Genesis 19-22; Psalm 3; Matthew 5

Genesis 19: How many angels went to Sodom? What did Lot do to protect them? What happened to Lot’s wife and his daughters?

Genesis 20: How did Abraham justify his telling Abimelech that Sarah was his sister?

Genesis 21: Why did Sarah want to get rid of Hagar and Ishmael? 

Genesis 22: How and why was Abraham tested?

Matthew 5: According to Jesus’ sermon on the Mount, who are blessed?

Journal Prompt: After answering the question above from the Sermon on the Mount, what categories do you fall into?

Answers:

Genesis 19:  Only two angels went to Sodom.  The third had left (17:33).  Lot tried to protect them by offering the evil men his virgin daughters.  Lot’s wife disobeyed the orders of the angels and turned back to look at the destruction taking place in Sodom. She was turned into a pillar salt.  His daughters took things into their own hands, got their father drunk, slept with him and got pregnant.  Their sons, Moab and Ben-Ammi became the father of the Moabites and the Ammonites.

Genesis 20:  Abraham told Abimelech that Sarah was his half-sister as well as his wife – which was true. He thought the people in the land did not fear God and would take his wife and kill him. Abimilech means my father a king, or father of a king, a common name of the Philistine kings.

Genesis 21:  Sarah wanted to get rid of Hagar and Ishmael, because Ishmael mocked his younger brother at the feast to celebrate Isaac’s weaning.

Genesis 22:  Abraham was asked to sacrifice his son, Isaac, as an offering to the Lord. The Lord did this to see if Abraham feared the Lord. (v.12)

Matthew 5:  Blessed are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, and those who are mistreated because of Jesus’ name.