GOD CALLS ABRAM ABRAHAMPRIVATE 

GENESIS 16-17

KEY VERSE 17:1,5

"When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, "I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless."

** ISHMAEL'S BIRTH (16:1-16)

1. Why did Sarah and Abram think it was reasonable, and even God's will for Abram to take Hagar as a concubine? What was wrong with this? 

2. What problem arose in Abram's family after Hagar became pregnant? How did Abram and Sarai deal with this problem?

 

3. Why did Hagar flee and why did she return? What did she learn about God? What can we learn about God who helped Abram? 

**  WALK BEFORE ME AND BE BLAMELESS (17:1-8)

4. How old was Ishmael when God appeared to Abram again? What do you think Abram's life had been during those silent years? 

5. How did God reveal himself to Abram? In what respect had Abram's faith in the almighty power of God been lacking? Why did God tell to "walk before me and be blameless"?

6. How did Abram respond? What did this mean?

 

7. Why did God change Abram's name to Abraham? What is the significance of this change?

8. How did God affirm and expand the covenant promises? What is significant about an "everlasting covenant" and "everlasting possession"?

**  THE COVENANT SEALED BY CIRCUMCISION (9-27)

9. What did God tell Abraham to do as a sign and seal of the covenant? (9-14) 

10. How did God bless Sarah? What was Abraham's response? Why? What specific promise did God give concerning his family? Why did God choose to give the spiritual blessing to Isaac instead of Ishmael? 

11. How did Abraham demonstrate his belief in God and in God's promises? Why might this have been difficult for him? What kind of faith does God want his servants to have?

 

12. What can we learn in these two chapters about God and his ways of working?

 

 

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