Bible Study - Redeemed (1) - Redeemed from Poor Choices - Genesis 15:1-6; 16:1-5; 17:18-19 - April17, 2016

Bible Study – Redeemed (1) – Redeemed From Poor Choices – April 17, 2016

This is lesson one (1) in our series entitled “Beauty from Ashes: Redeeming Your Broken Moments.”

Our focus scripture Genesis 15:1-6; 16:1-5; 17:18-19.

GOD’S plans are always better than our own.

We all make mistakes and fail. We all have sinned and fallen short of GOD’S expectations for our lives even after we have become Christians. As Christians we can confess our sins, repent and GOD cleanses and restores but we still have to suffer the consequences of our sins. If we have killed another person we have to live with that consequence and we could list many other examples. We may have been burnt by the consequences of our sins. Only GOD can create a crown of beauty from ashes. Isaiah 61:1-4:

Messiah's Jubilee

1 The Spirit of the Lord God is on Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and freedom to the prisoners;

2 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of our God's vengeance; to comfort all who mourn,

3 to provide for those who mourn in Zion; to give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, festive oil instead of mourning, and splendid clothes instead of despair. And they will be called righteous trees, planted by the Lord, to glorify Him.

For the next six weeks, we will study various scriptures where GOD “made beauty from ashes.” This is to encourage all who think they have made a mess of their lives are not without hope when they place their trust and faith in CHRIST. Faith in JESUS turns a life of despair into a life of beauty.

When GOD fails to follow our timeline, most of us get impatient. GOD made a promise to Abraham that the off spring from his own body would be as numerous as the dust of the earth or like the stars in the sky. When GOD reveals truth to us are we willing to wait upon HIM? Let’s explore!

As you may recall, Abram’s and Lot’s herdsmen began bickering and Abram was concerned that their herdsmen quarreling would result in Abram and Lot having a rift. Abram told Lot that they needed to separate. Abram told Lot that he had first choice regarding the direction he would go. It he chose left then Abram would go right and vice versa. One direction was more promising than the other. The more fertile direction was toward Sodom and Lot chose that direction.

This reveals the character of Abram. He gave Lot first choice.

Abram’s nephew, Lot and his family chose to live in Sodom. In time Sodom and Gomorrah were defeated and Lot and his possessions were carried off. A person who had escaped the defeat told Abram what had happened and that his nephew, Lot, had been captured. Abram and his men (318) spring into action and defeated Kedorlaomer and the other kings allied with him. Abraham recovered all the goods and brought back Lot and his possessions together with the women and the other people.

Again, this reveals Abram’s heart and character and dependence upon GOD.

Then Abram encounters Melchizedek, King of Salem. Salem is another word for Jerusalem. Melchizedek was the priest of GOD Most High and He ministered to Abram and blessed him. It was recorded that Melchizedek did not have a mother or father. In fact, some Bible scholars think Melchizedek was a Spiritual manifestation of CHRIST but not yet born as a human. He made the physical area where the temple would reside in Jerusalem Holy.

The King of Sodom told Abram that he would take the people he had rescued but for him to keep the goods for himself. Abram refused to accept any of the goods for himself because whatever prosperity he had he wanted it to come from GOD. Abram did allow the men who accompanied him to keep the share of the goods that belonged to them.

Again, this reveals the heart and nature of Abram.

Notice the progression and testing of Abram by GOD, which prepared him for the next steps in his faith journey.

This leads us to “after these events ---“

Let’s read Genesis 15:1-6:

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.

GOD manifested Himself to Abram. Abram had proven himself to have a personal faith and trust in GOD. GOD told Abram that He was his protector or his shield and that HE was going to reward Abram mightily.

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?"

Abram was puzzled because he was already materially wealthy and more stuff was useless to him because he had all he needed. Plus he did not have anyone to leave his wealth to except his trusted servant Eliezer of Damascus.

3 Abram continued, "Look, You have given me no offspring, so a slave born in my house will be my heir."

Children come from GOD and GOD had not blessed Abram and Sarai with a child. Abram was speaking honestly to GOD. The word “look” can be translated “behold” or let’s consider the fact, “We have no child.”

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."

GOD in turn says, “Okay let’s consider the fact that I AM GOD. Eliezer will not be your heir; instead you will have a child of your very own.”

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]."

GOD had told Abram in Genesis 13:16:

16 I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if one could count the dust of the earth, then your offspring could be counted.

6 Abram believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness.

Faith equals righteousness or in “right standing with GOD.”

Was GOD referring to both Abram’s physical and Spiritual offspring? JESUS’ earthly ancestral line comes from Abram. JESUS established the new covenant of salvation through faith in HIM and GOD’S Grace to maintain that relationship.

Let’s read Genesis 16:1-5:

Hagar and Ishmael

1 Abram's wife Sarai had not borne him children. 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 I can have children by her." And Abram agreed to what Sarai said.

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.

“It was a common practice in that day in that part of the world. When a child was conceived by a surrogate, the child belonged to the wife who arranged the relationship. Thus, the child would be Sarai’s, not Hagar’s.” Herschel Hobbs Commentary, page 75, spring 2016, LifeWay, Nashville, TN.

Once this arrangement was agreed to, Hagar’s status in the household changed from slave to wife. Hagar was no longer under Sarai’s authority but Abram’s authority.

4 He slept with Hagar, and she became pregnant. When she realized that she was pregnant, she looked down on her mistress.

5 Then Sarai said to Abram, "You are responsible for my suffering! I put my slave in your arms, and ever since she saw that she was pregnant, she has looked down on me. May the Lord judge between me and you."

As our former pastor used to say, “The Japanese symbol for trouble depicted two women under one roof.” A woman who could bear a child considered herself favored by GOD. When Hagar conceived she got the big head and likely strutted – Like ninny, ninny, boo, boo, you could not get pregnant by your husband but look at me. Now, we know that you were the problem.

When we take matters from GOD hands to ours, it means trouble. Waiting upon GOD is often very hard to do because HIS ways are not our ways. Often, HE causes us to wait so when HE does what HE has promised, we know that HE did it.

So Ishmael was born to Hagar and Abram. This union resulted in the continuation of the old covenant of obeying the Law and commandments. It is still in effect today.

There is another point to consider in the customs of that time period. If a slave elevated to the status of wife did not act properly she could be returned to her status as a slave. This is what Sarai expected Abram to do with her statement “May the Lord judge between me and you.” GOD will reveal who was wrong – you or me.

Let’s read Genesis 17:18-19:

18 So Abraham said to God, "If only Ishmael could live in Your presence!"

19 But God said, "No. Your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will name him Isaac. I will confirm My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him.

Ishmael grew and in the absence of another child, Abram wanted Ishmael to be the child of promise. GOD emphatically said NO!

"No. Your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will name him Isaac. I will confirm My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him.

The New Covenant established by the shed blood of JESUS would come through the ancestral bloodline of Isaac. This ancestral line in recorded in 

Matthew 1:1-2, 16-17:

The Genealogy of Jesus Christ

1 The historical record of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:

From Abraham to David

2 Abraham fathered Isaac, Isaac fathered Jacob, Jacob fathered Judah and his brothers, ----

Matthew 1:16-17:

16 and Jacob fathered Joseph the husband of Mary, who gave birth to Jesus who is called the Messiah.

17 So all the generations from Abraham to David were 14 generations; and from David until the exile to Babylon, 14 generations; and from the exile to 

Babylon until the Messiah, 14 generations.

When you study the life of Abram/Abraham you find that he was not perfect. 

He had his moments and made poor choices, yet GOD chose him and Sarai/Sarah through whom the Messiah would come to earth in human form.

Notice that GOD changed the names of Abram to Abraham and Sarai to Sarah in preparation for them to conceive the child of promise through whom the ancestral line would produce JESUS Who will establish the New Covenant.

The Apostle Paul wrote in Galatians 3:27-29

Sons and Heirs

27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

28 There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, heirs according to the promise.

Yet when we study the faith that Abraham had in GOD it is astounding. The story of Abraham taking his only son Isaac to a mountain that GOD would show him. Abraham was to sacrifice Isaac to GOD as a burnt offering is astounding. This meant that Isaac would be reduced to ashes. Yet Abraham had such faith in GOD that if he did reduce Isaac to ashes, GOD would resurrect him. Genesis gives us the clue in Genesis 22:4-5:

4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance.

5 Then Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there to worship; then we'll come back to you."

We all make poor choices but GOD looks at the end result. Never give up on HIM because HE never gives up on you. Only GOD can create beauty from ashes. Trust in HIM and give your life to JESUS and obediently serve HIM. 

Blessings!!!