Transcript Lesson 2 for July 11, 2015 “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a.

Lesson 2 for July 11, 2015
“Get out of your country, from your family and
from your father’s house, to a land that I will
show you… and in you all the families of the
earth shall be blessed.”
(Genesis 12:1, 3)
Abraham lived in Ur when he accepted God’s call. He went to Haran with his father
Terah (Gn. 11:31) then he began his journey towards Canaan (Gn. 12:5).
God’s call involved:
• Leaving his home city and his idolatrous family (Joshua 24:2).
• A blessing for him (Genesis 12:2).
• A blessing for humanity (Genesis 12:3).
We are also called to be God’s missionaries in this world. That
involves:
• Leaving everything that could prevent us from fulfilling our
mission.
• A blessing for our life.
• A blessing for everyone who accepts our message (the eternal
Gospel).
“Now when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his three
hundred and eighteen trained servants who were born in his own house, and went in
pursuit as far as Dan.” (Genesis 14:14)
Lot settled in Sodom (Genesis 13:12) after
Abraham and him separated. He was an
innocent war victim there
(Genesis 14:1-12).
Abraham’s life and message were
peaceful, but he didn’t remain indifferent
to injustice (Genesis 14:13-24). He showed
that believers…
 can effectively serve their country.
 are courageous people.
 are righteous people.
 defend the oppressed.
 never try to profit from their deeds.
 are faithful to God in every circumstance.
“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was
called to go out to the place which he would
receive as an inheritance. And he went out,
not knowing where he was going.” (Hebrews 11:8)
God told Abraham to go to Canaan. That was a
very ambiguous geographical reference (for
example, it’s different to say “go to the USA” than
“go to New York”).
He had faith to take the first step; i.e. leaving his
old life behind and beginning a new one. A new
life of total dependence on God.
He had faith to go on in the Promised Land; from
his first altar at Shechem to the one where he
almost sacrificed Isaac.
He had faith in God’s promises for his life: “And
he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to
him for righteousness.” (Genesis 15:6).
He had faith in God’s promises for his future:
“for he waited for the city which has
foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”
(Hebrews 11:10).
“By faith Abraham, when he
was tested, offered up Isaac,
and he who had received the
promises offered up his only
begotten son.” (Hebrews 11:17)
God used Abraham despite his
mistakes, because Abraham
longed for being used by Him.
Abraham’s constant travels
through the Promised Land
were God’s tools to teach him
important spiritual lessons.
Shechem
(Genesis
12:6-7).
Mount
Moriah
(Genesis
22:1-14).
He obeyed God.
He understood
God’s salvation
plan.
He interceded with
Mamre
God on Sodom’s
(Genesis
behalf. He
18:1, 20-33). understood God’s
mercy.
He trusted God
Hebron
when he saved
(Genesis
his nephew. He
13:18understood
14:20).
God’s power.
The promise of inheriting Canaan.
Abraham understood his mission.
“For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his
household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness
and justice, that the Lord may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.”
(Genesis 18:19)
Missionary activities will be
more successful when they are
backed by a family life that is in
harmony with the designs of
God.
Abraham’s faith and obedience
rubbed off on his family and
servants (Genesis 24:12).
“By faith Sarah herself also received
strength to conceive seed, and she bore
a child when she was past the age,
because she judged Him faithful who had
promised… By faith Isaac blessed Jacob
and Esau concerning things to come.”
(Hebrews 11:11, 20)
“Parents should in a special sense regard
themselves as agents of God to instruct their
children, as did Abraham, to keep the way of
the Lord. They need to search the Scriptures
diligently, to know what is the way of the
Lord, that they may teach it to their
household. Micah says, ‘What doth the Lord
require of thee, but to do justly, and to love
mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?’
[Micah 6:8.] In order to be teachers, parents
must be learners, gathering light constantly
from the oracles of God and by precept and
example bringing this precious light into the
education of their children.”
E.G.W. (The Adventist Home, section 8, cp. 28, pg. 184)
“Abraham’s unquestioning obedience was one of the
most striking instances of faith and reliance upon God
to be found in the Sacred Record. With only the naked
promise that his descendants should possess Canaan,
without the least outward evidence, he followed on
where God should lead, fully and sincerely complying
with the conditions on his part, and confident that the
Lord would faithfully perform His word. The patriarch
went wherever God indicated his duty; he passed
through wildernesses without terror; he went among
idolatrous nations, with the one thought: ‘God has
spoken; I am obeying His voice; He will guide, He will
protect me.’
Just such faith and confidence as Abraham had the
messengers of God need today.”
E.G.W. (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, no. 30, cp. 50, pg. 524)