Once More Around the Covenant Mulberry Bush

Chapter 18 looks somewhat like 17, only with more people in it.  This is the page for our meeting on June 14.  I said in the last entry that 17 was somewhat like 18 (or vice versa).  So part of what we'll be doing is a good ole "compare and contrast" like from school (a skill you probably never thought you'd use once you graduated).

So, the chapter falls neatly into two pieces, verses 1 through 16 and 17 through 33.  Read through the whole chapter first, then each section once or twice separately.

As you read the first section (v. 1-16) consider the following questions:

• How is verse 1-2 much like Genesis 17:1-3?  How are they different?
• In verses 3-5 Abraham makes a proposition to the "three men", what do you think of his idea?  What other biblical encounters does it remind you of?
• He gets together meat, bread, butter and cheese (verses 6-8).  Why would these foods be expected?  Where did the grain have to come from?
• In verse 9, who is speaking?  Why might this be an odd question for them to ask?
• In verse 10, who is speaking? 
• When does He predict the coming of the child? Read Gen 17:21. What is the same?  What is different?
• Now who laughs?  Yet, what is the child's name as far as this chapter is concerned?
• Who is never mentioned in this chapter, but figures prominently in chapter 17?
• Having finished the meal and conversation, where do they head off to?

As you read the second section (v. 17-33) consider the following questions:

• Now Who is speaking?  Who is He speaking to initially?
• Where are the "two" going?
• Now that it's just Abraham and Yahweh, what does Abraham do with his "private audience"?
• Read verses 23 through 32 with your best New York/German Jewish or Middle Eastern accent.  How does that flavor the dialogue?  What sense of "culture" do you gain?
• Abraham starts out strong, what is the basis of his plea?  Why should Yahweh not destroy Sodom and Gomorrah?
• Abraham starts at 50 as the "saving threshold".  What skill is he using to reduce that number and how successful is he?

As you read over the chapter some more (yes, that's at least once as a whole, twice at least of each piece, and now a few times more as a whole...what's your point?), and as you do consider your relationship with God; use a few of these questions:

• What would it take for you to recognize God if He showed up at your door?
• What would you feed the Maker of all matter for Sunday lunch?  Why that?
• What has God revealed to you that made you laugh?
• When you ask God for something, how willing are you to "negotiate"?
• How willing do you believe God is to negotiate?

That should do for now (hurry, you only have two days!).  See you all on Thursday!

Ouch! What Was That For?

I didn't want to forget again, so I made sure I posted here before I started posting on another page.  This is the study page for our group meeting on June 7 next week.  Chapter 17 forms an interesting couplet with 18, somewhat like Chapter 1 and 2 as we saw before.  The similarities are striking as are the differences.  It might help to read both chapters together even though we will be spending more time on 18 later.

As you read 17, consider the following questions, and, as always, come up with your own.

• God names Himself, what is different here from the names previous?
• Look up "blameless", or in the Strong's Concordance, "perfect".  How is that the same or different from what we normally think of as either blameless or perfect?
• This seems to be another "greeting" (remember chapter 15?).  How does this event seem to differ from before in Chapter 15? (there's a clue in verse 22)
• God changes Abram and Sarai's names here.  Read this article about names, and the significance of name changes from the Blue Letter Bible website.  So why does this relationship between Abram and God "turn a corner" here? What's so different now?
• The promise of lots of descendants and the land Abraham resides in is repeated in verses 4-8.  But now the covenant is ratified, not by binding God to it (chapter 15), but by circumcision of Abraham; and everyone else.  Why impose this so thoroughly throughout Abraham's household?
• What would you have thought if your household leader comes to you with this "new plan" from God?
• The text is very explicit that Abraham complied that very day, repeating it several times.  Why is that important?
• What limits would you place on your obedience to God?  What does "making sense" have to do with obedience?

That should do it for now.  Remember to write down questions you have as you read.  Some will be answered are you study, and some not (some never).  Bring 'em on!

Blessings upon you, and see you this Thursday!