Scripture Reading: Genesis 12:1–5

Introduction

A. Even though Abraham never received any of the promises that God made to him in substance, he could see the fulfillment of every one through the eyes of faith.

B. Because of Abraham’s strong faith that God would fulfill these promises, God blessed Abraham in a most extraordinary way.

Discussion

I. God promised Abraham a people.

A. This promise was remarkable when one considers that Abram was childless and his wife barren (Genesis 15:2; 11:30).

B. God fulfilled this promise in spite of many enemies, including a Pharaoh who tried to kill Israel’s children (Exodus 1:8–22) and another who tried to keep them in bondage (14:6–8).

C. “Against hope,” Abraham “believed in hope” (Romans 4:18).

II. God promised Abraham a place.

A. This might have seemed impossible considering the great strength of the land’s inhabitants (Numbers 13:28–29).

B. God gave Israel all of the land that He promised to Abraham (Genesis 15:18; cf. Joshua 21:43; 1 Kings 4:21).

III. God promised Abraham a person.

A. When God promised that all nations would be blessed through him, God was preaching the promise to Abraham (Galatians 3:8).

B. This promise was fulfilled in spite of Satan’s best efforts to defeat it (Matthew 2:13–18; Luke 13:31; Matthew 4:1–11).

Conclusion

A. Although Abraham never the fulfillment of these promises in substance, he saw Jesus’ day (John 8:56) through the eyes of faith.

B. If we will believe God as Abraham did, we will become heirs of the promise (Romans 4:23–25; Galatians 3:26–29; Acts 2:39).