Genesis 10-12: Study Guide

Background

• Review of Genesis 7-9: God destroyed all life with a flood on the whole earth. Only a small percentage of animals and Noah's family escaped destruction by residing inside an ark. After the flood God established a covenant of peace and renewed His creation blessing (albeit under graver terms).
• Setting for Genesis 10: .The setting features a sparsely populated earth that has recently dried from flooding, and has begun to produce new vegetation (Genesis 8:10; 9:20).

Study Preparations

• Timer: Assign a timer who will focus the group on spending 15 minutes in each chapter
• Prayer: Open in prayer and invite God to provide understanding into Genesis 10-12

Genesis 10

Read: Choose a reader to read Genesis 10.

Discussion

1. Patterns & Organization
1. What patterns or formulas appear to be a part of this genealogy?
2. How does this genealogy seem to be organized?
2. Noteworthy Details
1. What are some noteworthy details that stand out from the rest of the genealogy?
2. Which noteworthy regions are associated with which of Noah's descendants?
3. Purpose of This Genealogy: What role do you think the genealogy of Noah is meant to play for the readers of Genesis?

Transition: The leader ties Genesis 10 into the full picture of Genesis, and transitions the group into Genesis 11. Suggested themes and foreshadows include:

• Human diversity
• Human dispersion
• Origins of ethnic stereotypes (e.g. coastland peoples, mighty ones)
• Origins of the nations (e.g. Babylon, Assyria, Egypt, Canaan)

Genesis 11

Read: Choose a reader to read Genesis 11:1-26.

Discussion

1. Babel: Consider the events and attitudes surrounding the Tower of Babel.
1. What seems to have been the desires and concerns of humanity during this time period?
2. How do the intentions of humanity differ in this chapter from the movement of the nations within the previous chapter?
3. What appears to be God's motivation behind confusing the languages of the nations?
4. Do you think that the issue surrounding Babel is still an issue today? If so, how? If not, why not?
2. Shem's Lineage: What trend(s) stands out regarding the ages of Shem's descendants?

Transition: The leader ties Genesis 11 into the full picture of Genesis, and transitions the group into Genesis 12. Suggested themes and foreshadows include:

• World unification
• Human pursuit of godhood (building a tower to heaven)
• God limits humanity further (scatters humanity)
• Origin of language barriers
• The gradual shortening of human lifespans

Genesis 12

Read: Choose a reader to read Genesis 11:27-12:20.

Discussion

1. The Land of Canaan: Recall Terah's interest in Canaan.
1. What do you think motivates Terah to venture towards the land of Canaan? Why do you think he stopped?
2. Do you think that we are meant to think back to Noah's curse upon Canaan as God directs Abram's journey?
2. Abram's Blessing
1. What is your first impression of God's blessing for Abram?
2. Do you think that God's promise to "curse those who might curse Abram" is meant to resemble God's promise to "bring vengeance against anyone who might kill Cain" (Genesis 4:15)?
3. What do you think about God's instruction to Abram to separate himself from his father's house?
4. Why do you think that Sarai's barrenness had been mentioned earlier? Would it affect Abram's understanding of God's promise?
3. Egypt: Consider Abram's experience in Egypt.
1. What is your impression of Abram's relationship with Pharaoh?
2. What can be drawn from the Abram's incident with Pharaoh?
3. Do you think that modern relations with Israel might sometimes lead to incidents that resemble Abram's incident with Pharaoh?

Transition: The leader ties Genesis 12 into the full picture of Genesis, and helps the group anticipate what may be coming in the next study. Suggested themes and foreshadows include:

• Promise to make Abram into a great nation
• Barrenness of Abram's wife Sarai
• Abram's blessing extended to the other nations
• Reciprocity of blessings & cursings 
• Abram's shrewdness (e.g. dealing with Pharaoh)
• Teetering relations with Egypt
• God's inflicts Egypt for Abram's sake
• Movement towards the occupation of Canaan

Closing

Looking Forward: These chapters portray the development of the world nations and their dispersion through the earth. Amid such development, God promises Abram his own portion of land, his own nation, and a special state of blessedness among the other nations.

1. International Relations: Based upon the covered chapters, what international climate does Abram seem to face as he seeks out the fulfillment of his blessing?
1. Do nations seem friendly towards one another? Hostile? Somewhere in-between?
2. Do you anticipate that success or trouble awaits Abram in his journeys?
2. Abram's Blessing: How do you think Abram's blessing fits into the full picture of Genesis?
1. Do you think that God's blessing of Abram serves to build upon His blessings already given to creation, man & woman, and Noah & his sons? Or do you think that Abram's blessing is unique?
2. What do you think that God is trying to accomplish through His blessing of Abram?