Character Studies

Lesson 5

ABRAHAM

"Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." (Rom. 4:3; cf. Gen. 15:6)

Text: Genesis 11-25
Name: "Father of a multitude" - Gen. 17:5
Date: Unknown
Place: Ur of the Chaldeans, Land of Canaan
Key: Father of the faithful

THE CALL OF ABRAHAM
Genesis 12:1-5
· He was chosen and called by God (Gen. 12:1; Neh. 9:7-8; Heb. 11:8)
· God made promises to Abram (Gen. 12:2-3, 7; Heb. 6:13-20)
1. NATION: "I will make you a great nation" (Gen. 12:2)
2. SEED: "And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed" (Gen. 12:3)
3. LAND: "To your descendants I will give this land" (Gen. 12:7)
· Abram showed great faith by obeying God (Gen. 12:4-5; Heb. 11:8-10)

ABRAHAM'S JOURNEY IN CANAAN
Genesis 12:6-13:18 (Joshua 24:3; Acts 7:2-8)
· Shechem (Gen. 12:6-7)
· Between Bethel and Ai (Gen. 12:8)
· South to Egypt (Gen. 12:9-20)
· The Negev (the South) (Gen. 13:1)
· The oak of Mamre (Gen. 13:18)

ABRAHAM'S JOURNEY OF FAITH
· The GROWTH of faith:
    1. FEARING MEN: Telling half-truths (Gen. 12:10-20; 20:1-18)
    2. TRYING TO OUT-THINK GOD: Hagar & Ishmael (Gen. 15-16)
    3. ACCEPTING GOD'S ARRANGEMENT: Sarah is promised a child (Gen. 18:1-15)
    4. PRAYING TO GOD: Intercession for the righteous (Gen. 18:16-33)
    5. Fearing God: Offering Isaac (Gen. 22:1-14; Heb. 11:17-19)
· The CHARACTER of faith:
    1. OBEDIENT (Heb. 11:8; Gen. 26:5; Jas. 2:21-22)
    2. COURAGEOUS (Gen. 14:12-17; 17:9-11, 23)
    3. HUMBLE (Gen. 14:18-20)
    4. Unwavering (Rom. 4:17-25)
· The RESULT AND REWARD of faith:
    1. HIS FAITH WAS COUNTED TO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS (Gen. 15:6; Rom. 4:1-3; Jas. 2:20-24)
    2. GOD ASSURED HIM OF ETERNAL BLESSING (Gen. 22:15-18; Heb. 6:13-15; 11:10, 13-16)
    3. ABRAHAM "SAW" THE SAVIOR BY FAITH (Jno. 8:56; Gal. 3:8)

ABRAHAM IS DESCRIBED AS:
· Abram: Exalted father (11-13, 17)
· Abraham: The father of a multitude (Gen. 17:5)
· The friend of God (2 Chron. 20:7; Isa. 41:8; Jas. 2:23)
· Faithful Abraham (Gal. 3:9)
· Father of the faithful / Father of us all (Rom. 4:11, 16)

ABRAHAM IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
· Ancestor of Jesus Christ (Matt. 1:1-2, 17; Lk. 3:23, 34)
· Father of the Hebrew nation (Matt. 3:9; Acts 13:26; 2 Cor. 11:22)
· In the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 8:11; Lk. 13:28)
· Now in "Abraham's bosom" (Lk. 16:23-31)
· Abraham still lives, though not on the earth (Matt. 22:32; Mk. 12:26-27; Lk. 20:37)
· Abraham obeyed God in faith (Acts 7:2-8; Heb. 11:8, 17-19; Jas. 2:21-24)
· Counted righteous by faith (Rom. 4; Gal. 3:6-9)
· Father of the faithful (Rom. 4:11, 16; Gal. 3:29)

LESSONS FOR US
· Faith develops and grows throughout one's life - it is not complete in a day.
· Like Abraham, our faith is accounted for righteousness when we obey God.
· God always keeps His word.
· Man can never out-maneuver God.
· God accepts the prayers of the righteous.

CLASS DISCUSSION
1. Abraham grew up under what religious influences? (Josh. 24:2, 14-15)

2. How was Sarah related to Abraham? (Gen. 11:27-29; 20:12)

3. Who was Lot? Discuss Abraham's involvement with him. (Gen. 11:27-32; 12:4; 13:1-13; 14:1-17; 19:1-38)

4. Who was Melchizedek? What did Abraham do to him? (Gen. 14:18-20; Heb. 7:1-16)

5. What was the covenant God made with Abraham? (Gen. 17)

6. What kind of a father was Abraham? (Gen. 18:19)

7. What did Abraham do which showed the fullness of his faith?