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BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 13, Day 5: Genesis 21:22-34

November 26, 2020November 22, 2020 by atozmom, posted in BSF Genesis 2020/2021

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Summary of Genesis 21:22-34

Abraham makes a treaty wtih Abimelech and his commander, Phicol, to stay in the land for years. Abimelech approaches Abraham for the treaty. Abraham swears he will deal with his descendants fairly since they are aliens in his land. Abraham complains to Abimelech about a well of water his servants had seized. Abimelech said he knows nothing about it. Abraham gives Abimelech seven ewe lambs, sayng he dung the disputed well. This place was called Beersheba, meaning the well of seven or the well of the oath. Abimelech leaves to his land (Philistine). Abraham plants a tamarisk tree and calls upon God.

BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 13, Day 5: Genesis 21:22-34

12a) Abimelech approaches Abraham for the treaty, saying God is with Abraham in all that he does. He is looking for a fair shake since Abraham is living in his land. Abraham swears he will deal with his descendants fairly.

b) Those around Abraham understand the power of God from the testimony of Abraham’s life. This is power. So what I say and do does matter to others as a testimony of God’s power.

13) Abraham plants a tamarisk tree and calls upon God. He also makes the treaty and offers 7 ewe to Abimelech in good faith. Abraham recognizes that Abimelech is making the treaty over fear of God as well.

14) Just do the best I can every day to honor God with my work, my words, my life, and let Him do the rest.

BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 13, Day 5: Genesis 21:22-34

Great little story here of the power of the testimony of your life and the grace we can show others.

BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 13, Day 5: Genesis 21:22-34

Bible scholars believe this was a different ruler than the Abimelech of Genesis 20. Abimelech was a popular title given to Philistine rulers at that time.

Abimelech noticed Abraham’s abundant wealth and blessings, so he approached him for a treaty out of fear of Abraham’s God.

When you have God, everything else falls into place.

Remember Abraham lives in the middle of the desert where water is a precious commodity indeed. A well had been seized by Abimelech and Abraham wanted it back. By sacrificing animals and giving some to Abimelech, Abraham is making it abundantly clear that this is his well.

Beersheba

Beersheba is known for a lot of Bible happenings:

Isaac digs a well here and builds an altar (Genesis 26:23–33).
Jacob stops here as he leaves the promised land (Genesis 28:10–15, 46:1–7).
Beersheba becomes the territory of the tribe of Simeon and Judah (Joshua 15:28, 19:2).
Samuel’s sons were judges in Beersheba (I Samuel 8:2).
King Saul fortifies Beersheba (I Samuel 14:48, 15:2–9).
Elijah goes to Beersheba when Jezebel ordered him killed (I Kings 19:3).
Beersheba in known for idolatry (Amos 5:5 and 8:14).
From Dan to Beersheba described the entire land of Israel Judges 20:1, 1 Samuel 3:20, 2 Samuel 3:10, 1 Kings 4:25,

Abraham keeps talking to God his entire life, as seen here as he calls upon God. A tamarisk tree is a symbol of longevity here. Abraham plans to stay here a long time.

a well of water in the desert for hagar and ismael www.atozmomm.com

BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 13, Day 4: Genesis 21:14-21

November 25, 2020November 22, 2020 by atozmom, posted in BSF Genesis 2020/2021

Summary of Genesis 21: 14-21:

Abraham set Ismael and Hagar off one day, and they wandered the desert of Beersheba. When they ran out of water, Hagar left Ismael under a bush, and she went a bit away so she would not have to watch him die. Ismael began to cry, and God heard. An angel of God called to Hagar from heaven. He tells her that God will make Ismael a great nation. A well of water appears so they could drink. God was with Ismael as he grew up. He became an archer and got married.

BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 13, Day 4: Genesis 21:14-21

9) An angel of God called to Hagar from heaven. He tells her that God will make Ismael a great nation. A well of water appears so they could drink. God was with Ismael as he grew up. He became an archer and got married.

10) Personal Question. My answer: God hears us when we have given up all hope. God takes care of us always even when we don’t realize it. God cares for all people.

11) Personal Question. My answer: We should pray for all people as God does. Pray for blessing and prosperity.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 13, Day 4: Genesis 21:14-21

God is there even if we are not.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 13, Day 4: Genesis 21:14-21

God responds to Ismael’s weeping. Ismael is protected, as he is the descendent of Abraham. Ismael is the father of the Arabic people, which God blessed.

God provides for their needs, as he does ours when we are in our own wilderness. Note that God is near for believers and unbelievers alike; sometimes you just have to see it.

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BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 13, Day 3: Genesis 21:1-13

November 24, 2020November 22, 2020 by atozmom, posted in BSF Genesis 2020/2021

Summary of Genesis 21:1-13:

Finally, Isaac arrives in God’s timing when Abraham is 100 years old. His name means “he laughs.” Isaac is circumcised at 8 days old. Of course, Ismael is jealous of Isaac. Abraham threw a big feast for Isaac when he was weaned, and Sarah told Abraham to get rid of Ismael and Hagar. God confirmed that they should go, so Abraham set them off one day and they wandered the desert of Beersheba. God tells Abraham that Ismael shall be a great nation as well.

BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 13, Day 3: Genesis 21:1-13

6) Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did what he had promised at the very time God had promised.

7) Isaac will be recknoned and will be made into a great nation as well. Hagar bears children who are to be slaves. Galations 4 is Paul noticing the difference between those born of the flesh and those born of the promise. Of the promise is a gospel of faith, not one of reliance on your own power. Ismael represents those who rely on human power to accomplish tasks, which leaves people enslaved to the law and sin like Hagar. Isaac represents those who by faith alone are blessed and are set free to obey God.

8 ) God told Abraham to do what Sarah says and that He will handle the rest by making Ismael into a great nation.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 13, Day 3: Genesis 21:1-13

God has got everything.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 13, Day 3: Genesis 21:1-13

The Birth of Isaac

God fulfilles His promise with the birth of Isaac, 25 years after He first made the promise. This was an unconditional promise that Abraham had to do nothing to earn.

Isaac’s birth mirrors Jesus’ birth in many ways.

Miraculous
In God’s timing
Both were promised by God
Both were joyful (Genesis 21:6; Luke 1:46-47; 2:10-11).
The births were assured (Genesis 18:13-14; Luke 1:34, 37).

Obviously, Ismael would be jealous. Isaac was the promised one, not him. Most Bible scholars agree that Isaac is three years old here.

Ismael was cast out because he was a son of the flesh, which cannot co-exist with those of the spirit.

While your family is a strong bond, God’s bond of faith is stronger. Sometimes, you have to make a tough decision and separate from the flesh, no matter the relationship, and trust that God will handle the rest. God will take care of Ismael, which is why they were given only a few supplies. Here, Abraham acts in faith, as opposed to the lie of Sarah as his sister in Genesis 20. Abraham may have wanted Ismael as a backup plan if Isaac died (remember in ancient times, many children never made it to adulthood). God says to separate completely.

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BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 13, Day 2: Genesis 20

November 23, 2020November 22, 2020 by atozmom, posted in BSF Genesis 2020/2021

Summary of Genesis 20:

Abraham had been staying near the great trees of Mamre (Genesis 18) and now has moved on to the Negev between Kadesh and Shur. He stayed in Gerar for a time and again lied about Sarah being his sister. So, of course, the king of Gerar, Abimelech, took her for his wife.

God rescued Sarah (again) when he came to Abimelech in a dream and told him he had taken a married woman unbeknownst and that is why God has kept him from touching her. God tells him to return Sarah and Abraham will pray for him so that he may live. Otherwise, he will die.

Abimelech called in Abraham and chastized him (like Pharaoh did) and asked him why he lied to him. Abraham again gave his lame excuse of how he was afraid and he wasn’t really lying because Sarah is his half-sister. Abraham, as the head of the household, told Sarah to lie for him on their travels.

So afraid of God was Abimelech that he gave Abraham sheep, cattle, slaves, and whatever piece of land he wanted. He gave silver to Sarah’s “brother” so she would be vindicated for the wrongs he did.

Abraham prayed and God healed Abimelech and his household so that they could have kids again (God had closed their wombs because of Sarah).

BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 13, Day 2: Genesis 20

3a) In Egypt where Abram went due to a famine. Abram told Sarai to tell the Egyptians she was his sister in order to protect himself because he was afraid the Egyptians would kill him while they were there. So Pharaoh married Sarai (thinking she wasn’t married) and treated Abram well because of it. He was given sheep, cattle, donkeys, servants, and camels.

The Lord was angry at this so he punished Pharaoh and Pharaoh asked Abram why he lied to him. Pharaoh sent them out of his land. They returned to the Negev much wealthier from his lie to Pharaoh.

b) Personal question. My answer: In this instance, I can’t. I’m unsure how you give your spouse to someone else. I can understand being afraid of death and doing irrational things. But this specifically, I can’t. Also, I’m wondering if because in Egypt Abraham was made a wealthy man because of Sarah, he tried this same thing again, and indeed, it worked again! Abraham was given a lot of wealth.

c) Personal Question. My answer: Unsure. Selfishness perhaps.

4) God once again stepped in to solve the situation and put things right. He came to Abimelech in a dream, told him the truth about Sarah, and told him waht to do. He also told him the consequences of not doing as He says.

5) Personal Question. My answer: my move, my career, my job.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 13, Day 2: Genesis 20

It seems Abraham made out in both these situations wtih Sarah, and God was the one who rectified the situation. I never see a sign of remorse from Abraham because he uses his fear of death as an excuse.

Why move somewhere where you suspect the people are pagans and where your fear for your life? This doesn’t make sense.

Abraham, as the protector of his wife, abandons her — again. I’d be mad as his wife.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 13, Day 2: Genesis 20

Abraham moved after Sodom and Gomorrah had been destroyed. Sarah was related to a wealthy man, which made her valuable in those days. Collecting wives was what rich people did in ancient times. Plus, this lie worked for Abraham before (he walked away wealthy), so why not use it again?

God could not let Sarah’s womb be compromised when it was about to bear Isaac, and the beginning of Jesus’s line. God protected Abimelech as well because he acted in good faith. God rescues us even when we make the same mistakes. He shows mercy and does not abandon us.

Abimelech was upset — and righfully so. Aren’t you upset when you are lied to? He also chastized Abraham (a man of God), while he was a pagan. Most definitly not a way to live here.

Abraham’s Excuse for Sin

Abraham was afraid, but not of God as he should have been. Instead, he relied on his own power (again, never a good thing) and half-truths that backfired again. Then, of all things, Abraham blames God (by God calling him to wander. Wander here means a negative way to wander, which is used 50 times in scripture to describe drunks and lies).

Here, Abimelech gives Abraham gifts and wealth to make up for the grievance. Abraham accepts (note he did not in Genesis 14:21-24)

I see no remorse here from Abraham. Do you?

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Summary of Genesis 21:22-34

BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 13, Day 5: Genesis 21:22-34

BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 13, Day 5: Genesis 21:22-34

BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 13, Day 5: Genesis 21:22-34

Beersheba

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Summary of Genesis 21: 14-21:

BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 13, Day 4: Genesis 21:14-21

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 13, Day 4: Genesis 21:14-21

End Notes BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 13, Day 4: Genesis 21:14-21

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Summary of Genesis 21:1-13:

BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 13, Day 3: Genesis 21:1-13

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 13, Day 3: Genesis 21:1-13

End Notes BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 13, Day 3: Genesis 21:1-13

The Birth of Isaac

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Summary of Genesis 20:

BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 13, Day 2: Genesis 20

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 13, Day 2: Genesis 20

End Notes BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 13, Day 2: Genesis 20

Abraham’s Excuse for Sin

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