A certain young lady I know can name all the kings of Israel and Judah in order. Her classmates in Bible class, whom I suppose were embarrassed that they could not do the same thing, told her, "All you know is a bunch of useless information." Let me tell you something: nothing in the Bible is useless information. If you cannot use it now, someday when you learn a little more and dig a little deeper, I guarantee it will come in handy.
Do you want an example? A scholar named L. R. Helyer has pointed out that the Eastern cultures have an eastern orientation. In other words, they face east to determine direction, while we Occidentals tend to face north to do the same thing. Do you remember when Abraham and Lot separated because their flocks were too large to dwell side by side (Gen 13)? Abraham stood in the Promised Land and said, "Do you want the left or the right?" Abraham would have been facing east when he did that, and he would have meant, "Do you want the north or the south?" And by that he meant the northern or the southern half of the Promised Land. Abraham, to whom the promise was given, was generous enough to share that land with his nephew. So what was Lot's choice?
"But Lot journeyed east [completely out of the land]. These four words ring increasingly ominous as the story continues. But notice, even here, the distinction that is made between Abram who settled in the land of Canaan and Lot who settled among the cities of the valley. It is clear from [Gen 13:12] that the territory chosen by Lot lies outside the borders of Canaan" (Growth of the Seed, Nathan Ward).
If the story of Genesis is the choosing of the line of the Messiah—which I believe it is—here is one reason Lot was rejected from that line. He wanted a land that looked well-watered and fruitful, even if it contained the most wicked heathen of the time, rather than trusting the promises of God and staying in the Land.
BUT—would you have ever known that if you had not known about the eastern orientation of the Oriental peoples? Would you have ever realized the significance of the choice he was offered versus the choice he made if you hadn't noticed that it was "the left or the right?"
Now think a little more. Is that orientation the reason the tabernacle and, ultimately, the Temple, faced east? I don't know, but maybe it's something worth considering. In fact, maybe any mention of direction might be worth studying yet again to find its significance, if any.
If God had it recorded for us, it isn't useless. In some fashion it will add to our knowledge and appreciation of him. If I can't figure it out yet, it's up to me to work at it, not look down on someone who has gone to the trouble of learning as much as possible, even if it does not appear pertinent at the moment.
Details matter. Don't discard them like so much rubbish.
For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. (Matt 5:18)
Dene Ward
Do you want an example? A scholar named L. R. Helyer has pointed out that the Eastern cultures have an eastern orientation. In other words, they face east to determine direction, while we Occidentals tend to face north to do the same thing. Do you remember when Abraham and Lot separated because their flocks were too large to dwell side by side (Gen 13)? Abraham stood in the Promised Land and said, "Do you want the left or the right?" Abraham would have been facing east when he did that, and he would have meant, "Do you want the north or the south?" And by that he meant the northern or the southern half of the Promised Land. Abraham, to whom the promise was given, was generous enough to share that land with his nephew. So what was Lot's choice?
"But Lot journeyed east [completely out of the land]. These four words ring increasingly ominous as the story continues. But notice, even here, the distinction that is made between Abram who settled in the land of Canaan and Lot who settled among the cities of the valley. It is clear from [Gen 13:12] that the territory chosen by Lot lies outside the borders of Canaan" (Growth of the Seed, Nathan Ward).
If the story of Genesis is the choosing of the line of the Messiah—which I believe it is—here is one reason Lot was rejected from that line. He wanted a land that looked well-watered and fruitful, even if it contained the most wicked heathen of the time, rather than trusting the promises of God and staying in the Land.
BUT—would you have ever known that if you had not known about the eastern orientation of the Oriental peoples? Would you have ever realized the significance of the choice he was offered versus the choice he made if you hadn't noticed that it was "the left or the right?"
Now think a little more. Is that orientation the reason the tabernacle and, ultimately, the Temple, faced east? I don't know, but maybe it's something worth considering. In fact, maybe any mention of direction might be worth studying yet again to find its significance, if any.
If God had it recorded for us, it isn't useless. In some fashion it will add to our knowledge and appreciation of him. If I can't figure it out yet, it's up to me to work at it, not look down on someone who has gone to the trouble of learning as much as possible, even if it does not appear pertinent at the moment.
Details matter. Don't discard them like so much rubbish.
For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. (Matt 5:18)
Dene Ward
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