Category Archives: Seeking His Kingdom Bible Study

Hagar and Ishmael Are Sent Away

Two titles for this lesson.

Hagar and Ishmael Are Sent Away

God Protects Hagar and Ishmael

Genesis 21:8-21 (NLT)
When Isaac grew up and was about to be weaned, Abraham prepared a huge feast to celebrate the occasion. But Sarah saw Ishmael—the son of Abraham and her Egyptian servant Hagar—making fun of her son, Isaac. 10 So she turned to Abraham and demanded, “Get rid of that slave woman and her son. He is not going to share the inheritance with my son, Isaac. I won’t have it!”

11 This upset Abraham very much because Ishmael was his son. 12 But God told Abraham, “Do not be upset over the boy and your servant. Do whatever Sarah tells you, for Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted. 13 But I will also make a nation of the descendants of Hagar’s son because he is your son, too.”

14 So Abraham got up early the next morning, prepared food and a container of water, and strapped them on Hagar’s shoulders. Then he sent her away with their son, and she wandered aimlessly in the wilderness of Beersheba.

15 When the water was gone, she put the boy in the shade of a bush.16 Then she went and sat down by herself about a hundred yards away. “I don’t want to watch the boy die,” she said, as she burst into tears.

17 But God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, “Hagar, what’s wrong? Do not be afraid! God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. 18 Go to him and comfort him, for I will make a great nation from his descendants.”

19 Then God opened Hagar’s eyes, and she saw a well full of water. She quickly filled her water container and gave the boy a drink.

20 And God was with the boy as he grew up in the wilderness. He became a skillful archer, 21 and he settled in the wilderness of Paran. His mother arranged for him to marry a woman from the land of Egypt.

Examine the Scriptures

Hagar and Ishmael Are Sent Away

God Protects Hagar and Ishmael

Genesis 21:8-21 (NLT)
When Isaac grew up and was about to be weaned, (2-3 years old) Abraham prepared a huge feast to celebrate the occasion. 

 Celebrate Isaac’s passage from infancy to childhood.

 But Sarah saw Ishmael (now 16 or 17 years old)—the son of Abraham and her Egyptian servant Hagar—making fun of her son, Isaac. 

 Genesis 21:9-10 (AMP)
Now [as time went on] Sarah saw [Ishmael] the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, mocking [Isaac].

 Genesis 21:9-10 (NKJV)
And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, scoffing.

 Genesis 21:9-10 (ESV)
But Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, laughing.
Footnotes:
Possibly laughing in mockery

 The 16 or 17 year old son of Abraham making fun of Sarah’s son (little boy) Isaac.

Previously

Strained and broken relationships go back many years.

Genesis 16:4-10 (NLT)
So Abram had sexual relations with Hagar, and she became pregnant. But when Hagar knew she was pregnant, she (Hagar) began to treat her mistress, Sarai, with contempt. Then Sarai said to Abram, “This is all your fault! I put my servant into your arms, but now that she’s pregnant she treats me with contempt. The Lord will show who’s wrong—you or me!”

Abram replied, “Look, she is your servant, so deal with her as you see fit.” Then Sarai treated Hagar so harshly that she finally ran away.

The angel of the Lord found Hagar beside a spring of water in the wilderness, along the road to Shur. The angel said to her, “Hagar, Sarai’s servant, where have you come from, and where are you going?”

“I’m running away from my mistress, Sarai,” she replied.

The angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit to her authority.” 10 Then he added, “I will give you more descendants than you can count.”

 10 So she turned to Abraham and demanded, “Get rid of that slave woman and her son. He is not going to share the inheritance with my son, Isaac. I won’t have it!”

  • Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Hagar, and Ishmael were living in a man-made social nightmare!

Consequences for living outside of God’s will.

Genesis 16:1-3 (NLT)
The Birth of Ishmael
1 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not been able to bear children for him. But she had an Egyptian servant named Hagar. So Sarai said to Abram, “The Lord has prevented me from having children. Go and sleep with my servant. Perhaps I can have children through her.” And Abram agreed with Sarai’s proposal. So Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian servant and gave her to Abram as a wife. (This happened ten years after Abram had settled in the land of Canaan.)

Problems

Isaac was the rightful natural heir.

But:

According to the social law of the time, Abraham was not permitted to send Ishmael away.

Abraham loved Ishmael.

Genesis 16:12 (NLT)
12 This son of yours will be a wild man, as untamed as a wild donkey! He will raise his fist against everyone, and everyone will be against him. Yes, he will live in open hostility against all his relatives.”

Go to Galatians 4 in the New Testament.

Galatians 4:21-31 (NLT)

A good overview of all that had taken place.

Abraham’s Two Children

21 Tell me, you who want to live under the law, do you know what the law actually says? 22 The Scriptures say that Abraham had two sons, one from his slave wife and one from his freeborn wife. 

 23 The son of the slave wife was born in a human attempt to bring about the fulfillment of God’s promise.

 But the son of the freeborn wife was born as God’s own fulfillment of his promise.

24 These two women serve as an illustration of God’s two covenants. The first woman, Hagar, represents Mount Sinai where people received the law that enslaved them. 25 And now Jerusalem is just like Mount Sinai in Arabia, because she and her children live in slavery to the law. 26 But the other woman, Sarah, represents the heavenly Jerusalem. She is the free woman, and she is our mother. 27 As Isaiah said,

“Rejoice, O childless woman,
you who have never given birth!
Break into a joyful shout,
you who have never been in labor!
For the desolate woman now has more children
than the woman who lives with her husband!”

28 And you, dear brothers and sisters, are children of the promise, just like Isaac. 29 But you are now being persecuted by those who want you to keep the law, just as Ishmael, the child born by human effort, persecuted Isaac, the child born by the power of the Spirit.

 30 But what do the Scriptures say about that? “Get rid of the slave and her son, for the son of the slave woman will not share the inheritance with the free woman’s son.” 

 31 So, dear brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman; we are children of the free woman.

 This is a picture of the ongoing struggle between the flesh and the Spirit.

Man’s way vs. God’s way. 

  • Until Jesus returns, there will always be an ongoing struggle between the flesh and the Spirit.

11 This upset Abraham very much because Ishmael was his son. 

Galatians 5:16-18 (NLT)
Living by the Spirit’s Power
16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. 18 But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.

12 But God told Abraham, “Do not be upset over the boy and your servant. Do whatever Sarah tells you, for Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted. 

Romans 9:7 (NLT)
Being descendants of Abraham doesn’t make them truly Abraham’s children. For the Scriptures say, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted,” though Abraham had other children, too.

 Genesis 25:1-2 (NLT)
1 Abraham married another wife, whose name was Keturah. She gave birth to Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.

Hebrews 11:18 (NLT)
even though God had told him, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.”

13 But I will also make a nation of the descendants of Hagar’s son because he is your son, too.”

  • God is in control.

 14 So Abraham got up early the next morning, prepared food and a container of water, and strapped them on Hagar’s shoulders. Then he sent her away with their son, and she wandered aimlessly in the wilderness of Beersheba.

 15 When the water was gone, she put the boy in the shade of a bush.16 Then she went and sat down by herself about a hundred yards away. “I don’t want to watch the boy die,” she said, as she burst into tears.

17 But God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, “Hagar, what’s wrong? Do not be afraid! God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. 18 Go to him and comfort him, for I will make a great nation from his descendants.”

 Genesis 17:18-27 (NLT)
18 So Abraham said to God, “May Ishmael live under your special blessing!”

19 But God replied, “No—Sarah, your wife, will give birth to a son for you. You will name him Isaac, and I will confirm my covenant with him and his descendants as an everlasting covenant. 20 As for Ishmael, I will bless him also, just as you have asked. I will make him extremely fruitful and multiply his descendants. He will become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. 21 But my covenant will be confirmed with Isaac, who will be born to you and Sarah about this time next year.” 22 When God had finished speaking, he left Abraham.

23 On that very day Abraham took his son, Ishmael, and every male in his household, including those born there and those he had bought. Then he circumcised them, cutting off their foreskins, just as God had told him. 24 Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised, 25 and Ishmael, his son, was thirteen. 26 Both Abraham and his son, Ishmael, were circumcised on that same day, 27 along with all the other men and boys of the household, whether they were born there or bought as servants. All were circumcised with him.

  •  Ishmael was blessed by God.
  • God promised to make Ishmael extremely fruitful and make him a great nation.
  • God’s covenant was first made to Abraham(Genesis 15:18-21), then confirmed to his son Isaac (Genesis 26:3), and then to Isaac’s son Jacob (Genesis 28:13), Abraham’s

 19 Then God opened Hagar’s eyes, and she saw a well full of water. She quickly filled her water container and gave the boy a drink.

 20 And God was with the boy as he grew up in the wilderness. He became a skillful archer, 21 and he settled in the wilderness of Paran. His mother arranged for him to marry a woman from the land of Egypt.

  • God was with Ishmael as he grew up in the wilderness.
  • God kept the promise He had made with Abraham about Ishmael.
  • God always keeps His Word.  (A theme we have seen throughout the book of Genesis.)

Rejoice In The Lord Always

Rejoice In The Lord Always

Genesis 21:1-7 (NLT)

The Birth of Isaac
1 The Lord kept his word and did for Sarah exactly what he had promised. She became pregnant, and she gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age. This happened at just the time God had said it would. And Abraham named their son Isaac. Eight days after Isaac was born, Abraham circumcised him as God had commanded. Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born.
And Sarah declared, “God has brought me laughter.  All who hear about this will laugh with me. Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse a baby? Yet I have given Abraham a son in his old age!”

Examine the Scriptures

Genesis 21:1-7 (NLT)
The Birth of Isaac
1 The Lord kept his word

What “word” did the Lord keep in this story?

When did God first make this promise to Abraham?

This promise to Abraham dates back 25 years.

Genesis 12 (NLT)
The Call of Abram
1 The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”
So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. He took his wife, Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all his wealth—his livestock and all the people he had taken into his household at Haran—and headed for the land of Canaan.

 and did for Sarah exactly what he had promised.  

  • God does not lie.

Numbers 23:19 (NLT)
19 God is not a man, so he does not lie.
He is not human, so he does not change his mind.
Has he ever spoken and failed to act?
Has he ever promised and not carried it through?

 She became pregnant,

Sarah had been barren for 90 years.

Genesis 11:27-30 (NLT)

The Family of Terah
27 This is the account of Terah’s family. Terah was the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran was the father of Lot. 28 But Haran died in Ur of the Chaldeans, the land of his birth, while his father, Terah, was still living. 29 Meanwhile, Abram and Nahor both married. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milcah. (Milcah and her sister Iscah were daughters of Nahor’s brother Haran.) 30 But Sarai was unable to become pregnant and had no children.

 and she gave birth to a son (Sarah’s one and only child) for Abraham in his old age. This happened at just the time God had said it would. 

Humanly speaking, this was impossible.

Review promises God had made to Abraham:

Promise general in nature

Genesis 12 (see above)

Genesis 13:14-17  (NLT)
14 After Lot had gone, the Lord said to Abram, “Look as far as you can see in every direction—north and south, east and west. 15 I am giving all this land, as far as you can see, to you and your descendants as a permanent possession. 16 And I will give you so many descendants that, like the dust of the earth, they cannot be counted! 17 Go and walk through the land in every direction, for I am giving it to you.”

 Genesis 15:5 (NLT)
Then the Lord took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!”

Promise specific in nature

Genesis 17:16-21 (NLT)
16 And I will bless her and give you a son from her! Yes, I will bless her richly, and she will become the mother of many nations. Kings of nations will be among her descendants.”
17 Then Abraham bowed down to the ground, but he laughed to himself in disbelief. “How could I become a father at the age of 100?” he thought. “And how can Sarah have a baby when she is ninety years old?” 18 So Abraham said to God, “May Ishmael live under your special blessing!”
19 But God replied, “No—Sarah, your wife, will give birth to a son for you. You will name him Isaac, and I will confirm my covenant with him and his descendants as an everlasting covenant. 20 As for Ishmael, I will bless him also, just as you have asked. I will make him extremely fruitful and multiply his descendants. He will become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. 21 But my covenant will be confirmed with Isaac, who will be born to you and Sarah about this time next year.”

 Genesis 18:10-14 (NLT)
10 Then one of them said, “I will return to you about this time next year, and your wife, Sarah, will have a son!”
Sarah was listening to this conversation from the tent. 11 Abraham and Sarah were both very old by this time, and Sarah was long past the age of having children. 12 So she laughed silently to herself and said, “How could a worn-out woman like me enjoy such pleasure, especially when my master—my husband—is also so old?”
13 Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, ‘Can an old woman like me have a baby?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”

 And Abraham named their son Isaac. 

Obedience

Genesis 17:19  (NLT)
19 But God replied, “No—Sarah, your wife, will give birth to a son for you. You will name him Isaac,[a] and I will confirm my covenant with him and his descendants as an everlasting covenant.

 Footnotes:
a17:19 Isaac means “he laughs.”   (rejoice)

Eight days after Isaac was born, Abraham circumcised him as God had commanded. 

Obedience

Genesis 17:11-14 (NLT)
11 You must cut off the flesh of your foreskin as a sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 From generation to generation, every male child must be circumcised on the eighth day after his birth. This applies not only to members of your family but also to the servants born in your household and the foreign-born servants whom you have purchased.13 All must be circumcised. Your bodies will bear the mark of my everlasting covenant. 14 Any male who fails to be circumcised will be cut off from the covenant family for breaking the covenant.”

 Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born.

 God’s promise fulfilled.

 And Sarah declared, “God has brought me laughter.  

God has brought me Isaac.

Unbelief changed to rejoicing

All who hear about this will laugh with me. 

Rejoice with me.

We rejoice because God makes and keeps promises.

Romans 12:15 (NLT)
Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.

 Philippians 4:4-8 (NLT)
Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

  •  Rejoice in the Lord always.

Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse a baby? Yet I have given Abraham a son in his old age!”

  • Nothing is too hard for God.

Jeremiah 32:27 (NLT)
“I am the Lord, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me?

Jeremiah 32:17 (NLT)
 “O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you!

 Job 42:2  (NLT)
 “I know that you can do anything,
and no one can stop you.

Matthew 19:26 (NLT)
Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”

Luke 18:27 (NLT)
He replied, “What is impossible for people is possible with God.”

John 10:18 (NLT)
No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.”

2 Timothy 1:10 (NLT)
And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News.

  • Remember that God makes promises and keeps His promises.

Numbers 23:19 (NLT)
God is not a man, so he does not lie.
He is not human, so he does not change his mind.
Has he ever spoken and failed to act?
Has he ever promised and not carried it through?

Hebrews 6:18 (NLT)
So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.

The Story Of A Philistine King Behaving Better Than A Man Chosen By God.

The story of a Philistine King behaving better than a man chosen by God.

Back to Abraham – Trust and Obey

Genesis 20 (NLT)
Abraham Deceives Abimelech
1 Abraham moved south to the Negev and lived for a while between Kadesh and Shur, and then he moved on to Gerar. While living there as a foreigner, Abraham introduced his wife, Sarah, by saying, “She is my sister.” So King Abimelech of Gerar sent for Sarah and had her brought to him at his palace.
But that night God came to Abimelech in a dream and told him, “You are a dead man, for that woman you have taken is already married!”
But Abimelech had not slept with her yet, so he said, “Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation? Didn’t Abraham tell me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘Yes, he is my brother.’ I acted in complete innocence! My hands are clean.”
In the dream God responded, “Yes, I know you are innocent. That’s why I kept you from sinning against me, and why I did not let you touch her. Now return the woman to her husband, and he will pray for you, for he is a prophet. Then you will live. But if you don’t return her to him, you can be sure that you and all your people will die.”
Abimelech got up early the next morning and quickly called all his servants together. When he told them what had happened, his men were terrified. Then Abimelech called for Abraham. “What have you done to us?” he demanded. “What crime have I committed that deserves treatment like this, making me and my kingdom guilty of this great sin? No one should ever do what you have done! 10 Whatever possessed you to do such a thing?”
11 Abraham replied, “I thought, ‘This is a godless place. They will want my wife and will kill me to get her.’ 12 And she really is my sister, for we both have the same father, but different mothers. And I married her.13 When God called me to leave my father’s home and to travel from place to place, I told her, ‘Do me a favor. Wherever we go, tell the people that I am your brother.’”
14 Then Abimelech took some of his sheep and goats, cattle, and male and female servants, and he presented them to Abraham. He also returned his wife, Sarah, to him. 15 Then Abimelech said, “Look over my land and choose any place where you would like to live.” 16 And he said to Sarah, “Look, I am giving your ‘brother’ 1,000 pieces of silver in the presence of all these witnesses. This is to compensate you for any wrong I may have done to you. This will settle any claim against me, and your reputation is cleared.”
17 Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants, so they could have children. 18 For the Lord had caused all the women to be infertile because of what happened with Abraham’s wife, Sarah.

 Examine the Scriptures

Trust and Obey

Genesis 20 (NLT)
Abraham Deceives Abimelech
1 Abraham moved south to the Negev and lived for a while between Kadesh and Shur, and then he moved on to Gerar.

Back to Abraham’s travels.  (see map)

Gerar: A Philistine city on the border between the Promised Land and Egypt.??

While living there as a foreigner, 

 Abraham introduced his wife, Sarah, by saying, “She is my sister.” So King Abimelech of Gerar sent for Sarah and had her brought to him at his palace.

 Sinfulness and lack of faith

God had promised Abraham a son through Sarah.

Same sin in chapter 12 (Pharaoh in Egypt)

Isaac will do the same thing in chapter 26

  • In this lesson, Abraham demonstrated a lifestyle of sinfulness and a lack of faith. (a lack of trust)

Our challenge:

Proverbs 3:5-6  (NLT)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.

 Not only was Abraham sinning, but he was also setting Abimelech up for failure.  He was setting the stage for Abimelech to commit a “great sin” (see verse 9).

Matthew 18:7 (NIV)
Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!

  • Abraham was setting the stage for Abimelech to commit a “great sin”.
  • Our sins may be setting others up for failure.

But that night God came to Abimelech in a dream and told him,

 In Genesis, dreams often bring divine revelation.

God intervened.

“You are a dead man, for that woman you have taken is already married!”

Exodus 20:14 (NLT)
“You must not commit adultery.

Leviticus 20:10 (NLT)
“If a man commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, both the man and the woman who have committed adultery must be put to death.

  • God intervened in Abraham’s life to preserve the promise he had previously made to Abraham.

Genesis 17:19 (NLT)
But God replied, “No—Sarah, your wife, will give birth to a son for you. You will name him Isaac, and I will confirm my covenant with him and his descendants as an everlasting covenant.

But Abimelech had not slept with her yet, so he said, “Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation? 

 In chapter 18 Abraham had prayed for the righteous to be spared.

Abimelech’s pray is much the same.

Didn’t Abraham tell me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘Yes, he is my brother.’ I acted in complete innocence! My hands are clean.”

 Abimelech respectfully presented his case to God.

  • There are times when it is appropriate to respectfully present our case to God.

 In the dream God responded, “Yes, I know you are innocent. That’s why I kept you from sinning against me, and why I did not let you touch her. 

  •  God is in control.

God protected Sarah.

Now return the woman to her husband,

 Repent

Change your behavior.

Turn from wrong.

 and he will pray for you, for he is a prophet.

A prophet – One who is divinely inspired to communicate God’s will to others.

God’s spokesman

One who intercedes for others.

Spoke to God on behalf of Abimelech.

  • God used a sinful man to minister to others.

 Then you will live.

 Forgiveness

 But if you don’t return her to him, you can be sure that you and all your people will die.”

Abraham is a prophet.

If / then

Abraham spoke to God on behalf of Abimelech and Abimelech returned Sarah to Abraham.

Abimelech got up early the next morning and quickly called all his servants together. When he told them what had happened, his men were terrified. 

Abimelech’s men feared God.

 Then Abimelech called for Abraham. “What have you done to us?” he demanded. “What crime have I committed that deserves treatment like this, making me and my kingdom guilty of this great sin? No one should ever do what you have done! 10 Whatever possessed you to do such a thing?”

 Abimelech rebukes Abraham.

  • A heathen king rightly rebuked a prophet of God.

“Great sin.”

“No one should ever do what you have done!”

Abimelech understood immorality.

 11 Abraham replied, “I thought, ‘This is a godless place. They will want my wife and will kill me to get her.’ 

             Abraham’s response

“I thought”

I thought this is a godless place.

I thought I would be killed.

I thought since Sarah was my half-sister, it was O.K. to lie.

Abraham did not fear God.

Abraham did not trust God.

Abraham misjudged the people Gerar. (They did fear God.)

12 And she really is my sister, for we both have the same father, but different mothers. And I married her.13 When God called me to leave my father’s home and to travel from place to place, I told her, ‘Do me a favor. Wherever we go, tell the people that I am your brother.’”

A partial truth.

Premeditated

Isaiah 55:8 (NLT)
“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.
“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.

  •  Our thoughts are nothing like God’s thoughts, which makes it dangerous for us to act on our thoughts rather than trust God’s ways.

14 Then Abimelech took some of his sheep and goats, cattle, and male and female servants, and he presented them to Abraham. He also returned his wife, Sarah, to him. 15 Then Abimelech said, “Look over my land and choose any place where you would like to live.” 16 And he said to Sarah, “Look, I am giving your ‘brother’ 1,000 pieces of silver in the presence of all these witnesses. This is to compensate you for any wrong I may have done to you. This will settle any claim against me, and your reputation is cleared.”

Abimelech was both repentant and generous while

Abraham was deceptive.

Abimelech felt a need to make restitution for his actions.

 17 Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants, so they could have children. 18 For the Lord had caused all the women to be infertile because of what happened with Abraham’s wife, Sarah.

Far-reaching consequences for sin.  (literally death)

Verse 7 …But if you don’t return her to him, you can be sure that you and all your people will die.”

Again, this is an example of how God was clearly in control.

  • The sins of one or two individuals can impact the lives of many other people.

Proverbs 3:5-6  (NLT)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.

A Surprise Ending

Will This Lesson Have A Predictable Ending Or A Surprise Ending

Genesis 19:30-38 (NLT)
Lot and His Daughters
30 Afterward Lot left Zoar because he was afraid of the people there, and he went to live in a cave in the mountains with his two daughters. 31 One day the older daughter said to her sister, “There are no men left anywhere in this entire area, so we can’t get married like everyone else. And our father will soon be too old to have children. 32 Come, let’s get him drunk with wine, and then we will have sex with him. That way we will preserve our family line through our father.”
33 So that night they got him drunk with wine, and the older daughter went in and had intercourse with her father. He was unaware of her lying down or getting up again.
34 The next morning the older daughter said to her younger sister, “I had sex with our father last night. Let’s get him drunk with wine again tonight, and you go in and have sex with him. That way we will preserve our family line through our father.” 35 So that night they got him drunk with wine again, and the younger daughter went in and had intercourse with him. As before, he was unaware of her lying down or getting up again.
36 As a result, both of Lot’s daughters became pregnant by their own father. 37 When the older daughter gave birth to a son, she named him Moab. He became the ancestor of the nation now known as the Moabites. 38 When the younger daughter gave birth to a son, she named him Ben-ammi. He became the ancestor of the nation now known as the Ammonites.

Examine the Scriptures

Genesis 19:30-38 (NLT)
Lot and His Daughters
30 Afterward Lot left Zoar because he was afraid of the people there, and he went to live in a cave in the mountains with his two daughters. 

Remember Lot’s earlier request.

Genesis 19:19-22 (NLT)
19 “You have been so gracious to me and saved my life, and you have shown such great kindness. But I cannot go to the mountains. Disaster would catch up to me there, and I would soon die. 20 See, there is a small village nearby. Please let me go there instead; don’t you see how small it is? Then my life will be saved.”
21 “All right,” the angel said, “I will grant your request. I will not destroy the little village. 22 But hurry! Escape to it, for I can do nothing until you arrive there.” (This explains why that village was known as Zoar, which means “little place.”)

Deuteronomy 6:18 (NLT)
Do what is right and good in the Lord’s sight, so all will go well with you. 

Isaiah 55:8-9 (NLT)
“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.
“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so my ways are higher than your ways
and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.
  

  • God’s way is always best.
  • Remember God’s promises.

God’s promises for His chosen people.  God’s plans for those of us who have been adopted into His family.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Ephesians 1:4-5 (NLT)
Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.

Deuteronomy 31:8 (NLT)
Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

2 Peter 1:3-4 (NLT)
By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

Exodus 19:5 (NLT)
Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me.

  • God’s plans for us are plans for good and not for disaster, to give us a future and a hope.

Lot’s daughters missed all of the above.

31 One day the older daughter said to her sister, “There are no men left anywhere in this entire area, so we can’t get married like everyone else. And our father will soon be too old to have children. 32 Come, let’s get him drunk with wine, and then we will have sex with him. That way we will preserve our family line through our father.”

Note:

Biblical character reference for Lot.

2 Peter 2:7-9 (NLT)
But God also rescued Lot out of Sodom because he was a righteous man who was sick of the shameful immorality of the wicked people around him. Yes, Lot was a righteous man who was tormented in his soul by the wickedness he saw and heard day after day. So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment.

 The daughters’ goal was to preserve their family line.

Their plan worked!  BUT!!

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.

  • Seek God’s will in everything you do.

33 So that night they got him drunk with wine, and the older daughter went in and had intercourse with her father. He was unaware of her lying down or getting up again.
34 The next morning the older daughter said to her younger sister, “I had sex with our father last night. Let’s get him drunk with wine again tonight, and you go in and have sex with him. That way we will preserve our family line through our father.” 35 So that night they got him drunk with wine again, and the younger daughter went in and had intercourse with him. As before, he was unaware of her lying down or getting up again.

Sodom and Gomorrah’s immoral philosophy had a corrupting influence on Lot’s daughters.

  • Society has a strong influence on our thoughts and actions.

Back to Sodom – repeating Lots mistakes.

The two following passages were used in a previous lesson about Lot.

2 Corinthians 6:14 (NLT)
Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?

 Proverbs 4:14-15-19 (NLT)
14 Don’t do as the wicked do,
and don’t follow the path of evildoers.
15 Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way.
Turn away and keep moving.
                                     …
19 But the way of the wicked is like total darkness.
They have no idea what they are stumbling over.

 Two very real kingdoms.

  • We live in two very real kingdoms: The Kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness.

Colossians 1:13(NLT)
For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son,

Exodus 23:2 (NLT)
“You must not follow the crowd in doing wrong.

Proverbs 4:14 (NLT)
Don’t do as the wicked do,
and don’t follow the path of evildoers.

1 Corinthians 15:33 (NLT)
Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.”

  •  We are influenced by the company we keep.

36 As a result, both of Lot’s daughters became pregnant by their own father. 37 When the older daughter gave birth to a son, she named him Moab. He became the ancestor of the nation now known as the Moabites. 

The Israelites were forbidden to molest the Moabites.

38 When the younger daughter gave birth to a son, she named him Ben-ammi. He became the ancestor of the nation now known as the Ammonites.

 The Israelites were forbidden to molest the Ammonites

Predictable outcomes.

  • Choices have consequences.

Exodus 34:7 (NLT)
I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations.
I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin.
But I do not excuse the guilty.
I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren;
the entire family is affected—
even children in the third and fourth generations.”

Deuteronomy 5:9 (NLT)
You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me.

The Moabites and Ammonites were Israel’s longstanding enemies.

Deuteronomy 23:3-6 (NLT)
“No Ammonite or Moabite or any of their descendants for ten generations may be admitted to the assembly of the Lord. These nations did not welcome you with food and water when you came out of Egypt. Instead, they hired Balaam son of Be-or from Pe-thor in distant Ar-am-nah-ar-aim to curse you. But the Lord your God refused to listen to Balaam. He turned the intended curse into a blessing because the Lord your God loves you. As long as you live, you must never promote the welfare and prosperity of the Ammonites or Moabites.

The surprise ending

Ruth 1:4  (NLT)
The two sons married Moabite women. One married a woman named Orpah, and the other a woman named Ruth.

Luke 3:23 (NLT)
The Ancestors of Jesus
Jesus was about thirty years old when he began his public ministry.
Jesus was known as the son of Joseph.
Joseph was the son of Heli.

Luke 3:32 (NLT)
David was the son of Jesse.
Jesse was the son of Obed.
Obed was the son of Boaz.
Boaz was the son of Salmon.
Salmon was the son of Nahshon.

 Lot’s daughters were ancestors of Jesus.

Don’t Look Back 

Genesis 19:15-29 (NLT)
15 At dawn the next morning the angels became insistent. “Hurry,” they said to Lot. “Take your wife and your two daughters who are here. Get out right now, or you will be swept away in the destruction of the city!”
16 When Lot still hesitated, the angels seized his hand and the hands of his wife and two daughters and rushed them to safety outside the city, for the Lord was merciful. 17 When they were safely out of the city, one of the angels ordered, “Run for your lives! And don’t look back or stop anywhere in the valley! Escape to the mountains, or you will be swept away!”
18 “Oh no, my lord!” Lot begged. 19 “You have been so gracious to me and saved my life, and you have shown such great kindness. But I cannot go to the mountains. Disaster would catch up to me there, and I would soon die. 20 See, there is a small village nearby. Please let me go there instead; don’t you see how small it is? Then my life will be saved.”
21 “All right,” the angel said, “I will grant your request. I will not destroy the little village. 22 But hurry! Escape to it, for I can do nothing until you arrive there.” (This explains why that village was known as Zoar, which means “little place.”)
23 Lot reached the village just as the sun was rising over the horizon.24 Then the Lord rained down fire and burning sulfur from the sky on Sodom and Gomorrah. 25 He utterly destroyed them, along with the other cities and villages of the plain, wiping out all the people and every bit of vegetation. 26 But Lot’s wife looked back as she was following behind him, and she turned into a pillar of salt.
27 Abraham got up early that morning and hurried out to the place where he had stood in the Lord’s presence. 28 He looked out across the plain toward Sodom and Gomorrah and watched as columns of smoke rose from the cities like smoke from a furnace.
29 But God had listened to Abraham’s request and kept Lot safe, removing him from the disaster that engulfed the cities on the plain.

Examine the Scriptures

Genesis 19:15-29 (NLT)
15 At dawn the next morning the angels became insistent. “Hurry,” they said to Lot. “Take your wife and your two daughters who are here. Get out right now, or you will be swept away in the destruction of the city!”

 Not as literal, but just as important.

Amos 5:14-15 (NLT)
14 Do what is good and run from evil
so that you may live!
Then the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies will be your helper,
just as you have claimed.
15 Hate evil and love what is good;
turn your courts into true halls of justice.
Perhaps even yet the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies
will have mercy on the remnant of his people.

Romans 12:2 (NLT)
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. 

  • Do what is good and run from evil.
  • Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world.

Get out right now, or you will be swept away in the destruction.

16 When Lot still hesitated, the angels seized his hand and the hands of his wife and two daughters and rushed them to safety outside the city, for the Lord was merciful

  •  God is merciful.

Mercy

Withholding disserved punishment. (to be correctly punished for your mistakes or bad behavior)

Mercy and grace are often confused. While the terms have similar meanings, grace and mercy are not the same. To summarize the difference: mercy is God not punishing us as our sins deserve, and grace is God blessing us despite the fact that we do not deserve it. Mercy is deliverance from judgment. Grace is extending kindness to the unworthy.”

Psalm 91:14 (NLT)
The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.
I will protect those who trust in my name.

  • God will rescue those who love Him.

Psalm 55:16  (NLT)
But I will call on God,
and the Lord will rescue me.

17 When they were safely out of the city, one of the angels ordered, “Run for your lives! And don’t look back or stop anywhere in the valley! Escape to the mountains, or you will be swept away!”

Don’t look back.

Philippians 3:13 (NLT)
13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,

 Don’t be controlled by your past.                                                  

Luke 9:62 (NLT)
But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”

 Isaiah 43:18-19 New International Version (NIV)
18 “Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
19 See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland.
 

  • Forget the past and look forward to what lies ahead.

18 “Oh no, my lord!” Lot begged. 19 “You have been so gracious to me and saved my life, and you have shown such great kindness. But I cannot go to the mountains. Disaster would catch up to me there, and I would soon die. 20 See, there is a small village nearby. Please let me go there instead; don’t you see how small it is? Then my life will be saved.”

Compromise

21 “All right,” the angel said, “I will grant your request. I will not destroy the little village. 

More mercy

22 But hurry! Escape to it, for I can do nothing until you arrive there.” (This explains why that village was known as Zoar, which means “little place.”)

Lingering, halting, and being dragged to safety.

Lot is not being a role model.

23 Lot reached the village just as the sun was rising over the horizon.24 Then the Lord rained down fire and burning sulfur from the sky on Sodom and Gomorrah. 25 He utterly destroyed them, along with the other cities and villages of the plain, wiping out all the people and every bit of vegetation. 

2 Thessalonians 1:6-10  (NLT)
In his justice he will pay back those who persecute you.
And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don’t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power. 10 When he comes on that day, he will receive glory from his holy people—praise from all who believe. And this includes you, for you believed what we told you about him.

Romans 2:6-10  (NLT)
He will judge everyone according to what they have done. He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness. There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. 10 But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile.

Galatians 6:7  (NLT)
Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.

  • You cannot mock the justice of God without receiving a consequence.

26 But Lot’s wife looked back as she was following behind him, and she turned into a pillar of salt.

             Unable to give up her past.

Matthew 10:39 (NLT)
If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.

  • Those who try to keep the life they have will lose it.

 27 Abraham got up early that morning and hurried out to the place where he had stood in the Lord’s presence. 28 He looked out across the plain toward Sodom and Gomorrah and watched as columns of smoke rose from the cities like smoke from a furnace.

 29 But God had listened to Abraham’s request and kept Lot safe, removing him from the disaster that engulfed the cities on the plain.

James 5:16 (NLT)
Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

  • The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

Don’t Team Up With Unbelievers.   

Genesis 19:1-14 (NLT)
Sodom and Gomorrah Destroyed
1 That evening the two angels came to the entrance of the city of Sodom. Lot was sitting there, and when he saw them, he stood up to meet them. Then he welcomed them and bowed with his face to the ground. “My lords,” he said, “come to my home to wash your feet, and be my guests for the night. You may then get up early in the morning and be on your way again.”
“Oh no,” they replied. “We’ll just spend the night out here in the city square.”
But Lot insisted, so at last they went home with him. Lot prepared a feast for them, complete with fresh bread made without yeast, and they ate. But before they retired for the night, all the men of Sodom, young and old, came from all over the city and surrounded the house. They shouted to Lot, “Where are the men who came to spend the night with you? Bring them out to us so we can have sex with them!”
So Lot stepped outside to talk to them, shutting the door behind him.“Please, my brothers,” he begged, “don’t do such a wicked thing.Look, I have two virgin daughters. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do with them as you wish. But please, leave these men alone, for they are my guests and are under my protection.”
“Stand back!” they shouted. “This fellow came to town as an outsider, and now he’s acting like our judge! We’ll treat you far worse than those other men!” And they lunged toward Lot to break down the door.
10 But the two angels reached out, pulled Lot into the house, and bolted the door. 11 Then they blinded all the men, young and old, who were at the door of the house, so they gave up trying to get inside.
12 Meanwhile, the angels questioned Lot. “Do you have any other relatives here in the city?” they asked. “Get them out of this place—your sons-in-law, sons, daughters, or anyone else. 13 For we are about to destroy this city completely. The outcry against this place is so great it has reached the Lord, and he has sent us to destroy it.”
14 So Lot rushed out to tell his daughters’ fiancés, “Quick, get out of the city! The Lord is about to destroy it.” But the young men thought he was only joking.

 Examine the Scriptures

Genesis 19:1-14 (NLT)
Sodom and Gomorrah Destroyed
1 That evening the two angels came to the entrance of the city of Sodom.

 Lot was sitting there,

City officials and other prominent citizens conducted the community’s affairs at the gate.

 Lot had become involved with the politics of Sodom.

Proverbs 4:10-19 (NLT)
10 My child, listen to me and do as I say,
and you will have a long, good life.
11 I will teach you wisdom’s ways
and lead you in straight paths.
12 When you walk, you won’t be held back;
when you run, you won’t stumble.
13 Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go.
Guard them, for they are the key to life.
14 Don’t do as the wicked do,
and don’t follow the path of evildoers.
15 Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way.
Turn away and keep moving.

16 For evil people can’t sleep until they’ve done their evil deed for the day.
They can’t rest until they’ve caused someone to stumble.
17 They eat the food of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence!
18 The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,
which shines ever brighter until the full light of day.
19 But the way of the wicked is like total darkness.
They have no idea what they are stumbling over.

 2 Corinthians 6:14 (NLT)
Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?

 Psalm 37:27 (NLT)
Turn from evil and do good,
and you will live in the land forever.

 Lot was teaming up with unbelievers (the wicked).

  • Lot had become a part of the political system of Sodom.
  • Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers.

 and when he saw them, he stood up to meet them. Then he welcomed them and bowed with his face to the ground. 

Like Abraham

Hebrews 13:2 (NLT)
Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! 

“My lords,” he said, “come to my home to wash your feet, and be my guests for the night. You may then get up early in the morning and be on your way again.”

Good host
(note: It doesn’t say that Lot would wash their feet.)

No indication that Lot knew these men were angels.  (See verse 13)

 “Oh no,” they replied. “We’ll just spend the night out here in the city square.”

 Lot was certainly aware of the perversity of the Sodomites.

Lot wanted to protect these men (angels) from the perversity of the Sodomites.

 But Lot insisted, so at last they went home with him. Lot prepared a feast for them, complete with fresh bread made without yeast, and they ate. 

 But before they retired for the night, all the men of Sodom, young and old, came from all over the city and surrounded the house. 

  •  The perversity in Sodom was widespread.

 They shouted to Lot, “Where are the men who came to spend the night with you? Bring them out to us so we can have sex with them!”

 Blatant homosexuality

What is a root cause of homosexuality?

Romans 1:18-27
God’s Anger at Sin
18 But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. 19 They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. 20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.
21 Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. 22 Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. 23 And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.
24 So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. 25 They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. 26 That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. 27 And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other.

  • Wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness.
  • They knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks.
  • God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired.

 So Lot stepped outside to talk to them, shutting the door behind him.“Please, my brothers,”

My brothers

My friends

Don’t team up with unbelievers. 

he begged, “don’t do such a wicked thing.Look, I have two virgin daughters. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do with them as you wish.

Don’t try to rationalize this behavior in any way.

 But please, leave these men alone, for they are my guests and are under my protection.”

                 Again, being a good host.

 “Stand back!” they shouted. “This fellow came to town as an outsider, and now he’s acting like our judge!

 We’ll treat you far worse than those other men!” And they lunged toward Lot to break down the door.

The men of Sodom turned against Lot.

John 15:19 (NLT)
The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.

  • The world hates those who God chose to come out of the world.

10 But the two angels reached out, pulled Lot into the house, and bolted the door. 

 The two angels saved Lot.

 11 Then they blinded all the men, young and old, who were at the door of the house, so they gave up trying to get inside.

 Exodus 23:20  (NLT)
A Promise of the Lord’s Presence
“See, I am sending an angel before you to protect you on your journey and lead you safely to the place I have prepared for you.

  •  God uses angels to carry out His plans.

  12 Meanwhile, the angels questioned Lot. “Do you have any other relatives here in the city?” they asked. “Get them out of this place—your sons-in-law, sons, daughters, or anyone else. 

The angels warned Lot to leave Sodom.

 13 For we are about to destroy this city completely. The outcry against this place is so great it has reached the Lord, and he has sent us to destroy it.”

 By this time it would have been clear to Lot that these men were angels sent by God.

  •  God sent angels to destroy Sodom because of all the wickedness present in the city.

Divine judgment.

Romans 1:18
God’s Anger at Sin
But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness.

Psalm 34:16 (NLT)
But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil;
he will erase their memory from the earth.

 Psalm 94:23 (NLT)
God will turn the sins of evil people back on them.
He will destroy them for their sins.
The Lord our God will destroy them.

 Malachi 4:1 (NLT)
The Coming Day of Judgment
The Lord of Heaven’s Armies says, “The day of judgment is coming, burning like a furnace. On that day the arrogant and the wicked will be burned up like straw. They will be consumed—roots, branches, and all.

  •  God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness.

  14 So Lot rushed out to tell his daughters’ fiancés, “Quick, get out of the city! The Lord is about to destroy it.”

 But the young men thought he was only joking.

Lot had lost all of his credibility.

Abraham Intercedes for Sodom

Genesis 18:16-33 (NLT)
Abraham Intercedes for Sodom
16 Then the men got up from their meal and looked out toward Sodom. As they left, Abraham went with them to send them on their way.
17 “Should I hide my plan from Abraham?” the Lord asked. 18 “For Abraham will certainly become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him. 19 I have singled him out so that he will direct his sons and their families to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just. Then I will do for Abraham all that I have promised.”
20 So the Lord told Abraham, “I have heard a great outcry from Sodom and Gomorrah, because their sin is so flagrant. 21 I am going down to see if their actions are as wicked as I have heard. If not, I want to know.”
22 The other men turned and headed toward Sodom, but the Lord remained with Abraham. 23 Abraham approached him and said, “Will you sweep away both the righteous and the wicked? 24 Suppose you find fifty righteous people living there in the city—will you still sweep it away and not spare it for their sakes? 25 Surely you wouldn’t do such a thing, destroying the righteous along with the wicked. Why, you would be treating the righteous and the wicked exactly the same! Surely you wouldn’t do that! Should not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?”
26 And the Lord replied, “If I find fifty righteous people in Sodom, I will spare the entire city for their sake.”
27 Then Abraham spoke again. “Since I have begun, let me speak further to my Lord, even though I am but dust and ashes. 28 Suppose there are only forty-five righteous people rather than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?”
And the Lord said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five righteous people there.”
29 Then Abraham pressed his request further. “Suppose there are only forty?”
And the Lord replied, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the forty.”
30 “Please don’t be angry, my Lord,” Abraham pleaded. “Let me speak—suppose only thirty righteous people are found?”
And the Lord replied, “I will not destroy it if I find thirty.”
31 Then Abraham said, “Since I have dared to speak to the Lord, let me continue—suppose there are only twenty?”
And the Lord replied, “Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the twenty.”
32 Finally, Abraham said, “Lord, please don’t be angry with me if I speak one more time. Suppose only ten are found there?”
And the Lord replied, “Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten.”
33 When the Lord had finished his conversation with Abraham, he went on his way, and Abraham returned to his tent.

Examine the Scriptures

Genesis 18:16-33 (NLT)
Abraham Intercedes for Sodom

16 Then the men

The Lord and two angels. (last lesson)

got up from their meal and looked out toward Sodom. As they left, Abraham went with them to send them on their way.

17 “Should I hide my plan from Abraham?” the Lord asked. 18 “For Abraham will certainly become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him. 

My plan

Abraham will certainly become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him. (God’s plan repeated.) Genesis 12:3, 18:18, 22:18, 26:4 Acts 3:25

Galatians 3:8 (NLT)
What’s more, the Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would make the Gentiles right in his sight because of their faith. God proclaimed this good news to Abraham long ago when he said, “All nations will be blessed through you.”

19 I have singled him out

  • God had a plan for Abraham.

1 Corinthians 12 (NLT)
One Body with Many Parts
12 The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ.
18 But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it.

Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)
10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

  • God has a plan for us.

so that he will direct his sons and their families to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just.

  • Abraham’s role:

Be a good father and grandfather.

He will direct his sons and their families to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just.

Do what is right and just.

What scriptures pop into your minds?

Proverbs 22:6 (NLT)
Direct your children onto the right path,
and when they are older, they will not leave it.

Deuteronomy 6  (NLT)
A Call for Wholehearted Commitment
1 “These are the commands, decrees, and regulations that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you. You must obey them in the land you are about to enter and occupy, and you and your children and grandchildren must fear the Lord your God as long as you live. If you obey all his decrees and commands, you will enjoy a long life. Listen closely, Israel, and be careful to obey. Then all will go well with you, and you will have many children in the land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you.
“Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.

Psalm 78:4-7 (NLT)
We will not hide these truths from our children;
we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord,
about his power and his mighty wonders.
For he issued his laws to Jacob;  he gave his instructions to Israel.
He commanded our ancestors to teach them to their children,
so the next generation might know them— even the children not yet born—
and they in turn will teach their own children.
So each generation should set its hope anew on God,
not forgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands.

Summarize the above.

Redeemer Day School. (One of the school’s core values)

Redeemer Day School partners with parents and comes alongside them as they rear their children. We believe that a child’s home, church, and school should work together to “train up a child in the way he should go” (Proverbs 22:6). Teachers and parents must rely on the Holy Spirit to develop Christ-like character in these precious children. We are looking down the road at what each child will become as they grow into the person that the Lord has created them to be. Our prayer is that they will never know a time that they do not love, serve, and follow the Lord Jesus Christ.

Then I will do for Abraham all that I have promised.”

Deuteronomy 30:15-18 (NLT)
15 “Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster. 16 For I command you this day to love the Lord your God and to keep his commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy.
17 “But if your heart turns away and you refuse to listen, and if you are drawn away to serve and worship other gods, 18 then I warn you now that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live a long, good life in the land you are crossing the Jordan to occupy.

  • God carries out His promises.

20 So the Lord told Abraham, “I have heard a great outcry from Sodom and Gomorrah, because their sin is so flagrant. 21 I am going down to see if their actions are as wicked as I have heard.

Jeremiah 23:24 (NLT)
Can anyone hide from me in a secret place?
Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and earth?”
says the Lord.

Job 34:21 (NLT)
“For God watches how people live;
he sees everything they do.

Psalm 139
O Lord, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me.
You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
You see me when I travel
and when I rest at home.
You know everything I do.

  • God knows everything we do.

If not, I want to know.”

Genesis 13:13 (NLT)
But the people of this area were extremely wicked and constantly sinned against the Lord.

Contrast

Blessings and curses

Deuteronomy 11:26-28 (NLT)
26 “Look, today I am giving you the choice between a blessing and a curse! 27 You will be blessed if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today. 28 But you will be cursed if you reject the commands of the Lord your God and turn away from him and worship gods you have not known before.

  • You will be blessed if you obey the commands of the Lord. You will be cursed if you reject the commands of the Lord.

22 The other men turned and headed toward Sodom, but the Lord remained with Abraham. 23 Abraham approached him and said, “Will you sweep away both the righteous and the wicked? 

  • The Lord remained with Abraham.

Abraham approached God

Hebrews 4:14-16  (NLT)
Christ Is Our High Priest
14 So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. 15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

  • Because of all that Jesus has done for us we can come boldly to God’s throne of grace.

24 Suppose you find fifty righteous people living there in the city—will you still sweep it away and not spare it for their sakes? 

Proverbs 14:34 (NIV)
Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin condemns any people.

25 Surely you wouldn’t do such a thing, destroying the righteous along with the wicked. Why, you would be treating the righteous and the wicked exactly the same!

  • Abraham was genuinely concerned for the righteous. (Lot)

Genesis 14:16 (NLT)
Abram recovered all the goods that had been taken, and he brought back his nephew Lot with his possessions and all the women and other captives.

Surely you wouldn’t do that! Should not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?”

Psalm 11:7 (NLT)
For the righteous Lord loves justice.
The virtuous will see his face.

Psalm 89:14 (NLT)
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne.

Psalm 7:11 (NLT)
God is an honest judge.
He is angry with the wicked every day.

Psalm 7:11 (NIV)
God is a righteous judge,
a God who displays his wrath every day.

  • God is a righteous judge. He does what is right.

26 And the Lord replied, “If I find fifty righteous people in Sodom, I will spare the entire city for their sake.”

27 Then Abraham spoke again. “Since I have begun, let me speak further to my Lord,
 even though I am but dust and ashes

            Insignificant compared to God.

28 Suppose there are only forty-five righteous people rather than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?”

And the Lord said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five righteous people there.”

29 Then Abraham pressed his request further. “Suppose there are only forty?”

And the Lord replied, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the forty.”

30 “Please don’t be angry, my Lord,” Abraham pleaded. “Let me speak—suppose only thirty righteous people are found?”

And the Lord replied, “I will not destroy it if I find thirty.”

31 Then Abraham said, “Since I have dared to speak to the Lord, let me continue—suppose there are only twenty?”

And the Lord replied, “Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the twenty.”

32 Finally, Abraham said, “Lord, please don’t be angry with me if I speak one more time. Suppose only ten are found there?”

It was turning out that Sodom was truly an intensely wicked city.

Genesis 13:13 (NLT)
But the people of this area were extremely wicked and constantly sinned against the Lord.

Genesis 19:16 (NLT)
When Lot still hesitated, the angels seized his hand and the hands of his wife and two daughters and rushed them to safety outside the city, for the Lord was merciful.

And the Lord replied, “Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten.”

33 When the Lord had finished his conversation with Abraham, he went on his way, and Abraham returned to his tent.

 

 

Entertaining Angels

Hebrews 13:2 (NLT)
Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! 

Commentaries cross-reference this verse with Genesis 18:1-15

Genesis 18:1-15 (NLT)
A Son Is Promised to Sarah
1 The Lord appeared again to Abraham near the oak grove belonging to Mamre. One day Abraham was sitting at the entrance to his tent during the hottest part of the day. He looked up and noticed three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran to meet them and welcomed them, bowing low to the ground.
“My lord,” he said, “if it pleases you, stop here for a while. Rest in the shade of this tree while water is brought to wash your feet. And since you’ve honored your servant with this visit, let me prepare some food to refresh you before you continue on your journey.”
“All right,” they said. “Do as you have said.”
So Abraham ran back to the tent and said to Sarah, “Hurry! Get three large measures of your best flour, knead it into dough, and bake some bread.” Then Abraham ran out to the herd and chose a tender calf and gave it to his servant, who quickly prepared it. When the food was ready, Abraham took some yogurt and milk and the roasted meat, and he served it to the men. As they ate, Abraham waited on them in the shade of the trees.
“Where is Sarah, your wife?” the visitors asked.
“She’s inside the tent,” Abraham replied.
10 Then one of them said, “I will return to you about this time next year, and your wife, Sarah, will have a son!”
Sarah was listening to this conversation from the tent. 11 Abraham and Sarah were both very old by this time, and Sarah was long past the age of having children. 12 So she laughed silently to herself and said, “How could a worn-out woman like me enjoy such pleasure, especially when my master—my husband—is also so old?”
13 Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, ‘Can an old woman like me have a baby?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”
15 Sarah was afraid, so she denied it, saying, “I didn’t laugh.”
But the Lord said, “No, you did laugh.”

Examine the Scriptures

Genesis 18:1-15 (NLT)
A Son Is Promised to Sarah
1 The Lord appeared again to Abraham

 The Lord and two angels.  (This will be clear shortly.)

  • The Lord and two angles appeared to Abraham and Sarah in human form.

God came to Abraham.

 Various roles of angels in the Scriptures:

Communicate information

Luke 2:8-14 (NLT)
That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in highest heaven,
and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

John 20:11-12 (NLT)
11 Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. 12 She saw two white-robed angels, one sitting at the head and the other at the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying.

Matthew 28:6  (NLT)
He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying.

Accompany Jesus

Matthew 16:27 (NLT)
For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds.

 2 Thessalonians 1:7 (NLT)
And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels,

 Protection/Care

Matthew 4:11 (NLT)
Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.

Luke 4:10 (NLT)
For the Scriptures say,
‘He will order his angels to protect and guard you.

Hebrews 1:14 (NLT)
Therefore, angels are only servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation.

 Psalm 91:11 (NLT)
For he will order his angels
to protect you wherever you go.

 Matthew 18:10 (NLT)
“Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father.

 Matthew 26:53 (NLT)
Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly?

Worship/Praise God

Luke 2:13-14 (NLT)
13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in highest heaven,
and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

Revelation 5:11 (NLT)
Then I looked again, and I heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and of the living beings and the elders.

Luke 15:10 (NLT)
In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.”

Gather the chosen

Matthew 24:31 (NLT)
And he will send out his angels with the mighty blast of a trumpet, and they will gather his chosen ones from all over the world—from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven.

  • Angels are real and play many different roles throughout the scriptures.

 near the oak grove belonging to Mamre.

This is where Abraham moved to after he and Lot split up.

Genesis 13:18 (NLT)
So Abram moved his camp to Hebron and settled near the oak grove belonging to Mamre. There he built another altar to the Lord.

 One day Abraham was sitting at the entrance to his tent during the hottest part of the day. He looked up and noticed three men standing nearby.

 In previous encounters, the Lord simply “appeared”.

 When he saw them, he ran to meet them

 1 Peter 4:9 (NLT)
Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.

Hebrews 13:2 (NLT)
Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!

 He ran – In the Middle East an elderly socially prominent man normally would not run

  •  Abraham did not hesitate to show hospitality to his three visitors.

and welcomed them, bowing low to the ground.

 “My lord,” he said,

             A common way of speaking to special guests.

  •  Abraham treated his guests with respect.

 Refer to the use of “Lord” later in the chapter.

Initially, Abraham may or may not have known this was Yahweh but he certainly knew before too long.

Genesis 18:22 (NLT)
The other men turned and headed toward Sodom, but the Lord remained with Abraham.

Genesis 18:30-31 (NLT)
30 “Please don’t be angry, my Lord,” Abraham pleaded. “Let me speak—suppose only thirty righteous people are found?”
And the Lord replied, “I will not destroy it if I find thirty.”
31 Then Abraham said, “Since I have dared to speak to the Lord, let me continue—suppose there are only twenty?”

  “if it pleases you, stop here for a while. Rest in the shade of this tree while water is brought to wash your feet. 

 Typical greeting.

 And since you’ve honored your servant with this visit, let me prepare some food to refresh you before you continue on your journey.”

 In reality, what happened here was that the Lord came to Abraham.

 Revelation 3:20 (NLT)
“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.

 Share a meal as friends – more intimate

  • Jesus makes it possible for us to have an intimate relationship with Him.

 Jesus comes to us.

How do we respond?

Do we even recognize Jesus?

 “All right,” they said. “Do as you have said.”

So Abraham ran back to the tent and said to Sarah, “Hurry! Get three large measures of your best flour, knead it into dough, and bake some bread.” Then Abraham ran out to the herd and chose a tender calf and gave it to his servant, who quickly prepared it. 

  •  Abraham was generous with his guests.

A period of time to “visit”.

 When the food was ready, Abraham took some yogurt and milk and the roasted meat, and he served it to the men. As they ate, Abraham waited on them in the shade of the trees.

 A significant amount of food.

 Abraham had servants, but here he did the serving.

  • Abraham displayed a servant’s heart.

 The reason for the visit.

 “Where is Sarah, your wife?” the visitors asked.
“She’s inside the tent,” Abraham replied.

10 Then one of them said, “I will return to you about this time next year, and your wife, Sarah, will have a son!”

 A repetition, with more details, of the promise made in 17:16.

God was making his message crystal clear.

 Sarah was listening to this conversation from the tent. 11 Abraham and Sarah were both very old by this time, and Sarah was long past the age of having children. 

 Long past the age of having children.

 12 So she laughed silently to herself and said,

 Genesis 17:17 (NLT)
Then Abraham bowed down to the ground, but he laughed to himself in disbelief. “How could I become a father at the age of 100?” he thought. “And how can Sarah have a baby when she is ninety years old?”

 “How could a worn-out woman like me enjoy such pleasure, especially when my master—my husband—is also so old?” 

Sarah was still not receptive to God’s plan for her life.

There is a lesson here for us.

 13 Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, ‘Can an old woman like me have a baby?’ 

 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”

 Repetition of the promise.

  • Nothing is too hard for the Lord.

 15 Sarah was afraid, so she denied it, saying, “I didn’t laugh.”

 Repentance vs. denial

 But the Lord said, “No, you did laugh.”

  •  It doesn’t make sense to lie to God. He knows our hearts.

God tells of His plans for Sarah, Isaac, and Ishmael.

Previous lesson:

the Lord appeared to him (Abraham) and said, “I am El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty.’

“I (God Almighty) will confirm my covenant with you and your descendants ….”

  • God is omnipotent.
    •  God is “The Overpowerer,” meaning He will do what He purposes to do, overpowering   all opposition.
    •  God is “The All Sufficient One…” He doesn’t need our help!
    • God is the Almighty One who supplies and satisfies our every need.
    • God nourishes and supplies the needs of His people.
    • God is more than sufficient to meet any need. He is power and provision.
    • God would be sufficient for Abram’s every need.

Today’s lesson

God tells of His plans for Sarah, Isaac, and Ishmael.

The sovereignty of God: all things are under His control.

Genesis 17:15-27 (NLT)
15 Then God said to Abraham, “Regarding Sarai, your wife—her name will no longer be Sarai. From now on her name will be Sarah. 16 And I will bless her and give you a son from her! Yes, I will bless her richly, and she will become the mother of many nations. Kings of nations will be among her descendants.”
17 Then Abraham bowed down to the ground, but he laughed to himself in disbelief. “How could I become a father at the age of 100?” he thought. “And how can Sarah have a baby when she is ninety years old?” 18 So Abraham said to God, “May Ishmael live under your special blessing!”
19 But God replied, “No—Sarah, your wife, will give birth to a son for you. You will name him Isaac, and I will confirm my covenant with him and his descendants as an everlasting covenant. 20 As for Ishmael, I will bless him also, just as you have asked. I will make him extremely fruitful and multiply his descendants. He will become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. 21 But my covenant will be confirmed with Isaac, who will be born to you and Sarah about this time next year.” 22 When God had finished speaking, he left Abraham.
23 On that very day Abraham took his son, Ishmael, and every male in his household, including those born there and those he had bought. Then he circumcised them, cutting off their foreskins, just as God had told him. 24 Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised, 25 and Ishmael, his son, was thirteen. 26 Both Abraham and his son, Ishmael, were circumcised on that same day, 27 along with all the other men and boys of the household, whether they were born there or bought as servants. All were circumcised with him.

Examine the Scriptures

Genesis 17:15-27 (NLT)
Sarai Is Named Sarah
15 Then God said to Abraham, “Regarding Sarai, your wife—her name will no longer be Sarai. From now on her name will be Sarah. 

“my princess” changed to “princess”

Princess – one whose seed would produce kings.

 16 And I will bless her and give you a son from her!

Genesis 21:2-3 (NLT)
She (Sarah) became pregnant, and she gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age. This happened at just the time God had said it would. And Abraham named their son Isaac.

 Yes, I will bless her richly, and she will become the mother of many nations. Kings of nations will be among her descendants.”

Sarah is blessed with a son.

Sarah is richly blessed by becoming the mother of many nations.  Kings will be among her descendants.

Much like the promise made to Abraham.

Genesis 17:5 (NLT)
What’s more, I am changing your name. It will no longer be Abram. Instead, you will be called Abraham, for you will be the father of many nations.

 17 Then Abraham bowed down to the ground, but he laughed to himself in disbelief.

Abraham laughed in disbelief.

Review: the Lord appeared to him (Abraham) and said, “I am El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty.’

 Abraham did not fully grasp what God was telling him.  Isn’t this also true for us?

He (we) had a partial understanding of what God was saying.

 

  • Abraham did not fully grasp all that God was telling him.

This all sounded incredible to Abraham.  He had assumed that his descendants would come through Ishmael.

Abraham knew (believed) that he would be the father of many nations.  This was the first mention that his barren, old wife was to be the mother.

 “How could I become a father at the age of 100?” he thought. “And how can Sarah have a baby when she is ninety years old?” 

 Isaiah 46:9-11 (NLT)
Remember the things I have done in the past.
For I alone am God!
I am God, and there is none like me.
10 Only I can tell you the future
before it even happens.
Everything I plan will come to pass,
for I do whatever I wish.
11 I will call a swift bird of prey from the east—
a leader from a distant land to come and do my bidding.
I have said what I would do,
and I will do it.

  •  God does what He says He will do.

 18 So Abraham said to God, “May Ishmael live under your special blessing!”

Abraham still saw Ishmael as special.

Abraham asked that Ishmael would receive the special blessing from God.

Still willing to help God with an alternate solution “to the problem”.

 19 But God replied, “No—

  •  God often says “No” to His people.

Luke 22:42 (NLT)
“Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

Sarah, your wife, will give birth to a son for you. You will name him Isaac, and I will confirm my covenant with him and his descendants as an everlasting covenant. 

God’s plan

Isaac means “he laughs”

Isaiah 55:8 (NLT)
“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.
“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.

Ephesians 3:20 (NLT)
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

  • God is able to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

Mark 10:27 (NLT)
Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.”

 20 As for Ishmael, I will bless him also, just as you have asked. I will make him extremely fruitful and multiply his descendants. He will become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. 

God partially honors Abraham’s request in verse 18.

21 But my covenant will be confirmed with Isaac, who will be born to you and Sarah about this time next year.” 

 God’s covenant will continue through Isaac.

 22 When God had finished speaking, he left Abraham.

23 On that very day

 Obedience

 Abraham took his son, Ishmael, and every male in his household, including those born there and those he had bought. Then he circumcised them, cutting off their foreskins, just as God had told him. 24 Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised, 25 and Ishmael, his son, was thirteen. 26 Both Abraham and his son, Ishmael, were circumcised on that same day, 27 along with all the other men and boys of the household, whether they were born there or bought as servants. All were circumcised with him.

 Trust and obey

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.

Proverbs 16:20 (NLT)
20 Those who listen to instruction will prosper;
those who trust the Lord will be joyful.

  • Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.

I (God Almighty) Will Confirm My Covenant – Genesis 17:1-14

“I (God Almighty) will confirm my covenant with you and your descendants …. ‘

Genesis 17:1-14 (NLT)
Abram Is Named Abraham
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty.’ Serve me faithfully and live a blameless life. I will make a covenant with you, by which I will guarantee to give you countless descendants.”
At this, Abram fell face down on the ground. Then God said to him,“This is my covenant with you: I will make you the father of a multitude of nations! What’s more, I am changing your name. It will no longer be Abram. Instead, you will be called Abraham, for you will be the father of many nations. I will make you extremely fruitful. Your descendants will become many nations, and kings will be among them!
“I will confirm my covenant with you and your descendants after you, from generation to generation. This is the everlasting covenant: I will always be your God and the God of your descendants after you. And I will give the entire land of Canaan, where you now live as a foreigner, to you and your descendants. It will be their possession forever, and I will be their God.”

The Mark of the Covenant

Then God said to Abraham, “Your responsibility is to obey the terms of the covenant. You and all your descendants have this continual responsibility. 10 This is the covenant that you and your descendants must keep: Each male among you must be circumcised. 11 You must cut off the flesh of your foreskin as a sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 From generation to generation, every male child must be circumcised on the eighth day after his birth. This applies not only to members of your family but also to the servants born in your household and the foreign-born servants whom you have purchased. 13 All must be circumcised. Your bodies will bear the mark of my everlasting covenant.14 Any male who fails to be circumcised will be cut off from the covenant family for breaking the covenant.”

Examine the Scriptures
Genesis 17:1-14 (NLT)
Abram Is Named Abraham
When Abram was ninety-nine years old,

 13 years after the birth of Ishmael.

Sarai had not yet given birth to a son.

the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty.’

One of the most well-known names for the Lord, El Shaddai,

English as “God Almighty,” and it is found in Job more than any other book in Scripture.

This title would be used to describe His power.

  • God is omnipotent.
    • God is the Almighty One who supplies and satisfies our every need.
    • God nourishes and supplies the needs of His people.
    • God is “The All Sufficient One…” He doesn’t need our help!
    • God is more than sufficient to meet any need. He is power and provision.
    • God is “The Overpowerer,” meaning He will do what He purposes to do, overpowering all opposition.
    • God would be sufficient for Abram’s every need.

Exodus 15:6 (NLT)
“Your right hand, O Lord,
is glorious in power.
Your right hand, O Lord,
smashes the enemy.

Matthew 19:26 (NLT)
Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”

Luke 1:37 (NLT)
For the word of God will never fail.”

Psalm 115:3 (NLT)
Our God is in the heavens,
and he does as he wishes.

Job 42:2(NLT)
“I know that you can do anything,
and no one can stop you.”

Jeremiah 32:27 (NLT)
“I am the Lord, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me?”

  •  God’s power is a resource for Christians.

Ephesians 1:19-23 (NLT)
19 I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. 21 Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. 22 God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. 23 And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.

 Philippians 4:13 (NLT)
For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

 Serve me faithfully and live a blameless life. 

 Expectations for Abram.

Called to a higher standard of living.

Expectations for Christians.

Ephesians 1:4 (NLT)
Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.

 Philippians 1:9-10 (NLT)
I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. 10 For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return.

Holy, without fault, pure, and blameless.
(What God has begun in the past will be completed in the future.)

Holy- set apart

Pure – Not weakened or diluted (metal – wine)

Blameless –Free from accusation. Used to describe sacrificial lambs.
Above reproach
Right relationship with God and others.
Not causing others to stumble.

2 Peter 3:14 (NLT)
And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight.

Desire to live the life God called you to live. (Remember God’s power.)

  • God chose us (Christians) to be holy and without fault in His eyes.

I will make a covenant with you, by which I will guarantee to give you countless descendants.”

 At this, Abram fell face down on the ground. Then God said to him,

 Postures give expression to the attitudes of our hearts.

 “This is my covenant with you:

 I will make you the father of a multitude of nations! 

 Previously
Genesis 15:5 (NLT)
Then the Lord took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!”

 What’s more, I am changing your name. It will no longer be Abram. Instead, you will be called Abraham, for you will be the father of many nations. 

Abram –      High father or “exalted father.”

Abraham – Father of many, father of a multitude

Romans 4:17 (NLT)
That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, “I have made you the father of many nations.” This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing.

 Belief vs. keeping the law

I will make you extremely fruitful. Your descendants will become many nations, and kings will be among them!

 “I will confirm my covenant with you and your descendants after you, from generation to generation.

 God confirms His covenant.

God repeats His covenant.

God’s covenant is everlasting.

 This is the everlasting covenant:

 I will always be your God and the God of your descendants after you. 

 And I will give the entire land of Canaan, where you now live as a foreigner, to you and your descendants. It will be their possession forever, and I will be their God.”

 The Mark of the Covenant

Then God said to Abraham, “Your responsibility is to obey the terms of the covenant.

 Acts 7:5 (NLT)
“But God gave him no inheritance here, not even one square foot of land. God did promise, however, that eventually the whole land would belong to Abraham and his descendants—even though he had no children yet.

 You and all your descendants have this continual responsibility. 

 Zephaniah 3:12-13 (NLT)
12 Those who are left will be the lowly and humble,
for it is they who trust in the name of the Lord.
13 The remnant of Israel will do no wrong;
they will never tell lies or deceive one another.
They will eat and sleep in safety,
and no one will make them afraid.”

 10 This is the covenant that you and your descendants must keep: Each male among you must be circumcised. 11 You must cut off the flesh of your foreskin as a sign of the covenant between me and you. 

Not a Hebrew invention – used in Egypt as an act of ritual purity

A new meaning here.

  • Physical circumcision was a reminder of God’s everlasting covenant with Abraham and his descendants.

Separation

Purity (cut away sin)

Loyalty

  • True circumcision is a change of heart produced by the Spirit.

Deuteronomy 30:6 (NLT)
“The Lord your God will change your heart and the hearts of all your descendants, so that you will love him with all your heart and soul and so you may live!

Romans 2:28-29 (NLT)
28 For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision. 29 No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by the Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.

Romans 4:11 (NLT)
 Circumcision was a sign that Abraham already had faith and that God had already accepted him and declared him to be righteous—even before he was circumcised. So Abraham is the spiritual father of those who have faith but have not been circumcised. They are counted as righteous because of their faith.

12 From generation to generation, every male child must be circumcised on the eighth day after his birth. This applies not only to members of your family but also to the servants born in your household and the foreign-born servants whom you have purchased. 

  •  Circumcision has nothing to do with racial purity.

13 All must be circumcised. Your bodies will bear the mark of my everlasting covenant.14 Any male who fails to be circumcised will be cut off from the covenant family for breaking the covenant.”

The Council of Jerusalem did not include religious male circumcision as a requirement for new Gentile converts. Acts 15.