We shall continue with the study of the Book of Genesis this week.
As incredible as it was, for Sarah to be taken into the harem of a king in her 90’s, this incident directly endangered not only God’s promise to Abraham, but more importantly to His plan of salvation through the seed of Abraham.
(1) Why did Abraham lie again? What does it say about this man of faith:
a. His constant fear?
b. His willingness to embark on this journey in the beginning, knowing he would constantly be living in fear?
(2) His lie was a half-truth, does it make him right? Why or why not?
(3) While Abraham judged that, “there is surely no fear of God in this place” (v. 11), how does Abimelech’s reply to God show what kind of a king he was?
(4) In what ways has God “kept” Abimelech from sinning against Him?
(5) How long do you think Sarah had remained in the king’s harem (v. 17)?
(6) God called Abraham a prophet (v. 7). In this incident, how did Abraham act in the role of a prophet?
(7) What benefits did Abraham gain from this incident?
(8) Why would God bless him so richly, in spite of his terrible, faithless action? (A thousand shekels is about 25 lbs.)
(9) What can you learn about God’s character and the way He treats His servants?
(10) What has this incident meant to Abraham?
(11) As still a barren woman, what has this incident meant to Sarah?
(12) What is the main message to you today and how can you apply it to your life?
(1) “Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah…” (NIV) (the original Hebrew verb means “visited”). How does this add to your understanding of God’s grace to Sarah?
(2) Sarah has until now been very much in the background of this journey of faith and obedience. From what she said at the birth of her son, what can you learn about her spiritual growth, especially in light of what she said previously in 16:2?
(3) How significant was Isaac’s circumcision? (See Lk. 2:21 as well.)
(4) It is believed that, in more ancient time, the “rite of passage from the dangerous stage of infancy to childhood usually occurred at about three years of age” (Waltke, 293). While the birth of Isaac was highlighted with laughter, Ishmael, the non-elected son (the natural seed) laughed malevolently (the meaning of the word, mock).
a. Why did this 16-year old boy mock while his father laughed?
b. What did his mocking laugh lead to?
c. Why was the consequence so severe?
d. What does Isaac represent?
(5) Although Ishmael was in essence mocking God, His plan and His miraculous work, was Sarah’s wrath based on a godly passion? Could she have reacted differently, even though her recognition that Isaac was the “seed” of the Abrahamic covenant was justified?
(6) What can we learn about the folly of polygamy from this story?
(7) Why did God ask Abraham to listen to Sarah?
(8) What is the main message to you today and how can you apply it to your life?
(1) As much as God told Abraham to listen to “whatever Sarah tells” him, sending Hagar and Ishmael away like this was a sure death penalty. Did Abraham not have any other option?
(2) How would Hagar and the boy feel toward Sarah, Abraham and God?
(3) How desperate did their situation become?
(4) What might Hagar have learned from her previous experience in chapter 16?
(5) In the entire story, the Bible does not mention a word of complaint by Hagar. In what way may she be an example to us?
(6) Did not being the chosen seed render Ishmael any less blessed than Isaac?
(7) What have Hagar and the boy learned about God?
(8) What is the main message to you today and how can you apply it to your life?
It is interesting to note that both the verb “to swear” and the numeral “seven” derive from the same Hebrew root.
(1) What kind of a life was Abraham leading that would enable others to see that God was with him in everything he did?
(2) How can we emulate Abraham in this respect?
(3) What kind of stature has this shepherd attained as reflected by the fact that a powerful king and his commander had to seek a peace treaty with him?
(4) Water was the life-line to those dwelling in the desert, especially in those days. Without a treaty, what other recourse might Abraham have in dealing with the dispute?
(5) Scholars have different opinions as to whether the bringing of the ewes was a gift from a lesser party to the stronger party in the treaty, or vice-versa. What do you think was the case?
(6) Read Proverbs 16:7 and see how has the life of Abraham exemplified this biblical truth?
(7) What might be the purpose of planting a tree in Beersheba? What might be the significance of calling God the Eternal God in wrapping up this incident?
(8) What is the main message to you today?
(1) The Bible makes it clear that it was a test initiated by God. Why did God have to test Abraham? What was He trying to achieve?
(2) What did God command Abraham to do?
(3) Given the background of the story, how special was Isaac to Abraham, apart from the fact that he was his son?
(4) Before Abraham could ask any question or lodge any complaint, why did God make clear to Abraham that He knew the following concerning Isaac?
a. He was his son
b. He was the only son
c. He was the one whom he loved
(5) God has distinguished Himself from other gods as a God who upholds the sanctity of life and would not allow human sacrifice (Deut. 12:31). Why would He contradict His character in this case?
(6) God is Omnipresent: He could have asked Abraham to offer Isaac at Beersheba. Why did He ask Abraham to take a three-day journey to Moriah? What might be the significance of a three-day journey? What would Abraham be doing, apart from walking?
(7) From the actions described from vv. 3-5, can you detect how Abraham did not leave room for any excuse for not having to go through with his obedience?
(8) When Abraham told his servants (young men, as the original Hebrew suggests) that “we” would return, was he lying? (see Heb. 11:19)
(9) Was Abraham ready for the question asked by his son in v. 7?
(10) How would you have answered?
(11) How did Abraham answer and what did he mean, as testified by Hebrews 11:19?
(12) Since he believed that God will raise the dead, does it mean that he did not have to kill Isaac and burn him alive?
(13) What then is the essential message of today and how may you apply it in your life?
(1) Isaac was probably a young teenager by this time. How could Abraham, who was over a hundred years old, be able to bind him up on the altar? What does it tell you about Isaac himself?
(2) Although he was stopped by God, Abraham did mean to slay his only beloved son with his own hand. How will you define the kind of faith God desires in this context?
(3) Given his failures in the previous chapters, how has this faith of Abraham changed your opinion about him?
(4) As God stopped Abraham from hurting his son, God said, “Now I know that you fear God…”. Can you define what it means to “fear God” as exemplified by Abraham?
(5) But God is Omniscient, how could He not know Abraham feared Him? In this incident, who indeed has gained a far deeper knowledge of whom?
(6) As God provided a ram in the place of Isaac, what does it symbolically point to?
(7) We have been made in the image of God and it is God’s desire that we may be like Him and know His heart. In the sacrifice of his son, in what way has Abraham come closer to being like God and in knowing the heart of God?
(8) When God spoke to Abraham the second time, He reiterated the covenant made before. Why did God feel necessary to reiterate it and how special was this reiteration?
(9) What is the main message to you today and how can you apply it to your life?
(1) Sarah is the only Patriarch’s wife whose age at death is recorded. At her death, it is fitting that we reflect on her life.
a. What were the trials she had to go through in life?
b. How good and blessed a life did she have?
(2) How would you eulogize her? (Spend some time reflecting on her life and refer to Heb. 11:11 and 1 Pet. 3:6 to see how the NT remembers her.)
(3) They were not a perfect couple, but there were positive things that we can learn from them. Try to name them.
(4) Abraham had great wealth that could have enabled him to buy land, but he never did until now. Why was he content to be “an alien and a stranger” all his life? (Heb. 11 gives us much insight in this respect.)
(5) Now, out of necessity, he needed to have a burial plot for his wife:
a. What stands out to you in this 3-phase negotiation?
b. From the negotiation, can we tell how the people of the land viewed Abraham?
c. Why did they offer the burial plot free to him?
d. Why did he refuse?
(6) Why did he pick that particular field of Ephron? (23:17)
a. What was its significance to Abraham and Sarah? (Look up Gen. 13:18; 14:13, 24; 18:1)
b. What was its significance to his descendants? (Look up Gen. 25:9; 35:27; 49:30; 50:13)
(7) How did this first piece of land owned by Abraham speak to God’s promise to Abraham?
(8) Reflect on the words of Hebrews 11:13-16 on what Abraham ultimately considered as God’s promise.
(9) What is the main message to you today and how can you apply it to your life?