“And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing” (Gen: 12:2). In Genesis 12:2, God promises to make Abram’s name great — that is, to make him famous. Why would the Lord want to do that for any sinner, no matter … Continue reading –>
Not only did God promise Abraham that in him would all the families of the earth be blessed; the Lord said that He would make of him a “great and mighty nation” (Gen: 18:18; see also Gen: 12:2, Gen: 46:3) — quite a promise to a man married to a woman past child-bearing age. Thus, when Abraham was without … Continue reading –>
“To enjoy true happiness we must travel into a very far country, and even out of ourselves.” — Thomas Browne. Look at that above quote, written in the 1600s. Do you agree or disagree? Read it in the context of 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 and of Revelation 3:12. Augustine wrote of the human condition: “This life of ours — if … Continue reading –>
“In thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed” (Gen: 28:14). “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Gal: 3:29). More than once the Lord said to Abraham that in his seed, his offspring, all the nations of the earth would be … Continue reading –>
“After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward” (Gen: 15:1). Read Genesis 15:1-3. Think of the context in which the message was given. Why would the first thing the Lord says to Abram be “Fear not”? What would … Continue reading –>
Sabbath Afternoon Read for This Week’s Study: Gen: 15:1-3, Isa: 25:8, 1 Cor: 2:9, Rev: 22:1-5, 1 Pet: 2:9, Gen: 11:4, Gen: 12:2. Memory Text: “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20). A father and his ten-year-old daughter were spending their holiday at the seashore. One day they went out to enjoy a swim in the … Continue reading –>
God Always Has a Way By Andrew McChesney, Adventist Mission David never cared about God until he lost his business to his best friend amid a bitter court battle. All hope seemed lost. He decided to study theology at a Seventh-day Adventist college in the Philippines. David, who grew up in an affluent family, had … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “The Call of Abraham,” pages 125-131, in Patriarchs and Prophets; “Jew and Gentile,” pages 188-200, in The Acts of the Apostles. The rainbow is a sign of God’s covenant with Noah. Read Genesis 17:10 to discover what the sign of God’s covenant was with Abraham. Circumcision “was destined: (1) to distinguish the seed of Abraham … Continue reading –>
“For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him” (Gen: 18:19). As we have seen so far, the covenant is always a … Continue reading –>
Gen: 12:1-2 In those two verses the first stage of God’s covenant promise to Abram (there are three) is revealed. God approached Abram, gave him a command, and then made him a promise. The approach expresses God’s gracious election of Abram to be the first major figure of His special covenant of grace. The command involves the test of … Continue reading –>
