Handouts: None given
Reminders:
- Service Project: The 10 hours, 2 forms, and 1 essay are due on Apr 23, 2017
- Devotion Assignment Key Due Dates: Passage Selection (Sep 22, submitted in-class), Preparation Part 1 (Oct 2, submitted in-class), Preparation Part 2 (Oct 9, submitted in-class), Outline Form (Oct 16, typed submitted to TurnItIn.com by 8am)
Journal 2-2: Study Packet, Page 11
- Consider: If someone came to your house tonight & said that you had to leave right away because a fire was about to destroy it—
- - 1) What top 3 things would you grab & take with you?
- - - Your family can all walk out on their own, they’re grabbing their own things.
- - - You have a big backpack you can put them in, but your transportation devices are broken down. Bummer.
- - 2) Why would you take these things?
- When done with that: Draw a picture of you and your family fleeing with these things!
Setting the Stage--An Introduction to Abram & his Family: Genesis 11:26-32
- We filled out a family tree in our Study Packets, page 6, with this information
- Main Characters:
- - Terah: Father of the three men below
- - Abram: Married to Sarai, who had the unfortunate condition of being barren (meaning she couldn't have children)
- - Nahor: Married to Milcah
- - Haran: Father of Lot; Haran ends up dying young
MAP: Abram’s Journey: Genesis 12:4-9, 10-16
- Terah & his family started in 'Ur of the Chaldeans', which is to the southeast (bottom right) of the map we showed
- Terah wanted to go Canaan, right beside the Mediterranean Sea (on the east)
- - However, to travel there they couldn't go straight west, there was a giant desert there (the Syrian Desert)
- - So instead Terah followed the Euphrates River north. He only got halfway to Canaan & then stopped in Haran (at the top center of the map we saw), this city was likely named after his son.
- - Terah never did make it to Canaan.
- When God calls Abram, though, Abram responds in fuller faith to God
- - He leaves his family & journeys from Haran (central, north) to Canaan (west coastal region), settling in the Negev (lower regions of Canaan)
- - Lot, his nephew (the son of Abram's dead brother) comes with him
MAP: I showed a map showing the journey of Abram's family
Genesis 12:1-9) God’s Initiates Covenant: Study Packet, page 2
- God initiates a relationship with Abram (Son of Terah):
- - Notice that God takes the initiative ('first step') in reaching out to Abram
- - - Throughout history God does this!
- - - He is the one who reaches out to us before we reach out to Him
- - - While we were still in our sin & selfishness, God reaches out to us! :-D
- - God makes a covenant with Abram (a 75-years-old man)
- - God tells him to go from his country (City: Haran), people, and family to the land that God would show him
- - God promises to…
- - - Greatly bless Abram,
- - - Make him into a great nation
- - - - Whoa, hold on! How is this possible when his wife is barren & can't have children?!? Again, some strong faith would be needed to trust God in this!
- - - Cause Abram to be a blessing to all of the peoples on earth
- Abram trusts and obeys God!
- - Even though it would be hard! Consider how it would be...
- - - Dangerous: the smaller your group, the more likely a larger group will attack you
- - - Emotionally Painful: There weren't phones and a good mail service back then, you also couldn't just drive home for special holidays. It was very likely Abram would never see his family again!
- - - Uncertain: God didn't say 'where' to go, He just said that He would show Abram a place! Talk about stepping into the unknown!
- - He brings…
- - - - Sarai (his barren wife)- - - - Lot (his deceased brother's son)
- - - - All his other things & people
- - - …to the land of Canaan (the “Promised Land” that God will give to Abram's descendants)
- Abram worships God
- - Building Him an altar & calling upon Him
Genesis 12:1-9) God’s Initiates Covenant, Theology: Study Packet, page 3
- Through covenants God invites us into a relationship w/Himself
- - Covenant: An agreement (or promise) between two or more that defines their relationship.
- - Where else have we seen this so far? After the flood God made a covenant with Noah & all humanity to never again destroy the earth with a flood
- - - During Jr. High Bible we will continue to see the importance of God's covenants with us!
- God's covenants are often…
- - Eternal: Without an end
- - Unconditional: Unearned gifts
- God blessed all people through Abraham!
- - Jesus came through Him!
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