The Hebrew author urged Christians to “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10:23, ESV) The story of the Bible is the story of God being faithful to His promises and Genesis 21 stands as testimony not only to God’s promises to Abraham (Genesis... Continue Reading →

Chapter 20 sticks out like a sore thumb. In our study we’ve seen Abraham and Sarah struggle with their faith before (lying about Sarai in Genesis 12, securing an heir from Hagar in Genesis 16), but in the last few chapters the faith of Abraham has shone through. He responded with joy at the announcement... Continue Reading →

“and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard);” (2 Peter 2:7–8, ESV). Peter’s statement regarding the righteousness of Lot is difficult to... Continue Reading →

We know this chapter because of two events: Sarah’s laughter and Abraham’s interceding for Sodom. However, both events are found in the same narrative. In fact, chapters 18 and 19 are both part of one narrative shaped around two visits. In the first, the Lord visits Abraham as a friend and benefactor; in the second,... Continue Reading →

Chapter 17 begins with a chronological marker: “When Abram was ninety-nine years old”. Twenty four years had elapsed since Abram heeded God’s call to journey to Canaan (Genesis 12.4) and approximately fourteen years had elapsed since the Lord made a covenant with this man of faith (Genesis 15.18; cf. 16.3). However, recall that on that... Continue Reading →

“Now Sarai was barren; she had no child” (Genesis 11.30). Abram and Sarai were 75 and 65 years old, respectively, when the statement regarding Sarai’s barrenness was made (see Genesis 12.4; 17.17). When we come to chapter 16, ten years had passed since they journeyed to Canaan (Genesis 16.3), and they still had no children.... Continue Reading →

While there are no chronological markers in chapter 15, we learn in Genesis 16.3 that by that time Abram had lived in the land of Canaan for 10 years. Thus, a full decade had elapsed since the Lord made His wondrous promises to Abram, and while he had prospered materially (see Genesis 13.5-6), none of... Continue Reading →

In Galatians 3.9 the apostle Paul referred to Abraham as “the man of faith”. So far in our short study of the patriarch’s life we’ve seen his faith on display as he obeyed the Lord’s command to leave his country, family and father’s house and journey to an unspecified land (Genesis 12.1-3; Hebrews 11.8). However,... Continue Reading →

From man’s perspective, leaving Ur would not have made much sense. If we date Abram’s migration to Canaan at approximately 2050 B.C., then Ur would have been at the height of its wealth and power. Ur-Nammu founded a small empire at Ur around that time and the city boasted a population of ~25,000. It’s location... Continue Reading →

Once before man had completely removed God from his calculations and had suffered the consequences. When “every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” the Lord determined to “blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land” (Genesis 6.5,7). And while the Lord had preserved the human... Continue Reading →