Story 6:
God’s Promise to Abraham ♫

Genesis 12, 15, 17, 18, 21

The Bridge: One of the descendants of Noah was Abram, whom God chose to bless. One day, God told him to leave his family and his father’s land, and go to a place where God would show him. Abram obeyed God, taking his nephew Lot with him as well (Genesis 12:4). During this time God made Abram several promises:

• “…I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:2-3, ESV).
• “…Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are northward and southward and eastward and westward, 15for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. 16I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted” (Genesis 13:14-16, ESV)

The Story:

• After giving His promises to Abram, God took him outside and said “…Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:5-6).
• In spite of the promises God made to Abram, he and his wife, Sarai, still had no child after ten years. So, Sarai suggested Abram have a child with her slave, Hagar. They named the son Ishmael (Genesis 16:1-12).
• After the birth of Ishmael, God reaffirmed His promise to bless Abram with a son by Sarai, and told Abram that the sign of his belief would be circumcision. God then changed their names to Abraham and Sarah (Genesis 17:1-17).
• Abraham had to send Hagar and Ishmael away because of Sarah’s jealousy. God promised to bless him and make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. God said, “He shall father twelve princes, and I will make him into a great nation” (Genesis 17:20). God then re-affirmed His promise to Abram. “But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this season next year” (Genesis 17:21).
• Sarah miraculously bore a son in her old age, and they named him Isaac (Genesis 18:1; 21:1-7).

Why did God choose Abraham? (Genesis 18:19)

Why was Abraham counted as righteous before God?

♫ The song, “Father Abraham” may help children remember this story.
(See www.HIStorycloth.com/downloads for lyrics and Chords)