Five Small Stones Episode 11 - Gen. 12:1 Geography and the Bible - Shechem

Light of Menorah teaches the Bible in its historical context.  The emphasis is on the archaeology, history, geography, customs, culture, and even the languages of  the ancient Middle East.  In episode 11 we start a new study and ask how does knowing the geography of Israel or the Sinai peninsula or ancient Turkey (Asia Minor) affect our understanding of God's word.  Christians in the USA in the 21st century are so cutoff from this knowledge, it is, for the most part, abandoned as a focus in understanding and teaching the Bible.  What we will see is that Bible geography is so critical to our understanding the word of the Lord; geography and the geographical setting of many of the events in the Bible will enhance and expand understanding in amazing ways.

In this episode we go to the ancient city of Shechem.  Here we find that Abraham stops here - seems to be his first stop after entering Canaan after God promised Abraham in four promises.  God promised him he'd be given land, have many descendants, will be very well known across the ages, and his seed (his descendants) will be a blessing to all the nations.  God does this in Haran before Abraham and Sarah leave for the land the God will show him.  Their first stop is Shechem.  Consider ...

Now the LORD said to Abram (in Haran), "Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father's house, To the land which I will show you (promise of a PLACE); And I will make you a great nation (promise of descendants or PEOPLE), And I will bless you, And make your name great (promise of being well known forever or a promise of POSITION); And so you shall be a blessing; And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed (promise of a PURPOSE to his life)." So Abram went forth as the LORD had spoken to him; and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his nephew, and all their possessions which they had accumulated, and the persons which they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan; thus they came to the land of Canaan. Abram passed through the land as far as the site of Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. Now the Canaanite was then in the land. The LORD appeared to Abram and said (God's promise of a PLACE is given at Shechem), "To your descendants I will give this land." So he built an altar there to the LORD who had appeared to him. (Gen 12:1-7)

 

At Shechem we "see" God support the promise of land to Abraham.  Here God says this land, Canaan, will be given to Abraham and his descendants.  So, what about the other promises? Will God do this at another location?  NOPE.  It is amazing what we are about to see in the next episodes.  

Here's a great detailed article on the ancient city of Shechem and its biblical importance.  

Link - https://bible.org/article/geographical-historical-spiritual-significance-shechem

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0