Genesis 16-20: In the Word
Join us as we read through the Bible. We hope these questions and thoughts will help you with your study of His Word.
Use these questions to help your weekday worship reading:
What does this passage say about God?
What does this passage say about humanity?
How does this passage fit into the bigger picture of the book so far?
What is strange, offensive, or challenging in this passage?
Based on this passage, what would God say is good or not good in my life?
This week I wanted to model the first two of our five questions for reading the Bible. These questions should help us with the chapters that are ahead of us in our reading, which are enormously important. I encourage you to ponder each of these questions throughout the day as you read and remember each chapter you have read throughout the week.
What do these chapters say about God?
We learn that God is the God “who sees” the desperate and lowly (Genesis 16:13). The character of God is one marked by a gracious care for both his promised covenant people (Abraham and Sarah) and beyond (Hagar, Ishmael, Abimelek). God’s justice does not come without warning or without cause. God is no tyrant, but delights to correctively instruct sinners away from sin. God is both the Lord over life (opening the wombs of women to birth new generations), and the Lord over death (as seen in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah). God is the Lord.
We turn from considering the things of God in these chapters to the things of humanity.
What do these chapters say about humanity?
While we might first read these chapters and think these ancient people are nothing like us, we soon begin to see much of ourselves in these pages of sacred scripture. Abraham and Sarah looked to fulfill God’s promises of a child through their own plans and timelines (Genesis 16). Abraham and Sarah both laughed at God’s promises (Genesis 17:17; 18:12-15). How often do we prioritize our own methods and timelines over God’s? How quick are we to scoff at God’s ways, and laugh at his messages? Abraham’s relative, Lot, had made life choices that put him in a town marked for destruction (Genesis 19:1-29). Lot’s life after relocation was marked by drunkenness and sexual immorality (Genesis 19:30-38). Our own lives are often marked by the destruction brought about by our own sinful choices, and the sinful choices of those around us (Genesis 20).
While there is a continued thread of sinful sadness throughout these chapters this week, there is also a continued thread of hope. Despite all the madness of sin, God’s promises keep moving forward. Nothing can stop God’s aims or purposes - not Abraham’s failures, not human debauchery, not even human aging. God had promised he would crush the serpent, he would bring a savior from the line of Abraham, from the womb of Sarah and the descendants to come. Despite all of the failures and ruin, God continued to bless Abraham and Sarah through His promises kept. Despite all our failures and ruin, God continues to bless all who put their faith in Him through the ultimate son of Abraham - the Lord Jesus Christ.
Got questions about what we’re reading? Send me an email redeemingfamily@gmail.com