Old Testament Walkthru - Abraham, Isaac, Jacob

A walk thru’ the Old Testament (OT)..

Lesson 7: Abraham – Soaring Faith

GOD’S TOUCHPOINTS

Old Testament SummaryThe Patriarchal AgesThe JudgesThe Reign of RoyaltyThe Prophetic Era

OT WALKTHRU- THE PATRIARCHAL AGES

1. OT Summary2. Adam – A Fallen Faith3. From Fall to Flood4. Noah – Surviving Faith5. The World in Confusion – Babel6. Job – Faith under Fire7. Abraham – Soaring Faith8. Isaac – Winging Faith9. Jacob – Clinging Faith10. Joseph – Unwavering Faith11. God’s Direct Interventions in Genesis12. God’s Special Interventions in Genesis13. Moses – Humbled Faith14. Israel – Leanness of Soul15. God’s Commandments

THE PATRIARCHS OF ISRAEL

Abraham - Soaring Faith

Isaac - Winging Faith

Jacob - Clinging Faith

Joseph – Unwavering Faith

ABRAHAM – SOARING FAITHOBJECTIVES

To: Appreciate the consistently growing

faith of Abraham Differentiate between Abraham and

Lot’s approach to the same journey Believe God fulfils His promises

ABRAHAM – SOARING FAITHPRESENTATION OVERVIEW

Background of Abraham Abraham’s Journey Abraham’s Faith Chart – Soaring Faith Lot’s Faith Chart – Staggering Faith Abraham vs. Lot – A Common Start, An Opposite

Finish God Fulfils His Promises Discussion

Note: Reference Material is available in the notes section of this presentation

BACKGROUND OF ABRAHAM

Called from Ur of the Chaldees (probably in his sixties).

Went to Haran with his father. Blessed by God. Answered God’s call on his father’s death at age

75. Continues to experience God’s providence. Gives birth to Ishmael in his mid 80s Finally gives birth to Isaac around the age of 100. Asked by God to sacrifice his son, Isaac as a test of

faith.Gen 12-23

ABRAHAM’S JOURNEY

VIDEO CLIP

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxPzj_nBolI



ABRAHAM’S FAITH CHART1. God calls Abraham2. Abraham takes his time to respond3. Abraham moves but in a different

direction - towards Haran4. God confirms his call to Abraham5. God confirms Abrahams call6. Abraham and Pharoah7. Abraham and Lot8. God confirms Abraham’s descendants

Abraham believes9. Sarah asks Abraham to have son via

Hagar10. God confirms Abraham’s descendants11. 3 angels confirm Abraham’s

descendents12. Sodom and Gomorrah13. Abraham and Abimelech14. Isaac is born15. Abraham sacrifices Isaac16. Abraham gets a bride for Isaac

While our faith may be erratic, God’s faithfulness is always constant/consistent

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God's Faithfulness vs. Abraham's faith (not to scale)

God's FaithFulness

Abrahams Faith

LOT – STAGGERING FAITH

1. Lot goes with Abraham2. Lot claims Sodom and Gomorrah3. Lot saves angel of God from inmates4. Lot’s daughters commit incest – Moabites and Ammonites

are born

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God's Faithfulness vs. Lot's Faith (not to scale)

God's FaithFulness

Lot's Faith

DISCUSSION

What do we learn about God?

What do we learn about faith?

ABRAHAM AND LOT – A COMMON START, AN OPPOSITE FINISH!

Abraham Lot

Environment

Both started out on the same journey

Lot could have been a part of Abraham’s great heritage but chose a different path

Motive Abraham looked for a city without foundations whose builder and maker was God

Lot chose the lush, prosperous plains of Sodom and Gomorrah also rich in sin

Leadership Abraham exposes to the family to his faith and maintains the heritage of God by not intermarrying, thus building their faith.

Lot exposes his family to sin and drunkenness destroying them in the process.

Growth Abraham quickly corrects his errors and grows

Lot repeats his errors and falls

Legacy Abraham’s descendents maintain his faith (for a few generations at least).

Lot’s descendents (Moabites and Ammonites) have a tarnished image and quickly turn away from God.

GOD FULFILS HIS PROMISES

God took 36 years to fulfil his promise. During which time, he: Led Abraham to the promised land Built Abraham’s faith Enlarged Abraham’s territories Strengthened his equation with neighbours Prepared Abraham to father the nation of God

Are we ready to wait for the fulfilment of God’s promises?

While we are waiting God is working

ACTIVITY (FOR YOUTH)

If small group, ask them to surrender their phone at beginning of lesson

As for two volunteers. Blindfold one and ask the other to lead the first on a walk

When walk is done ask feelings of both Both volunteers share experience Others talk about how they felt when they surrendered

phones Talk about surrender to God…. Summarize with importance of surrendering to Lordship

of Christ Return phones

APPENDIX – LESSON PLAN

Slides 1-7: 13 mins Slide 8 - video clip: 2 mins Slides 9-13: 10 mins Slide 14 – Activity (for youth): 20 mins

Note: Additional 15 mins for discussion (for adult group)


Lesson 8: Isaac – Winging Faith

GOD’S TOUCHPOINTS





Abraham - Soaring Faith

Isaac - Winging Faith

Jacob - Clinging Faith

Joseph – Unwavering Faith

ISAAC – WINGING FAITHOBJECTIVES

To: Realize the value of what God has

entrusted to us and be good stewards Receive/ propogate the legacy he has

given us

ISAAC – WINGING FAITHPRESENTATION OVERVIEW

Isaac was “winging it” on the faith of his father..we do not see any additional spectacular demonstrations in his faith. Born by (his father’s) faith Blessed by (his father’s) faith Bonded by (his servant’s) faith Blunders overruled by (God’s) grace Discussion – Stewards of God’s Grace

BORN BY (HIS FATHER’S) FAITH

Gained life by faithAfter decades, the faith child was born.

Regained life through fireGod gave him life, God has the right to take away. Isaactrusted his father completely and obeyed even through threat of death.

When we receive, to what level are we prepared to obey and give?We are only stewards and not owners of God’s blessings.

BLESSED BY (HIS FATHER’S) FAITH

Inherited his father’s blessings“Abraham was now an old man. God had blessed Abraham in every way” Gen 24 v 1 MSG. Isaac was the sole inheritor of those blessings. “But Abraham gave everything he possessed to Isaac…he gave gifts to the sons he had by concubines…but then sent them away…putting a good distance between them and his son Isaac” Gen 25.

Imbibed the fruits of father’s faith God blesses Isaac. Gen 26 and confirms the promise to Abraham. “I’ll bless you

and make your children flourish because of my servant Abraham”. Isaac also makes the same mistakes of his father. eg. telling Abimelech his wife

is his sister…(Gen 26:7-10) He has his father’s generosity – instance of well disputes. God prospers him.

(Gen 26:17-32) He prays for a son when his wife is barren (Gen 25:21) He also has a spirit of gratitude and builds an altar when God blesses him. (Gen

26:25) He has peaceful relations with neighbours (Gen 26:28-30)The rewards of godliness (and sin) extend beyond an individual to his family to generations.

VIDEO CLIP

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLSXLW3cYvE



OVERRULED BY GOD’S GRACE

Double blindness Isaac is physically blind – cannot see his sons He is spiritually blind in the context of blessing. Though God tells

Rebekah that Jacob will rule Esau (Gen 25:23), he plans to give the prime blessing to Esau based on physical appetite.

Double reversal of his children’s blessings The blessing meant for Jacob was being planned for Esau. The blessing he thinks he is giving Esau is given to JacobRebekah helps Jacob outsmart Esau’s validation strategyGod’s choice for the blessing was Jacob, so the reversal was actually God’s planDid Isaac have the right to decide who the blessing went to?We are only stewards of God’s gifts.

BONDED BY (HIS SERVANT’S) FAITH

Won his brideAbraham’s servant prays for God’s leading to find a bride for Isaac, a task entrusted by Abraham. Isaac wins a beautiful bride of God’s choice. He is comforted in his mother’s death.

Acquired Children by FaithLike his mother, his wife is barren. He prays and gets children by faith.

God takes away and God gives …

STEWARDS OF GOD’S WORD

“This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed. 2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.”1 Cor 4:1,2


Put papers / post- it’s with people’s names on wall

As team to write under names giftings they see (in others)

Sit in circle – ask each person how they use these giftings

Pray for each others giftings that they will use their gifts for the purpose created.

STEWARDS OF GOD’S GIFTS - DISCUSSION In what instances was Isaac a good steward? In what instances was Isaac a poor steward? What were the reasons for poor stewardship?

Fear (with Abimelech) Flesh (with blessing) Others?

What challenges do we face with respect to stewardship and how do we overcome them?


Slide 16-22: 15 mins Slide 23 video clip: 2 mins Slide 24-26: 8 mins 27 – activity (for youth): 20 mins 28 – discussion (optional): 15 mins


Lesson 9: Jacob – Clinging Faith

GOD’S TOUCHPOINTS





Abraham - Soaring faith

Isaac - Winging faith

Jacob - Clinging faith

Joseph – Unwavering faith

JACOB – CLINGING FAITHOBJECTIVES

To Understand Jacob’s

strong fundamentals Be clear on our

purpose and direction

PRESENTATION OVERVIEW

Jacob’s story - snapshot Jacob’s fundamentals

What to fight for When to make peace Who to cling to Where he belonged How to maintain his legacy Why he was working Discussion

Reflection

Note: Reference Material is available in the notes section of this presentation

JACOB’S STORY

Fighter Spirit Fights in the womb Fights for birthright Fights for blessing (of Father)Flees Works for Rachel Works for Rachel again Works for possessionsReturns and reconciles Fights with God Fights for blessing (of God) Fathers the tribes of IsraelSettles in Egypt

KNEW WHEN TO MAKE PEACE

With Esau (Gen 33)

With Laban (31:55)

JACOB’S FUNDAMENTALS

Jacob knew: What to fight for When to make peace Who to cling to Where he belonged How to maintain his legacy Why he was working

KNEW WHAT TO FIGHT FOR

Fights for birthright (25:31,32) Fights for blessing (of Father)

(27) Fights for blessing (of God)

(32:26)

Note: Jacob crosses the line and twists his father’s arm in the aspect of his blessing.

What are the consequences of Jacob cheating Esau of blessing? What are the consequences of Esau despising his birthright?

KNEW WHO TO CLING TO

Read Gen 32:22-32 Clung to God

Sought his name Sought his blessing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xwLvq44Gsk Why did God fight with

Jacob and injure him? Why does He fight

with us?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xwLvq44Gsk



KNEW WHERE HE BELONGED

He flees from Canaan but returns to the land of his legacy ‘3 Then the LORD said to Jacob, “Go back to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you.’ (Gen 31)He leaves for Egypt but insists that his bones are buried in the promised land29 Then he gave them these instructions: “I am about to be gathered to my people.Bury me with my fathers (Gen 49)

KNEW HOW TO MAINTAIN THE LEGACY Joseph maintains

his faith in Egypt Aligned to God

even in his old age (48:13)

Note: Jacob falls into the pit of favoritism. What are the consequences?

KNEW WHY HE WAS WORKING

For the woman he loved In line with his mother’s

desire to marry within the community

(Gen 28:6,7)His purpose drove him and made his long years appear short (Gen 29:20)

DISCUSSION

Contrast the following example of trust with Jacob’s:http://bibletransforms.com/2013/05/the-essence-of-trust/.What do you believe is the ideal trust model – clinging to God or “letting go and letting God”?What are the pro’s and cons of each model? How do we strike a balance?

http://bibletransforms.com/2013/05/the-essence-of-trust/



REFLECTION

What do we fight for? When do we make

peace? Who do we cling to? Where do we belong? How do we maintain

legacy? Why do we work?


Divide into two groups Ask one group to perform a mime in today’s

scenario of a person who accepts Christ but gets lured by other attractions of the world.

Ask the second group to mime a life with Christ rejecting other attractions of world and surrendering to Christ

(Note for leader: As aids provide blank placards and pens for groups to write words and use as flashcards)Reiterate importance of giving in to Lordship of Christ


Slides 30-38: 10 mins Slide 39: Video clip and bible study: 10

mins Slides 40-44: 5 mins Slide 45 - Activity (for youth): 20 mins

Note: For Adult group, additional time can be spent for the bible study in slide 39

Spiritual

Old Testament Walkthru - Abraham, Isaac, Jacob