Abram’s Courage
Teachers
Lesson Summary
The class focused on Abraham as a model of God‑given courage, emphasizing that courage is a transformative gift that requires deliberate choice and faith that outweighs personal concerns. The teacher began by relating personal experiences of receiving but sometimes overlooking God’s courage, then linked this to James 1:2’s instruction to count trials as joy, framing trials as a conduit for courageous growth. Five key episodes from Abraham’s life were highlighted. First, Abraham’s response to God’s call in Genesis 12 to leave his homeland demonstrated trust in an unknown destination. Second, his rescue of Lot in Genesis 14 showed willingness to confront multiple kings with a modest household of 318 men. Third, Abraham’s negotiations with God over the fate of Sodom in Genesis 18 displayed boldness in pleading for mercy. The teacher also noted Abraham’s refusal to claim any loot from the king of Sodom, underscoring his desire to give glory solely to God. Each story illustrated how faith fuels courage, encouraging listeners to adopt the same steadfast confidence in God’s promises today.
Key Scriptures
Now the Lord said to Abram, 'Go forth from your country, from your relatives, from your father's house, to the land that I will show you. And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and I will make your name great, and so you shall be a blessing. And I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse those who curse you; and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.' So Abram went forth, as the Lord had spoken to him.
Then a fugitive came and told Abram the Hebrew, who was living by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eschol and brother of Aner; these were allies of Abram. When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he led out his trained men, born in his household, 318 of them, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. He divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and defeated them, and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus. He brought back all the goods, and brought back his relative Lot with his possessions, and the women and the people.
Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, while Abraham was still standing before the Lord. Abraham came near and said, 'Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; will you indeed sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of fifty righteous people who are in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be treated like the wicked; far be it from you! Shall not the judge of all the earth do what is just?' The Lord said, 'If I find in Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.' Abraham replied, 'Now behold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord although I am but dust and ashes. Suppose fifty righteous are lacking; will you destroy the whole city because of fifty?' He said, 'I will not destroy it if I find fifty righteous there.'