1. Destination: Unknown Genesis 12:1-9 Forest Hills Bible Chapel 10 September 2006

2. Genesis 12:1-9 The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. 2 “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

3. 4 So Abram left, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran. 5 He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there.

4. 6 Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7 The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him.

5. 8 From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord. 9 Then Abram set out and continued toward the Negev.

9. An Overview of this Story The Call of Abraham follows the dispersion of the nations at Babel (Babylon) – 11:1-9. God’s call of salvation occurs in the midst of judgment. The Call of Abraham follows the dispersion of the nations at Babel (Babylon) – 11:1-9. God’s call of salvation occurs in the midst of judgment. The calling and direction of Abraham patterns the conclusion of the Flood narrative (8:15-19). Abraham, like Noah, marks a new beginning, and God blessing “all mankind.” The calling and direction of Abraham patterns the conclusion of the Flood narrative (8:15-19). Abraham, like Noah, marks a new beginning, and God blessing “all mankind.”

10. An Overview of this Story The blessing of Abraham culminates in the “last will and testament” of Jacob, his grandson – Genesis 49:9-10. The blessing of Abraham culminates in the “last will and testament” of Jacob, his grandson – Genesis 49:9-10. The three places in the Promised Land referenced in Genesis 12:1-9 (Shechem, v. 6; between Bethel and Ai, v. 8; the Negev, v. 9) parallel Jacob’s travels in the land (Genesis 33-35) and the travels of Joshua. The three places in the Promised Land referenced in Genesis 12:1-9 (Shechem, v. 6; between Bethel and Ai, v. 8; the Negev, v. 9) parallel Jacob’s travels in the land (Genesis 33-35) and the travels of Joshua. This shows that God has remained faithful to His people throughout the ages. This shows that God has remained faithful to His people throughout the ages.

11. Destination: Unknown The command to Go! – 12:1 The command to Go! – 12:1 The promise of God – 12:2-3. The promise of God – 12:2-3. The migration of Abraham – 12:4-5. The migration of Abraham – 12:4-5. Abraham builds an altar – 12:6-7. Abraham builds an altar – 12:6-7. Abraham traverses the land of Canaan – 12:8-9. Abraham traverses the land of Canaan – 12:8-9.