Growing in Christ Bible Study Genesis to Revelation. Week 5

Genesis 13:5 - Genesis 21

Read Genesis 13:1-9. What caused Lot and Abraham to separate?

                                 What does that say to you about possessions?

                                  What does this tell you about Abraham, that he let Lot choose?

                                  Read Gen. 12:6,7. What enabled Abraham to allow Lot to choose first?

                                  How does faith enable you to live at peace in the world?

Read Gen. 13:10,11. How did Lot choose where he would live?

                               Read 2 Cor.5:7. How does this story relate to this verse?

Look at Lot's different  locations: Gen.13:12,13

                                                        14:12

                                                        19:1

                                                         19:18-21

                                                        19:30,31

                     What are some lessons you learn from studying these locations?



Read 2Peter 2:7. Will Lot be in Heaven?             What does this teach us?


Read Genesis 14:21-24 and Genesis 23:3-18. Why would Abraham not take gifts from these people?

           

  
            How does faith enable you to withstand temptations of getting wealth from questionable sources?


Read Gen. 14:18-20 and Heb. 7:1-25. Who was Melchizadek?

            How does the writer of Hebrews say he foreshadowed Christ? Give 5 ways

              1.

              2.

              3.

              4.

              5.



Note to students/teachers: Abraham, as we will study more in the next lesson is the "Father of Faith". There are several faith lessons to learn in these passages. First of all, God promised him that he would inherit all of the land of Canaan. Therefore, when Lot's possessions and Abraham's possessions got too big for the both of them to coexist, (isn't it interesting what damage possessions do to relationships, peace, etc.) Abraham, in humility and meekness could easily allow Lot to choose first. Abraham knew he would get it all in the end anyway. Isn't that awesome! We can let others be more important than us on this Earth and not insist on our rights because we have an inheritance that noone can take away. We can let other people feel more important than us because actually, God stops by my house for dinner. Can you top that?
      Lot, although I would guess a reprobate who tasted the good things of God yet chose the world and is doomed for hell, actually is in Heaven and called a just man. That goes to show you that we can't judge people because only God knows their heart. Certainly however, by following the lust of the eyes and pride of life (1John 2:15) he got drawn into the wickedness of Sodom and lost everything including his wife, his home, his possessions, his dignity, and the morality of his daughters and ended up living in a cave. He went on to sire 2 nations both of which would be exceedingly wicked and thorns in the Israelite's flesh. He is the proverbial man that gets to Heaven smelling like smoke. (1Cor.3:15)
       Another result of Abraham's faith is that he could look at riches of this world and not be tempted by them. Why? Because God promised to give him everything. He didn't need to take any tainted wealth or be indebted to anyone except God. How many Godly people have ruined their lives because of a desire for Earthly wealth? (1Tim. 6:6-10) We have riches untold waiting for us in Heaven. Let's seek those. (Matt.6:33).
         Lastly, we see the another allusion to Christ in Melchizadek. Some even think he is a Christophony or an appearance of the pre-incarnate Christ in the OT. Anyway, as seen in Hebrews, he becomes an important figure to explain the new priesthood that Christ brings into place. Imagine offering sacrifices your whole life for the forgiveness of sins and then being told you don't have to anymore. The theology of Melchizadek became important in this transition.