Genesis 12

Study Guide 5: Genesis 12 ABRAHAM: HIS CALL AND TIMES Overview Abraham stands as the greatest figure to be found in the ancient world. Three world religions — Islam, Judaism, and Christianity — revere him as the father of their faiths. Archeologists have explored the city of his origin, traced his journeys, probed the ruins of towns mentioned in Genesis, and have reconstructed a striking portrait of life 2,000 years before Christ that in detail after detail confirms the accuracy of the Old Testament account. But what makes Abraham important to the Bible student is not the reverence in which he is held. It is not even the belief The National Geographic once expressed, that “ Abraham the patriarch conceived a great and simple idea: the idea of a single Almighty God” (Dec. 1966, p. 740). Abraham’ s importance is not even found in the fact that he is today a prime model of saving faith. No, the importance of Abraham in Genesis is that through Abraham God reveals His purpose and His goal for the universe. In promises to Abram God revealed that He had a plan! To Abraham were given wonderful covenant promises that show us history’ s direction, and reassure us that our personal universe is a purposive universe as well. COVENANT. In Old Testament times the berit was at the foundation of social relationships. It might represent a treaty between nations, or a business contract, or a national constitution. In each case it represented a binding agreement, and expressed a firm commitment which was to be faithfully honored by all.

Commentary Genesis 11:10-32 traces the genealogy of the man who was to become such a key to understanding the Old Testament. We read of his birthplace. He began a journey when God first spoke to him and instructed him to leave Mesopotamia to go to a land God would show him (Acts 7:2). Abraham left. While pausing in Haran along the way, God spoke again, repeating His command (Genesis 12:1), and adding words of promise. In a series of great “ I wills,” God stated an unshakable purpose which has remained constant through the millennia, and which is the foundation on which our grasp of Old and New Testament revelation must rest today. All the Old Testament and the New can be understood as a progressive unfolding of the purpose God first announced to Abraham some 4,000 years ago! Yet, glancing at the words in Genesis 12:1-20, we’ re apt to miss this significance. It is only as we note the restatement of the promises, which come periodically throughout the Old Testament, that we begin to see their implications. As we hear the words of promise developed by the prophets, we see how completely central this revelation of purpose is. As we take these promises as a literal and changeless expression of God’ s purpose, the relationship between the Old and New Testaments becomes clear. And the history of our own day, as we await the return of Christ, is filled with fresh meaning. The Genesis promises stand. They are at the root of the Jewish identity through the millenniums. They are the key to understanding the Old Testament. They are a window on current events. I will. These words introduce the covenant promise as expressed in Genesis 12:2-3. The details are unclear at this point. But the general shape of God’ s purpose is taking form. I will make you a great nation. From Abraham, Arab and Jew alike trace their origin. More than one nation now calls Abraham “ father.” I will bless you and make your name great. The reverence of millions in the three great monotheistic faiths has more than fulfilled this promise. I will make you a blessing. From Abraham came the people of Israel. From Israel came both our Scriptures and our Saviour. What blessings indeed! I will bless those who bless you, and curse those who curse you. In striking ways, the rise and fall of empires bears out the stated intention of God to deal with men and nations as they deal with His chosen people. In you will all the families of the earth be blessed. God’ s choice of Abraham and his children was not designed to exclude others. From the very beginning God’ s choice of Israel was intended for the benefit of mankind. And on the return of Christ, the King, the fullness of blessing will be extended to all. There is a final promise, one added after Abraham had responded in faith and left Haran, finally entering the land of Canaan. The Lord appeared and said: To your descendants I will give THIS land. The purposes of God, and the future of Israel, are focused on a particular place: a land, Palestine, where in our own day we’ ve seen the planting once again of a Jewish state.

Tracing the Promise The statement of promise found in Genesis 12:1-20 is only a first, faint outline of that divine purpose which gives shape to the Old Testament and to the history of the world. As we read on in the Bible we realize that these first promises give the Jewish people their sense of identity. Then these first promises are developed. At critical times in the history of Israel, various dimensions of God’ s basic purpose are amplified and revealed. LINK TO LIFE: CHILDREN Children may not he old enough to explore God’ s early covenant promises. But they can understand the idea of promise, and claim many of the promises that God has given to believers. To help boys and girls claim God’ s promises, play a game with them. Let them stand in front of you, and promise to catch them if they fall backward. After doing this with a few volunteers all will want to play. But then pretend with them that different people are behind them. You are one of them, and you promise to catch them. Another is God, and He promises to catch them. But another is the meanest boy in town. “ Will he keep his promise to catch you?” This fun activity will help your boys and girls realize that promises are only as good as the people who make them. Because we can trust God completely, we can be sure He will keep every promise He makes. God made basic promises to Abraham which are expanded as the Old Testament develops. It’ s helpful to look ahead briefly, and to see some of the dimensions of the promise, and the development of the purpose first expressed in Genesis 12:1-20. Genesis 15:1-21. The promises given to Abraham must have placed a strain on his faith, for Abraham and Sarah were childless. How could he become a great nation? As was common in that culture, Abraham had designated Eliezer of Damascus (who probably had the status of an adopted son) to be his heir, and to care for his wife should he die. In Genesis 15:1-21 the question is raised by Abraham: How could the announced purpose of God be fulfilled since he had no child? In Genesis 15:4 is God’ s response: Your own son shall be your heir. God’ s promises would be passed on to Abraham’ s physical seed, and that seed would be as impossible for man to number as the stars of the heaven are to count (Genesis 15:5). Here too God defined the extent of the land to be given Abraham’ s children: “ From the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates” (Genesis 15:18). The land was further defined for Abraham by listing the peoples who then lived within it. Genesis 17:1-27. Years have now passed since Abraham had been given the initial promises; years during which he and his wife Sarah had no children. Finally, some 12 years before the scene sketched in this Bible chapter, Abraham, following established custom of this time, had fathered a son by Hagar, his wife’ s servant. The child, Ishmael (progenitor of the Arabs), was rejected as the heir of the covenant promises. Instead God changed Abram’ s name (which meant “ father” ) to Abraham (which meant “ father of a multitude” ). This 99-year-old man was told that he and Sarah, who was then 90 and beyond childbearing years, would have a son of their own. This child of miracle was to be named Isaac, and he was to inherit the promises. In this statement of the covenant promise, two new dimensions are added. First, God’ s special relationship with Abraham’ s descendants is to last forever, “ for the generations to come” (Genesis 17:7). Second, the title deed to Palestine is given the same “ everlasting” status. As history has demonstrated, sin might cause Israel to be expelled from her land. But the title is retained. The promises made to Abraham, and the purposes they express, are to be viewed as changeless. 2 Samuel 7:1-29. Centuries passed before another significant amplification of the original covenant promise. In the early days of Israel’ s organization as a monarchy, David was selected to be king and special promises were given to him. His line was to be established as a royal line, and from his descendants was to come an Offspring whose kingdom would be established forever (2 Samuel 7:12-13). A Davidic ruler might not always sit on a throne in Jerusalem. But there would always be a rightful heir to the throne, until finally the promised King would ascend the throne to rule over an endless kingdom. From the perspective given by the New Testament, the promise becomes strikingly clear. Matthew carefully traced the line of David to Jesus. Even today Jesus, the rightful Heir, lives! And one day soon He, Jesus of Nazareth, will take the throne. The eternal purposes of God in Israel will be fulfilled, and the promises kept through Jesus’ endless reign. Jeremiah 30-31. Still more centuries followed. The people of God were torn from the Promised Land and dragged into Captivity. Then Jeremiah was used by God to reveal yet another dimension to the purpose. In the Book of Jeremiah, the Abrahamic Covenant is reconfirmed. God would bring the captive people back to the Promised Land (Jeremiah 30:3). What’ s more, the promise to David is reconfirmed as well. A Davidic king will be raised up as Israel’ s ruler and relate God to man (Jeremiah 30:9, Jeremiah 30:21). And now comes the new revelation! Long after Abraham, God had given Abraham’ s descendants a Law to keep. Obedience to the Law provided evidence of faith, and obedience was the basis on which a particular generation of Jews might expect blessing or judgment. To obey meant that a generation would have a present experience of the blessings promised to Israel at history’ s end. Disobedience meant a generation would suffer judgment, though the basic promises remained sure. Through Jeremiah now comes word that the fulfillment of God’ s covenant promise deals not only with the external life of men, but with the inner man as well! The promise is not simply one of a day of peace and plenty. The promise of God involves conversion: the gift of a new heart and a new personal relationship with God that will mend the ravages of sin upon the human personality (Jeremiah 31:31-35). The promise to Abraham is ultimately related to the undoing of the curse! The very sin that mars the image of God in man will be dealt with, iniquity will be forgiven and washed away, and a new heart implanted that is in full harmony with God and godliness. Through Abraham’ s race God intends to purify humankind! It is here that the line of promise spills over into New Testament revelation. In the second coming of Christ we see the appearance of the promised King. But in the Cross we see the reconciliation of mankind! Thus in this one Person, God is working out all His purpose and all His plan. In this one Person, Jesus, God will act “ to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one Head, even Christ” (Ephesians 1:10). This total purpose of God, which the later millennia have revealed, lies latent in the seed of promise planted in Genesis 12:1-20. LINK TO LIFE: YOUTH/ADULT It’ s best to help youth or adults trace the unfolding of God’ s purpose through His covenant promises in direct Bible study. Put the following chart on the chalkboard, or duplicate it as a handout sheet. But include only the numbers, not the material in italics. Then look through each Bible passage as a group, listing covenant promise elements as each is discovered. ABRAHAMIC COVENANT Genesis 12:1-201. make a great nation 2. bless you and your name 3. make you a blessing 4. bless those who bless you, curse those who curse you 5. in you bless all families 6. give this land to your seed Genesis 15:1-211. covenant to Abraham’ s physical seed 2. land defined: Euphrates to Nile Genesis 17:1-271. covenant with physical seed, forever 2. land of Canaan everlasting possession DAVIDIC COVENANT 2 Samuel 7:1-291. David’ s line a royal family forever 2. David’ s kingdom to be forever 3. Chastisement provided for, but kingdom to last forever NEW COVENANT Jeremiah 30-31

1. Abrahamic promises reconfirmed
2. Davidic promises reconfirmed
3. Summary of elements *physical seed of Abraham in view *Davidic line through which covenant fulfillment is realized *land of Canaan in view *New Covenant made with Israel *involves individual and national conversion *looks to time of universal knowledge of the Lord

A Covenant Our understanding of the significance of these promises is heightened when we realize that they were given specific expression as covenants.The covenant was a contract in the ancient world. Agreements between parties were given binding status by the “ cutting” or making of a covenant. While there were several forms for making a covenant, the most binding of all was the “ covenant of blood.” Animals were killed and divided (hence the term “ cutting” a covenant), and both parties to the treaty passed between the pieces, binding themselves to its provisions. It is such a solemnizing of God’ s promise to Abraham we read of in Genesis 15:1-21. Keil and Delitzsch note, “ Thus God condescended to follow the custom of the Chaldeans, that He might in the most solemn manner confirm His oath to Abram the Chaldean.” What is so significant about the Genesis 15:1-21 scene is not so much its conformity with ancient practice as its one-party nature. In the normal covenant relationship two parties entered into a conditional relationship. If one failed to perform as required, the other was freed from his responsibility as well. But the Bible tells us that God caused a deep sleep to come on Abraham, and only the Lord passed between the sacrifices. God had announced a purpose that no act of man can alter. Now God confirmed by promise that His purpose would surely be fulfilled through Abraham’ s seed. There were no conditions laid on Abraham or his descendants. God, and God alone, pressed His seal on the contract made and witnessed that day. Looking back, the New Testament comments: When God made His promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for Him to swear by, He swore by Himself saying, “ I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.” Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, He confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. Hebrews 6:13-14, Hebrews 6:16-18The promise is clear. Confirmed with an oath, the purpose of God as it began to take shape in the promise to Abraham is unchangeable and sure. LINK TO LIFE: YOUTH/ADULT Some who hear the Gospel find it hard to grasp that accepting Christ brings them into a saving relationship with God. They believe, but they doubt their salvation, and may be anxious or worried. This Hebrews passage about the nature of God’ s promise as an unshakable oath can help such folks find fresh assurance in Christ. Work through the passage with your group, noting together the strongest words and phrases: oath, swear by, unchanging purpose, not possible for God to lie, etc. Then lead your adults to look at several salvation promises such as John 3:16; John 5:24; John 10:28; etc. These are promises to all who trust themselves to Jesus. Do you believe in Him? Then according to God’ s Word — His promise, His oath, His unchangeable nature — what has He given you? What is actually yours, now? Unchangeable. Across the years Bible students have argued concerning various elements of God’ s purpose as expressed in these Genesis chapters. Some have felt that the promises have been fulfilled in a “ spiritual” way in the Christian church, for we are the “ spiritual seed” of Abraham, whose faith in God we share. But it is difficult to explain away that which God takes so much care to define. Who are descendants of Abraham as far as the covenant promise is concerned? Not Eliezer, no matter how deeply he may have shared the faith of Abraham (cf. Genesis 24:1-67). Not Ishmael, though Abraham was his physical father. But Isaac, a child of Abraham in both senses — physical and spiritual. And the land is not mountaintop experiences, or milk and honey spiritual provision. It is the actual land of Palestine, marked out carefully by geographical boundaries and defined by the names of tribes and cities that are still reflected in the place-names of our own day. On what basis might God break the ancient promises? None, for the contract God drew with Abraham was unconditional. God bound Himself and Himself alone, “ to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear” (Hebrews 6:17). After that contract was ratified, Scripture continues to give witness to its unbreakable character. In Genesis 17:7 God calls the promise “ everlasting.” After a long age of apostasy, the covenant is confirmed and David is given the promise of a throne “ forever.” At the very moment of Israel’ s expulsion from the land for apostasy and idolatry, the covenants are confirmed again, and even greater promises added through Jeremiah. Here too the unconditional character of the covenant promise is emphasized (Jeremiah 31:35-38). No, the purpose once expressed has not been changed. God does have a direction for history, a direction tied up in the experience of a chosen race, a race chosen to be a channel through which God will bless the world.

The Dominant Theme Why have we spent so much time looking at the promise here in Genesis? Because the concept of this covenant, the idea that God chose Israel and made certain promises to her that reveal His eternal purposes, dominates the Old Testament. And because God’ s purposes as expressed in the promise are unchangeable, it is to the Old Testament we must look for a key to understand many of our day’ s current events. The concept of this covenant also helps us in the study of the rest of Genesis. The stories of two of the patriarchs, Isaac and Jacob, are not told simply because they were “ interesting” men. Or even because they were believers, through whose experiences we can learn about walking with God. No, Isaac and Jacob are significant in Genesis because these men are inheritors of the divine promise. In them we see the preservation of the promise, and to them Israel traces the title deed to Palestine and its identity as the people of God. Later, as a mob of millions struggled out of Egyptian slavery, Moses would remind Israel of her origin and destiny. The children of Abraham, of Isaac, of Jacob/Israel, would become a nation: a nation called to reveal God to a world that lived without understanding, and without hope.

Teaching Guide Prepare Read and meditate on Hebrews 6:13-18. Consider God’ s oath and the impossibility that He might lie. How wonderful that we have a faithful God, who can be trusted to keep His promises always.

Explore

1. Develop a simple quiz to launch your group session. Ask members to check “ always,” “ sometimes,” or “ never” in response to items like these: *I have doubts about God really accepting me. *I worry when I do something wrong that God will reject me. Etc. Survey results by a simple show of hands. Promise that in this study you will see things about God that will quiet all fears.
2. Or ask your group to brainstorm. What elements of God’ s plan do they know from Scripture? Have them find Scriptures that reveal God’ s plan. List things they suggest. (Later, you can see how these elements relate to the purposes revealed in God’ s covenant promises.)

Expand

1. In a minilecture explain the nature of a covenant. Then you might work as a group in direct Bible study to complete the covenants chart (see “ link-to-life” above).
2. Cover all the covenant material in a lecture, having your group fill in handout charts (above) as you talk. Be sure to explain the importance of the covenant promises, to Israel, to our understanding of the Old Testament, and as links between the two Testaments.

Apply

1. How did God’ s faithfulness help His people build their image of the Lord? Two psalms express something of Israel’ s praise, and sense of confidence in God’ s covenant-keeping character. Let teams of three or four read one of the psalms, and from it develop a series of “ God is . . .” statements. Each statement is to reflect something the psalmist knew about God, and learned about from His commitment to His covenant promises. The psalms are Psalms 111:1-10 and Psalms 136:1-26.
2. Focus attention on the great Hebrews 6:1-20 affirmation of God as an oath-keeping, faithful God. If your initial quiz showed that some in your group are uncertain in their own relationships with God, use the “ link-to-life” activity suggested above. If not, follow the procedure suggested above for study of the passage, but conclude with a “ go around.” After the study, go around the group and let each person complete this statement: “ Because God is completely trustworthy, I. . . .”
3. Or conclude by having your group write its own praise psalm, thanking God for His great faithfulness to all His promises to us.