The Roots of Abraham
Lesson 6, 2nd Quarter April 30-May 6, 2022
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Sabbath Afternoon - April 30
Memory Text:
“By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.” KJV — Hebrews 11:8
“After the dispersion from Babel idolatry again became well-nigh universal, and the Lord finally left the hardened transgressors to follow their evil ways, while He chose Abraham, of the line of Shem, and made him the keeper of His law for future generations. Abraham had grown up in the midst of superstition and heathenism. Even his father's household, by whom the knowledge of God had been preserved, were yielding to the seductive influences surrounding them, and they “served other gods” than Jehovah. But the true faith was not to become extinct. God has ever preserved a remnant to serve Him. Adam, Seth, Enoch, Methuselah, Noah, Shem, in unbroken line, had preserved from age to age the precious revealings of His will. The son of Terah became the inheritor of this holy trust. Idolatry invited him on every side, but in vain. Faithful among the faithless, uncorrupted by the prevailing apostasy, he steadfastly adhered to the worship of the one true God. “The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth.” Psalm 145:18. He communicated His will to Abraham, and gave him a distinct knowledge of the requirements of His law and of the salvation that would be accomplished through Christ.” PP 125.1
Sunday - May 1
Abraham’s Departure
Genesis 12:1-9
Why did God call Abram to leave his country and family? How did Abram respond?
"Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, and said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee." Acts 7:2, 3. "So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him" (Gen. 12:4), and went at His lead into Canaan, wherein he dwelt, though the Lord "gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet He promised that He would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child." Acts 7:5.
“The message of God came to Abraham, “Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee.” In order that God might qualify him for his great work as the keeper of the sacred oracles, Abraham must be separated from the associations of his early life. The influence of kindred and friends would interfere with the training which the Lord purposed to give His servant. Now that Abraham was, in a special sense, connected with heaven, he must dwell among strangers. His character must be peculiar, differing from all the world. He could not even explain his course of action so as to be understood by his friends. Spiritual things are spiritually discerned, and his motives and actions were not comprehended by his idolatrous kindred.” PP 126.1
Monday - May 2
The Temptation of Egypt
Genesis 12:10-20
Why Did Abram leave the Promised Land to go to Egypt? How did the pharaoh behave in comparison to Abram?
“Abraham continued to journey southward, and again his faith was tested. The heavens withheld their rain, the brooks ceased to flow in the valleys, and the grass withered on the plains. The flocks and herds found no pasture, and starvation threatened the whole encampment. Did not the patriarch now question the leadings of Providence? Did he not look back with longing to the plenty of the Chaldean plains? All were eagerly watching to see what Abraham would do, as trouble after trouble came upon him. So long as his confidence appeared unshaken, they felt that there was hope; they were assured that God was his Friend, and that He was still guiding him. PP 128.2
“Abraham could not explain the leadings of Providence; he had not realized his expectations; but he held fast the promise, “I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.” With earnest prayer he considered how to preserve the life of his people and his flocks, but he would not allow circumstances to shake his faith in God's word. To escape the famine he went down into Egypt. He did not forsake Canaan, or in his extremity turn back to the Chaldean land from which he came, where there was no scarcity of bread; but he sought a temporary refuge as near as possible to the Land of Promise, intending shortly to return where God had placed him. PP 129.1
“The Lord in His providence had brought this trial upon Abraham to teach him lessons of submission, patience, and faith—lessons that were to be placed on record for the benefit of all who should afterward be called to endure affliction. God leads His children by a way that they know not, but He does not forget or cast off those who put their trust in Him. He permitted affliction to come upon Job, but He did not forsake him. He allowed the beloved John to be exiled to lonely Patmos, but the Son of God met him there, and his vision was filled with scenes of immortal glory. God permits trials to assail His people, that by their constancy and obedience they themselves may be spiritually enriched, and that their example may be a source of strength to others. “I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil.” Jeremiah 29:11. The very trials that task our faith most severely and make it seem that God has forsaken us, are to lead us closer to Christ, that we may lay all our burdens at His feet and experience the peace which He will give us in exchange.” PP 129.2
Tuesday - May 3
Abram and Lot
Genesis 13:1-18
What does this story teach us about the importance of character?
By inspired testimony we have learned that Abraham and Lot both became so rich that they had to dissolve partnership and occupy separate portions of land. Abraham suggested that Lot should choose first the land he wanted, and Abraham would take what was left. Lot chose all the plains and left the hills for Abraham. Perhaps from a business standpoint Lot's choice was good, but from God's viewpoint it was poor. In making his selection Lot failed to see or take into account the fact that he had been greatly blessed by his having been in partnership with his uncle Abraham. He thought only of his personal, selfish future security. Abraham, nevertheless raised no objections to Lot's choice. He gladly took the hills.
In the process of time Lot moved into the city where he became poorer and poorer. At last the angel of the Lord had to rescue him, and he came out with nothing. In striking contrast to Lot's devastating experience, Abraham steadily became richer and richer and God finally gave him all the land. What was the secret of Abraham's success? -- God Himself made Abraham prosperous when He saw Abraham faithful in everything. When we are faithful in everything, He will more abundantly bless us also.
Wednesday - May 4
The Babel Coalition
Genesis 14:1-17
What is significant about this war taking place just after the gift of the Promised Land? What does this story teach us about Abram?
Abraham, you know, matriculated in the school of God when God called him to leave his father’s house and go to a land he had never seen. He took whatever belongings he had, and he also took his nephew in partnership. From the very start they greatly prospered, and their business expanded so rapidly that in order to take care of it they had to spread out and part company.
Abraham took the hilly country after Lot chose the fertile valley adjacent to the markets of Sodom and Gomorrah. There Lot’s family left the school of God and entered the school of man. Abraham though and his household remained in the school of God, learning how to make the hills pay good dividends. Abraham became “very rich,” but Lot very poor. Abraham, you see, in the school of God became the world’s greatest business man in his day. He learned to make something out of nothing. Moreover, he was the world’s greatest general, for you recall that with but a few men he defeated five kings, took their spoils and restored the goods to the rightful owners. All this he did without the loss of a single soldier! Still further he reared the only son that ever willingly submitted to burn on a sacrificial altar for his father’s religion.
Thursday - May 5
The Tithes of Melchizedek
Genesis 14:18-24, Hebrews 7:1-10
Who was Melchizedek? Why did Abram give his tithe to this priest who seem to appear out of nowhere?
It was Christ that spoke through Melchizedek, the priest of the most high God. Melchizedek was not Christ, but he was the voice of God in the world, the representative of the Father... 1SM 409.3
Many persons will meet all inferior demands and dues, and leave to God only the last gleanings, if there be any. If not, his cause must wait till a more convenient season. Such was not the course pursued by Abraham. Upon his return from a successful military expedition, he was met by Melchizedek, “king of Salem, and priest of the most high God.” This holy man blessed Abraham, in the name of the Lord, and the patriarch gave him tithes of all the spoils as a tribute of gratitude to the Ruler of nations. RH May 16, 1882, par. 24
Friday - May 6
Further Study
Seeing that Lot as well as Abraham appears in the genealogical record of Christ, the question naturally asserts itself: Why should these two men be so greatly honored? And the answer awaits us: Abraham obtained this great honor because he was faithful to the Word of God and never questioned It, though all things seemed destined to fulfill themselves contrary to his interests and to God’s promises: Though God promised to give the land to him and to his posterity for a perpetual possession, Abraham, personally, never obtained the promise. Besides enduring these faith-trying tests, he waited twenty-five years for the promised son, only to be commanded when this only child was become a young man, to sacrifice him for a burnt offering! Still, through every trial, he never lost his faith in God, but implicitly trusted in Him and unreservedly obeyed His commands. For this reason God signally honored him.
Yet the great lesson here to be learned is not so much from Abraham’s experience, as from Lot’s for though Lot was not quite so generous as was Abraham, and not quite so willing to live apart from the world, still his faith in the promises of God to Abraham was as great as was the faith of Abraham, himself, yea, in some respects, even greater: for God spoke to Abraham in person, whereas He spoke to Lot through Abraham. Lot, therefore, had to have implicit confidence that God had spoken to him through Abraham.
As in the days of Abraham, moreover, there was no Bible, by which to prove that his going from his father’s house was in fulfillment of prophecy, and that God was leading him to depart from Ur of the Chaldees to go to a land the whereabouts of which he, himself, knew not (Heb. 11:8, 9), we see that Lot was not like most men today, who question and criticize everything in the unfolding of truth. Without the slightest questioning or doubting, he put his trust in Abraham’s God, and confidently followed in the quest for the promised land.