Fly Through the Bible

Chapter 2 – Abraham

Abraham marks the beginning of God setting aside a people, a family, from which his promise would be fulfilled, and that is the point of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all their descendants. God worked through one family of His choosing to be the focal point of Christ’s coming and the fulfillment of the promise God had spoken to Adam and Eve.

It’s also reflected in the story of Abraham and his son Isaac. We often think of God testing Abraham with the request to sacrifice his son Issac. But God is revealing to us through Abraham what he is going to do for his people. God will ultimately step in and save all of us through his Lamb, Jesus Christ, and his sacrifice on the cross. God again is the rescuer.

There is another significant point in this chapter. Abraham was not righteous because of what he did. Abraham’s righteousness stemmed from his obedience when God called. Throughout history, God does not seek out perfect men. God finds people who are ready to be called by him and will follow his lead. If you look at all other religions, man has to be worthy, man has to be righteous. But in Christianity, it is always God who initiates; that is the difference, it’s God interacting in our life that’s huge.

Again, I want to remind you that all of the Old Testament points to the coming of Jesus and what he fulfilled at the cross.

  1. Calling and Promise
    • God calls Abraham in Genesis 12 with a promise before Abraham has done anything noteworthy.
    • What does this tell us about how God chooses people and initiates His plan?
    • How does this challenge the idea that we must be “good enough” before God can use us?
  1. Faith and Righteousness
    • Genesis 15:6 says Abraham “believed the Lord, and He counted it to him as righteousness.”
    • Why is belief and obedience—not moral perfection—the basis of Abraham’s righteousness?
    • How does this passage lay the groundwork for the New Testament teaching of salvation by faith?
  1. God’s Patience with Imperfect People
    • Abraham makes serious mistakes—fear, deception, impatience with God’s timing.
    • Why do you think Scripture includes Abraham’s failures so honestly?
    • What does this reveal about God’s character and His long-term purposes?
  1. Isaac and the Substitute
    • In Genesis 22, God stops Abraham and provides a ram in place of Isaac.
    • How does this story reveal God as rescuer and provider rather than a God who delights in sacrifice?
    • In what ways does this event clearly point forward to Jesus as the Lamb of God?
  1. One Family, One Plan
    • God chooses one family—Abraham’s—not because of their greatness, but because of His promise.
    • Why do you think God works through one family to bless the whole world?
    • How does this help us understand that the Old Testament is not a collection of random stories, but one unified story leading to Christ?

Links

Overview

Fly through the Bible
Purchase Fly Through the Bible
Chpt. 1 – Adam
Chpt. 2 – Abraham
Chpt. 3 – Moses