A Helicopter Trip Over the Old Testament - Part 4
- Word Of Life
- 21 hours ago
- 7 min read
A Helicopter Trip Over the Old Testament
Part 4
Abraham (“Even-though” living)
My Goal = That your faith grows more than your knowledge.
Hebrews 11
8 “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, EVEN THOUGH he did not know where he was going.”
Life is filled with “Even though” questions.
“Even though” = Despite the fact that…
Should I
_____________________
“Even though”
_________________?
Always make your “Even-though Decisions”
based on God’s Word and God’s Will.
Greatest “Even-though Decision” was made by Jesus himself.
“For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
-Hebrews 12:2
“My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” 39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
[“Even though” part of me does not want to, I will]
-Matthew 26:38-39
Even though physical crucifixion was horrible, Jesus allowed it b/c of us.
Even though being separated from his Father which is the worst place to be, Jesus allowed it b/c of us.
Even though Jesus knew that most of the people in all of history would reject him, he still died on the cross for those who would not reject him.
“He [Jesus] was in the world, and even though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, [Jews] but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, [Christians] to those who believed … he gave the right to become children of God…”
-John 1:10-12
IF IT IS GOD’S WILL… OBEY!
“Even-though”
You may lose a job…
You may lose a friendship…
You may not be liked…
People might think you’re crazy…
Something might cost you…
Others don’t deserve you…
[Give “Grace”]
IF IT IS GOD’S WILL… OBEY!
“Even-though”
You may lose a job…
“O well”
You may lose a friendship…
“O well”
You may not be liked…
“O well”
People might think you’re crazy…
“O well”
Something might cost you…
“O well”
Others don’t deserve you…
“O well”
God’s “Even-though Grace” to Abraham…
“Even though” Abraham was not famous or greatly skilled and in fact worshipped “other gods”
[Joshua 24:2]
God called him anyway and promised numerous blessings.
God’s “Even-though Grace” to us…
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:
While we were still
[“Even though” we were sinners]
sinners, Christ died for us.”
–Romans 5:8
8 “By faith Abraham, when called… obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.” 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents… 10 For he was looking forward [With eyes of faith] to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. [Not Tower of Babel, the Tower of God] 11 By faith Abraham, even though he was past age [100] —and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he [Abraham] considered him [God] faithful who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, [“Even though” he was 100 yrs old and unable to have children anymore, Isaac was born] came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.”
- Hebrews 11:8-12
GENESIS 12
“The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to [Go to an unfamiliar land] the land I will show you. [Abraham is 75 and Sarah is 65 yrs old when God called them] 2 “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
[Through fulfillment in “Jesus”]
After awhile 10 There was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while…” 11 As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “I know what a beautiful woman you are. 12 When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live. 13 Say you are my sister, [Lie] so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.”[Make a sacrifice for me] 14 When Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw that Sarai was a very beautiful woman. 15 And when Pharaoh’s officials saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh, and she was taken into his palace. [Harem] 16 He treated Abram well for her sake, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels. 17 But the Lord inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram’s wife Sarai. 18 So Pharaoh summoned Abram. “What have you done to me?... Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife?... so that I took her to be my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!” 20 Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had...
GENESIS 15 Promise of Isaac
4 Then the word of the Lord came to him… a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.”… “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.
GENESIS 16 (Hagar and Ishmael)
“Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar; 2 so she said to Abram, ‘The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.’ Abram agreed to what Sarai said.” [A faithful “Even-Though” decision would have been not to even have gone] 3 … Abram… took her Egyptian slave Hagar… and she conceived. When she [Hagar] knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. [Hagar disrespected Sarah] 5 Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering… [She blames him, “Even though” it was her idea] 6 “Your slave is in your hands,” Abram said. “Do with her whatever you think best.” [Abraham should have personally talked to Hagar about her disrespectful meanness towards Sara] Then Sarai mistreated Hagar; so she fled from her. [Now Sarah is the mean girl. Hagar leaves] 7 The angel of the Lord [Jesus] found Hagar near a spring in the desert… 9 Then the angel of the Lord told her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her.” [a faithful “Even-though” action] 10 The angel added, “I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count…” 11 you will give birth to a son. You shall name him Ishmael, … 12 He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.” [Like an untamed, stubborn rebel]
GENESIS 17 [Abe = 99]
5 No longer will you be called Abram [Singular] your name will be Abraham, [Plural] for I have made you a father of many nations. 6 I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. 15 God also said to Abraham…you are no longer to call her Sarai; [Singular] her name will be Sarah. [Plural] …17 Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, “Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?”… 19 Then God said, “Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant… 21 But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you by this time next year.”
GENESIS 18
The Three Visitors
“… in the heat of the day. 2 Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby… 5 Let me get you something to eat…10 Then one of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.” Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent… 12 So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?” 13 Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord?" [“Even though” something might seem difficult in your life, is anything to hard for the Lord?] I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” 15 Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.” [“Even though” you are afraid, don’t lie.] But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.” [God gently corrects her]
Lessons
1.Everyone faces famines which will present temptations
because of fear.
ie. Going to Egypt
View your fear as an opportunity to trust God to lead you.
2. Remember that there will usually be lying involved when we look for “escapes” from facing our challenges “head on” with God.
ie. Sarah lies about her being Abraham’s sister.
3. Every compromise will jeopardize someone else
and cause harm.
ie. Sarah was placed in Pharoah’s harem.
There is no such thing as “Victimless” sin.
4.Don’t just think about solutions to problems, pray about them and evaluate possible solutions with God’s Word.
Don’t try to “Help God out” when it involves sin.
Ie. Sarah’s decision to have Hagar get pregnant.
Ie. Abraham’s decision to listen to Sarah.
Ie. Abraham’s decision to have Sarah lie.
God offers us his GRACE
whenever we have played the roles of
Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar.
Be patient.
Don’t try to rush God.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
-Romans 3:23–24
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