Notes: Genesis 20-21

English Language Bible Study Guide for January 30, 2008

Genesis 20

Twenty-four years earlier Abraham and Sarah kept their marriage secret from the Egyptians, and brought a plague upon Pharaoh’s house. Now we find them lying again; and this time they bring God’s wrath upon Abimelech, Philistine king of Gerar, and his household.

1-2: Why Abraham moved from Hebron to the southern portion of the promised land is unknown. Whether the recent destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and uncertainty about Lot’s fate were influential in his decision is purely conjecture.

3-7: Though Abraham and Sarah declared otherwise, God informed Abimelech that the two were indeed married; and Abimelech pleads ignorance of the fact.

8-13: Abraham confesses to the ruse and explains his reasons for it.

14-18: God restores Abimelech and his household to health

Meditation Points:

1. Sin can become so habitual that we don’t even consider not doing it
2. God’s wrath against sin, even sins of ignorance
3. God’s ability to prevent us from sinning
4. 7: Abraham is a prophet who will pray for Abimelech(‘s restoration)
5. 8: When others learn what we know about God, and how they fear Him, too
6. 10: Why would you do such a thing?
7. 11: Surely the fear of God is not in this place, or so Abraham thought
8. 12: Marrying your half-sister. When a half-truth is a lie.
9. 16: In what sense could Sarah’s husband be a covering for her? (1 Corinthians 11)
10. 18: How long must Abraham and Sarah been in that land?

Genesis 21

1-8: Isaac is born and circumcised.

9-10: Sarah notices Ishamel’s attitude toward his little (half-) brother; and she doesn’t want Hagar’s son around any longer.

11-13: The Lord instructs Abraham how to cope with the situation.

14-21: Hagar and Ishmael, cast out by Abraham and Sarah, are delivered by the Lord.

22-34: Abraham makes a peace treaty with the Philistines; and he continues in that land for many days.

Meditation Points:

1. 1: God kept His promise to Abraham, and Isaac was born of Sarah
2. 4: The rite of circumcision is continued
3. 9: Sarah doesn’t want Ishmael to take away any of Isaac’s inheritance
4. 11: Like Joseph (Matthew 1:19), Abraham struggles with what to do.
5. 14: The bondwoman and her son are sent away
   Galatians 4:21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
   22  For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
   23  But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
   24  Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
   25  For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
   26  But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
   27  For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
   28  Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
   29  But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
   30  Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
   31  So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.
6. 22: When others see God’s hand of mercy upon us, they often want to be our friends
7. 33: Abraham planted a grove, and called upon the name of the Lord there. This may be innocent agriculture; but elsewhere in the KJV where we read the word “grove” as the translation of an entirely different Hebrew word, idolatry and not innocence is the case.
   Exodus 34:13  But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves:
   Deuteronomy 7:5  But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire.
   Deuteronomy 12:3  And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place.
   Deuteronomy 16:21  Thou shalt not plant thee a grove of any trees near unto the altar of the LORD thy God, which thou shalt make thee.
   Judges 3:7  And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves. (…and many more references)

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