ADVENTURES OF ABRAHAM: A PROMISE

(Message by Tanny Keng)

1. Adventures Of Abraham

a) We look at the sojourns and adventures of Abraham, along with his wife Sarah. 

2. A Promise  

a) God called Abraham, and Abraham obeyed the call. God promised that Abraham would be the father of multitudes. This was remarkable, because Abraham and Sarah were childless. Sarah was barren.

b) But that's not all. When Abraham and Sarah tried to remedy the situation by using Sarah's maid as a surrogate, God gently but decisively rejected the resulting child, Ishmael.

c) God reiterated his promise that Sarah would bear a son herself. This son would be named Isaac, and through Isaac the promises would come true.

d) Behind Abraham's story is his faith. He might have found God's promises and commands hard to believe and obey, but he believed and obeyed them nevertheless, and so was justified. (Hebrews 11:8-19, Romans 4:3,16-25).

3. Bible Summary (Genesis 12-18)

i) Call of Abram (Genesis 12).

ii) Abram misleads Pharaoh about Sarah (Genesis 12).

iii) Abram and Lot separate (Genesis 13).

iv) Abram rescues Lot from Northern kings (Genesis 14).

v) Abram pays tithes to Melchizedek (Genesis 14).

vi) Abram refuses gifts from Sodom (Genesis 14).

vii) The promises of God to Abram who believed (Genesis 15).

viii) Hagar, Sarai's maid, runs away (Genesis 16).

ix) Hagar returns, bears Ishmael (Genesis 16).

x) Abram and Sarai's names are subtly changed (Genesis 17).

xi) God promises a son; Abraham laughs (Genesis 17).

xii) Abraham receives covenant of circumcision (Genesis 17).

xiii) Three visitors repeat God's promise; Sarah laughs (Genesis 18). 

The End ...