Gen 17-21 Food-for-Thought Inductive Questions

As you read Genesis 17-21, ask questions that the text raises, implies, or answers. Consider how you would respond or have others respond. Discuss your findings with your spouse and family, as well as your Bible study group. As each participant shares their discoveries, all will grow in faith and fellowship.

Here are some of mine. Give it a try!

Gen 17

Why must we wait?

How long has Abram been waiting?

Why does God make us wait?

What are the benefits of waiting?

What can we do while we wait?

What’s in a name?

How was your name chosen?

What does your name mean?

Would you change it? To what?

How did you name your children?

What do these names mean – Abram, Abraham, Sarah, and Isaac?

What identifies you as a child of God?

What marks us today as God’s covenant people?

What was the point of circumcision?

Did circumcision guarantee salvation?

Is there any parallel between OT circumcision and NT baptism?

What makes you laugh?

Why would Abraham laugh at God’s promise?

What are God’s “impossible” promises that we must take seriously?

Can God bless all, even a rejected older son?

What would it be like to be the rejected (though firstborn) son?

What did God say He would do for Ishmael?

Gen 18

Who are these three men?

“The LORD (Yahweh) appeared.” Three men. “My lord.” “They ate.”

“They said.” “He said.” “Yahweh said.” “The men rose up.”

“Yahweh said …” “Yahweh departed.”

Gen 19:1 “The two angels came to Sodom.”

What’s the value of hospitality?

Why are some people more, and others less, hospitable?

Is hospitality for friends, for strangers, or both?

Can a person negotiate with God?

Have you pled with God for the souls of others?

If so, how does that affect your daily life?

What’s the value of a soul?

Is there a point of no return?

Gen 19

What does Lot teach us about choices and consequences?

Why might Lot insist that these two stay at his house overnight?

What’s the history of “anti-sodomy” laws in the US?

How could Lot offer his daughters to these wicked men?

Why did Lot’s two sons-in-law stay behind and perish?

Why not look back? Why did Lot’s wife look back?

What point does Peter make of all this?

2 Pe 2:6-10

How did Lot’s family line continue?

What lessons might we learn here regarding the effects of wine?

What were the unintended consequences of these incidents?

How did the descendants of Moab and Ammon later interact with Israel?

Moab – Think of King Balak hiring Balaam to curse Israel, Num 22-25.

Ammon – Think of King Nahash attacking Jabesh Gilead, 1 Sam 11.

Moab and Ammon together – Think of their capture of Jericho, Jud 3:13.

Gen 20

Why would Abraham repeat his lie? Why would we or anyone else?

Note that 25 years have passed since he tried this in Gen 12.

Note in 20:13 that he did this everywhere they went!

He thought he would be killed!

In that situation, would you have lied?

What does lying accomplish? What does it cost?

What are the appealing short-term benefits of lying?

Can a person sin with good intentions?

Why did God say to “innocent” Abimelech, “You are a dead man?”

How can one person’s (leader’s) sin damage an entire nation?

Note Gen 20:4, 8, 18.

Why do people (as Abraham) unfairly suspect and prejudge others?

Irony: It was Abimelech who feared God and acted with integrity!

Why would Abraham be further blessed, and his wealth enhanced?

Gen 21

Are Isaac’s conception and birth a gift of God?

Why are birth rates dropping in the US, Canada, and Europe?

Why does that matter?

Are Christian couples having fewer children than in the past?

Why does that matter?

What are the causes – and costs – of sibling rivalry?

Why would Ishmael, now 14 years old, mock Sarah?

Had he learned it from his mother?

When there is a mess, who shares the blame?

Was Hagar a victim, a willing participant, or a contributing cause?

How could any one of the principal persons have avoided this outcome?

Does God care about outcasts? Do we?

God chose Isaac for His plan to bring the Savior.

Yet He loved and provided for Ishmael.

Paul uses this incident to describe Christians as Abraham’s descendants. Gal 3

How can a conflict strengthen a covenant?

Two powerful men – Abimelech and Abraham.

Abimelech, based on past experience, gains an oath from Abraham.

Abraham complains. Abimelech’s men seized the well he dug.

He offers seven ewe lambs to provide a witness.

Abimelech agrees.

Hence the name Beersheba, meaning “well of the seven” or “well of the oath.”