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Lesson 10

Consequences of Poor Decisions

Genesis 13

Me-

 The title of this lesson represent some times in my life.  One of the most vivid examples I remember painfully is the decision to become an insurance agent.  Why I ever thought I could be successful in a professional for which I was not suitable I will probably never understand.  The major problem stemmed from my personality.  Many do not realize that I am an introvert.  Although I have gotten better at meeting people and being able to speak before groups this has not always been the case.  I, a person who did not like to even knock on doors to do trick or treating, I should have followed my heart that told me, “Don’t do this.”

 As you can imagine I was a failure.  I never got over the fear of cold calling on people I did not know or even pressing my friends and acquaintances to buy insurances policies. Mercifully for me the job ended after about a year and I began to work in a position more suited for me.  I certainly learned my lesson well and since that time have never taken a job where selling would be involved.

We-

Churches are certainly not exempt from making poor decisions.  One such choice would be in the area of leadership.  Even though both parties might think that a particular leader is a good match for the church it turns out that he/or she should never taken the position.  Division and turmoil usually result with all parties being hurt.  It is fortunate if the departure of that person does not rip the church completely apart.

This is one reason for need of unity in the body when it comes to deciding almost anything.  Without it there will be winners and losers and most likely the whole body will suffer.  All decisions should be made only after prayerful consideration takes place.  To do anything based on emotion or one’s personal criteria will certainly put him/her at odds with others. 

In today’s lesson we will see the contrast of two different individuals.  After a disastrous episode in Egypt Abram exemplifies one who has godly characteristics.  Just the opposite of Abram, Lot continually makes choices that show his world nature.

God 13:1-4

Abram left Egypt and went into the southern part of Canaan called the Negev. Along with his wife and all of his possession, Lot also accompanied him.  As a result of the generosity of the Egyptians, Abram had become a wealthy man having not only a large number of livestock but also silver and gold.  The fact that the Pharaoh sent him away unharmed physically and let him keep what he had been given should have been a strong indicator to Abram that God was truly with him.  His journey did not end in the Negev.  He returned to the place where he had built the altar between Bethel and Ai.  This would put him far removed from Egypt and its influence on his life. There at Bethel he once again gave thanks for all that God had done for him in protecting him from harm.

1. In what condition did Abram return to Canaan?
2. Why did the Pharaoh let him go with harm either physically or materially?
3. What lesson should Abram have learned from his experience?
4. Why would Abram return to place near Bethel?
5. What actions did he take upon returning to the area near Bethel and Ai?

Genesis 13:5-6

Lot was still following Abram everywhere he went.  He had gained a great deal of wealth while in Egypt.  Evidently he was treated the same as Abram while there and much livestock of his own.  This presented a dilemma when they returned to the area around Bethel and Ai.  While the land could have supported one of them it did not provide enough pasture for both.  One other factor played a part in the problem.  The land would have been more suitable for sheep which only bites the top of the grass while cows and horses actually root up the vegetation.  Added to the situation although not mentioned would have been the flocks owned by the Canaanites.  This all occurred because Abram took matters into his own hands to avoid the famine and disobeyed God by leaving Canaan and going into Egypt  

1. Why did Lot continue to go along with Abram?
2. How did Lot acquire his wealth?
3. What kind of problems did the combined wealth cause upon their return into Canaan?
4. In what ways could this whole situation been avoided?

Genesis 13:7

The tipping point came as the herdsman of Lot and Abraham began to have a dispute over the available grazing land. It is interesting to note the author mentioned the existence of the Perizzites and Canaanites were living in the land also.  What a testimony to God was on display by the actions of those who belonged to Abram and Lot?

1. What was the problem that arose between those who belong to the two kinsmenWhy did Moses mention the Perizzites and Canaanites at that point in the narrative?
2. How do the actions of seemingly godly men affect those around them?
3. How do the actions of the church affect its witness to the unchurched?

 

 Genesis 13:8-9

It was Abram who came up with a solution to the problem.  He first established that there should be peace between all parties.  After voicing what the end results should be he offered Lot the first choice of the land into which one of the other would go.  It did not make a difference to Abram where he ended up.  God had promised him that the land would one day be his.  Of course this was not the motive for his decision.  In a way he was offering to Lot the opportunity to be satisfied with his lot in life.

1. Why was it important for there to be harmony between Lot and himself?
2. What does the offer show about the character of Abram?
3. What was he truly trying to achieve by giving Lot the opportunity to pick the land he desired?
4. In what ways have you acted like Abram in situations involving conflict?
5. How do the actions of Abram exemplify a Christ like attitude?

Genesis 13:10-11

Given the opportunity, Lot chose what appeared to be the best of the land for providing for his livestock.  The valley of the Jordan was described

• Well watered
• Like the garden of Eden
• Like the fertile land of parts of Egypt

Lot separated himself and travelled eastward away from the Promised Land and spiritually speaking further away from God and the godly influence of his uncle, Abram.  It will be seen shortly the consequences of Lot’s decision.

1. What does the choice Lot made say about him?
2. What was the appeal of the Jordan valley?
3. How does his decision fit the old saying about the grass appearing to be greener on the other side of the fence?
4. What happens all too often when you get to the greener grass?
5. How does it appear that he was taking his future in his own hand?
6. In what ways have we been fooled by what appear to be a golden opportunity?
7. In what ways can devil use the attitude of Lot and deceive church members?

Genesis 13:12-13

While Lot travelled east, Abram stayed put in the land of Canaan.  At that point he had learned his lesson well and settled down where God had told him to stay.  He was ready to wait on God for the next step in his life.  Moses indicated that Lot moved very close to Sodom.  That city was described as being populated by men who, “were wicked exceedingly and sinners against the Lord.”  Lot made a fatal mistake.  Like so many people he thought that he could live in the suburbs of a wicked place and not be affected by all that was occurring there.  Christians today try to flirt with sin thinking they are strong enough on their own not to be caught up in the web of deceit that satan is spinning.

1. What is the contrast between the life of Abram and Lot?
2. What was the danger for Lot in moving so close to Sodom?
3. How does flirting with sin affect the believer and unbeliever alike?
4. What are the indications of what we have already seen that Lot would either be able to remain strong in the faith or succumb to the lure of the sinful world of Sodom?
5. What do you think of the words concerning what Abram decided to do?

Genesis 13:14-18

Abram had finally obeyed God’s command to separate himself from all of his family. Now that Lot had left and the last roadblock to the following the commands of God had been removed, God once again appeared to Abram and reaffirmed the promises made to him at the beginning while he was in Haran.  They included:

• All the land he could see in every direction from his vantage point.  This would include the land into which Lot had travelled.  What Lot thought would be his possession would eventually come under the ownership of Abram’s descendants.
• A family that would grow so large that his descendants would be as the dust of the earth.  Remember this promise was made before Abram had even the first child.

God then told Abram to take a trip around all the land that was promised to him.  Abram then moved from near Bethel to the “oaks of Mamre” located in Hebron.  Once again Abram built an altar to the Lord.

1. Why did God wait until after Lot had left to once again appear to Abram?
2. In what way did Abram finally obey God to open the door for more conversation?
3. What was different about the promises than what Abram had first heard?
4. What did the land grant include?
5. What it did take on Abram’s part to believe that everything God said would happen? Why?
6. What was the significance of the building of an altar after Abram had relocated to Hebron?

You-

• Think about the consequences of a time when you were caught up in a grass is greener situation.  What were the results?
• Pray that God will give you the patience to wait on Him before taking action.
• Pray that you will have the kind of wisdom that will not give the world an opportunity to criticize the church.
• Do not think more highly of yourself but be willing to put others before yourself.

We- 

We in the church should look forward to what God wants to do with us.  The lessons that we have learned from the past should help us to become the kind of people that will be a good witness to the world around us.  Abram exemplifies for us the transformation that can take place when we learn to wait on the Lord for direction. God has promised that His family will grow if we are faithful to obey His commands.  Only through His Spirit can the church grow to become as many as the dust on the earth.

Additional Notes:

BL- In chapter 13, Abram and company headed north to the Negev.  Here, the grazing was not sufficient to support both Abram’s and Lot’s herds, so Abram proposed that he and Lot part company.  Lot, who was given first choice of land, took the fertile Jordanian plain.  He pitched his tents near Sodom, a city well known for its wickedness, thereby choosing to move away from a man of God and live near godless ones. (How careful are you and I about the company WE choose to keep?  Abram remained in Canaan, and once Lot had departed, God once again spoke of His promise to bless Abram in vv. 14-17.  How often do we promise to serve God while still holding onto our ‘Lots’–our past sins, our treasured possessions and bad habits?”  Only with the departure of the last family member was God able to bless him. Is there anything standing between us and God that WE need to leave behind in order to know the full measure of His blessings?

M-“Abram called on the name of the Lord.”  There may be more than one reason that he would have called out to God.  It was first of all from an attitude of thanksgiving for the many blessings he had received.  Thankfulness for a safe trip may have been in order. He may have been seeking of forgiveness for his lack of faith.  Whatever the purpose, we see a man who seeks God’s direction for his life. (Gen. 13:4)

C-Abram finally separated himself from Lot.  This completed the command that God had given to Abram to leave his relatives.  After Lot had gone his way then the Lord once again promised Abram the land which would be a permanent possession of his descendents forever. (Gen. 13:5-15)

GC-One of the beatitudes tells us, “Blessed are the peacemakers.”  How did Abram exemplify what Jesus was expressing in this beatitude? (Gen. 13:8; Ps. 120:7; Matt. 5:9)

GC-Man is always to consult God before making a decision.  What might seem good for the moment may have long-term devastating consequences. (Gen. 13:10; 16:2)

M-In Lot we see a type of all the men who are seeking the greener pastures, the better life and success according to the world’s standards.  On the other hand there was Abram who was willing to trust in God for his provision and to be right in the center of God’s purpose for his life.  Men of evil practices will congregate in those places that are like a counterfeit garden of Eden.  God said to Abram, “All the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your descendents forever.” (Gen. 13:10-15)

WM-Although God had promised to make Abram into a great nation he by his actions showed that he some reservations that the word of God was true. (Gen. 13:10-13)

WM-Goodness was non-existent in the city of Sodom where Lot chose to live.           (Gen. 13:12; 18:20)

WM-Unlike Paul, Lot did not have contentment.  He always was looking for the greener pasture.  The insatiable appetite for what he did not have eventually led to him losing all that he had except for his two daughters. (Gen. 13:10-11)  

DM-Lot chose to go to the land that seemed well suited for his herds and flocks.  It was a land with plenty of water and as the Scripture say, “like the garden of the Lord.” That choice eventually landed Lot in the city of Sodom. (Gen. 13:10, 12)

RT-Unlike Lot in obedience to the Lord Abram remained in Canaan the place that God promised to give him and his descendents. (Gen. 13:12)

RT-Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the promise land.  He could have kept his eyes focused on his immediate surroundings and the circumstances that had brought him to this point.  With the departure of Lot he may have had second thoughts about the decision to go their separate ways.  God said, look to Me, I have much more for you.  Just look around as far as you can see at the land that is to be yours. If that is not enough you have My promise that cannot be broken, to make you into a great nation.  That should be enough for anyone.  Walk in the land and travel with Me and we will make the journey together until the final promise land belongs to those of like faith. (Gen. 13:14-17)

UE-God will not do in and through us those things He wants to accomplish as long as we insist on doing things our own way.  It was only after Lot departed that God renewed the promise He had made to Abram. (Gen. 13:14-16)

E-It took the departure of Lot for God to once again come to Abram and issue His promise to him.  Abram was given two commands:

1. He was to look in every direction
2. He was to walk the land.

God commanded him to do so in order that he might have a true perspective of the scope of God’s promises to him.  What He showed Abram enabled him to accept the covenant as a real possibility of having many descendents which at this point had to be accepted by faith alone since he had no children at that time.  After Abram had done all God instructed him to do he then settled by the oaks of Mamre and built an altar.               (Gen. 13:14-18)

RT-If we think that we can get up close to sinful activities and think that we will not be sullied by that association we underestimate the power they have on our lives.  This leads to the question, what was Lot’s first mistake? (Gen. 13:12-13)

RT-It is interesting that the place Lot claimed as his own because it seemed to be the best land.  That parcel of land would one day be inherited by Abram’s descendents.              (Gen. 13:14-17)

M-The care that a man has for his family is motivation enough for him to protect them against the enemies that they face.  He becomes disturbed when situations or people try to hold his family captive.  He will go to any lengths to free them. (Gen. 14:14-16)

GC-Faithfulness leads to a blessing from God. (Gen.13:14-17)

 

Lesson 9

First Steps into the Promised Land

Genesis 12

Me

My whole life has been about first steps.  Each new stage in life has brought about the need to step out in faith into the unknown.  There is one event that has stuck in my mind all of these years.  Although it is about my son it pleased me that he had accomplished something new. When he was learning to walk each phase was an adventure for him and for us.  For a number of weeks we would hold on the straps of his clothing to give him the confidence to walk.  One day we returned home from an errand and put him down.  Rather than holding on to him that time I just released my grip on the straps and he took off walking on his own.  He walked around and around the house evidently enjoying his new found freedom.  The key for him and for me in all of the different situations in which I have found myself is the confidence/faith to make the first move to take the initial step.  Without doing it I would never have accomplished anything in my life. 

We-

Sometimes we in the church become too timid to strike out on a new adventure.  There is a word and phrase that describes this mindset.  The word is tradition and the phrase is “We have always done it this way.”  That for any person or organization is the most paralyzing attitude that one can have.  To strike out on a new path where we have never travelled is called determining God’s vision. This is followed up by then putting into place the pieces that will allow us to accomplish what He has called us to be.  It can be an exciting and challenging adventure for any church but the rewards will be great because we know we are carrying out God’s purpose where he has allowed us to serve.

Over the next several lessons we will walk with someone who was willing to take that first faltering step of faith.  We will learn that life is a process and we do not arrive at the doorstep of the future as the complete package.  Abraham was just like us.  He had to learn by travelling the road of life and finding out what worked and what did not as he tried to please God.

God-

Genesis 12:1-3

As was seen at the end of chapter 11 Abram had begun to respond to the call of God on his life.  He and his family had made it as far as Haran in present day Syria called Aram in the Bible. After his father, Terah, died, God began to deal specifically with Abram. There is no way of knowing how he began to hear the voice of God.  It is obvious that it made such a strong impact that he was willing to step out on faith and begin the journey to which he was being called to take.

Whether referencing Ur of the Chaldeans or Haran the message was the same.  Abram was to obey God’s command in four ways. He was to:

• Go forth from his country
• Leave his relatives behind
• Leave his father’s house
• Go to a land that God was going to point out to him.

God was calling Abram to break all ties with the past.  Those commands were a great deal to ask of anyone especially when at that point in the conversation there seemed to be no purpose other than arriving in a place that God wants him to be.

God was sending him to a place that in truth was no better than the one who he had been told to leave.  Remember, that Canaan was inhabited by the ungodly descendants of Ham. The thing not mentioned at that point was that both Ur and Haran were both pagan societies.

1. What one event freed Abram to hear God’s command?
2. Why did God command Abram to leave home and family and go to a country totally foreign to him?
3. What kind of faith would it take to get you to do the same?

Genesis 12:2-3

God was not finished with the things he had to share with Abram.  First, He gave the command and the conditions under which he was to make the journey. Secondly, God laid out for him the benefits to following His instructions.  The results of Abram’s obedience were two fold, each of them having three individual characteristics.  The first was:

• Abram would be the father of a great nation.
• He would receive God’s blessing.
• He would become a man of great renown. This was completely opposite of what took place at Babel.  There the men attempted to exalt themselves.  Here God was the One bestowing the honor and prestige that would come to Abram.

Following those God said:

• Those who blessed Abram would also be blessed.
• Just the opposite would happen to those who cursed him.
• In him all of the families from that point on would be blessed.

 

1. How would Abram benefit from being obedient to God?
2. In what ways did Abram desire what God was going to do in his life?
3. In what ways would these things appear to out of reach for him at that point in his life?
4. What was the difference between the hearts of the men at the tower of Babel and that of Abram?
5. What did the men at the tower fail to understand that was opposite of what was going to happen to Abram?
6. How does Matthew 23:12 relate to the two incidences mentioned above?

Genesis 12:4-6

Abram partially obeyed God.  He took his nephew, Lot, along when he left Haran and made his way into Canaan.  He began his journey at the age of seventy-five.  Along with Sarai, Lot is mentioned again. Evidently the stay in Haran had been good for Abram because he had acquired not only physical possessions but also a number of people to serve him and his needs.

His initial travels took him into the heart of Canaan.  He set up camp at Shechem which would later play role in the life of his grandson, Jacob.  The Bible emphasized that the Canaanites were in living in that area at the time of Abram’s arrival.

1. How did Abram only partially obey God?
2. In what way can it be said that obeying God in part is not truly obeying him?
3. What blessings could he expect to receive because of his actions?
4. Why did Abram insist on taking Lot with him?
5. In what ways would that trip not present much of a challenge to Abram?
6. How might we compare his actions to that of the “Rich Young Ruler, found in Luke 18:18-28?
7. How do our possessions and relationships sometimes hinder us?

Genesis 12:7

God only made one promise to Abram at the point in which he arrived at Shechem.  He promised that the land where he was would be given to him as a possession. Evidently this was enough for a man who was a nomad.  He would have a place where he could settle down and raise a family and take care of his business.  Because of the words of God he built an altar there out of gratitude for God’s promise.

1. Why did God not repeat all of the things promised at the beginning of this chapter?
2. Why could God only promise him a place to call his own at that point?
3. What was holding him back from receiving the whole blessing of God?
4. In what ways did Abram hinder himself from receiving all that God promised?
5. How is the altar a picture of the short sightedness of Abram?
6. What are some of the ways we limit ourselves in our relationship with God?

Genesis 12:8-9

For whatever reason, Abram decided not to stay in Shechem to move on to Bethel which was close to Ai.  These two cities would also play an important role in the life of Jacob and the Israelites later on.  Bethel means the house of God and Ai means a heap of ruins.  How prophetic are the names of these two cities. At Bethel Abram built another altar to worship God.  It is not known how long he stayed there but once again he found himself on the move going further south into the part of the land known as the Negev. 

1. What would be a reason Abram would keep moving?
2. What was he trying to find?
3. What does it show about him with the repeated actions of building an altar?
4. In what ways do we show a restless spirit in our walk with the Lord?
5. How much did Abram’s past play in his constant need to move?

Genesis 12:10

Difficulty came into the life of Abram in the form of a famine where he was living in the Negev. Notice he had moved closer and closer to Egypt.  He now left the land of Canaan and went into Egypt because of the severity of the famine. In may seem strange, but God may have allowed the famine to test Abram.  He had already promised him the land but Abram did not seem to find any satisfaction in that fact, but kept moving from place to place.  One of the resources I used said that the enticement of Egypt was strong on Abram.  The famine only provided the excuse to actually go there.  His action showed a lack of obedience.  God had told him to go to the land that He would show him and no further.

1. What was the difficulty that came into Abram’s life?
2. How would a famine be especially devastating for someone like Abram?
3. How did his desire to go to Egypt show that he was a man of small faith at that time?
4. What could he expect to find in Egypt?
5. What are our Egypt’s that hold a special allure in our own lives?

Genesis 12:11-13

If it was bad enough that Abram decided to go into Egypt he compounded his error by asking Sarai to state that she was his sister. In actuality she was his half sister so she was not being asked to tell a lie.  He, however, was using his wife for his own self preservation. The reason for this request was because Abram feared that the Egyptians would kill him in order to take his wife from him. How quickly he had forgotten that God had promised to make him the father of a great nation.  God would not have made that statement to him if He intended for Abram to die.  Abram should never have gone into Egypt in the first place.

1. What were the errors that Abram committed as he planned to go into Egypt?
2. What does it show about the character of Abram at that point?
3. Why did his actions show that his faith was not strong?
4. What good could come out of such deception?
5. What are some of the ways that we use people for our own benefit?

Genesis 12:14-16

Sure enough when Abram and his family went into Egypt those who saw Sarai were very impressed with the beauty of a woman who was over sixty-five years old.  They passed the information on to the Pharaoh.  He took her into his house. 

Because of his wife, Abram was treated very well because of the way the Egyptians regarded her.  His wealth increased as the Egyptians gave him sheep, oxen, donkeys, servants and camels. Everything seemed to be going better than Abram could have dreamed.

1. What happened to Sarai?
2. Why was she willing to do what Abram asked?
3. What do you think of Abram’s treatment of her?
4. How did he fair while in Egypt?
5. How long do you think that Abram would have stayed there under the conditions that existed for him?

Genesis 12:17-20

God had other plans for Abram and Sarai. He brought plagues to bear on Pharaoh’s house. Even though Abram seemed to hold his wife in low esteem, God protected her from having relations with the Egyptians. 

When the plagues came upon the Pharaoh and his house he somehow discovered the truth about Sarai and called for Abram to explain.  Pharaoh put all the blame on Abram asking him:

• What have you done to me?
• Why did he hide the fact that she was his wife from him?
• Why did he tell him that she was his sister?

There is no record of whether Abram was allowed to make a defense.  In this case discretion was definitely called for because he had none other than self-preservation.

Fortunately for Abram, Pharaoh gave Sarai back to him.  He then commanded him to leave.  To make sure that he was gone from the land, Pharaoh had his men escort him away.  He was allowed to keep all that Pharaoh and the people had given him even though he had acquired by deception.

1. Why did God bring the plagues on Pharaoh and his house?
2. Why was Abram not punished?
3. How did Pharaoh discern what was going on?
4. Why did Pharaoh want Abram and his family out of Egypt?

You-

• Think back to the time when you first became a Christian.  How have you changed in the years since that event?
• Consider the things in your life that may hold you back from taking risks for Christ.
• Pray that as God gives you guidance you will be obedient and not stray away like Abram did.
• Ask yourself, “Are the things that you have acquired in this life keeping you from trusting God for all of my needs?”

We-

We need to remember that we are a work in progress.  As Paul said in Romans, “The good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.” (Romans 7:19)  We are all going to walk through this life stumbling at times.  The more we put our trust in the Father the fewer times that we will fall. 

Our lives are to be such that we take God at His word. Abram forgot the promises of God and caused problems for his family and himself.  Surely if God has promised something to us He will never go back on what He has said.  We pray that we will continually open our hearts to hear and be obedient to what He desires for us.  When we go off the path He has established we know that He will not allow us to remain there but will discipline us for our own good.

Additional Notes:

UE-God selected one man out all the people in the world to bless and through whom blessing would ultimately to every generation.  He did that when he chose Abraham and sent him on an adventure of a lifetime with only a promise of what was to come.           (Gen. 12:1-4)

WM-Abram heard only part of God’s explicit instructions to him.  He was told to leave.         

1. Country
2. Relatives
3. Father’s house

So what did Abram do after hearing the command of God?  He took his nephew Lot with him.  In essence he negated the opportunity for receiving the blessing God wanted to give him because of his disobedience. (Gen. 12:1-5)

M-It is difficult enough to proceed with our lives when we know what to expect and everything is clearly mapped out for us.  Consider what God asked Abraham to do. “Go forth from your country and from your relatives.”  Then came what made it more difficult.  He made specific promises to be fulfilled at some future time and place.  This meant that Abraham had to put his entire future in the hands of God.  Whether the promises He made were to actually occur depended on his obedience to the initial command he received.  God told him, “Go forth to the land which I show you;” The promises that He made to Abraham, which were repeated multiple times, were:

1. I will bless you
2. Make your name great
3. You will be a blessing

God would go even further in His relationship by telling Abraham that He would:

1. Bless those who bless you
2. Curse those who curse you
3. In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.

(Gen. 12:2-3)

 DM-There were certain events in Abraham’s life which were important in his relation- ship with the Father and the future plans God had for him.  One of these was the stepping out in faith to leave all with which he was familiar.  Although critical this action was the one which truly defined him as a man of God.  A part of this calling was the natural curiosity of man for what lies ahead and his adventurous nature.                                      (Gen. 12:1-4; Acts 7:3-4; Heb. 11)

E-The calling out of Abraham was one of only a few instances in the first part of Genesis that was a positive encounter that man had with God.  Many of the previous incidents resulted in judgment, Adam and Eve’s sin and subsequent exile; Cain’s punishment; the destruction of all mankind except Noah and his family in the flood and the dispersion of the people from the tower of Babel.  Here we see God speaking to Abram and commanding him to leave his home and people and travel to a land in which he will be blessed.  This seemed to be the pattern that God used when he approached man and man then experiences God.  He then calls man to a task, to serve him and to be totally committed to Him.  In this case Abram would not receive the blessing if he remained where he was. God was very specific.  Leave homeland and family then the blessing would come. (Gen. 12:1-4)

Abraham

Was 75 years old when he left Ur.  Although God made the promise that the land of Canaan would be given to him, he never received the inheritance.  In his lifetime he was tested and faithful:

1. In leaving Ur of Chaldees to follow God’s direction
2. In maturing to the point in his life when he could trust for protection and not lie to protect himself.
3. In his walk with the Father, when he would no longer take the situation in his own hands as he did to ensure that he would have a male heir by fathering Ishmael.
4. In growing until to serve God was the most important thing in his life even to the point of being willing to sacrifice his son Isaac.
5. Confident in his relationship with the Father. 
6. In his sense of justice
7. In being a compassionate man                                                                                                  (Gen. 12:1-25:7)

DM-Starts and stumbles characterized Abram’s progress towards truly becoming the man of God through whom the covenant would be realized.

1. God had said to leave all on his journey, but he took lot with him. (Gen. 12:5)
2. Abram’s deception in Egypt (Gen. 12:10-20)
3. Tentative faith (Gen. 15:6)
4. Birth of Ishmael (Hagar was an Egyptian) (Gen. 16)
5. Deception in Gerar (Gen 20:2-13)

C-The first move that Abram made was with his father from Ur to Haran.  Along with Abram and Sarai, Terah took Lot.  Terah died in Haran. (Gen. 11:4-6)

GC-A Christian is willing to follow God’s leading even if it mean leaving the comfortable and familiar. (Gen. 12:1)

GC-For a man to take the step that Abram did he must believe the promises of God.  (Gen. 12:1-4)

C-It was in Haran that Abram was given the command to leave his country and relatives.  He accomplished part of it.  He did leave Haran but he also took Lot with him.  At this point in his life he was unable to put his past completely behind him.  To have obeyed God at this time would have brought the blessings He had for him earlier than he actually experienced them. (Gen. 12:1-4)

RT-Although he would never see it, Abraham was given a tremendous responsibility when God called him to be the father of a great nation.  One could say what’s the big deal?  Abraham’s life story is very important.  We must remember that he was called to be faithful to God’s purpose for 110 years.  He was first heard the voice of God at the age of 75 and did not have even have the son of promise until he was 100.  For many the wait of 25 years or even a month is too much to ask.  (Gen. 12:1-4)

GC-Sometimes God directs us to leave those people and things we hold dear.  It may be the ones who love us the most may be the very ones who stifle, muffle or block the blessings that God has for us.  When that situation exists we must do as God commands and go to a spiritual country where He is able to fulfill His promises to us.                     (Gen. 12:3)

RT-Family provided for Abram the security that hindered him from having total dependence on God. (Gen. 12:3)

C-We each carry too much baggage with us to say that we are actually able to move forward with our lives unencumbered.  Just look at what Abram took with him as he made the journey into Canaan:

1. Lot
2. Sarai
3. Possessions accumulated in Haran
4. Also persons acquired there

Abram had not really left anything behind.  He brought all of his worldly possessions with him.  How can God truly bless one who holds on to that which is less than God wants to do for him. (Gen. 12:4-5)

RT-In the early years of his journey the vision God gave to Abram did not result in a consuming passion to serve God.  He had chosen Abram and set him on a course that would eventually establish him as the father of a new nation.  There were a number of instances where Abram failed because he did not fully understand what God was sharing with him.  Sometimes the words did not fit into what was happening to him at the time.

C-During his first years in Canaan Abram was moving constantly from one location to another.  This was precipitated by the need for pasture land for the animals he had brought with him.  There was even an ill fated side trip down into Egypt during a famine in the land of Canaan. The additional livestock he acquired there in Egypt set up the conflict with Lot. (Gen. 12:6-10; 13:1-3, 18)

GC-Worship and thanksgiving are due God. (Gen. 12:7; 26:24)

RT-The Canaanites and Perizzites were in the land and probably saw the conflict between Abram and Lot’s servants. (Gen. 12:7)

M-What was Abram’s response to the promises that were at this point in his life just that promises?  Was his faith strong enough?  Was he motivated enough to follow God’s leading?  The answer comes in verse 4.  There it says, “So Abram went forth as the Lord had spoken to him.” Did he have an illusion that the trip would be easy?  The answer of course is no.  For Abram the one thing that would cause him to proceed was his faith in God.  Later events would show that this faith was not complete, but there would come a time when he would believe that He would not fail him. Part of this process included words of assurance from God.  He told Abram, “To your descendents I will give this land. (Gen. 12:7)

M-Abram responded by building an altar to the Lord. (Gen. 12:7, 8; 13:18)

M-Abraham understood from whom his blessing had come and “called upon the name of the Lord.” (Gen. 12:8)

M-It was as a result of God’s promises and leading that Abram came into the land God was to give him.  Out of the thankfulness of his heart, he built the altar.  This act would never have occurred without God’s word and Abram’s understanding that the message was for him.  When we spend time doing all of the other activities that take up so much time on Sunday morning is there truly time to hear the words that may be just for us.  These may be the sounding call to move into unknown lands and there to build the altar out of the gratitude of our hearts to the One who has given us His word. (Gen. 12:8)

M-More than once Abraham showed self-preservation is a strong drive.                      (Gen. 12:10-12; 20: 2, 11)

GC-Early in his travels Abram began to call on the name of the Lord.  This set a pattern that he would follow his whole life. (Gen. 12:8; 13:4; Ps. 140:6; Lam. 3:55)

UE-God intervened in Abram’s first misadventure into Egypt.  He protected Sarah form being used by the Egyptians.  While Abram only seemed to be concerned about his own well being, God had a greater purpose in preserving all mankind. (Gen. 12:11-20)

GC-Even though the command not to bear false witness had not been given at the time of Abram he certainly would have guilty of breaking it as he traveled to Egypt and later to Gerar.                                                                                                                             (Gen. 12:13; Prov. 10:18; 12:17, 22; 13:15; 14:5; 17:7; 19:5, 9; 21:6, 28; 24:28: 25:18)

GC-How do we view what Abram did to Sarai? In what way do you think that he was using her for his own benefit?  What does this show about Abram? One of the things that we are admonished to do is to never use other people. (Gen. 12:12, 16)

RT-Other than one terse statement in 12:7 God was silent because Abram had been disobedient to God’s command to leave everything behind that tied him to the place of his origin.  Abram did not hear from God while in Egypt for he was not suppose to go there.  After returning from Egypt, God only began to speak with him when Lot finally departed from him. (Gen. 12 and 13)

 

Lesson 8

The Beginning of the Nations

Genesis 10 and 11

Me-

One of the things I enjoy doing, especially in the winter time, is to work jigsaw puzzles.  I especially like the ones with a thousand pieces which provide just enough challenge.  Recently I tried to work one which became an exercise in futility and frustration.  Not only was there a lot of the same color but also many of the pieces were almost identical in size and shape.  In fact the box top which shows what the puzzle should look like as a finished product did not help.  It became an almost impossible task to complete, so I gave up on it.

The only thing more frustrating than the above mentioned one is to work at putting a puzzle together only to find that there is a piece missing.  Usually it can be found on the floor or in a chair but occasionally it cannot be found at all.  Without it the picture is complete and the enjoyment I expected to get from accomplishing is gone.

My life has been somewhat like a jigsaw puzzle. I know that God has had a plan and purpose for me.  Sometimes because of my actions there seems to be a piece or pieces missing.  It is only when I follow through on what He has given me to do is there the joy of accomplishment.  Thankfully He sees each of our lives as just one piece but as a part of the whole.  He views us as a completed picture through His Son.

We

What I have described is not limited to individuals.  Organizations have to look at the box top to see the purpose for which He has brought it into being.  The picture represents the vision that God has for each church.  In order to fulfill the vision we have to approach it from the standpoint of what God wants to accomplish.  Once we know that then all of the pieces can be brought together to complete the picture.  There cannot be extra ones and for sure if one is missing.  Lacking one part of the whole makes what we hope to accomplish incomplete.

In chapter 10 and 11 we will begin to see God’s plan, His vision, for mankind.  Before the seed of Eve could come to defeat the devil the world had to be made ready for His appearance.  Most of us like to skip the genealogies because to us it is just a list of names.  To God each one of the people mentioned served a purpose His overall plan. 

Genesis 10:1

God was about to do something.  He was going to bring about through the sons the fulfillment of His plan to multiply and fill the earth.  Every person is a descendant of one of those three men.  Here the names are given in the order of their birth.

Genesis 10:2-5

Moses begins with the family of Japheth the youngest son.  It is interesting to note that in the genealogical lists the elected family comes last.  In this case it would be Shem.  Each of the sons was the forefather of distinct people groups or nations.  Gomer who many believe was the founder of the Germanic people and Magog who was the founder of Russia are later mentioned in Ezekiel as enemies of Israel.  It is agreed that these along with the others mentioned started the nations of Europe and parts of Asia.  The dispersion of the peoples had begun. Each would have its own language. Because of the location of these nations interaction with the nation of Israel would not occur until much later in its history. For a more definitive breakdown of the nations begun by each of the sons “Exploring Genesis” by John Phillips would be one source to use.

1. Why does the Bible give us so much detail about the families of the three sons of Noah?  
2. How do these verses show that the command of God to fill the earth was being carried out?
3. Why is it important to us where each of the families settled?
4. Why was Japheth the youngest listed first?

Genesis 10:6-7

Next in order were the families of Ham.  For the most part they settled in what is now called the Middle East and the nations of northern Africa.  He had four sons Cush Mizraim, Phut and Canaan.

Genesis 10:8-12

Cush after having other sons had Nimrod.  Nimrod played an important role during that period of time.  He is described a “mighty one on the earth.”  Further Moses said, “He was a mighty hunter before the Lord.”  The word “before” might be translated against.  He became powerful enough that he was able to establish several cities including Babel, later Babylon, and Nineveh, the future capital of Assyria.  The anti-god sentiment of Nimrod can be seen in the naming one of the cities Babel.  Babel means, “the gate of the god.”  Eventually Babel (Babylon) would become one of the most powerful nations on earth under the rule of Nebuchadnezzar.

1. Why did Nimrod play an important role in the history of the people at that time in history?
2. What does it mean that he was a mighty hunter against God?
3. What would the naming of the city, Babel signify?
4. Why would an anti-God sentiment develop among the people?
5. What did they desire?

Genesis 10:13-14

Mizraim and his family founded Egypt.  This fact is important because the nation of Egypt eventually would give rise to the Philistines who came from the family of Casluhim.

1. What is the significance of the founding of Egypt?
2. Why did Moses mention the Philistines at this point?

Genesis 10:15-20

Aside from Egypt and the Philistines the descendants of Canaan, the grandson of Noah, would have the greatest interaction with Israel in the future.  The list is a who’s who of the enemies of the nation of Israel and inhabited the land that eventually became the Promised Land to be given to the Jews by God.

1. Why would the nations mentioned in these verses be of special interest to us?
2. Which of the different people groups would present the greatest challenges for Israel?
3. Out of all of them which controlled the land that in the future would become the home of the Israelites?
4. Why did Moses go into such great detail about the descendants of Ham?

Genesis 10:21

Moses finally gets to the family of Shem.  Notice that he jumps two generations and mentions Eber through whom the chosen people would come. As mentioned above it was the practice to list the family of the elect of God until the end.

1. Why did Moses leave the family of Shem to end of talking about Noah’s descendants?
2. Why did he refer to Eber who would have been Shem’s great grandson?
3. In what order do we generally talk about our children and grandchildren?
4. Why do we speak of them in that way?
5. When would the situation be different for you?

Genesis 10:22-25

None of the sons of Shem would live in what is now called Israel permanent until the time following the death of Moses. They travelled to places like Assyria, east of Babylon, Arabia, and Mesopotamia.  Throughout the listing of the descendants there are certain names about which more will be written.  Arpachshad (Arphaxad in some translations), Shealah, Eber (who became the father of Peleg.  It was during the lifetime of Peleg whose name means division, that the incident at the tower of Babel occurred. 

1. If the nation of Israel was to come from Shem why do we find them scattered in many other places like Assyria, Arabia and Yemen?
2. Why did Moses not continue with the descendants of Peleg?
3. What important event occurred during the lifetime of Peleg?

Genesis 10:26-31

In this chapter the genealogy of Peleg stops but that of his brother Joktan is given in more detail. Joktan is thought to be the father of the Arabians. Of his sons the only exception to those who lived in Arabia was Almodad who possibly founded Yemen.

1. Why are we given more detail about Joktan’s family than that of Peleg?
2. Where did the family of Joktan go as they were dispersed?

 Genesis 10:32 

With the naming of Shem’s descendants the completion of the dispersion of Noah’s family was complete.  Each of them founded different nations.  One of the criteria that described the separation was the differences in language each spoke.  All of these events described in this chapter were written by Moses from the perspective of almost one thousand years.  The language factor is expressed in verse 5, 20 and 31. 

1. Why was it necessary for the people to be separated?
2. What probably would have happened if all the people had been allowed to stay together?
3. What do we see around us when a location becomes overcrowded? 

Genesis 11:1-2

Moses returned to the time before the world was divided among the different people groups to explain how Genesis 10:6, 20, 31-32 occurred.  At that point in time all the people were together but they then began moving out from one location to populate the whole world.  Evidently, many of them migrated to the east went into the land of Shinar (present day Iraq) and settled there. 

1. Why did Moses return to the time when the world was not yet divided as he continued his narrative?
2. Which of the tribes would be the subject of the migration?
3. What is important about the land of Shinar?

Genesis 11:3-4

In contrast to the permanence of God’s kingdom, this new world order man’s attempt to make a name and place for himself would be made from that which cannot last.  All one has to do is look around to see the crumbling remains of societies long past to realize that what they were trying to do was an act of folly.  Notice each time they spoke of what they were going to do it was always with the words, “Let us.”  God was not going to be part of their plan.  Their attempt to make themselves the center of the world included three ideas:

• The first was to build a city for themselves. They desired to have a political social structure in place to guide their lives.
• Secondly and the one which reflected the humanistic philosophy was to build a tower.  This was to become the emblem of self worship.   
• Lastly they wanted to make a name for themselves.

The words which spoke of the tower suggested not that they expected that they could actually achieve the building of a tower all the way to heaven, but that the top would be the signs of the Zodiac.  It is the first mention of a false religion dominated the lives of man.

1. What is the symbolism of the materials that were used to build the city?
2. What was the reason they desired to build a city?
3. What did the tower mean to them?
4. Why is it so important for man to make a name for himself?
5. What do all these things say about man’s attitude toward God?

Genesis 11:5

Let be said that God did not have to have down physically.  Moses was speaking about God’s involvement in the affairs of man.  Inherent in the description of the tower there is the limited capability of man. The tower did not reach to heaven as has been mentioned previously.  God let the people complete what they desired to build before He intervened.

1. What does it mean that God came down?
2. What does the description tell us about the limitations of man?
3. Why did God wait until the project was complete?

Genesis 11:6

The common factor identified by God that allowed man to accomplish what they had done was that all of them spoke the same language. When He spoke to the God head it was not so much that man could actually accomplish because he cannot.  It was about an attitude that completely excluded God to his own detriment.

1. What was the common factor in God’s view?
2. Why did God say that man would be able to accomplish everything that came to his mind?
3. How would that attitude be harmful to mankind?

Genesis 11:7-9

God dealt with the issue by taking away the means that the people had of communicating with each other.  No longer could they coordinate the activities involved in building the city.  Since there was no longer a commonality the people separated themselves and were scattered by God over the entire earth. 

1. How did God deal with the situation?
2. In what ways was this a benevolent act on His part?
3. What does this tell us about the difficulty about different cultures coming together today?
4. On the positive what can be accomplished by good communication in the church and families?

Genesis 11:10-23

Here is found the same pattern that was used in the writing of Adam’s genealogy in which the age when a son was born and the length of life of each father was given.  Notice, unlike those who lived before the flood, the life span of those born after the event was much shorter.  This was a consequence of the judgment God brought on man at the time of the flood.  It was in His sovereignty to limit the life span of man. 

The previously listing of Shem’s genealogy had ended with Peleg.  When Moses returned to providing information about Shem’s family not all of the sons were listed.  He only mentioned those who were ancestors of Abraham.  Remember he was writing genealogy after the birth of Abraham.

1. What is one difference that is found in the Shem’s descendants from those of Adam’s?
2. Why did Moses stop then pick up on the speaking of the family of Shem?
3. Why did Moses leave out the names of all the sons but instead only listed particular ones?
4. What does this tell us about the plan of God for mankind?

Genesis 11:24-28

Moses now begins the narrative of one of the most important men in the history of not only Jews but the world.  Abram was born to Terah, the son of Nahor.  He had two brothers, Nahor and Haran.  Lot is also introduced in these verses.  He was the nephew of Abram.  His father was Haran who died while the family still lived in Ur of the Chaldeans.

1. Why did Moses present the genealogy of Shem’s family as he did?
2. What did he have in mind as he wrote it?  Remember he was writing about things that had occurred a long time in the past.
3. Why are these particular verses of Genesis important to us?
4. What was the relationship between Abram and Lot?
5. Why was Lot specifically mentioned here?

Genesis 11:29

Abram took a wife whose name was Sarai.  Later Moses will tell us that Sarai was Abram’s half sister.  His brother Nahor also married.  Milcah the daughter of Haran would also play an important role in the life of Abraham’s descendants.  Although her sister-in-law was able to have children, Sarai was barren.

1. What were the relationships between husbands and wives?
2. Why did Abram and Nahor intermarry with their kin?
3. What other important fact do we learn about Sarai at this point?

Genesis 11:31-32

Terah set out from his homeland with the intentions of going into Canaan.  He carried with him his sons, their wives and Lot his grandson.  For a while they settled in Haran which is in present day Syria.  It was there that Terah died at the age of two hundred.

1. Why did Terah leave Ur?
2. Where was he intending to go?
3. Who did he take with him?
4. Why did God not allow him to go any further?

You-

• Think about the legacy that your family has left to you.
• Think about the times that you have excluded God from your plans and said, “Let me do it on my own.”
• What are the towers of Babel you have tried to build in your life to replace God?
• Consider the ways you have communicated in a positive or negative way and how it impacted those around you.

We-

In this lesson we have discussed how the world became so separated.  Hopefully the very things that happened close to four thousand years ago will teach us that whenever we exclude God from our lives that the consequences can be so destructive.  Often we find the greatest problem becomes the alienation that comes from our actions both from those around us and God.

Happily God had a plan all along.  It began with Abraham who came from the family of Shem who was chosen to father in a way our Savior Jesus Christ.  The Scriptures tell us what a difference He has made.  While the world at the time of Peleg had to go their separate ways because of apostacy, Christ has come to reunite us by reconciling us to the Father.  In 2 Corinthians 5:19, we are told that,

“God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself.”

We read further in Ephesians 2:14-16,

“For He (Christ) is our peace, who made both groups (Jews and Gentiles) into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.”

Christ has come and fulfilled all that God intended to be.  May we not live a life that is in open conflict with Him.  May we be an instrument of reconciliation of the world to each other and to the Father.

Additional Notes:

BL- At the time the people attempted to build the Tower of Babel everyone once spoke the same language.  However, when men settled in the plain of Shinar, they began to build a tower of bricks (a “ziggurat”!) in order to reach the heavens.  This was the first “religion”–man’s attempt to reach God through his own efforts.  The residents of Babel used bricks; people today often use rituals or good deeds, but the results are the same.  Sinful man can never reach holy God by human means.  God, however, DOES reach out to US, and that is what makes Christianity a relationship, rather than a religion.  It is a relationship initiated by God in which He came down to meet US through His Son, Jesus Christ–and when we, by faith, trust in Christ as our Savior, God forgives our sins and clothes us in His Son’s righteousness, making us holy and acceptable in His sight. This has been God’s plan from the beginning; we saw the first hint of it in Genesis 3:15 and we see it again here in verse 7 when the Lord says, “Come, let us go down and confuse their language. . .”  God initiates the action of salvation; He accomplishes it through Christ; and He convicts us of our need for salvation through the Holy Spirit.  The Lord confused men’s speech in vv. 6-8 because He said that if He didn’t stop them,  . .then nothing they planned to do would be impossible for them.  He realized that men, left unchecked, will attempt to build a world according to their own specifications; and because men are flawed, the world they create will be flawed as well.  As an example, there is the supposedly utopian society that the Communists tried to create in Russia and the evil to which they resorted in an effort to maintain it.  Could the same be true of our own country?  It will be, if we leave God out of it!  Are we, as Christians, willing to stand up for what we believe?  One of the best places we can start is in the voting booth!  Don’t forget to exercise YOUR freedom to vote next Tuesday! (Gen. 11)

BL-Are there any positive aspects that came from events surrounding the Tower of Babel and God’s subsequent destruction of it?  The sudden dispersal and inability to communicate, forced people out of their “comfort zones.” The action by God fostered new cultures and ideas.  It also taught the people humility and made them more dependent on God instead of each other. However, in building the Tower, the people had learned the value of teamwork.  They were unified in their goal, their purpose, and their planning.  What they tried to do may be compared to the Church today, in which each believer brings unique gifts that can benefit the entire entity.  What gifts has God given you and me?  How are we using them to build up the existing body of believers?

How can we use them to reach out to those who do not yet believe? (Gen. 11:1-9)

BL-In the remaining verses of chapter 11, we traced the background of Abram, a descendant of Noah’s son, Shem.  In chapter 12, Abram was commanded by God to leave his country, his people and his father’s household and go to the land God showed him.  If he complied, God promised to make Abram into a great nation (although Abram had no children at this point, to bless him and make his name great.  Abram did obey God–but with a few concessions!  He left his country, but he took along all his possessions, his servants, and his nephew, Lot–extra baggage that would weigh him down considerably at a later time!  In v. 7, God promised to give Abram’s offspring the land of Canaan, but Abram still did not trust God to care for him.  A famine in v. 10 sent him scurrying to Egypt, and there, his lack of trust prompted him to commit yet another sin–he deceived the Egyptians into believing that Sarai, his wife, was really his sister. Pharoah took the beautiful Sarai into his palace and gave Abram sheep, donkeys, servants, and camels in return. Who knows how long Abram would have lingered in this land of plenty if God had not intervened?  However, God inflicted Pharoah and his household with diseases. Pharoah quickly surmised the reason for his suffering and ordered Abram, Sarai, and Abram’s people out of Egypt.  Sometimes, God will use even godless people to set His children straight! 

M-Those who followed Nimrod came to the point where there concern of be scattered caused them to build a city that would give them a name.  One of those cities was Babel.  It became a good idea gone sour. For in that city they decided to build a tower to reach all the way to heaven.

When the reason for working at a project of the magnitude of building a tower to heaven is based on pride then it has become misguided and will not provide the fulfillment the builder’s desire. Babel was just such an endeavor.  It was doomed from the beginning because it was based on the same premise that caused the fall of Adam, to be like God or in other words replace Him with our own accomplishments and worship the material things that man has made. (Gen. 11:4-6)

WM-Man’s arrogance began to surface as he attempted to build a monument to themselves.  It is the same idea that the secular humanists have today of elimination God from all of their endeavors. (Gen. 11:4)

WM-The people who arrived at Shinar failed to understand that God has placed limitations on what finite man can accomplish.  When man begins to attempt to make himself equal or above God he can expect that He will take action to re-establish His preeminence among men.  God is jealous of His position and His name and will let no man take those attributes from Him.  Man has never caught on to the fact that every- thing he does is temporary at best, except for the eternal relationship he may have with the Father. (Gen. 11:5-10)

C-In the building of the tower of Babel there is the foundation of the present day humanistic philosophy and ideology. (Gen. 11:4-6) 

DM-The decision to build a city and the tower which became Babel has impacted the world from that point on.  Man has continually attempted to make a name for himself.  God then has had to intervene with discipline and judgment.  Man has not learned that God cannot and will not be supplanted. (Gen. 11:4-9)

RT-It was not the physical tower of Babel itself, but he pride of the men who were building it who responsible for it becoming a symbol of dispersion.  The tower was left standing but the people were all gone from that place. (Gen. 11:4-9)

UE-Unlike the gods that the pagans worship, God takes interest in the affairs of men. Especially when it calls for His direct intervention He took at the tower of Babel when He confused the language and scattered the people.  This was not done out of vindictive- ness but because man had become proud and arrogant believing that somehow by their own hands they could reach and become like God. They soon learned they lesson that it is God who reaches down to man with was beneficial for him and not man reaching up by his own achievements. (Gen. 11:4-9)

C-Attitudes of people sometimes necessitate change.  It may be as simple as a little attitude adjustment.  In the case of Noah’s descendents, God had to use more extreme measures.  As the people spread out over the face of the earth they reached a point in which they began to believe that they could build a tower all the way up to heaven.  In essence to accomplish this would raise them in their own minds to the level of God.  This could not happen.  God showed sovereignty over man by giving each of them a new language, thus ending the building project.  We can only imagine the chaos that one act caused.  No longer could any man understand what another man was saying.  The language barrier separated man from man and each went to different parts of the earth.  I believe that not only was the language changed but all races came into being at the same time as God allowed each to adapt to his new environment. (Gen 11:1-9)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lesson 7

Promises Kept

Genesis 9  

Me-

As I began thinking about this lesson it dawned on me that promises are only as good as the one making them.  I cannot even remember all of the times that I have made one only to break it. There have been occasions when a leader in a church service or retreat setting has challenged me to make some type of commitment only to find myself breaking it within a short time frame.

Because of this failure it is a wonder that anyone would put confidence in what I say.  I quite often let other things get in the way.  Another aspect that gets me in trouble is committing to too things at one time.  The to-do-list becomes longer than I can possibly hope to accomplish.  This is an area that I have to work on to make sure that I do not promise to do something and then fail to carry it out.

We-

All of us are guilty of making vows and commitments to the Lord that we fail to keep. Sometimes we make them and then quickly forget all about what we have said.  A very simple example would the promise to pray for someone.  We all have said this at one time or another and then have not followed through.  The list could go on and on.  We need to think seriously before we utter the first word.  We should only commit to those things that we truly plan to do and nothing more.

God made a contract, called a covenant, with Noah which would be universal in nature.  It would impact man from that point on until the promised seed of Noah would come to the earth.

God-

Genesis 9:1

Part of God’s words and actions included a blessing on Noah and his family and then a command.  They were to have children to repopulate the world.  Coming from a background of a godly linage the hope would be that God’s kingdom would be established through that family.

1. Why would God bless Noah and his family?
2. What did it mean to Noah to receive the blessing of God?
3. In what way does the command to multiply speak of God’s plan for the future of man?

 

Genesis 9:2-4

There was now to be a new relationship between man and the animal world.  No longer would there be the docile relationship that was present from creation until man and animal disembarked from the ark.  In order to protect man from his natural enemy God instilled into animals and birds a terror and fear of man.  Man would still have dominance over the animal world, but no longer the rule as he had possessed before the flood.

God also established new dietary laws.  No longer would man’s diet be primarily vegetables but he would be allowed to kill and eat meat.  There is no indication that this practice was specifically prohibited before the fall but was now spelled out clearly for man.  The one prohibition at that point was that man was not to eat raw meat.  God specifically stated that the life of every living creature is in the blood.  Since these dietary laws were given before the time of Moses meant that they would apply to all people universally.

1. What changed after the flood that put man and beast at enmity?
2. What protection did God provide for man from the attacks of the animal kingdom?
3. In what ways would man still dominate the animal world?
4. What new thing did God allow after the flood?
5. Why was man required only to eat food that had been well cooked?
6. In what ways is this still important today?

Genesis 9:5-6

The admonition against shedding blood for the sake of indiscriminate killing was carried one step further.  God established what would be referred to today as capital punishment.  If a person took someone’s life he would pay for that act with his own life. He reinforces the reasoning behind this idea by once again expressing that man was created in His image.

1. How did God deal with act of murder?
2. What is the importance of blood?
3. How is this new command different than His dealing with Cain and Lamech?
4. What does this command mean for us today?

Genesis 9:7

Once again God commands Noah and his sons to repopulate the earth.

1. Why did God repeat this command?
2. Why would Noah and his sons be hesitant to have children?
3. What assurances did this give to Noah and His family?

Genesis 9:8-19

Here is the most important part of these two chapters.  God made a new covenant with Noah and his family and those who were to follow them.  This covenant has not been revoked down to the present time.  He promised that He would never destroy the whole earth by water.  Notice He did not say that there would never be floods or other disasters but only that He would not judge the world by a flood covering the entire planet.  To confirm this covenant, in a way, God wrote in the sky the sign that would signify the fulfillment of the promise when it rained.  Man was given the rainbow.

1. What was the important covenant made with Noah and his sons?
2. What evidence do we have that this covenant is still in place?
3. Why does man need a sign?
4. What events in nature were not covered in the covenant?
5. Why did God only include the fact of a universal flood in His promise?

Genesis 9:18-19

Noah’s three sons are once again named.  Through them the earth would be repopulated.  It is important to note that the son of Ham is mentioned.  In the following verses will be seen how he fits into the narrative. He and his descendants were to be an integral part of the history of the nation of Israel as will be seen later.

1. Why were Noah’s three son named?
2. What part would they play in the history of mankind and the future of the nation of Israel?
3. Why was only Ham’s son mentioned by name at this point?

Genesis 9:20-23

Some time had to elapse since the flood.  Noah took up farming, following in the occupation held by Adam.  One of the things he did was to plant a vineyard.  The resulting harvest was turned into wine. Although there is nothing wrong with wine, it brought terrible consequences to the family of Noah.  He drank too much and in his drunken stupor undressed himself and lay is his tent naked.  Like so many others who find themselves under the influence of alcohol or drugs they lose a sense proper behavior and control over their actions.  His son Ham saw him in that shameful condition and rather than covering up his father or keeping the news to himself, he proceeded to tell his brothers Shem and Japheth.  As shall be seen in the response of Noah the way he told the story must have been a way that showed little respect for him.

Shem and Japheth, unlike Ham, went into the tent with their eyes cover.  They even walked backwards to eliminate any possibility of seeing Noah.  As they entered they covered their father with a garment.  Here is a picture of the covering that God made for Adam and Eve after they had sinned and discovered, to their shame, they were naked.

1. Why did Noah return to the occupation of farming?
2. What problems did he cause for himself and others?
3. How does being under the influence of drugs or alcohol affect those around the person who has indulged in them?
4. What was wrong with what Ham did?
5. How different was the way Shem and Japheth handled the situation?
6. What does it say about the character of each of the brothers?

Genesis 9:24-27

 Now Noah had to be a man of great perception.  When he woke, he immediately came to the conclusion that Ham had been somehow been involved.  Although it may seem strange that he cursed Canaan and not Ham there are other examples where prophecies were made about particular individuals.  Jacob spoke of what would happen to the different tribes in the future. (Genesis 49)  Moses also spoke of each tribe in Deuteronomy 33.  One commentator said that Noah could not curse Ham who God had already blessed.

The curse on Canaan actually did not occur for many years.  His descendents would not become slaves to the Israelites and Japheth for hundreds of years.  Only after the time spent in Egypt would Israel gain dominance over the Canaanites which include the Amorites, Hittites, Jebusites etc. Later the Persians, Greeks and others would control that part of the world.

1. How would Noah have known that Ham was the culprit in what had taken place?
2. What examples are there in the Scriptures that have the speaker prophesying what will happen in the future to a people, especially the Israelites.
3. In what ways does this reflect the idea of the sins of the father being passed down to the third and fourth generation?
4. Why did He curse Canaan, the son of Ham, instead of Ham?
5. How did this curse play out in the history of the Canaanites?

Genesis 9:28-29

At his death Noah was the last of the pre-flood lineage which began with Seth.  He was the bridge between the old world and the new.  After him it would be up to his sons to carry on in that new world. He was nine hundred and fifty years old.  He would also be the last to live to such an old age.  Notice that unlike those who had gone on before him he did not have other sons and daughters but just Shem, Japheth, and Ham.  Like every member of the godly descendents of Seth the Bible tells us, “He died.”

1. What was important about the role Noah played in history?
2. Why was God so specific about giving us the age of Noah at his death?
3. In what ways was he different than his ancestors?
4. How was he the same?
5. What legacy did he leave for us?
6. What was to be the tasks of his sons?

You-

• Consider some promises that you have made in the past.
• Now think about those you have kept.
• And those you have broken.
• Think about the consequences of the broken promises.
• Ask God to forgive you knowing He will keep His promise to forgive us.
• Ask yourself when have been the times when you have not been able to stay under control in areas like overindulgence etc.
• If they instances have brought harm to others ask for their forgiveness and seek it also from your Father.

God- 

We can be so truly thankful that we serve a God who keeps His promises to us.  This happens to be written to be taught after Resurrection Day.  As we reflect what that means may we truly understand that what happened is part of a covenant that was made thousands of years ago in the Garden of Eden when God promised to destroy the power that satan had over mankind through Eve’s descendant.  The Scriptures are replete with the narrative of how God has preserved His people inspite of our weaknesses and sinful nature.

When God sent His Son it was the fulfillment of all that has been prophesied over thousands of years.  Satan has tried to destroy man since the Garden of Eden but 1Corinthians 15:55-57 is the answer for him.  It says, “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  Thank you Father for Your everlasting faithfulness.

Additional Notes:

WM-After the flood the trusting relationship between man and beast was replaced with fear. (Gen. 9:2)

C-Before the flood there is no indication that man ate anything other than vegetation.  Following the flood God gave Noah and his descendents permission to eat meat as well as plant life. (Gen. 9:3)

GC-One of the first commands given to Noah in this brand new world was to respect life.  To fail to do so would bring death to the offender. Why do you think God gave this command at this time?  (Gen. 9:4-6)

TM-At the very beginning of the fresh start God gave mankind after the flood, He gave specific commands concerning the consequences of the shedding of man’s blood.  How have we minimalized God’s command given here and in the Ten Commandments found in Exodus? (Gen: 9:6)

RT-Life is of upmost importance to God because man is made in His image.                      (Gen. 9:6)

C-God established a covenant relationship with Noah and his family and all mankind through him.  Part of the covenant included the promise that God would never again destroy all flesh by means of flood.  He gave the rainbow as visible sign to seal the covenant. (Gen. 9:8-17)

WM-Noah showed not restraint in indulging his appetite and became drunk.  His lack of self-control would affect all generation from that time forward. (Gen. 9:21)

WM-Ham did not show respect or honor for his father but told Shem and Japheth about Noah’s nakedness and drunken condition.  His actions led to the curse on his descendents.     (Gen. 9:22)

GC-“Do not be drunk with wine for that is dissipation.” Seen in the passage in Genesis is the result of disobeying the command.  A whole nation is cursed because of the inadvertent act of Ham. His mistake was telling his brothers that he had seen his father naked in a drunken condition.                                                                                               (Gen. 9:21; Prov. 20:1; 23:20-21, 30-35; 21:4-7; Is. 5:11, 22; 28:7-9; Eph. 5:18)

GC-If we do those things that are proper we eliminate the possibility of causing shame, disgrace, gossiping, cursing and anger.  Noah by becoming drunk started a whole chain of events that led to the disgrace of his son and enslavement of his descendents.            (Gen. 9:21-25)

GC-There are real consequences in gossiping or repeating a rumor.  Ham found out the hard way. (Gen. 9:22; Ex. 23:1; 2 Kings 7:16; Prov. 11:13; 17:9; 20:19; 25:23; 26:22)

GC-Ham failed to honor Noah and protect his reputation. (Gen. 9:22; Prov. 20:20)

WM-Noah forgot how much grace God had shown him and cursed his son Ham through his grandson Canaan. (Gen. 9:25-27)

UE-How, in my way of thinking, sad it is that a man considered righteous by God would in his anger put a curse not on his son but his grandson, Canaan. (Gen. 9:25-27)

C-Shem was given the preeminent position in his father’s house.  The descendents of Canaan, Ham’s son, were to be his servants.  Japheth’s descendents were to dwell in the tents of Shem.  This set in motion the lineage through which Jesus was to come.            (Gen. 9:25-27)

DM-When Noah put the curse on Ham through his descendents.  They became the godless Ites of the Old Testament. (Gen. 9:25; 10:6-18; 1 Chron. 1:13-16)

RT-Of all of ham’s sons Noah singularly put the curse on Canaan’s descendents who would be the people who would possess the Promise Land for over four hundred years and would be driven out by Abraham’s descendents. (Gen 9:25; 1 Chron. 1:8)