The Calling and Blessing of Abram
Genesis 12:1-3 (Sermon Notes Version)
Introduction: A Roll-Call of Bible Passages:
1-If you were to make a list of all the most important, influential Bible passages, Genesis 12:1-3 would be near the top of the list. It is surely top 10, maybe top 5.
2-This passage is vital in the overarching story and theology that the Bible is communicating.
3-It is here where we clearly see that the Creator is a missionary God and His people are to be a missionary people. God is on Mission, His people are to be on Mission too.
READ TEXT
I. Obedience Displays Trust, the Essence of Belief/Faith
4-God calls Abram (as he is called at this point) and Abram follows his calling. That is the essence of this passage.
5-Faith as a concept in German has lost its meaning. Less than a conviction, it more often means assumption or opinion. In the Bible, it is more about Trust. And trust is demonstrable.
6-Pendulum Illustration (Real faith demonstrated!)
7-Biblically, Trust in God is demonstrated by obedience.
8-There can be many motivations for obedience. A child may do as a father says out of fear, or out of trust.
9-The question may be, what do we fear more: that which God asks us to do, or the consequences of disobedience?
10-But a better perspective may be to ask, who do we trust more to know what is best for us, our Creator, or ourselves?
11-It is this act of obedience, signaling a trust in God, that the Bible highlights as what God wants from people: this is faith.
12-Do we trust God enough to live as He asks us to, or do we insist on doing things the way we see fit?
13-That is the question at the heart of the Gospel.
14-Christ and His sacrifice on the cross has provided the way to restored relationship with God. The only requirement from us is the trust to receive what God is freely giving.
15-And trust is demonstrated in obedience.
II. GO!
A. Abraham is Called to GO
16-More precisely, God’s call is for Abram to GO. This cannot be overemphasized.
17-All the verbs in God’s call to Abram hinge on this first verb. Abram is to GO so that God will bless him, and through him, the rest of humanity.
18-In Genesis most of the stories revolve around just three central characters: Abram (Abraham), Jacob (Israel), and Joseph (Zaphenath-Paneah).
19-All three of them leave their home and family.
20-All three of them undergo a loss of culture and a dramatic change of circumstances orchestrated by God.
B. Jesus’ Followers are to GO
21-And the GOing is not just the thing God wants of Abram. It is what God calls all His people to do as well.
22-The key calling that Jesus gives all His followers later in the New Covenant is also to GO.
READ MATTHEW 28;19,20
C. The Key to Going is “with God.”
23-God wants His people to GO wherever He leads them, and that is rarely (if ever really) to stay where they are.
24-However, Abraham’s call and promise of blessing is passed on to his son (Isaac) and grandson (Jacob/Israel) with very different instructions.
25-Isaac is told to remain. Jacob is told to return to the land of his fathers.
26-So “GO where I will show you,” “REMAIN where you are,” and “RETURN to your father’s land,” are all things God commanded His people.
27-They key is that they all involve obeying Him and remaining in His presence and will. III. God Promises Us the Very Things We Are Pursuing in Our Rebellion… …only real versions of the lies we have idolized.
28-God’s promise to Abram in return for his trust is four-fold: God will make Abram into a great nation. God will bless Abram. God will make his name great, so that he will become a blessing. God will bless all peoples through Abram.
29-These are the sorts of things that humanity—in it rebellion—is striving to attain. People seek fame, fortune, to improve the world, and to help make things the way they think they should be.
30-These are the things that humanity is continually failing to attain. The contrast between Abram here, and the people at the Tower of Babel in the last story, is both telling and deliberate.
31-These are the things that only God, and a life with Him as He intended it to be lived, can give.
32-The whole Bible is written and assembled to tell the story of how God accomplished this blessing through Abram and his descendant, Jesus.
Conclusion and Application: As God’s People, We Are to Be Blessings
33-Perhaps the second most important and interesting aspect of this calling and blessing, aside from the FAITH/TRUST-GO issue, is the idea that Abram will be God’s blessing.
34-The issue of blessing is hugely important in Genesis and in Biblical theology.
35-It is the idea that God helps His people and shows them favor. Success in life is blessing.
36-And yet, the idea here is that Abram will be blessed in order that he will in turn be a blessing to others.
37-It is common practice in some branches of Christianity to invoke the blessing of Numbers 6:24-26.
38-Perhaps it would be better to look to Genesis 12.
39-Rather than praying for God’s blessings on us, it is more in keeping with God’s calling to pray that God will use us and make us into a blessing for those around us.
Introduction: A Roll-Call of Bible Passages:
1-If you were to make a list of all the most important, influential Bible passages, Genesis 12:1-3 would be near the top of the list. It is surely top 10, maybe top 5.
2-This passage is vital in the overarching story and theology that the Bible is communicating.
3-It is here where we clearly see that the Creator is a missionary God and His people are to be a missionary people. God is on Mission, His people are to be on Mission too.
READ TEXT
I. Obedience Displays Trust, the Essence of Belief/Faith
4-God calls Abram (as he is called at this point) and Abram follows his calling. That is the essence of this passage.
5-Faith as a concept in German has lost its meaning. Less than a conviction, it more often means assumption or opinion. In the Bible, it is more about Trust. And trust is demonstrable.
6-Pendulum Illustration (Real faith demonstrated!)
7-Biblically, Trust in God is demonstrated by obedience.
8-There can be many motivations for obedience. A child may do as a father says out of fear, or out of trust.
9-The question may be, what do we fear more: that which God asks us to do, or the consequences of disobedience?
10-But a better perspective may be to ask, who do we trust more to know what is best for us, our Creator, or ourselves?
11-It is this act of obedience, signaling a trust in God, that the Bible highlights as what God wants from people: this is faith.
12-Do we trust God enough to live as He asks us to, or do we insist on doing things the way we see fit?
13-That is the question at the heart of the Gospel.
14-Christ and His sacrifice on the cross has provided the way to restored relationship with God. The only requirement from us is the trust to receive what God is freely giving.
15-And trust is demonstrated in obedience.
II. GO!
A. Abraham is Called to GO
16-More precisely, God’s call is for Abram to GO. This cannot be overemphasized.
17-All the verbs in God’s call to Abram hinge on this first verb. Abram is to GO so that God will bless him, and through him, the rest of humanity.
18-In Genesis most of the stories revolve around just three central characters: Abram (Abraham), Jacob (Israel), and Joseph (Zaphenath-Paneah).
19-All three of them leave their home and family.
20-All three of them undergo a loss of culture and a dramatic change of circumstances orchestrated by God.
B. Jesus’ Followers are to GO
21-And the GOing is not just the thing God wants of Abram. It is what God calls all His people to do as well.
22-The key calling that Jesus gives all His followers later in the New Covenant is also to GO.
READ MATTHEW 28;19,20
C. The Key to Going is “with God.”
23-God wants His people to GO wherever He leads them, and that is rarely (if ever really) to stay where they are.
24-However, Abraham’s call and promise of blessing is passed on to his son (Isaac) and grandson (Jacob/Israel) with very different instructions.
25-Isaac is told to remain. Jacob is told to return to the land of his fathers.
26-So “GO where I will show you,” “REMAIN where you are,” and “RETURN to your father’s land,” are all things God commanded His people.
27-They key is that they all involve obeying Him and remaining in His presence and will. III. God Promises Us the Very Things We Are Pursuing in Our Rebellion… …only real versions of the lies we have idolized.
28-God’s promise to Abram in return for his trust is four-fold: God will make Abram into a great nation. God will bless Abram. God will make his name great, so that he will become a blessing. God will bless all peoples through Abram.
29-These are the sorts of things that humanity—in it rebellion—is striving to attain. People seek fame, fortune, to improve the world, and to help make things the way they think they should be.
30-These are the things that humanity is continually failing to attain. The contrast between Abram here, and the people at the Tower of Babel in the last story, is both telling and deliberate.
31-These are the things that only God, and a life with Him as He intended it to be lived, can give.
32-The whole Bible is written and assembled to tell the story of how God accomplished this blessing through Abram and his descendant, Jesus.
Conclusion and Application: As God’s People, We Are to Be Blessings
33-Perhaps the second most important and interesting aspect of this calling and blessing, aside from the FAITH/TRUST-GO issue, is the idea that Abram will be God’s blessing.
34-The issue of blessing is hugely important in Genesis and in Biblical theology.
35-It is the idea that God helps His people and shows them favor. Success in life is blessing.
36-And yet, the idea here is that Abram will be blessed in order that he will in turn be a blessing to others.
37-It is common practice in some branches of Christianity to invoke the blessing of Numbers 6:24-26.
38-Perhaps it would be better to look to Genesis 12.
39-Rather than praying for God’s blessings on us, it is more in keeping with God’s calling to pray that God will use us and make us into a blessing for those around us.
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