Some big things just happened for Abram. God was clearly with him throughout it all. He even has a blessing spoken over him. Even so, doubt and worry begin to creep in. In these next 2 chapters, we see Abram get real with God about his doubts and the consequences that come from trying to deal with them himself.
Read Genesis 15
What is Abram’s biggest hang-up with God’s promises up to this point?
What promises/covenant does God make with Abraham?
Does God hide the difficult details?
The animals that are cut in half and someone passing through them is a ritual done in Abram’s time. When a covenant was being made, such as a king taking over land, the lesser ruler of the land would pass through the dead animals showing allegiance to the king as if to say “If I should break this covenant may what’s been done to these animals be done to me.”
In this story who passes through the animals?
What significance does this have?
Read Chapter 16
What did Sarai turn to, to solve her problem?
Who does Sarai say is to blame for this?
Does this remind you of the fall?
Abram, just like Adam, chose to turn to the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Can you see the effect it had on his ability to handle confrontation?
Hagar was greatly affected by their choices to turn from God and to themselves. In what ways was she affected?
Hagar and her son were not a part of God’s plan. Consider this as you describe how God treated her.
Why did God want Hagar to go back to her mistress?
What is the beautiful name for God given here and its meaning?
How does this name for God affect you when you think about the implications it has in your life?
Deeper Reflection Question:
What did this teach me about God?
What did this teach me about people (or myself)?
What should I do in response to this?
Who can I tell about what God is teaching me?
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