The Book of Genesis:Perspectives

Chapters 11:10-16:16

“Life of Abraham”

Part 1

“in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”

Announcements• “Cash for Camp” at Joshua’s Fine Jewelry. Bring your

unwanted gold, silver or platinum jewelry and give it as a donation to Camp Caudle. A special 20% premium will be paid Friday & Saturday, January 15 & 16. All proceeds will be donated to Camp Caudle. Contact Lee Henson, 331.4924, for more information.

• Lads to Leaders will meet Sunday, January 17, after morning services, in the chapel.

• We have a family who is need of furniture. Please contact the office or Frank Foster if you have a couch, chairs, drawers or beds you no longer need.

• We need bottled water and lemon-aid for CHRISTeens in February. Please contact Fern Combs, 280.3110, for more information.

“in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”

Prayer List• Carolyn Williams – St. Mary’s #201.

• Charles Pitney – suffering from migraines.

• Debra Gannaway (Meme Pitney’s friend) successful cancer surgery.

• Jocelyn Reed (Clay & Candy Reed’s daughter-in-law) showing signs of early labor; on strict bed rest for 2 weeks.

• Chris Lackey (Jim Lackey’s son) triple bypass January 14, in Rogers, AR.

• Sympathy to Betty Grinder in the loss of her sister, Wilma Snow, who passed away Saturday, January 9. The service was January 12, in Scranton.

GenesisWeek Date Topic

1 09 Dec 09 Introduction and the Creation: 1:1-2:25 (Ben)

2 16 Dec 09 The Fall: 3:1-5:32

3 23 Dec 09 Elder Selection Discussion (Herb)

4 30 Dec 09 The Flood: 6:1-9:29

5 06 Jan 10 Table of Nations/Tower of Babel: 10:1-11:9

6 13 Jan 10 Life of Abraham – Part 1: 11:10-16:16

7 20 Jan 10 Life of Abraham – Part 2: 17:1-25:18

8 27 Jan 10 Life of Isaac: 25:19-26:35

9 03 Feb 10 Life of Jacob: 27:1-36:43

10 10 Feb 10 Life of Esau: 36:1-43:34 (Ben)

11 17 Feb 10 Life of Joseph – Corruption: 37:1-38:30

12 24 Feb 10 Life of Joseph – Exaltation: 39:1-41:57

13 03 Mar 10 Life of Joseph – Salvation: 42:1-50:25

Today’s Objectives• Provide a review of last week’s lesson• Learn about the descendants of Shem

• Learn about the descendants of Terah

• Learn about about Terah's travels

• Learn about Abram and Sarai

• Learn about Abram and Lot

• Learn about God's covenant with Abram

• Learn about the conflict between Sarai and Hagar

• Learn about the birth of Ishmael

Last week• Provided an overview of last week’s lesson,

Genesis 6-9

• Learned about the account of Shem, Ham, and Japheth after the flood

• Learned about sons of Noah who play key roles in the Bible prior to Abraham

• Learned about the nations who trace their heritage back to the three sons of Noah

• Learned about the Tower of Babel

Authorship • Bible scholars attribute Genesis to Moses

– Inspired by God, Moses was the human instrument through which God spoke

– Also attributed to writing the first five books of the bible

• Date of writing– Uncertain– Probably between 1500-1400 BC– Spans more time than any other book of the Bible– Approximately 2370 years, more time than the other 65

books combined– Oldest and most detailed record of ancient history in

existence

Terminology• Bereshith

– Hebrew name for the book meaning “in the beginning”

• Septuagint– Oldest Greek translation of the OT, around 270 BC

• Torah– Hebrew word for “the law”, refers to the first five books

• Pentateuch– Greek name for the first five books of the OT

• Dead Sea Scrolls– Ancient manuscripts found in 1947 contain parts of all

books of the OT except Esther, confirming translations

Descendants of Shem (Gen 11:10-11:26)

• Arphaxad– First of five sons of Shem– Born two years after the flood, when Shem was 100– Ancestor of Abraham– Name may mean healer or releaser– Jewish historians believe he founded Ur

• Shelah– Son of Arphaxad– Father of Eber– Live 403 years

Descendants of Shem (Gen 11:10-11:26)

• Eber (or Heber)– Noah’s great-grandson– Father of Peleg– Thought to have refused to help build Tower of Babel

• Peleg– Earth was divided during his time– Patriarchal division or maybe Tower of Babel– Father of Reu

• Reu– Father of Serug

Descendants of Shem (Gen 11:10-11:26)

• Serug– Great-grandfather of Abraham– Father of Nahor

• Nahor– Father of Terah– Grandfather of Abraham

Descendents of Terah (Gen 11:27-11:32)

• Abram, Nahor, and Haran• Haran

– Father of Lot– Died in Ur, the land of his birth

• Abram and Nahor both married– Abram married Sarai– Nahor married Milcah, the daughter of Haran– Sarai was unable to have children

• Terah leaves Ur to go to Canaan– With Abram, Lot, Sarai; but settled in Haran– Terah dies in Haran at the age of 205

Call of Abram (Gen 12:1-12:9)• God calls on Abram

– Leave his country and his people to go the an unknown land

– Abram will be made into a great nation and be blessed

• Abram obeys God– Departs Haran with Lot, Sarai, and “his people”– Ended up in Canaan

• Abram travels about the land of Canaan– Moreh at Shechem– Canaanites were in the land– God conveys the land to Abram– Abram builds an alter there

Call of Abram (Gen 12:1-12:9)• Abram explores more of the land

– Hills east of Bethel– Pitches a tent– Builds an altar– Continues toward the Negev

Abram and Sarai (Gen 12:10-12:20)

• Famine occurs in the land– Abram goes to Egypt to escape the famine– Arrives in Egypt and convinces the Pharaoh that Sarai is

his sister– Because of her beauty, he acquires many resources

• God inflicts series diseases on Pharaoh– “Because of Sarai”– Pharaoh had taken her for his wife

Abram and Lot (Gen 13:1-13:18)• Abram returns to the Negev

– With Sarai and Lot– Becomes wealthy in livestock, silver, and gold– Eventually travels back to the hills east of Bethel– Calls on the name of the Lord

• Conflict between Abram’s and Lot’s herdsmen– Land could not support their livestock– Canaanites and Perizzites were also living there– Abram and Lot decide to part ways– Lot chooses to move to the plain of the Jordan– Abram stayed in the land of Canaan

Abram and Lot (Gen 13:1-13:18)• God gives Abram the land

– All the land he could see north, south, east, and west– Given to Abram’s offspring forever– Offspring would be like the dust of the earth– Abram moved his tent to Hebron, where he built an altar

Lot’s Captivity (Gen 14:1-14:16)• Rebellion had taken place in the Valley of Siddim

– Various kingdoms rebelled against Kedorlaomer, king of Elam

– Kedorlaomer defeats the rebels kingdoms– Kedorlaomer attacked again by five kings, but defeats

these kings; however, they carry off Lot who lived in Sodom

– Abram is notified and he calls upon 318 men to help– He attacks with the men and rescues Lot

• Abram returns from battle– Met by the king of Sodom in King’s Valley

Melchizedek (Gen 14:17-14:24)• Melchizedek was king of Salem

– Brings out bread and wine to Abram– Described as a priest of God Most High– Blesses Abram on behalf of God– Abram gives him a tenth of all he had

• King of Sodom speaks with Abram– Give him the people and keep the goods– Abram refuses because he had taken an oath– To not accept anything from the king of Sodom– So that the king of Sodom could not be credited with

helping Abram

God’s Covenant (Gen 15:1-15:21)• Abram’s vision

– God comforts him– He had no heir, Eliezer would inherit his possessions– God promises him a son– Abram believes the Lord

• Abram’s dream– God tells him that his descendants would be strangers in

a country not their own– Would be enslaved and mistreated for 400 years– God would punish the nation– Descendents would return to the promised land– Covenant was made that day – the land would be his

Birth of Ishmael (Gen 16:1-16:16)• Abram has a child with his maidservant Hagar

– Hagar begins despising Sarai– Of course, Abram is in the middle of it

• Abram sides with Sarai– Sarai mistreats Hagar, Hagar flees– God convinces Hagar to return and to submit to Sarai– God would multiply Hagar’s descendents

• Hagar’s son– God names him Ishmael– Hand will be against everyone– Everyone against him– Will live in hostility toward his brothers

Review• Provided a review of last week’s lesson• Learned about the descendants of Shem

• Learned about the descendants of Terah

• Learned about about Terah's travels

• Learned about Abram and Sarai

• Learned about Abram and Lot

• Learned about God's covenant with Abram

• Learned about the conflict between Sarai and Hagar

• Learned about the birth of Ishmael