Abraham's Life of Faith before God, Part 2

Genesis 17: God revisits the earlier covenant.
Following Abram's sin in the last chapter, We have no evidence that there was any communication between God & Abram during this time. It is quite possible that Abram did not realize that Ishmael was not the promised son. The 2nd half of 16, an Angel tells Hagar to go back, and that her son will be a great nation.

Chapter 16:15-17:8

Note God's faithfulness to Abram, in not changing His promise because of Abram’s failure. The first two discussions of a covenant between God & Abram (Chapters 12 & 15) don’t have any stipulations on Abram’s part. God confirms that covenant here, but note how God introduces the subject: "Walk before me, and be blameless."

Chapter 17:9-27

Here we have the first stipulation of God’s covenant with Abraham. It is an outward sign, a physical reminder of God’s covenant with Abraham. Much like believers baptism, but closely tied with what the promise was focused around, fertility.

Newly renamed Abraham has Three responses
1. Laughter:
Abraham’s first response is doubtful laughter. Later, Sarah is rebuked for the exact same thing. I identify with Abraham here. It's difficult to hear that a 99 year old man is going to impregnate his 90 year old, infertile wife. Life simply doesn't happen that way.

2. Intercession for his Son:
Despite his laughter, he doesn’t specifically question God, he intercedes for his current son. This is good, in that he is interceding for his son, demonstrating love. He cares for Ishmael, who is 13 by now. But it is bad in that God just told him that Ishmael wasn’t the one. It could be that Abraham was doubting God, or questioning the wisdom of having Sarah be the mother. In addition to his had misgivings about his wife’s ability to conceive, he has a son already. Imagine having God reject your child just as they begin to make significant strides toward adulthood.


3. Obedience:
Ultimately, Abraham obeys. He obeys immediately. On the same day God gives him the command, something we rarely do. He obeys completely. Every man in the house, without exception, including his (just rejected) son. He obeys despite pain. This is a 99 year old man doing surgery on himself. Very delicate surgery.

God never promised obedience would be easy. At this point, Abraham has been walking with God for 23 years. To show for that:

• He lives in a tent in the boondocks, despite God’s promise of a land for his descendents
• An old and infertile wife, despite God’s promises for her to have a son
• A son by a concubine who God has rejected
• A large amount of physical pain.

Do you want to know why you’re going through something? Honestly, I have no idea. I can say, though, that God has a much broader perspective than we do. He knows our troubles, and there is a purpose. We may not see it in this life, but ultimatly, God is in control.

Abraham: Life of faith before God, Part 1

Genesis 16. Abram demonstrates weak faith.
Before I begin, let me introduce my subject matter. I was asked to teach a Bible study looking at faith in the life of prominent OT individuals. My lesson was the 2nd of 3 on the life of Abraham, which is why it's not the whole story. Still, it has been helpful to me as I try to walk in God's will. It's important to understand that histories, especially in the OT, give us the good and the bad. No sin is pointed out or sugar coated, we are supposed to know what's right and wrong going into the story. (It makes for interesting interpretations if people don't understand that) This isn't Abram's first sin, and it wasn't his last, but it did have significant consequences.

Read Genesis 16:1-6. Please don't jump down and read my opinion. Think about the questions.

Do you think that Abram was wrong?
Why?


The Mitigating Facts:

• His wife suggested it.
• Abram had been waiting for the promised child for 10 years.
• Sari was barren, and understood that God was in control of her fertility.
• No specific promise of the offspring coming through Sari for another 13 years
• His culture allowed polygamy, and the using of slaves as concubines and counting their offspring as those of the mistress.

Do you still think Abram was wrong?
Do you think you would have made a different choice?

The Mistakes of Abram:

• God had promised to provide a child without time specification.
• In this instance, Abram lacked Leadership.
• Deviance from Gods pattern for marriage of 1 man & 1 woman.

Lessons learned from Abram's bad choice:

• Just because you trust the person who gives you advice or an idea does not mean that it is from God. It doesn't mean it isn't either. Sometimes people have not logically thought through the advice their giving you. Your choice is always your responsibility.
• We have no idea what God is doing in human history, or in our lives. He is infinitely more wise than we are, and has purposes for everything He puts us through. If our decisions are simply for our pleasure or our peace of mind, we are probably making the wrong choice.
• Our cultural situation often blinds us. Every culture has places that it makes allowences for breaking divine law. Don't assume that God is making a special allowance for you at this time. God's law is consistent.
  
• Sometimes God is doing something to strengthen our faith by forcing us to overcome obstacles or wait on him. Being tested by God is sometimes waiting, instead of doing.
• Sometimes, we just don’t know God’s will. All we can do is make sure we know the Word of God and walk by it.

How we should make decisions:

• Pray with patience. Abram had probably been praying for the last 10 years with no answer.
• Consult the Word of God for relevant principles. Abram should have understood that marriage was 1+1=1, nothing else.
• Seek wise council from multiple sources. Abram listened to his wife, who was normally a good source, but never consulted anyone else.
• Don't make a decision unless you are convinced the choice is absolutely right, or time does not allow you to wait any longer. Abram should have been hesitant to make a decision based entirely on frustration or impatience.