Introduction
Memory Text: “But
Abram said, ‘Lord GOD, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the
heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?’ “ (Genesis 15:2, NKJV).
Abram is
passionate about the salvation of the wicked and that is what God did through
the covenant He made with him. Through Abram, salvation would come to the world
as a confirmation of this, Abram’s name was changed to Abraham which means “Father
of many nations”.
How does Abram reveal what it means to live by faith?
Abram reveals what it means to live by faith because of his
understanding of the fact that the fulfillment of God’s promise does not depend
on his own righteousness but on God’s.
What does the sacrifice point to that God had Abram perform?
The sacrifice basically points to Christ’s death for our
sins. However, it also conveys to Abram a specific message about His descendant’s
400-year slavery and their return to the land God has given them.
What is the significance of Abram’s decision to go with Hagar even despite
God’s promise to him?
Abram’s decision to go with Hagar shows a lack of faith in
the promise God had made to Him.
What is the parallel between Adam and Eve and Abram and Sarai?
The parallel between these stories is God’s disapproval of
their course of action.
What does the sign of the Abrahamic Covenant symbolize both spiritually and
prophetically?
The sign of the covenant God made with Abraham is circumcision.
Circumcision as we know has to do with the shedding of blood; it could also be
understood in the context of sacrifice, signifying that righteousness was
imputed to him. It can also point back to the Messianic prophecy made to Adam
and Eve in Genesis 3:15. It contains the spiritual promise of salvation for all
the peoples of the earth.
What lessons of hospitality do we learn from Abraham’s reception of his
visitors?
Abraham’s hospitality is not just a nice gesture of courtesy
but also a religious duty as the Bible emphasizes. This story also makes us understand that God is identified more with the hungry and needy foreigner than
with the generous one who receives them. The story also teaches us of God’s
love and grace towards humanity through the divine intrusion into the human
sphere.
How does Abraham’s prophetic ministry affect his responsibility towards
Lot?
Abraham not only is a prophet to whom God reveals His will,
but He also is a prophet who intercedes on behalf of the wicked. Here, Abraham’s
prophetic ministry affects his responsibility towards Lot when He stood before
the LORD interceding on his behalf.
In Conclusion,
Although Abram doubted God when He went with Hagar, God was
still intentional about His promise to him, this tells us about God’s love and
mercy towards us even in our weakness. Abraham showed hospitality to strangers who
were actually the Angels of the Lord that made a promise of a child. We see
Abraham also interceding for the wicked city, after which the Angel agrees to
spare the city should there be 10 righteous men. The fact that the Angel
intended to spare the whole city for the sake of ten righteous men further
tells of God’s mercy and love, God is ever willing to save us if only we let
Him work in us as He did with Abraham. I pray that we let God work in us so
that our faith in Him may be strengthened in Jesus’ name.