Humans Are To Be Fruitful, Multiply, Fill The Earth
And Subdue It
Genesis 1:26-28 reads,
1:26God
said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have
dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the sky, and over the
cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on
the earth." 1:27God created
man in his own image. In God’s image he created him; male and female he created
them. 1:28God blessed them. God said
to them, "Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Have
dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the sky, and over every
living thing that moves on the earth."
Hasn't Yahweh made clear that human beings are to be fruitful, are to multiply, are to fill the earth and are to subdue it?
Breeding
Facilitates Being Fruitful And Multiplying On The Earth
Genesis 8:15-17 reads,
8:15God
spoke to Noah, saying, 8:16"Go
forth from the ark, you, and your wife, and your sons, and your sons’ wives
with you. 8:17Bring forth with you
every living thing that is with you of all flesh, including birds, cattle, and every
creeping thing that creeps on the earth; that they may breed abundantly in
the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply on the earth."
Didn't Yahweh make clear that the manner living things become fruitful and multiply on the earth is by their breeding abundantly? Isn't it therefore clear that when Yahweh speaks to humans to be fruitful and multiply on the earth he is telling them to breed abundantly?
Yahweh
Reiterated To Noah The Task Given Adam
Genesis 9:1-7 reads,
9:1God
blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them, "Be fruitful, and
multiply, and replenish the earth. 9:2The
fear of you and the dread of you will be on every animal of the earth, and on
every bird of the sky. Everything that the ground teems with, and all the fish
of the sea are delivered into your hand. 9:3Every
moving thing that lives will be food for you. As the green herb, I have given
everything to you. 9:4But flesh with
the life of it, the blood of it, you shall not eat. 9:5I will surely require your blood of your
lives. At the hand of every animal I will require it. At the hand of man, even
at the hand of every man’s brother, I will require the life of man. 9:6Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man will his
blood be shed, for in the image of God made he man. 9:7Be fruitful, and multiply. Bring forth
abundantly in the earth, and multiply in it."
Didn't Yahweh reiterate to Noah the word he gave to Adam, of being fruitful and multiplying in the earth? Shouldn't humans be fruitful and multiply in the earth?
Genesis 11:27-32 reads,
11:27Now
this is the history of the generations of Terah. Terah became the father of
Abram, Nahor, and
Yahweh
Promised To Give Abram Children
Genesis 15 reads,
15:1After
these things the word of Yahweh came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Don’t
be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward."
15:2Abram
said, "Lord Yahweh, what will you give me, seeing I go childless,
and he who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?" 15:3Abram said, "Behold, to me you have
given no seed: and, behold, one born in my house is my heir."
15:4Behold,
the word of Yahweh came to him, saying, "This man will not be your heir,
but he who will come forth out of your own body will be your heir."
15:5Yahweh brought him outside, and
said, "Look now toward the sky, and count the stars, if you are able to
count them." He said to Abram, "So shall your seed be." 15:6He believed in Yahweh; and he reckoned it
to him for righteousness. 15:7He
said to him, "I am Yahweh who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldees, to
give you this land to inherit it."
15:8He
said, "Lord Yahweh, whereby will I know that I will inherit it?"
15:9He
said to him, "Take me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years
old, a ram three years old, a turtle-dove, and a young pigeon." 15:10He took him all these, and divided them in
the midst, and laid each half opposite the other; but he didn’t divide the
birds. 15:11The birds of prey came
down on the carcasses, and Abram drove them away.
15:12When
the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. Now terror and great
darkness fell on him. 15:13He said
to Abram, "Know for sure that your seed will be sojourners in a land
that is not theirs, and will serve them. They will afflict them four hundred
years. 15:14I will also judge that
nation, whom they will serve. Afterward they will come out with great substance.
15:15But you will go to your fathers
in peace. You will be buried in a good old age. 15:16In the fourth generation they will come here again, for
the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet full." 15:17It came to pass that, when the sun went
down, and it was dark, behold, a smoking furnace, and a flaming torch passed
between these pieces. 15:18In that
day Yahweh made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your seed have I
given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river
Euphrates: 15:19the Kenites, the
Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, 15:20the
Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, 15:21the
Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites."
Abram
Understood That Children Are Yahweh's Gifts
Isn't it clear from Abram's words to Yahweh that he understood that children were Yahweh's gifts? Wasn't he requesting that Yahweh grant him the gift of children?
Ask Yahweh
To Provide You With Children
Doesn't Abram's example show us that when we desire children we should request Yahweh to provide us with them, seeing that Yahweh is the one with power to provide children?
It Is
Righteousness To Believe Yahweh's Word
When Abram believed Yahweh's word to him that numerous children would be born to him, believing this at a time when he was childless, didn't Yahweh reckon that belief as righteousness? Isn't it righteousness to believe Yahweh's word?
Shouldn't we follow Abram's example and believe Yahweh's words, that Yahweh may likewise reckon righteousness to us on account of our belief in him?
When Abram believed Yahweh's word to him, did not Yahweh further reveal to him what would happen to his descendants over a number of generations? Doesn't this show us that when we believe Yahweh's words he may indeed reveal to us various aspects of the future? Shouldn't we believe Yahweh's words that he may reveal to us future events?
Yahweh
Restrained Sarai From Bearing Children
Genesis 16:1-2 reads,
16:1Now
Sarai, Abram’s wife, bore him no children. She had a handmaid, an
Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. 16:2Sarai
said to Abram, "See now, Yahweh has restrained me from bearing.
Please go in to my handmaid. It may be that I will obtain children by her."
Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.
Didn't Sarai clearly understand that it was Yahweh who had restrained her from bearing children? Isn't it in Yahweh's power to facilitate conception, bearing and giving birth, and also to prevent conception, bearing and giving birth?
Humans Should Not Interfere With Their Fruitfulness
Seeing that Yahweh has capacity to both facilitate conception, bearing and giving birth, and also restrain conception, bearing and giving birth, why should human beings interfere in an activity that is clearly in Yahweh's ambit? Shouldn't humans cease from preventing conception, bearing and giving birth, and leave this matter to Yahweh, seeing he is capable of so doing? Shouldn't humans rely on Yahweh?
Yahweh
Sometimes Rewards An Afflicted Person With Children
Genesis 16:7-12 reads,
16:7The
angel of Yahweh found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the
fountain in the way to Shur. 16:8He
said, "Hagar, Sarai’s handmaid, where did you come from? Where are you
going?"
She said, "I am fleeing from the face of
my mistress Sarai."
16:9The
angel of Yahweh said to her, "Return to your mistress, and submit yourself
under her hands." 16:10The
angel of Yahweh said to her, "I will greatly multiply your seed, that
they will not be numbered for multitude." 16:11The angel of Yahweh said to her, "Behold, you
are with child, and will bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because
Yahweh has heard your affliction. 16:12He
will be like a wild donkey among men. His hand will be against every man, and
every man’s hand against him. He will live opposite all of his brothers."
Isn't it in Yahweh's power to greatly multiply the seed or children that he gives a particular person? Isn't it also the case that Yahweh sometimes gives a person the gift of a child on account of affliction endured by that person?
Yahweh
Sometimes Gives Children To Those Seemingly Incapable Of Bearing Children
Genesis 17:15-21 reads,
17:15God
said to Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name
Sarai, but her name will be Sarah. 17:16I
will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. Yes, I will bless
her, and she will be a mother of nations. Kings of peoples will come from
her."
17:17Then
Abraham fell on his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, "Will a child
be born to him who is one hundred years old? Will Sarah, who is ninety years
old, give birth?" 17:18Abraham
said to God, "Oh that Ishmael might live before you!"
17:19God
said, "No, but Sarah, your wife, will bear you a son. You shall call
his name Isaac. I will establish
my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his seed after him.
17:20As for Ishmael, I have heard
you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him
exceedingly. He will become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a
great nation. 17:21But my covenant I
establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this set time in the next
year."
Isn't it the case that Yahweh sometimes gives children to those who have passed the normal age for conceiving and bearing children? Isn't it the case that Yahweh sometimes gives children to people when under normal physical circumstances it is impossible for such people to have children? Isn't that which is humanly impossible possible for Yahweh?
It Is A
Pleasure For A Woman To Bear A Child
Genesis 18:1-15 reads,
18:1Yahweh
appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat in the tent door in the heat of
the day. 18:2He lifted up his eyes
and looked, and saw that three men stood opposite him. When he saw them, he ran
to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself to the earth, 18:3and said, "My lord, if now I have
found favor in your sight, please don’t go away from your servant. 18:4Now let a little water be fetched, wash
your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. 18:5I
will get a morsel of bread so you can refresh your heart. After that you may go
your way, now that you have come to your servant."
They said, "Very well, do as you have
said."
18:6Abraham
hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, "Quickly make ready three
measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes." 18:7Abraham ran to the herd, and fetched a
tender and good calf, and gave it to the servant. He hurried to dress it. 18:8He took butter, milk, and the calf which he
had dressed, and set it before them. He stood by them under the tree, and they
ate.
18:9They
said to him, "Where is Sarah, your wife?
He said, "See, in the tent."
18:10He
said, "I will certainly return to you when the season comes round.
Behold, Sarah your wife will have a son."
Sarah heard in the tent door, which was
behind him. 18:11Now Abraham and
Sarah were old, well advanced in age. It had ceased to be with Sarah after the
manner of women. 18:12Sarah laughed
within herself, saying, "After I have grown old will I have pleasure,
my lord being old also?"
18:13Yahweh
said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Will I really bear a
child, yet I am old?’ 18:14Is
anything too hard for Yahweh? At the set time I will return to you, when
the season comes round, and Sarah will have a son."
18:15Then
Sarah denied, saying, "I didn’t laugh," for she was afraid."
He said, "No, but you did laugh."
Don't Sarah's words in 18:12 show that it is indeed pleasure for a woman to bear children?
Nothing Is
Too Hard For Yahweh
Isn't it clear that nothing is too hard for Yahweh? Isn't it clear that Yahweh facilitates conception, bearing and giving birth even to humans who are passed their normal child conceiving, bearing and giving birth stages? Isn't it clear that Yahweh facilitates child bearing even when it appears to be humanly impossible? Isn't it clear that nothing is too hard for Yahweh? Shouldn't we believe Yahweh's words, however impossible their fulfilment appears to our human eyes?
Abimelech Unwittingly Took Another Man's Wife
Genesis 20 reads,
20:1Abraham
journeyed from there toward the land of the South, and lived between Kadesh and
Shur. He sojourned in Gerar. 20:2Abraham
said about Sarah his wife, "She is my sister." Abimelech king of
Gerar sent, and took Sarah. 20:3But
God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him, "Behold,
you are a dead man, because of the woman whom you have taken. For she is a
man’s wife."
20:4Now
Abimelech had not come near her. He said, "Lord, will you kill even a
righteous nation? 20:5Didn’t he tell
me, ‘She is my sister?’ She, even she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the
integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands have I done this."
20:6God
said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know that in the integrity of your
heart you have done this, and I also withheld you from sinning against me.
Therefore I didn’t allow you to touch her. 20:7Now
therefore, restore the man’s wife. For he is a prophet, and he will pray for
you, and you will live. If you don’t restore her, know for sure that you will
die, you, and all who are yours."
20:8Abimelech
rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these
things in their ear. The men were very scared. 20:9Then
Abimelech called Abraham, and said to him, "What have you done to us?
How have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and on my kingdom a
great sin? You have done deeds to me that ought not to be done!" 20:10Abimelech said to Abraham, "What
did you see, that you have done this thing?"
20:11Abraham
said, "Because I thought, ‘Surely the fear of God is not in this place.
They will kill me for my wife’s sake.’ 20:12Moreover
she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother;
and she became my wife. 20:13It
happened, when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said to
her, ‘This is your kindness which you shall show to me. Everywhere that we go,
say of me, "He is my brother."’"
20:14Abimelech
took sheep and oxen, men-servants and women-servants, and gave them to Abraham,
and restored Sarah, his wife to him. 20:15Abimelech
said, "Behold, my land is before you. Dwell where it pleases you." 20:16To Sarah he said, "Behold, I have
given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. Behold, it is for you a
covering of the eyes to all that are with you. In front of all you are
vindicated."
20:17Abraham
prayed to God. God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maid-servants, and
they bore children. 20:18For Yahweh
had closed up tight all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah,
Abraham’s wife.
Yahweh
Punished Abimelech And His Household For Taking Another Man's Wife
Isn't it clear that Yahweh punished Abimelech and his household for his having taken another man's wife as his own wife, even though he had yet to sexually lie with her? Isn't it also clear that Yahweh's penalty upon Abimelech and his household would have been death if he had not restored Sarah to her rightful husband? In other words, isn't the penalty for adultery - taking another man's wife as one's own and sexually lying with her - death?
Guilt Is
Borne Even For Unwitting Sin
Isn't it clear that Abimelech sinned unwittingly, seeing that he did not know that Sarah was another man's wife? Isn't it also clear that even though a person sins unwittingly he still bears the penalty for that sin?
Adultery
Is Sin Against Yahweh
Isn't it clear from Yahweh's word in 20:6 that taking another man's wife as your own is sin against Yahweh?
Yahweh
Prevented Abimelech From Fully Sinning Against Yahweh
Isn't it also clear from Yahweh's word in 20:6-7 that he prevented Abimelech from sinning against him, by not allowing him to sexually touch Sarah? Isn't it the case that Abimelech was not aware of Yahweh's command to him not to sexually touch Sarah prior to his conversation with Yahweh in the dream? Doesn't this show that sometimes Yahweh permits us or prevents us from taking courses of action without our being consciously aware of his word to us in those situations?
Two Sins
Involved In Abimelech Taking Another Man's Wife As His
Doesn't it appear that there were two sins involved in the matter of Abimelech and Sarah? Wasn't the first sin that Abimelech committed, the lesser sin, that of taking another man's wife as his own? Wasn't the second sin, the greater sin, which Abimelech did not commit because Yahweh prevented him from so committing, that of sexually lying with another man's wife?
Repent Of
Your Sin Once You Become Aware Of It
Doesn't Yahweh show that once a person becomes aware of his sin he should repent of it, by making reparations for the sin? Didn't Abimelech duly pay appropriate reparations to Abraham, against whom he had sinned on account of taking his wife Sarah as his own wife?
Yahweh's
Servants Should Pray For Repentant Sinners
Doesn't Yahweh also show that his servants should pray for repentant sinners, that Yahweh might heal them of the consequences of their sins? Didn't Abraham duly pray for Abimelech?
Make
Appropriate Disclosure To Prevent Unwitting Sin
Doesn't the encounter between Abimelech and Abraham show that to prevent a person committing sin appropriate disclosure of the circumstances of a situation should be made? Such as disclosing to other men that a particular woman is indeed wife to a man, that each such man may desist from sexually lying with her?
Yahweh
Punished Abimelech And His Household With Barrenness
Isn't it clear that for Abimelech's sin of taking another man's wife as his own Yahweh made barren both Abimelech and his household - his wife and his maidservants (concubines)? Isn't it clear that a person's sin can indeed bring about a curse affecting not just that sinner, but also his entire household?
Did Yahweh punish Abimelech's wife and maidservants (concubines) because they were one flesh with Abimelech, and therefore one entity as far as Yahweh was concerned?
Barrenness
Is A Curse For Sexual Sin
Isn't it clear that barrenness is a curse that Yahweh has inflicted upon a household that has sexually sinned against him? Isn't it therefore the case that the barrenness suffered by some people arises on account of sexual sin in their family?
Yahweh
Reproved Abimelech For Adultery, Not For Polygyny
Isn't it clear that Yahweh did not reprove Abimelech for taking an additional wife, seeing that he already had his own wife and maidservants (concubines)? Isn't it clear that the reproof was for adultery - taking another man's wife as his own, and not for polygyny - taking more than one woman as one's wife? Isn't it clear that polygyny is not adultery?
Do Not
Condemn What Yahweh Has Not Condemned?
Why do human beings condemn those who practise polygyny when Yahweh does not condemn them? Why do human beings call polygyny sin yet Yahweh does not call polygyny sin?
Did Not
Yahweh Concur With Abimelech That Polygyny Is Part Of Righteousness?
Isn't it clear that when Abimelech called his nation a righteous nation Yahweh did not dispute this word of Abimelech? Isn't it clear that at this time Abimelech was indeed practising polygyny, having a wife and maidservants (concubines)? Isn't it clear that while Abimelech understood adultery to be a great sin, he understood polygyny not to be sin, seeing that the women he sexually took to himself were not the wives of other men?
Follow
Yahweh's Example Concerning Polygyny
Shouldn't we follow Yahweh's example, of not condemning those who practise polygyny? Shouldn't we accept that polygyny is indeed within the bounds of Yahweh's word, and is therefore not sin?
Ascertain
That A Woman Is Free For Marriage Before Taking Her As Your Wife
Shouldn't we also, learning from Abimelech's example, take precautions before taking a woman as a wife or otherwise taking her sexually? Shouldn't we first ascertain that she is not a man's wife, checking with a person in authority over her, or otherwise privy to the information? And where we cannot find a human in such stead, shouldn't we seek Yahweh and obtain from him both the answer and his will for us in that matter?
Sarah Was In Laughter After She Gave Birth To Her Son
Genesis 21:1-7 reads,
21:1Yahweh
visited Sarah as he had said, and Yahweh did to Sarah as he had spoken. 21:2Sarah conceived, and bore Abraham a son in
his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. 21:3Abraham called his son who was born to him,
whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac. 21:4Abraham circumcised his son, Isaac, when he
was eight days old, as God had commanded him. 21:5Abraham
was one hundred years old when his son, Isaac, was born to him. 21:6Sarah said, "God has made me laugh.
Everyone who hears will laugh with me." 21:7She
said, "Who would have said to Abraham, that Sarah would nurse children?
For I have borne him a son in his old age."
Didn't Sarah derive pleasure, showing it in laughter, when Yahweh did to her as he had spoken? Didn't Sarah derive pleasure when Yahweh facilitated her conception, bearing and giving birth to a child, especially at a time when it was no longer humanly possible for both Abraham and Sarah to have children? Isn't Yahweh faithful to his word? Isn't it the case that Yahweh's words do not fall to the ground, in that they are not fulfilled, because Yahweh ensures their fulfilment, even when it appears impossible to humans?
Entreat
Yahweh For Children Where Barrenness Exists
Genesis 25:19-26 reads,
25:19This
is the history of the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son. Abraham became the
father of Isaac. 25:20Isaac was forty
years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of
Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Syrian, to be his wife. 25:21Isaac entreated Yahweh for his wife,
because she was barren. Yahweh was entreated by him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.
25:22The children struggled together
within her. She said, "If it be so, why do I live?" She went to
inquire of Yahweh. 25:23Yahweh said
to her,
Two nations are in your womb,
Two peoples will be separated from your body.
The one people will be stronger than the other
people.
The elder will serve the younger.
25:24When
her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. 25:25The first came out red all over, like a
hairy garment. They named him Esau. 25:26After
that, his brother came out, and his hand had hold on Esau’s heel. He was named
Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.
Isn't it the case that where barrenness exists Yahweh should be entreated to remove the barrenness? Isn't this what Isaac's father Abraham did when he prayed for Abimelech and his household, when Yahweh had made them barren? Isn't this also what Isaac did for his wife? Isn't this what servants of Yahweh should do on behalf of those who are barren and desire to conceive and bear children, especially when such barren people are also servants of Yahweh?
The Fruitfulness Of Jacob's Wives
Genesis 29:31-35 reads,
29:31Yahweh
saw that Leah was hated, and he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. 29:32Leah conceived, and bore a son,
and she named him Reuben. For she said, "Because Yahweh has looked at
my affliction. For now my husband will love me." 29:33She conceived again, and bare a son,
and said, "Because Yahweh has heard that I am hated, he has therefore
given me this son also." She named him Simeon. 29:34She conceived again, and bare a son.
Said, "Now this time will my husband be joined to me, because I have
borne him three sons." Therefore was his name called Levi. 29:35She conceived again, and bare a son.
She said, "This time will I praise Yahweh." Therefore she
named him Judah. Then she stopped bearing.
Both Leah
And Rachel Were Barren
Isn't it the case that both sisters, Leah and Rachel, were barren? Hadn't Leah been married to Jacob seven years yet had not conceived?
Did Not Yahweh
Make Leah Fruitful In Compensation For Her Mistreatment?
Doesn't 29:31 show that Yahweh opened Leah's womb because she was hated, or not loved as her sister Rachel was loved? In other words, didn't Yahweh compensate her for her mistreatment by giving her a child? Also, isn't it seen that children are Yahweh's gifts to those he gives them to?
Isn't it also seen again that it is Yahweh who has power to facilitate the conception, bearing and giving birth of a woman, such that when he closes a womb it cannot conceive and when he opens it conception is indeed possible?
Leah
Thought That Her Husband's Love Towards Her Was Conditional
Isn't it seen that Leah thought that her husband would love her on account of her bearing children to him? In other words, didn't she think that her husband's love for her would be given in exchange for her bearing children to him, being conditional on her bearing children to him?
Was
Jacob's Love For His Wives Conditional?
Was Jacob's love for his wives conditional? When he loved Rachel before she became his wife, was it because Rachel had fulfilled a condition that Jacob had laid, or was it influenced by Rachel's beauty? Even after Leah had borne to Jacob a number of sons did his love for her change? Didn't it apparently remain as it had been before, without there being an increase in the love he manifested towards Leah?
Yahweh
Again Closed Leah's Womb
Doesn't 29:35 show that a time came when Leah stopped bearing children? In other words, didn't Yahweh again close her womb?
Isn't it therefore clear that Yahweh indeed opened Leah's womb at his appointed time, and again closed it at another appointed time? Isn't it the case that Leah could only conceive during the period of time that Yahweh had opened her womb, and not outside this period?
Rely On
Yahweh To Determine When You Are Fruitful
Doesn't the manner Yahweh dealt with Leah show us that it is indeed in his ambit to determine the time when a woman conceives, bears and gives birth to children? Shouldn't Yahweh's people rely on him to determine for them when they conceive, bear and give birth to children? Shouldn't Yahweh's people avoid interfering with matters that are in Yahweh's ambit, such as the timing of conception, bearing and giving birth to children? Shouldn't Yahweh's people leave this matter entirely to Yahweh?
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