Lesson 4 of 5
Abraham and the promise
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Study objective: Follow God’s promise to Abraham and see how faith is tested over time.
Reading: Genesis 12:1–9Genesis 15:1–6Genesis 22:1–19
Genesis 12:1–9 WEB
1Now the LORD said to Abram, “Leave your country, and your relatives, and your father’s house, and go to the land that I will show you. 2I will make of you a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great. You will be a blessing. 3I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who treats you with contempt. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you.” 4So Abram went, as the LORD had told him. Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. 5Abram took Sarai his wife, Lot his brother’s son, all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people whom they had acquired in Haran, and they went to go into the land of Canaan. They entered into the land of Canaan. 6Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time, Canaanites were in the land. 7The LORD appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your offspring.” He built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him. 8He left from there to go to the mountain on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the LORD and called on the LORD’s name. 9Abram traveled, still going on toward the South.
Genesis 15:1–6 WEB
1After these things the LORD’s word came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Don’t be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” 2Abram said, “Lord GOD, what will you give me, since I go childless, and he who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3Abram said, “Behold, you have given no children to me: and, behold, one born in my house is my heir.” 4Behold, the LORD’s word came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir, but he who will come out of your own body will be your heir.” 5The LORD brought him outside, and said, “Look now toward the sky, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” He said to Abram, “So your offspring will be.” 6He believed in the LORD, who credited it to him for righteousness.
Genesis 22:1–19 WEB
1After these things, God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” He said, “Here I am.” 2He said, “Now take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go into the land of Moriah. Offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains which I will tell you of.” 3Abraham rose early in the morning, and saddled his donkey; and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son. He split the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went to the place of which God had told him. 4On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place far off. 5Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there. We will worship, and come back to you.” 6Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. He took in his hand the fire and the knife. They both went together. 7Isaac spoke to Abraham his father, and said, “My father?” He said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Here is the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 8Abraham said, “God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they both went together. 9They came to the place which God had told him of. Abraham built the altar there, and laid the wood in order, bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, on the wood. 10Abraham stretched out his hand, and took the knife to kill his son. 11The LORD’s angel called to him out of the sky, and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” He said, “Here I am.” 12He said, “Don’t lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” 13Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and saw that behind him was a ram caught in the thicket by his horns. Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering instead of his son. 14Abraham called the name of that place “The LORD Will Provide”. As it is said to this day, “On the LORD’s mountain, it will be provided.” 15The LORD’s angel called to Abraham a second time out of the sky, 16and said, “‘I have sworn by myself,’ says the LORD, ‘because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17that I will bless you greatly, and I will multiply your offspring greatly like the stars of the heavens, and like the sand which is on the seashore. Your offspring will possess the gate of his enemies. 18All the nations of the earth will be blessed by your offspring, because you have obeyed my voice.’” 19So Abraham returned to his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beersheba. Abraham lived at Beersheba.
Background and context
God calls Abram to leave his country and promises land, descendants and blessing for all nations. Years pass without a child. God renews the promise; Abram believes. When Isaac is finally born, God tests Abraham on Mount Moriah.
Observe
- God promises that all the families of the earth will be blessed through Abram (12:3).
- Abram goes, as the LORD told him, at seventy-five (12:4).
- Abram believes God’s promise of countless descendants, and it is counted as righteousness (15:6).
- Abraham tells Isaac, “God will provide himself the lamb” (22:8).
Words, people and events to notice
- Blessing
- God’s favour and gift of life. The promise to Abram looks beyond his family to all nations. Genesis 12:2–3
Understand
- What does God promise in Genesis 12:1-3, and for whose sake?
- What does Abram have to go on when he believes in 15:6?
- How does Genesis 22 test the promise itself?
Connect
- Galatians 3:6–9
Paul connects the blessing of the nations with faith.
- Hebrews 11:8–19
Abraham’s faith in Hebrews.
Reflect
- What has God asked you to trust him for over a long time?
- How does Abraham’s story encourage you when promises seem slow?
Key takeaways
Editorial summary, not Scripture.
- God’s promise to Abraham is for the blessing of all nations.
- Faith trusts God’s word over long waiting and through testing.
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