PERSONAL BIBLE STUDY GUIDE
BIBLE CHARACTERS
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SARAH
“Princess or a Toad”
BACKGROUND: Born (Sarai) was a Biblical matriarch and prophetess. A pious woman renowned for her hospitality and beauty. She was the wife and half-sister of Abraham. Sarah was childless until she was 90 years old. She was to be the “mother of nations” (Genesis 17:16). Sarah’s doubt drove her to devise her own way of realizing the promise…she gives Hagar to Abraham. Sarah is an interesting study in human nature and character…was she a “saint” or a “sinner”. Was she a true princess, or did she have some warts?
GENESIS 11:27-32
Vs. 27-- Who were the three sons of Terah?
Who was the father of Lot?
Vs. 28-- What happened to Lot’s father?
Vs. 29--Who was Abraham’s wife?
WHAT DOES SARAI MEAN? (Hint…the title of the lesson :})
Vs. 30-- What issue is noted about Sarai?
Vs. 31--Who leads the Exodus from Ur of the Chaldees?
Vs. 32-- How old was Terah when he died?
Where did Terah die?
GENESIS 12:1-5; 10-20
Vs. 1-- With Terah dead, who does God now speak to?
Vs. 2-3-- What were the promises God made to Abraham?
1). I will make of thee a __________ ___________
2). I will ___________ thee
3). I will make your __________ _____________
4). Thou shalt be a _______________
5). I will ___________ them that ___________ thee. (vs. 3)
6). I will __________ him that _____________ thee.
7). In thee shall all the ____________ of the ___________ be ________________.
Vs. 4-- How old was Abraham when he left Haran?
Vs. 5-- Where did Abraham and all his family go when the left Haran?
Vs. 10-- When a famine happened in Canaan, where did Abraham go?
Vs. 11-12-- Why was Abraham concerned about his trip to Egypt?
Vs. 13-- What did Abraham ask Sarah to do?
Vs. 14-- Sarah wasn’t just “fair”, she was _________ _________
Vs. 15-- What was Pharaoh’s response to Sarah’s beauty?
Vs. 16-- Did Abraham profit from his “lie”?
Vs. 17-- Did Pharaoh profit from taking Sarah?
Vs. 18-- Did Pharaoh find the cause of the plagues?
*NOTE: This won’t be the last Pharaoh to be plagued by the God of Israel!
Vs. 19-- Did Pharaoh have any relationship with Sarah?
Vs. 20-- Pharaoh told Abraham it was best for him to ______________
GENESIS 13:1-2
Vs. 1--When they left Egypt, what part of Canaan did Abraham settle in?
Vs. 2-- Describe Abraham’s financial situation:
GENESIS 15:1-7; 18
Vs. 1--How does God refer to himself when he speaks with Abraham?
Vs. 2-- What is Abraham’s first question for God?
Vs. 3-- What is Abraham’s solution to help God with his problem?
Vs. 4-- What was God’s response to Abraham’s suggestion?
Vs. 5-- What reference did God use to explain how many “children” Abraham would have?
Vs. 6-- Abraham ____________ God and God ___________ it to him as
______________.
*THIS IS HUGE: Later this reference will be used to prove salvation and justification is by faith, not works…(Romans 4:3-5; 17-22) (Galatians 3:6-7) (James 2:23)
ROMANS 4:3-5
Vs. 4--If you work for salvation is it a “gift”?
Vs. 5-- Salvation is not of ____________; It is by ___________.
ROMANS 4:17-22
Vs. 17--Abraham believed that God would make him the father of many nations, what else did Abraham believe about God?
Vs. 18--Describe Abraham’s faith:
Who __________hope ___________ in _________!
Vs. 19-21--Even though it seemed physically impossible, how is Abraham’s faith described?
19) Not ___________ in ____________
20) He _______________ not at the promise.
He was ____________ in faith, giving __________ to God
21) He was ___________ ______________what God had ____________,
He could ______________
DEFINE IMPUTED: “Credited to his account”
JAMES 2:3-- How is Abraham referred to by James?
GENESIS 15:18
According to God’s covenant with Abraham, what land was to belong to him and his family:
GENESIS 16:1-16
Vs. 1-- What was Hagar’s nationality?
Odds are Hagar was acquired by Abraham when?
Vs. 2-- DUMMIES R US
What was Sarah’s idea to help God with his problem?
How does Abraham’s action show his lack of faith?
Vs. 3--How old is Abraham now? (Genesis 12:4; 16:16) Help with the answer!
Vs. 4-- Was Sarah’s plan successful?
What attitude did Hagar now display towards Sarah?
*NOTE: WHY did God allow this wrong to produce a child?
Vs. 5-- Sarah admits that her idea was WRONG…but who does she blame?
Who does Sarah think God will blame?
Vs. 6--Even though she was pregnant with Abraham’s child, Abraham offered her no special treatment…Hagar was still Sarah’s handmaid.
How did Sarah treat Hagar?
What did Hagar do?
Vs. 7-- Who pursued after Hagar?
Vs. 9-- What was the angel’s instructions?
Vs. 10-- Would Hagar and the baby be OK?
Vs. 11-- The baby would be a ____________. His name was to be _____________.
Does God hear the cries of an Egyptian handmaid?
Vs. 12-- What kind of life will Ishmael live?
Vs. 13-- Does it appear that Hagar believed in the God of Abraham?
GENESIS 17:1-8; 15-22
Vs. 1-- How old was Abraham when the Lord appeared to him this time?
Vs. 2-- Again, God promises Abraham what?
Vs. 3-- What appears to be Abraham’s attitude towards God’s presence?
Vs. 4-5-- Abram’s name is changed to __________________
MEANING?
Vs. 6-8-- WHAT PROMISES ARE RENEWED?
I will make thee ___________ _________________.
I will make _____________ out of thee.
_____________ shall come of thee.
I will establish this promise as an _________________ covenant.
I will give you and your seed the ___________, the land of _____________
This land will be given you as an _______________ possession.
I will be their ______________
Vs. 15-- Sarai’s name was changed too…What was her new name:
What does Sarah mean?
Vs. 16-- What promises did God make to Sarah?
I will _____________ her.
I will give her a __________.
She shall be the mother of _______________.
___________ of people shall be of her.
Vs. 17-- What was Abraham’s reaction to God’s promise to Sarah?
*NOTE: See vs. 3--- What is the difference now?
Why did Abraham think this was so funny?
Vs. 18-- What was Abraham willing to settle for?
Vs. 19-- GOD CLEARLY SPELLS IT OUT
_________thy wife shall bear thee a son; and thou shalt call his name ___________
I will establish an _____________ ____________ with him.
Vs. 20-- Did God make any promises to Abraham concerning Ishmael?
How many sons will Ishmael have?
Vs. 21-- But the everlasting (Abrahamic) covenant will be given to ____________
When could Sarah and Abraham expect this child?
GENESIS 18:1-15
Vs. 1-- How do we know that one of the three men was the Lord?
Vs. 2-- What was Abraham’s response to the three visitors?
ABRAHAM AND SARAH PREPARE A MINI-FEAST FOR THEIR GUESTS
Vs. 9--What question did the visitors have for Abraham?
Vs. 10--Do you suppose this re-announcement was meant for Sarah’s ears?
Vs. 11--What two things made this “baby” prediction highly unlikely?
Vs. 12-- Sarah’s reaction to the “news”?
Vs. 13-- Was the Lord aware of Sarah’s secret laughter?
Vs. 14-- What was the guest’s argument supporting God’s promise?
Vs. 15-- Did Sarah admit her laughter and doubt?
HEBREWS 11:11-12
*NOTE: Hebrews presents us with a different view of Sarah’s faith!
Sarah received ___________ to ___________ seed and was _____________ of a
child when she was _________ age, be cause she ___________ him
____________ who had ______________.
Vs. 12-- How is Sarah’s child bearing ability described?
GENESIS 20:1-18
*NOTE: This appears to be another in the devil’s attempts to corrupt the seed of Abraham.
Sarah is 90 years old…How do you balance, well-stricken in years with lying because she was so beautiful?!
Vs. 2-- Who is the king of Gerar, who has an interest in Sarah?
Vs. 3-- How did Abimelech find out Sarah and Abraham were married?
*NOTE: That would have been a “scary” dream or vision!
Vs. 4-5-- What was the only thing that spared Abimelech?
Vs. 6-- God not only said he knew of Abimelech’s innocence, but what else did God say that He did?
Vs. 7-- What were Abimelech’s choices?
Vs. 9-- What was Abimelech’s response to Abraham’s deception?
Vs. 11-- What was Abraham’s excuse for his lack of faith?
Vs. 12-- How does Abraham try to “justify” his sin?
Vs. 13-- We know this arrangement happened twice… what does this verse cause us to believe?
Vs. 14-16-- What gifts were bestowed upon Abraham and Sarah?
S______; O________; M____________; W_______________; L__________;
A thousand pieces of ______________
Was Sarah “just as guilty” in this deception?
Vs. 18-- What had God caused to happen among Abimelech’s household?
GENESIS 21:1-11
Vs. 1-- The Lord did unto _____________ as he had _______________.
*Simple reminder that God keeps his promises…
Vs. 2-- How was the timing?
Vs. 3-- Abraham named the boy ______________
Vs. 4-- When were the Hebrew sons circumcised?
Vs. 5-- How old was Abraham when Isaac was born?
Vs. 6-- How is Sarah’s laughter this time different than the previous time?
*Weaning of the child sometimes lasted through ages 2 or 3
Vs. 9-- How did Ishmael get himself in trouble?
Approximately how old is Ishmael at this time?
Vs. 10-- What request did Sarah make to protect her son’s future?
How does Sarah refer to Hagar?
Do you think this was the first time there had been a problem with Ishmael?
Vs. 11-- What was Abraham’s response to Sarah’s request?
Vs. 12-- God encourages Abraham, but seems to agree with Sarah
GENESIS 23:1-20
Vs. 1-- How old is Sarah when she dies?
*NOTE: Very unusual for the Bible to give the ages of women…however it makes reference to Sarah’s age many times.
Vs. 2-- Where did Sarah die?
Vs. 3-- What does Abraham ask the sons of Heth for?
Vs. 6-- What is their response to Abraham’s request?
Vs. 8-- Did Abraham have a spot picked out?
Vs. 9-- What was the name of the spot Abraham was requesting?
Vs. 11-- Abraham was willing to pay for it…what was Ephron’s response?
Vs. 15-- What was the value of the property?
Vs. 16-- Abraham paid Ephron in ______________.
Vs. 18-- The transaction was witnessed and documented.
FAMILY MEMBERS EVENTUALLY BURIED AT MACHPELAH:
Sarah; Abraham; Isaac; Rebekah; Leah; Jacob
I PETER 3:1-6
Vs. 1-- In chapter 2 verse 18, _____________ are told to be ___________ to their masters.
The end of the chapter speaks of Christ’s example of being a _____________
servant. (21)
Chapter 3 starts out with the word “LIKEWISE”
Wives are to be in _____________ to ________ _______ husbands.
What is one reason why?
Definition: “conversation” means = manner of life
Vs. 2-- A wife’s manner of life should be ______________ and _______________.
Vs. 3-- How is a WIFE supposed to adorn herself?
Not _______________ adorning!
Vs. 4-- What is the most important part of a wife’s manner of life?
___________ and _____________ spirit
Vs. 4-- How does God feel about this behavioral attitude?
Vs. 5-- Peter says that is how women of old used to behave.
They ___________ in God and were in ______________ to their husbands.
Vs. 6-- Who is cited as the perfect example of this “meek and quiet” spirit?
NOTE: We are Abraham’s sons if we have FAITH
We are Sarah’s daughters if we are submissive and obedient to our husbands.
EXPLAIN:
“not afraid with any amazement” =
Peter says that a woman has nothing to fear from doing right.
END
