Mercy Despite Doubt Genesis 16 May 19, 2013

Transcription

1 Mercy Despite Doubt Genesis 16 May 19, 2013 A. Introduction What would cause anyone to doubt God s promises? Lamentations 3:25-26, Acts 1:7, Matthew 14:31 Delay in God s fulfillment of a promise leads to impatience, then to a lack of faith, then unbelief. B. Misguidance in initiative 1-2 What should Abram and Sarai have done concerning the promises given to them? Psalm 37:7a, 40:1, 62:5, Hebrews 6:12 What was the delay that was causing doubt for Abram and Sarai? 1 Whom did Sarai correctly identify as the blame for her problem? 2, I Samuel 1:6, Psalm 127:3 How did Sarai propose to provide a solution to her childless condition? 2-3 C. Misalliance in marriage 3-4 What obvious mistake did Abram make concerning his wife s suggestion? Matt. 7:7, James 1:5, 4:15 It would appear that he listened to his wife s proposal without consulting the Lord. How long had Abram lived in Canaan without any sign of fulfillment of God s promise? 3b D. Misconception in judgment 5-6 After Abram had followed his wife s advice, how did Hagar the maid feel toward Sarai? 4 What did Sarai later realize about her suggestions to her husband? 5 Who did Sarai then blame for her immediate dilemma? 5 What did Abram tell Sarai to do and what was the result? 6 E. Mercy in the midst of misery 7-16 What advice did the Lord give to Hagar? 9 What did the Lord say should be the child s name? 11 Ishmael (meaning, God will hear. ) What name did Hagar ascribe to the Lord? 13 Thou art the God who sees. How old was Abram when Ishmael was born? 16

2 Mercy Despite Doubt May 19, 2013

3 A. Introduction B. Misguidance in initiative 1-2 C. Misalliance in marriage 3-5 D. Misconception in judgment 5-6 E. Mercy in the midst of misery 7-16

4 A. Introduction

5 Faith is living without scheming.

6 Hebrews 6: And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. For when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, "I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply you."

7 Lamentations 3: The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him. It is good that one should quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.

8 B. Misguidance in initiative 1-2

9 Weak faith leads to impatience and then on to unbelief.

10 Isaiah 30:18 - Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you; And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for Him.

11 Genesis 16:1-2 - Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. And she had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar. So Sarai said to Abram, "See now, the Lord has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her." And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai.

12 Luke 9:23 - And He said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

13 Galatians 4: Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not listen to the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise,

14 Galatians 4: This is allegorically speaking: for these women are two covenants, one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar. Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother.

15 II Corinthians 3: But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ. But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; but whenever a man turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.

16 Galatians 3: What I am saying is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. For if the inheritance is based on law, it is no longer based on a promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.

17 Galatians 3: But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith.

18 The new covenant provides: 1. Every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus Eph 1:3 2. Better promises Hebrews 8:6 3. A new package of power Acts 1:8 4. A better priesthood I Pt 2:5; Heb 5:5-6, 10: A better sacrifice Hebrews 9:12, A better sanctuary I Peter 2:5, Hebrews 9:11

19 The new covenant provides: 7. A better hope Hebrews 7:19 8. Better worship Hebrews 13:15 9. A new ability to obey God Ephesians 3:16-17, Colossians 1: A new freedom Galatians 5: A new sanctification Hebrews 10:10, His Law written in our hearts Hebrews 8:10

20 Psalm 37:7 - Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.

21 Psalm 40:1 - I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me, and heard my cry.

22 C. Misalliance in marriage 3-4

23 Genesis 16:3-4 - Then Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar her maid, the Egyptian, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan. So he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress became despised in her eyes.

24 Q. What obvious mistake did Abram apparently make concerning his wife s suggestion? A. It would appear that he listened to his wife s proposal without consulting the Lord.

25 Matthew 7:7 - Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

26 James 1:5-7 - If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

27 James 4:15 - Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."

28 On 7 different occasions it is said that David inquired of the Lord.

29 Hebrews 6:15 - And thus, having patiently waited, he obtained the promise.

30 D. Misconception in judgment 5-6

31 E. Mercy in the midst of misery 7-16

32 Isaiah 30:15 - For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: "In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength"...

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