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GENESIS II-THE GOD OF ABRAM
Your Starter
We are ignorant
We are total ignoramuses!
We know nothing about God, Nothing, unless...... Unless He shows Himself to us.
All our learning is by 'Trial and error' - "upwards" - by three steps:
Observation (including experiment)
Intelligent guessing (hypothesis)
Testing (proof either fed or to change the theory)
But there is another way of knowing, by 'revelation' - "downwards". Light breaks in, e.g., "The Eureka" experiences. Christians believe in both. (Ephes, Chapter 1 verse 17).
Preview
If the first part of the Bible is Genesis Chapters 1 to 11 and focuses massively on core relationships, the second part of the Bible is Genesis Chapters 12 to the end. There is no way back into innocence (Genesis 3 verse 24) so the long way ahead is towards something even greater than innocence! This is the great quest.
God begins again with a man of whom He plans to make a new society - a Kingdom, but with all the difference in the world from our kind of kingdoms.
Set the Stage.Read Hebrews 11 verses 8 to 10.
Input-Enter Abram
He was to be the founding father of nations, one of which was to be a special 'Kingdom of Priests' - a missionary nation. That was the dream. (See Exodus 19 verses 4 to 8).
Remember-The Bible word for committed relationship is Covenant.
Read together Genesis Chapter 12 verses 1 to 9 and as much as you feel helpful from Chapter 13 verses 14 to 17, Chapter 15 verses 1 to 7 and Chapter 17 verses 1 to 7.
Faith
The name Abram (Revered Father) was changed into Abraham (Father of God's people) as the invisible God began to reveal Himself through a personal relationship or covenant with this man.
The Revelation
God is a covenant-making, covenant-keeping invisible and 'personal' being who must have impacted on Abraham as 'The Force' or 'El Shaddai' (Genesis Chapter 17 verses 1 to 2). (God had not yet revealed his personal name.)
The Audacious Secret
God wanted children! He wanted them to bear the family likeness, to breathe the family air (holiness) and share with them His glory - pale copies of which would be called Music, Joy and Peace. He wanted His children to be with Him without being shrivelled up in the Glory, Light and Heat.Thus we will look at Abraham as the first human to walk in total trust, with complete reliance on the God he could not see - the word for our part in that relationship is Faith.
Assessment
See how later ages appreciated Abraham:
Romans Chapter 4
Galatians Chapter 3
John's Gospel Chapter 8 verses 31 to 44
Hebrews Chapter 11 verses 9 to 19
Group Sharing. You may have time to read and discuss one of the following:
Pleading for the lost-Genesis Chapter 18 verses 16 to 33
Ten just men might have saved Sodom.
Could one just man save the whole world?
& The Terrible Test Genesis Chapter 22 verses 1 to 18
Does God ever demand that we offer Him our dearest treasure?
& Memorial
Abraham was not perfect but his permanent memorial remains:
He had faith in God.
Ponder Point
Why was Abraham regarded as right with God?
Optional preparation for next session.
Read Genesis, Chapter 22 verses 1 to 18 again and try to see it through Isaac's eyes! Then read Genesis, Chapter 27 verse 41 to Chapter 28 verse 9.
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