the Lord would not uphold His promise of making Abram "a great nation"(Gen 12:2)? Did Abram forget that God said He would bless him, and make his name great, and that he will be a blessing"(Gen 12:2)? On that hand, we would say "yes". But Abram has been doing everything the Lord has told him to do so far.
2) On this same note, can prayer between two people get their purpose from serving us, as much as glorifying God?
The next verses I will look at are those in chapter 13. In this chapter, Abram's group and Lot's group were starting to experience strained relations. In verses eight and nine, Abram uses the term "pray" again to a family member and also as an urgent request. But this urgent request was not specifically for his life, but for the purpose of retaining a family relationship close. Here are the verses:
8 "And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdsmen and thy herdsmen; for we be brethren."
9"Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left."
5. Prayer can be an urgent request for the purpose of retaining an important relationship between family members
What I found out today is prayer is a strong term when used between family members.
Tomorrow I will see if answering prayers of others is always a good thing. The notes made today may turn into characteristics tomorrow.
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