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Written
by Felicia Trecek
Genesis
26:5 reads, Abraham obeyed YHWH's voice - "he kept My charge,
commandments, My statutes, and My laws".
Strong's
Exhaustive Concordance Definition of words from Genesis 26:5 summarized:
-
CHARGE (#4931) = watch, i.e. the act
- COMMANDMENTS
(#4687) = command - collectively the law. Law, ordinance, *precept
- STATUTES
(#2708) = Appointments (time, space, quantity, labor or usage):-appointed,
commandment, set time
-
LAWS (#8451) = Torah; a *precept or statute, espec. the decalogue
or pentateuch: - law. [From #3384 - To flow as water. To teach, direct,
instruct.]
*Precept
(#6490) = Properly appointed, i.e. mandates. Collectively the law. [From
# 6485 = to visit - care for)
YHWH
gave the law to Abraham's descendence through Moses, "the children of
Israel". Does this mean YHWH did not give His law previously to any of
mankind? Apparently, YHWH gave His laws to Abraham because Genesis 26:5
reads Abraham obeyed YHWH's laws including YHWH's appointments! The times
YHWH appointed were the weekly seventh day Sabbath, and the High Sabbath
days throughout the year (See Leviticus 23). Abraham
also commanded his children and his household to guard the way of YHWH
(Gen 18:19).
YHWH's
law and appointed times had already been instituted before they were given
to Moses. The following are some examples where we can determine the law
before Moses.
- Genesis
1:14 reads, "Let lights come to be in the expanse of the heavens to
separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and appointed
times, and for days and years."
The King James renders the words 'appointed
times' as 'seasons'.
The number for 'seasons' in Strong's is 4150, and is defined as: prop
an appointment, ie., a fixed time or season; espec a festival;
conventionally a year: by implication, an assembly (as convened for
a definite purpose). [YHWH designed during creation week His appointed
times - feasts and high Sabbaths.] The same word, #4150 rendered 'seasons'
in Genesis 1:14 is also found in Leviticus 23:4 where you'll find when
to keep His appointed Feasts and Set-apart days. But, the King James
Bible version renders #4150 in Leviticus 23:4 as 'Feasts'. The words,
seasons and feasts, come from the same Hebrew word, 'mowed/moed'.
The 'appointed times' were not created
only for the Israelites in the old testament, but were created for all
of mankind. (Zechariah's 14:16, Isaiah 66:23, Psalms 22:27-28) Abraham
was the father of many nations, the forerunner that kept YHWH's appointed
times that foreshadow YHWH's plan of salvation.
- In
Genesis 4:4, Abel brought a first born of his flock to YHWH as an offering
along with the fat. This action by Abel shows animal sacrifices, but
most importantly, the command to pass-over the first male born of the
beasts to YHWH, and ransom the first born male sons to YHWH. Exodus
13:12-15, 22:29-30. This ultimately foreshadowed Messiah.
- In
Genesis 4:7, YHWH tells Cain, if he does not do well, SIN is crouching
at the door. Sin means simply the transgression of the law. You cannot
sin (break the law), if there is no law. Romans 5:13 reads, "...sin
is not reckoned when there is no law." What law did Cain break? He murdered
his brother Abel.
- In
Genesis 7:2, Noah took a pair (2) - male & female of the unclean animals
and seven each of the clean animals on the ark. There obviously was
a know distinction between 'clean' and 'unclean' animals, and Noah knew
the difference. In Genesis 6:19, YHWH tells Noah to keep a pair of all
the various species of animals alive. The implication is: Noah was able
to kill any of the clean animals (assumed to eat), but was told to keep
a minimum of two (a pair) alive. The knowledge and differentiation between
'clean' and 'unclean' animals is evidence of the dietary laws given
to Moses in Leviticus 11.
- Genesis
18:20-21 reads, "Because the outcry against Sedom and Amorah is great,
and because their sin is very heavy...". YHWH said Sedom and Amorah
were sinning. They could not sin if they did not know the law. You cannot
sin (break the law), if there is no law. Romans 5:13.
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