How far do you think you would get ? How would you know when you “got there”?

1. To describe Abram’s call To explain God’s Covenant with Abram To reflect on Abram’s faith You are 75. You have to pack your things and leave home, with all your family. You haven’t been told where. You just have to start walking. You will be blessed if you do this. • How far do you think you would get ? • How would you know when you “got there”? • What might make you turn back?

2. Abraham – Father of Faith Covenant Descendants Blameless God Nation Land “Walk before me and be ___________ and I will give you this ____. I will increase your descendants and make you a great ________, and I will establish my ________ between me and you, and your __________ after you, to be your ____ and the God of your descendants for ever.” • What did God ask Abram to do? • Write out and complete what God said to Abram. • What 3 things is God promising in this Covenant? • What does Abram have to do, on his part? • **Which part of the promise might have appealed most to Abram? Why?

3. Abram walked for 25 years. He covered 1000 miles, living in tents, with all his family and animals. He wondered when he would get to the land God had promised him. He was also 99 years old now, his wife 75 - too old to have children. How would his family be able to increase and become a nation and a kingdom? Abram: born approx 2000 BC (just after first pyramids built) One night, Abram was talking to God inside the tent. Abram suggested to God, that perhaps his relative, Eleazar, will be the one to carry on the family line. God told Abram to step outside. It was daytime. God asked Abram: “Count the stars if you can. So many shall your descendants be”. Explain what Abram asked God about, and how he thought he might solve it himself. How did God respond? Explain what this meant. **What did God give credit to Abram for? Why is this praise-worthy? What advice would you give Abram? What should he do? What is the point of God asking Abram to look up at the sky? • Abram cannot see any stars, as it is daytime, but he knows they are there. So he believes in God, and in His promise, although he cannot see how it can be true. God counted Abram’s response as evidence of his righteousness.

4. Father of Faith Faith is like jumping into the unknown, and casting yourself on God. You don’t know how believing in God will change your life. You are not even sure how real God is. But you take the plunge, and believe. Write a prayer or a poem about faith – what you think it means.

5. Should you go? Discuss your final decision. Write up your answer. B You are Lot, Abram’s brother. You think it’s crazy for Abram to turn his back on all your family’s gods… A You are Abram, ready to set out into the distance, trusting only in this new God you have heard speaking to you … D You are Abram’s 60 year old wife. ..Abram is saying that God will make him a big family.. is this believable? Is it sensible to start travelling at your age? (Abram is 75)… C You are Abram’s father. You will probably die soon. You want your family to be united and strong. …