Bible Study - Walking in Confidence (4) - Confidence in Seasons of Uncertainity - Genesis 15:1-6, 13-16 - November 7, 2021

 

Bible Study – Walking in Confidence (4) – Confidence in Seasons of Uncertainty – November 7, 2021

This is lesson four in our series entitled, “Walking in Confidence.”

Our focus scripture is Genesis 15:1-6, 13-16.

Trust GOD when you don’t have all the answers.

Background Genesis 14:8-24:

⁸ Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) went out and lined up for battle in the Siddim Valley ⁹ against King Chedorlaomer of Elam, King Tidal of Goiim, King Amraphel of Shinar, and King Arioch of Ellasar—four kings against five. ¹⁰ Now the Siddim Valley contained many asphalt pits, and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some fell into them,^[b] but the rest fled to the mountains. ¹¹ The four kings took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food and went on. ¹² They also took Abram’s nephew Lot and his possessions, for he was living in Sodom, and they went on.

¹³ One of the survivors came and told Abram the Hebrew, who lived near the oaks belonging to Mamre the Amorite, the brother of Eshcol and the brother of Aner. They were bound by a treaty with Abram. ¹⁴ When Abram heard that his relative had been taken prisoner, he assembled^[c] his 318 trained men, born in his household, and they went in pursuit as far as Dan. ¹⁵ And he and his servants deployed against them by night, defeated them, and pursued them as far as Hobah to the north of Damascus. ¹⁶ He brought back all the goods and also his relative Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the other people.

Melchizedek’s Blessing

¹⁷ After Abram returned from defeating Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him in the Shaveh Valley (that is, the King’s Valley). ¹⁸ Melchizedek, king of Salem,^{[d] (Jerusalem)} brought out bread and wine; he was a priest to God Most High. ¹⁹ He blessed him and said:

Abram is blessed by God Most High,
Creator^[e] of heaven and earth,
²⁰ and blessed be God Most High
who has handed over your enemies to you.

And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

²¹ Then the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people, but take the possessions for yourself.”

²² But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand in an oath to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, ²³ that I will not take a thread or sandal strap or anything that belongs to you, so you can never say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ ²⁴ I will take nothing except what the servants have eaten. But as for the share of the men who came with me—Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre—they can take their share.”

Abram wanted the king of Sodom to know that GOD gave him the victory. This was done in the presence of Melchizedek to whom Abram gave an offering of one tenth to show that Abram knew GOD had given him the victory.

Why this background? It was to show how Abram had grown Spiritually to trust GOD for his victory over the four kings. Abram took 318 of his trained men to defeat the four kings that had defeated five kings and taken Lot. Abram wanted the King of Sodom to know that his trust was in the One True GOD, Yahweh. Abram witnessed to the King of Sodom in the presence of Melchizedek.

Who was Melchizedek? We read in Hebrews 7:1 - For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, met Abraham and blessed him as he returned from defeating the kings, ² and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means king of righteousness, then also, king of Salem, meaning king of peace. 3 Without father, mother, or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.

Melchizedek, King of Salem, is mentioned by King David in Psalms 110:4, which is prophecy relating to JESUS:

The Lord has sworn an oath and will not take it back:
“You (JESUS) are a priest forever
according to the pattern of Melchizedek.”

We read In Hebrews 5:1-10: (This scripture refers to JESUS as our High Priest. JESUS paid the penalty for sin by sacrificing HIS own sinless body. HE willingly shed HIS sinless blood to pay, in full, for sin. Second Corinthians 5:20-21 confirms this - ²⁰ Therefore, we (Spirit-born) are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us (Spirit-born people). We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.” ²¹ He (GOD) made the one who did not know sin (JESUS) to be sin^[e] for us, so that in him (JESUS) we might become the righteousness of God. Do you desire to be righteous before GOD? If so, then place your faith in JESUS by repenting for your sins and asking JESUS to come into your heart. When you do, you will experience the miracle of Spiritual birth and receive eternal life from GOD.) Now on to Hebrews 5:1-10:

5 For every high priest taken from among men is appointed in matters pertaining to God for the people, to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. ² He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he is also clothed with weakness. ³ Because of this, he must make an offering for his own sins as well as for the people. ⁴ No one takes this honor on himself; instead, a person is called by God, just as Aaron was. ⁵ In the same way, Christ did not exalt himself to become a high priest, but God who said to him,

You are my Son;
today I have become your Father,^[a][b]

⁶ also says in another place,

You are a priest forever
according to the order of Melchizedek.^[c]

⁷ During his earthly life,^[d] he offered prayers and appeals with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. ⁸ Although he was the Son, he learned obedience from what he suffered. ⁹ After he was perfected, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, ¹⁰ and he was declared by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

Let’s read Genesis 15:1-5:

The Abrahamic Covenant

15 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.

Notice, GOD came to Abram in a vision with a promise that HE would be Abram’s shield. In those days a shield was used both as an offensive or defensive tool.

We read in Ephesians 6:6 - ¹⁶ In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Faith in JESUS is every Spirit-born person’s shield today. Why? It is because of faith he or she has placed in JESUS. Abram had placed his faith in GOD Who was revealing Himself more and more to Abram.

GOD works in every Spirit-born person the same way today. Accepting JESUS as our Savior is just the beginning of building a wonderful relationship with GOD through faith in JESUS.

GOD had told Abram that his “reward will be very great.” GOD had given Abram many physical things but what was important to Abram? Abram spells it out to GOD. That is exactly what GOD desires from every person or Spirit-born person. Be honest with GOD and tell HIM what is in your heart. After all, HE already knows.

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?” ^[a] 3 Abram continued, “Look, you have given me no offspring, so a slave born in^[b] my house will be my heir.”

Abram was speaking to GOD and said “Look,” which is like a stark remark – “look or behold.” But notice the reverence as Abram expresses the desire of his heart, he wanted a child or children, “LORD GOD.” GOD desires for us to come to HIM with our requests. Abram needed to reveal his heart’s desire to GOD. GOD responded to Abram --

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^[c] 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.”

GOD led Abram outside to change Abram’s vantage point. Look up and what do you see? Your offspring will be that numerous. How would Abram react to GOD’S promise?

Let’s read Genesis 15:6:

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

This to me is a profound event in the life of Abram. How much did Abram believe in GOD? We will find out in our last lesson in this series another profound event in Abraham’s Spiritual journey.

We have to pause here and consider Abram’s faith. Abram had absolute faith in GOD but that faith would not be fully realized until Isaac was born. Ultimately, GOD sent HIS only SON, JESUS through the ancestry of Abram/Abraham. Faith in GOD, as expressed by the faith of Abram, was a place holder for people until the ultimate sacrifice could be made by JESUS to pay, in full, the penalty for sin. After the passion of JESUS, the path to GOD was changed from the sacrifice of shedding the blood of animals to accepting the once for all shedding of the sinless blood of JESUS.

GOD reminded Abram where he came from by faith in HIM. Often, we need to reflect upon our journey with GOD ----

Let’s read Genesis 15:7-21:

⁷ He also said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.”

⁸ But he said, “Lord God, how can I know that I will possess it?”

⁹ He said to him, “Bring me a three-year-old cow, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.”

¹⁰ So he brought all these to him, cut them in half, and laid the pieces opposite each other, but he did not cut the birds in half. ¹¹ Birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away. ¹² As the sun was setting, a deep sleep came over Abram, and suddenly great terror and darkness descended on him.

¹³ Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know this for certain: Your offspring will be resident aliens for four hundred years in a land that does not belong to them and will be enslaved and oppressed.^[d] 14 However, I will judge the nation they serve, and afterward they will go out with many possessions. ¹⁵ But you will go to your ancestors in peace and be buried at a good old age. ¹⁶ In the fourth generation they will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.”^[e]

¹⁷ When the sun had set and it was dark, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch appeared and passed between the divided animals. ¹⁸ On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “I give this land to your offspring, from the Brook of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates River: ¹⁹ the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, ²⁰ Hethites, Perizzites, Rephaim, ²¹ Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites.”

GOD made a covenant with Abram and confirmed it with HIS presence by walking between selected animals that had been divided.

GOD asking Abram to select animals three years old, seems to point to the three days JESUS was considered dead but resurrected on the third day. The animals being cut carries the idea that if anyone breaks the covenant, they will become split like the animals. All is speculation.

Does this land belong to Israel today? That is a yes/no answer. Yes, it that GOD promised it but no it has yet to be fulfilled. GOD never makes a promise that HE does not keep. So, stay tuned.

Trust GOD when you don’t have all the answers.

Blessings!!!