1. Abraham - The Friend of God “You Can Always Come Back” Genesis 12:10-13:18

2. I. Introduction:

3. Knowing the story so far, the road to the Promised Land

4. II. Knowing when you have gone too far (12:10-20)

5. What have they done to the rain?

6. II. Knowing when you have gone too far (12:10-20) What have they done to the rain? Abraham makes 4 major mistakes

7. II. Knowing when you have gone too far (12:10-20) What have they done to the rain? Abraham makes 4 major mistakes *He makes the wrong response to a crisis

8. II. Knowing when you have gone too far (12:10-20) What have they done to the rain? Abraham makes 4 major mistakes *He makes the wrong response to a crisis * He goes where God did not tell him to

9. II. Knowing when you have gone too far (12:10-20) What have they done to the rain? Abraham makes 4 major mistakes *He makes the wrong response to a crisis * He goes where God did not tell him to * He creates a human solution to the problem

10. II. Knowing when you have gone too far (12:10-20) What have they done to the rain? Abraham makes 4 major mistakes *He makes the wrong response to a crisis * He goes where God did not tell him to * He creates a human solution to the problem * He is content to prosper in the land

11. II. Knowing when you have gone too far (12:10-20) What have they done to the rain? Abraham makes 4 major mistakes *He makes the wrong response to a crisis * He goes where God did not tell him to * He creates a human solution to the problem * He is content to prosper in the land He deserved the exile he received ( 12:18- 20)

12. III. Knowing where to find your way home (13:1-4)

13. Now he goes back (13:1)

14. III. Knowing where to find your way home (13:1-4) Now he goes back (13:1) The two mistakes:

15. III. Knowing where to find your way home (13:1-4) Now he goes back (13:1) The two mistakes: * He brought a slave girl, and she nearly wrecked his marriage (16:1)

16. III. Knowing where to find your way home (13:1-4) Now he goes back (13:1) The two mistakes: * He brought a slave girl, and she nearly wrecked his marriage (16:1) * He brought possessions, and they nearly cost him his family (13:5-6)

17. VI. Knowing how to get it right the next time (13:5-18)

18. He gives his nephew the right of choice (13:8-9)

19. VI. Knowing how to get it right the next time (13:5-18) He gives his nephew the right of choice (13:8-9) It is the journey of Abraham’s life. From Ur to Haran, from Haran to Canaan, from Canaan to Egypt, and then from Egypt back to Canaan, not without parallels for us today.

20. V. Conclusion:

21. Knowing God’s reward

22. V. Conclusion: Knowing God’s reward For Abraham, God had two things, descendants (13:16), and the land (13:17)

23. VI. Summary

24. When you have gone too far, you can always come back, but leave behind what God does not want you to bring with you. Try making the right choice next time -- and build and altar!