For Week #3 and Week #4 Study Guide Information
For Week #5 and Week #6 Study Guide Information
For Week #7 and Week #8 Study Guide Information
Week #2
Day 1 -- Abraham Moves to Egypt and Back to the Promise Land while
parting ways with Lot
(Genesis 12:10 -- 13:18; Psalm 7:1--8; Proverbs 2:1--5)
12 Imagine for just a moment being 75 years old and being asked by God to pick up your family, home, and all your possessions to move to a land that is to be rich with blessing. And then you get there and a severe famine strikes the area forcing you to move again. Abram knows this feeling as we see this take place in today's reading.
12:10 -- "went down to Egypt" -- Famine is common enough in the climate of Palestine since its
productivity depends on rainfall. In contrast, Egypt is more impervious to drought and
famine because it is dependent on the annual flooding of the Nile rather than rainfall.
12:11--16 Abram and Sarai's journey to Egypt shows a common struggle most people face. When
do we need to lay aside conventional wisdom for divine intervention. Abram believed that
because of his wife's beauty, Pharaoh would take Sarai for himself and have Abram
murder. Was this an assumption on Abram's part or typical behavior in Egyptian cultural?
Does this text illustrate the necessity to lie in certain situations? What is surprisingly
absent is any communication between Abram and God on what to do?
12:17 "The Lord inflicted..." Why did God give Pharaoh this infliction? There are couple of
explanations but we are not sure exactly which is the most obvious:
#1 -- God is punishing Pharaoh for taking Sarai as his wife
#2 -- God is using the infliction to reveal Abram's deception
#3 -- God wants Abram to go home so he uses the infliction to have the Pharaoh force them
to leave
13:6 -- "the land could not support them" -- The majority of Lot and Abram's wealthy was comprised
of livestock. The region around Bethel and Ai apparently did not have enough water or pasture
land for these large flocks and herds to graze.
13:7 -- 9 As disagreements began to breakout between the workers of Abram and Lot. Abram shows
his qualities as a leader of God's people.
#1 -- He addresses the problem at hand -- "let's not have any quarreling between you and me."
#2 -- He values the relationship -- "we are brothers/we are family"
#3 -- He identifies a fair solution -- "You go one way, I'll go the other"
#4 -- He acts upon his decision -- "So Abram moved..."
13:10 -- 13 Lot chose the area that was more desirable because the plain of the Jordan was well
watered like Egypt was. Lot made the decision to live “near Sodom” even though he
knew that the men of Sodom were wicked and sinned greatly against the Lord. Lot
was flirting with temptation by living so close to Sodom.
13:14—17 God reaffirms his promises to Abram by showing him the entire region that will be his and
all of his descendants. The phrase “like the dust of earth” was a common simile that
referred to the great/large number of offspring that Abram will have.
13:18 The city of Hebron is located in the Judean hill country, approximately nineteen miles
southeast of Jerusalem and twenty-three miles northeast of Beersheba. Ancient roadways
converge on this site coming east from Lachish and connecting with the road north to
Jerusalem, indicating its importance and continuous settlement. The construction of an
altar here, as at Bethel, transforms it eventually into an important religious site, and its
subsequent use as a burial place for the ancestors established its political importance (see
2 Samuel 2:1—7; 15:7—12)
Day 2 -- The Kings go to war, Abram saves Lot, the covenant spoken
(Genesis 14:1--15:21; Psalm 7:9--17; Proverbs 2:6--15)
14:1—3 It is difficult to pinpoint each of these kings with non-Biblical materials although
we can identify with some confidence each of the areas represented. These different
kings allied with one another to do battle against each other.
Amraphel (King of Shinar) Bera (King of Sodom)
Kedorlaomer (King of Elam) vs. Birhsa (King of Gomorrah)
Tidal (King of Goiim) Shinab (King of Zeboiim)
Aricoh (King of Ellasar) Zoar (King of Bela)
14:3 “Valley of Siddim (the Salt Sea)” – The Dead Sea, whose water contains a 25 percent
concentration of chloride and bromide salts, making it the densest large body of water on
earth.
14:5 – 7 Kedorlaomer basically goes on rampage throughout the region by defeating the following
armies:
q Rephaites in Karnaim
q Zuzites in Ham
q Emites in Shaveh Kiriathaim
q Horites in the hill country of Seir
q Amalekies in the area of Kadesh (Kadesh means spring of judgment/justice and)
q Amorites in Hazazon Tamar
His conquest follows a route going from north to south along what is known as the King’s
Highway, the major north-south artery in the Transjordan, just east of the Jordan Valley.
Who are these people?
q Shinar – southern Mesopotamian plains later to become Babylon
q Ellasar – ancient expression of Assyria or possibly Larsa
q Elam – modern day Iran
q Goiim – modern day Turkey
q Karnaim – is the capital of the region just east of the Sea of Galilee
q Ham – northern Gileas
q Shaveh – the land which Reuben will later posses
q Horites – region later known as Edom.
q Amalekites – A tribal people living in the Negev and in the Sinai peninsula
q Amorites – Lived in the hill country of Canaan at the time of the Israelite conquest
For another in-depht map check-out http://www.anova.org/sev/atlas/htm/017.htm. Great site with over 180 maps.
14:13--14 When Abram receives word that his nephew Lot has been captured by Keorlaomer and his
forces he gathered together 318 trained men and went after Lot and his family. To have
318 "trained men" at your immediate service illustrates the extent of Abram's wealth and
influence.
14:17 "King's Valley" -- near Jerusalem
14:18 -- Abram's interaction with Melchizedek is very powerful as it demonstrates Abram's loyalty to
God. In ancient times, particularly in non-Israelite circles, kingly and priestly duties were often
performed by the same individual. "Melchizedek" means my king is righteousness. This is
extremely significant because of the connection of Jesus to the order of Melchizedek.:6 --
14:20 -- "gave him a tenth of everything" -- this gift is in response to the blessing Abram receives.
Abram took the occasion to offer him a tithe of his spoils for God Most High. A tenth was
a king's share (see 1 Samuel 8:15,17).
15 This is the first of many instances were God will speak to individuals through the power of a
vision. Abram has faith in the LORD but is beginning to question how God's promises will be
accomplished if he remains childless.
15:1 God tells Abram to not be afraid. Afraid of what? War, conflict, or unrealized dreams. God
tells Abram that he is his shield and great reward which means he is Abram's king. He needs
no one else or needs to be one.
15:2--3 Abram asks God an honest question, which God will respond in an honest way. Don't be
afraid to ask God honest and real questions. You might be surprised in how he responds!
15:5 -- Count the stars echoes the earlier expression of the "dust of the earth". Abram's descendents
will be numerous which is ultimately fulfilled in all who call upon the name of Jesus.
15:6 -- As people we lack righteousness, but God gives to all who will believe and trust in him His
righteousness. This principle serves as the foundation for the book of Romans.
15:7 -- 11 Abram has doubts about the land he will inherit from the Lord so God reaffirms his
promises by offering a sacrifice to the Lord.
15:12--21 Abram receives another vision. This time it is a prophecy concerning the coming Egyptian
slavery and Exodus. This return will happen after the "sin of the Amorites has reached its
full measure." This sinful society will be characterized by polytheistic worship, child
sacrifice, idolatry, religious prostitution, and divination. The smoking firepot symbolizes
the presence of God. In the midst of Abram's doubts God reaffirms his promises and
comforts him with his presence.
Day 3 -- Hagar and Ishmael and the Covenant of Circumcision
(Genesis 16:1--17:27; Psalm 8; Proverbs 2:16--22)
16 This chapter could be made into a classic soap opera. Sarai can't conceive so she comes up with a great idea sleep with my servant Hagar. Abram agrees and conceives a child and then the resentment begins. Sarah is angry with Hagar, treats her poorly, and sends her away. But God intervenes on behalf of Hagar and rescues her and Ishmael. This account is extremely important because of its historical significance regarding the relationship between Muslim, Jew, and Christian.
16:2 Sarai is becoming impatient because God has not acted on his promise for a child. Sarai's idea
for Abram to sleep with Hagar reflects an ancient custom designed to ensure that an heir would
be born to pass on the family estate. Once again we see here an example of seeking worldly
wisdom rather than divine guidance. By agreeing to his wife's idea Abram shows how difficult it
is to be patient with the Lord to fulfill his promises and plan in our life. Abram was 86 years old
when Ishmael is born.
16:4--6 When Sarai finds out that Hagar is pregnant she begins to despise Hagar and is furious with
Abram. In fact, she blames Abram for her problems, "You are responsible for the wrong I am
suffering. Sarai takes no responsibility for her actions, and Abram lets her by not standing
up but rather giving in to her demands. This story illustrates a common problem in today's
society. We have victims and enablers.
1). Victims -- People like Sarai who blame everyone else for their problems rather than taking
responsibility for their own actions.
2). Enablers -- People like Abram who enable to Sarai's of the world to continue in their behavior
rather than holding each other accountable.
16:7 "Shur" -- located east of Egypt.
16:9 --10 The LORD commands Hagar to return to Abram and Sarai and submit to the mistreatments
of Sarai. Why would God encourage this? By encouraging her to return God makes a
promise to Hagar to bless her descendants.
16:11-12 "Ishmael" -- The description of Ishmael as a wild donkey who will be constantly engaged in
battle towards his brothers is a prophetic word. Ishmael's lineage will form the
foundation of Islam and the Muslim world. Today's events are a constant
reminder of the bad blood that exists between Muslim, Jew, and Christian.
16:13--14 Hagar's description of God is so honest. "You are the Lord who sees me."
17 Just as the rainbow was a sign of the covenant between Noah and God, circumcision will be the
sign of the covenant between Abram and God. In fact, this sign will carry through all the way until the time of Jesus when Baptism becomes the new circumcision.
17:1 -- "walk before me and be blameless" -- Abram has struggled with his faith, so God has called
him know to be blameless. The Lord is making it clear that, if Abram was to recieve God's
promised and covenanted blessings, he must learn to be a faithful and obedient servant.
17:3 -- "fell facedown" is an act of reverence before a holy and almighty God
17:4 -- 14 God restates the promises and conditions of his covenant:
The Promises
q You will be the father of many nations (v 4)
q Your name will change to Abraham [the father of many] (v 5)
q I will make you fruitful (v 6)
q I will birth nations and kings from you (v 6)
q I will make this covenant everlasting (v 7)
q I will be your God and you will be my people (v 7)
q You will possess the land of Canaan (v 8)
The Requirements
q You must keep the covenant by performing the act of circumcision (9—11)
q Every male 8 days old must be circumcised (v 12—13)
The Consequence
q Any male not circumcised will be cut-off from his people (v 14)
17:15 "Sarah" -- The renaming stressed that she was to be the mother of nations and kings.
17:16--22 Abraham shows that men/women of faith will always struggle with obedience to God. Even
as God speaks to him and reveals His divine plan, Abram is doubtful and in fact thinks he
has a better plan than God. "If only Ishmael might live under your blessing." But God stands
firm with Abraham and once again repeats his promises and his intentions with Abraham's
family. In the midst of doubt we need to be constantly reminded of what God has done,
is doing, and what he will continue to do.
17:23--27 The circumcision of the entire family of Abraham shows his willingness to follow God in
the midst of doubt. Don't be afraid to obey God even when you are struggling to believe.
Allow the faithfulness and goodness of God to overcome our doubts and worries.
Day 4 - The Three Visitors and the Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah
(Genesis 18:1--19:38; Psalm 9:1--9; Proverbs 3:1--6)
18 –19 In an interesting encounter Abraham is visited by three “men” who are sent by the Lord. Abraham shows them great hospitality as these three guests reaffirm God’s promises of child. As the angels prepare to leave they look upon Sodom and Gomorrah and cast judgment upon the city. Abraham pleads for the city by asking the Lord to search for the righteous, who may remain, but none is found and the Lord destroys the cities.
18:1 “three men” – At least two of the men were angles (see 19:1). The third was the angel of the
Lord or the Lord himself.
18:2—8 Abraham recognizes that these travelers are very special and shows them great hospitality.
He asks them to stay awhile, he provides water to wash their feet, he encourages to find
rest under his trees, and he gives them something to eat. Abraham seeks to provide his
guests with quality care. In fact in the book of Hebrews we see this truth illustrated:
Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained
angels without knowing it. (Hebrews 13:2)
18:6 “three seahs” – probably about 20 quarts of fine flour
18:12-15 When Sarah hears from these travelers that she will have a child by this time next year,
she laughs. Her reaction is pretty normal when faced with a proposition that seems so far
fetched or extreme. The Lord responds to Sarah’s doubt with a simple question: Is anything
too hard for the Lord. Sarah’s laughter now turns to fear because she has doubted the Lord.
18:20 “outcry is so great…sin is so grievous” Things have gotten so bad in Sodom and Gomorrah that
word has reached even the depths of heaven.
18:22 – 33 The exchange between Abraham and the LORD is very revealing. Here we see Abraham
and the LORD engaging in an intense conversation that will effect the lives of thousands.
Abraham is seeking to the LORD to show mercy upon the people of Sodom and
Gomorrah. He knows that their evil is great, but how great he is unsure. Abraham’s
desire is that God would spare the righteous men and women, but his problem is that he
doesn’t even know if he can find 50, 40, 30, 20, or even 10 people. This exchange also
shows God’s great desire in the midst of sinful people to show grace and mercy.
19:1 “gateway to the city” – apparently Lot had become involved in city politics because a city’s
gateway served as the administrative and judicial center where legal matters were discussed
and prosecuted.
19:2 “square” – A large open space near the main city gateway where public gatherings were held.
19:5 – 8 “have sex with them” – Homosexuality was so characteristic of the men of Sodom that it is
still often called sodomy. Lot attempts to persuade the crowd otherwise because of it
would be such a wicked act. He even offers up his two daughters which is wicked on the
part of Lot.
19:16 “hesitated” – The city is about to be destroyed, and all who are living there will be killed and
Lot hesitates, why? Was he afraid, or was he grieved about living all his wealth and
possessions to follow the Lord to safety? How many us “hesitate” when we are called to up
our cross and leave everything behind to follow Jesus?
19:24 “rained down burning sulfur” – Just as the catastrophic plagues of the Exodus were brought
upon by the divine power of God, so to God rains down sulfur to destroy the cities of Sodom
and Gomorrah.
19:26 “pillar of salt” – It seems a little extreme that Lot’s wife would be turned to a pillar of salt
simply because she turned around to take a look at what was going on. Fortunately, Jesus
gives us a little insight into to God’s decision to turn her to a pillar of salt:
It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling,
planting and building. But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from
heaven and destroyed them all. It will just like this on the day the Son of Man is
revealed. On that day no one who is on the roof of his house, with his goods inside, should
go back for anything. Remember Lot’s wife!
Lot’s wife apparently did more than just look back, she in fact returned to Sodom to retrieve
her worldly possessions. This act of selfishness cost Lot and his daughters their wife and
mother.
19:30—38 This exchange between Lot and his daughters shows how the wicked nature of Sodom
and Gomorrah rubbed off on Lot’s family. With the death of their potential husbands
and the supervision of their mother, Lot’s daughters get their father drunk and have
sex with them. Each daughter conceives a child by their father and two sons are born.
The sons born to Lot’s daughters were the ancestors of the Moabites and Ammonites.
These two nations will become bitter enemies of Abraham’s descendants.
Day 5 -- Abraham and Abimelech and the Birth of Issac
(Genesis 20:1--21:34; Psalm 9:10--20; Proverbs 3:7--8)
20:1 “Gerar” – Located at the edge of Philistine territory, about halfway between Gaze on the
Mediterranean coast and Beersheba in the Northern Negev.
20:2 Abraham is like most people, he repeats the same mistakes. In fact he later attempts to
justify his inappropriate actions by saying “she really is my sister, the daughter of my father
though not of my mother..” Abraham reflects Luther’s old adage that “I am a saint and sinner
at the same time.”
20:3-7 Once again God intervenes to spare the innocent. God keeps Abimelech from
sleeping with Sarah and thus allows him to retain a clear conscience and clean hands.
20:16 “shekels” – A common unit of weight in ancient times. Originally the shekel was only a
weight, not a coin, since coinage was not invented till the seventh century B.C.
21 The birth of Isaac demonstrates the faithfulness God has for his people by providing Abraham
and Sarah the gift of a child. It also shows how Abraham must deal with conflict in his home
between Sarah and Hagar over the potential tension between Ishmael and Isaac.
21:1 “what he had promised” – In order for us to say that God is faithful and trustworthy we must
believe that He is a God of word. This gift of Isaac is just one instance of how God keeps
His word. As people we tend to just like Abraham and Sarah to doubt God’s faithfulness,
therefore, it is critical to constantly recall the promises of God. As the old hymn says we
are standing on the promises of God with the ultimate promise that being Jesus.
21:8 “grew and was weaned” – usually at the age two or three, as was customary in the ancient
Near East.
21:9—10 After many of years of watching Ishmael grow under the care of Hagar, Sarah watches
their reaction to the birth of Isaac. Apparently Ishmael was mocking the birth and arrival
of his brother which angers Sarah who then asks Abraham to get rid of both of them.
21:11 Sarah’s request of Abraham to remove Hagar and Ishmael was disturbing to Abraham because
it involved his son. The question of course which son? Isaac or Ishmael. The text seems to
indicate that his distress is over the welfare of Ishmael. Ishmael is going to be the beneficiary
to some of the promises of Abraham. However, he is not at this time a beneficiary of land or
blessing which concerns Abraham. So unlike previous experience, he seeks counsel from
God. God encourages him to follow his wife’s advice and shares with him that he is going to
make both Isaac and Ishmael into great nations.
21:21 “Desert of Paran” – located in north central Sinai
21:25 “complained about a well” – In a land of seasonally confined rainfall, wells are extremely
important to the welfare of the human population and their herds and flocks. The area of
Beersheba where Abraham had dug a well is apparently under the political jurisdiction of
Abimelech but is unowned land. Abraham is claiming no ownership of the land, only the
Rights to the water in the well that he has dug. Such squatter’s rights are available to a
resident alien and do not constitute anything like a formal deed to the property.
21:31 “Beersheba” – is an important town in the Northern Negev, as it marked the southernmost
boundary of the Israelite monarchy in later times.
21:33 “tamarisk” – The tamarisk grows in sandy soil. It is deciduous and may
re ach over twenty feet in height, with small leaves that excrete salt.
Its bark is used for tanning and its wood for building and making
charcoal. Planting this tree is symbolic of building an altar.
6 -- The Testing of Abraham
(Genesis 22:1--24; Psalm 10; Proverbs 3:9--10)
22 The testing of Abraham is one of the clearest messianic pictures in all of the Old Testament concerning the sacrifice of God’s Son. Abraham is commanded by God to go to the top of Mount of Moriah and offer his son as a burnt offering. This is the same son that he has been waiting for many years. The same son who is to inherit his kingdom and bring forth a great nation. The same son who is to carry on God’s covenant made to Abraham. The testing of Abraham is an amazing demonstration of provision and grace on the part of both God and Abraham.
22:1 “tested” – In the Bible we see that God will often test his people to act in obedience and
follow his will. When God tests he is testing some value, quality, or attribute by stretching
it to its limits. James helps us understand that testing is not the same as tempting he writes,
“God does not tempt us”. Satan tempts us in order to make us fall; God tests us in order to
strengthen our faith (Exodus 20:20) or prove our commitment (Deuteronomy 8:2)
22:2 “region of Moriah” – The author of Chronicles identifies the area as the temple mount in
Jerusalem (2 Ch 3:1). Today “Mount Moriah” is occupied by the Dome of the Rock, an
Impressive Muslim mosque constructed in 691 AD. A large outcropping of rock inside the
building is still pointed as the traditional site of the intended sacrifice of Isaac.
22:2 “sacrifice him” Abraham had committed himself to follow the Lord, which makes this test
extremely difficult. The call to follow God over the love of family is one of the most difficult
choices a person may have to make. This test is especially difficult because human sacrifice
was not a regular part of Israelite worship and devotion.
22:4 “third day” – it takes about three days to get from Beersheba to Jerusalem
22:5 “We will worship and the we will return” – despite the Lord’s request to sacrifice Isaac,
Abraham is somewhat confident that the Lord will somehow spare Isaac’s life or raise him
from the dead as indicated by his comment “we will return.”
22:6—8 When Isaac asks Abraham “where is the lamb” Abraham responds the Lord will provide son.
It is unsure if Abraham means the provision is his son Isaac or that the Lord will provide
another sacrificial animal. The key here is that Abraham is confident of God provision.
22:9—12 As Abraham builds the altar you have to be wondering what is running through both his
and Isaac’s mind. When Abraham binds Isaac and lays him on top of the altar was Isaac
afraid? Was he crying? Yelling for help? Was his farther trying to comfort him? Telling him
it’s going to be alright. As the knife rises to take Isaac’s life the scene must have been
intense and overwhelming. Then out of nowhere God shows up to spare Isaac life because
of Abraham’s obedience and willingness to follow God at all costs.
I have always wonder what would have happened if Abraham didn’t obey God or God
didn’t spare Isaac. How would the story have changed? How would life be different now?
22:13 – “instead of” – The provision by God of a substitute sacrifice is one of the most important
aspects of the Christian faith. Jesus came to be the “lamb of God” who takes away the
sin of the world. He came to seek and to save the lost by giving his life up as a ransom for
many. We often call this idea “the substitutionary atonement” which means that God
chose to substitute Jesus’ life for the payment of our sins.
22:23 – 24 This inclusion of the list of Abraham’s brother Nahor’s family is an interesting transition
out of this great moment of testing. Abraham’s brother became the father of eight sons
by his wife and four by his concubine. They would later become the ancestors of 12
Aramean tribes, just as Abraham’s grandson Jacob would become the ancestor of the
12 tribes of Israel.
