The Man Abram (Abraham) › assets › public › files › ... · suffer for their faith. Think about the doubt that the famine could have put on Abram’s faith. God called him

Easy Reading Edition November 11-17

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READ FOR THIS WEEK’S STUDY: Genesis 11:27–15:21.

MEMORY VERSE: “Abram believed the Lord. The Lord accepted Abrambecause he believed. So his faith made him right with the Lord” (Genesis15:6, NIrV).

WE ENDED LAST WEEK ON A SOUR NOTE. THE TOWER OF BABEL ANDALL AROUND IT SHOWED THAT SINNERS COULD NOT LEARN FROM THEPAST.

This week, we begin on a more hopeful note. The family line which led to thebirth of Abram. Paul says that Abram is “the father of us all” (Romans 4:16). Thismeans that Abram is the father of all who believe in Christ. Through Christ, thepromises made to Abram are fulfilled. Through Christ, we are now Abram’s seed(children), “and heirs1 according to the promise” (Galatians 3:29). This is thepromise of a heavenly Canaan where there will be no more evil, sin, and death.

The events2 of the Fall,3 the Flood, Noah’s drunkenness, and the Tower ofBabel are horrible. But now God introduces hope for the human race. This hopebegins with Abram. His family was involved in idol worship. But Abram was a fol-lower of the true God. For his faithfulness, Abram was given promises for him-self, for his family, and for the whole human race.

This week, we begin looking at Abram’s life, his call, his answer, his feelings,and his relationship with God. Abram is one of the greatest examples of what itmeans for a sinner to be justified (made righteous and holy) by faith, but stillhave that faith be shown through works.

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SABBATH—NOVEMBER 11

The Man Abram (Abraham)

1heirs—people who receive a person’s property after that person dies. We are Abram’s heirs because wehave received the promise of salvation in Christ.

2events—things that happen.3the Fall—when Adam and Eve first sinned.

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Lesson 7 The Man Abram (Abraham)

ABRAM’S BACKGROUND(Genesis 11:10-32, NIrV)

Read Genesis 11:10-32. (Alsoread Joshua 24:2 and Acts 7:2.)What story comes before Genesis11:10-32? Why might these storieshave been placed next to eachother? What details are found hereabout Abram’s background andfamily?

Bible history suggests that Abramwas the youngest of Terah’s sons. ButAbram appears to be mentioned firstin Genesis 11:26, 27 because he wasan important member of God’s cho-sen family. Archaeology4 has shownmuch about the times in which Abramlived. But the great kingdoms of theday form just part of the background.The focus is on certain Bible leadersand their families who tried to keepalive God’s truth. This is the greatgoal of Genesis: The stories centeron those whom God entrusted withcarrying on the knowledge of Him in aworld filled with idol worship and allother kinds of false beliefs.

How many times did God callAbram (Acts 7:2-4)? (Also readGenesis 12:1.) Why do you thinkAbram went through these twotimes rather than going quickly toCanaan?

Stephen says God first appeared toAbram in Ur of the Chaldees andcalled him to go to the land He wouldshow him. But Abram did not go rightaway. Instead, he stopped at Haran,where he lived until his father, Terah,died. After his father’s death, Abramfinally left for the Promised Land.

Abram’s family was involved inidol worship. But, for quite a while,Abram remained with them. Whatmight we learn from this storyabout how we should relate tomembers of our own family whoare not walking with God?

THE CALL (Genesis 12:1-3; Hebrews 11:8-10)

What reason did God give forcalling Abram to leave Haran?Genesis 12:1-3; Hebrews 11:8-10.

Notice something strange here:Among the things God says He willdo for Abram is to “make thy[Abram’s] name great” (Genesis12:2). Contrast5 this with the Tower ofBabel story. In this story, one of thereasons people worked on the towerwas in order to “make us a name”(Genesis 11:4). From a human pointof view, those who would try to createa great movement would seem to havea better chance of having “a name”

MONDAY—NOVEMBER 13

SUNDAY—NOVEMBER 12

4archaeology—the process of digging up relics (old things) from the earth which show what life was like inan earlier time period.

5contrast—show how things are different.

Lesson 7 The Man Abram (Abraham)

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than someone who would travel to aplace “not knowing whither [where] hewent” (Hebrews 11:8).

Today, no one knows the name ofany one of those who worked on thetower. But almost all the world knowsthe name of Abram.

What powerful lesson shouldthere be for us, who in our ownway might try to “make us aname”?

When God called Abram again togo to Canaan (Acts 7:2; Genesis12:1), He gave Abram the wonderfulpromise that He would make of him agreat nation. This clearly suggestedAbram would have a lot of descend-ants.6 This is something else Abramwould have to take on faith, becauseat that time his wife had been child-less (Genesis 11:30). But Genesis12:4 seems to suggest that Abramdid not put off going this time. Godcalled him. God made promises tohim. And Abram went (Romans 4:13)by faith.

Sure that God had called him,Abram moved out by faith. Tohumans, the move would seem veryfoolish. What does this say to usabout having to move and live byfaith, no matter how “foolish” it maybe (1 Corinthians 1:25; 1 Corinthi-ans 2:14)? At the same time, howmust we be careful not to step outby “faith” guessing that God isleading when He might not be?

How can we know the differencebetween when He might not beleading and when He might be?

Pix #25

THE FAITH OF ABRAM(Genesis 12)

What message impresses youabout faith, trials (troubles), andabout character in Genesis 12?What can you learn from this storythat could help you in your dailywalk with God?

We might think that, becauseAbram was following God’s call, Godwould make his paths smoother. Butthe Bible gives no proof that as longas we remain faithful to Him, no trials(troubles) will come.

Not long after Abram had entered

TUESDAY—NOVEMBER 14

6descendants—future family members.

The foolish thingsThe foolish thingsofof GodGod

are wiserare wiserthanthan

humanhuman wiwisdomsdom(1 CORINTHIANS(1 CORINTHIANS 1:25, NI1:25, NIrrV).V).

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Lesson 7 The Man Abram (Abraham)

Canaan, a famine7 caused him toleave for Egypt. Egypt was wateredby the flood waters of the Nile. TheBible teaches us that even those whofollow God’s commands may have tosuffer for their faith. Think about thedoubt that the famine could have puton Abram’s faith. God called him togo into this land, and look what hap-pens! A famine! This famine, whichdrove Abram out of Canaan, couldhelp explain why Abram lacked faithabout Sarai and Pharaoh. Hungerand fear caused the hero of faith tobe a person with weaknesses thatmost of us can understand. Faithgave in to fear. And fear turned to liesas Abram used one half truth to hidethe other half.

“The Lord in His leading hadbrought this trial upon Abram toteach him lessons of surrender,patience, and faith. These lessonsare in the Bible for all of us whoshould afterward be called to gothrough trouble or suffering. Godleads His children by a way they donot know. But He does not forget orthrow out those who put their trust inHim.”—Adapted from Ellen G. White,Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 129.

When was the last time you faileda test of faith? What lesson did youlearn from that failure that can helpyou next time trouble comes?

ABRAM AND LOT(Genesis 13:1-13)

What does Genesis 13:1-13 tellus about Abram’s character? Howdoes this help us understand whyhe was an example of great faith?What Bible verses can you findthat encourage us to show thesame kind of faith? (Read forexample, Philippians 2:4.)

Returning from Egypt, Abramcalled on God at the second altar hehad built in Canaan (Genesis 13:3,4). He was made stronger by thisrenewal of his relationship with God.So Abram was able to face anothertest. Once more, the promise of landseemed to “escape” Abram (Genesis13:5, 6). He had to make a decision.

Abram had failed in Egypt. But heshowed noble character when heoffered Lot a choice of land. From thehills of Bethel, Lot saw the rich andfertile8 Jordan Valley and the plains ofMesopotamia. To Lot, the JordanValley looked the same as theGarden of Eden. Lot decided tochoose what would seem to makehim a richer man. Little did he knowwhat his choice would cost him(Genesis 19). Lot’s decision wasbetween “faith” and “sight.” Theresults show the wisdom of making

WEDNESDAY—NOVEMBER 15

7famine—not having enough food over a long period of time.8fertile—able to grow a lot of fruit, vegetables, and grains.

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the right choice. Abram’s close rela-tionship with God and his decision towalk by faith helped him to keep hiseye on the reward of eternal life, notthe reward of wealth.

Pix #27

What promise does God giveAbram? Genesis 13:14-18. Why doyou think God waited until thistime before giving this promise toAbram (verse 14)? Why did itrequire a lot of faith for Abram tobelieve in this promise?

Think of the last time you sawsomeone show the same kind ofunselfishness Abram showed to

Lot. What do you think is the secretof being unselfish? What needs tohappen in your life so you can bemore unselfish? Imagine whatyour local church would be like ifeveryone would be unselfish.

MELCHIZEDEK AND ABRAM(Genesis 14:1-24)

Genesis 14:1-16 tells what hap-pened at Sodom and Gomorrah.Abram was a man of faith. He wor-shiped the true God. But he couldalso be a man of war.

What does the Melchizedekevent9 show about Abram’s spirit-ual condition? How again do wesee his faith shown in his works?Genesis 14:17-24.

Melchizedek (meaning “my king is righteous [holy]”) was king ofSalem (a name for Jerusalem; Psalm76:2) and priest of the Most High God. Abram worshiped the same God Melchizedek worshiped. Abramshowed respect to Melchizedek, whowelcomed and blessed Abram afterhe returned from the battle. Abramgave the king-priest a tithe of all(Genesis 14:20). This shows thatpeople tithed long before Moses andthe Jews.

After this great victory, Godappears to Abram and gives him awonderful promise. “I am like [the

THURSDAY—NOVEMBER 16

Abram lied in Egypt about Sarai.But he was noble when he let Lot choose

the best land.

9event—thing that happens.

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Lesson 7 The Man Abram (Abraham)

same as] a shield to you. I am yourvery great reward” (Genesis 15:1,NIrV). Ellen White showed that Abramneeded that encouragement, becausesome of his neighbors were angryabout his recent victories.

Read Abram’s answer in Genesis15:2, 3. Why would he answer thatway? Why did his answer make somuch sense?

God then repeated His earlierpromise that Abram would have verymany future children (Genesis 15:4-6; Genesis 12:2; Genesis 13:16).Abram and Sarai were old.This wouldseem to make God’s promise of chil-dren impossible. But Abram took Godat His word. He trusted God’s power(Genesis 15:5; Romans 4:3).

Abram believed God. So Godaccepted him as righteous (holy).How does this help us understandwhat it means for God to acceptus? What things about Abram giveyou hope? What things about himshow you the need to make somechanges in your life?

ADDITIONAL STUDY: Read Ellen G.White, “After the Flood,” Patriarchsand Prophets, pp. 125–136; The SDABible Commentary, vol. 1, commentson Genesis 11:26 to 15:21.

God promised Abram again that

his children would become a greatnation. So Abram looked for a sign ofthis promise (Genesis 15:7, 8). “TheLord agreed to enter into a cov-enant10 with Abram. God used suchthings that were common amongmen for the approval of this cov-enant. With God’s leading, Abramsacrificed a heifer, a she-goat, and aram, each three years old. He dividedthe bodies and laid the pieces a littledistance apart. To these he added aturtledove and a young pigeon,which he did not divide. After he didthis, Abram walked between theparts of the sacrifice. He made a vowto God of eternal obedience. ThenAbram remained beside the bodiesof the animals until the sun wentdown. This was to guard them frombeing defiled or eaten by flesh-eatingbirds. About sunset, Abraham sankinto a deep sleep, and, ‘a thick andterrible darkness covered him’ (NIrV).Then the voice of God was heard.God warned Abram not to expect aquick take-over of Canaan. Godpointed Abram forward to the suffer-ings of his children before their settle-ment in Canaan.The plan of salvationwas here opened to him through thedeath of Christ, the great sacrifice,and His coming in glory. Abram alsosaw the earth restored11 to its Edenbeauty. Then the earth would be givento him for an eternal home, as the finaland complete fulfillment of the prom-ise.”—Adapted from Ellen G. White,Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 137.

FRIDAY—NOVEMBER 17

10covenant—promise or agreement between God and His people.11restored—to make something as it was in the beginning.

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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

• As a class, discuss your answersto the question at the end of Thurs-day’s lesson. How do we understandwhat it means to be accounted(accepted as) righteous (holy) beforeGod?

• Do you know someone right nowwho believes that she or he is beingcalled to go, as was Abram—not know-ing “whither [where] he went”? Whatcould you as a class do to help this per-son through whatever struggles she orhe is having?

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