David Macdonald - March 30th, 2025 - Studies in Genesis Part 14: Abram, Sarai, Hagar & Ishmael
Abram’s Background
Descended from Shem (Noah’s son)
Lived in Ur in Mesopotamia
Called by God to leave Ur & family to go to…
Destination unknown
Brings father & nephew (Lot)
Stayed in Haran until his father died
Famine in the land – heads to Egypt in search of prosperity
Returns to Bethel
God repeats His promise – multiplied seed, great nation Genesis 13:14-17
Genesis 13:14-17
Genesis 15:1-7
Genesis 16:1-4
Genesis 16:5-6
Proverbs 3:5-7
Genesis 16:7-16
Genesis 17 – Blessing repeated
1.
13 years later
A. Sarai 90, Abram 99
B. Still no child of both
C. God declares a new name (to man) – revealing another attribute
D. El Shaddai - Almighty God, God the most sufficient - first mention
E. Walk before me and be blameless
- 2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him…
F. Abram's history:
1.He walked before his family and went to Haran for 15 years
2.He walked before his servants and went into Egypt
3.He walked before his wife and went into Hagar
4.Now he has a new walk with God (@ 99!)
G. Abram humbled himself before the Lord – vs. 3
Vs. 4 - "Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations.”
Abram ➔ Abraham
A. Exalted father to Father of Many Nations
Gen 17:6 - 9
Genesis 17 – Covenant Established
A. Land
1.The borders of the land given equaled 780,000 square KM
2.At their peak they inhabited 78,000 KM under Solomon – 10% of promise
3.God promised every place your foot walks, they didn't take all of it.
4.Israel will possess all of the land during the millennium.
B.
Posterity
1.Nations - plural
2.~16 million Jews in the world today
3.22 Arab nations (475 million people)
4.6% of the Earth's population today traces heritage back to Abraham.
C.
Circumcision
1.Sign of the covenant
2.Outward sign of covenant
a. Noah and the rainbow
b. Moses and the Sabbath
c. Abraham and circumcision
Genesis 17:18-22
