Abram’s Faith Journey

Intro: Jason Brown Story “Centered” Trading your plans for a life that matters.

I). The LORD invites Abram to trust Him. (v. 1)

Genesis 12:1 CSB

The Lord said to Abram: Go from your land, your relatives, and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.

A.) The LORD (Yahweh) initiates the journey.

B.) The LORD commands Abram to go from…

C.) To a land where the LORD will show him.

II. The Lord gives divine promises to Abram. (2-3)

Genesis 12:2–3 CSB

I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, I will curse anyone who treats you with contempt, and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.

A.) First three promises are specific to Abram

1) I will make you into a great nation

2) I will bless you

3) I will make your name great

Result: You will be a blessing

B.) The last three promises deal with Abram’s relationships

4) I will bless those who bless you

5) I will curse those who treat you with contempt

6) All people on earth will be blessed through you

III. Abram responds in obedience to the LORD’s command. (vv. 4-6)

A.) The action words showing Abram’s obedience (faith).

Genesis 12:4–6 CSB

So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. He took his wife, Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated, and the people they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan, Abram passed through the land to the site of Shechem, at the oak of Moreh. (At that time the Canaanites were in the land.)

B.) The obstacles that stand in the way of Abram’s obedience.

1) Internal

a. Abram was 75 years old

b. Brought his nephew Lot

c. Sarai was barren (11:30)

2) External

a. The Canaanites were in the land

IV. The LORD gives detailed revelation to overcome Abram’s perceived obstacles. (v.7)

Genesis 12:7 CSB

The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring, I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the Lord who had appeared to him.

A.) The LORD appeared… (Presences)

B.) To your offspring… (Progeny)

C.) I will give this land (Property)

V. Abram responds to the revelation in three ways: (vv. 8-9)

Genesis 12:8–9 CSB

From there he moved on to the hill country east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. He built an altar to the Lord there, and he called on the name of the Lord. Then Abram journeyed by stages to the Negev.

A.) “Built an alter”= Worshiped the Lord

B.) He continued to move throughout the land

C.) “Built an alter” and “called on the name of the LORD”

Closing: God blessed Abram so that he would be a blessing to others. Therefore, if you are a believer in Christ you have been blessed.

Question: Who can you be a blessing to this week, month, year?