Today’s passage: Genesis 21:1-21

Helpful thoughts:

• The son who was promised finally came.  Way later than expected from Abraham’s and Sarah’s perspectives.  Right on time from God’s.
  • Abraham was 100 years old.  Sarah was 90.  Isaac was born 25 years after God had first promised his arrival.
• Isaac’s name means, laughter.  Sarah and Abraham laughed at the idea of bearing a child in their old age.  Now Ishmael laughs in mockery (Galatians 4:29).
  • Before Abraham sent Hagar and teenage Ishmael away, God promised he would bless them.
  • When Hagar felt she had been abandoned and left for dead, God began to fulfill his promise to her and Ishmael.
• The account of these two mothers and sons is used to illustrate the Old and New Covenants in Galatians 4:21-31.

Questions to consider:

1. For a passage that contains such a grand answer to prayer and the fulfilment of a promise, it also contains much strife, jealousy, and controversy.  Who provided the strife?  Who fulfilled the promise?  How does this reminds us of God’s grace to work His will in the midst of this world (Including our own sin)?
2. What are the reasons Abraham would have been very displeased?  In what way did he give evidence to his faith in God in today’s passage, though it went against his desire?
3. In Paul’s illustration in Galatians 4, who represents the Old Covenant and Israel?  Who represents the New Covenant and the Church?  Why might this be hard to understand (A stumbling block) for the Jewish people who did not believe in Jesus?

Today’s passage: Genesis 20:1-18

Helpful thoughts:

• For a second time, Abraham fears a king and claims Sarah as a sister instead of his wife in hopes of saving his own skin.
  • God had promised Abraham and Sarah a son together.  From man’s perspective, this action put that at great risk.
  • From God’s perspective, His promise was at no risk at all.  But, Abimelech wasn’t going to enjoy all that came next.
• God chose to fulfill His promises to Abraham by His grace and unconditionally.  Abraham was the one who sinned in today’s passage, but he was still God’s prophet and he would still be the father of this great nation.
  • God is the hero of Abraham’s story…and ours.
• Abimelech’s generosity toward Abraham and Sarah served as a testimony of his and Sarah’s innocence.  It needed to be known, if Sarah were to bear any children, they were not his!
  • This will be critical knowledge in the next chapter.

Questions to consider:

1. What is the irony of Abraham’s reason for concern in this region?  Who feared (obeyed) God in this chapter?  Who feared man more than God?
2. Of what do these accounts of Abraham’s sin remind us?  Was he perfect in righteousness?  Did he win a spirituality contest to become the father of God’s chosen people?  Where does every good gift come from (James 1:17)?  Why can we have assurance of our eternal life and home with Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9, Philippians 1:6)?
3. How does God display His power as the giver of life in today’s passage?  If life is formed and forming in the womb, who put it there (Psalm 139:13-14)?

Today’s passage: Genesis 19:23-38

Helpful thoughts:

• God did what He said He was going to do.  God is true, righteous, and faithful.
• The angels had specifically warned Lot and his family about stopping and looking back.  Lot’s wife (Like her daughter’s fiancés) didn’t take the warning seriously.  Her heart had become fixated on what God declared worthy of judgment.  Therefore, she was included in Sodom’s judgment.
•  Lot pleaded with the angels not to go to the hills but to Zoar instead.  He ended up in the hills.
• It’s hard to fathom exactly how Lot’s daughters came to the conclusion and they did and acted upon it.  But, here were some of their influences:
  • They grew up in and near Sodom.
  • Their city and the region had just gone up in flames.  They were in distress.
  • They had been betrothed to marry Sodomites and both of those men had just died.
  • Their mother loved Sodom more than the Lord.
  • Their father had just fled to a cave in fear.
    • The story of the conception of Moab and Ben-ammi is the fruit of all the compromises and decisions made before.

Questions to consider:

1. In what way is God’s view of rebellion and sin put on display in this passage?  In what way should this account produce in the reader a healthy fear of the righteous wrath of God?  Why is it so wrong to be flippant about sin?
2. Where must this fear of a holy and just God draw us?  What is the solution to our great need (Romans 5:6-11)?  How can this help us to understand better what Christ endured on the cross for our sins?
3. In what ways can our sinful choices bear consequences far beyond our expectations and our control?  In what ways can our right choices bear consequences far beyond our expectations and outside our control for good?

Today’s passage: Genesis 19:1-22

Helpful thoughts:

• In the city of Sodom, Lot “pressed” these men (The angels) strongly not to stay in the town square overnight because he knew what would happen if they did.  It didn’t matter, word of new visitors made its way around and all the men of the city came anyway.
• The depiction of the wickedness of the men of the city is startling:
  • They all (In one accord) desired to commit homosexual sin (Even rape) against these two visitors.
  • They were willing to break down Lot’s door to take them by force.
  • Even after they were miraculously struck with blindness, they fought over each other, straining to find and reach for the door, still trying to break in, until they wore themselves out.
• When the angels made it clear what was about to happen, Lot and his family lingered around.  The angels had to physically remove them from the city.  When they did, it was because the Lord was being merciful to Him (Verse 16).

Questions to consider:

1. In what ways did Lot show similarities to Abraham in his reception of his visitors (See the previous chapter)?  In what ways did Lot show a double-mindedness in whatever attachment he had to this city?  What in the world would have compelled him to offer his own daughters to this abuse?  What would have caused him to linger?
2. How did these men who were betrothed to Lot’s daughters treat the news of their coming judgment?  What effect did their opinions have on the reality of the situation?  What was the result of their decision?  What ended up happening to them?
3. Do the sins we read about in this chapter still happen in the world today?  What will God do about it in the end (2 Peter 2:4-10)?  Why have we (Born again Christians) been spared from God’s judgment (Romans 8:1-4)?  What is our mission between now and when Jesus (And His judgment) comes (2 Corinthians 5:11-21)?

Today’s passage: Genesis 18:1-33

Helpful thoughts:

• God gives the promise of a son to Abraham and Sarah again.  This time in Sarah’s hearing.
  • She couldn’t believe it!  She was physically beyond her child-bearing years.
  • She denied she laughed because of fear.
• God did not need to go down to Sodom to see what was really happening.  He knows all things from eternity.
• Abraham’s continued questioning reveals what he knows about the city and what his greatest fear is.  The Lord knew as well and He would grant Abraham’s request.  Lot and his family would be offered the ability to escape Sodom before it was destroyed.

Questions to consider:

1. In what ways do we see evidence that Abraham knew who he was hosting and with whom he was speaking?  What are all the ways Abraham honored the Lord and spoke to Him as his Lord?
2. Sarah’s actions and words are referenced in 1 Peter 3:1-6 (Specifically in verse 6).  What is the irony found when comparing the end of verse 6 with Genesis 18:15?  In what way does fear affect biblical submission?  What things does fear drive us to do?  What does perfect love do to fear (1 John 4:18)?
3. Why did God say he would go down to see if Sodom was really as wicked as the outcry had revealed?  If God already knew everything already, what was He communicating to Abraham?  Does God do anything flippantly?  How did His focused attention communicate His due diligence, precision, justice, etc.?

Today’s passage: Genesis 17:1-27

Helpful thoughts:

• This chapter begins 13 years after the birth of Ishmael!  However, God’s promises were fulfilled right on time (Just not the way Abraham and Sarah would have envisioned it).
  • God reiterated His covenant promise to Abraham on more than one occasion.  But there were years between each instance.  God knows we are but dust (Psalm 103:13-14).
• The name Abram means, “Exalted Father.”  Abraham means, “Father of a multitude.”
  • Sarai means, “My princess.”  Sarah simply means, “Princess.”  Her name change could have been a reminder of her royalty in the promise, “kings of peoples shall come from her.”
  • Isaac means, “Laughter.”  Abraham was amazed God would choose to bring about His promise in this way.  Furthermore, Abraham already had a 13 year old son whom he loved.  It likely broke his heart for a time to know that Ishmael was not the son of promise.
• Circumcision was implemented by God to serve as a sign of the covenant.
  • When a Jewish man’s seed passed by this sign, it was a reminder of whose people the children of Israel (the children of Abraham) were.  They were God’s chosen people.

Questions to consider:

1. What did God call Abraham to do in verse 1?  What is God Almighty worthy of from all His creation?
2. What does God’s ability to rename these people signify concerning His authority?  Whose “princess” was Sarah?
3. Did the sign of the Old Covenant (Circumcision) save a person?  What does the Bible teach about circumcision of the heart?

Today’s passage: Genesis 16:1-16

Helpful thoughts:

• When people try to find a different way to bring about God’s promises, trouble is not far off.
  • After Sarah gave up hope of bearing her own child, she offered Abraham a second wife.  Abraham could have said, “no.”
  • What Sarah suggested (And what Abraham accepted) was customary in their culture.  When we try to figure out how to bring about God’s promises, we will often default to the world’s practices.
• There are a number of instances of polygamy in the Old Testament.  This practice is never encouraged and always results in trouble.  The Bible defines marriage as a covenant relationship between one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24, Deuteronomy 17:14-17, Ephesians 5:33, 1 Timothy 3:2).
• The name, “Ishmael” means God hears.  Hagar called God a “God of seeing.”  God hears and sees…and He cares.
  • Hagar returned to Abraham and Sarah and obeyed the Lord’s command.  She also must have informed Abraham of God’s instruction.  Abraham named their son, Ishmael.

Questions to consider:

1. How can narratives like this further our trust in the authenticity and accuracy of the Scriptures?  Does the Bible seek to glamorize or hide the faults of its main characters?  When we read the Bible, what are we seeing?
2. Why must we be careful as individuals and as a church to not to overvalue “results” in our ministry?  What does God desire from us?  Who ultimately is responsible for the fruit?
3. How does knowing we have a God who sees and hears bring us comfort?  How can these truths encourage us to pray?  How can these truths encourage us to pursue righteousness?  How do these truths encourage us to rest in the work of Jesus Christ on the cross for our sins?

Today’s passage: Genesis 15:1-21

Helpful thoughts:

• God had already compared the descendants of Abraham to the sand or the dust of the earth (Innumerable).  Now, the Lord compares the number to the stars in the heavens.
  • Abraham believed the promises of God by faith.  God counted him as righteous.
    • This doesn’t mean Abraham was without sin or that he did everything right.
    • Abraham believed God and God declared Abraham as righteous.
• Abraham was also told of the slavery the Israelites would endure in Egypt and its duration.
  • When Israel came back to the promised land, part of their return would involve pouring out God’s judgment for the sin of the people presently there (Verse 16).
• The ceremony performed in this chapter was not unique (But it was executed uniquely in this instance!).
  • God “cut a covenant” with Abraham and because Abraham did not walk through the cut pieces with God, it made the covenant unconditional.  God was going to fulfill his promise no matter what.

Questions to consider:

1. In what way is verse 1 God’s response to what we read in chapter 14?  How did God prove to be Abraham’s shield?  How did Abraham evidence his faith in God as his rewarder and greatest reward?
2. How does verse 6 help us to understand salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone (Romans 4)?
3. Who counted Abraham as righteous (Who is responsible to make that judgment)?  Who guaranteed the fulfillment of the promises?  With all this being considered, upon whom should we trust for the assurance of our salvation?  Who is the author of the New Covenant?  Whose body and blood was given as a sacrifice?  Who has promised to complete the work started in you?  Why should this give us greater confidence and rest?  Why will this result in greater glory and worship?

Today’s passage: Genesis 14:1-24

Helpful thoughts:

• Abraham was able to pursue and achieve military victory.  But he did not try to take the Promised Land by force.
• Melchizedek’s name means, “King of Righteousness.”  He was the king of Salem (“Peace”).  He was also priest of the “Most High God.”
  • Thus, Melchizedek was a priest and king over what would be Jerusalem.  And he was King of Peace and King of Righteousness.
  • We do not know very much about Melchizedek, but the book of Hebrews calls Christ a priest forever in the line of Melchizedek (Hebrews 5:5-10, 6:20-7:17).
• Abraham’s responses to the king of Salem and the king of Sodom are very different.

Questions to consider:

1. Where was Lot now living?  What became of his choices to gravitate toward the city of Sodom to this point?
2. What does Abraham’s treatment or responses to Melchizedek and the king of Sodom indicate about Abraham’s trust?  Who was Abraham counting on for his protection, whatever prosperity he had, and the fulfilment of the promise?
3. How can Jesus be priest forever after the order of Melchizedek?  Why won’t his priesthood (or his reign) ever expire (Hebrews 7:16)?