The Heart of God: Genesis (3)

And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. Luke 24.27

Read and meditate on Genesis 12-15.
In the readings for today, God’s covenant begins to come into clearer focus. Although it has been in effect from the beginning, and was mentioned in the story of Noah, in these chapters God brings greater clarity and definition to this important aspect of the divine economy.

For reflection
1.  In Genesis 12.1-3 you should be able to identify six promises God made to Abram. The land God mentions was to be the staging-ground in which Abram and his offspring would begin to realize these promises. What are these promises, and how would you explain each of them? In what ways are these promises not unlike the promise of life and dominion God held out to Adam and Eve?

2.  We notice that, as Abram began seeking the promises of God, he often paused to build an altar and offer sacrifices. Abel had done the same thing. What does this suggest about Abram’s understanding of his relationship with God?

3.  As we follow Abram in these readings, what do we learn about how God’s people are supposed to respond to being chosen, called, and endowed with His promises? In what ways is Abram’s response no different from what God expected from Adam and Eve? How would you describe the role of promises in keeping Abram within God’s covenant framework?

4.  Meditate on Genesis 15.7-17. These verses describe a ceremony common among kings in Abram’s day. An agreement was struck, then a path of animal carcasses created. Each party to the agreement would pass between the animals, taking an oath as they did, something like: “Let the same thing happen to whichever of us violates this covenant as you see having happened to these animals.” What is the significance of this ceremony? What was God saying about His covenant? About Himself?

5.  How can you see that Abram replicates the fall into sin in his life? Why didn’t God deal with him in the same way He dealt with the people in Genesis 6.1-5? Does this have something to do with the nature of God’s covenant? Does being in covenant with God accomplish something for us where sin is concerned?

Summary
We’re already beginning to see something of the cyclical and linear aspect of the unfolding of the divine economy, the eternal plan of God for His glory. The linear element is historical, while the cyclical element is spiritual and existential. How can you see aspects of a cycle in God’s plan in these chapters? What is being repeated or renewed or restated?

Closing Prayer
Oh, give thanks to the LORD!
Call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the peoples!
Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him;
Talk of all His wondrous works!
Glory in His holy name;
Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD!
Seek the LORD and His strength;
Seek His face evermore!
Remember His marvelous works which He has done,
His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth,
O seed of Abraham His servant,
You children of Jacob, His chosen ones!
He is the LORD our God;
His judgments are in all the earth.
He remembers His covenant forever,
The word which He commanded, for a thousand generations,
The covenant which He made with Abraham,
And His oath to Isaac,
And confirmed it to Jacob for a statute,
To Israel as an everlasting covenant…

Psalm 105.1-10

Next steps – Transformation: The covenant God made with Abram (Abraham) is an “everlasting covenant” (Ps. 105.10) – the same covenant He has made with us (cf. Rom. 4.9-17). What does it mean to be led and guided in your life by the precious and magnificent promises of God (2 Pet. 1.4)? Talk with a Christian friend about this question.

T. M. Moore

Two books can help you gain a fuller understanding of the terrain we will be covering in this series. Kingdom Documentsprovides a concise overview of the primary teaching of the Old and New Testaments, and shows, through early Church creeds, how our forebears understand the primary teachings of God’s Word. (click here to order). I Will Be Your Goddevelops more fully the idea of God’s covenant and leads us to consider the practical implications of our covenant relationship with God (click here).

Visit The Ailbe Seminary, where our course, Introduction to Biblical Theology, offers a parallel study of our theme in this series, using brief video presentations and the workbook God’s Covenant: An Introduction. All courses at The Ailbe Seminary are available without charge.

We are happy to be able to offer each week’s Scriptorium studies in a free weekly PDF, suitable for personal or group use. You can download all the studies in this series by clicking here. Please prayerfully consider sharing with The Fellowship of Ailbe through your giving. You can contribute to The Fellowship by clicking the Contribute button at the website or by sending your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Drive, Essex Junction, VT 05452.

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.