ABRAHAM (Gen. 11:23–27; 25)
1. Which line of descent from Noah is most fully described, and why? The line from Shem, because in that line were the Jewish people who wrote the books of the Bible; and from whom, after the flesh, Christ came. Gen. 11:10–26.
2. From what sons are the Gentiles descended? The other white races are supposed to have descended from Japhet, and the black race from Ham.
3. What was Abraham’s name in his early life? Abram.
4. Where was Abram born? In Ur of the Chaldees, S. E. of Babylon. Gen. 11:28.
5. To what land did his father remove, and why? To Haran, still on the river Euphrates, but in the northern part of Mesopotamia; perhaps because of God’s call to Abram while in Ur.
6. Which of Abram’s brothers died before they left their native land? Haran, the father of Lot.
7. After his father’s death did Abram stay in Haran? No. God told him to leave his home and go to a land he would afterward show him. This was Canaan, or Palestine. Gen. 12:1–9.
8. Who went with him? Sarai his wife, Lot his nephew, and their servants.
9. What promise did God make to Abram? That he should have many descendants who should form a great nation owning the land of Palestine, and that “in him should all the families of the earth be blessed.” See Gen. 12:2, 3, 7; 13:14–17; 15:5; 17:5–8; 22:17, 18.
10. To what finally did the promise refer? To the coming of Jesus Christ.
11. Where did Abram first settle, and what was his first act in the land of Canaan? At Sichem, or Shechem, where he built an altar to God.
12. Where do we again hear of Shechem? See Josh. 24:1, 25, 26; John 4:5–42.
13. Where did Abram then make his home? Between Bethel and Hai, about twelve miles north of Jerusalem.
14. Was Abram a rich man or a poor man? He later became very rich; and was certainly not poor at this time. Gen. 13:2.
15. How had Lot prospered? Very much.
16. What was the result? A quarrel between the herdsmen of the two.
17. How did Abram behave on this occasion? He proposed that they should part, and gave Lot the choice of the land.
18. Do you think that Lot behaved as well as Abram in this affair? He made no liberal offer in return, and thought more of the goodness of the pasture than of the character of the people with whom he was to live.
19. Had Lot cause to repent his choice? He suffered constant distress of mind, and at length narrowly escaped with his life, with the loss of his wife, many of his family, and of most or all of his property. Gen. 19:15–29.
“Delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (for that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds).” 2 Pet. 2:7, 8.
20. What doleful news did Abram soon hear of Lot? That Lot and his goods had been carried away with other captives from Sodom, by the kings of Elam, Babylonia, etc. Gen. 14:11, 12.
21. What did Abram do? He armed his own trained servants and went in pursuit. He divided his men, attacked the enemy by night on several sides at once, routing them and recovering the prisoners and booty.
22. Who met Abram on his return? Melchizedek, king of Salem, which probably was Jerusalem.
23. Is this mysterious person ever alluded to again in the Bible? Yes, in Heb. 6:20; 7.
24. Of whom was he a type? Of Christ in being both king and priest.
25. Did Abram take of the spoil of the battle? No, he refused to take anything but food for his men, and the share of his allies among the Canaanites.
26. Who was Hagar? One of Sarai’s waiting maids, whom Abram took to wife, thinking thus to bring the fulfillment of God’s promise of descendants. Gen. 16.
27. Who was her son? Ishmael, the ancestor of the modern Arabs.
28. What especial covenant did God make with Abram soon after this? The “covenant of circumcision,” where God renewed his promise of many descendants, and promised to be their God; and enjoined upon him the rite of circumcision as a sign of the covenant. Gen. 17.
29. How did God change the names of Abram and Sarai? From Abram, or “high father,” to Abraham, or “father of a multitude”; and from Sarai, “my princess,” to Sarah, “princess” (for all the race).
30. Where was Mamre? Near Hebron, in Judah. Gen. 13:18.
31. What remarkable event happened to Abraham there? The Lord with two angels, or heavenly visitors, appeared to him in the form of men. Gen. 18.
32. How did Abraham receive them? With true Oriental hospitality, asking them to rest while he prepared food for them.
33. What did they promise to Abraham? That he and Sarah should have a son.
34. How did Sarah receive the news? She laughed, for it seemed to her impossible.
35. When the three visitors had eaten for what place did they start? For Sodom, to destroy it and rescue Lot.
36. Why were they to destroy Sodom?
“Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great and because their sin is very grievous.” Gen. 18:20.
37. How did Abraham plead for the city? By six times asking the Lord to spare it if there were fifty, forty-five, forty, thirty, twenty, and even ten, righteous persons in it.
38. How did the Lord answer him? He put no check on his prayer, and consented to do all that he asked.
39. Would the Lord have saved the city if Abraham had asked for it for the sake of Lot alone? He might have; but its destruction would only have been postponed, for Lot alone could never have reformed the city.
40. What warning did the heavenly visitors give to Lot?
“Whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place: for we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the Lord.” Gen. 19:12, 13.
41. How many of Lot’s family believed the warning and fled with him? His wife and two daughters. But his wife looked back, and became a pillar of salt. Gen. 19:16–26.
42. Does there remain any relic of this event? The Dead Sea probably covers the place where they were.
43. When did God perform his promise to Sarah? At the end of a year, the time fixed. Gen. 21.
44. By what name was the child of promise called? Isaac, which means “laughter.”
45. What occurred on the day Isaac was weaned? Abraham made a great feast; and Ishmael mocked at the young Isaac.
46. What did Sarah wish Abraham to do? To send away Hagar and Ishmael.
47. Was this in accordance with the wishes of God? Yes, he so told Abraham.
48. What became of Hagar and Ishmael? After some hardships they lived in the wilderness of Paran, in Arabia, and Ishmael grew large and strong, and became the ancestor of a race whose present representatives are the Arabs.
49. What was the greatest trial of Abraham’s faith? The command of God to offer as a burnt offering his only son, Isaac, whom he loved. Gen. 22.
50. Where was this sacrifice to take place? “In the land of Moriah,” usually supposed to be the mountain of that name in Jerusalem.
51. Did he tell his son what he was about to do? No. When Isaac inquired for the lamb he replied that God would provide one.
52. When Isaac knew of his father’s intention did he resist it? No.
53. Was he able to have done so? Yes, as he was probably twenty-five years old, and his father was old.
54. Did God allow the sacrifice? No, the angel of the Lord spoke from heaven and said:
“Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything to him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from me.” Gen. 22:12.
55. How did God provide the burnt offering? Abraham found a “ram caught in a thicket by his horns,” and offered him as a burnt offering.
56. By what name did Abraham call the place where this occurred? Jehovah-jireh, meaning “the Lord will see, or provide.”
57. What is said in the New Testament of this act?
“By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.” Heb. 11:17–19.
58. How old was Sarah when she died? One hundred and twenty-seven years. Gen. 23:1.
59. Where did Abraham bury her? In the cave of Machpelah, near Mamre, or Hebron, which he bought for the purpose from Ephron the Hittite.
60. What more do we know about Abraham? He married a wife named Keturah, and had six sons. Gen. 25:1–6.
61. Did these sons share the inheritance with Isaac? No, Abraham gave them gifts and sent them away.
62. How old was Abraham when he died? One hundred and seventy-five years. Gen. 25:7.
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PASTOR ANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM