Genesis Week 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) 10 Generations from Noah to Abraham

Terah’s Descendants TerahTerahAbram Married to Sarai his half-sister Abram Sarai Daughter of Terah (Genesis 20:12} Sarai Daughter of Terah (Genesis 20:12} Nahor Married to Milcah his niece Nahor HaranHaranIsaac Married to Rebekah Isaac Esau Jacob Married to Leah & Rachel Jacob LeahLeah Rachel RebekahRebekahLabanLabanBethuelBethuelMilcah Married to Nahor her uncle Milcah Lot Iscah Ancestor of Jesus Descendent of Married to Descendent of Married to

Aleppo Haran Mari Babylon Ur Zoan Shechem Bethel Beersheba Terah takes Abram, Sarai, and Lot from Ur to Haran Terah takes Abram, Sarai, and Lot from Ur to Haran God tells Abram to go to Canaan (75 yrs old) God tells Abram to go to Canaan (75 yrs old) Abram goes to Egypt (famine in Canaan) Abram goes to Egypt (famine in Canaan) Abram returns from Egypt to Canaan Abram returns from Egypt to Canaan

After return to Canaan from Egypt, Abram has Lot choose a land After return to Canaan from Egypt, Abram has Lot choose a land Lot picks the Jordan Valley, Abram lives west of the Dead Sea Lot picks the Jordan Valley, Abram lives west of the Dead Sea War of the Kings War of the Kings God’s promise(s) to Abram, covenant God’s promise(s) to Abram, covenant Sarai and Hagar – Ishmael born (Abram 85 yrs old) 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  Covenant  Based on God, not Abram’s (or any man’s) faithfulness  God’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 communion  Provides everything  Man sins  Man reaps consequences  God remains constant, consistent, and true God & Adam and Eve God’s story conveyed through scripture His relationship with Man, His consistency irrespective of Man’s actions

 Man departs from God  Seeks his own way  God allows sin full expression  Man reaps consequences  God remains constant, consistent, and true God & the World

God’s story conveyed through scripture His relationship with Man, His consistency irrespective of Man’s actions  (A) Man returns to God  God provides everything  Man sins…but remain faithful  Man reaps consequences  God 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-ness  12:4-9 – 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 Sodom  How is Abram’s faith demonstrated?  15:6 – faithLESSness  Believed unto righteousness  Jewish emphasis on sacrifice of Isaac  Christian emphasis on trust in God’s promise  Rom 4:1-25  Gal 3:1-9  Focus is on God’s Promise in spite of faithlessness

The character of God’s commitment  15:7-21 – Weird Sacrificial Scene  Abram wanted assurances  Split sacrifices was a covenant  Both parties passed between them  Smoking Fire Pot represents God  Did Abram pass through? Why/Why not?  What is the implication?  Relationship between our faith and God’s promises  Can our faithlessness nullify God’s promises?  Can our faithlessness prevent us from having access to God’s promises?

Whole-Bible Connection The 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 Perspective  Jews claim to be Abram’s offspring (John 8:31-44)  Jesus says calls them offspring of the devil  Paul clarifies  “offspring” is by faith (Gal 3:7-9)  “seed” is singular, referring to Christ (Gal 3:16)

Theology  God of Abraham – Constant references  Gen 26:24, Ex 3:16, 1 Chr 29:18, Mark 12:26, Luke 20:37, Acts 3:13  Theme: God keeps his promises  But does so in His own way  Often (usually?) in ways that surprise Man  Is not dependent on Man

Toward Next Week  Week 6  Descendants of Noah  Promises  Faithfulness/Faithlessness Contrast  Promises Fulfilled - Gen 17:1-22:24