Study Guide Genesis 7-13
BU1303 Origins in Genesis: Abraham
The Jewish Faith The Wailing Wall, Jerusalem 16 Million Jews worldwide trace their Faith back to Abraham.
The Muslim Faith The Grand Mosque, Mecca, Saudi Arabia 1.6 Billion Muslims ALSO trace their Faith back to Abraham.
The Christian Faith St. Peter’s Square, Vatican City, Rome 2.2 Billion Christians ALSO trace their Faith back to Abraham.
Abraham Considered the Father of 3 Major Religions: ´ Judaism (16 Million) ´ Christianity (2.2 Billion) ´ Islam (1.6 Billion) ´ 56% of the World’s Population ´ 87% of the World’s Inhabited Landmass All trace their heritage back to ONE MAN: a man named Abraham. That is mind-blowing.
Abraham ´ Descendant of Noah, through Shem ´ 10th Generation from Noah ´ His father was Terah ´ He had two brothers: Nahor and Haran ´ Haran died young, Abraham became the provider for Haran’s son Lot, his nephew ´ His birth name was Abram (Hebrew: “Exalted Father”) Abram: Hebrew “avRAM” AV=Father (Aramaic: Abba) RAM=High/Exalted Numbers 32 and Joshua 13 mention a city called Beth Haram=High House
Abram and Sarai Keeping it in the Family Abram had a half-sister named Sarai, that he married. (Same father, different mother) World’s population was much smaller then, and people would often marry within their own tribe. *This would be FORBIDDEN later on, when God gave Moses the Law: Deuteronomy 27:22 ‘Cursed is the one who lies with his sister, the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother.’ *But BEFORE the giving of the Law…in ancient times…this was an accepted practice. Romans 4:15 “…where there is no law there is no transgression.” *Details like this are proof that the Bible is authentic. The story of Abraham is a messy story. Abraham makes some big mistakes. Which underscores the authenticity of the Bible. If somebody made all it up, they would have certainly left out uncomfortable stuff like this. (Book of Mormon: Hagiography, portrays Joseph Smith as a perfect man…but in reality he was pervert who died of Syphilis. LDS=Leader Died of Syphilis)
The First Hebrew “A man who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew…” Genesis 14:13 NIV Abram is considered to be the first Hebrew. He’s the first person to be given that title in the Bible. It comes from the Hebrew word “Ihbri” which means “To cross over.” So the name Hebrew would literally mean: “One from the other side of the River.” *That’s prophetic name, isn’t it? It’s prophetic about the Israelites who would CROSS OVER the Jordan River into the Promised Land. *That’s also a metaphor in Christianity for when we leave this life and enter the presence of God…it’s sometimes called “Crossing the River” into our promise. It’s also a metaphor for salvation. Colossians 1:13 says that believers have ”crossed over" from darkness to light. *Abraham was the first Hebrew, the first “one who crossed over.”
Ur of the Chaldees Southern Iraq Born in a place called Ur of the Chaldees.
Ziggurat, UR of the Chaldees Tallil Air Force Base, Iraq
Ram in the Thicket British Museum Amazing artifact found at Ur is this image of a Ram in the Thicket…a direct link to the Biblical account of Abraham.
The Standard of Ur British Museum This is a Royal Sumerian Standard, depicting war with a neighboring tribe. -According to Jewish Tradition, Abraham’s father, Terah, was an idol maker. One day Abraham smashed all the idols except one, and he put the hammer in the hands of the idol he left in tact. His father came and said,”Abraham, what happened?” He said, “Father, the idols were fighting and this one idol smashed all the other idols.” He said, “Son, that's impossible. They’re lifeless figures made of clay.” Abraham said, “Exactly.” *It was in Ur that God FIRST appeared to Abraham.
Haran Called Harran, in Modern Turkey At some point, Terah left Ur and took Abraham and his family to the city of Haran. -According to Biblical chronology, they were in Haran for 5 years…when God spoke to Abraham and said, “It’s time to go!”
75 years old… Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you.” Genesis 12:1 NKJV God doesn’t seem to be intimidated by old age. Abram was 75 when God called him out of Haran. He was 99 when he was circumcised. He was 100 when his son Isaac was born. God didn't have a problem with Abram’s age, NOR did God feel the need to tell Abram where he was going. But Abram WENT because he had faith in God. *This is God’s famous calling to Abram: He didn't tell him WHERE, He just said GO.
The 7-fold blessing ´ I will make you great nation (12:2) ´ I will bless you (12:2) ´ I will make your name great (12:2) ´ You shall be a blessing (12:2) ´ I will bless those who bless you (12:2) ´ I will curse those who curse you (12:3) ´ In you all the nations of the Earth shall be blessed (12:2) These are the 7 aspects of the blessing of Abraham. *Bless those who bless you (still applies to Israel today) *In YOU all the nations of the Earth shall be blessed (Jesus Christ)
The Plains of Moreh Abram enters the Promised Land Abram passed by the Oak of Moreh, on the Plains of Moreh. (This is the mountain where Gideon prepared his army for battle.)
He built an altar… Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” And there he built an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him. Genesis 12:7 NKJV As soon as God promised Abram the land of Canaan, Abram built an altar to the Lord. *Abram honored God FIRST before he ever took possession of the Land.
Famine in the Land Canaan suffered a severe famine
Egypt Abram seeks help from Pharaoh Abram goes to Pharaoh for help during the famine. *He lies about Sarai, who gets taking into Pharaoh’s household. NOTE: God did not tell Abram to go to Egypt, and Abram didn’t pray and ASK God about going. He was in distress, so he just went [Egypt is often symbolic of the World]
Egypt… Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the Lord!. Isaiah 31:1 ISAAC will later find himself in a similar famine, and God speaks to Isaac and says “Do not go to Egypt” *Abram compromised in Egypt. He LIED about his wife. EGYPT: was NOT part of the Promised Land EGYPT: was NOT a place God told him to go And if he hadn’t gone to Egypt, he would not have lied about his wife, and they would have never gotten Hagar. They leave Egypt after the famine and Abram and Lot begin to prosper again.
Abram and Lot Abram and his nephew part ways Abram and his family were VERY BLESSED…so much so that there wasn't enough room for all their flocks. [Abram let’s Lot choose, he picks the Plains of Jordan] *But God appears to Abram and says, “I’m giving it ALL to you.”
Plain of Jordan 5 Cities of the Plain Abram and his family were VERY BLESSED…so much so that there wasn't enough room for all their flocks. [Abram let’s Lot choose, he picks the Plains of Jordan] There were 5 cities on the Plain of Jordan, the two most notable are Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot started out living NEAR Sodom, but at some point living IN the city of Sodom. *And he was in the WRONG place at the WRONG time. The Cities of Plain got caught up in a Civil War…and Lot and his entire family were captured by the enemy.
Sink Holes along the Dead Sea Pits around the Dead Sea, in the Valley of Siddim The Armies of Sodom and Gomorrah fell in the “slime pits” in the Valley of Siddim. These are salt pits (sink holes) that are notorious all around the Dead Sea…where ancient salts dissolve beneath the surface.
Sink Holes along the Dead Sea Pits around the Dead Sea, in the Valley of Siddim Geologist Eli Raz spent 14 hours at the bottom of this sinkhole, after it opened up underneath him. *This is what happened to the armies of Sodom and Gomorrah. They felt into these pits along the shoreline, those who survived fled to the mountains.
Mountains along the Dead Sea Pits in the Valley of Siddim with mountains in the background The survivors who gathered in the mountains sent word to Abram the Hebrew, and he brought his own army to the fight….318 trained soldiers.
Melchizedek Comes to meet Abram after the battle After the battle, Melchizedek, King of Salem, came out to meet Abram. Melchizedek is one of the most mysterious figures of the Old Testament. We know VERY LITTLE about him. His name, Melchizedek means “King of Righteousness,” and His title “King of Salem” could also be interpreted “Prince of Peace.” What does he bring to Abram? Bread and Wine (the symbols of communion) *Melchizedek is what we would call a Christophany…an appearance of Christ in the Old Testament. Melchizedek is called the Priest of the Most High God, and Abraham gave a TENTH of his spoils to Him. He TITHED to Melchizedek.
Melchizedek… …without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually. Hebrews 7:3 Read Hebrews 7, the entire chapter is about Melchizedek.
Recommend
More recommend
