RTW 2024

Abraham married another wife, whose name was Keturah. She gave birth to Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan. Dedan’s descendants were the Asshurites, Letushites, and Leummites. Midian’s sons were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. These were all descendants of Abraham through Keturah.

Genesis 25:1-4

And the LORD told her, “The sons in your womb will become two nations. From the very beginning, the two nations will be rivals. One nation will be stronger than the other; and your older son will serve your younger son.”
Genesis 25:23

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• Many of the biblical accounts are about God coming and finding us.
• God meets people where (and how) they are, but never leaves them there.
• Much of the tension of the Bible is felt between the “not where they were” and “not yet where they will be.”
• God comes to Abram and moves him.
• God moves him out of all that is familiar,
• God moves him from Ur to Haran to Canaan.
• Why?
• God has a plan.
• Abraham’s move to the Fertile Crescent and the international trade route has purpose.
• Through his many descendants, Abraham becomes the father of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
• Abraham also becomes the first missionary.
• God positions Abraham in the center of the Ancient World.
• In the midst of polytheistic peoples, God places the monotheistic Abraham.
• God grows Abraham’s family into a nation.
• This nation is to witness to the nations of the world what it means to know and serve the One True Living God.
• Instead of God sending people to the nations, God sends the nations to a people.

God’s heart has been for the world from the beginning. He is sending the nations to His people…are we ready?