Out of the descendants of the tower of Babel God called Abraham. Gen 11:4 through 6
(Gen 11:4 KJV) And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower[1], whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.1 “TOWER”: Among the discoveries of archaeology in Mesopotamia are the ziggurats, terrace towers built for worship of pagan deities.(Judg 12:6 KJV) Then said they unto him, Say now Shibboleth[1]: and he said Sibboleth: for he could not frame to pronounce it right. Then they took him, and slew him at the passages of Jordan: and there fell at that time of the Ephraimites forty and two thousand.1 "SHIBBOLETH": Lit. <stream.> Ps 69:2,15; Isa 27:12 |
God made a promise to Abraham.
What is a promise?
an agreement to do or not do something.
To give a basis for expectation.
Genesis 12:1 start of promise.
Genesis 12:1 (KJV) Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee: |
Genesis 17:1-8 promise to abraham
There are two kinds of promises
1. conditional
2. unconditional
Isaiah 14:27 (KJV) For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?
Some of the promises to Abraham were totally unconditional. Other promises were conditional based on the faithfulness and obedience of the Israelites.
Genesis 15:5 God told Abraham he would have as many children as there were stars in the sky.
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Genesis 15:5 (KJV) And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. |
Genesis 15:6 belief being counted for righteousness
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Genesis 15:6 (KJV) And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness. |
Genesis 15:12 Abraham was not responsible for keeping the promise, God was.
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Genesis 15:12 And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him. |
Galatians 3:15 (KJV) Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.
Galatians 3:16 The promise was made to 1 one seed (one descendant) and that seed was Jesus.
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Galatians 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to [seeds, as of many]; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. |
Gen 15:13
Genesis 17:21 (KJV)
Gen 16:16 And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.
Gen 17:19 And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.
Gen 17:20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.
Genesis 17:21 (KJV) But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.
More than half the Bible talks about a group of people called Israelites. This group was called into a special relationship with God. Their history alone is discussed in the Old Testament narrative and prophecy. Other nations are mentioned only as they touch the Jew.
Genesis 21:5 (KJV) Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born.
Is'-aac Laughter
Genesis 21:5 (KJV) And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him.
The promise was not with Isaac but with Christ.
Genesis 21:4 And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him.
Genesis 25:21 (KJV) Isaac asked the LORD to allow his wife to have children and Rebecca his wife conceived.
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Genesis 25:21 (KJV) And Isaac entreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was entreated of him, and Rebecca his wife conceived. |
Genesis 25:22 (KJV) And had twins who struggled inside her.
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Genesis 25:22 (KJV) And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to inquire of the LORD. |
Genesis 25:25 (KJV) And the first that came out they called Esau.
E'-sau --- harry
Genesis 25:25 (KJV) And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.
Genesis 25:26 (KJV) And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and they called him Jacob. Isaac was 60 years old when she had them.
Ja'-cob --- supplanter
Genesis 25:26 (KJV) And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.
Jacob have I loved
(Rom 9:13 KJV) As it is written[1], Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated[2].<It is Written in> Mal 1:2
We want things right now?
Esau traded lasting benefit for food.
Because of our desire for immediate pleasure we loose sight of the future.
Genesis 32:28 (KJV) Jacob was renamed
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Genesis 32:28 (KJV) And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: (The chosen people of God are the "children of Israiel" ) |
Gen 15:13 it began in bondage in egypt for 400 years
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Gen 15:13 (KJV) And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; |
Exod 19:8 it ended when Israel rashly accepted the law
Exo 19:8 (KJV) And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do[1]. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.
Exo 19:8: This oral response of the people is commended by the LORD in Deu 5:27 - 28: "They have well said all that they have spoken." Their subsequent history, however, shows that they had failed to realize their own spiritual and moral weakness and the infinite perfection of the divine law which they so easily were engaging themselves to obey. See God's lament in Deu 5:29: "Oh, that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always."
1 "DO": Exo 24:3,7; Deu 5:27
Jacob (
Jacob (
Leah had a servant named Zilpah and Rachel had a servant named Bilhah. You can read the whole complicated process in Genesis chapter 29. The outcome of the rivalry between Rachel and Leah left Jacob with 12 sons.
Start reading at Genesis chapter 37 to find out how the
children of
See also Gen 12:1-3 15:5 26:3 28:12, 13 Gen 13:14-17 exod 1:13 14
End lesson for week 3 . Next