Genesis Part 2 - Week 5

Day 1 

READ 

Genesis 21:22-24 

²² About this time, Abimelech came with Phicol, his army commander, to visit Abraham. “God is obviously with you, helping you in everything you do,” Abimelech said. ²³ “Swear to me in God’s name that you will never deceive me, my children, or any of my descendants. I have been loyal to you, so now swear that you will be loyal to me and to this country where you are living as a foreigner.” ²⁴ Abraham replied, “Yes, I swear to it!” 

It seemed clear to Abimelech that God was with Abraham because of everything Abraham was able to do. Abimelech needed to be assured, however, that Abraham would not be deceptive again. Abimelech is the one to whom Abraham and Sarah had lied about being brother and sister. Now Abimelech wanted Abraham to promise not to deceive him or his family ever again. To “swear” to it is the same as taking an oath.  

REFLECT 

Think how regrettable it is when an unbeliever cannot really trust a believer.  

RESPOND 

With a friend read Genesis 21:22-34. This passage reveals that Abraham had suspicions about Abimelech. Abraham gave some of his livestock to Abimelech, but he kept back some to make a treaty with Abimelech. The passage also records that Abraham worshiped Jehovah, “the Eternal God.” 

Day 2 

READ 

Genesis 22:1-2 

¹ Some time later, God tested Abraham’s faith. “Abraham!” God called. “Yes,” he replied. “Here I am.” ² “Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.” 

Genesis 22 records the greatest test any human being has been asked to do. Abraham was asked to sacrifice his only son as a burnt offering. Notice that Isaac is referred to as Abraham’s “only son,” although Abraham’s son Ishmael had been born earlier. Hebrews 11:17, in some translations, refers to Isaac as Abraham’s “only begotten son.” That means only that he was the unique or special son.  

REFLECT 

Think what an extreme test this was for Abraham. Try to put yourself in Abraham’s place.  

RESPOND 

With your friend read Genesis 22:1-14 to see that all this developed in God’s plan. Although Abraham had confidence in God to somehow work things out, he did not know the details ahead of time. Read Hebrews 11:17-19 to see the confidence in God that Abraham had about his son. 

Day 3 

READ 

Genesis 22:15-18 

¹⁵ Then the angel of the Lord called again to Abraham from heaven. ¹⁶ “This is what the Lord says: Because you have obeyed me and have not withheld even your son, your only son, I swear by my own name that ¹⁷ I will certainly bless you. I will multiply your descendants beyond number, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will conquer the cities of their enemies. ¹⁸ And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed—all because you have obeyed me.” 

This records Abraham’s reward for being obedient in the test God had put him through. Abraham’s immediate family was blessed and their descendants would be used to bless “all the nations of the earth.” Sadly, today may individuals and even some religious denominations are opposed to the Jewish people. This is known as being “anti-Semitic.” It does not honor God.   

REFLECT 

You may not even know a Jewish person, but you need to know that their descendants have been promised by God to be a blessing to all nations. This does not mean that each Jewish person is right with God, but that God will use the Jewish nation as a blessing to other nations.  

RESPOND 

With your friend read Genesis 22:15-24. This will remind you of God’s promises to Abraham and his descendants as well as the relatives of Abraham mentioned at the end of the chapter.  

Day 4 

READ 

Genesis 23:1-6 

¹ When Sarah was 127 years old, ² she died at Kiriath-arba (now called Hebron) in the land of Canaan. There Abraham mourned and wept for her. ³ Then, leaving her body, he said to the Hittite elders, ⁴ “Here I am, a stranger and a foreigner among you. Please sell me a piece of land so I can give my wife a proper burial.” ⁵ The Hittites replied to Abraham, ⁶ “Listen, my lord, you are an honored prince among us. Choose the finest of our tombs and bury her there. No one here will refuse to help you in this way.” 

This passage records the death of Sarah, Abraham’s mourning and weeping for her and his search for a proper burial place for her. The Hittite elders were gracious and suggested he choose one of their best places for her remains. The elders committed everyone in their group to the offer by saying, “No one here will refuse to help you in this way.” 

REFLECT 

Think of this effort of Abraham to give Sarah a proper burial. This is an example of how believers should care for loved ones who have passed away. 

RESPOND 

With your friend read Genesis 23:1-20. You will read about an interesting bargaining between Abraham and the owner of the burial place. Visit together about what lessons you learn from this bargaining they were doing. One lesson could be if you want to give a gift, do not say what it is worth. 

Day 5 

READ 

Genesis 24:1-4 

¹ Abraham was now a very old man, and the Lord had blessed him in every way. ² One day Abraham said to his oldest servant, the man in charge of his household, “Take an oath by putting your hand under my thigh. ³ Swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and earth, that you will not allow my son to marry one of these local Canaanite women. ⁴ Go instead to my homeland, to my relatives, and find a wife there for my son Isaac.” 

Sarah was now gone and Abraham saw the need for a wife for their son Isaac. Abraham and his oldest servant followed the practice of making a personal agreement. Abraham did not want his servant to allow his son to marry one of the local Canaanite women. Abraham sent his servant to his homeland to find a wife for Isaac.  

REFLECT 

Think about the problem involved here: Abraham did not want his son to marry an unbeliever.  

RESPOND 

With your friends read Genesis 24:1-11. This reveals the detailed instructions Abraham gave to his servant not to take Isaac to Abraham’s homeland to live if the chosen woman would not come. Abraham wanted Isaac to remain in the Promised Land.