Sunday School Lesson on Abram

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Sunday School Lesson on Abram

A. Singing, Exercise, and Doctrine

We used to call them action choruses. Young people of varying ages were encouraged to use
their arms and hands to simutate motions for the fountain that flowed deep and wide, the littlelight that shined, or the rains that threatened the houses of the wise and foolish builders. The choruses taught spiritual truths, helped the youngsters expend pent-up energy, and enabled youthworkers to fill prolonged periods of time.

In recent years another such chorus was very popular with young people. The opening phrase affirms that Abraham had many sons. That is biblically true, for Paul says the same thing—that Abraham is the father of all who believe (Ro-mans 4:11, 16; compare Galatians 3:7). As the lyrics reacts the refrain, the words prompt severalphysical exercises that require agility, balance,and much energy. Most youngsters love to singthis exhilarating chorus, but it is doubtful thatthey realize the doctrinal implications of theopening words. That initial affirmation is a partof the lesson today.

Abraham is the great example of faith for allwho believe in Christ. Abraham is the first per-son in the Bible of whom it is said that his beliefwas reckoned for righteousness (Genesis 15:6).He has more verses about him in the Faith Chap-ter (Hebrews 11) than any other Old Testamentsaint. His name appears more than 200 times inthe New Testament. So the next time you hearyoung people singing the chorus about Abrahamhaving many sons, remember that that really is aprofound truth (with or without the suggestedathletic movements!).

B. Lesson Background

The lesson last week was about the covenant that God made with Noah. Using the Genesischronology, there are hundreds of years betweenNoah and Abraham. The Bible is silent about anydirect communication from God to humankindduring that period of time.

After the flood the sons of Noah and their de-scendants did well in obeying the command tofill the earth (Genesis 9:1, 7). The "table of na-tions" in Genesis 10 gives the names of individu-als who were the founders of nations or tribalgroups. The incident at the tower of Babel (Gene-sis 11:1-9) served to separate people by language,which God devised and assigned to the familiesof humankind. It is said that language, more thanany other difference, serves to divide people yettoday.

God's first message to Abraham occurredwhile he was still in Ur of the Chaldees. Thereare several sites named Ur, with the traditionalsite of Abraham being the one in southern Meso-potamia (Acts 7:2). It was a city with sanitarysowers, schools, and the worship of a noon godand goddess. This was a very modern city in thetwenty-first century BC when Abraham left to be-come a sojourner.

Abraham's obedient response to leave with hisfamily is a positive example of faith, for he didnot know where God was leading hint (Hebrews 11:8). The family traveled toward northwesternMesopotamia, finally stopping in Haran (Genesis11:31).

It is interesting that both Ur and Haran areknown as centers of worship for a moon god andgoddess. Idolatry eventually was common afterthe flood, and it was even practiced by Abra-ham's father and brother (Joshua 24:2). Some,however, did maintain a genuine faith. (It isoften assumed that Job lived during this time,and his faith is highly exemplary.)

When God selected Abraham, He chose a manwithout children, land, or reputation. To such aperson God is ready to promise a son, a land, andgreatness!

I. Promises to Abraham(Genesis 17:1-8, 15, 16)

Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, patriarchs in thebook of Genesis, receive promises by God on different occasions. God gives messages to Abraham several times in Genesis (12:1-3, 7; 13:14-17; 15:4, 5, 13-18; 17:1-22; 18:17-33; 22:15-18).

Acts 7:2 indicates an earlier contact before the familyleaves Ur.
Similar promises are given twice to Isaac(Genesis 26:4, 24) and Jacob (Genesis 28:14, 15;35:9-12). As we open our lesson, we rememberthat Abraham's name originally was Abram(Genesis 17:5, below).

A. Name for God (vv. 1, 2)

1. And when Abram was ninety years old andnine, the Lox() appeared to Abram, and saidunto him, I am the Almighty God; walk beforeme, and be than perfect.

The factor of Abram's age is of interest. He was75 when he, Lot (his nephew), and others de-parted from Haran to go to the land of Canaan(Genesis 12:4, 5). When Abraham was 85, hiswife suggested that perhaps she could have chil-dren through Hagar, her handmaid (16:2, 3).Abraham accepted the proposal, which was acontemporary practice for a wife who was barren.Ishmael was born when Abraham was 86 (16:16).Such statistics interest some people, but themessage underneath them is very important: Godkeeps His promises, but the time of waiting maybe a testing of the patience and faith of thosewho are the recipients of the promises. In thiscase Abram and his wife Sarai were "runningahead" of God instead of waiting for His time.

The Lord identifies himself with His firstwords to Abram. He is not just God, but He isAlmighty. ISee question #3. page 241 This God isone who can accomplish things that are consid-ered impossible. Over 1,400 years later Jeremiahwill echo the same thought when he writes thatnothing is too difficult for God (Jeremiah 32:17).Two imperatives are used by the Lord to ex-press His expectations. First, Abram is to walkbefore God. Second, his walk must be unblem-ished; Abram is to do his best in meeting hisobligations to God.

"WHAT'S IN A NAME?"

In the early 1960s General Motors tried unsuccessfully to sell its new, economical compactmodel the Nova in Latin America. The problem,it seems, was that the name Nova means "no go"in Spanish. After GM changed the car's name toCaribe, sales took off at least so the story goes.Actually, this is one of those urban legends wehear from time to time. For one thing, salesweren't really that bad, and the Caribe was soldby Volkswagen. However,this story has gained lots of "mileage" (pardonthe pun) by being repeated many times in mar-keting textbooks and business seminars.

Let's try another one. When Coca-Cola enteredthe Chinese market, it had to find Mandarincharacters that sounded like "Coca-Cola." Thecharacters they chose could mean "to allow themouth to be able to rejoice" but could also betranslated "bite the wax tadpole." Hmmm.Whether or not either story is true, in the finalanalysis their very existence points to the factthat names are important. So it was with thename by which God revealed himself to Abram.Abram's culture believed in many gods, but theGod who spoke to Abram was the Almighty God!

He was significantly different from the ficliliousgods that people worshiped. He was and is the God who has power and who makes cove-nants with those who believe Him.

2. And 1 will make my covenant between meand thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.This is the first of 13 uses of the word cove-nant in this chapter. It is used only once withAbram prior to this chapter, in Genesis 15:18. Inthat chapter God specifically promises thatAbram will have a son and that his descendantswill he as numerous as the stars (Genesis 15:5).The words will or shnli accompany many ofGod's blessings as given in this chapter. Thisconstruction shows that the fulfillments are inthe futeu•e, but God will keep His promises.

B. Nations to Result (vv. 3, 4)

3, 4. And Abranr tell on his face: and Godtalked with bins, saying, As for me, behold, mycovenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a fatherof many nations.

Abram's immediate response is to fall and as-sume a position of utmost respect. The itnplica-tions of what the Lord has just said are racingthrough his mind, and heir overwhelmed! God'snext words reinforce the thought that Abram isto have many descendants.

An excellent commentary on Abranr's thoughtscan be found in Romans 4:19, 20. In these versesPaul stales that Abraham was not weak in faith,even as Ire considered his own body and hiswife's wornh tube dead. The God who created lifein the heginnirrg could do the some again for thiselderly couple!

In verse 4 God states that the covenant beingmade is with Abram, and one outcome is ttrotmany notions will result. The factor of notions(plural) is a new concept. The singular form ofthe word is used in Genesis 12:2, so this adds adimension to the promises that God is making.Of course, living in the twenty-first century someans that we are aware of the historical fulfill-ment of this prophecy. But it must be a stagger-ing thought for Abrarn in the twenty-first centurytrc! Sonnr; of the descendants of Abram who willproduce marry sons include Ishmael and the sixsons that Abraham had by his second wife, Ketu-rah (Genesis 25:1, 2).

C. New Nattre for Abram (v. 5a)

5a. Neither shall thy name any more becalled Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham.A nesc• name is given to Abram, and it is verymeaningful as a part of this covenant. Whereas Abram means "exalted father," the name Abra-hum means "father of a multitude." This newname itself is a challenging part of this expandedcovenant.

The exact nature of this exchange betweenGod and Abraham is not given; it may have beena personal, private event. Orre can only wonderat the responses of others when Abraham tellsthem that his name is now "father of a multi-tude." Abraham has a private army (Genesis14:14); when those men think of Abraham as achildless, elderly man, how can they use his newname without a snicker?

D.Nations and the Kings (vv. 5b, 6)5b, 6. For a father of many nations have Imade thee. And I will make lb cc exceeding fruit'ml, and I will make nations of thee, and kingsshall come out of thee.
The thought that Abraharu will be a father ofmany rlutions is repeated from verse 4. This timethe concept is amplified: Abraham's descendantswill be exceeding fruitful.

Abraham's offspring will also include kings.This is a new factor, not mentioned previously.Moses (the author of Genesis) will later record thenames of several kings who are descendants ofAhraham's grandson Esau (Genesis 36:31-39). Stu-dents of biblical history are aware of Saul, David,Solomon, and other kings who trace their lineageIn Abraham (Matthew 1:2-11). God's promises docome to pass!

E.People of the Covenant (v. 7)

7. And I will establish my covenant betweenme and thee and thy seed otter thee in their gen-erations, fur an everlasting covenant, to be aGod unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.This special covenant relatiorrsllip will con-tinue into the future for the children of Abra-ham, for it is an everlasting roverrant. It mustfirst be noted that the applications of thesephrases are restricted: in this same chapter thedescendants of Ishmael are excluded, in spite ofAbraham's expressed thought that the covenantcould be fulfilled in him (vv. 18-21, below).This verse also allows us to compare the usethe word seed in the King James Version with theword descendants in the New Irrternutiono! Ver-sion. The selection of the word seed seems to bebetter, for Paul uses the fact that it is singular toshow that the ultimate fulfillment is a spiritualone in Christ, that He is the promised seed (Gala-tians 3:16; compare Acts 3:25).

The same word occurs again in Genesis 22:18.There the promise takes a phrase from Genesis
12:3 and states that it is through Abraham's seed that all the families of the earth will be blessed. The beauty of the apostles' argument is that all people now have access to the spiritual blessings that the redemptive work of the Messiah makes available.

F. Place Assigned (v. 8)

8. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.

The land of Canaan had been promised to Abraham previously (Genesis 12:5, 7; 15:18). These words from God provide a further confirmation of that promise. There is a certain irony here: it has been 24 years since Abraham entered Canaan (compare Genesis 12:4, 5; 17:1), and so far Abraham does not possess any of it. God told Abraham previously that his descendants would be oppressed 400 years in another land, and in the fourth generation they would occupy Canaan when the iniquity of the inhabitants was full
(Genesis 15:13, 16)!

G. Position for Sarai (vv. 15, 16)

15, 16. And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be. And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.

The intervening verses record the establishment of circumcision as a sign of the covenant for Abraham's male descendants. Now the role of Sarai in the promises is expressed for the first time. God begins by changing her name for the role that she will have in redemptive history: to become the mother of nations and kings. This will have its beginning in her own son, Isaac.

The meanings of the names Sarai and Sarah seem to be the same, but there is the difference in spelling. Both names mean "princess."

II. Perplexities of Abraham (Genesis 17:17-22)

Abraham finally has an opportunity to express his reactions. Those reactions concern two people: Sarah and Ishmael.

A. Problems Stated (vv. 17, 18)

17. Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is a hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?
Keep this map posted throughout the quarter to help set the geographical context.
Abraham's emotional response is laughter. The fact that Sarah is to become a mother goes beyond what is humanly reasonable. If God is in it, however, then it becomes reasonable!
Abraham projects the promises a year into the future, the earliest time for a son to be born. Abraham will then be 100 and Sarah will be 90, and he inwardly wonders about what he has just heard. Could it possibly be true?

18. And Abraham said unto God, 0 that Ishmael might live before thee!

At this time Ishmael is 13 years old (compare Abraham's age in Genesis 16:16 and 17:1). Abraham loves this young teenager and states that he is willing to accept him as the child of promise. In his humility he does not demand that God go to any special trouble.

B. Problems Solved (vv. 19-22)

19. And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.
God speaks and assures Abraham that Sarah is the one who will bear the son who will fulfill the promise. In addition, God continues to provide names for the people involved, and He states that the son is to be called Isaac. The name Isaac means "laugh," and it will ever serve as a reminder of Abraham's reaction when he heard the prediction.

The I will statements of this section continue. God asserts that it is through Isaac that the everlasting covenant is to be established and that it will continue for generations after him.

20.And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee:Behold, I have blessed him, and will make himfruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly;twelve princes shall he beget, and I will makehim a great nation.

God assures Abraham that his concerns forIshmael have been heard and that blessings areincluded for him. They are similar in nature tothe promises of the covenant. But limitations areset concerning the number of future leadersamong his descendants (twelve princes). Thefinal promise is that Ishmael's descendants willbecome o great nation.

21.But my covenant will I establish withIsaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at thisset time in the next year.

The closing words of God in this account re-state the factors that are to have imminent fulfill-ments: that the covenant is to be continuedthrough Isaac, that Sarah is to be the mother,and that these things will occur the next year.One can only wonder concerning Abraham'sfinal reflections and actions: will they be out-wardly exuberant and joyful, silent and profoundcontemplation, or overwhelming gratitude? Itwill take time for the reality of the promises to begrasped fully.

UNINTENTIONAL FRAUDALANCE

Dossena (1878-1937) was a stonemasonfrom northern Italy. He became skilled at carving reproductions of sculptures from ancient times,and his work was so good that others began sell-ing his carvings as genuine antiques. Despite Dos-sena's best efforts to spread the truth of thematter, dealers in antiquities continued the fraudsince they were reaping handsome profits. So many pieces of his work were in circulation asgenuine that it became impossible to trace themall. It is said that some of Dossena's copies are ac-cepted as genuine antiquities yet today.

With the best of motives, Abraham and Sarahalso perpetrated an unintentional fraud. Theyhad received God's promise of a son as a sign ofGod's covenant with them. Time went by, andstill there was no pregnancy. Their solution wasfor Abraham to have a son by Sarah's servantgirl, Hagar.

The consequences of their decision were far-reaching. We see the effects today in strife in theMiddle East, as some elements of religious ex-tremism claim covenantal blessings through Ish-mael. Although the child Ishmael would beblessed by God, he was not the "genuine arti-cle"the son of the covenantal promise. We al-ways get into trouble when we try to push God'stimetable!

22. And he left off talking with him, and Godwent up from Abraham.

God departs from Abraham, and this brings toa conclusion this stage of Abraham's developingrole in the covenant. There are more interactionsto follow, but the new factors are overwhelming.
ConclusionA. If It Sounds Too Good.

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is—unless God is in it. The covenant that God madewith Abraham offered promises that anotherhuman could not deliver. It is comforting to knowthat God did not hold the negative reactions ofAbraham and Sarah against them. Their reserva-tions did not thwart God's redemptive plan.It is God's plan to provide Heaven for all theredeemed. That's something that sounds just toogood to be true, but it is true. It sounds too goodto be true that God forgives and forgets the sinsof the redeemed, but God does that—eventhough we tend to burden ourselves with memo-ries of our failures.
God offers Heaven to sinners who believe onHis Son and follow His plan of salvation. Thatsounds too good to be true—but it is true!

B. Prayer

Thank You, Lord, for the trials of life that de-velop patience. Forgive my lack of trust in thosetimes. In the name of Your Son, amen.

C. Thought to Remember

Trust God despite your doubts.

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