9

1. Every choice has an _______________

2. God uses us to _______________ others

3. Our choices reveal our _______________ __________________

4. Right choices lead to _______________

______________________.

Rescued – Genesis 14-15 Week Nine: Making Right Choices

Well, we are well underway in the story of Abraham. Last week we saw how God chose Abraham out of all the people of the earth to begin a relationship with him by faith. We also met Lot, his self-serving nephew. This week we’re going to live in Genesis 14-15 as we learn more about Abraham and his walk of faith.

Day One: Abraham to the Rescue

We all love super heroes. In Genesis 14, Abraham is going to put on a cape and come to Lot’s rescue. Let’s read what happens in Genesis 14:1-16. Exploring the Text

1. We’ve talked about Shinar before and we see it again in vs.1.

Can you recall where that city was already mentioned in our study in Genesis?

2. What level of detail is given to us in the first 12 verses of

Genesis 14? Why do you think that is?

9 3. Focus on vs. 12. What do you find unusual about Lot’s location

at that point? How does that compare with Lot’s location in Genesis 13:12?

4. How did Abram find out about Lot’s capture?

5. How did Abram respond? 6. How many people went to save Lot from the enemy? How does

that seem to compare to the numbers who had attacked Lot in Sodom?

7. How do you think Abram was able to defeat the enemy given his

small number of soldiers?

Sin takes you farther than you wanted to go and keeps you longer than you wanted to stay and costs

you more than you were willing to

pay.

Application for your life?

Record your thoughts here.

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Personal Application 8. Lot went from living as far as Sodom to

actually dwelling in Sodom. What does that tell you about one’s progression into sin? Have you ever found yourself in the same predicament as Lot?

9. How does Abram’s going after Lot to rescue

him remind you of God’s grace towards us?

9 Day Two: Melchizedek

I had to title today’s lesson “Melchizedek” because there is no cooler name in the Bible, and as you get to know its meaning, you will find that there is no greater person! Let’s focus in on Genesis 14:16-24 today as we continue the sage of Abram and Lot. Exploring the Text 1. How successful was Abram’s rescue operation in retrieving Lot?

What else was Abram able to save? 2. Who is Melchizedek according to vs.18? 3. What does Melchizedek do?

4. What did Abram give Melchizedek? 5. How does Abram react to the generous offer made by the king

of Sodom? Why does he react that way?

6. Why do you think Abram accepting the

offering of Mechizedek but rejected the offering of the king of Sodom?

7. Extra credit: Read Hebrews 7 and try to pick out why

Melchizedek is a type of Christ.

If you want your faith to increase, don’t be surprised or disheartened over difficulties that demand it. Muscles of faith

grow strong through training and testing that are sometimes

painful.

9 Personal Application 8. Can you think of some people in your life

who rescued you when you were “captured” by the enemy? How did you respond?

9. How has God rescued you from the enemy

this week?

Application for your life?

Record your thoughts here.

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Day Three: A Promise

So Lot is safe, and Abram is declared a hero. Life is basically good. Let’s get into Genesis 15 and see what happens to Abram next! By the way, I hope your week is going well, and I hope you’re remembering to stop for a few minutes as you being your time with the Lord and ask Him to open your eyes to fresh truths about Him. Ask Him to reveal himself to you in a new way. I know He will answer you! He is a God of relationship and nowhere do we see that more than in Genesis. Now read Genesis 15:1-6. Exploring the Text 1. Verse 1 begins with these words: “after these things”. What

things is the word of God referring to? 2. Write down the phrase that God tells Abram in vs.1.

9 3. Abram has a problem, though. What is it? 4. Why do you think Abram is confused?

5. What is God’s response to Abram’s

questions? Does God get mad at Abram for asking the question?

6. What does God do in vs.5? Why is that so

amazing? 7. Finally – consider vs.6. Write down the verse. Now comment on

what it was about Abram that pleased God!

Romans 4:20-21

No distrust made him waver

concerning the promise of God,

but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory

to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had

promised.

Facts about Creation:

Light travels at 180 million miles

per second If the earth were the size of a golf

ball, the sun would be 15 feet

in diameter The sun is so big

you could put 960,000 earths inside the sun! That’s enough

golfballs to fill a school bus with

golf balls!

Go to You Tube and check out

“Louie Giglio on the star maker”

http://www. youtube.com/

watch?v=rRiIWL04po8&feature=

related

Application for your life?

Record your thoughts here.

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Personal Application 8. For today’s application I would like you to

spend some time in Romans 4:13-25. Write down some of the things that impact you as you read that great passage of Scripture.

9. What specific situation(s) in your life do you

need to have the kind of faith in God that Abram had?

9 Day Four: Unconditional

Aren’t you amazed by the God of Abram? I hope you know him as your father too! Let’s read Genesis 15:7-21. Today’s lesson is critical in understanding the basis of God’s unconditional covenant to Abram. Pay close attention to the reading. Exploring the Text 1. Verse 7 begins with a statement of who God is. Why is God’s

character critical to the nature of His promise? 2. Why do you think Abram asked what he did in vs.8? 3. Verse 9 describes the sign of ancient covenants which involved

the cutting in half of animals so that the pledging parties could walk between them affirming that the same should happen to them if they broke the covenant. In light of this information, what is peculiar or relevant about Abram falling asleep in vs.12?

4. Write down the first 3 words that God says to Abram in vs.13.

5. What does the Lord predict in vs.13-14? Do

you remember where this prophecy was actually fulfilled in the Scriptures? Hint: think Exodus!!

6. What do you think the smoking over and the burning torch

symbolized in vs.17? See Exodus 13:21.

Genesis 15:1

Fear not, Abram, I am your shield;

your reward shall be very great.

Faith is believing God’s word and acting on it no

matter how I feel knowing that God promises a good

result.

9

Application for your life?

Record your thoughts here.

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Personal Application 7. Have you ever had to wait a long time for

God to fulfill a promise? What did you learn in the process about yourself, the Lord, and his way of working?

8. God promised to be Abram’s shield and very

great reward. If God said those same words to you today how would that encourage you in the struggle you are facing?

Day Five: Review

We’ve had a big week with lots of material! Let’s use today to simply review. Go ahead and skim over Genesis 14-15 to remind yourself of what we’ve learned this week.

Exploring the Text

1. Write down a couple of things that have impressed you the most about Abram so far.

2. Think about God for a minute. Jot down a couple of character traits about God that have encouraged you this week.

3. As you consider Lot and Abram, whose life does yours resemble more?

9 4. What 2-3 areas in your life do you need to trust God more in?

5. In Genesis 15:13 the Lord tells Abram

“Know for certain”. What are some promises that God has given you and wants you to know for certain?

6. We’ve been together in this study for 2 months now. In what ways is your life changing? In what ways do you still need to change?

Believers have often found

themselves in the gulf between

divine promise and personal

experience: God’s promise is clear

but circumstances do not seem to be

leading to fulfillment. The failure in these situations is not God’s but man’s.

John J Davis