p. 246 | The Sabbath-School

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Apr 16, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 16.

The Sabbath-School.

LESSON FOR THE PACIFIC COAST—MAY 16.

Inheritance of the Saints.

PROMISES TO ABRAHAM.—CONTINUED.

1. After Abraham had obeyed the command to offer up Isaac, what did the Lord swear to do?

“And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.” Gen. 22: 16–18.

2. How numerous did he say Abraham’s seed should be? Ib.

3. Where have we found similar expressions?

“And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth; so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.” Gen. 13: 16.

“And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them; and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.” Gen. 15: 5.

4. What did the Lord say that Abraham’s seed should possess?

“That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies.” Gen. 22: 17.

5. What is indicated by the statement that his seed “shall possess the gate of his enemies”?

6. Then with what other scriptures already learned, is this parallel?

“And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee; and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed.” Gen. 12: 3.

“For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed forever.” Gen. 13: 15.

“For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.” Rom. 4: 13.

7. What further shows that the promise in Gen. 22: 16–18 is the same as those already learned? Compare Gen. 22: 18 with Gen. 12: 3; 18: 18.

8. Why did the Lord now say that he would do this thing?

“And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.” Gen. 22: 18.

9. And what have we before found was the condition on which the promise was based?

“For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.” Gen. 18: 19.

10. What did Stephen say as to the fulfillment of the promise recorded in Gen. 13: 15; 17: 18?

“And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on; yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession; and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.” Acts 7: 5.

11. What do we know concerning all of God’s promises?

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Pet. 3: 9.

“For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.” 2 Cor. 1: 20.

12. Then what must we conclude concerning these promises to Abraham?