Christ-Light Connections: God Promises Abraham and Son & God answers Abraham’s Prayer

The theme this week is God keeps his promises and answers prayer.

We continue to follow Abram through his journey as a believer and as one chosen by God. The next couple of chapters include more great acts of faith, huge moral failings, and God’s steadfast patience and love for his child. Parents, be sure to read the chapters in between the lessons that are highlighted in Christ Light so that you get the full picture of Abraham and his story.

OT Set 1 5A

God Promises Abram a Son — Genesis 15:1-6, Genesis 18:1-15

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Context

It has been ten years since God had first called Abram instructing him to move to the land promised to his descendants. Although Abram’s wealth and power have increased during this time, he is still childless and therefore God’s promises remained unfulfilled.

Big Themes

Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness Genesis 15:4-6)

In Chapter 15, again God gives Abram an incredible promise. His children would be as numerous as the stars in the sky. Verse 6 is a key verse. There was only one thing that made Abram right with God. It was not his obedience or unwavering trust– rather it was his belief in God that gave him access to the righteousness of Christ.

Conversation Starters:

• What makes us righteous before God?

Hagar and Ishmael (Genesis 16:1-16)

In the very next chapter, Abram and Sarai foolishly act out of doubt and fear. It has been ten years since God first made his promise to them, and Sarai still has not conceived. In an attempt to grasp for control and to help God, Sarai suggests that Abram take Hagar as a wife. Abram agrees and Ishmael is born. After his birth, Abram allows Sarai to mistreat Hagar so much that she runs away.

It is disturbing to me to watch Abram, God’s chosen patriarch of the faith, display such horrible acts of cruelty and doubt in God’s power. What would happen today to any leader of the church acting similarly? As I discuss it with my children, I want to highlight that Abram was both a sinner and a saint at the same time. His failings are recorded for us so that we can believe that God loves the worst of sinners.

Conversation starters:

• Why did God wait so long to fulfill his promise?
• What did Abram and Sarai discover about God as they waited?
• What does Abram’s sin problem teach us about ourselves and about our God?

“No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham.” You are no longer to call her Sarai, her name will be Sarah.”(Genesis 17:5,15)

God comes to Abram again and renews his promise. This time he attaches to more physical reminders. First, he changes Abram’s name to Abraham. Abraham means “Exalted Father of Many Nations.” Second, he establishes the covenant of circumcision.

Conversation starters:

Why do you think God changed Abram’s name to Abraham?

Digging Deeper

The Seeds of Faith resource provides context and deeper connections. Their lesson also includes more chapters about God’s covenant with him.

In 40 Minutes in the Old Testament, there are multiple episodes about this portion of Abraham’s life. The teachers are blunt and honest about sin and open about what circumcision is. Because of this, I would listen to this with my older children, but not my youngest.

• Episode 22: Abraham, Sarah, Hagar and a whole lot of sin.
• Episode 23: God introduces circumcision
• Episode 24: The first half of the episode discusses the significance of circumcision on the 8th day.

OT Set 1 5B

God Answers Abrahams Prayer —Genesis 18:16-19:29

Context

The next story strings together two major events that happen back to back. Abraham is now 99 years old and Sarah 90. Even after God changes their names and the covenant of circumcision had been established, they still do not have a child.

As God communicates with Abraham in this story, we see what a personal God he is.

Big Themes

Three Visitors (Genesis 18:1)

This time when God communicates with Abraham and Sarah, it is unique. He now comes to them in bodily form along with two angels. We see our God as personal and accessible.

“Sarah laughed” (Genesis 18:10-12)

Conversation starters:

God has waited for Sarah to age so that she is far past the years of being able to bear a child. There is no longer hope for her to bear a child in any natural way. God’s promise seems absolutely ridiculous. From our human perspective, Sarah’s laughter is understandable.

• Why did God wait so long to give Sarah a child?
• Can you name any other miraculous births in the Bible?

Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:16 – 19:1-29)

The story then transitions to the destruction of two nearby cities. We previously heard about these two cities when Lot chose to live near them and was caught up in their political drama. He became a prisoner of war, and Abraham swooped in for the rescue.

Now we learn that the sin of these citizens is so grievous that God plans to destroy them.

Abraham’s prayer (Genesis 18:23-33)

God shares his plan with Abraham to destroy these two cities. Abraham knows that his nephew, Lot, will share in the fate of the wicked and intervenes with a prayer. As we study Abraham’s prayer, we see how personal God is and how bold and honest we can before him.

Conversation starters:

• Abraham uses the two words “righteous” and “wicked” to describe the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. Considering what you know about Abraham’s faults what do you think he means by righteous?

Lot hesitated (Genesis 19:16)

Two angels go to Sodom to rescue Lot and his family. As they explain why he should leave, Lot hesitates and the angels have to grab him and pull him out of the city.

• Why do you think Lot was reluctant to leave?
• Can we compare ourselves to Lot as we struggle to leave sin behind?
• God rescues Lot by literally pulling him out of the way of danger. How is our rescue similar?

Digging Deeper

The Seeds of Faith resource provides context and deeper connections about Abraham’s visitors from heaven.

In the 40 Minutes in the Old Testament Podcast, multiple episodes cover the content.

• Episode 24: The significance of the 8th day, Abraham’s three visitors and Sarah’s laughter.
• Episode 25: Lot, Sodom and Gomorrah and Abraham’s prayer.
• Episode 26: Continued discussion about Lot and Sodom and Gomorrah. There may be a lot more Gospel in this story than you think.
• Episode 27: The last of the Sodom and Gomorrah narrative and connects Lot’s struggle to leave behind sin to our struggles.

Please share any questions, comments, or additional resources in the comment section below.