What’s a PatriarchOld Testament Lesson 8

“This term refers to the individuals who stand at the fountainhead of our faith: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob… The patriarchs are the ancestors of our faith.”

BackgroundThe last verses of Genesis chapter 11, starting at verse 27, begin a new literary unit about the family of Terah. (another genealogy list)

Abram’s story is the story of God’s plan to redeem us back after Adam’s fall. The events of the story fit well into the Middle Bronze Age. (2000-1550 B.C.)

This account is different from other literature of the same age in that it narrows to a story about one family and their journey of faith.

Terah had three sons, Abram, Nahor, and Haran. Haran had a son named Lot. Terah out - lived his son Haran.

Sarai was Abram’s half sister. By the way, he kept trying to pass her off as his sister instead of his wife, for his own safety. She was stunningly beautiful. (Egypt and Abimelech king of Gerar)

Gen 20:12 Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father though not of my mother; and she became my wife.

Terah’s family started out in Ur of the Chaldees, on the Euphrates in southern Mesopotamia near the Persian Gulf.

Ur was the center of pagan worship with the sun and moon being the main deities. Terah was of the “sons of Shem.”

Terah took Lot, Abram, and Saria and set out for Canaan. They got as far as Haran ( 600 miles northwest of Ur) and settled down. Terah died in Haran at 205 years of age.

After Terah’s death God spoke to Abram and told him to, “Leave your country, your family, and your father’s home for a land that I will show you.” Gen 12:1

Up until this time God had dealt with the sin problem on a universal scale. Seth’s line was faithful, but the rest of the population didn’t follow God. Even through a universal flood and dispersion of languages mankind still turned from God.

Now, “the faithful obedience of a single individual has universal significance.”

Just a thought, but could God be calling you to an action that would effect the world?Will you say yes to what seems insignificant?

James 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,“ and he was called God's friend.

Friend - 1) friend, to be friendly to one, wish him wella) a friendb) an associatec) he who associates familiarly with one, a companion

d) one of the bridegroom's friends who on his behalf asked the hand of the bride and rendered him various services in closing the marriage and celebrating the nuptials

As a friend, Abram would serve as the “best man to Christ.” He would usher the beginning of Christ’s courtship with the church.

Gen 15:6And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

Romans 4:11And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them.

Read Genesis 12: 1-4God’s Statements to Abram:* Get out of your country and away from your kin.* Go to a land I will show you.

•I will make you a great nation.* I will bless you.* I will make your name great.* I will make you a blessing.* I will bless those that bless you, and curse those that curse you.*In you all families of the earth be blessed. (prophetic of Christ)

Abram does obey God at age 75, but he runs into a trial. In verse 10– a famine hits the land. He went to Egypt and introduces Sarai as his sister. She was 65 years old. She was taken into the house of the Pharaoh.

God did not allow Pharaoh to touch Sarai. The truth was revealed because Pharaoh’s house was plagued. They were sent out of Egypt with great riches.