INTRODUCTION
People say every month of the year is good. However, ember months though special cause lots of anxiety because they signal so much about Christmas. In these parts of the world, ember are months of great activity. Christmas lights and decorations including Television programs are seen and heard everywhere the moment it gets closer to December. What is most confusing is that though Christmas is about God`s plan for salvation, the story of redemption is hardly told, and people wonder what`s this unfolding promise of God to save man about. Taken together, Christmas is confused with business because a lot of businesses happen during the Christmas period. It`s the season of stock taking, and people giving accountability of their stewardship. Conjointly, we should remind ourselves about the Lord`s call on us to ‘OCCUPY’ in Luke 19. Because in the rush to satisfy human hope and expectation during this period, people fondly justify unpleasant choices as better than making no choice at all.
Again, we all know, dangers of losing faith appear common during Christmas because of increased trials and temptation during the ember months. Significant to remember is why Jesus Himself prayed to the Father and said, ‘I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one…’ - John 17: 15 - 16. Remember, God`s promises doesn`t look promising even for Abraham - His life should remind us that being in God`s path or out of it is not totally free of challenges. But as children of faith, like Abraham, we can always keep our eyes on God, looking forward to the city with foundation whose architect and builder is God (Heb. 11: 8 – 10).
It is not early therefore to begin to remind ourselves more that we don`t belong here but here for the sake of the gospel. Ultimately, as representatives of the gospel, our expectation and hope, must find fulfilment in Christ. On this note, in this study, we are going to begin looking at the story of redemption first hinted in Genesis 3: 15 to learn significant lessons from Abraham t and equip ourselves for the unexpected.
Immediately after the fall of man, Gen. 3: 15 has the Bible`s first hint of a coming Redeemer. The account is not about snake, but Satan the enemy of man`s soul and the language contains victory in the promise of a Seed.
A. Briefly discuss the fall, and comment on the significance of the idea that is behind Gen. 3: 15 in Gal. 3: 16; 4: 4 -5. Discuss how Col. 1: 13 - 14; Col. 2: 13 - 15 compliment Gen. 3: 15 concerning the Seed of the woman?
B. With Phil.1 27 -30 in mind, what is this ‘Gospel of Christ,’ what does it mean to live worthy of it, and why is it important for the Philippians to conduct themselves to this gospel of Christ whether Paul was present and absent?
C. In a practical manner, what steps can we take as members of ECWA to ensure our church stands firm and united in faith for this gospel - See Gal. 6: 2 - 5, Lev. 25: 35, Rm. 15: 1, Exo. 17: 12, Acts 20: 35, 1 Thess. 5: 11, 2 Corinth. 11: 21-28, Mk. 10:45;
Lk. 9: 23; LK 22: 24-27; Heb. 13: 7, 9 16.
The call of Abraham in Gen. 12: 1 - 5 starts the beginning of redemption as hinted in Gen. 3: 15. Explain why God started by asking Abraham to leave his family and what might have specifically caused the promise of the land?
A. Abraham trusted God and entered Canaan. Considering Gen. 12: 10 – 16, was the initial results of Abraham`s journey to Canaan promising and was he free from anxiety seeing how he pulled out his family to Egypt miles away – See, Gen. 15:13;Exo 8: 1; Matt. 2: 13 - 15?
B. According to Gen. 12: 6 - 9, Abraham built an altar at Shechem and near Bethel then moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent. Comment on the biblical importance of these locations along with the altars he built.
C. Read and briefly summarize Gen. 13: 1- 5.
In view of what the writer of Hebrews exhorts in Heb. 12: 1-3, comment on the closing statement in Gen. 13: 1 - 5 that ‘The Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land at that time.’ What does that mean to you?
A. Abram and his nephew Lot parted ways according to Gen. 13: 8 – 13. Mention anything significant concerning the narration about Lot`s action. In addition, what did you find interesting reading from the narrative in Gen. 14: 5 - 12?
B. Read Gen. 14: 13 - 14 and comment regarding where Abram was when he received the report about his abducted nephew in Gen. 13: 14 - 18?
C. God told Abraham what He was about to do in Sodom, and Lot and his family were propelled from their home by physical force. Reading from Gen. 18: 16 – 33. What in your opinion is the whole point of the story?
The land of Canaan was a gift by God to the descendants of Abraham. Specifically, God told Abram of what would have to happen and what Israel will endure in Egypt before they occupy Canaan in Genesis. 15: 9 -16.
A. Further to the information in Gen. 15: 16, if Canaan has already been occupied by the Canaanites, justify God`s action about making the land of Canaan belong to Abraham`s descendants – See, Gen. 19: 12 - 25; Gen. 6: 9 – 14.
B. From Gen. 13: 10, Lot likens what he saw with the description of the ‘Garden of Eden’ in Gen. 2: 8-14. What refreshes your mind about Lot seeing how Jesus likens the time of His return to the days of Sodom according to LK 17: 26-32?