C.R.E Revsion Kit Chapter 4
Faith $ God’s Promisess: Abraham
Narrate the history of Abraham prior to his call by God. Abraham‟s father was Terah. Terah had three sons: Abraham, Nahor and Haran. They
lived in a place called Ur of the Chaldeans. Abraham married Sarai, Nahor married
Milcah. Haran had a son called Lot. Terah and his family lived amidst polytheists. Polytheism is worship of many gods or idols. These people were moon worshippers.
Haran died in Ur and, thereafter, Terah took Abraham alongside his wife Sarai and Lot and they settled in Haran. Terah died in Haran at the age of 205 years. It was after this that God called Abraham.
Comment on the call of Abraham.
Abraham‟s call was mysterious. Its form is not describe in the Bible. It took place just after the passing on of Terah. Abraham was 75 years old when God called him. He obeyed God‟s voice regardless of his age. God says thus, “Get out of your country, your relatives and your father‟s house and go to the land that I will show
you”.
He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, servants and domestic animals along with
him. This showed how wealthy and selfless Abraham was. In due course, God made several promises to the obedient Abraham. Abraham was promised many
descendants, a great nation, blessings and a great name, all by God.
Abraham later settled at various places e.g. Shechem and Bethel, where he built altars to demonstrate his faith in worshipping God.
Due to famine, he temporarily sought refuge in Egypt, but, eventually, after its elapse, he settled back in Canaan.
What is faith?
Faith is an absolute belief or trust in somebody or something.
It is a strong belief without necessarily having a logical proof.
According to the Bible, faith is confidence in the total truthfulness of every utterance
that pours out of God.
It is also a gift from God, which is not based on tangible objects.
Faith is unshakable trust in God.
Show how Abraham demonstrated his faith in God. Abraham believed in God by abandoning the polytheistic community to worship Yahweh: the true and mighty God.
Abraham accepted to quit the known Haran to an unknown destiny.
Abraham undoubtedly gave in to the command of circumcision: the sign to the
covenant, at his ripe age.
His unshakable faith led him to accept to sacrifice his only son and heir: Isaac, on
mount Moriah. (Genesis 22).
Abraham decisively constructed altars at Bethel and Shechem to inaugurate the fear of God for his worship.
He willingly changed his name from Abram to Abraham and his wife‟s name from Sarai to Sarah. He made a strong bond with God in an elaborate covenant.
Despite their old age, Abraham believed and trusted that his wife would bear him
a son.
Abraham proved his faith through worshipping God in prayer, sacrifices and intercession.
Explain the relevance of Abraham’s faith in God to Christians today.
With faith, Christians became vessels of God‟sintension just like God renewed his relationship with mankind through Abraham.Faith enables Christians to withstand challenges just like Abraham did.
In faith, Christians refrain from bad practices, just like Abraham abandoned polytheism and became monotheistic in Yahweh.
God expects Christians to have definite faith in him. Abraham obeyed God by leaving Haran for Canaan.
Faith in God leads to success. Abraham‟s wife Sarah bore a son out of faith in God.
By faith, God provides all necessities like he provided a ram for sacrifice instead of his son Isaac.
Christians: the descendants of Abraham will automatically receive blessings just like God blessed Abraham as long as they remain obedient and faithful to God.
Christians are assured of eternal life, just like Abraham secured Canaan by faith.
By faith, Christians should abide by God‟s directives without question, just as Abraham heeded God‟s command.
Which promises did God make to Abraham?
Abraham would father a great nation. Abraham would receive personal blessings i.e. die in peace.
Abraham would have many descendants.Abraham would receive personal reputation, whereby his name would be great.
God promised Abraham a son/heir.
God would establish an everlasting covenant with Abraham.
God would bless those who bless Abraham. God would pronounce a curse onto those who curse Abraham, thereby protecting him.
God would settle Abraham and his descendants in a blessed land flowing with milk
and honey.
Abraham would be the origin of blessing to the whole world (through Abraham all the nations of the world would bless themselves).
Abraham‟s descendants would be slaves in a foreign land, but God would rescue
them.
God would make great nations from Abraham‟s descendants.
God would make some of Abraham‟s
descendants kings.
State the relevance of God’s promises to Abraham to Christians today
Just like Abraham rejected moon worship and received blessings, Christians should abandon all their waywardness to inherit God‟s blessing
Christians realizes that God fulfils all his promises through faith
God promised Abraham land. To Christians we are assured of the eternal life in faith and obedience
God can raise anybody from humble and faithless background to partake in his work just like it was to Abraham
God shields Christians to date a fulfillment of his promise to Abraham
Christians learn that they are concrete fruits of Abraham who will eventually receive Gods blessing
Christians turn out to be the new Israel who descend from Abraham.
What is a covenant?
A covenant is a solemn agreement/ pact/ treaty between two people or groups.
It is a form of binding commitment between two partners or nations for a common good.
It is an agreement which permanently renews a broken relationship between warning parties.
What are the components/ characteristics/ elements of covenant/ pact?
Promises/ oaths
Witness
Participants
Signs
Consequences
Ritual/ ceremony
A seal.
List examples of well known pacts/ covenants in the Bible
Covenant between God and Abraham
God‟s covenant with Noah
God‟s covenant with Israelites on mount Sinai
God‟s covenant with David
God‟s covenant with Jeremiah
God‟s covenant with his people/ New Testament
Describe God’s covenant with Abraham God entered into a covenant with Abraham offer Abraham‟s persistent requisition of a sign to affirm the fulfillment of his promises. God instructed Abraham to sacrifice the following animals:
A heifer 3yrs old
A she- goat 3 yrs old
A ram 3yrs old
A turtle dove
A young pigeon. The sacrificial animals were without blemish. Abraham cut the animals into equal halves and put each half opposite other two making rows. The birds were not split. Towards evening, Abraham fell into deep sleep and was filled with fear. The Lord appeared to him in a vision and gave him more promises.
His descendants will be strangers in a foreign land (Egypt) and will be slaves but will leave that land after 400 years. However they will be rescued.
He will live to a ripe age, die in peace and be buried.When darkness approached, smoking fire pot and a flaming torch suddenly appeared and
passed between the peaces of animals. Through this, God made a covenant with Abraham. He
was the sole maker of the covenant. The smoking fire pot and the flaming torch manifested the presence of God.
Identify the characteristics of the covenant between God and Abraham
It was initiated by God
It was solemn/ permanent
It was unconditional/ between unequal
They were promises to be fulfilled
It had a sign- circumcision
It was sealed through the sacrifice
It was voluntarily.
What was the relevance of God’s covenant of Abraham to Christians today?
Faith is quite essential when initiating a covenant with God
A covenant is a cornerstone to a Christians faith for it creates a permanent reunion
between God and the subject
The unconditional covenant between God and Abraham‟s bring or gives forth to God personal relationship with human beings
This covenant creates a conducive environment for God‟s protection to these who believe and trust in him
The covenant brings fourth the aspect of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Identify covenant in modern life
Marriage
Loyalty
Baptism
Oaths
Ordination in Church
Employment contract5s
Contracts when buying land.
Name the signs of the unconditional covenant between God and Abraham?
Circumcision
Change of names
Smoking fire pot
Flaming torch
Countless stars
Birds of prey
Identify lessons Christians learn from the incidence when Abraham was willing to sacrifice his own son Isaac
They should have absolute faith in God
They should remain obedient to God
They should be ready to face challenges in worship
They should not despair in God
They should be ready to surrender everything for God
They should be ready to serve God in order to attain blessings
They should amalgamate family members in worship
Wisdom and bravery should be part and parcel of their dealings in life.
Show how the promises to Abraham were latter fulfilled
Abraham acquired a son Isaac
Abraham and his descendants settled in Canaan
The Israelites were rescued from Egyptian bondage
Abraham died in a good ripe age
Jesus Christ descended from Abraham
Present Christians are a great nation promised to Abraham
Abraham had many descendants the present Christians.
How does marriage qualify to be a covenant?
Husband and Wife are parties
It involve witness
It has a sign (a ring)
Promises and vows are given
A ceremony is held inform of a wedding
A marriage certificate acts as a seal.
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