Abraham’s chronology

Age 75, left home in Ur forever Age 86, Ishmael born Age 100, Isaac Age 137, Sarah died Age 160, Jacob born Age 175, died

Four words summarize his life Four words summarize his life

I. Go (Hb.11:8)

By faith . . . Abraham went

Gn.12:1, land I will show you = by faith (7)

Ac.7:2 God called; gave no reason;

Abraham did not understand Contrary to common sense

Nu.13:32-33 . . . Hb.3 Ja.2:21-23

Obedience is outward evidence of faith

God calledAbraham went

Gn.13:14-16

I. Go

II. Stay (Hb.11:9-10)

By faith . . . Abraham stayed Hb.11:9 = Gn.12:6

SojournedSojourned: to inhabit a place as a foreigner, be a stranger

ForeignForeign: not one’s own Hb.11:9, tents Gn.23:4

Hb.11:10, City above

Dress Language Manners

I. Go

II. Stay

III. Wait (Hb.11:11)

Hb. 11:11

Twenty-five year wait for a son Sarah was barren and aged

Gn.16; 18:9-15

Laughedin unbeliefGn.18:12

Laughedin beliefGn.21:6

I. Go

II. Stay

III. Wait

IV. Obey (Hb.11:17-19)

When he was tried… (17)

Left:Left: homeland, Haran, Lot

Do I trust God with my future? Is His will part of my decision-making?

(Ja.4:13-15)

1. Separation, Gn.12:1-7

Do I trust God when resources run low? Do I blame God in hard times?

2. Famine, Gn.12:10-20

Mt.19:…23-26 Abraham was an exception: Lk.16

3. Wealth, Gn.13

Lazarusand

Abraham

Lazarusand

rich man

Do I trust God that things will turn out right even when I get the short end of the stick?

1 Co.6

4. Strife, Gn.13

Real test of man’s faith is not his weakness but his power

Is my strength under control? “A man who does no evil is not right-

eous, but one who has the power and does not want to”

5. Power, Gn.14:…15-18

Do I aid those in need? Jude 22-23

6. Concern, Gn.14:15-18

Honored God through Melchizedek Do I thank God for His deliverances?

7. Thanks, Gn.14:17-24

He believed God would give him a son, Ro.4

Do I trust God…or worry that He won’t do what He said?

Worry is not faith, Mt.6

8. Trust, Gn.15:1-6

Ac.7:5 Land promise would not come to pass

for hundreds of years Do I act in the best interest of future

generations though I will not benefit personally?

9. Delayed fulfillment, Gn.15:7-11

Waited many years to get Isaac; Sarah improvised

Am I willing to wait for God’s best blessings?

10. Waiting, Gn.16

Abraham circumcised every male in his family . . . just because God said so

Am I willing to obey God even when I don’t understand why?

11. Ignorance, Gn.17:9-27

Abraham welcomed strangers; he did not know they were angels, Hb.13:2

Do I love strangers?

12. Hospitality, Gn.18:1-8

Abraham prayed for Sodom Am I eager to see the wicked punished,

or do I want them to be saved?

13. Salvation, Gn.18:22-33

Abraham confessed his sin When I sin, do I cover up or ‘fess up?

Do I usually repeat it or repent of it?

14. Confession, Gn.20:1-17

Only son Had him long enough to be attached Too old to have another The promise contradicts the command

15. Sacrifice Isaac, Gn.22

His hardest test, Hb.11:17-19

19, it’s God’s problem! What would I sacrifice for God?

Abraham trusts and obeys God blesses (Gn.22:12)

Career? Family?

Fortune? Life?

Abraham lives to God

Lk.20:37 Jn.8:…33-36

Only way to know about Christ is through word of God

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