Lesson Outline

Series: Abraham: The journey of faith

Title: Take a step

Lesson 0607-4 (Miller)

KEY VERSE: Genesis 13:1-4

Then Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, to the South. Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. And he went on his journey from the South as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, to the place of the altar which he had made there at first. And there Abram called on the name of the LORD.

INTRODUCTION: In the last lesson we learn that Abraham took matters into his own hands when there was a famine in the land. He chose to pursue his own solution to a economic issue. He had no food. He evidently figured out that he made a mistake and in this chapter we find him returning to the last place that he knew that he had heard God speak to him. He returned to the valley of decision. The valley between Beth-el and Ai: the house of the lord and ruin. The trip to Egypt was very close to being a major mistake in his life. He almost lost his wife and when Pharaoh found out that Abraham lied to him he could have lost his life. But God rescued him and even blessed him in this place of error.

OUTLINE:

1. ReThink
1. A mistake is made
2. Abram pursued a human solution to a divine problem

                                                               i.      Abram was faced with a famine. He did not have enough food to feed his family, servants and livestock.

2. Return
1. Abram returns from Egypt to the place of his beginnings. He returns to pitch his tent between Bethel and Ai.
2. He returns to rethink his integrity
3. He returns to the place where he last heard God.
4. He returns and calls upon the name of the Lord. To repent.
5. He recognizes that he got off track.
6. He went to Egypt to look for God’s provision instead of looking to God.
7. In other words he went to find money.
8. In other words he went to find a better job.
9. He was pursuing his own destiny instead of pursuing God’s
10. Strangely enough, Abram returns a wealthy man. There is good money in Egypt.
11. There is good money in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles. There will always be the temptation to go to the place of money. To the good job offer.

                                                              i.      GOD WILL USE THIS TEMPTATION TO SEE IF WE REALLY WANT TO BE OBEDIENT OR WE WANT TO FIX THE FAMINE.

12. When all is said and done Abram returns to the promise, to the place where he started. Did he waste a few years? Yes maybe he did. But God does redeem.

3. Repent
1. Abram goes back to where he last heard the LORD and he calls HIS name.
2. He does not call on the LORD even once while he is in Egypt.
3. Abraham takes matters in his own hand.
4. But when he goes back to where he belongs he begins to call on the name of the LORD again.

KEYWORD DISCUSSION:

Return

Re-think

Repent

OPTIONAL DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

Have you ever made a decision to leave the LORD and then returned later? If so, what did you learn with the experience?

When was the last time you heard the voice of the LORD? Are you still in the place where he last spoke, obeying HIS commands?