Friday, December 4, 2009

December 4, Abraham

Day 5, December 4
Persons: Abraham
Theme/Event: The Promise
Symbol: Field of Stars or Tent and Camel




Do you remember God’s promise to Noah? Tonight we will learn about another promise God made. God had a plan to show the world His character. He would do this by showing His love and faithfulness to His chosen people. He chose Abram to be the father of that nation, and He would later change Abram’s name to Abraham. But first, God had to set Abraham apart from the other people in the world.

Genesis 12:1-7
1 Now the LORD had said to Abram:
“Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father’s house,
To a land that I will show you.
2 I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
4 So Abram departed as the LORD had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. 5 Then Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people whom they had acquired in Haran, and they departed to go to the land of Canaan. So they came to the land of Canaan. 6 Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem, as far as the terebinth tree of Moreh. And the Canaanites were then in the land.
7 Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” And there he built an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him.

Abraham was excited about God’s plan. But, when many years passed and Abraham was still waiting for a son, he became discouraged. Waiting can be really hard.

Genesis 15:1-6
1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”
2 But Abram said, “Lord GOD, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 Then Abram said, “Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed one born in my house is my heir!”
4 And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.” 5 Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”
6 And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.

God promised Abraham that he would have so many descendants that to try and count them would be like trying to count the stars in the heavens. And Abraham believed God. We always need to believe God, even if we have been waiting a long time, and even if it seems impossible for God to do what he promised. God never forgets His plans, He always fulfills His purposes. God is showing the world His character through us, and by how we wait for Him.

Questions:

• What did God want to show the world?

• What did God promise Abraham?

• Is anything impossible for God?

Prayer: Dear God, help us to show Your character by living obedient lives. Thank you that nothing is impossible for You.

No comments:

Post a Comment