STUDY GUIDE 7
ABRAHAM
Genesis
15 - 25
STUDY GUIDE - ABRAHAM
Vocabulary:
Faith:
being in a relationship with God. Our faith in God
can grow just as our relationships with people deepen.
Covenant: an agreement between two parties to be in
a relationship and share life with one another.
The Faith of Abraham - Genesis 12 - 25.
Abraham, who became the first Hebrew, and whose family God chose to begin the
revelation of His presence and love to humanity. It was through Abraham's descendants
that the Jewish nation would arise, a people who would receive the covenant of the
Lord, and that One of those descendants would be the Savior, not only for the Jews but
for the whole world.
Abraham lived in the city of Ur (capital of the ancient kingdom of Sumer). Sometime
around 2,000 BC. God called Abraham to leave his home and go to a new land that
God would show Him. The Bible traces Abraham's steps from Ur to Haran (north of
Canaan), through the land of Canaan, into Egypt, and back into Canaan (which later
became Israel).
This promise seemed impossible because they were so old but Abraham believed what
God said, though later he doubted and tried to force God's hand by having a son
through Sarah's servant girl, Hagar. In ancient times this was accepted, but not in God's
sight. It violated His law for marriage (Gen 2), and Abraham suffered greatly for his sin.
His son from Hagar, Ishmael, turned against Isaac, Abraham's son of the promise, who
Abraham
God promised to give Abraham a son through his wife Sarah who was barren (unable to
bear children). Through this son, a mighty nation would arise and also an uncountable
amount of descendants, and One of those descendants would be a blessing to all the
nations in the world.
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Genesis
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STUDY GUIDE - ABRAHAM
was born 13 years after Ishmael, when Abraham was 100 and Sarah was 90. So
Ishmael had to leave Abraham's household.
Abraham was called the first "Hebrew" which probably means "to cross over" because
he was supposedly so foolish for thinking that there was just one God and if he crosses
over the Euphrates river that he would find this new land that God had promised. But it
was with Abraham that God established His covenant. This was God's promise:
Gen 12:1-3 “The LORD said to Abram: "Go forth from the land of your kinsfolk
and from your father's house to a land that I will show you.”I will make of you a
great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be
a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you. All
the communities of the earth shall find blessing in you."
“Bless” is repeated so often that it is easy to miss the rest of the promise. It brings to
mind God’s benediction over creation in the early chapters of Genesis and after the
Flood, and in contrast the curses that followed mankind’s disobedience. This sounds as
though God’s original blessing will be restored through this man Abram.
Abraham believed the Lord as it says:
Gen 15:6 “Abram put his faith in the LORD, who credited it to him as an act of
righteousness.”
Now there were many important events that took place in Abraham's life but there is one
that is important to mention. As Abraham grew stronger in faith, God told him to offer his
son Isaac as a burnt offering to prove his faith (Gen 22), Abraham obeyed and brought
Isaac to Mount Moriah, laid him on the altar and at the last minute the Lord told him not
to kill Isaac and gave him a ram for the sacrifice. Here we see Abraham's faith (Heb
11:17-19) and a beautiful picture of Christ. The Bible calls Abraham a friend of God:
Isa 41:8 "But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the descendants
of Abraham My friend.
Gen 15:13-14 Then He said to Abram: "Know certainly that your descendants will be
strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four
hundred years. "And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall
come out with great possessions.
Abraham is without question one of the outstanding individuals of the Old Testament.
God spoke to him personally, actually visited him in his home and even considered him
Abraham
Before we move on keep in mind that the Lord made this peculiar promise to Abraham:
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Genesis
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STUDY GUIDE - ABRAHAM
a friend. And Abraham loved God. He obeyed him, served him, and was even willing to
sacrifice his son to prove his faith. Abraham is a biblical superhero, richly deserving a
place in the Old Testament Hall of Fame. But are his experiences something you can
personally relate to?
Abraham may seem superhuman, but if we look more closely at some of the incidents in
his life we’ll see someone like the rest of us, with many frailties and weaknesses. He
eventually became a man who "believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as
righteousness" (Genesis 15:6).
But Abraham wasn’t born that way. He had to grow and learn by experience. In Genesis
12, God told Abraham to uproot himself and his family from their familiar surroundings
and move to a new land. It was a test of faith and obedience for a 75-year-old man.
Abraham did as he was told. He went out, "even though he did not know where he was
going" (Hebrews 11:8). On this occasion Abraham trusted God.
Abraham had trusted God. But in this one chapter we see Abraham acting first in faith,
and then in fear. Even though Abraham was a man of faith, he was an imperfect human.
Read the accounts of Abraham’s relationship with his nephew, Lot. Note how Abraham
preferred peace to strife in the incident recorded in Genesis 13:5-12. Lot took
advantage of his uncle’s desire for peace, and chose what he thought was the best
territory. It was a decision that rebounded. Lot and his family settled in a disputed area
and became caught up in local wars. In Genesis 14:12-16, Lot was taken prisoner, and
we read how Abraham went to his rescue.
Abraham’s love of peace, mixed with loyalty and courage, is an impressive quality. He
was indeed a man learning to live up to God’s standards. But he had not yet fully
learned to trust in God.
It is a lesson that is often repeated throughout the Bible. Although sin is forgiven, the
physical consequences are often still felt. It was a lesson even Abraham had to learn
the hard way. Abraham and Sarah had to wait many more years for their son and heir.
Finally, when Abraham was 100 and Sarah 90 (Genesis 17:17), the time had come. The
New Testament book of Hebrews tells us: "By faith Abraham, even though he was past
age – and Sarah herself was barren – was enabled to become a father because he
considered him faithful who had made the promise" (Hebrews 11:11).
So the final verdict was that Abraham and Sarah did wait in faith. But Genesis reminds
us that their faith was mixed with a strong dose of human doubt and misgivings
Abraham
God had made important promises to Abraham regarding his descendants. The
problem was, Abraham didn’t yet have any descendants. Sarah was barren, and she
and Abraham were well past the age they could expect to have children. In Genesis
15:1-3, Abraham explained this situation to God. But God patiently insisted that
eventually they would have a son who would inherit the promises.
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Genesis
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STUDY GUIDE - ABRAHAM
(Genesis 17:15-19; 18:10-15). Eventually a son, Isaac, was born to Abraham and Sarah
(Genesis 21:1-3). Sometime later came the great test of Abraham’s life. God told him to
travel to a distant mountain and offer Isaac’ as a sacrifice (Genesis 22:1-2).
Put yourself in Abraham’s place. What conflicting emotions must have raged through his
mind? Isaac was his long-promised heir. Why would God want him dead? Abraham had
waited so long for a son, and now he would have to lose him.
On the other hand, Abraham reasoned that God could raise Isaac from the dead. Had
God not caused Isaac to be born from parents who, in terms of childbearing potential,
were as good as dead? God had said the promises were to be fulfilled through Isaac.
Abraham trusted and relied on God. He believed that God knew what he was doing
(Hebrews 11:17-19).
As Paul wrote in his epistle to the Romans: "Yet he did not waver through unbelief
regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,
being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised" (Romans 4:2021).
God intervened at the last moment: "Now I know that you fear God, because you have
not withheld from me your son, your only son" (Genesis 22:12). And that is how we think
of Abraham now – a great man of faith and courage who dedicated his life to seeking
God’s will and fulfilling his purpose. But from the experiences recorded in the Bible, we
can see that Abraham’s life was not one unbroken catalog of faith. There were ups and
downs, moments of worry, doubt, indecision and frustration.
The faith chapter in Hebrews reminds us that "without faith it is impossible to please
God, because anyone who comes to him must believe, that he exists and that he
rewards those who earnestly seek him" (Hebrews 11:6).
Abraham
A life spent learning to obey God is like a journey, with a stating point, a route and a
destination. For Abraham that journey began when he left his home to travel wherever
God would lead him. He could not always know what route the journey would take. But
he learned to trust in God to direct his steps.
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STUDY GUIDE - ABRAHAM
Genesis
15 - 25
Laughter Comes to Abraham and Sarah
When
Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD
appeared to him and said: "I am God the Almighty. Walk
in my presence and be blameless. Between you and me I
will establish my covenant, and I will multiply you
exceedingly." When Abram prostrated himself, God
continued to speak to him: "My covenant with you is this:
you are to become the father of a host of nations. No
longer shall you be called Abram; your name shall be
Abraham, for I am making you the father of a host of
nations. I will render you exceedingly fertile; I will make
nations of you; kings shall stem from you. I will maintain
my covenant with you and your descendants after you throughout the ages as an
everlasting pact, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. I will give
to you and to your descendants after you the land in which you are now staying, the
whole land of Canaan, as a permanent possession; and I will be their God." God also
said to Abraham: "On your part, you and your descendants after you must keep my
covenant throughout the ages. God further said to Abraham: "As for your wife Sarai, do
not call her Sarai; her name shall be Sarah. I will bless her, and I will give you a son by
her. Him also will I bless; he shall give rise to nations, and rulers of peoples shall issue
from him."
Abraham prostrated himself and laughed as he said to himself, "Can a child be
born to a man who is a hundred years old? Or can Sarah give birth at ninety?" God
replied: "Nevertheless, your wife Sarah is to bear you a son, and you shall call him
Isaac. I will maintain my covenant with him as an everlasting pact, to be his God and the
God of his descendants after him. My covenant I will maintain with Isaac, whom Sarah
shall bear to you by this time next year." When he had finished speaking with him, God
as he sat in the entrance of his tent, while the day was growing hot.
Looking up, he saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran from
the entrance of the tent to greet them; and bowing to the ground, he said: "Sir, if I may
Abraham
departed from Abraham. The LORD appeared to Abraham by the terebinth of Mamre,
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STUDY GUIDE - ABRAHAM
Genesis
15 - 25
ask you this favor, please do not go on past your servant. Let some water be brought,
that you may bathe your feet, and then rest yourselves under the tree. Now that you
have come this close to your servant, let me bring you a little food that you may refresh
yourselves; and afterward you may go on your way." "Very well," they replied, "do as
you have said." Abraham hastened into the tent and told Sarah, "Quick, three seahs of
fine flour! Knead it and make rolls." He ran to the herd, picked out a tender, choice
steer, and gave it to a servant, who quickly prepared it. Then he got some curds and
milk, as well as the steer that had been prepared, and set these before them; and he
waited on them under the tree while they ate. "Where is your wife Sarah?" they asked
him. "There in the tent," he replied. One of them said, "I will surely return to you about
this time next year, and Sarah will then have a son." Sarah was listening at the entrance
of the tent, just behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. So
Sarah laughed to herself and said, "Now that I am so withered and my husband is so
old, am I still to have sexual pleasure?" But the LORD said to Abraham: "Why did Sarah
laugh and say, 'Shall I really bear a child, old as I am?' Is anything too marvelous for the
LORD to do? At the appointed time, about this time next year, I will return to you, and
Sarah will have a son."
Because she was afraid, Sarah dissembled, saying, "I didn't laugh." But he said,
"Yes you did." The LORD took note of Sarah as he had said he would; he did for her as
he had promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at
the set time that God had stated. Abraham gave the name Isaac to this son of his whom
Sarah bore him. Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to
him. Sarah then said, "God has given me cause to laugh, and all who hear of it will
Abraham
laugh with me.
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STUDY GUIDE - ABRAHAM
Genesis
15 - 25
1.
Write a paragraph on the question: If God called me to leave my home and family
and go to a different land, what would be my response?
2.
Read Genesis 12: 1-9 and Genesis 15. The genealogy at the close of Genesis
11 narrows the focus down through Shem’s line to a 75-year-old man. God calls
Abram to leave his country and people and go to a land He will show him. Look
at the map (Abrahams Journey) above and trace Abraham’s journey from Ur (at
the mouth of the Tigris and the Euphrates Rivers) as far as Haran in the North.
This is where he is at the start of Genesis 12.
a. What is the three part promise does God make to Abram in verse 1-3.?
b. Think about it: When the author has not been telling us the genealogy he has
been writing about the start of civilization that looks to itself not to God - a
civilization that literally reached its peak at the tower of Babel. Carefully re-read
Genesis 11:1-8 then read God’s promise to Abram. What is there about God’s
promise that might led you to believe that through Abram, God is setting up a
civilization that will be the opposite of the other?
3.
What were the new names given to Abram and Sarai?
4.
What is the Biblical significance of God giving someone a new name?
5.
What does the name Isaac mean?
6.
Who visited Abraham and Sarah in Shechem?
7.
What did the strangers tell Abraham?
8.
What did Abraham and Sarah realize when they heard the stranger's message?
9.
Why did Sarah think the name Isaac would be appropriate for their son?
10.
What was the three-part promise God made to Abram?
11.
When the inspired author hasn’t been drawing our attention to the ancestry or
genealogy of Abram he has chronicled the rise of civilization that looks to itself
and not to God – a civilization that quite literally reached its peak at the Tower of
Babel. What is there about God’s promise that might lead you to believe that
through Abram, God is setting up a civilization that will be the exact opposite of
Abraham
the other?
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STUDY GUIDE - ABRAHAM
Genesis
15 - 25
12.
By Genesis 22, the promised son has been born and grown into a young man.
All the hopes of God’s covenant lie on Isaac. At the beginning of the chapter, the
author says that God tested Abraham.
13.
A.
What kind of test was it?
B.
Is there any way this test is similar to the test of Adam and Eve? Explain
C.
How does Abraham pass the test?
D.
What is the result?
In Chapter 22, "The Sacrifice of Isaac", how is the story of Abraham and Isaac
similar to the story of Christ? Make a chart showing as many similarities between
the two.
Isaac
Christ
1
2
3
Abraham
4
8