1) God appears to Abram and tells him not to be afraid, that God will shield and greatly reward him. 2) Abram questions this since he has no offspring, and his servant will inherit from him instead. 3) God reiterates that Abram's own offspring will inherit from him and tells Abram to look at the stars, that his descendants will be as numerous. 4) Abram believes God, and it is reckoned to him as righteousness.

1. BECOMING FRIENDS WITH GOD
Genesis 15:1-6

2. OPENING PRAYER
Beckoning God,
move in our lives,
inviting us to journey
to unknown territory,
to listen for your voice,
and to speak your prophetic
word.
Empowered by your Spirit,
grant us the courage we need
to journey, trust, listen, speak,
and accept your commission
to be your faithful servant
people. Amen.

3. PLOT

4. ONE DAY, THE
END
By Rebecca
Kai Dotlich

5. “ONE DAY I FELT LIKE STOMPING. STOMP
(X12)! THE END.”

6. WHY DOES SHE FEEL THAT WAY?

7. STOMPING …

8. THE END

9. THE BOOK’S
PHILOSOPHY

10. ABRAHAM’S STORY

11. GENESIS 15: 1-6 (NRSV)
After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, “Do not
be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be
very great.” But Abram said, “O Lord GOD, what will you give me,
for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of
Damascus?” And Abram said, “You have given me no offspring,
so a slave born in my house is to be my heir.” But the word of
the LORD came to him, “This man shall not be your heir; no one but your
very own issue shall be your heir.” He brought him outside and said, “Look
toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he
said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” And he believed the LORD, and
the LORD reckoned it to him as righteousness.

13. WHY DO WE SKIP
OVER MIDDLES?
1. TIME
Image by flickr user Alex Lehner / CC

14. Image by flickr user Stephen Nicholas / CC
WHY DO WE SKIP
OVER MIDDLES?
2. MESSINESS

15. PATTERN/MOTIF
When and how
does it shift?
Image by flickr user Alex Peterson / CC

16. GENESIS: THE STORY WE HAVEN’T HEARD
BY PAUL BORGMAN

17. VISIT WHAT GOD SAYS WHAT ABRAM DOES SIGNIFICANCE
VISIT 1 “Leave your country” (12:1-3) Abram leaves. Obedient. Physically
moves. Silent.
VISIT 2
VISIT 3
VISIT 4

18. VISIT WHAT GOD SAYS WHAT ABRAM DOES SIGNIFICANCE
VISIT 1 “Leave your country” (12:1-3) Abram leaves. Obedient. Physically
moves. Silent.
VISIT 2 Promises, “To your offspring I will
give this land” (12:7-8)
Builds altar. Listens. Initiates a
response, but in symbolic
way. Silent.
VISIT 3
VISIT 4

19. VISIT WHAT GOD SAYS WHAT ABRAM DOES SIGNIFICANCE
VISIT 1 “Leave your country” (12:1-3) Abram left. Obedient. Physically
moves. Silent.
VISIT 2 Promises, “To your offspring I will
give this land” (12:7-8)
Builds altar. Listens. Initiates a
response, but in symbolic
way. Silent.
VISIT 3 Promises land to offspring again.
Commands, “Go, walk through …
the land” (13:14-18)
Obeys, then builds altar. Combo of visits 1 & 2:
Physically moves and
symbolically responds. Still
hasn’t said a word.
VISIT 4

20. VISIT WHAT GOD SAYS WHAT ABRAM DOES SIGNIFICANCE
VISIT 1 “Leave your country” (12:1-3) Abram left. Obedient. Physically
moves. Silent.
VISIT 2 Promises, “To your offspring I will
give this land” (12:7-8)
Builds altar. Listens. Initiates a
response, but in symbolic
way. Silent.
VISIT 3 Promises land to offspring again.
Commands, “Go, walk through …
the land” (13:14-18)
Obeys, then builds altar. Combo of visits 1 & 2:
Physically moves and
symbolically responds. Still
hasn’t said a word.
VISIT 4 “Do not be afraid” (15:1-6) Asks questions for
clarification.
Abram talks back! And he
believes.

21. GENESIS 15: 1-6 (NRSV)
After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, “Do not
be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be
very great.” But Abram said, “O Lord GOD, what will you give me,
for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of
Damascus?” And Abram said, “You have given me no offspring,
so a slave born in my house is to be my heir.” But the word of
the LORD came to him, “This man shall not be your heir; no one but your
very own issue shall be your heir.” He brought him outside and said, “Look
toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he
said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” And he believed the LORD, and
the LORD reckoned it to him as righteousness.

22. GENESIS 15: 1-6 (NRSV)
After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, “Do not
be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be
very great.” But Abram said, “O Lord GOD, what will you give me,
for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” And
Abram said, “You have given me no offspring,
so a slave born in my house is to be my heir.” But the word of the LORD came
to him, “This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue
shall be your heir.” He brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven
and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him,
“So shall your descendants be.” And he believed the LORD, and
the LORD reckoned it to him as righteousness.

24. VISIT WHAT GOD SAYS WHAT ABRAM DOES SIGNIFICANCE
VISIT 1 “Leave your country” (12:1-3) Abram left. Obedient. Physically
moves. Silent.
VISIT 2 Promises, “To your offspring I will
give this land” (12:7-8)
Builds altar. Listens. Initiates a
response, but in symbolic
way. Silent.
VISIT 3 Promises land to offspring again.
Commands, “Go, walk through …
the land” (13:14-18)
Obeys, then builds altar. Combo of visits 1 & 2:
Physically moves and
symbolically responds. Still
hasn’t said a word.
VISIT 4 “Do not be afraid” (15:1-6) Asks questions for
clarification.
Abram talks back! And he
“believes.”

25. MIDDLES
MATTER!
Image by flickr user Annie / CC licensed

26. GOD
WANTS TO
ESTABLISH A
FRIENDSHIP
“God’s Promise to Abram” by
James Tissot (ca. 1896-1902)

27. GOD MIGHT
ASK FOR
CHARACTER
CHANGE
“Do not be …”

28. GOD CARES
ENOUGH TO
HELP YOU
“Starry Night”
by Vincent van Gogh (1889)

29. CLOSING PRAYER
Hope beyond all human hope,
you promised descendants as
numerous as the stars to old
Abraham and barren Sarah.
You promise light and salvation in
the midst of darkness and despair,
and promise redemption to our
broken world. Gather us to yourself
in tenderness, open our ears
to listen to your word, and teach
us to live faithfully as people
confident of the fulfillment
of your promises. We ask this
in the name of Jesus Christ.
Amen.