Start each day by reading the passages listed above. Then use the summary and reflection provided here to guide discussion around the daily reading.
God established a covenant with Abraham and his descendants. Abraham’s children would be the means by which the entire world would be restored and invited to share in God’s redemption blessing. Though Abraham is known for his moments of great faith, he also had moments of doubt in God’s promises, expressed in both his words and his actions in trying to create a family line through his own means.
Reflect on how Abraham interacts with God and his relationship with Him. What stands out to you about his interactions with God?
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49 thoughts on "Abraham , Son of Terah"
Coming back to this study for grace weeks. Hello to anyone else who’s here as well!!
The awesome testimony of a Abraham!
What stood out was he had his doubts still just like all of us sometimes. He was still human but he followed God anyways.
♥️
I also forgot about the other children of Abraham. God did indeed build nations through him at his advanced age. ♥️
the things that stand out about their relationship is how much respect Abram has for God and listened to what he said and because Abram listened to God, God gave him good things in life
In church this morning, the sermon was about trusting God. When I was reading these passages, I thought about how Abraham trusted God. He was told to leave his land, his relatives, his home – and he did it! We obviously know how his story would unfold but at the time he didn’t, he trusted the Lord and obeyed him despite all the unknowns and questions he probably had. Abraham did have doubts and questions as God continued to explain how he would work in his life and to ask him to continue to step out in faith. But he still trusted the Lord. We might also have doubts and questions but we can keep trusting in the Lord and believing in his promises.
Someone asked why God made Sarai and Abram wait…often we wait because God wants it to be clear to all this is not from human effort but Him alone. How many witnesses became faithful followers after seeing God’s power in their lives ? It’s the same today. Tell others your miraculous moments of God’s hand on your life. There are so many who just need to hear to be moved by the HS to believe.
Lynne from Alabama
I just wanted to respond to your comment. I took care of my father in law for the last 2 years with Pulmonary Fibrosis, but I was able to go home every night. I want to say you are truly a gift from God giving all your love, time and patience to Jack through the end of his time on Earth. I will be praying for courage and strength for you and for continual faith and free of pain for Jack. The Lord is with you both. I lift you both up in prayer
Kristen From California
Why do I always forget Abraham had all those children after Isaac?! Some are names of big nations we see frequently in Scripture.
As an aside, Abraham’s documented “missteps” throughout his story always do admittedly give me some reassurance.
(Praying for all the requests as I read them.)
What a great time in Scripture this morning. So much to pull and learn from. God working and weaving Jesus through the story. Go God! Abraham was faithful to a faithful God, but he wasn’t perfect. God still used him. Praise the Lord!!! Praying for you She’s. LYNN FROM ALABAMA- lifting you in prayer as you care for Jack
Praying for you She’s. LYNN FROM ALABAMA- lifting you in prayer as you care for Jack
E, praying for you
Abraham’s interactions with God convicted me a lot about his courage and obedience. The Lord asked him to do a lot of impossible things, and he did not have a history yet with God. Through the readings in Genesis, the gentle and quiet spirit of Abraham shined through. He followed God without struggling. An interesting detail that I thought only Sarai did was laugh, but Abraham also laughed in his heart, and God saw (Genesis 17:17). So both of them laughed at the idea God proposed. The limitation of a human mind can cause us to laugh at God’s proposal, but it takes God to bring God’s plans to pass, but may we course correct ourselves when we augh, that God has no limitations, and may it happen if He wills. Another point I noticed is this verse, Sarai said, “my wrong be upon thee…, I was despised in her (Hagar’s) eyes” (Genesis 16:5). Sarai’s wrong bears the consequence of her being despised in the eyes of her inferior. Please note that our wrongs do have consequences when we lean on our own understanding and assumptions. And it causes heartaches, complications and delays. It’s not poof…automatically go away. It’s better to wait on God than to act in our impatience while waiting for a promise.
@CEE GEE: praise God!❤️
@SEARCHING: thank you for the clever side note of what a wife ought to say to her husband, lest him hearken to the wrong voice, instead of God’s voice.
@RHONDA: praying for your teaching in the prison. God has walked you onto higher and higher ground. May you flow effortlessly with His Power!
@THERESA: praying for your husband’s passport appointment and provision, and may all else be given to your family by God’s generous grace.
@LYNN: praying for your adjustment with being at home full time caring for your husband.
Be blessed dear sisters.❤️
I find it so interesting just how much Abraham is like us. He was truly doubting how he would have a child. I can say that we would all be just like Abraham. Curious and doubting until the truth smacks us in the face. I also love how patient God was with Abraham. He took him outside to show Abraham how numerous his offspring would be. He could have been mad at Abraham, but he was patient. He could have punished Abraham for doubting, but he was patient. There is a lot to learn from God in his patience in dealing with us.
Something that stood out to me was Abraham’s honesty and how he expressed it to the Lord. He didn’t hold in his frustrations, or moments of doubt, he brought them right to God.
He believed..
For Christians, Abraham is seen as the “father of the faith” and is honored for his obedience. The Apostle Paul expands the concept of being a descendent of Abraham when he writes in his letter to the Galatians: “So also Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteous- ness.”
Abraham’s success with God is hinged on three major things: his obedience, his giving and his faith. 1. His obedience: His respect for God, his love and trust in God was demonstrated in his obedience. Obedience is a function of respect
What we can learn from Abraham is that his focus was on God’s power to fulfill his promises and not on the circumstances he was facing. Abraham knew that God was willing and able to keep every promise he made to Abraham.
Abraham, like many of us, had a shaky beginning with God; but no man (with the exception of Jesus) ever had more faith in God than Abraham. That is what makes Abraham a “hero,” and that is why we call him “the father of all who believe.”
Abraham sometimes questioned or doubted or did things his way, but ultimately he trusted God and did as commanded. He didn’t truly see the promised land or all the nations he would start or all the promises but he did believe and ultimately they were all fulfilled.
What a great reminder of the goodness of God. He reassured Abraham so many times and it’s funny how things truly work out. As somebody who longs to be a mother one day I cling to the hope God has for me. And his reassurance and that things will work out. @E congrats on the pregnancy news! How exciting. @SARAH D. praying for you girl that you make the right call for you! @RHONDA J. Good luck with your pain group! I’m off work today and it’s been so nice to work on some furniture and hit some golf balls at the range. Happy Monday ladies!
What a great reminder of the goodness of God. He reassured Abraham so many times and it’s funny how things truly work out. As somebody who longs to be a mother one day I cling to the hope God has for me. And his reassurance and that things will work out. @E congrats on the pregnancy news! How exciting. @SARAH D. praying for you girl that you make the right call for you! @RHONDA J. Good luck with your pain group! I’m off work today and it’s been so nice to work on some furniture and hit some
Praying that every need to be met according to God’s riches in glory through Jesus Christ
Take time for you,find time to laugh in the middle of tears.
I can remember my time of walking with a family member going through the valley of dementia
One day I sat in my car and cried and then I had a moment of laughter at some of the creative ways of relating to the world of Dementia reality.
One of the healthy ways to reduce stress is finding a support group that is going through similar experiences.
May God continue to give you strength and peace.
He took matters into his own hands as we also tend to do. I think it is hard to know how to completely let God take the wheel so to speak. To know if what we think is the right way to handle something is coming from God or ourselves.
Abraham believed God but he still took things in his own hands.
So many wonderful and insightful comments this morning. Thank you sisters and prayers lifted for requests spoken and on hearts.
Abraham was in awe and wonder of God. He doubted but still went to or returned to God in his doubt. He must have had a great trust in God’s kindness and purposes to go to him even after he tried to make happen what God declared by his own human intellect. To go freely into his presence and ask questions unashamedly is helpful to me.
First, I want to say, “THANK YOU, THANK YOU to SEARCHING, MERCY, AZ WALKER and any others who prayed for our travel!!! We really needed and felt those prayers on the way home yesterday as we were caught in a fierce rain storm and speed was cut to about35 for about an hour- this on a section of the interstate that had concrete barriers on each side (due to construction) so no where to ” ditch” if necessary. Very tense, but PTL we made it!!! MERCY, thank you also for the beautiful community prayer you shared over the weekend!
SEARCHING, you mentioned what I was planning to mention: the similarities of Adam and Eve/Abram/Sarai. I was thinking last week about Adam and why he didn’t counsel Eve or hold her accountable instead of joining in and then had that same thought as I read today’s account. Very much like men dropping the ball today as spiritual leader of the home.
LYNNE FROM ALABAMA – Good to hear from you and get your specific prayer needs. We love you and lift you and Jack in prayer!
RHONDA J – God will be teaching through a very willing vessel on Wednesday! Praying!
Just as Abraham and Sarah made some bad choices which led to heartache, so have I. In my life there have been seasons where I turned from God. Thankfully, He never turned from me and continued drawing me back to Him. Yes, there were consequences, but God’s faithful love never ended. And the rejoicing in heaven was surely great when I returned to God.
Now I am a praying mother and grandmother. My prayers surround my future generations, seeking protection from the devil’s schemes.
Praying also for many of you shes…Lynne from AL, Sarah, Heidi, Theresa…
Missing many…Tina, Churchmouse, Jennifer loves Jesus…
Thankful for this group of ladies as we meet together every day to study God’s Word.
Hugs to all. ❤️
Abraham’s faith was counted as righteousness. He knew God yet even he could not fully comprehend God’s power and faithfulness. So like all of us, he sometimes feared his circumstances and made poor decisions. And,as with his son, he sometimes tried to “help” God by devising his own plans and solutions. Typical of us humans this usually did not have the desired outcome. Yet God was faithful and used Abraham and his slightly imperfect faith to change the world! How much more can he use us – imperfect believing women of the Word?
Good morning, precious She’s! Thank you for the shoutout SEARCHING! It really warms my heart to know that I have been missed! I am still here every day but don’t have much time for commenting. I am reading each of your requests and definitely praying about them each day. Since retiring to care for Jack, I am really struggling. Caregiving 24/7 is very exhausting and isolating! Jack’s lymphoma has returned but we are not treating it because of his dementia. There is no way he could endure that. I am at home all day every day. For a person who is very social like me this is very difficult. Please pray for Jack to be in a “happy place” and not to suffer. Please pray that I can be strong physically and emotionally to care for him and wisdom in all the decisions that need to be made. I love you all and lift you up daily!
Father God, I thank you for you Word that reminds us the powerful Lord you are. How you love your people, and know the way for us, you guide us and lead us even though we are disbelieving and contrary. We are not to partially follow your will, we are to Trust and Obey, as the old hymnal says…for there is no other way! To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey! Lord, help us to LISTEN for your guidance, to hear, not to just talk and pray with our own pleas and trials, but to earnestly follow after YOU!
My first class went so well! I know He is with me! All for the glory of Him! This is a big week, our Pain group starts tomorrow! Hoping for those new people coming in will be blessed! Also, my leader (teacher) for jail has covid and can’t go on Wednesday which leaves me going by myself (and doing 2 hours of teaching! -And here I was nervous for guiding that small group on Sat, now I would “teach a 2 hour lesson!! what?!) Praying for God’s will to bring in the right ladies and for Him to give me strength and wisdom to bring him glory). I don’t feel like teaching is a gift, but I will try my best not to be too bad..lol.
I really do love that I KNOW I am living for God now..full throttle. For many years I prayed for God to use me, but it was not his timing yet, or at least in a way that was obvious. But it’s small steps forward, keeping the faith…Just like Abraham.
@Sarah- I am so happy for you. I know you will find so much more fulfillment, satisfaction, and FUN with the kids and teaching!! That is way better than the stress you have had for the last couple of years! God is faithful, and has heard you! The money will work out.
@ HEIDI, I’m praying about the visit to your partner church and for Ryan; I pray your trip will work out exactly as it should, in every area (physical, emotional, spiritual, etc).
I hope you saw my Mamertinum (Rome) recommendation on Saturday, yet another “quiet day” in SRT :)
@THERESA, thank you for your continued prayers and please know they are reciprocated; lifting up your husband, travel, finances, provision & peace.
@ SEARCHING, thank you for remembering the names of some of the sisters we long to hear from.
Abraham was obedient, then doubted, and finally confessed/repented. How true is that to my own story? I’ll trust you Lord. Um I’m not sure, let me try myself and oh opps I fell into my own sinful ways, yet he is remembered for his obedience because of God’s work in his life.
One thing that stands out to me is how Abraham trusted God enough/knew God enough to bring his doubts to God (Gen 15) and God didn’t chastise him or punish him for it. In fact, God came to him and re-affirmed His promise to Abraham.
@Theresa- I noticed this, too. I was just thinking about how many assurances of the promises God gave Abraham.
I also think their names are so significant to the story. Abram means “exalted father” even before God renamed him Abraham “father of many nations”, his name contained his identity!!! Names were so significant back to identity back then. God is so amazing to give him a name that affirms His promises to Abraham from the beginning.
This has been ministering to me this morning as I am awaiting some promises of God. It is assuring to know God delights in reminding us of His promise as we waver and doubt on the journey. During Abraham’s time, people were having children around 30 years old (as we study in his lineage). He had to wait over 60+ years past that time to have his firstborn from Sarah. God’s timing doesn’t make sense. We still don’t know why God made him wait so long. (That kind of bothers me, lol) but God was faithful to His word regardless of the timing. And Abraham died a father or a spiritual nation that continues to multiply today :)
Lord, I thank you for your Word this morning. I know Your ways are higher than ours. I don’t understand Your timing, but You always know what is best for us. Help us to trust you regardless of the timing of promises and blessings. Help us to walk with you as Abraham did. Thank you for showing us Your grace through Abraham’s story. You were kind to him despite him and Sarah’s doubts and disobedience. Lord we thank you and wait on Your goodness to be made manifest to us. In Jesus’s name, Amen.
Amen
Kelly pointed out a few comments down that Shem would have been alive when Abram first heard from God. I love that idea. I have always wondered how the people in the OT worshiped God, since the Temple practices hadn’t been established yet. What stories did they tell? What moral code did they follow? What made one person “righteous and blameless” and worthy of an Ark or a blessing, compared to someone else?
What struck me this morning was how many times God re-affirmed the same promise to Abraham: that he would establish a great nation from him. God was well aware of Abraham’s doubts and how the length of time before Sarai conceived made it seem like an impossibility that she would have a child. So God kept coming back again and again to remind Abraham of his promise. He knows our struggles and moments of wavering faith. He wants to be with us in those moments, prop us up and remind us that what he promised before still holds true.
SARAH D- praying for you as you take your final step of faith into the new job.
HEIDI – I hope the logistics of your trip are coming together and that your husband is able to relax and enjoy the time with your family.
KATIE L – still praying for your family!
FOSTER MAMA – praying for the situation around the baby you’re currently caring for.
I appreciate the continuing prayers for my husband’s passport so he can take this missions trip we feel God has called him on. He will be traveling to Denver on Thursday night to hopefully get the passport Friday morning. If you could also please pray for some financial provision for us, I would appreciate it. There are many unanticipated expenses coming up right before this trip and while I believe God will work everything together for him to go, it is still so very stressful in the moment.
Thank you, ladies! Have a wonderful Monday!
I just found out I am pregnant yesterday. I had been already listening to the song “Abba” on repeat all morning- when I logged on to SRT- the scripture was Romans 8:14-17. “For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba, Father!” Today I am so excited but very fearful and anxious. The passage today about God doing the impossible with Sarah is so encouraging. Please pray this tiny life is healthy and will be sustained.
What stands out to you about Abraham’s interactions with God?
In a nutshell – imperfect belief and imperfect obedience, still loved and used by God. Just like us – thank you Lord for Your provision of salvation through belief in Christ, forgiveness, mercy and grace. May we walk closer to You.
He believed and obeyed God when told to move & worshipped Him (built an altar) in belief that the land would be inherited by his descendants. His belief that his descendants would be innumerable was credited to him by God as righteousness. When he questioned God for proof (how will I know), he was given a vision to 4 generations in the future, and a more detailed promise of the inheritance. Then after all that God had provided and promised, his belief faltered when he listened to his wife (like Adam) instead of God (side note to myself to be mindful of what I tell, persuade or encourage my husband, or anyone really, to do). God still fulfilled His promise with Isaac – He keeps His promises. And then Abraham goes off the rails again with the concubines – was he thinking Isaac wasn’t enough as an answer to God’s promise?
Abraham’s connection with God was unparalleled – referenced as God’s friend by Jehoshaphat in his prayer for God to save Judah from their enemies, and stated by God in Isaiah 41:8 “But you, Israel, are My servant,Jacob whom I have chosen, The descendants of Abraham My friend.” And also in the New Testament he is remembered as a friend of God.
So awesome.
SARAH D – are you relieved now that you’ve made your job decision? Praying as you work through the transition.
THERESA – praying about the passport
His trust even in doubt is incredible.
I’ve always loved Genesis 21:6 where Sarah says “God has made me laugh, and everyone who heard will laugh with me.” God’s sense of humor in how he answers prayers is something I find so endearing ❤️
Abraham was the epitome of “he who has ears, let him hear.”
Just a little side note: While the Bible doesn’t say where the generations after Shem lived, by doing the math, Shem was still alive when Abram first heard from God. It may be that Abram had heard about the God of Shem.
Anyway whether or not Abram knew of the one true God or not, his willingness to obey, even if imperfectly, shows us how to respond to God.
Amen
This story reminds me that God’s timing isn’t our timing. Abraham and Sarah assumed the promises weren’t going to come true because they were taking a while. I can’t count how many times that I have not fully trusted God and thought that I knew better. So clearly this isn’t something new for humanity. Ironically our sermon yesterday in church was about trusting God.
I see Abraham as a mostly obedient man. He also was honest with God. He would ask questions to help relieve his doubt. When God told him to leave his country he did it. I also see myself if Abraham as his impatience shines through. God said he would make him a father of many nations, but he never told Abraham when this would happen. After some time Abraham convinced himself it was ok to establish his bloodline in a different way (with his wife’s servant). Ultimately God’s plans came to fruition, but Abraham and Sarah could have saved themselves heartache and marital issues if they would have completely obeyed The Lord.