Genesis 11&12

Read It!

What is the passage about?

• Tower of Babel in Shinar/ Ur of Chaldean • The entire world • Wanted to build the tower so that they could reach heaven and make name for themselves
• Did not want to be scattered

What was the passage about?

• God came down and confused the people so that they could not understand each other. Then God scattered them • Shem’s descendants (2 years after the flood) • Arphaxdax-Shelah-Eber-Peleg-Reu-Serug-Nahor-Terah(Father to Abraham)- • Sarah was barren

What do we Learn?

• Pride will always leave us scattered in the end. (Like at tower of bable, if we live arrogantly, we will never be centered on God)

What do we learn?

• Human eyes can only see God’s plans if he allows it. (Sarah was barren-but God would bring about a nation from Abraham)

What do we learn?

• The world is need of saving

Application

What are some ways that pride or self-reliance has disrupted your focus and relationship with God?

Application

What are some examples of times when God has worked out things in your life? Did God reveal these things to you ahead of time? If yes, how did He reveal them to you?

Application

What are some ways that we can think about preaching the Gospel outside of our own cities, states, and country? Why is it so hard for us to think globally about ministry?

Be Fruitful

• Genesis 9:1 (NIV) 1 Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth

God has commanded them to spread out and to multiply-however they did not do this. God had commanded the peoples to be fruitful and multiply and to scatter across the earth, but they decided to move to Nimrod's city of Babylon and settle there (11:8-12).

This move was blatant rebellion against God's command that the people scatter!

City of Shinar

• The city of Shinar is Babylon. This is a very fertile place. The Civilization becomes very advanced and cultured. The people

The Issues

• Scripture implies 2 -Fold sins) 1. Rebellion 2. Built a tower

Note: The Tower was made of mud and brick, not stones made by God.

Religion
Some scholars suggest that the tower of Babel is where world religion was born. Religion being our attempt reach up to God.

God shows His authority and power in His judgment of the people.

1. Their languages are changed
2. They are scattered

• Acts 2:6 (NIV)
6 when they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language.

The people missed on God’s guidance and a blessings because of their arrogance. They just wanted God to leave them alone.

Who do we know that wants God to leave them alone?

Genesis 12

What is the passage about?

• Abraham (75 y/o) sent from his home land pf Haran with all their possessions -God promises to bless him for his obedience -Lot -Sarai-deception of Egyptians -Egypt-Famine -Pharaoh

What do I learn?

• Our dishonesty affects other people Obeying God can be uncomfortable and inconvenient We must not try to fit God’s calling into our comfort zone.
• Obeying God can be uncomfortable and inconvenient We must not try to fit God’s calling into our comfort zone.
• We must not try to fit God’s calling into our comfort zone.

Application

• How has your dishonesty impacted someone else?

Application

• How has your obedience to God made you uncomfortable?

Application

• How have you tried to bend God’s will to fit your comfort?

Chapter 12

• In Chapter 12 God calls out the Hebrew nation to be His special people. The Bible seems to be more interested in showing how God relates to humans one on one.

Chapter 12

• Abraham grew up in Ur- This is a very fertile are that sits between two rivers. The homes are very comfortable and spacious. Abraham’s time had villas with plastered walls that were white washed. Abraham had a comfortable life.

Problems in Ur

• There was lots of idolatry in Ur

• Joshua 24:2-3 (NIV)
2 Joshua said to all the people, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Long ago your forefathers, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the River and worshiped other gods. 3 But I took your father Abraham from the land beyond the River and led him throughout Canaan and gave him many descendants. I gave him Isaac,

• Genesis 31:30-32 (NIV)
30 Now you have gone off because you longed to return to your father's house. But why did you steal my gods?" 31 Jacob answered Laban, "I was afraid, because I thought you would take your daughters away from me by force. 32 But if you find anyone who has your gods, he shall not live. In the presence of our relatives, see for yourself whether there is anything of yours here with me; and if so, take it." Now Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen the gods.

God Calls Abraham

• • Hebrews 11:8-9 (NIV) 8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the Promised Land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.

Abraham did not know where he was going

• • Acts 7:2-4 (NIV) 2 To this he replied: "Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran. 3 'Leave your country and your people,' God said, 'and go to the land I will show you.' 4 "So he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. After the death of his father, God sent him to this land where you are now living.

Think about it

• How far are you willing to go with for God? Where do you not want to go in for God?
• Where do you not want to go in for God?

The move from Ur and then stay in Haran for some time. Abraham’s brother and sister stay behind in Haran.

God’s command to Abraham is similar to God’s call to us to be Christians.

• I will make you a great nation-
• I will bless you- This is also the way that God blesses us-

• I will make your name great-The world religions of the world trace themselves back to Abraham

• I will make you a blessing to others-We are to encourages others

• I will bless those who bless you- ( Matt. 25:40)

• I will curse those who curse you

• All people on earth will be blessed through your-

God preserves the revelation of himself through Abraham. Abraham’s faith will be an example. Jesus descends from Abraham.

Abraham Settles

• Abraham settles in Shechem (which later becomes Samaria)
• Abraham builds an Altar for the Lord there.

Famine

• Abraham is tested
• Abraham travels to Egypt
• Where are we trying to help out God? Abraham has this issues several times- think about how we get Ishmael.

Think about it

• Where are we trying to help out God? Abraham has this issues several times- think about how we get Ishmael.
• Abraham has this issues several times- think about how we get Ishmael.

They take Sarai because she is beautiful. The Pharaoh experiences disease based on the promise that God will curse whoever curses him.

God shows mercy on Abraham even though he does not deserve it. Abraham has lost his sense of witness because of this. Perhaps his relationship with Sarai was damaged.

Abraham did gain lots of wealth from the Egyptians. It is possible that Abraham picked up Hagar in Egypt.