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Following Gods Will
Abraham knew how to listen to God and follow Himeven when His
commands were difficult or painful to obey. Although the patriarch
made
some mistakes, his life demonstrated remarkable faith and
obedience.
The Lord revealed His plans for Abraham. He will be faithful to
show us what He wants us to do as well. Listening to God is
essential to walking
with God(Life Principle #13).
Abrahams Example
1. The Lord revealed Abrahams future and guided his steps.
Note: Abraham (father of a multitude) and Sarah (princess) were
originally named Abram and Sarai. For the sake of simplicity, well
use the
names God gave them, which indicate their destiny as patriarch
and matriarch of the Jewish people.
What did the Lord reveal to Abraham about his future (Gen.
12:1-3)?
How did he respond to the command to go forth from your
country(Gen. 12:4)?
What fact makes this particularly impressive (v. 4)?
What details doesGenesis 13:14-18add to the original
promise?
Why do you think God reiterated His pledge at this particular
time?
God promised Abrahama man with a barren wifethat his descendants
would be as numerous as the stars. How did He
view Abrahams belief(Gen. 15:1-6)?
In Genesis 17:8, what new dimension does God add to His
promise?
2. The Lord redirected Abraham when he made mistakes.
Why does Abraham father a child through Hagar, Sarahs servant
(Gen. 16:1-3)?
Name some consequences of Abrahams attempt to fulfill Gods
promise on his own (Gen. 16:4-6, 11-12).
The passage doesnt record whether or not God directly rebuked
Abraham for his disobedience with Hagar. Perhaps the natural
consequences of
his sin were enough to cause the patriarch to repent.
Between Ishmaels birth and the next time the Scripture records
the Lord speaking to Abraham, how many years pass (Gen.
16:16; 17:1)?
What new detail does the promise include this time (Gen.
17:16)?
What was Abrahams reaction to the news that Sarah would bear a
son at age 90 (Gen. 17:17)?
Why do you think Isaac needed to be the son of promise, rather
than Ishmael (Gen. 18-21)?
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8/7/2019 Following God
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When the time came, Sarah bore Abraham a son, just as the Lord
had promised. Why did they name the baby Isaac (Gen.
21:6-7)?
3. God tested Abrahams devotion.
In Abrahams day,the Lord had yet to specifically forbid child
sacrifice. (SeeLeviticus 20:1-5.) However, the godly did not
practice it.
How quickly does Abraham respond when God asks him to kill Isaac
(Gen. 22:3)?
Abraham was confident that both he and the child would return
from the sacrifice (v. 5). Why (Heb. 11:17-19)?
Given that fear can mean to reverence, what was the Lords
intention in asking him to give up Isaac (Gen. 22:12)?
Once again, God repeats His promise (vv. 15-18). Explain verse
18: In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be
blessed. (SeeMatthew 1:1andGalatians 3:8 if necessary).
Application: God gave Abraham an amazing promise that became
more specific over time. We should expect the Fathers guidance to
come in
stages, rather than all at once (Isa. 30:21).
Has God ever given you a promise that was hard to believe? Or
has He asked you to take a step of obedience that required
a lot of faith? Explain what happened.
What is your next step of obedience?
Although the Father promises to provide for us, we can get
impatient. Then, like Abraham, we manipulate circumstances and
experience the
painful consequences of disobedience.
Think about the last time you took action instead of waiting on
Gods provision. What were the results?
Abrahams disobedience affected not just him and his family, but
also generations to follow. Our rebellion might not have the same
far-reaching
consequences, yet other people sometimes pay a high price for
our wrongdoing. Even so-called private sins cause us to be less
attentive to the
needs of others.
Think about a way you commonly disobey God. How does that sin
affect those around you?
The Lord dealt with Abrahams faulty thinking by redirecting the
patriarchs attention to the divine promise and its
fulfillment. When we wander from Him, He will remind us of
Scripture verses, spiritual principles, or the peace and joy we
once knew
as faithful followers. What generally motivates you to
repent?
Once the Lord fulfills a promise, He may test usas He did
Abrahamto see if we love Him more than we love His gifts.
Has the Lord ever given you something and then asked you to
surrender it to Him? Explain.
ReadRevelation 2:1-5. What is the solution for regaining your
first love for God (v. 5)?
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