In the WordSample

Week 3, Day 1 Read Genesis 12-14 Patriarchs -- Abram's Journey “You can choose your friends, but you can’t choose your family.” The old adage is true. When you were born, you didn’t get to choose who your mom and dad would be. There was no election process. You just arrived, and you were theirs. Consequently, you didn’t have a say in who your siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, or grandparents would be. The people you bump into at family reunions or travel cross-country to visit, the people who visit your home or even live across the hall from you, weren’t hand-selected like a peach in the produce aisle. When it comes to family, for better or worse—bruises and all—you’re stuck with them. Throughout the rest of Genesis, you’re going to read about a family. In their story, you will see moments of passion, love, and sacrifice. Some will literally lay down their lives for one another. But this family, like many families, is also dysfunctional — acts of betrayal, deception, and violence abound. All this from one family. You might know them as God’s “chosen people.” God begins His work of redemption by choosing a people to reflect and represent Himself to the world. With this goal in mind, He called Abraham (originally Abram, but renamed by God to reflect His purpose for Abraham as “father of many”). A covenant is established between God and Abraham — a man the Lord set aside for Himself, who will be separate from the world and worship the One True God. And this lineage will travel from Abraham to Isaac, from Isaac to Jacob, from Jacob to his twelve sons — from whom the twelve tribes of Israel will be named. As you read, you’ll be amazed by God’s faithfulness in dealing with this family, full of imperfect people. You might also learn more than you bargained for—about interacting with your own flawed family and becoming a righteous servant of God! Scripture Coverage: Genesis 12–50 Scripture Reading: Genesis 12–50 Book Genre: Historical Main Theme: God chooses Abraham to father a nation that will demonstrate how God relates to His creation. Main Events: Abraham’s Journey, Isaac and Jacob, Joseph in Egypt Main Characters: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph Think about: What commandment and promises does God give to Abram? In Genesis, Abram uses deception to protect himself twice in Egypt. What does this tell us about Abram’s faith and relationship with God at this point? Can you relate? (Genesis 12:10-20; 20)