There and Back Again | Part 13

The Call of Abram, Part 2

Curse Turn To Blessings

  • We have seen a "curse" proclaimed five times in Genesis.
  • These curses fell on the serpent for his deception (3:14-15), the ground to make work hard (3:17), Cain because he murdered his brother (4:11), Earth for the wickedness of society (8:21), and Canaan for the disrespect he showed his father (9:25). This pattern is reversed in God's five-fold "I will" blessing of Abram.

Five-fold "I Will" Blessings of Abram — Genesis 12:1-3

  • I WILL show you.
  • I WILL make you a great nation.
  • I WILL make your name great.
  • I WILL bless those that bless you.
  • I WILL curse those who dishonor you.

Abram's Faith — Hebrews 11:1-10

Abram stopped and built altars in three strategic places in Canaan (Shechem, Bethel/Ai, and Negeb).
These altars mark key points in Abram's journey as a physical and symbolic act of worship, claiming the land for God, and declaring his faith in this new land.
These sites will also be visited by his grandson, Jacob.
They are also instrumental in the conquest of Canaan under Joshua.

Our Faith

Genesis teaches us what true "saving" faith looks like. It is composed of three essential elements:
KNOWLEDGE
  • God spoke to Abraham and told him exactly what He would do — vs. 7.
  • God continues to speak to us, His people, giving us the knowledge we need to be saved.
BELIEF
We must believe the knowledge that God gives us — Gen. 15:6; Romans 4:3; Galatians 3:6
COMMITMENT
Noah and Abraham were not perfect men, but Noah did build a boat, and Abraham did leave his homeland — Hebrews 11:8.

Gospel Reflection

  1. Describe something that struck you during today's sermon.
  2. How can this apply to your life THIS week?
<< Previous Sermon | HOME | Next Sermon >>