WHAT DOES IT MEAN? 1.                   The plain of Jordan before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah was said to be “even as the garden of the LORD” (v.10). What does this mean? How does this compare with Isaiah 51:3? 2.                   “And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look...” (v.14). This verse is followed by the final section of the chapter where God restates and expands on the promise of land to Abram. Why does God wait until Lot is gone to show the land to Abram? How does Genesis 12:1 fit into this timing? 3.                   Look at a map of the Bible lands and follow the travels of Abram after he left Haran (Genesis 12:5). He traveled to Sichem (12:6), which is another name for Shechem, to Bethel (12:8), and on south (12:9) to Egypt (12:10); then back to Bethel (13:3), and (after Lot went to the plain of Jordan – 13:10) to Hebron (13:18). Why do you think Abraham is called a stranger (a foreigner) and a pilgrim (one who passes through the land) in Hebrews 11:13?

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ME? 1.                   In Genesis 12:8, Abram stopped at Bethel, built an altar, and called on the name of the Lord. Later in the chapter, he went down to Egypt and lied about Sarai. Most Bible students see this as an act of backsliding. He did not trust in the Lord during the time of famine and the Bible often uses Egypt as a type of the world, even warning against going down to Egypt for help (Isaiah 31:1). When Abram left Egypt, he returned to Bethel where he had built the altar “at the first” and again “called on the name of the LORD” (Genesis 13:4). In what ways is this a picture of returning to the Lord? What is the significance of Abram returning to the place where he had been at the first? How can you apply this to the times you fall away from the Lord? 2.                   When the herdsmen of Lot fought with the herdsmen of Abram (v.7), Abram told Lot, “Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me” (Genesis 13:9). They separated in order to avoid strife. In Romans 12:18, Paul commanded, “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.” How does this verse apply to the story in Genesis 13? How can you apply this teaching to your own life? Can you give an example of a time when this worked for you?

SUGGESTED MEMORY VERSES:  Genesis 13:4, 13     TEXT: Genesis 13:1 And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south.  2 And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.  3 And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai;  4 Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD.  5 And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents.  6 And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.  7 And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.  8 And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.  9 Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.  10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.  11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.  12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.  13 But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.  14 And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:  15 For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.  16 And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.  17 Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.  18 Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD.

FOR MORE INFORMATION SEE: Bible Study Questions

Send Page To a Friend Join the Learn the Bible mailing list Email: