February 5 Isaac, Son of Promise Genesis 15:1 -18:15 "Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised" Who was Eliezer? He was a very faithful servant of Abram and in charge of all that Abram owned. Naturally, and according to custom, if Abram were to die without a son, his eldest servant would become his heir. Although Abram loved his servant, he wanted a son to carry on the family line. We will learn more about him in chapter 24. In 15:1, God says, “your reward shall be great!” But, Abram was confused, “what will You give me” he asks. “I am childless and my heir is Eliezer” 1. What did God tell Abram about his heirs in chapter 15? As Stars in the sky, And Sand on the seashore, So shall your descendents be! Genesis 15:5, 22:17 2. How did Sarah show a lack of faith in God’s promises? What was the result of her lack of faith? IN HIS OWN TIME & IN HIS OWN WAY 12 Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, horror and great darkness fell upon him. 13 Then He said to Abram: “Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years. 14 And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions. 3. If God promised to make of Abraham a Great Nation, why do you think he sent his descendants through 400 years of tribulation? And why would he tell Abraham about it? Think about this and give a good answer. PRIDE What is the problem with a little pride? 4. Define Pride and give examples of what can result from being proud. 5. Who laughed and why? Scripture. 6. Who were the men who came to see Abraham and Sarah? Where did they go next? Seems to me these passages contain several lessons about pride, self reliance and the need to trust in God. This will be the focus of our class study. Be prepared to discuss. Review of the Covenants EDEN Before the fall, Adam was to replenish the earth and subdue it for human use. God made a covenant with Adam and Eve which gave them dominion and the provision of all their needs, if they fulfilled the terms. The terms were do not eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The agreement was clearly laid out, obey and have life, dominion and the unconditional provision of all your needs. Disobey and the results will be death, subjection and a struggle for your needs. In this covenant there was no middle ground between blessing and cursing. No place was allowed for repentance. They made the wrong choice.  NOAH After the flood, God renewed His pledge of redemption for man. This was an everlasting blood covenant. There was an altar, a sacrifice and the shedding of blood. God pledged to Noah: Never again will the whole earth be destroyed by flood. There will always be seed time, harvest, day and night. Man was to have an increase of dominion over animals (this time dominion would be because of fear.) Animals would be allowed for food. The mark of the covenant would be God's bow in the sky. Noah's part (and his seed after him) was: Do not ingest blood, (the life of the flesh is in the blood) do not commit murder (this includes suicide, for man is made in the image of God). Have faith in the coming redeemer. Noah became a preacher of the righteousness, which is of faith. 2 Peter 2:5  What promises were included in the covenant God made with Abraham? 1. A great nation was to come out of Abraham, namely, the nation of Israel (Genesis 12:2; 13:16; 15:5; 17:1-2, 7; 22:17b) 2. Abraham was promised a land -- specifically, the Land of Canaan (Genesis 12:1, 7; 13:14-15, 17; 15:17-21; 17:8). Later we learn that the privilege of Abraham's descendants, the Jewish people, for living in their land under God's blessing is conditioned upon their obedience (see, for example, Deuteronomy 28-29). But whether the Jews are physically residing inside or outside of the land, or whether anyone else may control it by conquest or any other means, the land belongs to the Jewish people by divine right. 3. Abraham himself was to be greatly blessed (12:2b; 15:6; 22:15-17a) 4. Abraham's name would be great (12:2c) 5. Abraham will be a blessing to others (12:2d) 6. Those who bless will be blessed (12:3a) 7. The one who curses will be cursed (12:3b) -- again and again this principle is operative in the prophets as they pronounce judgment on the nations surrounding Israel for the treatment of His chosen people. 8. In Abraham all the earth will ultimately be blessed, a promise of Gentile blessing (12:3c; 22:18) 9. Abraham would receive a son through his wife Sarah (15:1-4; 17:16-21) 10. His descendants would undergo the Egyptian bondage (15:13-14) 11. Other nations as well as Israel would come forth from Abraham (17:3-4, 6; the Arab states are some of these nations) 12. His name was to be changed from Abram to Abraham (17:5) 13. Sarai's name was to be changed to Sarah (17:15) 14. There was to be a token/sign of the covenant -- circumcision (17:9-14). “God Will Surely Take Care of You” A Study of the Book of Genesis