God once spoke to people in person, as to Adam in the beginning. Later God spoke through the heads of families, men called "Patriarchs" who told the people God's will. Abraham was the first patriarch. Isaac and Jacob were two other great patriarchs of the Hebrew people who lived after the flood (Genesis 17:4-5). One day God told Abraham to leave his people and go into a land he would give him (Canaan) and that he would become a father of many nations. Jesus Christ came through Abraham's descendants (Genesis 12:1-7).

Abraham and his wife Sarah left their homeland with their nephew Lot to go to the land God had chosen. Later, the herdsmen of Abraham's and Lot's cattle had a dispute and the two families parted. Abraham allowed Lot to choose the land where he would settle. Lot made a very unwise choice when he "pitched his tent toward Sodom."

"The men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly " (Genesis 13:3).

 

It became necessary for God to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah for their evil. One sin of the cities was homosexuality (sex between the same sexes). God sent two angels to warn Lot and his family to get out. The people of those cities were so enslaved to sin that they tried to engage the angels in their evil deeds but God protected the angels by causing blindness to come upon the wicked people (Genesis 19). The angels warned Lot to get out.

"For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the Lord- and the Lord sent us to destroy it" "And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons-in-law, which married his daughters, and said, UP, GET YOU OUT of this place, for the Lord will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons-in-law" (Genesis 19:13-14) .

Many times we see people marrying and divorcing (outside God's will), killing, lying, gossiping-, all kinds of sin with no fear of God. Our conscience says "don't" but we go ahead anyway thinking God will not punish us. We say, "I'll quit later and follow Jesus," and tomorrow never comes. Satan whispers "Wait"...

This almost worked on Lot and his family for they hesitated and the angels led them by the hand out of the sinful city. We can live among sin so long we are enslaved and can't leave and learn to like it. The Bible says "abstain from all appearance of evil" (I Thessalonians 5:22).

While Lot lingered,

"the men (angels) laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD BEING MERCIFUL unto him and they

brought him forth and set him without the city."

"When they had brought them forth abroad, he said ESCAPE FOR THY LIFE.LOOK NOI'BEHIND THEE, neither stay thou in all the plain escape to the mountain lest thou be consumed" (Genesis 19:15-17).

 

Nothing is "too hard for God" who led Lot and his family out of the evil city under the care of his angels; angels wait to assist us too (Psalms 34:7 and Matthew 18:10).,Satan lays his traps like a spider weaves his web to catch an unsuspecting fly and we are "entrapped" in sin. Sin makes slaves out of us and we may want to "let go of sin" but waited so long that "sin won't let go of us." When the slaves of old were freed, many did not leave their masters. It became a "way of life" and they didn't desire anymore to be free. The day of another chance will end for all of us.

"Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the

Lord out of heaven"

"But his wife (Lot's) LOOKED BACK from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt" (Genesis 19:24 & 26).

 

What a tragedy, God gave her "one more chance" and she threw it away for another "look at sin." Going into "sinful places" is like putting your arm in a hornet's nest and hoping you won't get stung. Today may be our last chance to "be right with God." The Bible warns us ... "Remember Lot's wife" (Luke 17:32).

Another "wondrous work" in Abraham's life by God was the birth of Isaac, his son. You see God had promised to make Abraham a father of many nations. As of yet they had no children and Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah was 90 (Genesis 17:17). They both laughed for Sarah was past the child bearing age, to which God replied:

All the land of Canaan was promised to Abraham and his descendants. The circumcision of every man child was to be a sign of God's promise to Abraham. This was kept by the Jews until the death of Jesus on the cross at which time a "New Covenant" was given to Christians. Thus Sarah "bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him." Abraham circumcised his son Isaac, being 8 days old as God commanded (Genesis 21:2-4)

Abraham and Sarah loved Isaac very much and the greatest test of Abraham's faith was when God told Abraham to "take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering" (Genesis 22:1-2). Abraham "arose early" for the 3 day journey. He told the two men who accompanied him to wait while he and Isaac went upon the mountain saving we will 64come again to you" (Genesis 22:5). Abraham showed he fully believed in God, knowing God could raise Isaac from the dead. When Abraham and Isaac came to the place which God had told him of, Abraham "took the knife to slay his son."

"And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven and said, Abraham, Abraham and he said, Here am I"

"Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him: for now I know thou fearest God, seeing thou has not withheld thy son THINE ONLY son from me" (Genesis 22:10-12).

Abraham looked and saw a ram caught in a nearby thicket, and he offered it as a "burnt offering" in the stead of his son (Genesis 22:13). Just as God promised a sacrificial lamb to be offered in place of Isaac, God provided a lamb for us - Jesus Christ. "Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29)

In the New Testament, we are told "Abraham staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God" (Romans 4:20). He believed that what God promised, he could perform and God "imputed righteousness" to Abraham because of his faith. God counts us righteous too when we trust and obey his commands in "faith" becoming

Christians.

"Now it was not written for his sake (Abraham's) alone, that it was imputed to him; ''

"But for US ALSO, to whom it SHALL BE IMPUTED, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead"

"Who was delivered for our offenses (sins), and was raised again for our justification " (Romans 4:23-25).

When Abraham's faith in God led him to obey God, God counted Abraham alright. When our faith leads us to obey God in becoming Christians, God counts us alright too. Christians are "justified by his blood" (Romans 5:9). We all need salvation for "all have sinned" (Romans 5:12). We experience a new birth as God's word enters our heart and mind causing faith (Romans 10:17) and a willingness to change and let God rule in our lives. By putting Jesus on in baptism (Romans 6:2-6) we arise to walk a new life in Christ.

Isaac married a woman named Rebekah. Twin sons were born to them named Jacob and Esau. Jacob became the second patriarch and his name was later changed to Israel; his descendants were called the "Israelites" (or Jews or Hebrews). Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for a "mess of pottage" (Genesis 25:30-34). What would we sell our "Christian birthright" for? A moment's pleasure of sin" or a few years of "wild living." Be true to God to the end.

"For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his OWN SOUL? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matt: 16.26)

An interesting event in the life of Jacob was the night he wrestled with an angel and prevailed. (Genesis 32:28) Jacob was still in fear of his brother Esau and prayed to God when he saw Esau coming, "Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother Esau" (Genesis 32:11). That night Jacob wrestled with an angel saying: "I will not let thee go, except thou bless me" (Genesis 32:26). He got his request for "not giving up" and it was then that God changed his name from Jacob to Israel and blessed Jacob (Genesis 32:28).

Jacob had 12 sons and he was partial to his son Joseph. The brothers being filled with envy and jealousy sold Joseph into slavery and told their father he was dead. Joseph was sold to a man named Potiphar. Potiphar's wife told a lie about Joseph and he was cast into prison. Joseph refused to sin and commit adultery with Potiphar's wife. Doing right can cause us pain sometimes but Joseph had courage, morals and most of all love for God when he said: "Because thou are his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God" (Genesis 39:9).

Later Joseph was able to tell the meanings of the kings dreams foretelling the seven years of famine to come and was released from prison. He later was given a job second only to the king.

I wonder who had a hand in getting Joseph that position? "The patriarchs (Joseph's brothers) moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him."

God delivered Joseph out of all his afflictions, and "gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharoah, king of Egypt; and he made him Governor over Egypt and all his house" (Acts 7:9-10). Joseph built grain bins large enough to hold 7 years of grain for the Egyptians during the famine. The famine brought Joseph's brothers to Egypt in search of food, reuniting the family.

In all of Joseph's troubles he saw the hand of God, for Joseph said, "God did send me before you to preserve life," (Genesis 45:5) referring to the famine. After Joseph died, a new king arose who "knew not Joseph" (Exodus 1:8) putting Joseph's descendants into slavery, where they remained some 400 years until God raised up a deliverer, named Moses.

1. God destroyed the cities of ____________and____________ for their wickedness. (Genesis 19:24)

2. God sent his____________to warn Lot and his family to get out of the wicked cities. (Genesis 19:1)

3. As Lot and his family left the wicked cities, who disobeyed God by "looking back"?___________ (Genesis 19:26)

4. Did Lot's son-in-laws remain behind in the wicked cities?_____________(Genesis 19:14)

5. For her sin Lot's wife became a__________of__________(Genesis 19:26)

6. The Lord God rained_________and__________upon the wicked cities. (Genesis 19:24)

7. Who was Sarah and Abraham's promised son of their old age?__________ (Genesis 21:2-3)

8. God tested Abraham's faith by telling Abraham to offer his son as a ___________________________ in worship to God upon the mountain. (Genesis 22:1-2)

9. Was Abraham willing to kill his son as God commanded?________(Genesis 22:10)

10. Who wrestled with an angel to obtain a blessing from God?______________ (Genesis 32:24-28). God changed his name to______________.

NAME__________________________ LESSON RECEIVED____________________

ADDRESS_______________________ LESSON RETURNED____________________

________________________________ GRADED BY____________ GRADE________

I will promptly grade your answers and mail you the results.

Or, write for the free Bible course to be mailed to your home.
I will promptly grade them and mail you the other lessons.

Prev | Home | Next