GenesisWeek 5 – Abraham…

and the Nations

“Now the Lord said…go to the land I will show you, and I will make of you a great nation…and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” Gen 12:1-3

Text: Gen 11:27-16:16

Shem (Son of Noah)

Elam Asshur

Abram (Abraham)

Terah

Nahor

Serug

Reu

Peleg

Almodad Sheleph

Hazarmaveth Jerah

Hadoram Uzal

Diklah Obal

Abimael Sheba

Ophir Havilah

Jobab

Joktan

Eber

Shelah (Salah)

Arphaxad Lud

Uz Hul

Gether Meshech (Mash)

Aram

Shem

10 Generations from Noah to Abraham

Terah’s Descendants

Terah

AbramMarried to

Sarai his half-sister

SaraiDaughter of

Terah(Genesis 20:12}

NahorMarried to Milcah his

niece

Haran

IsaacMarried to Rebekah

Esau

JacobMarried to

Leah & Rachel

Leah Rachel

Rebekah Laban

Bethuel

MilcahMarried to Nahor her

uncle

Lot

Iscah

Ancestor of Jesus

Descendent of

Married to

Aleppo

Haran

Mari

Babylon

UrZoan

Shechem

Bethel

Beersheba

• Terah takes Abram, Sarai, and Lot from Ur to Haran• God tells Abram to go to Canaan (75 yrs old)• Abram goes to Egypt (famine in Canaan)• Abram returns from Egypt to Canaan

• After return to Canaan from Egypt, Abram has Lot choose a land

• Lot picks the Jordan Valley, Abram lives west of the Dead Sea

• War of the Kings• God’s promise(s) to Abram, covenant• Sarai and Hagar – Ishmael born (Abram 85 yrs old)

Micro to Macro to Micro to…

Shift from single man (Adam) to nations to single man (Abram)…but through that man back to all nations

Nations (Man) not lost at Babel but blessed via Abram

CovenantBased on God, not Abram’s (or any man’s)

faithfulnessGod’s plan to use Abram’s faith and him as a person

God’s plan always prevails regardless of man’s faith

The End Game: All nations will be blessed through Abram in the blessing of the Messiah.

God in close communionProvides everythingMan sinsMan reaps consequencesGod remains constant,

consistent, and true

God

&

Adam and Eve

God’s story conveyed through scriptureHis relationship with Man, His consistency irrespective of Man’s actions

God’s story conveyed through scriptureHis relationship with Man, His consistency irrespective of Man’s actions

Man departs from GodSeeks his own wayGod allows sin full expressionMan reaps consequencesGod remains constant,

consistent, and true

God

&

the World

God’s story conveyed through scriptureHis relationship with Man, His consistency irrespective of Man’s actions

(A) Man returns to GodGod provides everythingMan sins…but remain faithfulMan reaps consequencesGod remains constant,

consistent, and true

God

&

Abram

Promises and Ironies Gen 12:1-3 – What are the three promises?

Great Nation Great Name Lineage (Seed) - All Nations Blessed

Irony(ies) of God’s promise(s) Compare “Great Name” to Tower of Babel event Unity/Diversity – are they incompatible? Many for one purpose (Babel)/one for one purpose (Abram)

Yet what of the Church? Working against God/working for God Settling in one place/Migration

Yet what of a “promised land”

Conclusion: God will accomplish His desires as He wishes and in His time, not ours

Faithful/Faithless-ness12:4-9 – faithFULness. How does God confirm his promise?

12:10-20 – faithLESSness. Does this jeopardize God’s promise?Does God intervene? How?

13:1-14:16 – faithFULness. Allows Lot to choose.How does God confirm his promise?

Faithful/Faithless-ness

14:17-24 – faithFULness.King of Salem & King of SodomHow is Abram’s faith demonstrated?

15:6 – faithLESSnessBelieved unto righteousnessJewish emphasis on sacrifice of IsaacChristian emphasis on trust in God’s promise

Rom 4:1-25Gal 3:1-9

Focus is on God’s Promise in spite of faithlessness

The character of God’s commitment15:7-21 – Weird Sacrificial Scene

Abram wanted assurancesSplit sacrifices was a covenantBoth parties passed between themSmoking Fire Pot represents GodDid Abram pass through? Why/Why not?What is the implication?

Relationship between our faith and God’s promisesCan our faithlessness nullify God’s promises?Can our faithlessness prevent us from having

access to God’s promises?

Whole-Bible ConnectionThe Physical vs. The Spiritual

3:15 – Offspring of woman crushes the head of the offspring of the serpent

12:3 – In you (Abram) all families of the earth will be blessed

NT PerspectiveJews claim to be Abram’s offspring (John 8:31-44)Jesus says calls them offspring of the devilPaul clarifies

“offspring” is by faith (Gal 3:7-9)“seed” is singular, referring to Christ (Gal 3:16)

Theology

God of Abraham – Constant referencesGen 26:24, Ex 3:16, 1 Chr 29:18, Mark

12:26, Luke 20:37, Acts 3:13

Theme: God keeps his promisesBut does so in His own wayOften (usually?) in ways that surprise

ManIs not dependent on Man

Toward Next Week

Week 6 Descendants of Noah Promises Faithfulness/Faithlessness Contrast

Promises Fulfilled - Gen 17:1-22:24