Genesis 11-19
D. Scott Meadows
CHAPTER OVERVIEW
11. TOWER OF BABEL. The plan conceived (1-4). God frustrates the plan by introducing many languages (5-9). Shem’s descendants (10-26). Terah’s family (27-32).
12. CALL OF ABRAM. The Lord directs him to leave (1-3). Abram’s obedient response (4-6). God’s commendation (7-9). Sojourn in Egypt (10-20).
13. ABRAM INHERITS CANAAN. Return to Canaan (1-5). Abram and Lot divide the land (6-13). God promises Abram’s portion for an everlasting possession (14-18).
14. ABRAM RESCUES LOT. Invasion of the Mesopotamian kings (1-12). Victory of Abram the Hebrew (13-16). Melchizedek and Abram (17-24).
15. COVENANT WITH ABRAM. God, Abram’s shield and reward (1). Abram’s childlessness (2, 3). Son promised and Abram believes (4-6). Confirmation of the covenant (7-21).
16. HAGAR AND ISHMAEL. Abram’s unbelief and scheme (1-6). Ishmael’s birth and expulsion with his mother (7-16).
17. SIGN OF CIRCUMCISION. Covenant with Abram confirmed by repetition and renaming of Abram (1-8). Abraham’s responsibility for circumcision with his obedient response (9-27).
18. ISAAC PROMISED. Abraham’s hospitality to the Lord and two angels (1-8). The Lord promises Isaac again (9-15). Revelation of Sodom’s judgment; Abraham’s intercession (16-33).
19. SODOM’S SIN AND DESTRUCTION. Lot’s hospitality to the two angels (1-5). Confrontation with Sodomites (6-11). Announcement of destruction (12-14). The morning escape (15-22). Catastrophe for sinners, including the cities of the plain and Lot’s wife (23-29). Shameful origin of Moabites and Ammonites (30-38).
MAJOR DOCTRINES
1. Man’s Remaining Depravity. The Babel incident powerfully illustrates mankind’s rebellion against God in corporate unity for the glorification of mankind rather than God, which is idolatry. “Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished” (Prov 16.5). Ecclesiastical union with open unbelievers and apostates is always evil.
2. God’s Sovereign, Electing Grace. By grace alone, God chose Isaac for covenantal grace even before he was born and had done any good or evil, and passed by Ishmael, though Abraham’s physical son (Gen 17.19-21; cf. 21.12; Rom 9.7). Saving grace does not run in the blood; it is granted by God in His good pleasure to whomever He will.
3. The Sinfulness of True Saints. Abraham alternates between acts of astounding faith celebrated in Scripture and lamentable moral failure from unbelief. Still, Abraham remains in God’s gracious, perfect, unwavering love.
4. The Seriousness of Sin, Homosexuality in Particular. Though hotly disputed, the Genesis account of Sodom clearly illustrates the especially egregious depravity of homosexual lusts and acts. Yes, they were guilty of other great sins (Ezek 16.49) but sexual perversion was among the worst (Romans 1:26, 27). Thankfully, there is deliverance and cleansing with forgiveness even from such sins (1 Cor 6.9-11), but the fiery judgment of Sodom foreshadows eternal torments of body and soul in the lake of fire for the impenitent ones (Jude 7).
MAJOR PASSAGES
1. Genesis 12.1-3. The first announcement of the Abrahamic covenant. We must understand it properly as a message of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Abraham’s children were physical (by birth) and spiritual (by faith; only some have been both). The mark of his physical seed was circumcision of the flesh; of his spiritual seed, circumcision of the heart (Rom 2.28, 29; Gal 3.6-9). Only Abraham’s spiritual children will be saved.
2. Genesis 15.6. This important text lays the biblical foundation for free justification through faith alone, apart from works. The NT writers explicitly cite it to make this very point (Rom 4.1-4; Gal 3.2-9). On the other hand, Abraham’s living faith produced good works as James rightly insists (Jas 2.14-24).
3. Genesis 18.25. Abraham, confident of God’s power, justice, and mercy, intercedes on that basis. The great rhetorical question affirms the justice of God against all appearances to the contrary. For man even to assume a role of judging God is outrageously irreverent (Rom 9.20). Ω
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