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)?

Today’s passage: Genesis 13:1-18

Helpful thoughts:

• Abraham’s and Lot’s wealth and the herdsmen’s struggle made it so that there wasn’t enough room for the two of them.
  • They were also competing for land with the Canaanites and Perizzites (Verse 7).
• Abraham generously allowed Lot to make the first choice of land.  However, the Lord promised Abraham all the land would belong to his descendants.  Lot’s choice was a temporary arrangement, unbeknown to him.
• Abraham and Sarai are still without a child, yet God promised his descendants would be beyond number.

Questions to consider:

1. Contrast what happened when Abraham and Lot arrived at their destinations?  What did Abraham do which fostered his relationship with the Lord?  What did Lot come into contact with when he arrived at Sodom?
2. Who did the men at Sodom sin against (Verse 13)?  Do people have to believe in God to sin against Him?  To whom will all people answer, whether they believe or not (Psalm 86:8-10)?
3. With the answers to question 2 in mind, what should the church strive to tell the nations (Psalm 67, Matthew 18:19-20)?

Today’s passage: Genesis 12:10-20

Helpful thoughts:

• Abraham displayed a great deal of faith in verses 1-9.  Today’s passage will remind us, he is human.  He is a sinner too, like the rest of us.
• Abraham feared the Egyptians more than the Lord in these moments.  But, it was the Lord who graciously rescued him and Sarai in the end (Verse 17).

Questions to consider:

1. Why were Abraham’s fears unfounded?  What had God promised him in verses 1-9?  Since God made those promises, would it even have been possible for Abraham to be killed in Egypt?
2. Abraham was not a great husband here…  In what way are husbands to treat/love/protect their wives according to Ephesians 5:25?
3. In these verses, who acted more honorably, Abraham or the Pharaoh?  Did God choose Abraham because he was better than anybody else?  Why are we saved?  Why has God chosen us to be His children? (Ephesians 1:3-6)