The Open Word

In Genesis 24 we find a shift from Abraham as the main character to Isaac. Of all three of the patriarchs, we know the least about Isaac. Nevertheless, he was the bridge from Abraham to Jacob, and the conduit through which passed the Abrahamic blessing.

In Genesis 22 we find the account of Abraham's test of faith where he is told be Yahweh to offer Isaac on an altar as a sacrifice to Him. This was not because Yahweh did not know about Abraham's faith, but instead that Abraham would know of his faith. Of course, Yahweh spared Isaac, providing a lamb instead as a picture of Christ's substitutionary atonement for all humanity.

Genesis 20 records the background of the birth of Isaac. Due to a severe famine in the land, Abraham travels to Gerar where he encounters Abimelech, the king of Gerar. In order to cement a marriage alliance, Abimelech seeks to marry Sarah, as Abraham said she was his sister and not wife. God had to intervene, again, showing that even when we make a mess of things, He ensures things work out.

Genesis 18–19 records the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah along with the story of Lot and his family. Although Lot was what the Bible calls a righteous man, he is a prime example of what happens to oneself, and one's family, when exposed to a wicked culture.

In Genesis 17, when Abraham was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to him to reaffirm His covenant with Abraham. This reaffirmation concerned both the promise of a land, and the promise of an heir from the union of Abraham and Sarah. Additionally, the sign of circumcision was given to Abraham at this time, a ritual that every Jewish male had to have performed in order to be part of God's covenant people.

In Genesis 16, we find the account of the birth of Ishmael. Although Abraham is a man of faith, God's delay in providing an heir resulted in Abraham and Sarah taking things into their own hands. Using a legal option in that time, Sarah designated Hagar to have a child in her name. Ishmael was born when Abraham was about 86 years old, and is the father of the Arabic nations. The conflict between the descendants of Ishmael and Isaac continue to this day.

In Genesis 14, we are introduced to Melchizedek, one of the more mysterious figures in the Old Testament. He blessed Abraham upon his return from rescuing Lot, and later he is seen as a type of Christ's priesthood in Psalm 110, and Hebrews 5 and 7.

In this session, we examine Genesis 12–13 in which we find the account of Abraham's journey to Canaan, his sojourn in Egypt, his return to the land, and his separation from Lot.

Starting in Genesis 11:27, the focus shifts from humanity in general to Abraham. After a brief introduction on the family tree of Abraham, Genesis 12 begins with his call while in Ur of the Chaldees in which Yahweh tells him to leave his father's homeland and go to a "land which I will show you." This general description of an undefined land will become more and more defined in subsequent chapters of Genesis, but Abraham's initial response of faith is what is in view, and which makes him the model of faith throughout the Bible.

Genesis 11:10–26 records the generations from Shem to the time of Abraham. What is interesting to observe is that Shem was alive during a significant time of Abraham's life. This would have allowed Abraham to have known Shem and been familiar with life before the flood.