Bible Stories for Adults

God Makes a Covenant With Abraham

Genesis 13-21

Next Week - The Offering of Isaac (Genesis 22)
Bible Words to Remember:
For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ.
And so through Him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God. 2 Corinthians 1:20

What promises did God make to Abram when He called him?
Genesis 12:2-3
What was Abraham's responsibility under this agreement, and did he fulfill it?
Genesis 12:1, 4

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

Did Abram get to see God's promises to him fulfilled?
Hebrews 11:8-9, 13
Did God fulfill any of His promises during Abram's life?
Genesis 13:2
Did Abram feel fully blessed?
Genesis 15:2-3
How did God respond to Abram's confusion and doubt?
Genesis 15:4-5

Did this help or did Abram continue to doubt?
Genesis 15:6
Was Abram considered righteous because he obeyed God's instructions?
Romans 3:10, 20
Then why was he considered righteous?
Romans 4:1-3
Did Abram's good works and obedience help earn this righteousness at least a little?
Romans 4:4-8
How does Paul explain this in a summary of the gospel?
Ephesians 2:8-9

Did Abram have any further doubts after God restated His promise of descendants?
Genesis 15:7-8
How were pledges and promises formalized in the days of the patriarchs?
Genesis 31:44-45, 48-50

Blood Covenant - Used as an absolute and unbreakable guarantee of critical agreements
Bound two parties together as one
Very serious & solemn - Reserved for only special & critical agreements
3 large animals split down the spine, halves spread on ground opposite each other
"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 - Trail of blood between halves
Met each other in the center
The Blessing of the Covenant - Stated pledges of agreement
Pronounced a curse for breaking the covenant
Parties swore by their god, making him a third party
The Cut of the Covenant - Cut hands & wrists, bound together to intermingle 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

How did God show Abram how serious He was about His promises?
Genesis 15:9-10
How did God make this a one-sided covenant where all Abram had to do was accept it?
Genesis 15:11-12
What was The Blessing of the Covenant?
Genesis 15:13-16, 18

How did God handle the covenant ritual of walking twice through The Way of Blood?
Genesis 15:17
What was the meaning behind the smoke and fire?
Exodus 13:21
How did God guarantee His covenant with us?
Hebrews 7:22; 9:12

Genesis 9:8
Exodus 19:3-6
2 Samuel 7:8, 12-13
Jeremiah 31:31, 34
John 14:2-3

What did God decide to do around 14 years after making this Blood Covenant with Abram?
Genesis 17:1-2
How did God point out that this really was the time?
Genesis 17:3-5
Abram / Abraham
What promises did God confirm?
Genesis 17:6-8
Was this another one-sided covenant or did Abraham have a responsibility?
Genesis 17:9-10, 14
Circumcise
How long did it take Abraham to complete what God commanded?
Genesis 17:23

How did God point out that the life change was not only for Abraham?
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

Was Abraham justified (deemed righteous) & blessed because of 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 4:16-17
Why did Abraham believe God's promise of offspring when he was past age?
Hebrews 11:11-12
Romans 4:18-22
How can righteousness be credited to us?
Romans 4:23-25

How did Abraham recognize God among the three strangers?
Genesis 18:1-2
How did Abraham react to this visit by God & angels?
Genesis 18:3-8
What was God's message to Abraham?
Genesis 18:9-10
How did Sarah respond to God's message?
Genesis 18:11-12
Would Sarah's laughter or age (90) interfere with God's plan?
Genesis 18:13-14

Isaac means laughter. Why did God pick such a name?
Genesis 17:17
Genesis 18:10-15
Genesis 21:6-7
Genesis 17:19
What other biblical birth was received skeptically?
Luke 1:31, 34-37