Abraham the Father of us All (pt 2)

Romans 4:16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace: to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all. 1. A CLOSER LOOK AT THE PROMISE a) Lot may have been like a son to Abram – Gen 11:26-30 b) It seems Abram didn’t want to leave hi family at first – Gen 11:31-32, Acts 7:1-4 c) Genesis 12:1-3 – Abraham did not know where he was going – Heb 11:8. The promise here is that – God will make him a great nation, bless thee, make thy name great, thou shalt be a blessing, bless those that bless thee and curse those that curse thee in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. Singular to Abraham. d) Gen 12:6-7 – God says he will give him the “land of Sichem unto the plain of Moreh” – Known today as Tell Balata. Vs 7 is the first mention of a “seed” that will also inherit the land. e) Gen 13:14-18 – Abram is in Canaan and is promised “the land on all sides”, also promised to “his seed”. His seed would be multiplied in number as “the dust of the earth”. f) Gen 15:4-6 – Abram promised a seed “of his own bowels”, Abrams faith is “counted as righteousness”. Verse 7 God promises him a land again. Verse 18 – God makes a covenant with Abram, saying, “Unto thy seed HAVE I GIVEN this land” which is a change from Gen 12:7 and 13:15,17. From “The river Egypt to the river Euphrates”. g) Gen 17:1-2 – God makes a covenant with Abram, tells Abram to “walk before me and be thou perfect”. h) Gen 17:3-6 – “Many nations” Shows up here. i) Gen 17:7-8 – God establishes his covenant and promises the land of Canaan as an “everlasting possession” j) Gen 17:9-14 – God makes a covenant of circumcision with Abraham. He gives him something to do, those who aren’t circumcised will be “cut off” k) Gen 17:15-16 – The promised seed will come from Sarah and she will be a “mother of nations” l) Gen 17:17-21 – Ishmael will be a “great nation” but the covenant will be established with Isaac and with “his seed after him” m) Gen 22:15-18 – The angel of the Lord calls to Abraham and says “By myself have I sworn” because thou “hast done this thing” that in blessing “I will bless thee” in multiplying “I will multiply thy seed….thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies” “In thy see shall all the nations of the earth be blessed”……… “Because thou hast obeyed my voice” n) Gen 26:1-5 – God gives the promise to Isaac – “bless the, thy seed will I give all these countries, thy seed to multiply, in thy seed shall all nations be blessed” ….. Because Abraham obeyed. o) Gen 28:10-16 – God gives the promised to Jacob – “give the land to thee and thy seed, thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, in thee and thy seed shall all families of the earth be blessed” 2. WHAT DO WE LEARN FROM THIS a) Abraham wasn’t given all the information at one time – Thee, seed, seed of thy bowels, through Sarah. Bless thee, give thee all this land and to thy seed, will make you father of many nations, multiplied seed, seed will possess the gates of their enemies. b) Abram was called and given a promise 12, then a covenant and circumcision 17, then a required work 22. c) It was Gods choice to call Abram, Isaac, and Jacob and give them this promise – Neh 9:7, Rom 9:6-13. d) The promise was made not just to Abraham, but to Isaac and Jacob and their seed.