Week 7 Study Companion

Old Testament 2026

Biblical Context & Deep Dive

The Call of Abraham: Faith, Covenant, and the Gospel Promised Beforehand

A Journey of Faith Begins

Genesis 12 marks one of the most pivotal moments in all of Scripture. With the call of Abram (later Abraham), God begins to unfold His plan to redeem humanity through one man, one family, and ultimately one Seed, Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul tells us something remarkable in Galatians 3:8: "And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, 'In you shall all the nations be blessed.'"

Did you catch that? The gospel, the good news of salvation through faith, was preached to Abraham nearly 2,000 years before Christ came. As we study Genesis 12-17, we're not just reading ancient history; we're watching the gospel take shape.

Genesis 12: The Call and the Promise

"Go... and I Will Bless You"

The chapter opens with God's dramatic call to Abram: "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you" (Genesis 12:1). This wasn't a casual invitation, it was a command that required Abram to leave everything familiar: his homeland, his extended family, his security.

But notice what accompanies the command, a sevenfold promise:

"I will make of you a great nation" , Abram would become the father of Israel
"I will bless you" , Personal blessing from God
"I will make your name great" , Lasting significance and honor
"You shall be a blessing" , Abram would be a channel of blessing to others
"I will bless those who bless you" , Divine protection and favor
"Him who dishonors you I will curse" , Divine judgment on enemies
"In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed" , Universal blessing through his seed

This final promise is the heart of the gospel. Through Abraham's descendant, singular, as Paul emphasizes in Galatians 3:16, all nations would receive blessing. That descendant is Christ.

Faith as the Foundation

Hebrews 11:8 tells us: "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going."

Abraham didn't have a map. He didn't have a detailed plan. He had a word from God and the faith to believe it. This is the pattern of saving faith throughout Scripture, trusting God's promise even when we can't see the outcome.

Genesis 13-14: Separation and Blessing

Lot's Choice, Abraham's Trust

When conflict arose between Abraham's and Lot's herdsmen, Abraham graciously offered Lot first choice of the land. Lot chose the well-watered Jordan valley, land that looked good to human eyes but was near Sodom, a city whose wickedness would soon bring judgment.

Abraham trusted God rather than grasping for the best land. And God responded by reaffirming His promise: "Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are... for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever" (Genesis 13:14-15).

Melchizedek: A Mysterious Priest-King

In Genesis 14, after Abraham rescued Lot from invading kings, a remarkable figure appears: Melchizedek, king of Salem (later Jerusalem) and "priest of God Most High." He blessed Abraham and received a tithe from him.

The book of Hebrews devotes an entire chapter (Hebrews 7) to explaining the significance of Melchizedek as a type of Christ:

King of Salem means "King of Peace" , Christ is the Prince of Peace
King of Righteousness (the meaning of Melchizedek) , Christ is our righteousness
Priest of God Most High , Christ is our eternal High Priest
Without genealogy recorded , Pointing to Christ's eternal priesthood
Greater than Abraham , Christ is greater than all

Jesus is a priest "after the order of Melchizedek" (Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 5:6), not after the Levitical order. This means His priesthood is eternal, not temporary; universal, not limited to one nation; and based on an indestructible life, not physical descent.

Genesis 15: Covenant Confirmed by Grace

"Believe in the Lord"

Genesis 15 contains one of the most important verses in all of Scripture. When God promised Abraham offspring as numerous as the stars, we read: "And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness" (Genesis 15:6).

This is the first explicit statement of justification by faith in the Bible. Abraham was not made righteous by his works, his circumcision (which hadn't happened yet), or his obedience. He was counted righteous because he believed God's promise.

Paul builds his entire argument for salvation by grace through faith on this verse (Romans 4; Galatians 3). Abraham is the father of all who believe, Jew and Gentile alike, because he was justified by faith before he was circumcised and before the Law was given.

The Covenant Ceremony

What follows is one of the most dramatic scenes in Scripture. God instructed Abraham to prepare animals for a covenant ceremony, a common ancient practice where both parties would walk between the pieces, essentially saying, "May I become like these animals if I break this covenant."

But here's the stunning part: Abraham fell into a deep sleep, and only God, represented by "a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch", passed between the pieces (Genesis 15:17). Abraham didn't walk through. God alone took on the covenant obligations.

This is pure grace. God was saying, "I will keep this covenant. I will bear the consequences if it is broken." And when humanity broke covenant with God, who bore the consequences? Christ on the cross.

Genesis 16: Human Effort vs. Divine Promise

The Danger of "Helping" God

When Sarah grew impatient waiting for the promised son, she suggested Abraham have a child through her servant Hagar. Abraham agreed, and Ishmael was born.

This wasn't God's plan. It was human effort trying to accomplish divine promises. The result was conflict, pain, and consequences that continue to this day.

Paul uses this story in Galatians 4:21-31 as an allegory: Hagar represents the covenant of law and human effort; Sarah represents the covenant of promise and grace. Ishmael was born "according to the flesh"; Isaac was born "through promise."

The lesson is clear: We cannot achieve God's promises through our own efforts. Salvation, blessing, and spiritual life come through faith in God's promise, not human striving.

Genesis 17: The Covenant of Circumcision

New Names, New Identity

When Abraham was 99 years old, God appeared again and changed his name from Abram ("exalted father") to Abraham ("father of a multitude"). Sarah's name was also changed, and God promised that she, not Hagar, would bear the son of promise.

God also instituted circumcision as the sign of the covenant. Every male in Abraham's household was to be circumcised as an outward mark of belonging to the covenant community.

The Sign and the Reality

But here's what's crucial to understand: Circumcision was a sign of the covenant, not the covenant itself. It pointed to something deeper, what Paul calls "circumcision of the heart" (Romans 2:28-29; Colossians 2:11).

Physical circumcision couldn't save anyone. Abraham was already counted righteous by faith (Genesis 15:6) before he was circumcised (Genesis 17). The sign came after the reality.

This is why Paul argues so strongly in Romans 4 that Abraham is the father of all who believe, whether circumcised or not. The true children of Abraham are those who share his faith, not merely those who share his physical lineage or religious rituals.

Christ in Genesis 12-17

As we look back over these chapters, Christ emerges everywhere:

The Promised Seed: The blessing to "all families of the earth" comes through one descendant, Christ (Galatians 3:16).

The Object of Faith: Abraham believed God's promise about a coming descendant. We believe God's promise about the descendant who has come.

Melchizedek: This priest-king foreshadows Christ's eternal priesthood.

The Covenant Sacrifice: God alone passing through the pieces points to Christ bearing the covenant curse for us.

Justification by Faith: Abraham's faith being counted as righteousness is the pattern for all who believe in Christ (Romans 4:23-25).

The True Circumcision: Physical circumcision pointed to the spiritual reality of hearts transformed by Christ (Colossians 2:11-12).

The Gospel According to Abraham

What did Abraham believe? He believed that God would do what He promised, provide a seed through whom blessing would come to all nations. Abraham "saw" Christ's day and rejoiced (John 8:56).

The gospel preached to Abraham is the same gospel we believe today:

God makes promises we cannot fulfill ourselves
God provides what He requires
We receive the blessing by faith, not works
The blessing comes through Christ alone

Abraham's story teaches us that salvation has always been by grace through faith. There has never been another way. The Law, given 430 years later, didn't change this (Galatians 3:17). It was added to reveal sin and point us to Christ.

Living by Faith Today

Abraham's journey challenges us:

Are we willing to leave the familiar? Following Christ often means leaving behind old securities, old identities, old ways of thinking.

Do we trust God's timing? Abraham waited 25 years for Isaac. God's promises are certain, but His timing is His own.

Are we trying to "help" God? Like Abraham with Hagar, we're tempted to accomplish spiritual goals through fleshly means. But God's work is done God's way.

Is our faith in the promise or the sign? Religious rituals and practices have value, but they cannot save. Only faith in Christ saves.

Weekly Reading Plans

📖 Individual Reading Plan (7 Days)

A focused study for personal spiritual growth.

Day 1: The Call of Abraham

Read: Genesis 12:1-9; Hebrews 11:8-10; Acts 7:2-4
Summary: God called Abraham to leave everything familiar and journey to an unknown land, promising to make him a great nation and bless all families through him. Abraham obeyed by faith, not knowing where he was going.

Day 2: The Promise of Blessing to All Nations

Read: Genesis 12:1-3; Galatians 3:6-9, 14; Romans 4:16-17
Summary: God's promise that "all families of the earth" would be blessed through Abraham is the gospel preached beforehand. This blessing comes through Christ to all who share Abraham's faith.

Day 3: Melchizedek, Priest and King

Read: Genesis 14:17-24; Psalm 110:1-4; Hebrews 7:1-17
Summary: The mysterious Melchizedek, priest of God Most High and king of Salem, foreshadows Christ's eternal priesthood, a priesthood not based on ancestry but on the power of an indestructible life.

Day 4: Righteousness Through Faith

Read: Genesis 15:1-6; Romans 4:1-8, 18-25; Galatians 3:6-9
Summary: Abraham believed God's promise and it was counted to him as righteousness. This is the pattern for all salvation, not by works, but by faith in God's promise, now fulfilled in Christ.

Day 5: The Covenant of Grace

Read: Genesis 15:7-21; Galatians 3:15-18; Hebrews 6:13-20
Summary: God alone passed through the covenant pieces, taking full responsibility for keeping the covenant. This pictures Christ bearing the covenant curse for us, guaranteeing our salvation by grace.

Day 6: The Flesh vs. The Promise

Read: Genesis 16:1-16; Galatians 4:21-31; Romans 9:6-9
Summary: Ishmael, born of human effort, contrasts with Isaac, born of divine promise. We are children of promise, born of the Spirit, not children of the flesh relying on human effort.

Day 7: The Sign of the Covenant

Read: Genesis 17:1-14; Romans 2:25-29; Colossians 2:11-12; Philippians 3:3
Summary: Circumcision was the sign of the covenant, pointing to the greater reality of heart circumcision. In Christ, we receive the true circumcision, a heart transformed by the Spirit.

🏡 Family Reading Plan (7 Days)

Simple readings and activities for parents and children.

Day 1: God Calls Abraham on an Adventure

Read: Genesis 12:1-4 (simplified: "God told Abraham to leave his home and go to a new place. God promised to bless him and make his family very special.")
Ask: "Have you ever had to go somewhere new? Was it scary or exciting? Abraham trusted God even though he didn't know where he was going!"
Do: Pack a small bag together like you're going on a trip. Talk about how Abraham packed up everything and followed God.

Day 2: God's Big Promise

Read: Genesis 12:2-3 (focus on: "All families on earth will be blessed through you")
Ask: "God promised that through Abraham's family, everyone would be blessed. Who in Abraham's family blesses the whole world?" (Answer: Jesus!)
Do: Draw a big heart and write "Jesus" in the middle. Around it, draw people from different places. Talk about how Jesus blesses everyone who believes.

Day 3: Counting the Stars

Read: Genesis 15:5-6 (God showed Abraham the stars and promised him that many children)
Ask: "Can you count all the stars? God promised Abraham more children than he could count! And Abraham believed God."
Do: Go outside at night (or use glow-in-the-dark stars inside) and try to count stars. Talk about how God always keeps His promises.

Day 4: Abraham Believed God

Read: Genesis 15:6 ("Abraham believed God, and God said Abraham was right with Him")
Ask: "What does it mean to believe someone? Abraham believed God's promise. When we believe in Jesus, God says we're right with Him too!"
Do: Play a trust game, have your child fall backward into your arms. Talk about how believing God means trusting Him completely.

Day 5: God Makes a Special Promise

Read: Genesis 15:17-18 (simplified: "God made a very special promise to Abraham. It was so important that God sealed it Himself.")
Ask: "When you make a promise, do you keep it? God always keeps His promises. He promised to bless Abraham's family, and He did, through Jesus!"
Do: Make a "promise bracelet" together with string or beads. Each time you see it, remember that God keeps His promises.

Day 6: Waiting for God's Timing

Read: Genesis 17:15-19 (God promises Abraham and Sarah a son named Isaac)
Ask: "Abraham and Sarah waited a very long time for their baby. Is it hard to wait for things? God's timing is always perfect!"
Do: Plant a seed together. Talk about how we have to wait for it to grow, just like Abraham waited for God's promise.

Day 7: The Special Sign

Read: Genesis 17:1-7 (simplified: "God gave Abraham a new name and made him the father of many nations")
Ask: "God changed Abram's name to Abraham, which means 'father of many.' God gives us a new identity too when we belong to Jesus!"
Do: Make name tags with each family member's name. Talk about how God knows each of us by name and we belong to His family through faith in Jesus.

"And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, 'In you shall all the nations be blessed.'" , Galatians 3:8