Bible Study - Life After Failure - From Failure to Direction - Genesis 15, 16, 17 - October 14, 2012

Bible Study – Life After Failure – From Failure to Direction – October 14, 2012

This is lesson two (2) in our series entitled “Is There Life After Failure?”

Our scripture is Genesis 15:4-6; 16:1-5; 17:3-6, 15-19.

This lesson is what I like about GOD’S Word, the Bible; it tells the good things and the not so good things about people of faith. Abraham, the father and patriarch of the Jews was not perfect. He had a strong faith in GOD and GOD recognized, acknowledged and honored his faith. GOD changed his name from Abram, which means “father is exalted” to Abraham which means “father of a multitude.”

Abram came from the area known as Chaldean of Ur, which is also known as Babylonia. Abram was not a Hebrew name. It is the name his father gave him. Abram was 75 years old when GOD first called him and gave him the promise and blessing as recorded in Genesis 12:1-4:

The Call of Abram

1 The Lord said to Abram:
Go out from your land, your relatives, and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. a 2 I will make you into a great nation, b I will bless you, c I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. de 3 I will bless those who bless you, I will curse those who treat you with contempt, f and all the peoples g on earth will be blessed h through you. ij
4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was 75 years old when he left Haran. k

                                                                                   
We never get too old to be called by GOD to obediently serve HIM. Also, pay special attention to what GOD promised Abram. Every Christian by faith is a descendant of Abram and the promises GOD made to him are promises Christians can claim as well.

Let’s read Genesis 15:4-6:

The Abrahamic Covenant 

1 After these events, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield; your reward will be very great. 2 But Abram said, “Lord God, what can You give me, since I am childless and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 Abram continued, “Look, You have given me no •offspring, so a slave born in my house will be my heir.” 4 Now the word of the Lord came to him: “This one will not be your heir; instead, one who comes from your own body will be your heir.” 5 He took him outside and said, “Look at the sky and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then He said to him, “Your offspring will be that numerous.” 6 Abram believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness.

“After these events” covers a lot of history, no pun intended. Abram’s and Lot’s herdsmen began to quarrel over grazing land. Rather than risking that their herdsmen’s quarrel might cause a rift between Abram and Lot, they decided to go in opposite directions to find suitable grazing lands. Abram let Lot choose first the direction he would go in. This revealed the heart of Abram. He could have pulled rank on Lot and chosen first. Lot’s choice revealed Lot’s heart. Lot chose the fertile valley toward Sodom and Abram went in the opposite direction. A rival king attacked the king of Sodom and carried off Lot and his possessions.

Abram organized his own army of 318 men and got the possessions and people from Sodom back, which included Lot. The king of Sodom was grateful to Abram and offered for him to keep the loot. Abram refused the bounty because whatever he acquired, he wanted the king to know that GOD had provided it and his wealth did not come from the king of Sodom. This was a witness to the king of Sodom and the people of Sodom that the GOD of Abram was sufficient. That revealed the heart of Abram toward GOD and his faith in GOD to provide. The people of Sodom were focused on immediate pleasure and GOD was not on their minds. Abram was focused on building the right relationship with GOD.

Fortunately, we get to see the whole history of events which would unfold regarding making the right choice - serving GOD or the flesh. If you study the life of Abram you will see that he made a number of bad choices in his journey with GOD. But GOD does not focus on the short term but the long term. HE knows what we are capable of becoming when we turn our lives over to HIM and trust HIM.

Abram had revealed his heart to GOD. It was a heart of faithfulness and trust. GOD spoke to Abram in a vision and told him that HE was his protector and HE would reward him. Abram, in essence, said, “If you want to reward me, give me a son to inherit all that YOU have given to me because of what value is it for my slave to inherit all that you have provided?” GOD needed to expand Abram’s vision of what HE could do. Even though Abram trusted GOD, he had limited his vision to the physical abilities that GOD could accomplish through him and the things already in place to achieve that end. GOD was teaching Abram a valuable lesson for him not to limit HIS ability. It is not only a lesson for Abram but a lesson to all who obediently serve GOD through CHRIST.

GOD made it clear to Abram that his servant would not be his heir but an heir would come from his own body. GOD took Abram outside and instructed him to look up. When we are down and feel defeated by our own inability to accomplish something, GOD instructs us to look up. GOD’S desire is for HIS chosen to look beyond their ability and look to HIS capability. GOD told Abram to count the stars in the sky if he could. Then HE said to him, “Your offspring will be that numerous.”

In verse 6, we see the hallmark statement that made Abram righteous and is the very foundation for a Christian’s faith in CHRIST, as their Savior – “Abram believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness.”

Faith and righteousness go hand in hand. Do you recall 2 Corinthians 5:21 - 21 He (GOD) made the One (JESUS) who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we (All who believe in HIM) might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Do you want to be righteous before GOD? Then accept CHRIST as your Savior. Ask HIM to forgive you for your sins and to come into your heart right now. When you do, HE will and you will become a child of GOD through the miracle of rebirth in your spirit. You will receive the indwelling Holy Spirit, eternal life and your citizenship in heaven. Your eternal home and destination is secured through the shed blood of CHRIST. If you have never accepted CHRIST as your Savior, now is the time because eternity is only a heartbeat away. Just as GOD honored Abram’s faith as righteousness, HE honors our faith in CHRIST as righteousness, which makes those who believe in CHRIST HIS Sons or Daughters for eternity through the miracle of rebirth in his/her spirit.

Abram believed GOD. Here is where I get into trouble. When GOD reveals to me that HE is going to something, I expect it to happen fairly quickly. GOD made a promise to Abram and he believed what GOD had told him. Time marches on and Sarai’s biological clock has already run out. Abram apparently rethinks GOD’S message to him about an heir coming from his body. Abram, might have thought, “Gee was GOD wanting my heir to come from my wife Sarai or did HE have something else in mind?” Most of us want things to happen quickly but GOD always has a purpose in delay. It teaches us patience and to wait upon GOD. I think GOD needed for Abram and Sarai to know that they had nothing to do with conceiving a child but their child of promise was from GOD because they were too old to naturally produce a child.

Let’s continue to explore as Abram ponders what he might need to do to accomplish GOD’S promise for him to have an heir. Abram had shared GOD’S promise with his wife Sarai. Some ten (10) years had passed and they are getting older and still no heir. So what does one do?

Let’s read Genesis 16:1-5:

Hagar and Ishmael

1 Abram’s wife Sarai had not borne any children for him, but she owned an Egyptian slave named Hagar.
2 Sarai said to Abram, “Since the Lord has prevented me from bearing children, go to my slave; perhaps through her I can build a family.” And Abram agreed to what Sarai said.a Lit Abram listened to the voice of Sarai
3 So Abram’s wife Sarai took Hagar, her Egyptian slave, and gave her to her husband, Abram, as a wife for him. This happened after Abram had lived in the land of Canaan 10 years.
4 He slept withb Lit He came to Hagar, and she became pregnant. When she realized that she was pregnant, she treated her mistress with contempt.
5 Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for my suffering!c Or May my suffering be on you I put my slave in your arms,d Lit bosom and ever since she saw that she was pregnant, she has treated me with contempt. May the Lord judge between me and you.”e  

Sarai came up with a plan to provide Abram with an heir. There is trouble in River City when two women come under one roof and when we take matters into our own hands. How well I know, it is tough to wait upon the LORD.

Sarai gave Abram permission to have sex with Hagar, Sarai’s Egyptian slave. This may seem strange but here was the thinking. Hagar was Sarai’s slave. Sarai planned to use her slave as a surrogate mother. The idea being, if Hagar got pregnant by Abram, then the child would be considered the child of Sarai. Hagar, being the slave, was acting in Sarai’s place. Hagar got pregnant and her attitude toward Sarai surfaced. It was like “ninny, ninny, boo, boo, Sarai it is clear that you were the problem because Abram slept with me and I got pregnant.” This added insult to injury and Sarai gave Abram and edict, “It is either Hagar or me! You make the choice! Because once Hagar got pregnant she has treated me with contempt!” Abram did what most men do; he left the decision to Sarai. Hagar birthed a son and they named him Ishmael, which means “GOD hears.” It is believed that the descendants of Ishmael are today’s Arabs and the descendants of Isaac are the Jews. Isaac means “GOD laughs.” Thus the war goes on even today between the Arabs and Jews. But that gets us ahead of the events yet to unfold. Some 13 years have passed and it is time to prepare for the coming of the promised child, Isaac, to Abram and Sarai.  But first GOD established HIS covenant with Abram and changed both Abram’s and Sarai’s names.

I believe this was a foreshadow for the birth of JESUS. Since GOD can have Abram and Sarai to conceive and birth a child at 99 and 89 years old, then the Magnificant conception of JESUS is equally a reality.   

Let’s read Genesis 17:3-6, 15-19:

Covenant Circumcision

1 When Abram was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to him, saying, “I am •God Almighty.a Gn 28:3; 35:11; Ex 6:3 Live in My presence and be blameless.b Gn 6:9; Ps 15:2; Lk 1:6
2 I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you greatly.”
3 Then Abram fell facedown and God spoke with him:
4 “As for Me, My covenant is with you: you will become the father of many nations.c Abraham was the father of the Israelites, Ishmaelites, Edomites, and Midianites. Spiritually, he is the father of all believers; Gl 3:7,29.
5 Your name will no longer be Abram,d = The Father Is Exalted but your name will be Abraham,e = Father of a Multitude for I will make you the father of many nations.f Gn 35:11; 48:19; Rm 4:11-12,16-18
6 I will make you extremely fruitful and will make nations and kings come from you.
7 I will keep My covenant between Me and you, and your future •offspring throughout their generations, as an everlasting covenantg Gn 9:16 to be your God and the God of your offspring after you.h Ex 6:7; Lv 11:45; 26:12,45; Dt 29:13; Heb 11:16; Rv 21:7
8 And to you and your future offspringi Gl 3:16 I will give the land where you are residing—all the land of Canaan—as an eternal possession,j Gn 48:4; Ac 7:5 and I will be their God.”
9 God also said to Abraham, “As for you, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations are to keep My covenant.
10 This is My covenant, which you are to keep, between Me and you and your offspring after you: Every one of your males must be circumcised.
11 You must circumcise the flesh of your foreskin to serve as a sign of the covenant between Me and you.k You in v. 11 is pl.l Ex 12:48; Dt 10:16; Ac 7:8; Rm 4:11
12 Throughout your generations, every male among you at eight days old is to be circumcised.m Lv 12:3; Lk 1:59; 2:21; Php 3:5 This includes a slave born in your house and one purchased with money from any foreigner. The one who is not your offspring,
13 a slave born in your house, as well as one purchased with money, must be circumcised. My covenant will be marked in your flesh as an everlasting covenant.
14 If any male is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that man will be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.”
15 God said to Abraham, “As for your wife Sarai, do not call her Sarai, for Sarahn = Princess will be her name.
16 I will bless her; indeed, I will give you a son by her.o Gn 18:10 I will bless her, and she will produce nations; kings of peoples will come from her.”
17 Abraham fell facedown. Then he laughedp Gn 21:6-7; Rm 4:19 and said to himself, “Can a child be born to a hundred-year-old man? Can Sarah, a ninety-year-old woman, give birth?”
18 So Abraham said to God, “If only Ishmael were acceptable to You!”q Lit Ishmael would live in Your sight
19 But God said, “No. Your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will name him Isaac.r = He Laughs I will confirm My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his future offspring.

GOD reconfirmed HIS promise to Abram when Abram was 99 years old. Abram would be assured that the child produced by his union with Sarai would be a miracle from GOD. Abram had to be faithful to GOD and GOD would fulfill HIS promise to him. GOD confirmed that Abram would be the father of nations and HIS covenant was through him by faith. Abram showed reverence, honor and respect to GOD by falling on his face before HIM.

GOD changed Abram’s name to Abraham. Abram means “exalted father” and Abraham means “father of a multitude.” We see a few verses further that GOD also changed the name of Sarai to Sarah. Sarai and Sarah both mean “princess” or “noble lady.” Bible scholars believe that her name change was to reflect her importance to the covenant that GOD established with Abraham.

I have often wondered why GOD used circumcision as a symbol and reminder of HIS covenant with GOD. I will share the thought that came to me and you can judge whether or not it was a human thought or a revelation. If GOD had said for example “cut off a portion of your finger” such an act although painful, once healed, I believe would lose its meaning and be forgotten; Whereas, circumcision would be a random, periodic occurrence throughout the day as a reminder of their covenant with GOD. You can decide.

GOD established HIS covenant with Abraham, which was fulfilled in the birth, life, death, resurrection and accession of JESUS. JESUS did not abolish the covenant GOD established through Abraham because the covenant was and is a covenant of faith. Let’s read Matthew 26:26-28:

The First Lord’s Supper

26 As they were eating,t Mk 14:22-25; Lk 22:17-20: 1Co 11:23-25 Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to the disciples,u Mt 10:1; 26:56; Mk 3:7; 16:20; Lk 6:13; Jn 12:16 and said, “Take and eat it; this is My body.”v Mt 14:19; 1Co 10:16
27 Then He took a cup, and after giving thanks, He gave it to them and said, “Drink from it, all of you.
28 For this is My blood that establishes the covenant;w Other mss read new covenant it is shed for many for the forgiveness of sins.x Ex 24:8; Mt 20:28; Mk 1:4; Heb 9:20

GOD considered Abraham’s faith as righteousness and faith is still required to receive righteousness through the shed blood of CHRIST. Before CHRIST gave HIS sinless life to pay, in full, the debt for the sins of all whom, by faith, accept CHRIST as their Savior, people of faith in GOD were secured by faith through the shed blood of animals to secure their faith until the passion of CHRIST.

Abraham asked GOD to accept Ishmael as his heir but GOD said no. HIS plan for salvation would come through the lineage of Isaac which would include King David to CHRIST.

Both Abraham and Sarah thought that the notion of them conceiving a child was impossible at their age. Physically, they were correct but with GOD all things are possible. They both laughed when they were told that they would have their own biological child. Was their laughter a laughter of doubt or laughter of “Gee, if this happens it will be a miracle?” GOD’S desire was to confirm HIS capability to do the impossible according to human logic.

GOD is still in the business of doing the impossible and turning failure of our human abilities into triumph according to HIS will and purpose. Christians today have the privilege of witnessing GOD’S handiwork through the scriptures and to know that HE is still at work through the lives of HIS obedient children. Confess any failure that prevents you from obediently serving GOD and ask HIM to help you build a loving, intimate, personal relationship with HIM through CHRIST. The indwelling Holy Spirit will minister to you and help restore the joy of your Salvation.

Blessings!