Reading for May 14th

 Read Genesis 11.10-32, In 11.10-32: The family line from Shem to Abraham. The genealogy in Gen 10, before the tower of Babel story, had named all the siblings of a given generation. These siblings had represented the spread of God's blessing over all peoples of the earth. A major transition occurs with the genealogy in Gen 11. The family line of promises becomes more narrowly focused on one person in each generation. The family line begins with Noah's sons Shem (v. 10) and extends for ten generations until we come Abram (later called  Abraham; 17.5) and Sari (later called Sarah; 17.15). This genealogy builds the literary bridge from stories about all humanity in Gen 1-11 to the more narrowly focused stories on the one family of Abraham and Sarah, the ancestors of Israel, in Gen 12-50.  In verse 28: The memory of this family includes the tragedy of a son (Haran) who died at a young age, while his father was still living. the Theme of a son's premature death will continue to haunt the family line. The young sons of Abraham (22.2), Isaac (27.41) and Jacob (37.29-36) will all be endangered or presumed dead. In verse 30: Abram's wife Sarai, was barren and unable to have children. this condition will become a major obstacle and cause for suspense when God promises Abram and Sarai that they will have many descendants and become a great nation (12.2; 17.16). The theme of the barren mother unable to have children will also be repeated in succeeding generations with Rebekah (25.23) and Rachel (29.31). In verse 31: Haran, a city in northern Mesopotamia, is the place where Abram grew up. Abraham will later see to it that his son Isaac, obtains a wife his hometown of Haran, also known as the city of Nahor (23.10). Abraham's grandson Jacob, will likewise return to Haran to work for his uncle Laban and marry Laban's two daughters (29.4). Comments or Questions..