The Blessing of Ephraim & Manasseh
Although this lesson may seem anticlimactic, God is still fulfilling His blessings on Joseph and rewarding him for his faithfulness. Our final reward comes in heaven (1 Peter 1:4). Yet, we can be sure that our God will make all things work out to the good of those who love Him.
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Enduring Temptation
So often in the Bible and in daily life, we see the results of those who do not endure the temptation to sin. Over and over again, we are warned of the dangers of temptation. However, this story shows us one who was tempted and yet did not sin (1 Corinthians 10:13). Joseph is an example to us all in his resistance to temptation.
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Joseph Sold Into Slavery
Joseph’s story takes up the remainder of the book of Genesis and, as such, is one of the more detailed lives in the Bible. The story is of one who does right and yet seems to be hurt all the more for it. Yet, in the end, God exalts His beloved one and he stands as second in all the land of Egypt and is the instrument for the deliverance of the people of God. The practical message of his life is to do right and God will take care of the rest. But, for now and for several chapters to come, the outlook looks gloomy. We will have to wait to see the blessings of his righteous life.
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Wrestling with the Angel
Jacob reaches great heights of spiritual maturity in this lesson. He wrestles with the angel of God and prevails. His name is changed form one that means supplanter to one that means prince of God. He faces his greatest fear (Esau) and comes out victorious. He is touched by God and is never the same again.
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The Offering of Isaac
Several approaches are possible with this lesson. You may want to emphasize the doctrinal approach in which the offering of Isaac is a wonderful type of the sacrifice of God’s only Son, Jesus Christ, on the cross. Or, you might approach the lesson from the standpoint of Abraham and his faith in the Lord. You might even go back over his life and review the growth of his faith through the years. A third approach, especially good for teaching children, would be to consider the viewpoint of Isaac. He obviously submitted to his father and trusted him. Isaac is certainly an example of an obedient child. Yet, all of these approaches emphasize surrender and sacrifice. You might do well to consider what it means to be truly surrendered to the Lord.
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Sodom and Gomorrah
The five cities of the plain were ancient cities of renown (Genesis 10:19). They had a large population, plenty of water and an excellent climate (Genesis 13:10). Yet, four of these cities were destroyed during the lifetime of Abraham (Deuteronomy 29:23). In the midst of one of these cities was the nephew of Abraham. Lot was not the evil man that many perceive him to be. In the scriptures, he is called a righteous and a just man (2 Peter 2:6-8). Yet, Lot certainly failed. Why and how did he do so?
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Abraham’s Meeting with God
This section of the Bible gives a great lesson on hospitality. But, more than that, it deals with fellowship with God. Abraham received the Lord into his home and the Lord felt enough confidence in Abraham to reveal to him what He was getting ready to do.
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Abraham’s Covenant
God’s covenant with Abraham shows us how God establishes a relationship with man. As He does with the Jewish people, God will always keep His promises to man. This is why we are eternally secure in our salvation.
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The Rescue of Lot
Though Lot is a righteous man in his personal life (2 Peter 2:7-8), he runs with the wrong crowd (Genesis 13:12-13). Abram rescues his nephew but he keeps a good distance from the king and goods of Sodom. We should do the same.
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The Tower of Babel
The tower of Babel is the sight of man’s first and (to date) only one world government. Man has dreamed of renewing a universal government since that time. All the empires of the past have been attempts to establish it. He believes that if man would just stop fighting himself and unite, he could accomplish anything and would no longer need God. God has therefore allowed divisions in language, geography, culture, etc., to keep man from uniting as one. Bible prophecy tells of a time when man will have his one world government and will use it to fight God and God’s people, the Jews. This is the time of the tribulation.
