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Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: Genesis 12:1-20; Isaiah 48:20; Isaiah 36:6, Isaiah 36:9; Jeremiah 2:18; Genesis 13:1-18; Genesis 14:1-24; Hebrews 7:1-10.
Memory Text: “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, NKJV).
We have now reached the center of the book of Genesis. This central section (Genesis chapters 12-22) will cover the journey of Abraham, from God’s first call, lekh lekha, “Go!” (Genesis 12:1), which leads Abraham to leave his past to God’s second call, lekh lekha, “Go!” (Genesis 22:2), which leads Abraham to leave his future (as it would exist in his son). As a result, Abraham is always on the move, always a migrant, which is why He is also called a “stranger” (Genesis 17:8).
In his journeying, Abraham is suspended in the void, without his past, which he has lost, and without his future, which he does not see. Between these two calls, which frame Abraham’s journey of faith, Abraham hears God’s voice, which reassures him: “Do not be afraid” (Genesis 15:1, NKJV). These three words of God mark the three sections of Abraham’s journey, which will be studied in weeks 6, 7, and 8.
Abraham exemplifies faith (Genesis 15:6) and is remembered in the Hebrew Scriptures as the man of faith (Nehemiah 9:7-8). In the New Testament, Abraham is one of the most mentioned figures from the Old Testament, and this week we will start to see why.
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, May 7.
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