Abraham - Walking in God's Promises

Abraham - "the father of faith"

Genesis 12:1-3

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (‭Genesis‬ ‭12‬:‭1-3‬)

V. 1. After Noah, the Bible gives account for the different clans, families or nations, called the Table of Nations.

Amongst the 70 peoples, clams, nations listed, God drills down 8 generations and chooses one family, one set of descendants to speak to and to make promises.

"'Go', 'walk,' or 'leave' your country, kindred, father's house." Leave everything and follow me - sounds like Jesus call to his disciples. God asks Abraham to leave everything and everyone for a place God has for him

God is building a people, planning to make them flourish, bless them with land, numerous descendants. He will allow them to become slaves, but makes them flourish in slavery. He will reveal himself to them by giving them the OT Law.

They will be unlike any people on the earth.They will be his people, he their God. It all starts with, "go", "walk", "follow me"

(verse 2) (A) make you great, (B) bless you, (A) make your name great. (verse 3). (B) bless all who bless you, (C) curse him who curses you, (B) bless all nations through you

Observations: 1. Paul and Peter say that the promise of God to bless all nations through Abraham has come. Abraham's descendant, Jesus Christ is God's blessing to all nations, all peoples.

1. When you came to know the Lord, you did not know where he would lead you. It all starts with a simple call, leave your old life, follow me... You did not know the journey God had planned for you. He allows times of trouble, confusion, pain... God's plan for you starts with an invitation: "leave your old life behind and follow me."

Application: 1. Abraham's faith is inspiring, but it's not perfect. He and his wife get a little lost along the way. They try on their own to make things happen and make a mistake - but even their mistakes are covered by God.

Your faith does not have to be perfect to follow Jesus. If you have had a difficult time following God, hearing from Him, you'll be encouraged by Abraham.

1. Among all the other clans on the earth, God calls Abraham. He calls him to "leave... that in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed".

If you have come to believe in Jesus Christ, you are a recipient of the promise made to Abraham. You are called to be a blessing to the world around you. You are called to share the blessings you have received in Jesus.