making the scriptures plain

We are searching the Scriptures systematically, word by word. Presenting all the verses in which the word 'pass' occurs gives us firstly a snapshot of the lives of Cain and Abel. Cain brought fruit as an offering to the Lord; in the field Cain killed Abel his brother after talking to him; Cain is cursed by God and cries out in anguish that everyone who finds him will kill him.

We then have highlights of the flood story beginning with the appearance on earth of beautiful 'daughters of men' who caught the eye of the 'sons of God' resulting in generations of men who were mighty but bent on evil. God, despairing of the people on earth, sent the floodwaters once Noah's family and the animals had gone into the ark. After the flood had wiped out everything on earth, God sent a wind which helped to dry up the waters. Lastly God promised the rainbow in the clouds as a sign that He would not send such a flood again.

We are then taken briefly to the plain in Shinar where the tower of Babel will be built. Moving swiftly on, we see Abram and his family on the move, at God's command, and reaching Shechem. From there they head for Egypt where Abram pretends that the beautiful Sarai is not his wife but his sister, to protect himself from potential suitors. And we are told of the vision God gave to Abram to convince him that one day he would possess the land of Canaan.

Time passes. We are outside Abram's tent in the heat of the day and hear him speak graciously to the three strangers. What a contrast between this and the behaviour of Lot's daughters who seduce their father. Then Abraham repeats his act of deceitfulness with regard to the relationship between him and Sarah.

Our extract now begins to focus on Isaac, Abraham's son. Firstly God tests if Abraham would be willing to sacrifice Isaac on command. Then we hear that Abraham's brother, Nahor, has a family - a prelude to Abraham's servant finding a wife for Isaac amongst Nahor's granddaughters.

Despite having God's blessing, Isaac tells Abimelech the same lie as his father did before him - that his wife is his sister. And so the cheating goes on, from father to son. Jacob, Isaac's younger son, pretends to be Esau to get the blessing. We move on to Jacob's meeting with Rachel, his cousin and future wife, and his uncle Laban's welcome. But after working seven years for Rachel, Jacob himself is cheated and given Rachel's sister Leah instead.

The word 'pass' usually occurs as part of the phrase 'come to pass'. 'It shall come to pass that...' predicts what will happen. 'It came to pass that...' tells what has already happened. This study reveals that man is constantly pulled between good and evil and we see that every wrong decision has a consequence. In the Book of Revelation, God reveals Jesus, the Messiah, making it plain to His servants what is about to happen to mankind and his world.

I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth

Gen.4.3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.
Gen.4.8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
Gen.4.14 Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.

Daughters were born unto them

Gen.6.1 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,

After seven days

Gen.7.10 And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth.

God remembered Noah

Gen.8.1 And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters asswaged;

Gen.8.6 And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made:
Gen.8.13 And it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth: and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dry.

The bow shall be seen in the cloud

Gen.9.14 And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:

They journeyed from the east

Gen.11.2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.

Thou art a fair woman

Gen.12.6 And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.
Gen.12.11 And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon:
Gen.12.12 Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive.
Gen.12.14 And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair.

In the days of

Gen.14.1 And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations;

When the sun went down

Gen.15.17 And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.

My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight

Gen.18.3 And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:
Gen.18.5 And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.

Escape for thy life

Gen.19.17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.
Gen.19.29 And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt.

Gen.19.34 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the firstborn said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.

He is my brother

Gen.20.13 And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father's house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt show unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother.

God is with thee in all that thou doest

Gen.21.22 And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest:

Behold, here I am

Gen.22.1 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.

Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink

Gen.24.14 And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast showed kindness unto my master.
Gen.24.15 And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.
Gen.24.22 And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold;

He worshipped the LORD

Gen.24.30 And it came to pass, when he saw the earring and bracelets upon his sister's hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus spake the man unto me; that he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the well.
Gen.24.43 Behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass, that when the virgin cometh forth to draw water, and I say to her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water of thy pitcher to drink;
Gen.24.52 And it came to pass, that, when Abraham's servant heard their words, he worshipped the LORD, bowing himself to the earth.

God blessed his son Isaac

Gen.25.11 And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by the well Lahairoi.

Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife

Gen.26.8 And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife.
Gen.26.32 And it came to pass the same day, that Isaac's servants came, and told him concerning the well which they had digged, and said unto him, We have found water.

By thy sword shalt thou live

Gen.27.1 And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I.
Gen.27.30 And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting.

Gen.27.40 And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck.

Jacob saw Rachel

Gen.29.10 And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother.

Gen.29.13 And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister's son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things.

He took Leah his daughter

Gen.29.23 And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her.
Gen.29.25 And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?