Lesson 7: God's Promise to Abram (Abraham) - Walking by Faith and Counting the Stars

1. Key Bible Reading

Passage: Genesis 12:1 – 12:9 and Genesis 15:1 – 15:6 (also referencing Hebrews 11:8, World English Bible – WEB).
Teachers and parents: Read Genesis 12:1–9 and Genesis 15:1–6 aloud with the children. Ask the children if they have ever looked up at the night sky outside the city and tried to count all the twinkling stars!

2. Memory Verse to Learn by Heart

“He believed in Yahweh, and he reckoned it to him for righteousness.”
— Genesis 15:6 (WEB)

3. What We Will Learn Today

• How Yahweh called Abram to leave his country, his relatives, and his father’s house to go to a land God would show him.
• God’s great promise to Abram: to make of him a great nation, bless him, make his name great, and bless all the families of the earth through him.
• How Abram obeyed God at 75 years old, taking his wife Sarai and his nephew Lot from Haran into the land of Canaan.
• How Abram worshipped God by building altars to Yahweh at Shechem (by the oak of Moreh) and between Bethel and Ai.
• How God comforted Abram in a vision (“I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward”) and showed him the stars of the sky, promising that his seed (descendants) would be just as numerous.

4. The Complete Story of God’s Promise to Abram

Part A: God’s Call and Abram’s Journey of Faith (Genesis 12:1–5)

Generations after Noah’s son Shem, a man named Terah had a son named Abram, who married Sarai. After living in Ur of the Chaldees and moving to the city of Haran, Yahweh spoke directly to Abram with an amazing command and a glorious promise:

“Now Yahweh said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, and your relatives, and your father’s house, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great. You will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who treats you with contempt. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you.’” — Genesis 12:1–3 (WEB)

Notice the difference between the builders of Babel and Abram! At Babel, proud people said, “Let’s make a name for ourselves!” But to humble Abram, God Himself said, “I will bless you and make your name great. You will be a blessing!” Even better, God promised that through Abram’s family line, all the families of the earth would be blessed—a promise that was ultimately fulfilled when our Saviour Jesus Christ was born from Abraham’s family!

Moving to a brand-new country when you do not even have a map takes great trust in God. Yet Abram did not argue or delay. Even though he was seventy-five years old and he and Sarai had no children yet, Abram obeyed right away:

“So Abram went, as Yahweh had spoken to him. Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed out of Haran. Abram took Sarai his wife, Lot his brother’s son, all their substance that they had gathered, and the people whom they had acquired in Haran, and they went to go into the land of Canaan. Into the land of Canaan they came.” — Genesis 12:4–5 (WEB)

Part B: Altars of Worship in the Promised Land (Genesis 12:6–9)

When Abram, Sarai, and Lot arrived in the land of Canaan, they travelled to a place called Shechem, beside a famous large tree called the oak of Moreh. The Canaanite people were already living in the land, so Abram lived as a peaceful traveller in tents. Right there at Shechem, Yahweh appeared to Abram and confirmed His promise:

“Yahweh appeared to Abram and said, ‘I will give this land to your seed.’ He built an altar there to Yahweh, who had appeared to him.” — Genesis 12:7 (WEB)

Everywhere Abram pitched his tent, he also built an altar to worship and thank God. From Shechem, Abram moved to the mountain east of Bethel (with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east):

“There he built an altar to Yahweh, and called on Yahweh’s name. Abram travelled, going on still towards the South.” — Genesis 12:8–9 (WEB)

Abram teaches us a wonderful habit: wherever our family goes, we should always put prayer and worship of Yahweh first!

Part C: Counting the Stars — “He Believed in Yahweh!” (Genesis 15:1–6)

Years passed in the land of Canaan, and Abram and Sarai were growing even older, yet they still did not have a child of their own. One night, the word of Yahweh came to Abram in a vision with gentle, comforting words:

“After these things the word of Yahweh came to Abram in a vision, saying, ‘Don’t be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.’” — Genesis 15:1 (WEB)

Abram honestly poured out his heart to God, saying: “Lord Yahweh, what will you give me, seeing I go childless, and he who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” (Genesis 15:2, WEB). Abram wondered if his faithful servant Eliezer would have to inherit everything because God had given him no children yet.

How did Yahweh answer Abram? God promised that Abram’s very own son would be his heir. Then God led Abram outside his tent into the cool night air and gave him an unforgettable object lesson written across the heavens:

“Yahweh brought him outside, and said, ‘Look now towards the sky, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.’ He said to Abram, ‘So your seed will be.’ He believed in Yahweh, and he reckoned it to him for righteousness.” — Genesis 15:5–6 (WEB)

Abram looked up at the thousands of sparkling stars created by God, and even though it seemed impossible in human eyes for an old man and his elderly wife to have a baby, Abram believed in Yahweh! Because Abram trusted God’s promise with all his heart, God counted his faith as righteousness.

5. Quick Revision Table: Key Facts of God’s Promise to Abram (WEB)

6. Class Discussion Questions

1. How was Abram’s attitude different from the proud builders at the Tower of Babel?
2. Why did it take great faith for 75-year-old Abram and Sarai to leave Haran and travel to Canaan?
3. What did Abram build at Shechem and near Bethel? Why is it important for us to pray and thank God wherever we go?
4. When you feel afraid or worried, how do God’s words to Abram in Genesis 15:1 (“Don’t be afraid... I am your shield”) encourage you?

7. Fun Children’s Activity

8. Closing Prayer

“Loving Heavenly Father, thank You for calling Abram and for keeping every single promise You made to him. Thank You that You are our Shield and our exceedingly great reward. Give us strong faith like Abram to obey Your voice promptly, worship You wherever we go, and be a blessing to everyone around us. In Jesus’ mighty name we pray, Amen.”