So, on the table as you came in, there's a little booklet which says Genesis 12 to 50.
You will remember that a year or so ago we did Genesis chapter 1 to 11.
So, if you want to know what Genesis 1 to 11 is all about, you can go to our website and listen to all the talks there.
But we're going to be picking up the accounts, the story from chapter 12 through to the end of chapter 50.
And this little booklet is a little overview of some of the main characters, some of the main points that we're going to be hitting along the way.
And I encourage you to read it just to give you an overview and it will help you in our studies.
But, of course, not to be reading it now. We're going to read the Bible, which is a sure and trustworthy word.
Let's read Genesis chapter 12, starting at verse 1.
The Lord had said to Abram,
Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you.
I will make you a great nation and I will bless you.
I will make your name great and you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you and whoever curses you I will curse.
And all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.
So Abram went as the Lord had told him.
And Lot went with him.
Abram was 75 years old when he set out from Haran.
He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Haran.
And they set out for the land of Canaan.
And they arrived there.
Abram travelled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Morah at Shechem.
At that time the Canaanites were in the land.
The Lord appeared to Abram and said,
To your offspring I will give this land.
So he built an altar there to the Lord who had appeared to him.
From there he went on towards the hills east of Bethel
and pitched his tent with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east.
There he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord.
Then Abram set out and continued towards the Negev.
Now there was a famine in the land and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe.
As he was about to enter Egypt he said to his wife Sarai,
I know what a beautiful woman are you.
When the Egyptians see you they will say,
This is his wife.
Then they will kill me but will let you live.
Say you are my sister so that I will be treated well for your sake
and my life will be spared because of you.
When Abram came to Egypt,
the Egyptians saw that Sarai was a very beautiful woman.
And when Pharaoh's officials saw her,
they praised her to Pharaoh and she was taken into his palace.
He treated Abram well for her sake and Abram acquired sheep and cattle,
male and female donkeys and male and female servants and camels.
But the Lord inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram's wife Sarai.
So Pharaoh summoned Abram.
What have you done to me?
He said.
Why didn't you tell me she was your wife?
Why did you say she is my sister?
So that I took her to be my wife.
Now then, here is your wife.
Take her and go.
Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men
and they sent him on his way
with his wife and everything he had.
So Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev
with his wife and everything he had
and Lot went with him.
Abram had become very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold.
From the Negev he went from place to place
until he came to Bethel
to the place between Bethel and Ai
where his tent had been earlier
and where he had first built an altar.
There Abram called on the name of the Lord.
Well, let's pray and ask for God's help.
Father God, thank you for this very ancient record
and account of a man called Abram
and his wife Sarai.
Names may be familiar to us.
Some of the accounts may be.
But Father, we don't just want this to be
some historical record of the past.
We trust that it is a living word
speaking to us today
about our lives
and the God we seek to follow.
So Father, would you be gracious to us
so that we might learn much together.
that we might discover more
of your greatness
your grace
and your love towards your people.
In Jesus' name we pray.
Amen.
Well, the other day
panic struck our house.
The internet went down.
No wifi.
Well, in our modern homes
and us being enslaved to wifi
mobiles don't work.
The landline, because it's connected now
to the internet, doesn't work.
The TV and Netflix are out.
The heating system goes down.
It's a nightmare.
There.
But thankfully, as some of you will know
on the back of the modem
is a tiny little button
that says
reset.
All you need to do
is just press that button in
and hold it for 10 seconds
and then release.
And incredibly,
an orange light
you know what it's like, don't you?
Because you've done it all before.
It begins to flash
and then it turns green
and then another light
begins to flash
and it turns green
and soon you've got
four bright green lights.
the internet has returned.
Peace resumes.
Now don't you wish
you had a reset button
for your life?
You see, we get ourselves
into such a pickle, don't we?
Through our choices and decisions.
When we play and act
as if we are God
we make a mess of our lives
and everybody else around us
and we long that we could just
press reset
and start
all over again.
What is it that you want to
restart?
Maybe you're wanting to
restart your marriage.
Maybe you're wanting to
restart how you've
parented your children.
Maybe you want to
restart with
a relationship
with somebody here
this morning.
Perhaps you want to
restart
your relationship
with the Lord.
Maybe
you're just thinking
I wish I could just
restart my
whole life.
Don't you wish
you could just
press that button
and everything
be put back again?
Well, Genesis 12
is the restart
that we all
long for.
It's the button
that we all
want to be able
to press.
The story of the
Bible so far
from 1 to 11
well it began
so well
everything was good
and beautiful.
Adam and Eve
the first man
and woman
placed in a garden
of delight
enjoying life
and enjoying God
they were
blessed
but they
rebelled.
They sought
to take God's
place and live
as if they
were the boss
and the fall
out of this
rebellion
against God
was God's
cosmic
curse
which resulted
in division
between people
conflict with
creation
and separation
from the loving
God who had
made them
and despite
all of
humanity's
attempts to
reconnect
and solve
everything
and put
everything
back together
again
it just
descended
into chaos
down and
down in
further
carnage.
You see
broken people
like us
can never
fix the
broken world
we live in
and broken
people like us
can't fix
our own
broken lives.
Well in
Genesis 12
we have the
restart
that we all
need and it
begins with
a man called
Abraham.
Later on
he'll become
called
Abraham.
Three things
we want to
learn from
what we read
this morning.
Very simply
new beginnings
old problem
God's grace.
grace.
Okay?
New beginnings
old problem
God's grace.
So first
the new
beginnings.
New beginnings
always start
with God's
word.
That's why we
look at his
word every
Sunday.
Verse 1
The Lord
had said to
Abraham
go.
Go.
Remember
back to
Genesis 1
verse 1
In the
beginning
God
and God
said
and it
was so
God
spoke
the beginning
of the
world
into existence
with his
voice
and now
through his
voice
God speaks
again to
a man called
Abraham.
He speaks
a word
that is going
to bring about
a new
beginning
a new
creation.
And at
the heart
of this
word
was a
promise
to bless.
A word
of blessing.
Look at
verse 2
God said
to him
I will
make you
into a
great nation
and I
will bless
you.
I will
make your
name great
and you
will be
a blessing.
blessing.
Well
who's he
going to
be a
blessing
to?
Well
look at
the end
of verse
3
and all
peoples
on earth
will be
blessed
through you.
God
spoke a
promise
to bless
Abraham
who in
turn
would be
a blessing
to all
the nations
and all
peoples
of the
world.
Now
this promise
of blessing
is certainly
not new.
it's an
outworking
of a
promise
that God
had made
right at
the very
beginning.
Go back
with me
to chapter
3
Genesis
chapter
3
there it
records
for us
how man
had rebelled
and God's
curse
on the
world
God's
curse
on humanity
and in
the middle
of the
curse
God
makes a
promise
that is
going to
shape
history
and the
entire
world
from this
point
onwards.
Chapter
3
verse
15
God
is
speaking
to
Satan
the
one
who
has
brought
disruption
and
disorder
and God
says I
will put
enmity
between
you
Satan
and the
woman
and between
your
offspring
and
hers
he
will
crush
your
head
and
you
will
strike
his
heel
a
son
is
promised
to bring
blessing
instead
of
curse
look what he
says to
Satan at
the end
of verse
15
he
will
crush
your
head
he
that is
a seed
from the
woman
a son
is going
to come
who will
inflict
a blow
that will
ultimately
crush
Satan's
head
so that
the curse
will be
broken
and so
that
blessing
could
flow
to the
world
now back
to chapter
12
so into
the
mess
and the
brokenness
of humanity
God
once again
intervenes
and speaks
a word
of blessing
to
the son
of a
woman
his name
is
Abraham
a word
that is
going to
bring about
this
new
beginning
that I
will
bless
you
and
all
peoples
on earth
will be
blessed
through
you
it's
like
God
has hit
the
restart
button
Abraham
is the
means
of bringing
this
blessing
from
God
to the
world
it's
as if
that
flashing
light
has
turned
green
and
everything
is being
reset
so it's
a word
of blessing
but it is
also
a word
to
obey
a word
to obey
he may
speak a word
of blessing
but
Abraham
must do
what God
says
verse 1
again
the Lord
had said
to Abraham
go from
your country
your people
and your
father's
household
to the
land
I will
show
you
verse 4
so
Abraham
went
as the
Lord
had told
him
verse 5
he took
with his
wife
Sarai
his nephew
Lot
all the
possessions
they had
accumulated
and all the
people they
had acquired
in Haran
and they
set out
for the
land of
Canaan
and they
arrived
there
Abraham
it seems
is a
new
kind
of
Adam
a
different
one
he
does
what
he's
told
he's
an
obedient
son
God
said
and he
did
it
it all
seems
rather
simple
doesn't
it
obey
God
and
you
will
be
blessed
that's
it
that's
all
we
need
to
do
God
reminded
him
of his
commitment
verse 7
the
Lord
appeared
to
Abram
and said
to your
offspring
I
give
you
this
land
so
Abram
built
an
altar
there
to
the
Lord
who
had
appeared
to
him
everything
was
looking
good
in fact
in some
ways
isn't it
very
similar
to the
garden
of Eden
man
and
woman
Abram
and his
wife
Sarai
living
in
God's
place
enjoying
his
blessing
and
living
for
God's
glory
it's
like
another
green
light
has
come
on
the
reset
button
is
doing
its
job
now
if we're
to know
this
new
beginning
and this
fresh
start
that we
all
long
for
it
means
taking
God
at his
word
doesn't
it
that
we
too
like
Abraham
would
obey
what
God
says
now
admittedly
as we
read
through
scripture
sometimes
we find
what
God
says
hard
and
difficult
sometimes
we might
think
no I
know
a better
way
or
I'm
not
quite
sure
this
is
for
me
sometimes
it
doesn't
make
quite
much
sense
but
we
must
always
obey
what
God
says
as
the
author
to
the
Hebrews
reminds
us
you
can
follow
it
on
your
screen
by
faith
Abraham
when
called
to
go
to
a
place
he
would
later
receive
as
his
inheritance
obeyed
and
went
even
though
he
did
not
know
where
he
was
going
sometimes
we
don't
quite
understand
God's
ways
but
we
always
obey
because
as we
obey
we
experience
God's
blessing
in our
life
we
experience
the new
beginning
that we
long
for
very
simple
isn't
it
just
obey
God's
word
but
with
this
new
beginning
comes
a
very
old
problem
Abram
it seems
is very
settled
in his
new
home
the
reset
button
is
beginning
to
take
shape
things
are
looking
up
all
seems
to be
well
until
his
faith
comes
under
testing
look
at
verse
10
a
test
of
faith
verse
10
now
there
was
a
famine
in
the
land
and
Abram
went
down
to
Egypt
to
live
there
for
a
while
because
the
famine
was
severe
now
we
might
applaud
Abram
might
we
for
taking
his
family
to
safety
I
mean
they've
got
nothing
to
eat
it
seems
to be
the
right
thing
to
do
but
is
it
leaving
the
land
that
has
been
promised
to
you
a
land
where
you
will
be
blessed
well
it
just
might
be
the
best
decision
I
mean
who
knows
if
he
had
stayed
perhaps
God
would
have
provided
for
him
why
not
we're
not
really
quite
sure
the
text
doesn't
give
us
all
the
answers
but
whatever
the
rights
or
wrongs
of his
move
down
to
Egypt
what
happened
next
was
going
to be
a
real
test
of
faith
you
see
there
was
a
problem
it
was
a
kind
of
good
problem
but
it
had
consequences
his
wife
was
very
beautiful
and that
meant a
threat
to his
own
life
not only
was it
going to
be a
threat
to his
life
but it
meant a
threat
to all
of
God's
promises
remember
what God
had said
back at
verse 2
I'm
going to
make
you
Abraham
into
a
great
nation
and I'm
going to
make
your
name
great
and I'm
going to
bless
all the
peoples
of the
world
through
you
so
if
something
happens
to
Abraham
the
promise
of
blessing
goes
out
the
window
if
Abraham
gets
the
chop
the
blessings
are
done
so
Abraham
comes
up
with
a
plan
doesn't
he
verse
12
when
the
Egyptians
see
you
they
will
say
this
is
his
wife
then
they
will
kill
me
but
will
let
you
live
so
here's
the
plan
say
I
say
you're
my
sister
so
that
I
will
be
treated
well
for
your
sake
and
my
life
will
be
spared
because
of
you
what
a
clever
idea
it
seems
rather
smart
doesn't
it
given
the
circumstances
because
what
he
feared
actually
came
to
pass
news
got
round
to
Pharaoh
that
there's
a
beautiful
woman
in
town
and
Pharaoh
just
might
like
her
and
so
Sarai
was
taken
as
Pharaoh's
wife
and
Abraham
the
pretend
brother
was
spared
in
Abram's
eyes
the promise
of blessing
was kept
alive
because
if anything
had happened
to him
well the
blessing
would be
gone
what else
was he
to do
but
when
was
lying
an
okay
thing
to
do
since
when
has
it
been
right
to
push
your
wife
into
the
arms
of
another
to
save
your
own
bacon
no
Abram
wasn't
smart
at
all
this
isn't
faith
this
is
fear
this
isn't
undeniable
love
for his
wife
Sarai
this
was
love
for
self
perhaps
what he
should
have
done
was
to
take
a step
back
and
lead
his
wife
in
prayer
Sarai
let's
pray
dear
God
you
are
the
one
and
only
true
God
you've
made
a
promise
that
all
nations
will
be
blessed
through
our
family
so as
you
keep
your
promises
to
us
help
us
to
be
faithful
and
trust
you
whatever
the
threat
amen
now
before we
start
joining
in the
jeers
and the
booing
of
Abram
let me
speak
to the
husbands
and to
the men
including
myself
don't
think
we're
much
better
isn't
it all
too
common
a
trait
that
we're
quite
happy
to
sacrifice
our
wives
for
our
own
sake
for
our
own
comfort
and
our
own
pleasures
to do
our
own
thing
how many
of us
as
husbands
live up
to
the
calling
husbands
love
your
wives
as
Christ
loved
the
church
and
gave
himself
for
her
we
are
to
love
our
wives
and
to
lead
them
well
because
God
calls
us
to
obey
it
you
see
for
Abram
once
there
was
a
test
of
faith
it
exposed
his
heart
of
failure
Abram's
lack
of
faith
and
disobedience
had
terrible
consequences
look at
verse 17
the
Lord
inflicted
serious
diseases
on
Pharaoh
and his
household
because
of
Abram's
wife
Sarai
yes
Pharaoh
was at
fault
one
is
enough
for being
a wife
you don't
need
more
but
the
account
makes
it
very
clear
that
Abram
was
not
an
innocent
party
verse
18
so
Pharaoh
summoned
Abram
what
have
you
done
to
me
he
said
why
didn't
you
tell
me
she
was
your
wife
why
did
you
say
she
is
my
sister
so
that
I
took
her
to
be
my
wife
why
did
you
lead
me
astray
why
did
you
tell
me
all
these
lies
now
then
here
is
your
wife
take
her
and
go
you
see
instead
of
bringing
blessing
to
the
nations
Abram
was
bringing
curses
to
the
nations
this
is
not
reminiscent
of an
earlier
account
in
Genesis
where
God
has
spoken
to
another
man
Adam
I
will
give
you
all
that
you
need
everything
that
you
need
I'm
going
to
bless
you
but
you
must
not
eat
from
the
fruit
of
the
tree
of
the
knowledge
of
good
and
evil
trust
me
I
know
what
I'm
doing
I
made
the
world
I
made
you
well
Adam
stood
back
didn't
he
knew
better
he
knew
what
was
best
for
himself
and
his
wife
he
didn't
take
responsibility
he
failed
so
it
turns
out
that
Adam
the
son
of
a
woman
the
Adam
was
not
so
much
good
after
all
and
neither
was
Abraham
the
son
of
the
woman
is
just
another
failure
instead
of bringing
blessing to
the nations
through his
obedience
he has
brought
curses to
the nations
through his
disobedience
it's like
the green
lights have
gone red
again
everything
is flashing
and warning
we need
an
altogether
different
kind
of
reset
if we
are going
to enjoy
and know
a longer
new
beginning
so new
beginnings
old
problems
and
God's
grace
you see
new beginnings
have been a
common theme
through
Genesis
you might
remember
God
started
with
Adam
but it
ended
in a
curse
God
started
again
with
Seth
but it
ended
with
a
flood
upon
the
whole
world
and
God
started
again
with
Noah
and
it
ended
with
them
building
a
tower
and
God
scattering
all
the
people
now
it
starts
with
Abram
and
it
ends
with
well
not as
we
expect
look at
chapter
13
verse 1
so
Abram
went up
from
Egypt
to
the
Neget
with
his
wife
and
everything
he
had
and
Lot
went
with
him
Abram
had
become
very
wealthy
in
livestock
and
in
silver
and
in
gold
God
has
continued
to
bless
this
failing
falling
man
it
seems
God
is not
about
to give
up
surprisingly
and
shockingly
God
does
what
we
don't
expect
him
to
do
he
responds
in
grace
in
fact
what
God
does
is he
takes
Abram
back
again
to
the
beginning
notice
to where
he
travels
verse
3
from
the
Negev
he
went
from
place
to
place
until
he
came
to
Bethel
remember
Bethel
we read
about
it
in
verse
8
of
chapter
12
to
the
place
between
Bethel
and
Ai
where
his
tent
had
been
earlier
and
where
he
had
first
built
an
altar
there
Abram
called
on the
name
of
the
Lord
you
see
it's
as if
God
takes
Abram
by the
scruff
of the
neck
and
drags
him
back
to the
beginning
where
it
all
started
God
is
determined
to
show
Abram
and
us
that
this
new
beginning
that
we
all
long
for
can
only
happen
as a
result
of
God's
grace
at
work
in
our
life
so
three
things
I want
us
to
see
about
God's
grace
at
work
in
our
life
first
God's
gracious
call
by
going
back
to
the
beginning
we
are
reminded
of
God's
gracious
call
you
see
as
Abram
settles
down
in
amongst
his
people
and
puts
his
tents
up
and
begins
his
life
again
he's
reminded
that
he is
only
there
because
of
God's
grace
remember
chapter
12
verse
1
the
Lord
had
said
to
Abram
go
from
your
country
your
people
and your
father's
household
to
the
land
I
will
show
you
it
was
given
to
him
by
God
and
while
not
in
this
text
the
author
of
Joshua
reminds
us
of
what
Abram
was
like
when
he
was
first
called
he
wasn't
found
reading
his
Bible
in
church
or
going
to
the
local
prayer
meeting
he
was
a
pagan
worshipper
of
other
gods
there
was
nothing
special
about
Abram
when
he
was
called
nothing
in his
family
background
nothing
about
his
religious
practice
the only
thing
that was
going
for him
was
that he
was a
rebellious
sinner
who was
neither
looking for
God
nor
wanting
God
but
God
intervened
by
grace
and
changed
his
life
forever
and
that's
how
God
begins
with
you
and
I
he
doesn't
wait
for us
to be
interested
he
doesn't
wait
until
we
need
until
it's
deserved
he
calls
us
when
we
are
nobodies
and
nothing
isn't
that
what
we
were
reminded
of
by
the
apostle
Paul
Alex
began
with
it
this
morning
brothers
and
sisters
think
of what
you
were
when
you
were
called
but
when
God
first
intervened
by
his
grace
in
your
life
not
many
of
you
were
wise
by
human
standards
not
many
were
influential
not
many
of
us
were
of
noble
birth
but
God
chose
who
the
foolish
things
of
the
world
to
shame
the
wise
God
chose
the
weak
things
of
the
world
to
shame
the
strong
so
that
none
of
us
can
boast
we
need
to
come
back
to
the
beginning
we
need
to
start
with
grace
second
by
going
back
to
the
beginning
we
are
also
reminded
of
God's
gracious
promise
this
flicker
is
not
helpful
there we
go
gracious
promise
as he
settles
down
with his
family
in
familiar
surrounds
he is
reminded
once again
of all
of God's
promises
promise
because
every
promise
that
God
made
was
underwritten
by
God
just
have a
look at
verses
2 and
3
with
me
God
says
I'll
make
you
into
a
great
nation
and
what
I
will
bless
you
I
will
make
you
great
and
you
will
be
a
blessing
I
will
bless
those
who
bless
you
I
will
I
will
don't
ever
underestimate
God's
promise
don't
think
that
God
is
somehow
waiting
in
frustration
twiddling
his
thumbs
waiting
for us
to buck
up
and become
the kind
of people
he wants
us to
be
no
what
God
promises
to do
in us
he will
accomplish
and he
will
fulfill
nothing
and no
one
can hinder
or crush
God's
promises
not even
our own
sin
and we
need to
learn that
lesson
sometimes
our faith
is tested
but only
so that we
can see
that it
depends on
God's
grace
to me
it's
never
dependent
on my
strength
or my
faithfulness
or how
good I
am
but God
making
promises
that he
always
keeps
and never
fails
to
fulfill
we
need to
come back
to the
beginning
we need
to start
with
grace
third
by going
back to
the
beginning
we're
also
reminded
of God's
gracious
sacrifice
look at
verse 4
he returns
where his
tents had
been earlier
and verse
4 where he
had first
built
an altar
and there
Abram called
on the name
of the
Lord
you see
this altar
that he
made
might have
been just
a few
stones
piled upon
each other
but its
significance
was the
foundation
for his
life
you see
altars
was where
sacrifice
took place
it was
where
Abram
came and
did business
with God
where he
would come
and confess
his sin
where he
would sacrifice
an animal
in that
solemn act
he recognised
that something
someone
had to die
in his
place
for Abram
it was an
act of
faith
that in
time
God would
provide
the perfect
sacrifice
and as we
read through
the pages
so we
come to
that
perfect
obedient
son
Jesus
Christ
and his
death for
us
on the
cross
and there
dying on
the cross
we find
one
who is
only able
to deal
with all
of our
guilt
and shame
of the
past
all our
secrets
that we
keep dragging
along with
us
all our
failings
and all
our
falling
you see
grace
is what
we all
need
and the
only way
to experience
it is to
go back
to the
beginning
back to
the cross
back to
Jesus
and there
our sins
are forgiven
and our
lives are
made
completely
new
and there
we hear
God
take us
afresh
as his
people
and he
gives us
the call
and he
says to
us
to go
go into
all the
world
and make
disciples
of all
nations
go and
be a
blessing
to all
peoples
and tell
them about
the wonderful
grace of
God in
Christ
grace
is the
reset
button
we all
need
this is
where we
begin
this is
where we
start
and it's
available to
us today
through
Christ
as it
overflows
to us
what do
you want
to restart
about your
life
it starts
with grace
let's pray
Lord God
thank you
thank you for
your patience
thank you for
your kindness
thank you
that you do
not treat
us as our
sins deserve
thank you
that you are
faithful forever
thank you for
the grace
that has
been shown
to us
poured out
to us
through your
son Jesus
Christ
thank you
that in
you
all our
past is
dealt
with
and we
are given
a new
way to
live
so help
us as
we now
go
into our
community
as we
go to
people
who do
not know
of the
blessings
that you
have
that we
would share
of your
grace
that they
would know
that your
mercy
reaches
even
then
help us
Lord
we pray
in Jesus
name
Amen
we're going
to sing
together
a song
that reminds
us of
God's
grace to
us
who has
called
us
who's
changed
us
and now
sends us
to go
as his
people
to bring
his
blessing
I
could be
entsprechend
.
able by
to
bring
you
to
bring