Contributor: Isekhua Evborokhai

INTRODUCTION
During the last bible study where we considered chapter 25, we saw how God remained faithful to His promises even after the death of Abraham. We also learned from the life of Isaac that when we recognize destructive cycles, patterns, or generational issues, we have the authority, by prayer and God’s Word to break them. 
In today’s study of these two chapters in Genesis, we see two contrasting pictures of a father and son:
In Genesis 26, we see Isaac’s journey of faith—his obedience to God’s Word, his patience amid challenges, and the Lord’s faithful provision. We also see him displaying the same deception his father displayed. And in Genesis 27, we shift to Jacob’s deception where manipulation, dishonesty and fear resulted in family conflict despite God’s sovereign plan. We will from these two parallels learn how
trust in God can bring peace, while distrust in His timing can bring turmoil.

GENESIS 26 – ISAAC’S JOURNEY: TRUST AND PROVISION
• Famine and God’s Instruction (vv. 1–6): God tells Isaac to stay in Gerar rather than go to Egypt; He reaffirms His covenant promises made to Abraham.

• Isaac’s Fear and Deception (vv. 7–11): Isaac lies about Rebekah being his sister, echoing Abraham’s earlier mistake.

• Prosperity Amid Opposition (vv. 12–22): Isaac becomes wealthy; the Philistines envy him and stop up his wells. Isaac keeps moving rather than fighting, finding peace at Rehoboth.

• Covenant Confirmation (vv. 23–25): God appears again, promising His presence and blessing.

• Peace Treaty (vv. 26–33): Abimelech seeks peace; Isaac digs another well called Shibah.

Key Lessons from Isaac’s Journey
1. Obedience unlocks provision – Even in famine, Isaac flourished because he obeyed God’s command to stay (26:6, 12).

2. Faith requires patience – Isaac did not retaliate over the wells; he trusted God to make room for him (26:22). How can we learn to respond with peace instead of retaliation when opposed? Discuss

3. God’s covenant promises are reliable – God reaffirmed His promises in every season (26:3–4, 24).

GENESIS 27 – JACOB’S DECEPTION: BLESSINGS AND CONFLICT
• Isaac’s Plan (vv. 1–4): Isaac, old and nearly blind, calls Esau to prepare food so he can bless him. As discussed during the last study, why would Isaac still have in mind to go against what God had declared about the older serving the younger? Discuss

• Rebekah’s Scheme (vv. 5–17): Rebekah overhears and instructs Jacob to pretend to be Esau to receive the blessing.What do you believe was the reason Rebekah and Jacob chose deception instead of waiting on God and hatch a plan to deceive Isaac. After hearing God declare that the older would serve the younger? Discuss

• The Deception (vv. 18–29): Jacob lies multiple times and receives the blessing. Is this a case of “successfully helping God?” Discuss

• Esau’s Return and Anguish (vv. 30–40): Esau discovers the deception, weeps, and begs for a blessing; Isaac confirms Jacob’s blessing. Do you believe that Esau took responsibility for selling his birthright? Discuss

• Conflict and Separation (vv. 41–46): Esau vows to kill Jacob; Rebekah sends Jacob away to Laban.

Key Lessons from Jacob’s Deception
1. God’s promises don’t need manipulation – God had already declared Jacob would be blessed (Gen. 25:23). How else would this have come to pass if Isaac had pronounced the blessing on Esau? What do we know about how God works? Discuss

2. Deception damages relationships – Jacob’s deception fractured his family and drove him into exile for years (27:41–45).

3. Sin may bring short-term gain but long-term consequences – Jacob received the blessing but fled for his life. What steps can we take to repair relationships damaged by dishonesty? Discuss

CONCLUSION
We see from today’s study the benefits of trusting in God in our daily walk with Him. And even when resources are scarce or opposition is strong, He remains faithful. Shortcuts must be avoided because God’s promises are certain and we end up ruining the process when we try to manipulate situations. Where and how do we draw the line between, contending for a promise (1 Corinthians 16:9, Matthew 11:12), and sitting and waiting for the promise to come to pass (Prov.10:4). Discuss
Prayer: Lord, teach us to trust You like Isaac did in the land of famine, and protect us from the temptation to manipulate situations like Jacob. Help us walk in honesty, patience, and peace, believing that Your timing and provision are always best. Grant us the wisdom to know when to stand still and when to act in faith. In Jesus’ name.

Contributor: Isekhua Evborokhai

INTRODUCTION
Last week’s study ended with Isaac marrying Rebekah and the start of a new chapter for Isaac and God’s ultimate redemption plan. In today’s study, we experience some major transitions, the end of Abraham's life, the lineage of Ishmael, and the early account of Jacob and Esau. And from these experiences learn valuable lessons about legacy, generations, and God’s sovereignty in selection.

I. ABRAHAM’S LATER LIFE AND DEATH (Verses 1–11)
• Verses 1-4 Abraham marries again and has many children by Keturah.
At this time Abraham would have been at least 140 years when he fathered six more sons through her. 40 years before this, Abraham was a feeling that he was too old to have children. Many times, we are the ones who limit ourselves.

• Verses 5-6 Abraham is careful to set Isaac apart as the child of promise.
The Bible refers to Abraham’s other sons as the sons of his concubines. So, although he married Keturah, he truly only had one wife, Sarah. Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac, as well as the land God had promised to him and set him apart by sending his others sons eastward, away from Isaac). This is the greatest legacy we can leave for our children – setting them apart for the Lord. We see the result in verse 11.
As believers we are called to think about the legacy we are leaving for our children— spiritually and otherwise.

• Verses 7-10 Abraham’s Death and Burial.
He died at a good old age, an old man and full of years: Abraham lived a remarkably long life of one hundred and seventy-five years. By many measures his life was not perfect, but he was a man of faith, who had a real relationship with God, of remarkable obedience, and a true friend of God (2 Chronicles 20:7 and James 2:23).

• Verse 11 God Blesses Isaac
Abraham was a great man, but he was only a man. It was time for God’s work to be passed on to the next generation. But God does not entrust His work to someone without equipping them. Scripture reveals that God blessed Isaac—not merely with material wealth, but with divine empowerment to prosper in every dimension necessary to carry on the covenant first promised to Abraham and the ultimate redemption plan for mankind.

II. THE GENERATIONS OF ISHMAEL (Genesis 25:12–18)
• Verses 12-18 God is Faithful to His Promises.
God fulfilled the promise He made to Hagar (Genesis 17:20) Ishmael had 12 sons. With so many sons to carry on his family name, Ishmael was a blessed man. However, he was not blessed with the inheritance of the covenant God made to Abraham. Twelve princes… one hundred and thirty-seven years… was gathered to his people… he died in the presence of all his brethren: All of these descriptions show what a blessed man Ishmael was. Though he did not receive the Abrahamic covenant, God’s blessing and hand was upon him.

III. THE BIRTH OF ESAU AND JACOB (Genesis 25:19–28)
•Verses 19-21 The Conception of Jacob and Esau.
Rebekah was barren, but Isaac prayed, and God answered (v.21). He quickly learned from what happened to his parents and did not wait. There was the promise, the lineage of the Messiah who will deliver mankind, perhaps it was our adversary that was trying to sabotage the promise. Observe that the Bible never mentioned that Abraham prayed to God for a child. But Isaac knew better. He pleaded with God and He gave them twins.

•Verses 22-28 Two Nations Struggled in the Womb.
The struggle that seemed to take place in Rebekah’s womb made her seek God. As she sought Him, the LORD spoke to her regarding number of children in her womb, their gender, and the destiny of those sons in her womb. One shall be greater than the other, and the younger will be greater than the older. He also repeated His verdict long after Jacob and Esau had both passed from the earth (Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated, Malachi 1:2-3).
This has caused some people to object, and question the fairness of God making such a choice before Jacob or Esau were born. Yet we should regard the love and the hate God spoke of in Malachi 1:2-3 and Romans 9:10-13 as having to do with His purpose in choosing one of these two to become the heir of the covenant of Abraham.

“A woman once said to Mr. Spurgeon, ‘I cannot understand why God should say that He hated Esau.’ ‘That,’ Spurgeon replied, ‘is not my difficulty, madam. My trouble is to understand how God could love Jacob.’” (Newell in Romans, Verse by Verse)

The greatest error we make in considering the choices of God is to think He chooses for arbitrary reasons, as if His choices were random and senseless. God chooses according to His divine wisdom, love, and goodness. We may not be able to understand God’s reasons for choosing, and they are reasons He alone knows and answers to, but God’s choices are not random or impulsive.

IV. ESAU SELLS HIS BIRTHRIGHT (Genesis 25:29–34)
Deuteronomy 21:17 and 1 Chronicles 5:1-2 tell us the birthright involves both a material and a spiritual dynamic. The son of the birthright received a double portion of the inheritance, and he also became the head of the family and the spiritual leader upon the passing of the father.

There could only be one heir of the promise not two. And because Esau thought little of the spiritual heritage connected to the birthright, and valued only material things, and because spiritual birthright meant little to him, when his stomach was hungry, he traded it for a meal! Perhaps this was the reason God chose Jacob over him right from the womb; because He being Omniscient knew the kind of person Esau would turn out to be. That he would treat his birthright with levity. Hebrews 12:16 tells us that Esau was profane, selling his birthright for one morsel of food. And regardless of whatever deception Jacob and his mum hatched to get the blessing of the first son from Isacc, it was at this point Esau lost his birthright, not afterwards

Many people place little value on spiritual things. And daily trade spirituality for short-term gratification undermining and undervaluing our spiritual "birthrights"

One subtle instance of this is conforming to the world instead of being set apart. To protect Isaac’s birthright, Abraham set him apart from the sons he got from concubines. But today we hear parents say: “Leave them alone, let them be . . .” But you can only do that when you have indeed trained them in the way of the Lord (Proverbs 22:6). Otherwise you expose them to the contaminations of a polluted and depraved world.

CONCLUSION
God is ever faithful to His promises. Even after Abraham's death, we witness those promises continuing to unfold, demonstrating that God's covenant extends beyond the life of a single individual. Remarkably, His blessings sometimes reach those we might not expect—as seen in the case of Ishmael. Though not the child of promise, Ishmael still experienced the overflow of God's faithfulness.

The story of Isaac asking God to open Rebekah’s womb in prayer, reveals a significant shift. Unlike Abraham, who waited passively at times or sought solutions through human effort, Isaac chose to confront the problem through prayer. This teaches us that we are not bound to repeat the negative patterns of those before us. When we recognize destructive cycles or generational issues, we have the authority—by prayer and God’s Word—to break them. This principle aligns with Jesus’ words in Matthew 16:19, where He grants us keys to bind and loose spiritual realities.

Although Esau’s character was not the basis for God’s choosing (He chose Jacob over Esau before they were born), Esau’s character, his impulsiveness and disregard for spiritual inheritance—affirmed the wisdom behind God's decision. As believers, we must guard against making similar exchanges. We must treasure the calling and promises of God on our lives, understanding their eternal significance. The lure of immediate gratification can cost us far more than we imagine—sometimes resulting in consequences that cannot be undone. Let us remain faithful, discerning, and prayerful, so we walk worthy of the inheritance entrusted to us.

Contributor: Isekhua Evborokhai

INTRODUCTION
In last week’s study, we gained insight about the character of Abraham, especially during the death and burial of his wife, Sarah; such as conducting himself with integrity - giving us an example of how to make our faith visible in our dealings and decisions.We also learnt some important truths. That mourning is sacred; and grief reflects love for the departed. And that when we honour the dead we do so with the hope of resurrection with Christ at His coming.
Today, we progress onto Genesis 24, the longest chapter in the Book of Genesis that tells the story of how a wife was found for Isaac, the son of Abraham. It’s more than just a marriage story—it’s a lesson in prayer, divine guidance, faithful obedience, and God’s faithfulness in fulfilling promises.

1. Abraham’s Instruction (Verses 1–9)
Key Verse (Verse 3): “I want you to swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living,”

We see in this verse that Abraham was intentional, he did not want Isaac to marry a Canaanite woman. He understood the spiritual danger of compromise (Deuteronomy 7:3–4). Choosing a life partner is a spiritual decision. Faith and values should guide it, not just feelings or culture.

2. Eliezer’s Prayer for Guidance (Verses 10–14)
Key Verse (Verse 14): “May it be that when I say to a young woman, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too’—let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.”

Eliezer, Abraham’s servant prays for a sign—not out of superstition, but out of a desire for clear direction. His prayer is humble, specific, and rooted in God’s covenant. James 1:5 says: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God...”
God honours sincere, wisdom-seeking prayer. As believers, we should never go solo when making decisions. When we invite Him into our decisions, we will never go wrong. Proverbs 3:6 (NIV) says: “in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Discussion:
1. What have you learnt about seeking God’s will in major life decisions?
2. Are there practical examples you can share about seeking God’s will in past, present and future decisions?
3. How can we relate to the Eleazer’s prayer for guidance? Do you pray with that kind of faith?

3. Rebekah’s Response (Verses 15–26)
Key Verses (Verses 18-19): “18 “Drink, my lord,” she said, and quickly lowered the jar to her hands and gave him a drink. 19 After she had given him a drink, she said, “I’ll draw water for your camels too, until they have had enough to drink.”

Rebekah’s generous offer fulfils the very sign the servant prayed for. She is kind, hospitable, and industrious—a reflection of Proverbs 31:17–20.
Proverbs 3:5–6 – “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” God’s answers often arrive as we move in obedience. Rebekah didn’t know she was walking into destiny—she was simply faithful.

4. Eliezer’s Worship and Testimony (Verses:27–49)
Key Verses (Verses 26-27): “26 Then the man bowed down and worshiped the Lord, 27 saying, “Praise be to the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my master. As for me, the Lord has led me on the journey to the house of my master’s relatives.”

Eliezer gives glory to God. He shares what God has done and invites the family into the process. When God answers, testify. Give Him glory, and invite others into the story of faith.

5. Rebekah’s Willingness (Verses:50–61)
Key Verse (Verse 58): “So they called Rebekah and asked her, “Will you go with this man?” “I will go,” she said.”

Rebekah responds with courage and faith. She leaves everything familiar to step into God’s plan—much like Abraham did (Genesis 12:1). Walking in God’s purpose often requires courage and trust. Sometimes it means stepping into the unknown with confidence in His call.

Discussion: How can we cultivate the kind of character (like Rebekah’s)?

6. Isaac and Rebekah Meet (Verses:62–67)
Key Verse (Verse 67): “Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he married Rebekah. So she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.”
The story ends with a simple but beautiful moment—love born from obedience and God’s leading. Psalm 37:23 – “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.” When God is the one who writes your story, peace and love follow. Wait for His timing, and trust His way.

CONCLUSION
God delights in directing those who seek Him. The Bible admonishes us to watch and pray. That is what faith in action means. Eleazar, Abraham’s servant prayed, but he also travelled, searched, and acted. And God took care of the rest working behind the scenes, and orchestrating the details.We also learned from this account that obedience brings blessings. Everyone in this account, Abraham, Eleazar, Rebekah were in obedience. And it is obedience to God that activates His Faithfulness and we see the end that God delivered on the promised future for Isaac.

Contributor: Alex Alajiki

INTRODUCTION
In our last study before the chapters review last week, we studied Genesis 21 and 22. In Genesis 21, God fulfils His promise to Abraham and Sarah by enabling Sarah to give birth to Isaac, but also leads to the banishment of Hagar and Ishmael due to Sarah's concerns about Isaac's inheritance. God will ever be faithful to His promises according to Numb. 23:19
In Genesis 22, God tests Abraham's faith by commanding him to sacrifice his son Isaac, but ultimately provides a ram as a substitute, demonstrating the power of obedience and God's provision.
We shall be looking at Genesis 23 today, which will give us insight about the character of Abraham during the death and burial of his wife, Sarah.

1. Sarah’s death (Verses 1-2)
Sarah lived one hundred and twenty-seven years; these were the years of the life of Sarah. 2 So Sarah died in Kirjath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.

In Vs 1, Sarah died at the age of 127, when Isaac was 37 years old, and Abraham was 137 years old. She was the only woman in the bible whose age was recorded at the time of her death. She was a Godly woman of faith and the bible encourage women to emulate he according to 1 Pet. 3:3-6
3 Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— 4 rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. 5 For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror. Isa. 51:1-2 encourage us to look to them.

In vs 2, Abraham was weeping and mourning at the death Sarah because of the depth of his love and respect for his wife. Abraham is the father of faith yet we can see the way he mourned the passage of his wife. We must never feel guilty to mourn the death of our loved ones. Faith in God does not diminish human emotion. In our mourning, we must always have the right perspective according to
1 Thes. 4:13-14 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.

James Montgomery wrote in his commentary that to weep for a loved one is to show that we have been close, that the loss is deeply felt, that death is an enemy, and that sin has brought the sad punishment upon the human race.

2. Abraham’s Request for a Burial Site (Verses 3-9)
3 Then Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spoke to the sons of Heth, saying, 4 “I am a foreigner and a visitor among you. Give me property for a burial place among you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.” 5 And the sons of Heth answered Abraham, saying to him, 6 “Hear us, my lord: You are a mighty prince among us; bury your dead in the choicest of our burial places. None of us will withhold from you his burial place, that you may bury your dead.” 7 Then Abraham stood up and bowed himself to the people of the land, the sons of Heth. 8 And he spoke with them, saying, “If it is your wish that I bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and meet with Ephron the son of Zohar for me, 9 that he may give me the cave of Machpelah which he has, which is at the end of his field. Let him give it to me at the full price, as property for a burial place among you.”

In verses 3-4, Abraham made reference to our true identity on earth that we are all foreigners and sojourners on earth according to Heb. 11:9-10 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

He demanded to buy a piece of the land to bury Sarah despite knowing that God already promised him and his descendants the whole land in Gen. 17:8. We must also make a demand on the land despite the promise in Josh. I:3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. Abraham did not carry his dead wife home (Ur of the Chaldeans) to bury Gen 11:31
In verses 5-9 Abraham’s approach when negotiating for the land shows tact, wisdom, and integrity in dealing with the Hittites (the sons of Heth). Why did Abraham demand for Hebron (Gen. 11:31).

3. The Purchase of Machpelah (verses10-16)
10Now Ephron dwelt among the sons of Heth; and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the presence of the sons of Heth, all who entered at the gate of his city, saying, 11 “No, my lord, hear me: I give you the field and the cave that is in it; I give it to you in the presence of the sons of my people. I give it to you. Bury your dead!”12 Then Abraham bowed himself down before the people of the land; 13 and he spoke to Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land, saying, “If you will give it, please hear me. I will give you money for the field; take it from me and I will bury my dead there.”14 And Ephron answered Abraham, saying to him, 15“My lord, listen to me; the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver. What is that between you and me? So bury your dead.” 16And Abraham listened to Ephron; and Abraham weighed out the silver for Ephron which he had named in the hearing of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, currency of the merchants.

In verse 7and 12, we saw the humility of Abraham as he bowed himself before the people of the land despite being held in high regard by calling him lord.
Abraham refused to accept the land for free because of his integrity. “The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the crookedness of the treacherous will destroy them.” (Prov.
11:3; 13:6). True integrity is revealed when no one is watching. Do you walk with integrity when no one else can see it?
In verses 13 to 16, Abraham insisted in paying the full price for the land because without consideration, the Hittites could revoke the land gift to Abraham at any time. To ensure that the tomb would remain for future generations, Abraham insisted upon paying the full price. 400 shekels of silver (about $5,000) was believed to be inflated price for the land, but he paid without negotiation in honour of his wife. Abraham showed how we should conduct business with the world; he was courteous, fair and prudent (Phil. 4:5).

4. Transfer of Ownership and Burial of Sarah (verses 17-20)
17 So the field of Ephron which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field and the cave which was in it, and all the trees that were in the field, which were within all the surrounding borders, were deeded 18 to Abraham as a possession in the presence of the sons of Heth, before all who went in at the gate of his city.19And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah, before Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. 20 So the field and the cave that is in it were deeded to Abraham by the sons of Heth

Abraham obtained the title deed to the property after payment demonstrating in faith in the promise of God to give him the whole land of Canaan. Sarah was buried in this property, and it became the ancestral burial ground for the descendants of Abraham. Abraham was buried here (Gen. 25:9), Isaac, Rebekah and Leah (Gen. 49:31), Jacob (Gen. 49:29), and Joseph (Gen. 50:13).

CONCLUSION
Abraham lived with eternal perspective by looking for a city whose builder and maker is God. Abraham mourned the death of Sarah because mourning is sacred; grief reflects love for the departed. He also gave his wife a dignified burial which demonstrated how we must honour the dead with the hope of resurrection with Christ at His coming.
Abraham also conducted himself with integrity giving us an example of how to make our faith visible in our dealings and decisions. Finally, Abraham left a Godly legacy teaching us to consider how our choices today shape our spiritual legacy.

Contributor: Ngozi Roberts

INTRODUCTION
We learnt in Genesis 20 of Abraham and Sarah’s stay in Gerar. Fearing for his life, Abraham tells King Abimelech that Sarah is his sister. Abimelech takes her, but God warns him in a dream. Abimelech returns Sarah and confronts Abraham, who admits his fear. The chapter ends with God healing Abimelech’s household, which had been afflicted because of Sarah’s presence. We learnt of God’s protection over His covenant and His ability to work through human flaws.
Genesis 21 and 22 focus on Abraham's life, specifically his relationships and a crucial test of faith. Genesis 21 describes the birth of Isaac, the fulfilment of God's promise, and the subsequent ejection of Hagar and Ishmael. It also includes a covenant between Abraham and Abimelech, solidifying their peaceful coexistence and marking the establishment of Beersheba. Genesis 22 then recounts the dramatic story of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac as a burnt offering, demonstrating his ultimate obedience to God, who then provides a ram as a substitute sacrifice and reaffirms His covenant with Abraham.

Genesis 21: God Keeps His Promise and Guides Through Difficult Decisions
Isaac Is Born (Genesis 21:1–7)
God had promised Abraham and Sarah a son (Genesis 17:19), and in this chapter, that promise finally comes true. Sarah becomes pregnant and gives birth to a boy named Isaac, even though she was very old. It was truly a miracle. Sarah had once laughed in disbelief when told she would have a child, but now her laughter is filled with joy. Isaac’s birth reminds us that God always keeps His promises, even when things seem impossible.

Lesson
 emphasizes God’s faithfulness and power
 illustration of transformation and renewed trust in God.

Hagar and Ishmael Are Sent Away (Genesis 21:8–21)
After Isaac grows older, tension rises between Sarah and Hagar, Sarah’s servant, whose son Ishmael had been born earlier to Abraham. When Ishmael appears to mock Isaac, Sarah becomes upset and asks Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael away. Although this is a hard decision, God tells Abraham not to worry. God promises to take care of Ishmael and make him into a great nation too (Genesis 17:20). As Hagar wanders in the desert, God hears
her cry and provides water and hope. This shows God’s kindness, even to those outside the promised family.

Lesson
 Show how God can provide and make a way when seems to be rejection and no way
 God hears our cry to him especially from children
 It shows that we all have inherence in God as children of God
 There is a divine purpose for each of us

Abraham Makes a Peace Treaty (Genesis 21:22–34)
Later, Abraham makes an agreement with King Abimelech so they can live peacefully in the same land. Abraham also worships God by planting a tree and calling on God as the “Everlasting God.” This shows Abraham’s growing influence and his deepening relationship with the Lord.

Lesson
 When you walk in alignment with the will of God, people will be attracted to you (Luke 2:52 (NIV); Isaiah 60:3.
 Abraham’s act of planting a tamarisk tree and calling on “the name of the LORD, the Eternal God” shows his worship and ongoing relationship with Yahweh
Genesis 22: Abraham’s Test and God’s Amazing Provision
Abraham Is Tested (Genesis 22:1–10)
God tests Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac. This request is heartbreaking, but Abraham trusts God and obeys without hesitation. He travels to Mount Moriah with Isaac, prepares everything for the offering, and is about to sacrifice Isaac when something incredible happens.

Lesson
 As children of God we should be ready to let go of any relationship that might have intense emotional weight for a deeper relationship with God
 We should strive to build up our faith in God to portray a matured confidence and trust in Him even during difficult circumstances - 22:5 Abraham says, “He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”. He trusted God to keep his promise. God had promised that he would have descendants from Isaac. He did not know how God would do that, because he knew that he must offer Isaac to God as a sacrifice.

God Provides a Substitute (Genesis 22:11–14)
At the last moment, an angel calls out and stops Abraham. God provides a ram caught in a bush to take Isaac’s place. Abraham names the place The Lord Will Provide (Yahweh Yireh), showing his faith in God’s ability to meet our needs. This powerful event points ahead to how God would one day provide Jesus as a sacrifice for the world.

Lesson
 Our God is a covenant keeping God and will always provide for us in all circumstance when we totally believe and trust in him: 22:12 Abraham still believed that God would keep his promise. So he believed that God would bring Isaac back from death. As seen in Hebrews 11:17-19 -Here is an example of Abraham's faith. God wanted to proof Abraham real trust in HIM... Heb. 11:17 ‘By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18 even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”19 Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death. (NIV)
God Repeats His Promise (Genesis 22:15–19) Because Abraham obeyed, God blesses him again—promising that his descendants will be as numerous as the stars and that through them, all nations will be blessed. Abraham’s faith and obedience are highlighted as an example for generations to come.

Lesson
 Full and instant obedience is necessary for us to be like our father Abraham – a friend of God

Summary / Reflection: Trusting the God Who Provides
Genesis chapters 21 and 22 take us on a powerful journey—from the joy of a long-awaited promise finally fulfilled to the deep tension of a faith-stretching test. In chapter 21, we witness God's faithfulness as Abraham and Sarah welcome their son, Isaac, in their old age. This moment reminds us that God keeps His word, no matter how long it takes or how impossible it may seem to us (Genesis 21:1–2). But not long after, we also see sorrow and separation when Hagar and her son Ishmael are sent away. Even then, God shows His compassion by caring for them in the wilderness, proving that His mercy extends to all who cry out to Him (Genesis 21:15–20).

In chapter 22, the story reaches a dramatic peak. God asks Abraham to do something unthinkable—sacrifice Isaac, the son he loves so deeply. Abraham obeys, showing the depth of his trust in God. Just as he raises the knife, God steps in and provides a ram as a substitute for Isaac (Genesis 22:13–14). Abraham names that place “The Lord Will Provide,” and it becomes a powerful symbol of how God always meets our deepest needs—especially in our most trying moments.
Together, these two chapters remind us that trusting God isn't just about celebrating the good times. True faith means walking with Him through uncertainty, heartache, and sacrifice. God's promises don’t always come quickly, and the journey may not always be easy—but He is always faithful, and He always provides.

Lessons from Genesis 21 and 22
 Faith and Obedience: Abraham’s trust in God shows us that true faith often involves challenges and choices. Obedience brings growth and blessing.
 God Provides: Whether it's a well in the desert for Hagar or a ram on the mountain for Abraham, God always meets the needs of His people.
 Promises Fulfilled: Isaac’s birth proves that God never forgets what He has promised.
 Hope for the Outsider: Even though Ishmael wasn’t part of the covenant promise, God cared for him too.
 A Picture of Salvation: Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac foreshadows a deeper truth in Christianity—that God would provide His own Son as a substitute.

CONCLUSION
In conclusion, Genesis chapters 21 and 22 offer a profound journey through fulfilled promises and tested faith. Isaac’s birth reveals God’s power to do the impossible and His unwavering commitment to His word. The challenges faced by Hagar and Ishmael show that God’s compassion extends beyond the chosen line, offering hope to the overlooked and the outcast. Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac reveals the depth of faith that trusts even when it doesn’t understand, and God’s provision of the ram confirms that He sees, He cares, and He provides at just the right time. Together, these chapters remind us that God’s promises are sure, His timing is perfect, and faith that obeys—even when costly—is always met with divine provision and blessing.
God bless us all in Jesus Name Amen!!

Contributor: Adewale Abiona

INTRODUCTION
In last week’s study we saw the destruction of an abominable nation where the Lord could not find ten good people, Gen.18: 32b. In Chapter 19, justice was served, and the mercy of God was displayed because of Abraham’s relationship with God. In conclusion of last week study, we were charged to take sin seriously and know that God’s justice may be delayed, but certain.
In today’s study of Genesis 20, we will examine God's protection in the case of Sarah the mother of the promised son and how lack of truth from Abraham almost put in jeopardy the promise of God regarding Isaac.

The Lack of Truth (Verses 1-2)
At the brink of the fulfilment of the promise, Abraham, for his own selfish interest and a moment of fear for his own life, was not totally honest about the identity of his wife Sarah.
When he arrived in the city of Gerar, he was afraid of the people there, thinking in his mind they do not appear to be godly, and I may suffer harm because of my wife Sarah and her beauty. For this reason, he told the people that Sarah was his sister.

In today’s world, we hear what is referred to as “white lies”, an act of deceit where people fail to be honest, refusing to shed light on a matter, and leaving it for others to guess what the truth is. Abraham’s action gave Abimelech a false impression about the identity of Sarah.
As believers, Matthew 5:37 tells us “But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one” and 1 Thessalonians 5:22 says “Abstain from every form of evil”

Abraham’s action was contrary to the word God spoke to him in Genesis 17:15-16. God said to Abraham, “I will give Sarai, your wife, a new name. Her new name will be Sarah. I will bless her. I will give her a son, and you will be the father. She will be the mother of many new nations. Kings of nations will come from her.”

The lack of truth has caused many issues in marriages today and selfishness is at the root of it. Your marriage is not all about you, God has a purpose for every marriage, and we must consider that when spouses relate with each other. Do not do anything that will destroy your marriage. Bring all your marriage decisions in line with God’s plan and agenda. Always be truthful and let your motives be pure.

A few more verses in Genesis 17 reveal the mind of Abraham
"17 Abraham bowed his face to the ground to show he respected God. But he laughed and said to himself, “I am 100 years old. I cannot have a son, and Sarah is 90 years old. She cannot have a child.” 18 Then Abraham said to God, “I hope Ishmael will live and serve you.” 19 God said, “No, I said that your wife Sarah will have a son. You will name him Isaac. I will make my agreement with him that will continue forever with all his descendants. (response to vs 17) 20 “You mentioned Ishmael, and I heard you. I will bless him, and he will have many children. He will be the father of twelve great leaders. His family will become a great nation. 21 But I will make my agreement with Isaac, the son who Sarah will have. He will be born at this same time next year.” (response to vs 19)

Abraham appeared to have been comforted by the birth of Ishmael and no longer sought Sarah’s interest or the fulfilment of God’s promise to him and his wife. It looked like he wanted God to change the promise from soon to be Sarah’s son to already born Hagar’s son
God is not going to break His covenant to please you or change His commandment because of your circumstance. We are the ones to change and align ourselves to His perfect will Romans 12:2 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

God’s Protection of the Promise Verse 3-6
Just as the Lord protected Mary from shame by speaking to Joseph against his decision to put Mary away, in same manner, God had to intervene in the mess Abraham created by not being truthful. God spoke to Abimelech in a dream and said, “You will die. The woman you took is married.” Vs 3
God had already been ahead in Abraham’s gamble with his marriage to Sarah. God had prevented Abimelech from having carnal knowledge of Abraham’s wife. Vs 6
The reason you did not fall for that sin or trick is not because of your innocence or that you didn’t know it was a sin. It is because of His love, and that He did not want you to be destroyed. John 10:10 made it very clear the assignment of the devil. This is why he tricks people in various ways, to prevent them from fulfilling destiny. In the same verse we saw that God’s plan was to protect that same destiny. Lamentations 3:22 - Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.

Verse 8-13 – Abraham tries to justify his untruthfulness
9 Then Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, “Why have you done this to us? What wrong did I do to you? Why did you lie and say that she was your sister? You brought great trouble to my kingdom. You should not have done this to me. 10 What were you afraid of? Why did you do this to me?” 11 Then Abraham said, “I thought no one in this place respected God. I thought someone would kill me to get Sarah. 12 She is my wife, but she is also my sister. She is the daughter of my father but not the daughter of my mother. 13 God led me away from my father’s house. He led me to wander to many different places. When that happened, I told Sarah, ‘Do something for me. Wherever we go, tell people you are my sister.’”

What is your excuse for not been truthful?
Nothing can be used to justify the wrong before God. The point that she was originally his half-sister is not acceptable ground. He also attempted to blame it on God for sending him to different places. I wonder if he would have said Sarah was his sister if Hagar and Ishmael were not in the picture.
Abimelech also thought he was innocent for coveting another man’s wife or wanting to use his position to take a woman without following the normal process, God closed all the wombs of the women in his house.

David’s case with Bathsheba did not go unpunished. 2 Samuel 11-12
Your lies, deceit and wrong motives will not go undetected and unpunished. Hebrews 4:12 - the Word of God is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Proverbs 12:19 - The truthful lip shall be established forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

Verses 7, 14-16
God commanded Abimelech to restore to Abraham his wife in verse 7
Let’s see some of the Key ingredients in that instruction and how Abimelech obeyed God The Lord told him:
• Abraham is a prophet.
• He will pray for you, and you will live.
• But if you don’t give Sarah back to him, I promise that you will die.
• And all your family will die with you.”

Abimelech’s actions following God’s rebuke
• Abimelech gave Sarah back to Abraham
• Abimelech also gave Abraham some sheep, cattle, and slaves.
• Abimelech said, “Look all around you. This is my land. You may live any place you want.”
• Abimelech said to Sarah, “I gave your brother Abraham (sarcasm) 1000 pieces of silver
• I did this to show that I am very sorry. I want everyone to see that I did the right thing.”

Verse 17-18
17 So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children. 18 For the Lord had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham's wife.

CONCLUSION
One of the things that we learn is that if God is the one leading and directing you, He will surely protect you. Just remain faithful and truthful to His instruction. Don’t try to figure it out or think some areas of that journey are for you to handle. He knows it all and He’s all over it, including those tiny little details. Jeremiah 32:27 - “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?
What God is set to do, He will do and if that includes Him stepping in, He will, not because of you but for His own name and glorification.
Do not entertain fear. Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ Your action or inaction will only cost you, not Him. Failure to wait on God’s time for the promise, brought Abraham emotional pain when he had to let go of Ishmael. Genesis 21:10-11.
What issue(s) have you created in your life and in your marriage?
Ask the Lord to help, ask in to step in and deliver you now.
Promise that you will always be truthful to Him, yourself and in all circumstances.
Ask Him to divinely intervene and protect your marriage, your children and household from the plan of the enemy.

Contributor: Isekhua Evborokhai

INTRODUCTION
In last week’s study we saw Abraham interceding on behalf of the righteous in Sodom. The way chapter 18 ended, God promised that He would not destroy Sodom and if there were up to 10 righteous people. In today’s study of Genesis 19 we, open with the arrival of God’s angels in Sodom to destroy the city. Conclusively, there were not up to 10 righteous people in the land. We will examine how God's justice and mercy are both fully displayed in the destruction of Sodom, and learn lessons from this account that affect us as individuals, and as a community of believers. Genesis 19 is a powerful chapter that reveals the righteous judgment of God against sin and how He can show mercy toward the righteous.

Verses 1-3 - Ritual Without Relationship
When two angels (in human form) arrive in Sodom, Lot recognized they were angels and offered them hospitality, a culturally sacred duty. Although he had strayed at this stage, he still could follow the motions. He referred to them as “lords”, invited them in, washed their feet and prepared ceremonially acceptable food for them. Isaiah 29:13

Verses 4-5 - The Depth of Sodom's Depravity
All the men of the city, from young to old, surrounded Lot’s house and demanded to have sex with the two angels. This is what will be referred to today as “gang rape”, a very clear indication of widespread sexual immorality. No wonder God could not find up to 10 righteous people. Jude 1:7

Verses 6-8 - Right Cannot Be Done Without Faith
Lot offers his daughters instead, revealing both the depth of the city's depravity and Lot’s compromised morality. He was attempting to “fix a problem” by compromise. It also confirms that he didn’t have faith in God, that He could intervene and did not need his help. Confirming that he was only following the motions when he welcomed the angels. Another failed attempt to help God. Trying to help God always has regrettable consequences.

Verse 9 – The Cost of Compromise: Loss of Moral Authority
The MSG version of this verse reads: “They said, “Get lost! You drop in from nowhere and now you’re going to tell us how to run our lives. We’ll treat you worse than them!” And they charged past Lot to break down the door.”
The response of the men of Sodom to Lot’s attempt implies the possibility that Lot's lack of moral authority and respect among the men of Sodom was due to compromises in his faith and lifestyle. Living near or within moral corruption without influencing it for good can erode personal holiness. If you recall from verse 1, he was sitting in the gate of Sodom. In Bible days, to sit at the gate meant being part of the leadership or elders, a person of influence or decision-making power. This suggests Lot had some civic role, yet he had no moral influence over the city's behaviour, failing to confront their evil. Probably didn’t want to be labelled homophobic. So when he spoke, it was hypocritical, and the men discarded his attempt to act righteously (in the presence of the visitors), probably because he had never stood up for righteousness before.

Verses 10-11 – Vengeance is the Lord’s
The angels intervened, pulled him into the house and struck the men with blindness. You do not defend a cage full of lions, you open the cage and step back and watch the lions defend themselves. 2 Kings 6:18, Romains 12:19, Deuteronomy 32:35.

Verses 12-14 – Consequences of Compromise
The hollowness of Lot’s character was pitiful. In verse 14, he went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, pledged to marry his daughters. He said, “Hurry and get out of this place, because the Lord is about to destroy the city!” But his sons-in-law wouldn’t take him seriously. The Bible says they though he was joking. Romans 12:2

Verses 15–22 - The Warning and Escape
The angels warn Lot to flee with his family. Despite Lot's hesitation, God shows him mercy by the angels having to drag them out of the city (v. 16). They were told to flee and not look back.

Verses 23–29 - Judgment Falls but Mercy Stands
God rains down fire and sulphur on Sodom and Gomorrah. God does not ignore sin; Sodom’s destruction was a divine response to deep, persistent wickedness (Genesis 18:20-21). Lot’s wife disobeys the warning and looks back and is turned into a pillar of salt. God does not compromise on consequences. The judgement He meted on Sodom was total and final. Yet in the midst of this judgement, God was mindful of Abraham and first got Lot out of there before He blasted those cities off the face of the Earth (Verse 29, MSG).

• Can we relate our world today with Sodom? Give examples
• In what ways are our societies today rejecting God?

Verses 30–38 - The Tragedy in the Cave
What Lot’s daughters did in the cave, was tragic and immoral. It really makes one wonder what virtues Lot taught them? There is no indication that they had any morality. They may have been heavily influenced by the culture and moral decadence of Sodom.

CONCLUSION
Genesis 19 is not just a historical account—it is a mirror for us today. Lot’s story is a call to examine where we have grown complacent with sin around us. In a world marked by moral confusion and spiritual apathy, this chapter calls us to live holy lives, remember God’s justice, and cling to His mercy. We must take sin seriously and know that God’s justice may be delayed, but it is certain. Genesis 19 demonstrates both God’s justice on the one hand towards Sodom and Gomorrah, while on the other, mercy for Lot by virtue of the intercession of Abraham. Finally, we must know that “mercy is not always neat”. Although Lot was saved, the consequences of his actions while in Sodom still carried ongoing consequences as we see with his daughters.

Contributor: Ayomide Oladipo

INTRODUCTION
Last week, we had an overview of the first 17 chapters of the book of Genesis, our teacher gave an expository of the “profound and multifaceted text that lays the foundation for biblical theology” in Genesis 1. The overview captured the dynamics of creation by God and His purpose for creating Man, it also gave us an overview of different occurrences on earth and with mankind that are the bases for some of the happenings around our world today.

Today we will continue on the life and destiny of Abraham, we would examine his call and walk of faith with the Lord, the promise God had for him and his descendants as well as the fulfilment of the promise. We trust God to give us an understanding of how Abraham was able to work with Him using the gift of discernment, faith, and reverence to God to see the fulfilment of his destiny.

What is the Promise?
Genesis 12:1-3 “Now the Lord had said unto Abram, get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee 2. And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing. 3. And I will bless them that bless thee and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”

Two points to highlight in the calling and promise of God for Abram,

• God called him out of the seen into the unseen,
• God as well called him to be blessed and be a blessing.

The calling of Abram from the known into the unknown is purposed to build his trust and relationship with the Lord. God also destined him not just to be blessed but also to be a blessing. We can see something similar in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, Philippians 2:5-8, Jesus had a mindset of reverence to God by exalting Him above personal comfort and reputation, a mindset of service and humility, this provoked the fulfilment of God’s blessing upon Jesus as well as Abraham. As children of God, we are admonished to have this mindset in us, the mindset of willingness to obey God’s directive, and not only to be blessed but to be a blessing as well.

The journey of Abram from when he heard the promise to when it was fulfilled, was not a straight path, it was a walk of building relationship with God, and as we have learned in the life of Abraham, the more he walked with God, the more he built capacity to trust God and obey him. Behind every action, thought, or attitude a person exhibits is a mindset. We call Abraham the Father of Faith, but we should not forget he was once a ‘child in faith’.
According to God’s standard, his works were not as important as his relationship with Him which translated into Abraham’s trust in God- Romans 4: 1-4 KJV. We could see that on the journey to receiving God’s promise, the journey was more to prepare Abraham for the promise than was it is to take him to the promise.

How was Abraham able to wait on the Promise?

1. He Understood His Waiting as a Process (2 Corinthians 4: 16-18)

It is important for us to know that there was nothing that happened in Abraham’s life and journey towards receiving the promise that was a surprise to God. God “Calls forth Light out of Darkness”, so in every situation, God considered it a learning opportunity for Abraham, and in his life, we could deduce that after every shortcoming, Abraham became wiser, his walk with God scaled new heights. By man’s standard, Abraham made mistakes on his way to the fulfilment of his destiny, but by God’s standard, Abraham went through a process that tested his trust in the Lord and revealed his vulnerabilities to him in preparation for the promise.

2. Abraham Discerned prophetic Season for Promise Fulfilment
Genesis 18: 1-10. Abraham’s walk with God and spiritual maturity enabled him to discern the angels in human form and the time of his prophetic visitation - 2 Timothy 1:6-7. From the text we could see that those men were not on their way to Abraham’s house, and even when God had promised Abraham it took discernment to be able to entertain them, which provoked the prophetic declaration that led to Abraham receiving the promise of God - 1 Chronicles 12:32.

Through Abraham’s Walk with God, his nature and way of life changed, Abraham exhibited one of God’s virtues “Kindness” – (Galatians 5:22-23). Abraham did not only walk with God, but we also see God working in him through his character and ways. (Galatians 6:9) The scripture admonishes us not to relent in doing good, Abraham had a culture of kindness, we could see it in the relationship he had with his wife Sarai and Lot his brother’s son, and in due season he reaped what he sowed. As children of God, we must always look for opportunity to do good to people and be kind, we may not reap where we sowed, so we should avoid doing good for the sole purpose of been able to receive praise or accolades from the recipient necessarily. But according to the Word of God we will surely reap what we sow. As much as we pray as children of God, we must also be spiritually sensitive, because most of the answers will come in ‘packages’ we are not familiar with, but the Holy Spirit can help us to discern them - Isaiah 30:21.

3. He Knew His God
(Genesis 18: 10 – 33) Abraham’s walk with God, while paying attention to His ways gave him a good understanding of God’s character, which led to great works. In this text we could see Abraham reverence of God in the way he discussed with Him, and his discussion with God was based on his knowledge of God, and we could see he was able to intercede for the people of God in Sodom and Gomorrah – (Daniel 11:32). He reverenced God even when God had attested to his loyalty, he never spoke to God as a friend, he maintained the posture of a child of God (Humility).

CONCLUSION
God answers prayers, He brings to fulfilment His promises to His children. For every promise of God, there is an appointed season for its fulfilment, the Bible says in Habakkuk 2:3 “For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarries, wait for it, because it will surely come, it will not tarry.”We can wait for the fulfilment of our promises like Abraham did; trusting God to help us understand times and seasons, continue in building our relationship with God by learning His ways and knowing Him more intimately.

Rather than focusing on the end of every situation, we should focus on the process, what the process is making in us, the Bible says all things work together for our good, therefore in every season of our lives we should look for the good in the season, good knowledge, good wisdom, good understanding, good relationship and many more. When God gives us a promise, He prepares us for the promise not prepare the promise for us.

Contributor: Peter Folikwe

INTRODUCTION

Genesis Chapter 15 highlighted the unwavering faith demonstrated by Abram as confirmed in Genesis 15:6 “And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.” This was after God made an everlasting covenant with Abram and his seeds. Chapters 16 introduces us to the emotional/impatient choice of Hagar as a surrogate mother for the promised seed, and in Chapter 17 God sealed His covenant with Abraham through the circumcision of the promised seed to be born through the womb of Sarah.

CHAPTER 16

Recall the covenant made by God to Abram that his descendants will inherit the land. Up until this time Abram and Sarah were yet to have an offspring. In Genesis 16:1-4, we see Sarai’s expectation of God’s promise of her having a child becoming belated. She actually gave up on having children in V2 and said to the husband, “See now, the Lord has restrained me from bearing children”. She therefore proposed an unconventional method for the fulfilment of God’s covenant through Abram’s seed. This simply showcases one of the greatest weaknesses of men: Impatience! She proposed that Abram try having a child through Hagar, her maidservant from Egypt which Abram consented.

It is unbelievable how the same Abram that believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness, turns around to agree to an alternative option presented to him by his wife. Note that it was Sarai that gave Hagar to Abram as a wife which was not part of God’s original plan for him as we will see towards the end of the chapter. And when Sarai saw that Hagar had conceived, she became despised. One would ask, what was on Sarai’s mind when she made the proposal?

What happened in Gen 16:5 was such a hypocritical situation where Sarai was blaming the husband for a decision that was clearly her idea. The maid having been elevated to the position of 2nd wife Yoruba adage that says “Bami na Omo mi, Ko de inu olomo” - interpreted to mean, “help discipline my child is not a passport for you to do as instructed”, particularly from the child’s mother. This is a classical case where people try to fix things our own way which often go wrong and then turn around pass blames, instead of taking responsibility. In V6, Abram was not asking Sarai to caution Hagar for treating her mistress with contempt, just because she had become pregnant. Abram’s request is that Hagar be demoted from the position of a wife they collectively gave to her on a platter of gold. Hagar in return considered her mistress’ decision as unkind and cruel. She’s quite justified, because she never displayed any disloyalty towards them to the point the she humbly acceped to marry her mattress’ hubby at her instruction. For her, the only way out of the quagmire/predicament is to take her leave of absence from the house.

Review of V7-14:

In V7 our compassionate God as He has always been found Hagar in her pain and solitude, pregnant with a child in by a well in the wilderness. The Angel sent by God addressed Hagar as Sarai’s maid, and not Abram’s wife, because the unconventional union was not recognized by God. As if God does not know what led Hagar into the wilderness, he asked to know where she is coming from and where she is going and she narrated her side of the story. The Angel of the Lord instructed Hagar to return to her mistress, and submit herself under her hand. Considering the world, we live in today, not many will heed the Angels call. Many will play the victim, reeling out how they have been mistreated and disdained, without any mention of their own attitude. Most often when we go to the Lord in prayer to change our circumstances, the focus of God is always in changing us first. The moment we change our attitude to do God’s bidding, our prayers become automatically answered based on His will for us. Prov 16:7 says “When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.”. Not only will his prayers be answered, even his enemies hindering his prayers will begin to cooperate with him.

In V10, we see a similarity with the covenant God made with Abram, declared by the Angel of God to Hagar “Then the Angel of the Lord said to her, “I will multiply your descendants exceedingly, so that they shall not be counted for multitude.” The Angel went further to declare to her that the outcome of her pregnancy will be a male child that will be name Ishmael - meaning ‘God hears’. Similarly, when we go through unpleasant circumstances and distresses, God sees our secret tears and hears our cry.

In V12 NLT, the Angel described Ishmael, the unborn child as “a wild man, as untamed as a wild donkey!.” He was further described as follows “He will raise his fist against everyone, and everyone will be against him. Yes, he will live in open hostility against all his relatives” - meaning his life will be marked by hostility and conflict. I believe we can see that play out in the middle East of today. Hagar responded to the Angel with appreciation God’s compassion towards her by naming the place “God sees” her affliction. Meanwhile, the name of Ishmael means “God hears”

In Genesis 16:15-16

Ishmael turned out to be Abram’s first son, but not based on God’s original plan. Brethren, we see Sarai counsel her hubby to help God fulfil His covenant to Abram. Majority today, trying to help God, have created their Ishmaels. This is what is called “the permissible will of God”. The concept of God's permissive will can be understood as the allowance of God for human choices and actions, even when they may not align with His perfect will. Apostle Paul in Gal 4:22-23 described this scenario “For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise,” s help at all times.’Brethren, God does not need our help, but instead we need God It’s my prayer that those who have been enduring and waiting on God, the Lord will show up for them at the appointed time.

Chapter 17

The covenant of circumcision: In Gen 17:1-3, we see a remarkable turning point in the life of Abram. God appeared Abram at the stricken age of 99 years old. In Chapter 12, God asked him to leave his father’s house to a land He will show him and promised to bless Abram there. Abram left Haram at the age of 75 in Gen 12:4. He had Ishmael at the age of 86 years in Gen 16:15-16 we had just studied. God did not send an angel. The details of how God appeared was not clear, but recall when Moses request to see God in person in Ex 33:20, God responded saying “But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.” In the same passage we read that God spoke to the hearing of Abram asking him to walk before Him and be blameless. Here we see God revealing Himself as God Almighty (the All-sufficient God - El Shaddai) and afterwards God presented His expectation of Abram.

God had promised having a covenant with Abram 25 years earlier in Gen 12:1-3. By this He simply affirmed His covenant as earlier promised to Abram. In V3 Abram fell on his face showing submission and total reverence to God Almighty.In order reaffirm His commitment to His covenant, God changed God is the God that ‘Father of many nations’. -‘Father of many’ to Abraham -from Abram his name deliver. In Gen 12:2 He promised Abram to make him a great nation, but in Gen -promises and over17:6 Gid promised to make nations of Abraham.

In V7-8 God reaffirms His covenant with Abraham to his yet-to-born seed - an everlasting covenant (trans-generational). In V8, God’s covenant to give the of Canaan to Abraham and his descendants as an everlasting possession holds till date. No amount of opposition have been able to make Israel relinquish the land God gave them as a covenant. God in V10-11 instituted the covenant of the cutting off the foreskin of every male child born into Abraham’s lineage and also by association into Abraham's lineage. The circumcision will mark them as descendants operating within the covenant.

Since circumcision deals with the male organ aprocreation, it was a reminder of the special seed of Abraham that will bring the Messiah, promised to Abraham to bless every nation on earth. Spiritually, the significance of cutting off the foreskin signifies the efficacy of the covenant of cutting off fleshly desires. God also stated that a male child must be circumcised when 8 days old. Scientists have proven that the 8th day in the life of an infant is when the body is at its optimal level of immunity/blood clotting antibodies. In V14, God put a penalty clause in place for any male child born into the Abrahamic covenant without circumcision as prescribed by God. Rejection of the circumcision was regarded as a rejection of the covenant. God again changed the name of Sarai to Sarah connected to the array blessings reeled out by God in V16 and that the blessings will be trans generational through Sarah’s own son and not through a surrogate. Abraham laughed, but spoke to himself in the heart wondering how God would make a 100 and 90 year of have a child. He was not in any way doubting God’s ability to do the impossible/unthinkable.

Apostle Paul reiterated this in Rom 4:17-21 “(as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.”

Ironically in V18 Abraham presented Ishmael as the son of the covenant.

In V19-21 Abraham as a good father beckoned on God to fulfil the covenant through Ishmael, but God said no emphasizing that the covenant will be through Isaac, Sarah’s son. The name Isaac meant laughter, a name that will remind Abraham that he laughed in amazement of God’s promise. The covenant and the promises were to be passed only through Isaac, though He has pronounced blessings upon Ishmael. V23-27 Abraham just obeyed God without hesitation by offering himself for circumcision together with .; all born in his houseservantsand blood relations, all his household male

CONCLUSION

The two chapters clearly demonstrated God’s unwavering commitments to His covenant, even when men fail on their part. He also gives us the permissible will to do our bidding without changing the course of His original plans for our lives. As a faithful God delights in giving us a new/better name that will enable the fulfilment of His covenant. All He demands of us is our faith in Him and total obedience to His commands.

Contributor: Isekhua Evborokhai

INTRODUCTION
As we continue in the study of the book of Genesis, we encounter chapter 15. A chapter that marks a crucial moment in the history of God’s redemption plan. In this chapter, God formally established a covenant with Abram (who later became Abraham), and sealed His promises with a divine oath. In today’s study we will learn about the reassurance of His presence, not just to Abraham but to every one of us, the prophetic revelation of the Israelites in Egypt, and the ritual of circumcision that emphasizes the certainty of God’s promises.

1. God’s Tri-Fold Reassurance to Abram (Verses 1–6)
Verse 1: "After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; Your reward [for obedience] shall be very great."
In this verse of scripture, we identify 3 key elements of God’s reassurance.

• "Do not be afraid": This phrase is repeated throughout Scripture to comfort God's people as we see in Isaiah 41:10, Luke 1:30. It is also believed that “Do Not Be afraid”, “Fear Not”, or other variations of the phrase appear in the Bible 365 times, one for each day. More than it being deliberate or a supposed coincidence, we should rest assured that even if it appeared only once, it is more than enough to assure us of God’s promises.

• "I am your shield": God assures Abram of His divine protection (Psalm 3:3; Ephesians 6:16). The Psalmist in Psalm 119:114 says: “You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.”

• "Your reward": The AMP Bible connects Abram’s reward to his obedience. And it is true that there is great reward for obeying God. Isaiah 1:19 tells us that if we are willing and obedient we will eat the good of the land. There is also a school of thought that ties this reward of Abram back to his refusal to take a reward from the King of Sodom (Genesis 14:22–24). And thus, God says to Abram that He will be his inheritance, his reward.

Verses 2–3: “2 Abram said, “Lord God, what reward will You give me, since I am [leaving this world] childless, and he who will be the owner and heir of my house is this [servant] Eliezer from Damascus?” 3 And Abram continued, “Since You have given no child to me, one (a servant) born in my house is my heir.”
Abram’s response is what anyone of us would have asked today. How can God's promise be fulfilled, since he has no heir. For instance, “I cannot pay my bills, but I am supposed to lend to Nations?” And consequentially, he sees Eliezer as a potential heir”. This tells us that Abram was human, and although he had obeyed God by leaving his home, he still had his struggles and limited in understanding (Proverbs 3:5–6).

Question: How do we relate with this today?

Verses 4–5: “Then behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “This man [Eliezer] will not be your heir but he who shall come from your own body shall be your heir.” 5 And the Lord brought Abram outside [his tent into the night] and said, “Look now toward the heavens and count the stars—if you are able to count them.” Then He said to him, “So [numerous] shall your descendants be.”
God reaffirms the promise: “but he who shall come from your own body shall be your heir.” "Your own son shall be your heir" and then to help his faith, God shows Abram the stars as a sign of the coming descendants. (Genesis 12:2).

Verse 6: "Then Abram believed in (affirmed, trusted in, relied on, remained steadfast to) the Lord; and He counted (credited) it to him as righteousness (doing right in regard to God and man)." (Romans 4:3, Galatians 3:6, James 2:23).

From this verse we see that God accepts faith as a path to righteousness. So, faith, in the finished work of the cross, not works, is the basis for justification or being declared righteous in God's sight.

2. God's Promise of Land (Verses 7–8)
Verse 7: “And He said to him, “I am the [same] Lord who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land as an inheritance.”
God reminds Abram of the One he was dealing with. The One who brought him out from Ur of the Chaldeans (Genesis 12:1). It was almost as if it was a third layer of re-assurance for Abram, but it still wasn’t quite enough for Abram

Verse 8: “8 But Abram said, “Lord God, by what [proof] will I know that I will inherit it?”
Abram asks, “How can I know? What is the proof that I will inherit the land?”

Abram was not ashamed to ask God for assurance. Even though in verse 6 we are told that he believed.
Question: How do we relate with this today?

Prophecy of the Egyptian bondage (Verses 9–16)
“9 So God said to him, “Bring Me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” 10 So Abram brought all these to Him and cut them down the middle, and laid each half opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds. 11 The birds of prey swooped down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away. 12 When the sun was setting, a deep sleep overcame Abram; and a horror (terror, shuddering fear, nightmare) of great darkness overcame him. 13 God said to Abram, “Know for sure that your descendants will be strangers [living temporarily] in a land (Egypt) that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years. 14 But on that nation whom your descendants will serve I will bring judgment, and afterward they will come out [of that land] with great possessions. 15 As for you, you shall [die and] go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried at a good old age. 16 Then in the fourth generation your descendants shall
return here [to Canaan, the land of promise], for the wickedness and guilt of the Amorites is not yet complete (finished).”

Abram asked and the Lord showed him the future. Interestingly, it was first that his descendants would be in Egyptian bondage for 400 years Exodus 1–12. But they will be delivered. (fulfilled in Exodus 12:35–36). God told him clearly, you are not the one who will inherit the land but your descendants. As for you, you will enjoy a good life and die at a good ripe old age. (Verse 15)

3.The Covenant Sealed by God Alone (Verses 17–21)
17 When the sun had gone down and a [deep] darkness had come, there appeared a smoking brazier and a flaming torch which passed between the [divided] pieces [of the animals]. 18 On the same day the Lord made a covenant (promise, pledge) with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land, From the river of Egypt to the great river Euphrates 19 [the land of] the Kenites and the Kenizzites and the Kadmonites 20 and the Hittites and the Perizzites and the Rephaim, 21 the Amorites and the Canaanites and the Girgashites and the Jebusites.”

The conflict in the middle east today with respect to who has the right to land areas, etc. and the uninformed are taking to the streets blindly can be traced back to Abraham and his two sons. Ishmael and Isaac. Ishmael was a descendant of Abraham, but he was not the heir of the covenant promise God made in Genesis 15:18. We see this in the following verses of scripture

•Genesis 17:18–21 (when Abraham asks God to bless Ishmael):
“And Abraham said to God, ‘If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!’ Then God said, ‘Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him... But my covenant I will establish with Isaac.”

•Genesis 21:12 (after Sarah asks Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael away):
“Do not be distressed about the boy and your slave woman. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”
The land and covenantal promises of Genesis 15:18 were specifically for Isaac and his descendants.

CONCLUSION
From today’s study we identified various keys that are applicable to us today.
Firstly, like Abram, we must continue to trust in God’s Promises even when fulfillment is delayed or unclear. Secondly, God recognizes the faith of His people and He counts it as righteousness. Thirdly, God’s covenants are reliable because He alone ensures their fulfillment. Next, we should not hide our difficulties from our Father. Just like Abram, we must ask God for assurance when in doubt and expect His response through His Word or by His Spirit. Finally, God sees the long view, the only One that can see the end from the beginning and although His plans unfold over generations, yet He remains faithful.