"Adventures in faith with Abraham " Class 1: Introduction Malcolm Cox

Introduction

Why Abraham matters

Jesus and other NT writers (see all NT refs at foot of notes)
“the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.” (Romans 4:16 NIV11)

“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.” (Hebrews 11:8 NIV11)

Abraham used as an example of faith most in the bible
What we hope to achieve by focussing on him

Inspiration for a life of faith in uncertain times
Learning how to live an adventurous life of faith
What we will do in this class

See him as a person
Did he exist?

Should we ask the question? Others do.
Amount of detail - author sounds like he believes in him; cultural references - accurate, and the ones which appear not to be are either editors helping later readers to understand, or discoveries yet to be made; Jesus references him
“And Abraham sojourned in the land of the Philistines for many days.” (Genesis 21:34 NAS95)
"My great-grandfather lived in London his entire life, never traveling outside the M25"
Camels - scepticism and further discoveries
Did Abraham ride a camel?, Biblical archaeology review, November/December 2018, page 52, Mark W. Chavalas

See Douglas Jacoby's article:
https://www.douglasjacoby.com/qa-1544-camels-in-the-bible-anachronistic-bible-contradiction/

Genesis 24:10-11, 31:34-accounts of camels involving Abraham, Rachel. Dated around 2000-1600 B.C.E.

10thC Egyptian record
Place in the Negeb called “The Fortress of Abraham,” listed among places conquered by the 22nd-Dynasty king Sheshonq (Shishak) in his incursion into Palestine during the reign of Rehoboam (cf. 1 Kgs. 14:25-26; 2 Chr. 12:2-12).
Abraham tradition well established at that time
Rather like reading a book in 6021, four thousand years’ time, about Admiral Lord Nelson - did he really exist?
Died 1805
Imagine archaeologists digging and finding Nelson’s column - dated 1844 (the year it was finished)
Does not prove he existed, but does prove he was not an invention some two thousand years or more later
His time and place

His story as the beginning of hope for humankind

Gen 1-11
Creation / Fall
Curse / Grace
Sacrifice / Murder
Wickedness / Salvation - flood
Pride / Grace - Babel
God has a long-term plan of reversing the curse, bringing healing - through those who will worship him
He begins with a relationship and builds from there, a declaration of love

What does it mean for us?
1. Open to God directing us
2. Open to God's timing for his promises to become tangible
3. Open to the possibility that your life might have a multi-generational impact seen far beyond your lifetime
4. Open to the adventure of faith!

Conclusion

What are you hoping to get out of this series?
Don't forget the podcast
“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.” (Hebrews 11:8 NIV11)

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Thanks again for listening. Have a super day.

God bless,

Malcolm

New Testament references: Matt. 1:1–2, 17; 3:9; 8:11; 22:32; Mark 12:26; Luke 1:55, 73; 3:8, 34; 13:16, 28; 16:22–25, 29–30; 19:9; 20:37; John 8:33, 37, 39–40, 52–53, 56–58; Acts 3:13, 25; 7:2, 5, 8, 16–17, 32; 13:26; Rom. 4:1–3, 9, 12–13, 16, 18; 9:7–8; 11:1; 2 Cor. 11:22; Gal. 3:6–9, 14, 16, 18, 29; 4:22; Heb. 2:16; 6:13, 15; 7:1–2, 4–6, 9–10; 11:8, 17, 19; James 2:21, 23; 1 Pet. 3:6