Genesis 11-13

Chapter 11

Chapter 11 records the Tower of Babel incident and the genealogies of Shem and Terah. After the flood, as humanity began to multiply again, people once more revealed their pride before God. Those who had experienced the flood sought to build a great city and a tower reaching high into the sky, uniting around it in order to avoid being scattered and to escape God’s judgment (verses 1–6).

 

Seeing the wickedness of humanity, God confused their language so that they could no longer continue building the city. Because they could no longer understand one another, people were scattered across the earth (verses 7–9).

The genealogy of Shem is then recorded, emphasizing Abraham, the ancestor of the covenant (verses 10–26). Chapter 11 concludes with the death of Terah, Abraham’s father, and by introducing Abraham, it opens the next stage of redemptive history.

 

Q1) Why did the people want to build a city and a tower (the latter part of verse 4)?

Q2) Ultimately, whom was the genealogy of Shem written to introduce (verses 26–27)?

Q3) What kind of person was Abram (verses 28–30)?

 

Chapter 12

Chapter 12 records the first step in Abram’s life of obedience, as he follows God’s will throughout his life in response to God’s calling. Following Chapter 11, which ends with the genealogy of Shem and the death of Terah, Chapter 12 introduces Abram as the one who opens the prologue of salvation history.

 

God appears to Abram and gives him a covenant of salvation, promising blessings of land and descendants (verses 1–3). In faith, Abram leaves his homeland and migrates to Canaan, the land God directs him to go (verses 4–9).

However, when a famine strikes the land of Canaan, Abram goes down to Egypt, where food is plentiful. Fearing for his life, he lies and says that his wife Sarai is his sister. As a result, she is taken by Pharaoh. Yet through God’s intervention, Abram is rescued from this crisis and even receives material blessings (verses 10–20).

 

Q1) What command and promises did God give to Abram while he was staying in Haran (verses 1–3)?

Q2) What crisis did Abram face before God’s promises were fulfilled (verse 10; verses 14–15)?

Q3) What seemingly easy solution did Abram choose in order to escape the crisis (verses 11–13)?

 

Chapter 13

In Chapter 13, Abram safely returns to the land of Canaan from Egypt through God’s help after many difficulties, but another test awaits him. This test arises from a dispute between the herdsmen of Abram and those of his nephew Lot. Through their choices, the chapter contrasts trusting God with following human sight and worldly desire.

 

Abram comes up from Egypt and settles again near Bethel in Canaan (verses 1–4). As time passes and their possessions increase, Abram and Lot are no longer able to live together. Abram then gives Lot the right to choose first where he will live (verses 5–9). Lot chooses the well-watered and fertile land of Sodom and Gomorrah (verses 10–13).

After Lot departs, God appears to Abram and once again promises blessings concerning the land of Canaan and Abram’s descendants (verses 14–18).

 

Q1) What was the dispute that arose between Abram and his nephew Lot (verses 5–7)?

Q2) Who appeared to Abram after Lot had left him (verse 14)?

Q3) What two promises did God give to Abram after Lot departed (verses 14–16)?