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Discussions Torah

Genesis 12-13: Abram fakes out Pharaoh over Sarai; Abram divvies Promised Land with Lot

The seemingly strange account of Abram and Sarai faking out Pharaoh is a microcosm of the later Exodus account. Abram and the descendants of Israel initially were welcomed and exalted, but then they were seen as a curse and told to leave, sent away with many gifts and riches.

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Appointments With God Chanukah Discussions

Chanukah celebrates 6 dedicated women

What do the following six important women in the Bible have in common? How did their experiences shape the future of the people of God?

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Discussions Torah

Lying for lentils and how to inherit the blessings of God (Genesis 25–26)

After Sarah’s death Abraham had other children as well and we learn how his estate was divided up between his heirs. We also learn how Yiskhak (Isaac) deals with his status as a wealthy patriarch in a hostile land and how his two sons start fighting over Yiskhak’s estate before they are born and continue fighting over it when they are adults. The fight appears to end with Esau “despising” his birthright. But does this really end the dispute?

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Discussions Torah

Negotiations for Sarah’s burial and the deed to Hebron (Genesis 23)

The events around Sarah’s death are not mentioned simply as a marker of time. She was a prominent person in her own right. Her Biblical biography is the only one of a woman that mentions her age at the time of her death as well as the elaborate negotiations surrounding the location of her final repose. The negotiations for her burial place have implications into the present day.

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Discussions Torah

Genesis 21 part 3 — Abraham obeys Sarah and confronts Abimelech; Ishmael grows up

In part three of a study on Genesis 21, we read about the confrontation between the ruler Abimelech and Abraham. Meanwhile, Ishmael grows up and becomes a problem in Abraham’s household, so Abraham sends him and his mother away.

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Discussions Torah

Genesis 21 part 2 — Son of Promise, Son of Flesh

Genesis 21 has close parallels with apostle Paul’s illustration in Galatians 3-4 on the “son of the promise” from the “free woman” and the “son of the flesh” from the slave woman.

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Apostolic Writings Discussions Torah

Genesis 21 part 1 — Son of Promise, Son of Flesh

Genesis 21 has close parallels with apostle Paul’s illustration in Galatians 4 on the “son of the promise” from the “free woman” and the “son of the flesh” from the slave woman.