Study Desk

But your son Isaac will be born about this time next year, and the promise I am making to you and your family will be for him and his descendants forever.

On that same day Abraham obeyed God by circumcising Ishmael. Abraham was also circumcised, and so were all other men and boys in his household, including his servants and slaves. He was ninety-nine years old at the time, and his son Ishmael was thirteen.

One hot summer afternoon Abraham was sitting by the entrance to his tent near the sacred trees of Mamre, when the Lord appeared to him.

Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. He quickly ran to meet them, bowed with his face to the ground,

Abraham quickly went to his tent and said to Sarah, "Hurry! Get a large sack of flour and make some bread."

After saying this, he rushed off to his herd of cattle and picked out one of the best calves, which his servant quickly prepared.

He then served his guests some yogurt and milk together with the meat. While they were eating, he stood near them under the trees,

since his family will become a great and powerful nation that will be a blessing to all other nations on earth.

I have chosen him to teach his family to obey me forever and to do what is right and fair. Then I will give Abraham many descendants, just as I promised."

Before Lot and his guests could go to bed, every man in Sodom, young and old, came and stood outside his house

Lot went to the men who were engaged to his daughters and said, "Hurry and get out of here! The Lord is going to destroy this city." But they thought he was joking, and they laughed at him.

At first, Lot just stood there. But the Lord wanted to save him. So the angels took Lot, his wife, and his two daughters by the hand and led them out of the city.

When God destroyed the cities of the valley where Lot lived, he remembered his promise to Abraham and saved Lot from the terrible destruction.

Lot was afraid to stay on in Zoar. So he took his two daughters and moved to a cave in the hill country.

One day his older daughter said to her sister, "Our father is old, and there are no men anywhere for us to marry.

he told everyone that his wife Sarah was his sister. So King Abimelech of Gerar had Sarah brought to him.

Her husband is a prophet. Let her go back to him, and his prayers will save you from death. But if you don't return her, you and all your people will die.

Early the next morning Abimelech sent for his officials, and when he told them what had happened, they were frightened.

and told Abraham that he could settle anywhere in his country.

The Lord was good to Sarah and kept his promise.