GENESIS: THE BOOK OF BEGINNINGS
Rev. Richard A. Bolland
Unit # 14: The Covenant of Circumcision & The Three Visitors
Genesis 17 - 18
I. THE LORD APPEARS TO ABRAM YET AGAIN. (GEN. 17)
A. Abram is now 99 years old - 14 years have transpired since God passed between the slaughtered animals to reemphasize His promise to Abram.
1. How long are we patient with God to deliver on His promises?
2. In Abram's case, each passing day must have seemed that God had forgotten him and the promise He had made.
B. When great faith is expected, God gives a great sign to help us remember his faithfulness:
1. To Cain God had given a lifelong mark of protection.
2. To Abram, God gave the enduring picture of the firepot passing between the sacrificed animals.
3. To Noah, the mark of the rainbow promised His faithfulness never to destroy the earth again by flood.
4. POINT: When God gives a great sign, it is expected that people will remember it and wait on the Lord for Him to keep His Word.
5. God has given us many promises and signs about His Son's second coming:
a. The Day of Pentecost: The beginning of the Age of the Church which shall culminate in Christ's return.
b. The signs mentioned in Matthew 24 are clear mileposts to encourage our patience:
1.) The destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem by the Romans in 71 AD.
2.) The coming of many false "Christs".
3.) Wars and rumors of war.
4.) Famines and earthquakes in many places.
5.) The persecution of the Christian faithful.
6.) The abomination of desolation, (Antiochus Epiphanes erected a pagan altar to Zeus on the sacred altar in the temple of Jerusalem.)
7.) Satan's final rebellion of the terrible "little season" immediately prior to Christ's return.
II. THE LORD RESTATES HIS PROMISE TO ABRAM AND CHANGES ABRAM'S NAME TO ABRAHAM.
A. First God exhorts Abram to continue walking in accord with His will. (v. 1)
1. Of course, Abram had occasionally failed to do so a few times in the past.
2. This is also a possible reminder to continue faithfully despite the 14 year void in God's direct communication with Abram.
B. God again promises to make Abram the father of many people. (v. 2)
1. To confirm this promise, God changes Abram's name to Abraham.
a. "Abram" = "Exalted Father" or "God is the Exalted Father"
b. "Abraham" = "Father of a multitude" or "Father of Many"
2. In most cultures today, name changes to reflect large life events still occur.
a. This name change not only underlines God's promise to Abraham, but also notes that God has marked him in a special way as the recipient of this blessing.
b. If this practice were in effect in our culture, what name would accurately reflect your life now?
C. God emphasizes that this promise to Abraham is on-going to his descendants:
1. Nothing will sever God's people from the land He has given them.
2. To this day, that promise is holding true!
3. Among the Jewish people, there is a special connection to the land of Israel.
III. GOD GIVES A COMMAND FOR MALE CIRCUMCISION. (vv. 9-14)
A. God gives a visual aid to Abraham and his descendants by commanding them to undergo circumcision:
1. This, again, is much like the firepot image: "May I and my offspring be cut off with the sword of the Lord as my foreskin has been cut off, if I fail to be God's faithful and obedient servant."
2. Why the male reproductive organ?
a. Because God's promise of deliverance from the very beginning is that the promised seed of the woman will crush the head of Satan.
b. Because this salvific promise is given to Abraham's offspring.
B. There is some evidence too that this action on the part of the Jewish people also brought certain health benefits to them as a race of people.
1. Recent medical studies have indicated that there is a connection between circumcision and a lessened rate of cervical cancer in Jewish women.
2. This, however, is not the reason for the divine command...just an added blessing.
C. What is the meaning of circumcision?
1. First this is the sign that Abraham and his descendants are subjects of the Almighty God and that no others king can take preeminence in their lives.
2. Second, this is a sign of God's mercy in indicating that those who have the sign of circumcision are God's chosen people...people of the promise.
3. Third, circumcision was a sign of the Messianic salvation to come to those whose faith was reckoned them as righteousness.
4. In many ways, circumcision was equivalent to New Testament baptism.
D. When was circumcision to be administered?
1. First, for Abraham and his household, it was to be experienced immediately.
a. This news was probably not greeted with wild enthusiasm among the members of the household! (vv. 24-27)
b. Those born after this initial mass circumcision were to be circumcised at eight days of age...obviously, such infants had no awareness of the blessings of circumcision, but that did not negate them!
2. Please notice: This is God's covenant, not Abrahams.
a. God sets the terms and the outcomes.
b. God provides all the provisions for the carrying out of the covenant.
c. God provides all the blessings from the covenant.
IV. GOD ANNOUNCES THE FORTHCOMING BIRTH OF THE LONG - PROMISED SON. (vv. 15-27)
A. First, God changes Sarai's name to Sarah.
1. Sarai and Sarah both mean "princess".
a. Perhaps this means that as the mother of nations, she is twice a princess.
b. She is not only the mother of the chosen seed, but also mother of a nation.
2. Exactly, why Sarai's name is repeated in this slightly changed form is not clear.
B. While always implied before, this is the first time Sarah is specifically named as the one from whom the promised son would be born.
1. Abraham laughs at this promise to himself.
a. This is not a laugh of doubt as Sarah would have later, but one of wonderment, joy and even humor.
b. If it were a laugh of doubt, God would have rebuked Abraham.
c. God commands that Abraham's child be named "Issac" = He laughs.
2. Haven't we also laughed in this same way from time-to-time when we are simply amazed at how God has worked things out of circumstances that we thought were exclusive of God's blessing?
C. In addition to blessing Abraham the off-spring of the promise, God hears the inward thoughts of His servant regarding his son Ishmael.
1. God responds to a father's love for his wrongly begotten son, Ishmael.
2. Abraham now seeks the Lord's blessing on this son of his as well.
3. God responds in mercy by promising to make a great nation of Ishmael, but also making it very clear that He will not establish His covenant with Ishmael, but with Issac. (v. 21)
V. ABRAHAM RECEIVES THREE VISITORS OR LOOK WHOSE COMING TO DINNER?: (Gen. 18:1-33)
A. As Abraham is resting in the heat of the day, he sees three men standing nearby...Who are these guys?
1. First, verse 1 indicates that it is the Lord who appeared to Abraham.
a. This is NOT the Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit because it becomes clear, especially in chapter 19:1, that these two are angels.
b. The leader of the three is called "Lord" repeatedly and speaks with the authority of God.
2. This "angel" is the preincarnate Christ, i.e., the Angel of the Lord.
B. Abraham, somehow recognizes these visitors for who they are and proceeds to extend his hospitality to the fullest measure.
1. Abraham refers to himself a the servant of these visitors. (v. 5)
a. He has the visitor's feet washed.
b. He prepares a lavish meal for them.
2. Such hospitality takes time, (selecting, killing, butchering a calf and all the side dishes that go with such a meal.
3. God condescends to eat earthly food and to have social fellowship with His creatures.
a. The Lord and the angels did not need earthly sustenance.
b. Christ, Himself, after His resurrection also ate with His disciples. (Lk. 24:43)
c. There is at least some indication that in the heavenly New Jerusalem eating will continue to be an activity. (Rev. 22:2, 14)
4. In Hebrews 13:2, God's people are encouraged to, "entertain strangers, for by so doing some have entertained angels without knowing it."
5. Perhaps there is an application here for the Lord's Supper, as Abraham prepares his finest meal for his visitors, so too does the Lord invite us to share in the sacred meal of His very finest...the body and blood of Christ, that we too might be refreshed for our journey.
C. Now the final announcement that God's long standing promise of a son is given.
1. Sarah immediately become the topic of conversation.
a. The visitors are told that she is in the tent, (within ear-shot).
b. Finally, the answer to the long-standing question of when will this promise be fulfilled is answered: Within a year Sarah will have a son.
2. Sarah is eaves-dropping in the tent and when she hears this, she considers the fact that she is well past the age of child-bearing and laughs...not in wonderment and joy, but with doubt and derision...she disbelieves the promise.
a. The Lord, knowing of her laughter and her disbelief gives her another chance by saying, "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" and then restates the promise.
b. Sarah has apparently not figured out who these visitors are because she has determined that she can lie about her laughter and get away with it, compounding her situation.
c. Now the main purpose of the visit was concluded, therefore the visitors rose to leave, but Abraham follows them.
VI. THE LORD NOW ANNOUNCES HIS SECONDARY PURPOSE FOR HIS VISIT...THE IMPENDING DESTRUCTION OF SODOM & GOMORRAH. (Gen. 18:16-33)
A. First the Lord repeats the promise concerning the great nation that would come from the birth of Issac.
1. God would perform this wonder in spite of Abraham and Sarah's advanced ages of 100 and 90 respectively.
2. God also outlines the anticipated response to this promise...That he and his descendants would walk in the way of the Lord.
B. Having drawn Abraham's attention to the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, the Lord announces His plans for these cities...They will be destroyed!
1. In theology, the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah are called "crying sins" in that they are of such a grievous nature that they come to the special attention of God
a. Genesis 4:10, the blood of Able cries out.
b. Revelation 6:10, the murder of the faithful.
c. James 5:4, the withholding of wages from laborers.
d. Genesis 19, the homosexuality and gross injustice.
2. This sin is worthy of God's direct action and the exercise of His righteous wrath.
C. Abraham begins an extraordinary dialog with the Lord negotiating the fate of these wicked cities.
1. The long-suffering of God does have its limits.
a. No individual or society can continue forever in rebellion against God.
b. God will finally, according to His timing, bring His judgment upon the unbelief of men.
2. These were the cities that had just witnessed the salvation of the Lord in the defeat of King Kedorlaomer and his allies from the northeastern kingdoms.
a. Remember the King of Sodom had recognized that it was the God of Abraham who had given him the victory.
b. This was just 14 years prior to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and yet they continued in their perversity and rebellion against the very same God of Abraham.
3. Abraham begins an extended intercessory prayer - not on behalf of the unbelievers of these cities, but on behalf of those whose righteousness is in the Lord.
a. Abraham understood that God, in His righteousness, has every right and indeed the obligation to destroy unrighteousness, and that He is the God who rightly judges all the earth. (v. 25)
b. Certainly, Abraham and demonstrated before, his personal concern for the welfare of Lot and his family in rescuing them from the forces of King Kedorlaomer.
c. Now, certainly, Abraham's motivation includes Lot and his family.
d. Abraham uses what he knows to be God's own characteristics as he seeks to spare the righteous in these cities.
1.) Primary is Abraham's knowledge that God will not destroy the righteous, because they are not under His wrath. (v. 25)
2.) God can not violate His own nature by being unjust toward the faithful.
e. Abraham recognized that he had no right to instruct God, but asks that He listen to his plea anyway.
1.) On the one hand, God's will is immutable and cannot be changed.
2.) On the other hand, God keeps His options open and will respond to intercessory prayer or prayer in general as long as the request would not contradict God's revealed will about Himself.
4. Finally, Abraham reduces the number of the righteous down to 10, which is the size of Lot's family.
GENESIS: THE BOOK OF BEGINNINGS
Rev. Richard A. Bolland
Unit # 15: The Wrath of God Is Visited On Sodom & Gomorrah
I. LOT PRESENTS A MIXED PICTURE OF A "RIGHTEOUS MAN."
A. It seems that Lot had permitted himself to be drawn into Sodom's cesspool of wickedness:
1. First, Lot, "...pitched his tent near Sodom."
2. Next, Lot, "...was living in Sodom."
3. Now Lot, "...was sitting in the gateway of the city."
a. The gate of a city or town in that culture was a place where the city magistrates judged the affairs of the city or passed judgment on individuals accused of crimes.
b. It was also a place where much of the commerce of a community was conducted.
c. Exactly why Lot was sitting at the city gate is not certain, but clearly he had either become a leader, (magistrate), of the city or he was completely engaged in the commerce of the city.
4. Lot knew that he was surrounded by wickedness. (II Peter 2:8)
5. POINT: Lot had become fully integrated into the life of this extraordinarily sinful city...BAD CHOICE!
B. How often do we make choices that involve us in the wickedness of this world?
1. When we get "sucked into" watching material on our TV sets that we really have no business watching...Literally inviting wickedness into our living rooms.
2. When we choose to have our children educated in a clearly secular environment rather than in an environment centered on Christ.
3. When we intentionally place ourselves, in any context, in the presence of wickedness so that it has an opportunity to become a temptation for us.
II. THE TWO ANGELS, WHO HAD BEEN WITH THE LORD, NOW ARRIVE AT THE GATES OF SODOM. (Gen. 19:1-3)
A. It seems that immediately Lot approaches the angels to invite them to his house.
1. It is probably true that this was not an uncommon mark of hospitality, but certainly, Lot knew the character of the citizens of Sodom well enough that it was a matter of ensuring their safety to have them come to his house.
2. Initially, the angels refuse Lot's invitation indicating they will spend the night on the streets.
a. This was common at the invitation of hospitality to initially refuse out of politeness.
b. The indication that they would spend the night on the streets of Sodom, (an obviously very bad choice), would signal to Lot that he should insist and so he persists in his invitation and they accept.
B. Upon arrival at Lot's home, Lot prepares a meal for his guests of unleavened bread.
1. Feeding one's guests was considered part of the responsibility of a proper host.
2. The fact that the only part of the menu mentioned was unleavened bread is unique in that this is the first mention of unleavened bread in the Scriptures and the next time it is seen is Passover in Egypt.
a. There is something "sacramental" about unleavened bread in that it is also seen in the Lord's Supper to this day.
b. Some have tried to make leavened bread something bad because it is the product of fermentation which is then connected to wine and other liquors and therefore everything associated with fermentation is considered evil or at least questionable, but there is no Biblical foundation for such a conclusion.
3. We are not told at what point in time Lot recognizes the nature of his guests, but this meal suggests the setting aside of the commonplace for holy purposes.
III. THE MEN OF SODOM DEMAND SEXUAL RELATIONS WITH THE ANGELS. (Gen. 19:4-11)
A. The scene depicted in this section is almost unbelievable as the depth of the Sodomite's depravity is revealed.
1. All the males, (both young and old), of Sodom gather around the house of Lot, demanding that the visitors be handed over to them for the express purpose of having sex with them.
a. This means that grandfathers, fathers and their sons where involved in this mass demand for the obviously "gang rape" of Lot's guests.
b. It is clear that they intended to have their way even if it were by means of physical force.
2. Lot offers his daughters in place of the guests.
a. While this seems quite incredible to us there is, perhaps, a mitigating circumstance in that it is quite possible that Lot knew that there was no real interest in female companionship.
b. This conclusion seems justified in that no interest in his offer seems to exist.
c. Perhaps, by now, Lot recognizes the nature of his angelic visitors and is so appalled by the possibility that angels of God should be treated in such a despicable way, that he is willing even to offer his daughters so that such a horrible thing might not happen.
B. The Scriptures and homosexuality:
1. Never, anywhere in the Bible, is homosexuality treated in any other way than as an abomination in the eyes of God and a degradation of human sexuality.
a. Genesis 19:5
b. Leviticus 18:22, 24; 20:13
c. Deuteronomy 22:5
d. Romans 1:22-32
e. I Corinthians 6:9
f. I Timothy 1:9-10
f. II Peter 2:10
g. Jude 8
2. When the subject is taken from the whole of Biblical teaching with respect to the purpose of marriage and the man/woman duality, it becomes clear why Christian thought has consistently condemned and ought to continue to condemn homosexual lust and acts.
a. It was the female who was created by God as the helper suitable for the male.
b. It is clear that sexual union was intended to demonstrate the "one flesh" relationship which is exclusively male/female in the Scriptures.
c. It is clear that procreation was/is the product of male/female sexual union and was specifically designed for that purpose.
d. It is clear that procreation, (uniquely tied to sexual union between man and woman), cannot occur between homosexual partners.
e. It is clear that marriage, as instituted by God, was exclusively a male/female concept.
f. It is clear that one cannot step sexually beyond marriage as male/female united for life, without falling under the judgment of God.
g. It is clear that engaging in homosexual lust and acts is self-serving rebellion against the divine biological design for human relationships and rebellion against the very biology which God has given us.
3. What is also abundantly clear is that homosexual lust and acts are as forgivable under the cross as any other sin, but the earthly ramifications of sexual sins, (of all varieties), is much greater than that of other types of sin.
a. Sexual sins are sins against one's own body.
b. Sexual sins destroy families.
c. Sexual sins are often passed on to children, (i.e., sexual abuse).
d. Sexual sins, (when committed by a Christian), make the dwelling of the Holy Spirit an unwilling partner in the sin. (I Cor. 6:15)
e. Sexual sins are destructive of society in general and lead to the downfall of that culture.
C. The angels intervene in this weird scenario.
1. Despite Lot's best efforts and his desperate offer of his virgin daughters to the mob, it becomes necessary for the angels to save Lot.
a. Reaching from behind the door, they seize Lot, haul him inside and quickly bolt the door.
b. Next, they strike the mob blind, but this is not the blindness that renders men without sight...It is blindness that is one of confusion in that they do not recognize what they see.
c. This is the same kind of blindness which God inflicted on the vast army of the Syrians in II Kings 6:18.
2. Now unable to find the door to Lot's house, the crowd disperses and permits the angels to get to the real point of their visit.
IV. THE ANGELS TELL LOT TO DEPART FROM THE DOOMED CITY.
A. If it had not been clear to Lot before, it was now clear that he was not accepted by the residents of Sodom as he had supposed, and that the depravity of the Sodomites was so perverted that nothing short of divine destruction would prove fruitful.
1. The angels tell Lot that they are about to destroy Sodom and that he is to get his family out of harm's way.
a. God graciously permits even the pagan sons-in-law, who are pledged to marry his daughters that they too may be spared destruction.
b. It seems that Lot had permitted this intermarriage to take place instead of sending his daughters to Abraham's camp to find husbands and this is another indicator that Lot has permitted himself to be corrupted by the society with which he surrounded his family.
2. Lot immediately goes out and speaks to his sons-in-law but they too are unwilling to submit to the authority of God and presume that Lot is joking. Spiritual things are spiritually discerned.
b. One would presume that since, "...all the men of Sodom from every part of the city -- both young and old..." had gathered outside of Lot's home on the previous evening, that his prospective sons-in-law were a part of the perverted mob...This is certainly gracious of God!
B. When morning comes, the angels tell Lot to "hurry up" and get everyone out of town.
1. It is apparently Lot's choice if he chooses to say and be destroyed with the city but God is valiantly trying to keep his promise to Abraham about not destroying the righteous with the wicked.
2. Amazingly, Lot still hesitates to depart!
a. Isn't there always a hope that trouble, if we just ignore it, will go away?
b. Perhaps this was a hesitancy in that Lot had acquired material goods in Sodom and he really didn't want to leave it all.
c. ILLUS: We frequently see this in times of natural disasters when people refuse to leave their homes in the face of fire or flood. Something's wrong with such priorities.
3. When human reason would have determined that, "If these guys won't listen, then they get what they deserve.", God graciously directs His angels to physically remove these people from the city. (19:16)
a. NOTE: There is some comfort here in that it is obvious that Lot is hardly a model believer, and yet, despite his weakness, God saves him and his family.
b. For those of us who struggle in our faith, there is all the more reason for hope in the Lord that even a weak faith is a saving faith.
C. The angels give very specific directions for the family's flight.
1. "Flee for your lives!" - Their close proximity, (coupled with their hesitation to leave), have not yet removed them from the possibility of destruction.
2. "Don't look back" - It is a fearful thing to see the divine and righteous wrath of God being inflicted on unbelieving humanity. Additionally, anyone who has ever run in track and field events knows that every time you look back, you go slower.
3. "Don't stop anywhere on the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!" - It was intended that Zoar was also to be destroyed along with the other four cities on the plain.
D. Lot pleads with the angels to let them find refuge in Zoar. (v. 18)
1. I'm not sure which is more incredible, Lot's audacity or God's mercy!
a. Lot, it seems doesn't trust God enough to preserve him and enable him and his family to make it to the mountains so he asks that a small town on the plain be spared from destruction so that he won't have to flee so far.
b. Perhaps there is here a last gasp effort on Lot's part to preserve some of the "good life" he had found among the civilization of the Sodomites.
2. Doesn't this also illustrate the lengths to which we will go to preserve those little corners of our lives which God wants surrendered to Him?
a. "Yes, Lord, I believe, but please let me continue to dabble in my favorite sin."
b. Can we see Lot's attitude reflected in our own lives?
3. Amazingly, we see God permitting His plans to be changed to accommodate Lot's weaknesses.
a. As would be true later with the people of Israel, we seek the long-suffering of God toward the sinful actions of His people.
b. This is a quality in God that nearly sets His holiness and justice at odds with His mercy and grace...really quite astounding!
E. God destroys the cities of the plain, (except Zoar), and Lot's wife becomes the "salt of the earth".
1. The exact nature of the "rain" of burning sulfur is uncertain, as are the means by which some have speculated this occurred.
a. Some have insisted that an enormous earthquake took place which produced horrific volcanic activity like that of the destruction of Pompeii many centuries later.
b. Some have said that this was simply an extraordinary act of God in that the burning sulfur rained down as it would later in the days of Elijah, only on a much larger scale.
c. Some have pointed out that the Dead Sea, the valley of the Jordan and the upper Nile Valley lie along side of the Great Rift, an area of continuing and extraordinary seismic activity and that there may be some connection.
2. In Luke 17:32-33, Jesus describes the coming of the Kingdom of God using these words, "Remember Lot's wife! Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it."
a. From this divine commentary, it seems that Lot's wife had a problem leaving the things of this world in obedience to God.
b. Lot had the same problem, but at least he kept going.
F. We can learn from this account that our God truly is long-suffering with us sinful believers, but also that His patience does have its righteous limits.
GENESIS: THE BOOK OF BEGINNINGS
Rev. Richard A. Bolland
Unit # 16: Abraham Sins Against God & Abilemech, Hagar & Ishmael Are Sent Away, A Treaty Is Signed At Beersheba
I. ABRAHAM, ONCE AGAIN, PASSES OFF HIS WIFE AS HIS SISTER.
A. Remember the old saying: "He who does not know his history is doomed to repeat it."
1. Abraham moves his camp into the Negev Desert area and there encounters Abimelech, King of Gerar.
a. Once again, out of fear that Sarah, (now 90 years old), is so beautiful that the king will kill him to get Sarah as his wife, Abraham offers the half-truth that she is his sister.
b. That he denies that Sarah is his wife is implicit by Abraham's action of permitting her to be taken by Abimelech without informing him of the nature of their relationship.
2. God protects Sarah by somehow preventing Abimelech from having sexual relations with her.
B. God intervenes by coming to Abimelech in a dream.
1. God's revelation to Abimelech is not very comforting:
a. "You are as good as dead."
b. This is happening because, "she is a married woman."
2. Abimelech responds by claiming his ignorance.
a. Does Abimelech's ignorance make him less guilty?
b. Does our human ignorance about sin make us less guilty?
c. Would God have been justified in destroying Abimelech anyway?
C. Here we learn something about the nature of sin:
1. Had Abimelech slept with Sarah, it would have been a sin against God Himself. (20:6)
2. Is this what happens anytime we sin?
D. Here we also learn something about the nature of true repentance:
1. It is not enough simply to be sorry for our sins...appropriate action is required.
a. Return Sarah to her husband...or else!
b. If you don't return her, you'll die as will those around you.
2. Is there any hint here that Abimelech should do anything other than return Sarah to Abraham?
E. Abimelech calls his officials together.
1. While these may not have been "believers", it is clear that they were men who clearly understood nature's God revealed in the creation.
a. Their reaction to Abimelech's dream is one of fear.
b. This is the only possible reaction of unbelief to God's natural revelation of Himself.
c. This is why all non-Christian religions are systems based on fear as personified in human performance to please an almighty god.
2. Then Abimelech sends for Abraham to settle this matter.
F. Abraham is confronted with his sin.
1. First, Abraham offers lame excuses:
a. "...they will kill be because of my wife." (v. 11)
b. "Besides, she really is my sister." (v. 12)
c. "I said to her, (Sarah), 'This is how you can show your love to me: Everywhere we go, say of me, 'He is my brother.'"
2. Interestingly, Abimelech does not respond to these flimsy excuses...Why?
a. He's not taking any chances in this situation due to the severe judgment of God now hanging over his head.
b. He's probably not going to anger one whom God has said is his prophet, (v. 7), and who still has to pray for him to get him out from under God's wrath.
3. We must wonder, how impressed Abimelech is with the character of God's prophet.
a. What does this say about our own conduct before our unbelieving friends and acquaintances?
b. Can our witness for good or bad effect the spiritual receptivity of those who observe our actions and words?
G. Amazingly, once again Abraham is rewarded for his deception:
1. You can almost hear the sarcasm as Abimelech says to Sarah , "I am giving your brother a thousand shekels of silver."
a. At this point in history, a "shekel" is a unit of weight, not a coin since such coinage has not been found to exist prior to the 7th century BC.
b. Half a shekel was the ransom that had to be paid by each man for his life when a census was taken by a monarch.
c. In 1962, the value of a shekel was about $.65.
2. This is quite an incredible sum of silver being paid as a ransom for Abimelech and his household.
a. While this may be a blessing to Abraham, it is not a mark of God's approval on Abraham's sin, but more of a mark of Abimelech's fear.
b. God does not restrain people from acting in sin or fear...People still have free will and if the fear or sin of others results in a blessing to God's people, so be it.
II. THE LONG-PROMISED SON IS BORN. (Gen. 21:1-7)
A. Finally, after 25 years in Canaan waiting for the fulfillment of God's promise, Abraham's faith is rewarded with the birth of Isaac, his son.
1. In Romans 4:17-22, Paul makes a clear connection between the faith of Abraham in waiting for the birth of his son and the justification by faith of all believers.
2. Salvation is not achieved by doing acts of faith, but rather it is the gift of faith itself that produces acts of faith and are signs of the presence of faith.
B. This is the main point of all the Scriptures, that salvation is received by faith in the Messiah:
1. Romans 4:9-12, 16
2. Galatians 3:16-18
3. Even the previously doubtful Sarah finally "gets it" -- Heb. 11:11
4. Faith is a gift from God which produces full confidence in God's Word and Promises.
C. Here are some principles by which God works:
1. God makes promises and keeps them.
2. God will keep His promises according to His own knowledge of the right timing.
3. God will strengthen His people's faith through the seeming "delay" of keeping His promises.
4. When God fulfills His promises, they are better than we ever expected.
5. God's people are called to walk in faithful, willing obedience to God while we wait for the fulfillment of His promises.
6. God works with the sinfulness of His people and still grants His promise.
D. Abraham does with Isaac what God has commanded:
1. Abraham names him according to God's direction -- Isaac.
a. Isaac means "laughter".
b. An obvious reminder of the role that laughter played in the doubting and the faith of Abraham and Sarah with respect to the promise of God concerning the birth of a son.
c. Sarah now laughs as Abraham has laughed when the God promised the birth of a son...Not in doubt, but in wonder and awe at the power of God.
2. Abraham circumcises Isaac on the eighth day as a keeping of God's covenant. (v. 4)
E. See what God has done with these two "ancient" bodies:
1. First, a son is born to a 100 year old man and a 90 year old woman.
2. Not only is a son born, but Sarah is enabled to nurse her own child. (v. 7)
3. After Sarah dies, Abraham is still "young" enough to father six other sons by his wife Keturah. (Gen. 25:2)
III. TROUBLE NOW BREAKS OUT AGAIN BETWEEN SARAH AND HAGAR.
A. When Isaac is weaned Abraham throws a great feast to celebrate.
1. You might be able to imagine what Hagar and Ishmael have been going though since the birth of Isaac.
a. Where has all the attention been directed?
b. What is all the "buzz" about the wonder of God's blessing on Sarah.
c. Sarah is the "blessed one" and Isaac is the heir...Where does that leave Hagar and Ishmael?
2. Sarah wants to protect the inheritance of Isaac by getting rid of Hagar and Ishmael and so approaches Abraham with a plan...Get them out of our lives!
B. Surprisingly, God directs Abraham to follow Sarah's advise:
1. Perhaps this is a simple recognition that in a sinful world, people will act in
2. Certainly, God knew what would happen if the separation did not occur.
3. In all of this, however, God does not abandon Abraham's other wife, (now referred to as that, "slave woman", or Abraham's other son.
a. While Abraham's relationship with Hagar was never intended by God, He will "adjust" His promise to include Ishmael and make a great nation out of him as well as Isaac.
b. What comfort can we derive from knowing about this "flexibility" on God's part?
C. Abraham, though greatly troubled by this direction, gives a small amount of provisions to Hagar and Ishmael and sends them into the desert.
1. This too, is an act of faith in the promise of God to take care of his second wife and first son.
2. Perhaps Abraham had shared with Hagar the promise of God, but when faced with death in the desert, Hagar gives up hope. (21:15-16)
a. She expects her son to die of thirst.
b. She also expects to die herself.
3. But God hears the cries of her son and responds to their needs:
a. Notice, that she is sobbing, but God hears the cries of Ishmael. Why? (Hint: Ishmael means, "God hears".)
b. Sometimes God needs to get our attention with adversity before we really believe in His provision for our lives.
4. God opens Hagar's eyes and she sees a well nearby and both of their lives are saved.
5. God also tells Hagar His promise about Ishmael becoming the father of a great nation.
D. God provides for Hagar and Ishmael's needs and stays with Ishmael as he grows up.
1. We are not told what spiritual relationship existed between Ishmael and the Lord, but we do know that the nation that comes from him was not friendly with the Lord.
2. A constant and on-going state of animosity continues to this day between the people of Israel and the Arab people who call Ishmael and Abraham their father.
IV. ABRAHAM AND ABIMELECH MAKE A TREATY OF PEACE. (Gen. 21:22-34)
A. It would seem that Abraham's company has grown quite large and had become a force to reckon with in a military sense, therefore, Abimelech and his commander, Phicol, approach Abraham with an offer of a peace treaty.
1. Such treaties were not unusual between various parties and were always consummated by the giving of gifts and the taking of oaths.
2. Abraham seems quite willing to make such a treaty and uses the occasion to clear up a bone of contention that had recently arisen.
B. Abraham's well had been seized by some of Abimelech's men, without the kings knowledge.
1. The well was located near Beersheba and was, in fact, not a part of Abimelech's territory.
2. Upon hearing of the incursion, Abimelech immediately restores the well to Abraham.
C. Abraham brings animals, (the symbols and reality of wealth), to offer back to Abimelech at least a portion of the gifts he had received from Abimelech before as a way of sealing the treaty. (Gen. 20:14)
1. But Abraham does something rather unusual in bringing the seven ewe lambs to Abimelech.
a. The number seven represents completeness, sealing the covenant in that completeness and noting the permanent ownership of the well of contention.
b. That this treaty is to be a permanent, on-going treaty with all conditions to be considered as enforce forever.
2. Abimelech quickly agrees to these provisions and sets off to the land of the Philestines.
3. Abraham names the well "Jehovah -- El Olam" which means "Jehovah is the eternal God".
a. Then Abraham departs the area to dwell in the land of the Philestines.
b. Eventually, however, it is to this area near Beersheba where Abraham later returns to live.
GENESIS: THE BOOK OF BEGINNINGS
Rev. Richard A. Bolland
Unit # 17: The Testing of Abraham (Gen.20)
I. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GOD'S TESTING AND TEMPTATION.
A. In Greek and Hebrew, the word for testing and temptation are exactly the same word.
1. The intent of testing and temptation, however, are worlds apart.
a. Temptation comes from Satan, and his intent is always for the destruction of the one being tempted.
b. Testing is what God does to His people, only when He knows they have what it takes to meet the test...His intent is to strengthen us in our faith.
2. Sometimes God turns the table on Satan and his temptations when He used the actions of Satan to strengthen our faith.
a. I Corinthians 10:12-13
b. Ephesians 6:11-18
c. With such equipping and strengthening, every temptation intended for our destruction, becomes a testing by which God enables us to tell Satan to take a hike and demonstrates our love for God through the obedience that He works in our lives.
B. Abraham's testing not from Satan, but comes directly from the Lord.
1. God is not being cruel with His command to Abraham:
a. First remember that God had no intention of permitting the ending of Isaac's life.
b. Second, note that God did not tell Abraham to "slay" Isaac, but to offer him as a sacrifice...which Abraham did...done deal!
c. Third, God was teaching Abraham the meaning of being in a covenant relationship with Him.
2. None of this was know, of course, to Abraham, but Abraham did know that every time he had disobeyed God, disaster had been the result and he had called upon himself a lesser blessing than had he been obedient.
a. That is what sin does in the life of a believer...it calls upon us the earthly consequences of our disobedience.
b. It grants to us less of the blessings of God that He had intended for us through our obedience.
C. What kind of thoughts must have been going through Abraham's mind during what had to be a very long night?
1. God wasn't making any sense!
a. He had made a promise that Isaac would be the child through which a great nation would be built...Isaac hasn't married nor fathered any children since he is still a youth.
b. He knew that surrounding nations did offer child sacrifices to their false gods and that such a thing was certainly not characteristic of the true God's desire.
c. What will this do to Sarah?
2. Have there been times in your life when God didn't seem to be making any sense to you?
a. At such times, like Abraham, we need to remember what we do know about God...His love...His constant interest in our ultimate well-being.. His unwillingness that we should never be tempted beyond what we can withstand.
b. Then comes the matter of faith/trust...finally, like Abraham, we must lay the matter in the hands of God and let HIM deal with the situation.
D. Since our reaction to both testing and temptation is precisely the same...to do that which demonstrates, (by His grace), loving obedience; We are called to act!
1. In verse three, Abraham does not delay or engage in any further debate with God concerning His command.
a. Remember, this is the same guy that argued with God over the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah, not regarding the unrighteous, but regarding those who were righteous.
b. Now we hear no debate with God over his only son, Isaac. Abraham acts!
2. Clearly understand that when unbelief reads this text, they don't get it!
a. The Humanist, May/June, 1985 issue, pp. 7-8.
b. The very attribute of obedience is turned into an act of rebellion against God and is held up as "wisdom" and then applied to humanity/religion in general as a virtue.
II. ABRAHAM IS PROMPTLY OBEDIENT TO GOD, EVEN IN THE FACE OF GRAVE DOUBTS AND UNCERTAINTY.
A. Isn't this precisely where faith takes on real meaning?
1. In a very real sense this three day journey to Mt. Moriah was a journey done in faith.
a. Faith becomes real when it's NOT easy!
b. Until it is tested, it cannot be strengthened.
2. God was not only teaching Abraham, but also Isaac and his descendants what faithfulness and consecrated living are all about.
B. God is also giving us a "type" of Christ in Isaac.
1. Here is the meaning of God's description of Isaac in v. 2, "Take you son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love...."
a. This is exactly what God does for us...only there is no last minute intervention for the Christ.
b. Here is a portrait of the incredible debt of God's, love...not capricious cruelty
2. Here is the only and beloved son carrying the instrument of his eminent sacrifice to the place of his execution.
a. The load he is carrying is wood.
b. The load Christ carries to Golgotha is wood.
3. When Isaac asks his father, "...but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?", Abraham answers with real truth when he says, "God himself will provide the lamb..."
a. Indeed, God Himself does provide the final lamb, not only for this sacrifice, but for the ultimate and final sacrifice.
b. John the Baptist declares, "Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world."
III. GOD APPROVES OF ABRAHAM'S ACT OF OBEDIENCE.
A. In verse 11, the Angel of the Lord, (the preincarnate Christ), stays the hand of Abraham.
1. This will not be the sacrifice for sin...the one who called out, "Abraham! Abraham!, it is HE who will do what Isaac cannot do.
2. God praises Abraham for his faith, "...because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore..."
B. Principle: Godly, faithful obedience always brings blessings.
1. Conversely, rebellious disobedience always brings problems.
2. Sin is stupid.
C. Abraham must also have wondered, "Why Mount Moriah?"
1. God does nothing without a reason.
2. Mt. Moriah is the mount on which the temple would be built on the site of what would become Jerusalem.
a. Today, the Dome of the Rock, (constructed in 691AD), a Muslim mosque stands on the site.
b. Inside the mosque there is a large outcropping of rock which is still pointed out as the site of the events in this text.
D. Once again, the covenant is repeated to Abraham.