The Just Shall Live By Faith

(Studies In Hebrews 11)

INTRODUCTION:

1. God did not reveal the entirety of His will at once (Isa. 28:10; Heb. 1:1; etc.).

2. His promises to Abraham were revealed "line upon line=85."

3. This is a survey of those promises, categorized and taken chronologically.

NOTES:

I. Personal Promises To Abraham:

A. Be blessed by God (12:2; 22:17).

B. Name be made great (12:2).

C. Abraham would be a blessing (12:2).

D. Bless those who bless Abraham (12:3).

E. Curse those who curse Abraham (12:3).

F. Heir from his own body (15:4) through Sarah (17:16; 18:10).

G. Go to his fathers in peace (15:15).

H. Buried at a good old age (15:15).

I. God would make a covenant with him (17:2,4) and descendants (17:7).

J. Be multiplied exceedingly (17:2,6; 22:17).

K. Father of many nations (17:4,6).

L. Kings shall come from you (17:6).

M. Note "because" (22:16,18).

II. Sarah:

A. Be blessed by God (17:16).

B. Give son to Abraham (17:16); be named Isaac (17:19).

C. Mother of nations (17:16).

D. Kings of peoples shall be from her (17:16).

E. Have a son "according to the time of life" (18:10,14).

III. Nation:

A. Descendants of Abraham (12:2,7).

B. Numberless as the dust (13:16).

C. Numberless as the stars (15:5; 22:17).

D. Would be strangers in a land not theirs (15:13).

E. Would serve (15:13).

F. Be afflicted 400 years (15:13).

G. The nation they served would be judged (15:14).

H. Would leave with great possessions (15:14).

I. Would return to Canaan in the 4th generation (15:16; note the comment about the Amorites).

J. Numberless as sand by the seashore (22:17).

K. Would possess the gates of their enemies (22:17).

IV. Land:

A. Abraham promised a land, unseen at that point (12:1; "will show").

B. Canaan specified (13:12,14-15,17; 15:7; 17:8).

C. Also promised to Abraham's descendants (13:15).

D. Covenant made regarding boundaries (15:18-21):

1. From the River of Egypt to the Euphrates (15:18; cf. 1 Kgs. 4:21; 2 Chron. 9:26).

2. Specific nations dwelt there (15:19-21).

V. Isaac:

A. Son of Abraham and Sarah (15:4; 17:16; 18:9-15; 21:1-7).

B. Named "Isaac" (17:19).

C. Covenant with God established with Isaac (17:21; 21:12 [cf. Rom. 9:7]).

VI. Ishmael:

A. Son of Abraham and Hagar (16:1-4,15-16).

B. Named "Ishmael" (16:11).

C. Would be a wild man (16:12).

D. His hand would be against every man and every man's hand against him

(16:12).

E. Would dwell in the presence of his brethren (16:12).

F. Blessed by God (17:20).

G. Would be fruitful (17:20).

H. Would be multiplied exceedingly (17:20).

I. Would beget 12 princes (17:20; cf. 25:12-18).

J. God would make great nation of him (17:20; 21:13,18).

K. Son of the bondwoman (21:9-10,12; cf. Gal. 4:22ff).

VII. Spiritual:

A. "In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed" (12:3; 18:18).

B. "In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed" (22:18).

C. Repeated to Isaac (26:4).

D. Fulfilled in Christ (Gal. 3:16).