Interactive Study Companion
Before You Begin
Materials Needed
- Bible
- Notebook or Study Journal
- Pen or Pencil
- Dictionary
Research Tools
Use the following resources as you complete this study:
- Reference materials found at BlueLetterBible.com
- Various Bible translations found at BibleGateway.com
Record your observations in your notebook.
First Assignment
Open your Bible to Genesis 13.
Read the entire chapter before beginning this study.
As you read:
- Underline every instance of covenant language.
- Highlight every promise God makes.
- Record your observations.
- Look for words such as:
- I will
- I shall
- Surely
- Certainly
Do not worry about finding every answer immediately.
Simply begin by observing the text.
Introduction
Genesis 13 is often remembered as the chapter where Abram and Lot separate.
Yet beneath the surface of this chapter are family connections, covenant promises, and historical details that help us better understand the world Abram lived in.
As we follow the evidence found in Scripture, we will discover that many of the people mentioned in Genesis were far closer to one another than we often imagine.
This study will challenge us to slow down, search the Scriptures, compare information, and draw conclusions based on evidence rather than assumptions.
Search It Out
Look up each passage and record your observations.
Family Connections
- Genesis 11:26–32
- Genesis 12:1–5
- Genesis 13:1–18
God’s Care for the Vulnerable
- Psalm 27:10
- Psalm 68:5
- Psalm 34:18
Covenant Promises
- Genesis 12:1–3
- Genesis 13:14–17
Let’s Follow the Family Connections
Read Genesis 11:26–32.
Questions
- Who were the sons of Terah?
- Who was Lot’s father?
- What happened to Haran?
- Who was Sarai?
- Who was Milcah?
- Why might the death of Haran have created challenges for his family?
Record your observations.
Berean Study
Read Genesis 12:1–5 and Genesis 13.
Question 1
What instructions did God give Abram?
Question 2
What promises did God make to Abram?
List each promise you find.
Question 3
According to Genesis 13:14–17, what did God promise after Abram and Lot separated?
Question 4
Why is it important to identify the actual promises God makes rather than relying on memory or assumption?
Question 5
What observations do you make about the timing of God’s promises in Genesis 13?
Special Study Connection: The Kinsman Redeemer
One of the discoveries that emerges from this study involves God’s concern for the vulnerable.
The death of Haran left family members without the protection and provision normally provided by a father.
Throughout Scripture, God repeatedly reveals His concern for widows, orphans, and the fatherless.
Before continuing, watch the companion teaching below.
Reflect
- What stood out to you from the teaching?
- What does Psalm 27:10 reveal about God’s character?
- What does Psalm 68:5 reveal about God’s heart toward the fatherless?
- What encouragement do you find in Psalm 34:18?
Record your observations.
Visual Study Aid: Generational Overlap Timeline
Before continuing, carefully examine the timeline chart below.
This chart was developed from the genealogical information found in Genesis 11, with support from Genesis 24. It helps us visualize which generations were alive at the same time.
As you study the chart, look for patterns, overlaps, and relationships that may not be obvious when simply reading the text.
Chart Investigation
Using the timeline chart, answer the following questions.
Observation Questions
- Who was still alive when Abram was born?
- How old was Abram when Noah died?
- How old was Abram when:
- Peleg died?
- Reu died?
- Serug died?
- Nahor died?
- Who was still alive when Isaac was born?
- Which patriarchs overlapped Isaac’s lifetime?
- Which patriarch overlapped the lives of Esau and Jacob?
- Was Terah still alive when Abram left?
- What observations surprised you most?
Record your findings.
Go Deeper
Question 1
What surprised you about the overlap of generations?
Question 2
How does the chart change your understanding of the time between Noah and Abraham?
Question 3
Could important events have been passed through living witnesses rather than through many generations of retelling?
What evidence from the chart supports your answer?
Question 4
Why do you think Scripture preserves genealogies so carefully?
Question 5
What assumptions might a reader make if they skipped these genealogies?
Follow the Thread
Build Your Own Timeline
Using Genesis chapters 5 and 6:
Create a generational overlap timeline from Adam to Noah.
Record:
- The age of each patriarch when the next patriarch was born.
- The lifespan of each patriarch.
- Which generations overlapped?
Investigation Questions
- Which patriarch lived the longest?
- Was Adam alive during the lifetime of Lamech?
- How many generations separate Adam and Noah? Hint: A generation is 100 years.
- What observations stood out to you as you completed your chart?
Record your findings.
Reflection
Take a moment to reflect on what you learned during this study.
Consider
- What new discovery surprised you?
- What assumption was challenged?
- What did you learn about God’s promises?
- What did you learn about God’s care for the vulnerable?
- What did you learn by examining the timeline?
Record your thoughts in your notebook.
Continue the Journey
One of the themes of this study is that details matter.
Genealogies, timelines, family connections, and covenant promises often reveal truths that are easily missed when we rush through the text.
Continue searching.
Continue asking questions.
Continue following the evidence.
And continue allowing Scripture to interpret Scripture.
Next Study
Understanding Covenant Language — Genesis 18
Between a Father and HIS daughter, Home of The Artisans Pen 