Week 5 - God's Covenant with Abraham
What we talked about in Youth on Sunday
Last week we learned that God sent a flood to recreate the earth and its inhabitants because of people’s wickedness. After this flood God made a covenant with Noah that reinforced the creation mandate of Genesis 1:26-31, that people are made in God’s image to be fruitful, multiply, care for the earth, learn about it, and represent God in all that they do. Thus, through Noah God showed that he is committed to spreading his goodness to the world through us.
And yet, the question we are left wondering is, “If sinful people were so bad at representing God and spreading his goodness to the world before, how will God possibly accomplish this after the flood?”
Well, as the story progresses Noah’s children multiply and fill the earth and we come upon a man named Terah—one of Noah’s descendants—who has a son named Abram (or Abraham as we now know him). In Genesis 12:1-5, 15:5-7, and 17:1-8 we learn the significance of Abraham, namely that God re-establishes his covenant with Noah through him.
God’s covenant with Abraham is that he will bless him and make him a blessing, through whom all the families of the earth will be blessed. God tells Abraham that he will be the father of many nations and that he will make him exceedingly fruitful, such that nations and kings come from him—and through Abraham and his offspring that the nations will come to know God.
God doesn’t just leave the spreading of his goodness to chance. Instead, God invites people to participate with him in his work. Like Adam and Noah before, Abraham is given this opportunity as God’s covenant representative to be a blessing to those around him. And we, as heirs of Abraham through faith in Christ—who fulfilled God’s promise to make Abraham a blessing to the nations—are now invited to participate in spreading God’s goodness by being a blessing to those around us.
Continuing the Conversation at Home
On Sunday we invited the students to remember how God has blessed them and to consider how they can be a blessing to someone in their lives this week. Take a moment over the next few days, perhaps at the dinner table or in the car, to ask your kids what they are thankful for and how they encouraged one of their friends or classmates. As you’re given an opportunity, encourage your kids to be a blessing. And remember that your kids will model the things you say and do, so tell them what you’re thankful for and how you also were able to encourage someone in your life.