Answers for a study in the book of Genesis: Chapters 12-17, Abraham Part 1

“Answers for a study in the book of Genesis” is a weekly post in addition to the regular “apologetics” posts on the weekend where the original questions can be found at the bottom of the study, and then answers appear here mid-week. This gives you time to do your own research, and then check your answers. Keep in mind these will be basic answers with a little depth, but you can go much deeper for discussion if you’d like.

Always remember to pray before you study and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and lead you into the truth found in God’s Word – pray for protection from the evil one who will try to discourage, distract and deceive us when we commit to growing closer to the LORD.

Note: Questions are taken directly from the chapters, and answers should be found and cited from the Scripture text in order to be Biblically accurate (unless asked to summarize in your own words). Study Bibles, commentaries and your own thoughts can be used for Discussion or Going Deeper questions. If you use these kinds of sources share them with your group.

Review of Class Topic:  Before getting into the Bible study questions, discuss today’s class presentation by summarizing what you learned, commenting or asking any questions.

 Answers will vary…

Read Genesis Chapters 12:10 through 17 then, to the best of your ability, answer these questions:

1.  (Genesis 12:10-20) Why did Abram go down to Egypt and what happened when he went there? (You can just summarize the story) Discuss: Considering the culture at the time, do you think Abram had other options? What would you have done?

¹⁰ Now there was a famine in the land; so Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land. ¹¹ It came about when he ^j]came near to Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, “See now, I know that you are a ^k]beautiful woman; ¹² and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife’; and they will kill me, but they will let you live. ¹³ Please say that you are my sister so that it may go well with me because of you, and that ^l]I may live on account of you.” ¹⁴ It came about when Abram came into Egypt, the Egyptians ^m]saw that the woman was very beautiful. ¹⁵ Pharaoh’s officials saw her and praised her to Pharaoh; and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house. ¹⁶ Therefore he treated Abram well for her sake; and ^n]gave him sheep and oxen and donkeys and male and female servants and female donkeys and camels.  ¹⁷ But the Lord struck Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. ¹⁸ Then Pharaoh called Abram and said, “What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? ¹⁹ Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her for my wife? Now then, ^o]here is your wife, take her and go.” ²⁰ Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him; and they ^p]escorted him away, with his wife and all that belonged to him.

Abram went down to Egypt because there was a famine in the land, while there he asked Sarai to say she was his sister so that they would not kill him to take her. The Pharaoh took her and honored Abram. But, God – struck Pharoah’s house with plagues and it was revealed she was Abram’s wife. Pharoah sent them away (and Abram got rich in the process).

Notes:

• Culturally speaking, Egypt was “the” place to go during famines because of the water source they controlled (the Nile River) and because of that, food was also more readily available.
• Also, culturally speaking, it was very probable that Abram would have been killed for Sarai if they knew she was his wife. Fathers and brothers were honored and could have business dealings over their females and children, and Egyptians were known for their capture, and selling of women and children (later Joseph’s brothers would sell him to Ishmaelites who would take him to Egypt to be sold in slavery).

Where Abram went wrong:

• There is no mention of him consulting God before he went to Egypt (Abram won’t speak with God until chapter 13 after Lot leaves) and it appears God was not involved in Abram’s decision making here.
• It is speculation that possibly Abram thought he could outsmart the Egyptians and get Sarai back at some point, while at the same time making his financial statis better.

Additional Thought: The Law was not given by God to Moses for another 600+ years, so the “law” of the land was what Abram would have followed – however, God does place the sense of right and wrong (the Moral Law) in all of us, and I would imagine Abram knew what he was doing was not exactly the right thing to do.

2.  (Genesis 13:1-18) Why did Abram and Lot separate and where did they end up settling? What part of the Covenant did God reaffirm with Abram at this point, and why (v. 13-18)?

13 So Abram went up from Egypt to the ^a]Negev, he and his wife and all that belonged to him, and Lot with him. ² Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver and in gold. ³ He went ^b]on his journeys from the ^c]Negev as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, ⁴ to the place of the altar which he had made there formerly; and there Abram called on the name of the Lord. ⁵ Now Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. ⁶ And the land could not ^d]sustain them ^e]while dwelling together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to remain together. ⁷ And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. Now the Canaanite and the Perizzite were dwelling then in the land. ⁸ So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between you and me, nor between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are brothers. ⁹ Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me; if to the left, then I will go to the right; or if to the right, then I will go to the left.” ¹⁰ Lot lifted up his eyes and saw all the ^f]valley of the Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere—this was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah—like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt as you go to Zoar. ¹¹ So Lot chose for himself all the ^g]valley of the Jordan, and Lot journeyed eastward. Thus they separated from each other. ¹² Abram ^h]settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot ^i]settled in the cities of the ^j]valley, and moved his tents as far as Sodom. ¹³ Now the men of Sodom were wicked ^k]exceedingly and sinners against the Lord. ¹⁴ The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Now lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward; ¹⁵ for all the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your ^l]descendants forever. ¹⁶ I will make your ^m]descendants as the dust of the earth, so that if anyone can number the dust of the earth, then your ^n]descendants can also be numbered. ¹⁷ Arise, walk about the land through its length and breadth; for I will give it to you.” ¹⁸ Then Abram moved his tent and came and dwelt by the ^o]oaks of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and there he built an altar to the Lord.

• Abram and Lot separated because they had become too big together (and their herdsmen were fighting with each other over land-space), which seems to indicate they gained a lot more wealth in property (livestock and people) while in Egypt.
• Abram gave Lot the choice of land and Lot choose land that was in the cities of the valley (of Jordan), and moved his tents as far as Sodom (and he eventually ends up as an official in Sodom).
• Abram settled in the land of Canaan

Lot’s choice has become the topic of many sermons about sin = looking at it first; then living close it and then ultimately moving right into the middle of it, and as we read on there are many consequences to Lot’s choice (loss of land, wealth, friends, and family including his wife)

• Many Bible teachers point out that Lot probably should have never come along with Abram because according to 12:1 God told Abram to leave his relatives behind – and the consequences are evident
• God reaffirms two parts of the promise: 1) People-group: “I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth” 2) Land: From where Abram was looking, all that he could see northward, southward, eastward, and westward.
• Note: God only speaks again to Abram after Lot leaves, and here He reaffirms His commitment to the promise He gave Abram (in 12:3) showing His faithfulness even after the Egypt fiasco (God also knows the future fiascos and consequences that will come for Abram, but He will remain steadfast in His Covenant and commitment to Abraham).

3.  (Genesis 14:1-16) Why was there a war between the kings, and what brought Abram into this war? Discuss: What was the outcome of the war and why do you think Abram would not take any of the spoil offered by the king of Sodom after the war (v. 21-24)?

14 And it came about in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of ^a]Goiim, ² that they made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). ³ All these ^b]came as allies to the valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea). ⁴ Twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer, but the thirteenth year they rebelled. ⁵ In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings that were with him, came and ^c]defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim and the Zuzim in Ham and the Emim in ^d]Shaveh-kiriathaim, ⁶ and the Horites in their Mount Seir, as far as El-paran, which is by the wilderness. ⁷ Then they turned back and came to En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and ^e]conquered all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, who lived in Hazazon-tamar. ⁸ And the king of Sodom and the king of Gomorrah and the king of Admah and the king of Zeboiim and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) came out; and they arrayed for battle against them in the valley of Siddim, ⁹ against Chedorlaomer king of Elam and Tidal king of ^f]Goiim and Amraphel king of Shinar and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five. ¹⁰ Now the valley of Siddim was full of tar pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and they fell ^g]into them. But those who survived fled to the hill country. ¹¹ Then they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food supply, and departed. ¹² They also took Lot, Abram’s nephew, and his possessions and departed, for he was living in Sodom. ¹³ Then ^h]a fugitive came and told Abram the Hebrew. Now he was ^i]living by the ^j]oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner, and these were ^k]allies with Abram. ¹⁴ When Abram heard that his ^l]relative had been taken captive, he ^m]led out his trained men, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. ¹⁵ He divided ^n]his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and ^o]defeated them, and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is ^p]north of Damascus. ¹⁶ He brought back all the goods, and also brought back his ^q]relative Lot with his possessions, and also the women, and the people.

²¹ The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give the ^[w]people to me and take the goods for yourself.” ²² Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have ^[x]sworn to the Lord ^[y]God Most High, ^[z]possessor of heaven and earth, ²³ that I will not take a thread or a sandal thong or anything that is yours, for fear you would say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ ^24 [aa]I will take nothing except what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their share.”

• There was a war between 5 Kings (including the King of Sodom) and 4 Kings – mainly Chedorlamer, because they had been in servitude to him for 12 years, and in the 13^th year they rebelled.
• Because Lot was in Sodom, he became part of the war and was taken captive.
• Abram was told by messenger that Lot and his family had been taken, so Abram gathered a small army of 318, routed Chedorlamer’s group and got Lot and his family back – obviously under God’s hand of protection.

Special Notes:

• Kings in those days were more like Tribal leaders and would lead the battles. This new King of Sodom (who could be a son or next in line because the other one died in the battle) needed to have the people back in order to have a “kingdom” again – he offered Abram the spoils, but Abram did not want to be in debt to this King (only to God through Melchizedek).
• In application, the king of Sodom can be seen as a picture of the “world” – Sodom & Gomorrah being pictures/types of worldly pleasures, thus this is a good model for us because once we are in debt to someone or something, it can control our life or our life’s direction – the only One we should be in debt to is God!

4.  (Genesis 14:17-20) Who is Melchizedek and what happened between him and Abram?

Cross-reference by reading Hebrews 6:20 through 7:28 – What does it say about Melchizedek in reference to Jesus?

¹⁷ Then after his return from the ^[r]defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). ¹⁸ And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of ^[s]God Most High. ¹⁹ He blessed him and said,

“Blessed be Abram of ^[t]God Most High,
^[u]Possessor of heaven and earth;
²⁰ And blessed be ^[v]God Most High,
Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.”

• The text tells us that Melchizedek was the king of Salem and priest of the “Most High God” – he gave honor and blessing to God as the Creator of Heaven and Earth.
• Melchizedek’s name means: “King of righteousness” and King of Salem means “King of peace” – Salem (peace) is the future location of Jerusalem (City of peace).

From the Hebrews’ passage we find:

• Melchizedek has no recorded genealogy nor death.
• Melchizedek was in a higher position than Abraham because the greater blesses the lesser, and in addition, Abram gave him a tenth of everything. 

Cultural Note:

Tithing was only mandated to the Nation of Israel some 600 years later in the Law given to Moses. However, culturally at that time it was traditional in pagan nations to give a tenth or “tithe” to one’s “gods” and Abram would have been following cultural tradition. Tithing in ancient times was usually from one’s goods like livestock, but could also include silver and gold.

Bible scholars present four basic thoughts on Melchizedek (the name is an ancient Jebusite name for “King of Righteousness”):

1. He was a respected King of that region and Abram was simply showing him the respect he deserved (some have even suggested that he was Shem, the son of Noah).
2. The name “Melchizedek” could have been a standard title for all Kings of Salem.
3. He was the appearance on earth of the preincarnate Christ in a temporary bodily form (these are known as Christophanies) – as is the case with the “Angel of the LORD” found in many places in Scripture.
4. He was a “type” of Christ (Hebrews 7:3). Types, pictures or foreshadowings of Christ (the Promised Messiah) is found throughout the Old Testament. These are events, persons or teachings that are so closely related to what Jesus later does that it illustrates a lesson about the Messiah who has been promised to come.

Remember the hermeneutics: The most important thing to do, is to let the Bible interpret the Bible, find out what the Bible says first – all the rest is speculation

(Therefore, search the following passages…)

^19 [o]This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters ^[p]within the veil, ²⁰ where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

7 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, ² to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace. ³ Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually.

⁴ Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest spoils. ⁵ And those indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have commandment ^[a]in the Law to collect ^[b]a tenth from the people, that is, from their brethren, although these ^[c]are descended from Abraham. ⁶ But the one whose genealogy is not traced from them collected ^[d]a tenth from Abraham and ^[e]blessed the one who had the promises. ⁷ But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater. ⁸ In this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives on. ⁹ And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes, ¹⁰ for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.

¹¹ Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron? ¹² For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also. ¹³ For the one concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar. ¹⁴ For it is evident that our Lord ^[f]was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests. ¹⁵ And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, ¹⁶ who has become such not on the basis of a law of ^[g]physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life. ¹⁷ For it is attested of Him,

“You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek.”

¹⁸ For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness ¹⁹ (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. ²⁰ And inasmuch as it was not without an oath ²¹ (for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him,

“The Lord has sworn
And will not change His mind,
‘You are a priest forever’”);

²² so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

^23 [h]The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing, ²⁴ but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. ²⁵ Therefore He is able also to save ^[i]forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

²⁶ For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; ²⁷ who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. ²⁸ For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever.

• Jesus is our high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek, therefore He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
• Jesus was not in the Levitical priestly line, which was temporary, His is a permanent priesthood.
• Jesus’ permanent priesthood is part of the fulfillment of the Old Covenant.
• Application: We no longer need a priest to intercede for us, nor do we need a sacrifice performed, because Jesus is the permanent fulfillment of the Law, and a permanent intercessory priest for us forever – we can go directly to Him for confession, repentance and forgiveness.

EXTRA:

Also found in Hebrews chapter 5:1-14 (NASB)

The Perfect High Priest

5 For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins; ^2 [a]he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is ^[b]beset with weakness; ³ and because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices for sins, as for the people, so also for himself. ⁴ And no one takes the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was.

⁵ So also Christ did not glorify Himself so as to become a high priest, but He who said to Him,

“You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You”;

⁶ just as He says also in another passage,

“You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek.”

^7 [c]In the days of His flesh, ^[d]He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him ^[e]from death, and He ^[f]was heard because of His piety. ⁸ Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. ⁹ And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, ¹⁰ being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

¹¹ Concerning ^[g]him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. ¹² For though ^[h]by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the ^[i]elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. ¹³ For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. ¹⁴ But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

And found in the book of Psalms chapter 110:1-7 (NASB)

The Lord Gives Dominion to the King.

A Psalm of David.

110 The Lord says to my Lord:
“Sit at My right hand
Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”
² The Lord will stretch forth Your strong scepter from Zion, saying,
“Rule in the midst of Your enemies.”
³ Your people ^[a]will volunteer freely in the day of Your ^[b]power;
In ^[c]holy array, from the womb of the dawn,
^[d]Your youth are to You as the dew.

⁴ The Lord has sworn and will not ^[e]change His mind,
“You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek.”
⁵ The Lord is at Your right hand;
He ^[f]will shatter kings in the day of His wrath.
⁶ He will judge among the nations,
He ^[g]will fill them with corpses,
He ^[h]will shatter the ^[i]chief men over a broad country.
⁷ He will drink from the brook by the wayside;
Therefore He will lift up His head.

5.  (Genesis 15:1-21) In ancient cultures there was a practice of cutting animals in half and passing through them to confirm an agreement between men – in this case it is only God who passed through, signifying Abram could do nothing on his part to gain God’s promise. What specific parts of the Covenant is God confirming here with Abram (you can reference back to Genesis 12:1-3)?

15 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not fear, Abram,
I am a shield to you; ^[a]Your reward shall be very great.” ² Abram said, “O Lord ^b]God, what will You give me, since I ^c]am childless, and the ^d]heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” ³ And Abram said, “^e]Since You have given no ^f]offspring to me, ^g]one born in my house is my heir.” ⁴ Then behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir; but one who will come forth from your own ^h]body, he shall be your heir.” ⁵ And He took him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So shall your ^i]descendants be.” ⁶ Then he believed in the Lord; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness. ⁷ And He said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to ^j]possess it.” ⁸ He said, “O Lord ^k]God, how may I know that I will ^l]possess it?” ⁹ So He said to him, “^m]Bring Me a three year old heifer, and a three year old female goat, and a three year old ram, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” ¹⁰ Then he ^n]brought all these to Him and cut them ^o]in two, and laid each half opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds. ¹¹ The birds of prey came down upon the carcasses, and Abram drove them away. ¹² Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, ^p]terror and great darkness fell upon him. ¹³ God said to Abram, “Know for certain that your ^q]descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, ^r]where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years. ¹⁴ But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve, and afterward they will come out with ^s]many possessions. ¹⁵ As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you will be buried at a good old age. ¹⁶ Then in the fourth generation they will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete.” ¹⁷ It came about when the sun had set, that it was very dark, and behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a flaming torch which passed between these pieces. ¹⁸ On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your ^t]descendants I have given this land,
From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates: ¹⁹ the Kenite and the Kenizzite and the Kadmonite ²⁰ and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Rephaim ²¹ and the Amorite and the Canaanite and the Girgashite and the Jebusite.”

• The Abrahamic Covenant from chapter 12: God promises three things unconditionally: Nation – Land – Blessing. In this chapter God focuses on the promise of offspring as numerous as the stars, and He also mentions the promise of the Land.
• Note: God did not make a covenant with Abraham but through him. This is called a “suzerain” Covenant. A Suzeranity Covenant is a covenant between two sides of unequal power. In this case there is nothing Abram can do to earn, or keep, this promise from God. It is a picture of the “Grace” offered to us through the death and resurrection of Jesus – there is nothing we can do to earn it. (Later on, there are conditional parts of the Covenant that will be put into place that mainly deal with God’s protection or loss of that protection based on their actions).
• Culturally speaking: Men would make covenants and confirm them by cutting an animal and passing between them. The message was saying: May it happen to us what we did to this animal if we break our covenant.” In this passage God cuts the animals and purposes the contract by Himself. God affirmed the chapter 12 Covenant here and swore by Himself – by passing through the animals cut in half (Abram was asleep/experienced this in a vision).
• This also pictures the “blood” part of the Covenant later on in that it will only be the blood of an innocent that can cover sin – Jesus’ blood will do that permanently.
• Extra: This is the first time God confirmed that it would be through a physical heir of Abram’s and this is the first time we see the word “believed” in 15:6 – “Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness” – previously Abram’s faith had been seen through his actions, now it was through a confession of faith in God’s Promise (this is why Abraham is called the “Father of the faithful” because he believed in something he did not see, but trusted in God’s Word – this will play out even further in chapter 22).

Going Even Deeper: Reread 15:13-16 – God gives Abram a prophecy about his descendants – what do you know about the fulfillment of that prophecy, and where in Old Testament can we find the story and fulfillment?

It happened in the days of Moses and the Exodus. The 400 years is measured from Genesis chapter 46 (The time that Jacob went to Egypt) through to the time of the Exodus out of Egypt – Exodus chapter 12-13. (Special note: v. 14: God foretells that they will come out of the land with many possessions – it will be their payment for their years of slavery to the Egyptians)

Note: The “Amorites” were a group within the Canaanites (also a term used to represent all Canaanites). In God’s mercy he was giving them time to repent (although He knew they would not, and their wickedness grew out of control). In His perfect justice God would have to enact punishment upon the Canaanites/Amorites – we see this played out in the book of Joshua and beyond where God uses Israel to punish this group of people (This also fulfills the curse of Ham through Canaan when he uncovered his father)

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Jacob and his descendent move to Egypt to death of Joseph = 71 years

Death of Joseph to birth of Moses = 278 years

Birth of Moses to flight to Midian by Moses = 40 years In Midian to return to Egypt by Moses = 40 years

From Moses’ return to Egypt to the Exodus = 1 year

TOTAL = 430 YEARS

6.  (Genesis 16:1-15) In ancient cultures (and some still today) taking a second wife, or a concubine, was not forbidden by law, especially when child bearing was necessary for a family’s tribal survival and inheritance. Summarize the story of Abram, Sarai and Hagar then discuss the following questions:

16 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife had borne him no children, and she had an Egyptian maid whose name was Hagar. ² So Sarai said to Abram, “Now behold, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children. Please go in to my maid; perhaps I will ^[a]obtain children through her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. ³ After Abram had ^[b]lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Abram’s wife Sarai took Hagar the Egyptian, her maid, and gave her to her husband Abram as his wife. ⁴ He went in to Hagar, and she conceived; and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her sight. ⁵ And Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done me be upon you. I gave my maid into your ^[c]arms, but when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her ^[d]sight. May the Lord judge between ^[e]you and me.” ⁶ But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your maid is in your ^[f]power; do to her what is good in your ^[g]sight.” So Sarai treated her harshly, and she fled from her presence. ⁷ Now the angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur. ⁸ He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where have you come from and where are you going?” And she said, “I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai.” ⁹ Then the angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself ^[h]to her authority.” ¹⁰ Moreover, the angel of the Lord said to her, “I will greatly multiply your ^[i]descendants so that ^[j]they will be too many to count.” ¹¹ The angel of the Lord said to her further,

“Behold, you are with child,
And you will bear a son;
And you shall call his name ^[k]Ishmael,
Because the Lord ^[l]has given heed to your affliction.
¹² “He will be a wild donkey of a man,
His hand will be against everyone,
And everyone’s hand will be against him;
And he will ^[m]live ^[n]to the east of all his brothers.”

¹³ Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, “^[o]You are ^[p]a God who sees”; for she said, “Have I even ^[q]remained alive here after seeing Him?” ¹⁴ Therefore the well was called ^[r]Beer-lahai-roi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered. ¹⁵ So Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. ¹⁶ Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to ^[s]him.

Sarai and Abram were impatient and decided to use Hagar as a surrogate. When she conceived and gave birth, Sarai treated her harshly, and Hagar fled, but God met Hagar and assured her He would take care of her, and for her to return and submit. God also gave her a prophecy promise about her son.

a.  What was wrong with what Abram and Sarai did from God’s view? Can you think of other stories in the Old Testament with similar situations that have heartbreaking consequences?

• 4 reasons why Scripture does not say it is ok to have multiple spouses (bigamy/polygamy):

1. Scripture records events (historical narrative) it does not necessarily endorse the events.
2. Every place in Scripture where we find bigamy/polygamy it is portrayed in a negative light and has negative consequences.
3. The practice of multiple wives began with Cain’s line – Lamech (the evil line pre-flood), and God said “A man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh” (Gen. 2:24) it does not say 3 or 4, and it does not say same sex, animals or inanimate objects.
4. Jesus confirms and references this in Matt. 19:3-6 when answering the Pharisees about divorce. Abram and Sarai did what was permitted by the culture, but they were not following God’s original design and therefore trouble ensued.

• We see the negative consequences for this practice in other places in Scripture, for example, in the stories of Jacob, David, and Solomon.

b.  How did God counsel Hagar, how did she respond, and is it different than you might have responded?

• In Scripture, when God asks people questions, it is not because He does not know the answer, it is to get the person to reflect on what they are doing, and why? He asked her where did you come from, where are you going? (eg. Adam and Eve at the Fall)
• God listened to Hagar answers and then told her to return and submit.
• This is the place where Hagar calls on the Name of God and uses the term “El Roi” – God who sees.
• Application: God always knows what is best for us in the long run, we should listen to Him and search out His help, because He can use our circumstances to prepare us for what is to come.

c.  Cross-referencing: Where do you think Hagar came from originally, and could that have any implications for how things unfolded here (review the story in 12:10-20)?

• In chapter 12:16 we find: ¹⁶ Therefore he treated Abram well for her sake; and ^[n]gave him sheep and oxen and donkeys and male and female servants and female donkeys and camels.

We can reasonably speculate:

• Hagar came from Egypt when Abram and Sarai had previously gone there because of the famine, and Egypt was famous for slavery, both buying and selling.
• The text tells us that Abram had left Egypt richer than he was before.
• It doesn’t appear in the text that Hagar had been with them since Ur/Haran and it would be reasonable that Sarai got her as a payment for their troubles.

d.  Going Deeper: Do a study on the term “Angel of the LORD” and discuss what you learned about this person who met with Hagar.

• Anthropomorphism = God taking human form
• Theophany = A visible manifestation to humankind of God or a god
• Christophany = A preincarnate appearance of Jesus – usually in the form of the “Angel of the LORD
• The term “Angel of the LORD” appears some 58 times in Scripture
• When the word “Angel” is combined with LORD (YHWH) it always refers to the second person in the Godhead = Jesus
• When Theophanies/Christophanies happen there is always a first-person pronoun like “I or Me” used.
• Other signs include giving praise or glory, bowing, praying to or referencing as LORD
• Sometimes we see a characteristic name used that tells us it is the LORD (v. 13) “Then she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, “You are the God who sees”; for she said, “Have I even remained alive here after seeing Him?”” El Roi = God who sees

7.  (Genesis 17:1-8 and 17:15-16) What new names did God give Abram and Sarai, and why? Research the differences in the meaning of their old and new names.

Change of Names:

• God changes both Abram and Sarai’s names to reflect their purpose in the plan and their role in the Covenant promise. He changed their roles in life by giving them a child in their impossible advanced age – it is in the name that one identifies with their God and we do the same when we call ourselves Christians.
• The “ah” in Hebrew ruach=breath. The name change represents the breath of God who can instantly with His breath make something happen – It also reflects their relationship with God in that YHWH (the YH) now becomes part of who they are in God. (YH – breath in; WH – breath out)
  • Abram = Exalted Father becomes Abraham=Father of many Nations
  • Sarai = A Princess becomes  Sarah=The Princess (emphasizing that she would become the mother of many nations and kings)

Special Notes:

• El Shadai = God Almighty – This name of God is introduced here in v. 1
• This is the longest that God spoke directly to anyone in Genesis, it peaks here, and there will be less and less direct contact from God as Israel’s history moves forward – God will use prophets and priests to speak through, especially as the people begin to rebel and misrepresent God resulting ultimately in their eviction from the land (Job actually has the most direct speaking from God) .
• This is the first time God says specifically that it would be offspring from Sarah, and this also gives proof that women are an important part of the Covenant Promise too.

8.  (Genesis 17:9-27) Circumcision was not an unusual practice in ancient cultures, but God had a specific purpose for it here. What was the purpose of the Covenant of circumcision and how did Abraham respond to God’s command?

• This is now the first time there is an action clause as part of the Covenant – Abraham needed to do something to identify himself, his family and his descendants as being a recognizable part of God’s Covenant Promise. His salvation was assured because of his faith (belief in God’s Promise) – like ours is in Christ, this now becomes an “after salvation” issue in that he needed to show an outward sign of his faith and connection to God and the Covenant Promise.
• Circumcision set apart the Hebrew people (men) as followers of God. It was an outward sign of an inward covenant to be kept with God.
• The Covenant of Circumcision does four things: (also see Romans 2:28)
  1. Reinforces the importance of the spilling of blood
  2. It is the reproductive organ which means it is generational (passed down)
  3. It includes the females because the male covers the female as their protector
  4. It identified them as recipients of God’s covenant as God’s people
• With us, it is spiritual – the circumcision of the heart=the cutting away of the earthly flesh/desires and taking on Jesus – we also make a public proclamation in baptism.

Special Notes:

• On the 8^th day, only God could have known, is the best day for 1) the clotting agent is optimal; 2) vitamin k maxes out between the 5^th-7^th days; 3) prothrombin is below normal until the 8^th day, so this was the best time to perform the circumcision.
• Flint knives were to be used and sharpened with each circumcision, thus sterilizing the knife each time and preventing infection – these things were not known until modern times!
• God also specifically says, in v. 21, that He will establish the Covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear (not with Ishmael).

Application: God was still promising a son directly to Abraham and Sarah but they were 99 and 89 respectively. How do we respond when it seems impossible that God will provide?

Answers will vary…

We often pray for things, not expecting that God will answer the impossible – we often use prayer as a last resort – we often do not ask in God’s will to be done, and for our desires to align with His.

Please join us each week as we continue our case for the Old Testament!

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You will not find this material in the public school curriculum even though it is based on solid evidence and grounded in research. It is ironic that following the evidence to where it leads stops at the door of our public schools as they will not let a “Divine footprint” in!  Join us as we examine evidence for Christianity and learn how to become a thoughtful defender and ambassador of your faith.

Click into the resource page of this website to view many of the top Christian thinkers and apologists along with some of their work; connecting to these types of resources is essential in your Christian growth.

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Teri Dugan

TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com

1 Peter 3:15