Read Genesis 13:1-18. What does this story teach us about the importance of character?

Abram returns to where he was before, as if his trip to Egypt were a mere unfortunate detour. God’s history with Abram starts again, where it had stopped since his first trip to the Promised Land. Abram’s first station is Bethel (Genesis 13:3), just as in his first trip to the land (Genesis 12:3-6). Abram has repented and is back to “himself”: Abram, the man of faith.

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Abram’s reconnection with God shows already in his relationship with people, in the way that he handles the problem with Lot, his nephew, concerning the use of the land. However, it is Abram himself who proposes a peaceful agreement and allows Lot to choose first (Genesis 13:9-10), an act of generosity and kindness, indicative of the kind of man Abram was.

The fact that Lot chose the easiest and best part for himself, the well-watered plain (Genesis 13:10-11), without any concern about the wickedness of his future neighbors (Genesis 13:13) reveals something about his greediness and character. The phrase “for himself” reminds us of the antediluvians, who also chose “for themselves” (see Genesis 6:2).

In contrast, Abram’s move was an act of faith. Abram did not choose the land; it was given to him by God’s grace. Unlike Lot, Abram looked at the land only at God’s injunction (Genesis 13:14-15). It is only when Abram separates from Lot that God speaks to him again (). In fact, this is the first recorded time in the Bible that God speaks to Abram since his call at Ur. “Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are — northward, southward, eastward, and westward; for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever” (Genesis 13:14-15, , NKJV). God, then, invites Abram to “walk” on this land as an act of appropriation. “Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you” (Genesis 13:17, NKJV).

The Lord, though, makes it very clear that He, God, is giving it to Abram. It is a gift, a gift of grace, which Abram must appropriate by faith, a faith that leads to obedience. It is the work of God alone that will bring about all that He has promised to Abram here (see Genesis 13:14-17).

<–Monday Wednesday–>

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Join the Hit the Mark Sabbath School Panel as they have a lively, interactive discussion of the week’s lesson, “The Roots of Abraham.”

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Read Genesis 12:10-20. Why did Abram leave the Promised Land to go to Egypt? How did the pharaoh behave in comparison to Abram?

Ironically, Abram, who had just arrived in the Promised Land, decides to leave it for Egypt because “there was a famine in the land” (Genesis 12:10, NKJV). Evidence of people from Canaan going into Egypt in times of famine is well attested in ancient Egyptian texts. In the Egyptian teaching of Merikare, a text composed during the period of the Middle Kingdom (2060-1700 B.C.), people coming from Canaan are identified as “miserable Asiatic” (aamu) and described as “wretched … short of water … he does not dwell on one place, food propels his legs.” — Miriam Lichtheim, Ancient Egyptian Literature, Volume I: The Old and Middle Kingdoms (Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1973), Pages 103, 104.

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The temptation of Egypt was often a problem for the ancient Israelites (Numbers 14:3, Jeremiah 2:18). Egypt, thus, became a symbol of humans trusting in humans rather than in God (2 Kings 18:21; Isaiah 36:6, Isaiah 36:9). In Egypt, where water could be seen on a daily basis, faith was not necessary, for the promise of the land was immediately visible. Compared to the land of famine, Egypt sounded like a good place to be, despite what God had said to him.

The Abram who now leaves Canaan contrasts with the Abram who left Ur. Before, Abram was portrayed as a man of faith who left Ur in response to God’s call; now, Abram leaves the Promised Land by himself, of his own volition. Before, Abram relied on God; now he behaves like a manipulative and unethical politician who counts only on himself. “During his stay in Egypt, Abraham gave evidence that he was not free from human weakness and imperfection. In concealing the fact that Sarah was his wife, he betrayed a distrust of the divine care, a lack of that lofty faith and courage so often and nobly exemplified in his life.” — Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 130.

What we see here, then, is how even a great man of God can make a mistake and yet not be forsaken by God. When the New Testament talks about Abraham as an example of salvation by grace, it means just that — grace. Because, if it weren’t by grace, Abraham, like all of us, would have had no hope.

<–Sunday Tuesday–>

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The book of Genesis offers us so many and vast topics from which to choose a theme hymn. As we are starting at the very beginning, I would like to give praise to our Creator of heaven and earth in singing 
Hymn 320 – Lord of Creation and 
Hymn 2 – All Creatures of Our God and King. The stories that follow creation will lean back toward our amazing God and what He has done for each of us in creation.

The first thing we learn of Abraham is in our memory verse – he obeyed. We find throughout the lesson study that it would have been easy for Abraham to sing
Trust and Obey – Hymn 590. The narrative for Sabbath afternoon tells of Abraham who would have been able to sing 
I’m But a Stranger Here – Hymn 445. But, Abraham hears God’s voice saying “Do not be afraid” – Genesis 15:1 NKJV, and with faith he then travels on showing the 
Faith of Our Fathers – Hymn 304.

Sunday walks us through the journey of Abram, on his way towards being Abraham. The keyword is “go” and Abram says 
I’ll Go Where You Want Me to Go – Hymn 573. Abram was to learn that “There’s a land that is fairer than day” in 
Hymn 428 – Sweet By and By as he follows God’s leading. Are we willing to go where God leads us? – 
Hymn 508 – Anywhere With Jesus.

Monday shows that Egypt was a land where humans would trust humans rather than God. We would rather 
Trust and Obey – Hymn 590. Leaving Ur shows that Abram was” a man of faith”: 
Hymn 517 – My Faith Looks Up to Thee. Even with the mistakes Abram was to make, we see that there was salvation by grace: 
Hymn 109 – Amazing Grace.

Separating from Lot, God speaks to Abram again. Oh, to have such a close walk with God: 
Hymn 315 – O For a Closer Walk With God!, Hymn
554 – O Let Me Walk With Thee, and 
Hymn 574 – O Master, Let Me Walk With Thee.

The first battle is recorded in the Bible in Wednesday’s study: 
Hymn 614 – Sound the Battle Cry.

Abram shows us the way (Thursday) to be thankful to God for all the generosity that is given by returning to Him a tithe which is a gift from God to us: 
Hymn 670 – We Give Thee But Thine Own.

God’s abundant blessings this quarter as we study through the first book of the Bible which our gracious God has given. May we be faithful and all say “Come, Lord Jesus, come – very soon” so we are able to go to our new home in Heaven, as 
We Have This Hope – Hymn 214.

To learn unknown hymns, you will find the accompaniment music for each one at: https://sdahymnals.com/Hymnal/

Another great resource is for when there is a hymn you wish to sing, but can’t find it in your hymnal. Go to https://www.sdahymnal.org and in the search bar type a special word in that is in the hymn. I am sure you will be amazed at the help you will be given.

2 Timothy 2:15 KJV – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

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Read Genesis 12:1-9. Why did God call Abram to leave his country and family? How did Abram respond?

The last time that God had spoken to a person, at least as recorded in Scripture, it was with Noah, to reassure him after the Flood that He will establish a covenant with all flesh (Genesis 9:15-17) and that another worldwide flood will never come. God’s new word, now to Abram, reconnects with that promise: all the nations of the earth will be blessed through Abram.

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The fulfillment of that prophecy begins with leaving the past. Abram leaves all that was familiar to him, his family, and his country, even a part of himself. The intensity of this going is reflected in the repetition of the keyword “go,” which occurs seven times in this context. Abram has first to leave his country, “Ur of the Chaldeans,” which is also Babylonia (Genesis 11:31, NKJV; Isaiah 13:19). This call to “go out of Babylon” has a long history among the biblical prophets (Isaiah 48:20, Revelation 18:4).

Abram’s departure also concerns his family. Abram must leave his heritage and much of what he learned and acquired through heredity, education, and influence.

Yet, God’s call to go involves even more. The Hebrew phrase lekh lekha, “go,” translated literally, means “go yourself” or “go for yourself.” Abram’s departure from Babylon concerns more than his environment, or even his family. The Hebrew phrase suggests an emphasis on himself. Abram has to leave himself, to get rid of the part of himself that contains his Babylonian past.

The goal of this abandonment is “a land” that God will show him. The same language will be used again in the context of the sacrifice of Isaac (Genesis 22:2), to refer to the mount of Moriah, where Isaac will be offered and where the Jerusalem temple will be built (2 Chronicles 3:1). God’s promise is not just about a physical homeland but about the salvation of the world. This idea is reaffirmed in God’s promise of the blessing for all nations (Genesis 12:2-3). The verb barakh, “bless,” appears five times in this passage. The process of this universal blessing operates through the “seed” of Abram (Genesis 22:18, Genesis 26:4, Genesis 28:14). The text refers here to the “seed,” which will ultimately be fulfilled in Jesus Christ (Acts 3:25).

<–Sabbath Monday–>

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