God called Abram (Abrahams original name) to leave his homeland and to live a life based on faith in God and Gods promise of a glorious permanent city (Hebrews 11:8-10). (We learn in Revelation 21:2 that the city will be New Jerusalem.) Gods initial promises to Abram, at age 75, are in Genesis 12:1-4. When God said, And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed, He meant two things. Through Jesus Christ, a descendant of Abram, all people would be blessed spiritually. And through many of Abrams other descendents, people around the world would experience physical blessings of peace and prosperity. As Abram showed faithfulness, God kept expanding His promises. He said Abrams descendants would be so numerous they would be like the stars in the sky. Even though Abrams wife, Sarai (Sarahs original name), was unable to conceive children, God promised Abram that his descendants will come from your own body. Abram believed God, and He accounted it to him for righteousness (Genesis 15:4-6). Then after waiting 11 years, at Sarais suggestion, Abram made a very bad decision to conceive a child by Sarais servant, Hagar. So Hagar gave birth to Ishmael when Abram was 86 (Genesis 16:15-16). Then when Abram was 99, God appeared and made a highly significant covenant with him and his descendants. At that time, God changed his name to Abraham (meaning father of many nations) and changed Sarais name to Sarah (meaning princess) (Genesis 17:5, 15). The next year, Sarah at last gave birth to Abrahams son Isaac when she was 90 and Abraham was 100 (Genesis 17:17; 21:1-5). Many years later God severely tested Abrahams faith by ordering him to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac. When God saw that Abraham would have willingly obeyed, God further expanded His promises to Abraham (Genesis 22:16-18). Gods promises were passed along to Abrahams son, Isaac (Genesis 26:4); then to Isaacs son, Jacob (Genesis 28:3-4, 13-14); and then to Joseph and his sons (Genesis 48:15-16, 19-20). God changed Jacobs name to Israel, meaning prince with God (Genesis 32:28, King James Version), so his descendants are known as Israelites.
Posted on: Sat, 20 Sep 2014 00:21:18 +0000
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