Welcome to the fifth month of Journaling through Genesis! How has this study changed your life? I hope you’ll share your experiences on our Facebook page!
And here are some prompts to consider in your journal in the coming weeks:
Week 18: Read Genesis 18 and answer the questions as you feel led in your journal:
Sarah got the shock of her life when she learned that God planned for her to have a child within the year at her age. Has God ever surprised you or anyone you know? How so? What happened?
Why do you think Abraham was so intent on salvation for Sodom and Gomorrah? How does his fervor compare to your own fervor for bringing salvation to family, loved ones, friends and neighbors?
Do you see any situations where you believe God’s judgment could be imminent? This passage could be interpreted that it is not good enough to simply stand back and wait for God to act. What are you doing for the people involved?
Week 19: Reach Chapter 19 and respond as you will to any of the following questions:
What was going on in Sodom and Gomorrah, where Lot and his family were living? What is going on around you that might be hurting God or making Him angry? Why do you stay?
What was Lot’s wife’s sin? Have you ever been guilty of this? Are you guilty of it in any way now?
What can be learned from the story of Lot and his daughters? How will you apply it in your life this week?
Week 20: Read chapter 20 and consider any or all of the following questions in your journal:
The story of Abraham, Sarah and Abimelech should sound familiar. Compare this passage with Genesis 12:10-20. What similarities do you see? What differences? Have you ever been in the position of revisiting an action you know to be sinful?
Why do you think God punished Abimelech for this situation?
What good did God bring out of this twisted circumstance?
Week 21: Read Chapter 21 and consider the following questions:
The birth of Isaac was cause for great joy in the household. In what ways was it a blessing for the family and for the future generations?
Some scholars believe that Ishmael’s offspring became the Nation of Islam. What impact can you see in this story for the coming generations, all the way up to this day?
If the Islamic people were part of God’s plan, how is it that there is so much tension between the groups today? What can be done to solve the problem?
Week 22: Read Chapter 22, then write about any or all of these questions in your journal:
Has God ever asked a huge sacrifice from you? Why or why not, do you think? How did you respond?
This story is often referenced as a sign of Abraham’s great faith. He is held up as an example. On the other hand, history is full of people who believed they were doing something horrific in the service of God, but they seem to have been mistaken. How can one tell the difference between something that God is asking us to do, and something that comes from other sources?
How has God provided for your extreme need lately? How can you craft this story into a part of your witness and salvation story?
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Be sure to come back on the first Sunday in June to get the questions for next month!