Bible Stories for Adults

God Makes a Covenant with Abram

Genesis 12:1-3; 15:1-21; Hebrews 11:8



Welcome and Announcements
    Next Week - Jacob Blesses Judah (Genesis 49:8-12)
    Bible Words to Remember:
      If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:29

Opening Prayer


Father of the Jews? (Galatians 3)
    Who did the Jews consider as their father?
      Joshua 24:3
    What, if any, relationship do Christians have with Abraham?
      Galatians 3:6-7
    Why is it important that we are officially considered as children of Abraham?
      Galatians 3:26-29
    What does it means to be heirs of Abraham's promise?
      Galatians 3:10-14

Abram's Family Tree (Genesis 11:27-32)
    Who were the members of Abram's family?
      Genesis 11:27-29
    How was Abram related to Sarai other than marriage?
      Genesis 20:12
    Did this family stay in Ur of the Chaldeans?
      Genesis 11:31-32
      Ur
      Haran

The Call (Genesis 12:1-3)
    Did God want this family to stay in Haran?
      Genesis 12:1
    What did God promise Abram in response for his obedience?
      Genesis 12:2-3
    How were all nations blessed through Abram?
      Matthew 1:1, 17
      Galatians 3:8-9
    Was Abram selected because he was righteous or devout?
      Joshua 24:2

Abram's Response (Genesis 12:4-6)
    What was Abram's response to God's call?
      Genesis 12:4
    How was he able to leave everything he knew at such an old age?
      Hebrews 11:8-10
    What questions, explanations and details did Abram ask of God?
      Genesis 12:5-6

Another Promise (Genesis 12:7-8)
    What new promise did God give after Abram obeyed His first command?
      Genesis 12:7a

    Why was offspring a significant part of God's promise?
      Genesis 11:30
    How could someone so old become a father?
      Hebrews 11:11-12
    Was it any easier for Abraham to have this faith than for us?
      Romans 4:18-22

    Was God giving this land to Abram at this time?
      Acts 7:5
    How did Abram show his faithfulness to God?
      Genesis 12:7b-8

Promises to Abraham (Genesis 12-25)
    What promises did God make to Abram when He called him?
      Genesis 12:2-3
    What was Abraham's responsibility under this agreement?
      Genesis 12:1

    What did God promise after Abram let Lot choose his land?
      Genesis 13:14-16
    What did God promise Abram after he rescued Lot and gave a tithe? (Gen 14)
      Genesis 15:1
      Genesis 15:12-16
      Genesis 15:18

    What promise did God make the year before Isaac was born, when Abram was 99 years old?
      Genesis 17:6-8
    What promise did God make to Abraham after he obeyed the command to sacrifice Isaac?
      Genesis 22:16-18

    What did Abraham have to do in order to receive these promises?
      Genesis 15:6

Blood Covenant
    Absolute & Unbreakable guarantee of a man's word; Bound two parties together as one
      Very serious & solemn - Reserved for only special & critical agreements
    Three large animals split down the spine
      Halves placed on the ground opposite each other
      Trail of blood between the halves was called the Way of Blood
        May this happen to me if I break this covenant
    Parties exchanged coats - exchange of authority, What I have is yours
      Exchanged weapons - My strength is yours, Your enemies are mine
      Walked twice through the Way of Blood
      Met each other in the center
        Stated pledges of agreement - the Blessing of the Covenant
        Curse for breaking the covenant was pronounced
        Parties swore by their god, making him a third party
      Cut hands & wrists - the Cut of the Covenant
        Bound wrists together to intermingle the blood
      Joined names together
    Ate a covenant meal of bread & wine together (Bread for flesh, wine for blood)
      Represented willingness to lay down lives for each other

God's Covenant with Abram (Genesis 15)
    How did God guarantee his covenant with Abram?
      Genesis 15:8-11
    Did both Abram and God walk through the Way of Blood?
      Genesis 15:12, 17
    What was significant about the smoking firepot and flaming torch?
      Exodus 13:21 (Ex 3:2; 19:18; Acts 2:3)

    How did God guarantee His covenant with us?
      Hebrews 7:22
    How did Jesus act as the Way of Blood?
      Hebrews 9:12

God Confirms His Covenant (Genesis 17:1-8)
    What did God do around 15 years later to remind Abram of His covenant?
      Genesis 17:1-2
    Why did God change Abram's name to Abraham?
      Genesis 17:3-5
      Abram / Abraham

    What was Abraham's responsibility under this covenant?
      Genesis 17:9-10, 14
    How long did it take Abraham to complete what God commanded?
      Genesis 17:23

Justified by Circumcision? (Romans 4)
    Was Abraham justified (deemed righteous) & blessed because of his circumcision?
      Romans 4:9-11a
    Are God's promises to Abraham's descendants only to the Jews (circumcised)?
      Romans 4:11b-12
    How did Abraham receive the promise? By obeying the law?
      Romans 4:13-15
    How can we be heirs to the promises God made to Abraham?
      Romans 4:16-18
    How can righteousness be credited to us?
      Romans 4:22-25

God's Covenant Through Sarah (Genesis 17:15-16)
    Why did God change Sarai's name to Sarah?
      Genesis 17:15-16
      Sarai / Sarah
    How did this differ from Abraham's understanding of God's plan?
      Genesis 17:17-18

    Why did God wait until Abraham & Sarah were old before bringing Isaac?
      Genesis 17:19
    How had God introduced Himself to Abram, and why?
      Genesis 17:1
      Jeremiah 32:27
    What is the significance of circumcision instituted before Isaac?
      Colossians 2:11-12

Closing Prayer



Abram's Family Tree
                              +---------------- Nahor
                              |                 |
                              |           +---- Milcah
                  Terah-------+---- Haran-+---- Iscah
                              |           +---- Lot
                              |
                              +---- Abram
                              |     |
                              +---- Sarai  (barren)



Copyright © 1997 by Kurt Rosenhagen

Use of this material is provided free of charge for use in personal or group Bible Study, no permission needed.
The author reserves all rights for use in published material or in uses where fees are involved.
For permission, or to provide your comments, insights and feedback, contact the author at:

kurt@biblestoriesforadults.com


Return to Bible Stories for Adults Home Page

www.biblestoriesforadults.com