Genesis2-2

1. Why do you think Abram waits until he is back in the land before he calls

     on the Lord again?

2. What is the basic problem that arises now? Why is it? Look back to 12:1

     & 4

3. What does it say about Abram, however, that he is willing to let Lot have

     first choice of the land?

C. Comment :

The words in the Bible accounts are significant. Admittedly Egypt is south of Canaan, but previously Abram "went down to Egypt " (12:10) and now he "went up" from Egypt (v.1). Both indicate the direction of his spiritual life as well as geographical direction. He comes back to the place where he last worshipped the Lord and worships again (v.4). He feels, perhaps, that he is back in a place where he can speak to God again with a clear conscience. He is where he should be! We should remember that God had been with Him in Egypt just as much as in Canaan. Abram has still to learn that.

Now back in the land he is confronted with another problem: it seems overcrowded with Lot 's herds there as well (v.5-7). If Abram had left Haran on his own as God had said this would not have happened. We need to remember all our actions (especially disobedience) have CONSEQUENCES. Abram nevertheless copes very graciously with the difficulty and allows Lot first choice of the land, such is the grace of this man (v.8,9). A man of faith, worship and grace. What an example!

D. Application?

1. Can I remember today the Lord is with me WHEREVER I am?

2. My actions have CONSEQUENCES.

Chapter: Genesis13

Passage: Genesis 13:10-18

A. Find Out:

1. What did the plain of Jordan look like? v.10

2. How was Sodom described? v.13

3. WHEN did the Lord speak to Abram? v.14

4. What did the Lord promise Abram? v.15

5. How long would the promise last? v.15

6. What was Abram told to DO? v.17

B. Think :

1. What two things has God promised Abram?

2. What does it say about the Lord that he still rescues Abram?

3. Why was Lot 's method of choosing where to go unwise?

C. Comment :

After Abram has given him first choice of the land, Lot LOOKS around, and sees that the land to the east LOOKS good (v.10,11). However that land included evil Sodom (v.13). Should Lot have known that? Was he someone who didn't worry about evil? Whatever the answers, he decided on the basis of what would bless HIM. There was no thought about his older uncle and what might bless him! From now on Lot is on dangerous ground as we'll see. Do we make choices purely on the basis of what will bless US, and bless us NOW, or do we consider others, and especially what the Lord thinks about it?

As soon as Lot has gone, the Lord speaks again to Abram (v.14). It is as if He waits until Abram is on his own at last, as he had been commanded to be at the beginning, until He brings fresh encouragement to His chosen man. Often the Lord will stay silent while we are not in obedience. Are we sure we are walking in obedience? Are we able to hear the voice of the Lord as He speaks His purposes to US? Finally the Lord tells Abram to go through the land (v.17), perhaps so that he can see it and fully appreciate it and realise the wonder of what he was being given. We often have to actually TAKE our inheritance.

D. Application?

1. Ask the Lord to reveal disobedience & commit your way to Him

2. Come with a listening ear to the Lord.

Chapter: Genesis 14

Passage: Genesis 14:11-17, 21-24

A. Find Out:

BEFORE YOU READ TODAY note : In v.1-11 we have 4 "kings" in Canaan fighting against 5 other "kings".

1. Why did Lot get taken in the fighting? v.12

2. How is Abram described? v.13

3. What was Abram's immediate response? v.14

4. What did he accomplish? v.15,16

5. What did the king of Sodom suggest to Abram? v.21

6. Why wouldn't Abram take anything from them? v.23

B. Think :

1. What does this passage tell us about Abram?

2. What does Abram's response to the king of Sodom clearly indicate?

3. What is the origin of the problem Abram has had to be dealing with?

C. Comment :

This is now the second time Abram has been involved in trouble because of Lot (v.12-14). It reminds us again that we have to suffer the “natural” consequences of disobedience, even though we may not suffer “eternal” consequences (as Jesus died for them). If we put our hand into the fire we are still burnt. If we murder another we will still be arrested. Jesus, in his grace, may help us afterwards but we cannot escape by simply saying "I'm a Christian"! Thank the Lord for your salvation and ask Him to open your eyes to any way you are being disobedient so that you can turn from it.

We also see something of Abram's family loyalty, bravery and perseverance as he goes straight out and rescues Lot against great odds. Ask the Lord to help you be loyal to your family in the same way Abram was - even when they don't get it right (like Lot). Finally we see how he is now determined to rely upon the Lord's provision only. He does not want a part of the plunder from these kings, he rested in the sufficiency of what he had already.

D. Application?

Think through on the matter of consequences. Read Galatians 6:7 and Proverbs 1:31. Read Proverbs 1:29-33 and note the promise at the end.

Chapter: Genesis 14

Passage: Genesis 14:18-22

A. Find Out:

1. Of where was Melchizedek king? v.18a

2. What did he bring Abram after the battle? v.18b

3. How also is he described? v.18c

4. What did he do? v.19a

5. How also does he describe God? v.19c

6. Who does he say brought the victory to Abram? v.20b

7. How did Abram respond to him? v.20c

B. Think :

1. For further explanation of Melchizedek read Hebrews 7:1-4

2. Why is Melchizedek somewhat mysterious

3. What additional understanding about God did Melchizedek

bring to Abram (see v.19c & 22c) that he had not known before?

C. Comment :

Abram has, as we saw yesterday, just rescued Lot from the various kings who were at war. Now this king of Salem (Jerusalem) comes out and gives him bread & wine and goes on to bless him (v.18-20). This is a strange interval. We know no more about this priest/king, who he was or why he came, only that he brought bread and wine and blessed Abram and received a tithe in return. In the New Testament he is seen as a picture of the one to come, Jesus.

Also like Jesus, he brought greater revelation of God. He describes the Lord as "God Most High" and "Creator of heaven and earth". Before Abram had had little understanding of who the Lord was. Now (v.22) he acclaims Him in this way for the first time. It is remarkable that in that ungodly land there should have been this king who is described as "priest of God". Here we therefore have a picture of two men of faith meeting, each blessing the other.

D. Application?

1. Do we bring greater revelation of the Lord to the people we meet?

2. Do we stand out as priests (see 1 Peter 2:9) in an ungodly world?

3. Praise the Lord that He is God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.

It is all His!

Chapter: Genesis 15

Passage: Genesis 15:1-6

A. Find Out:

1. How did God's word come to Abram? v.1

2. What did the Lord say He was to Abram? v.1

3. What did Abram show he was still worried about? v.2

4. What did the Lord promise Abram? v.4

5. How extensive would the fulfilment be? v.5

6. Why did the Lord credit Abram as righteous? v.6

B. Think :

1. Read Romans 4:18-24 Why were the words in Genesis written

for our benefit as well?

2. Why did God declare Abram righteous?

3. What is your understanding of the word "righteous" ?

C. Comment :

Today's passage here in Genesis is a key passage to understanding our salvation. After the recent battle, perhaps because Abram might be worrying about retaliation from the kings, God comes and tells Abram that HE, the Lord, is his shield (or protection) and provider of blessing (v.1). Abram replies that he is still childless (v.2,3) and so the Lord reiterates His promise that Abram will have children (v.4,5).

It is then that we have the key scripture: "Abram believed the Lord and he (the Lord) credited it to him as righteousness." (v.6) Our salvation comes through BELIEVING, not through acting. Actions follow belief, not the other way round! We are saved as soon as we believe. It is then that God declares us righteous, not AFTER we have done lots of good works. When we believe in God and put our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour, THEN, at that moment, God declares us righteous. Our works of goodness that follow, are the "icing on the cake", they follow from what we have already become!

D. Application :

1. Thank the Lord that, if you have believed, He HAS declared you

righteous.

2. Thank Him that you don't have to strive to achieve His salvation. He

gives it to you (see Eph 2:8,9) and all you can do is receive it and enjoy it.

Chapter: Genesis 15

Passage: Genesis 15:7-21

A. Find Out:

Note : In these times, it was the custom when a solemn covenant (agreement) was being made between two persons for animals to be cut like this and the two parties then passed between and made solemn vows.

1. What is the question that concerns Abram? v.8

2. In the light of the note above what was the Lord's answer? v.9

3. What did the Lord say would happen to Abram's descendants ? v.13

4. But what did the Lord say He would then do ? v.14

5. How long would it be before his family returned to the land ? v.16

B. Think :

1. Who actually does the Lord promise will have the land?

2. When does He say they will actually have it ?

3. Why do you think the Lord went to the trouble of carrying out

the ritual of a solemn covenant?

(Note : All fulfilled in Exodus, chapters 1-12)

C. Comment :

This is the third time that God has spoken to Abram about the land. (see also 12:7 - when he first arrived in the land & 13:15 - when he returned to the land from Egypt). Abram still needs reassuring about his future in the land and so, perhaps to ensure Abram will realise that God means what He says and also perhaps to ensure Abram won't forget it, the Lord has Abram prepare the ritual of solemn covenant (v.9).

It is in the midst of preparing for this ritual that the Lord reveals to Abram what would happen to his future family-cum-nation (v.13,14). Abram falls into a deep sleep and a great darkness appears to come over him, presumably as he dreamt. In this most serious moment, he receives a revelation of what is to come in teh centuries ahead.

When darkness fell, the presence of the Lord was indicated by fire passing between the two lines (v.17). The Lord has made a solemn vow He will never break! This has been an occasion Abram will not forget!

D. Application?

1. God knows our frailty and knows we constantly need reassuring when

we are young believers. He does not despise us because of it.

2. When God says something He means it! Thank Him that we can

fully trust His word.

3. When God moves it is sometimes mysterious. Let's not try to

remove some of His mystery.

RECAP - "Settling In" - Genesis Chapters 13 -15

SUMMARY :

In this second group of 6 studies we have seen :

- Abram returning to Canaan from Egypt

- Abram allowing Lot to choose which land he wanted

- the Lord promising Abram the land again & many descendants

- kings in the land fighting & Lot being carried away

- Abram rescuing Lot & meeting Melchizedek

- the Lord making a serious covenant with Abram

- the Lord promising again many descendants

- the Lord warning about Egypt & the Exodus

- the Lord promising the land again.

COMMENT :

Having returned to the land Abram now starts settling and growing in prosperity and we see him graciously sharing the land with Lot and then having to act to rescue Lot . Here in the land he hears from the Lord again and is assured of his future. The Lord IS with him despite Abram having previously "gone away".

LESSONS?

1. All our actions have consequences

2. We need to hear the voice of God & be obedient to it

3. We should be loyal to our family, even when they're wrong!

4. Can we learn to bring revelation of God to others

5. We are righteous because of belief

PRAY :

Thank Him that He encourages us again and again through His word to go on a fulfil His purposes for us. Ask Him to help you to receive all that He has for YOU.

PART 3 : "Failure & Fellowship"

In this next Part we observe the terrible failure by Abram and Sarai of trying to bring about God's purposes for them by human endeavour. Here there is a very strong lesson for us which we must heed if we are to go on with the Lord. Ask the Lord to help you to learn it as you read His word.