Lesson 20
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CHAPTER TWENTY [Gen. 20:1-18], Verse One [Gen. 20:1]. Potsherds from this period have been discovered at Gerar, thus proving that such a city existed at the time of Abraham.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE [Gen. 21:1-34], Verse Four [Gen. 21:4]. Read Paul's commentary upon this verse in Galatians 4:22-31.
Verse Seventeen [Gen. 21:17]. Note carefully all that is said about the Angel.
Verse Thirty-four [Gen. 21:34]. Let the student locate Beersheba and the land of the Philistines on the map.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO [Gen. 22:1-24], Verse One [Gen. 22:1]. The word "tempt" here means to "make trial of." God is putting Abraham under probation.
Verse Five [Gen. 22:5]. Note the strength of Abraham's faith. "We will come again unto you." Read Hebrews 11:17-19.
Verse Six [Gen. 22:6]. Note that Isaac is old enough to carry wood. Here is a hint as to the passing of time. Christ also carried His cross to the sacrifice. Cf. John 19:17. Study James 2:22-23. The works are the manifestation of faith. True faith must issue forth in good works.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE [Gen. 23:1-20], Verse One [Gen. 23:1]. At the death of Sarah, she was 127 years old, and Abraham 137.
Verse Fifteen [Gen. 23:15]. Note the Oriental method of purchasing. Ephron has no intention of merely giving the cave to Abraham. The cave of Machpelah is one of the most sacred of the Mohammedan shrines in Palestine today. The student should be sure that he knows the location of Hebron on the map.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR [Gen. 24:1-67], Verse One [Gen. 24:1]. The literal rendering is: "Abraham was old and had gone into days." The only mention of Rebekah in the New Testament is in Romans 9:10. The student should read this beautiful story repeatedly until he has thoroughly learned it.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE [Gen. 25:1-34], Verse One [Gen. 25:1]. Some believe that Keturah is Hagar, but of this we are not certain.
From Keturah the Arabians are descended. Abraham is 175 years old at his death.
There are some difficulties in the life of Abraham which are not explained to us. But the material that is given is sufficient to write his life from a religious standpoint. He is pictured to us as the Father of the Faithful. The nonessentials are ignored in the narrative. For example, we are not told whether Sarah knew of the sacrifice of Isaac. But such things as this are not essential to the author's purpose. The following table may prove helpful.
There is practically no record of the first seventy-five years of Abraham's life.
He is 75 years old when he leaves Haran. Genesis 12:4.
He is 85 years old when he takes Hagar. Genesis 16:3.
He is 99 years old when Isaac is promised. Genesis 17:1.
He is 100 years old when Isaac is born. Genesis 21:5.
He is 140 years old at Isaac's marriage. Genesis 25:20.
He is 160 years old at the birth of Esau and Jacob. Genesis 25:26.
He is 175 years old at his death. Genesis 25:7.
EXERCISES
- Let the student take a map and trace all the journeys of Abram.
- With Bible in hand, outline the life of Abram in complete detail. Write down each fact with the Scripture reference.
- Give a brief chronological history of Abraham and support it with Scripture references.
- From the following verses, write a character sketch of Lot: Genesis 13:10, 11; 19:2, 3, 7. Cf. Gen. 19:30 with Gen. 19:17-20.
- From the following verses, write a character sketch of Abraham: Genesis 12:4, 7, 13; 13:4, 8, 9; 14:15, 22-24; 15:6; 17:17; 18:3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 23-24ff.; 20:2; 21:4; 22:2, 3, 5, 8, 16.
- The following verses are offered as being exceptionally 'well worth committing to memory: Genesis 13:14-17; 14:19, 20; 15:1, 4-6; 16:10-13; 22:15-18.
HYMNS FOR STUDY
No. 420: "O Sacred Head Now Wounded."
No. 423: "Praise The Saviour Now And Ever."