Thursday, February 7, 2008

OT Reading for Feb. 17, 2008 Gen. 12:1-4

Entry Points for Preaching, Teaching, Spiritual Care

1) Abram's name means father is high or lofty. One could use this as atakeoff for the imporatnce of names when we are knwon by numbers or screen names.

2)He has an unknown journey to an unknown destination. He has already tavelled from Ur to Haran (Syria). We could use this trope to explore a trip or the journey inward. Look at what he leaves: land, birthplace, house.

3)Arts: No Direction Home on Dylan or the multitude of journey motifs, such as Lord of the Rings.

4)History-Ur had already gone through some stages by thsi time and was the capital of a Sumerian ascendancy. Some names from this period fit with other material, such as Nahor.

5)Note the huge swith from a huge canvas to one that has one family as a focus.

6) Why would God pick Abram? why does God call on us?

7) The blessings here may be a switch on the curses of Gen. 3. What is the extent of the blessing? In the NIB Fretheim says it well (425) "promise of blessing moves into the sphere of redemption." Note how God is a partner here giving reciprocity in blessing and curse to those who do well or not by Abram.

8) This is about promise and trust.

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