1. LIFE OF ABRAHAM The Friend of God Lesson 8

2. Abraham’s Descendants 12:2 Great nation 13:14 Dust of the earth 15:4 From your own body Ishmael at Age 13 17:1 16:10 To Hagar: Greatly multiply

3. New Names The Lord God Most High Lord God God Almighty (El Shaddai) Abram (Exalted Father) Abraham (Father of a Great Number) Sarai (My Princess) Sarah (Princess)

4. New Command I am God Almighty Walk before Me and be blameless Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think... I, therefore... entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling...

5. New Promises I will make you a Great Nation Descendants as the dust of the earth Descendants as the stars in the heavens I will greatly multiply your descendants I will Multiply you Exceedingly I will make you the father of a Multitude of Nations I will make you Exceedingly Fruitful Kings shall come forth from you

6. New Sign of the Covenant Every male to be circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin To be done when eight days old Servants included Refusing circumcision was breaking the covenant

7. One More Promise Sarah will have a son Abraham laughs “Oh that Ishmael may live before Thee!” Son will be named Isaac – “he laughs” Covenant will be with Isaac But Ishmael will be blessed also

8. Challenges to Abraham’s Faith Believed Ishmael was the son of promise Thought it impossible that he and Sarah could bear a child at such an old age Promises of descendants even more “intense” Wearing a new name Circumcision Abraham Obeys God (17:22-27)