Seeds of Faith Podcast

The text for this lesson is Genesis 13-14

Key Points

• God used Abram (Abraham) to rescue Lot from his enemies. God used His own Son, Jesus, to rescue us from our enemies—sin, death, and the devil.
• Law: I am overcome by sin and the temptations of the devil; I am doomed to death because of my sinfulness.
• Gospel: God’s Son, Jesus, is my rescuer from these powerful enemies, granting me new life with Him in heaven.
• Law: Because of sin, I have enemies in my life.
• Gospel: God in Christ rescues me from my worst enemies—sin, death, and the devil.
 

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Discussion Points

1. Read 1 Peter 1:6–7; John 9:1–3. What are two reasons why Christians like Lot suffer?
2. Read Genesis 14:12. Which “way” were the kings who captured Lot going? Read Genesis 14:13. Abram was the first to be called a Hebrew. In the Hebrew language, Hebrew describes one who “crosses over” a river. While the kings of this world were going their own ways, Abram was crossing over into the Promised Land to live as a sojourner. Upon whose “way” was Abram treading by faith? Read Psalm 119:9. What defines God’s way?
3. In the midst of much bloodshed, God rescued Lot. He brought forth Abram to defeat the enemy despite a lack of numbers. Abram had just 318 fighting men. Yet, Abram believed God. He had no land with which to supply his soldiers food and shelter. Yet, Abram believed God. What does it say about the faith God gave to Abram? Read Exodus 14:25; Joshua 10:11. When the faithful go to war, who does the fighting?
4. Compare the blessing Melchizedek gave to Abram with the blessing God gave to Abram in Genesis 12. In Genesis 12, Abram was blessed directly, but who was really being blessed by Melchizedek? See Matthew 7:11. What does this imply about the true source of blessing?
5. How does the Lord rescue those of His who are in captivity? How does this “rescuing” reach its pinnacle in Jesus’ mission on earth? Read Luke 4:18–21. What does it mean for Jesus to “set at liberty those who are oppressed”?
6. Abram defeated the kings’ armies with adept strategy and fortitude. After defeating the kings in battle, how did Abram react? Abram had no place to call his own, and yet he did not seize any of the land that God had already promised would be his! Read Hebrews 11:10. What did Abram’s refusal of the physical land of Canaan imply about the location of God’s Promised Land? Read 1 Peter 5:6–7. How was Abram’s trust in God’s promise made manifest in his humble reaction toward his unbridled victory? What place does humility play in the life of the Christian, who is saved solely by God’s grace through faith?
7. God graciously saved Sodom and Gomorrah for the sake of one righteous man, Lot. Read Genesis 14:17. The king of Sodom came out to greet Abram. How did Abram’s rescuing of Lot serve Sodom? Skim Genesis 19. What did it mean for the king of Sodom to receive God’s salvation only to reject the Word preached by Melchizedek? With the exception of Lot and his family, was there anyone left in Sodom and Gomorrah who had not heard the Word and rejected it? How does Genesis 15 affect the way you view God’s long-suffering toward Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19?
8. Read Hebrews 7:1–3. In what ways did Melchizedek foreshadow Christ?
9. As priest of God Most High, Melchizedek blessed Abram with bread and wine. In what way does Christ bless us with bread and wine today? Read Hebrews 9:13–14; 10:12–14. Christ offered His sacrifice once for all. How is this once-for-all sacrifice tied to the forgiveness of sins that we receive in the Lord’s Supper?
10. Lot was by no means the only one to live in bondage to his enemies. John declares that “everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin” (John 8:34). John also tells us that “if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves” (1 John 1:8). All of us live in servitude to sin, but sin is not our only enemy. This fallen world and the devil work in unison to snatch us from our land of promise into captivity. Compare our situations to Lot’s. Was Lot capable of freeing himself, or did his salvation come from outside himself?
11. In his rescuing of Lot, Abram foreshadowed our Savior, Jesus Christ. Christ entered the battle and defeated the devil, this world, and even our sinful flesh for us. Read Hebrews 2:14–16. How does Christ’s crucifixion and death relate to the victory He has won over the devil?
12. Read Hebrews 7:23–8:1. The Old Testament had many priests—Melchizedek, Aaron, and his sons to name a few. In our post-resurrection era, Christ Jesus Himself is our High Priest. He offered Himself as the sole sacrifice for our sins by His suffering and death. By this offering, He has redeemed us in all sufficiency. While we have one High Priest, the Church has millions in the priesthood. Read 1 Peter 2:4–5, 9–10. If our Lord has offered up the one sacrifice needed for sins, what kind of sacrifices do we offer?