ABRAHAM MY FRIEND Genesis 18 Lesson for November 7-8, 2015 Scott Susong

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1 ABRAHAM MY FRIEND Genesis 18 Lesson for November 7-8, 2015 Scott Susong INTRODUCTION Growing up, I was fortunate to have a lot of friends. But there was one guy that I considered to be my best friend. We did everything together: played sports, rode bikes, got into trouble, discussed girls, spent time at each others houses, etc. We still keep in touch, lo these many years later. One thing that characterizes our friendship we feel comfortable with each other. There was and is always a genuine acceptance and respect. Have you ever thought about your relationship with God in a similar way? We can be His friends. Did you know that Abraham was called a friend of God? BIBLICAL/ HISTORICAL CONTEXT Except for the story of the Creation, Genesis 1-11 is the account of man s rebellion against God and God dealing with the rebellion: the Fall (Genesis 3), the first murder (Ch. 4), man s corruption followed by the Flood (Ch. 6-8), the confusion of languages and the scattering of the people following the Tower of Babel (Ch.11). These are huge, sweeping events. Beginning with Chapter 12 the focus is one man through whom God would bless and redeem the world: Abraham. In Genesis we have the account of Abraham and his direct descendants: Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. The Abrahamic Covenant unfolds through these chapters in which God gradually reveals His will and His promises to Abraham. Three places in Scripture Abraham is called friend of God : 2 Chronicles 20:7, Isaiah 41:8 and James 2:23. What does it mean to be God s friend? What are some components of Abraham s relationship with God that we can learn and apply to our relationship with God? I. THE BASIS OF THE RELATIONSHIP: GRACE Genesis 15:6 says that Abraham believed in the Lord and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness. This verse is quoted 3 times in the New Testament: Romans 4:3, Galatians 3:6 and James 2:23. The word reckoned is a financial term which means counted to his account. The KJV says counted it to him. Righteousness or right standing with God was given to Abraham that is grace. Right standing before God came to Abraham as a gift. How did this happen? What did Abraham do? Absolutely nothing he did not DO anything, he BELIEVED. Abraham enjoyed undeserved and unearned favor with God by grace through faith. Abraham simply took God at His word. [see also Romans 4:1-5] Understand what faith is it is NOT a personality trait that certain positive individuals have. It is NOT a case of wishing something to be true and, shazam, it happens. Biblical faith is simply believing what God says.

2 Donald Grey Barnhouse describes God s act of grace in Genesis 15:6: The Lord God Himself, by an act of grace moved by His sovereign love, stooped to the record and blotted out everything that was against Abraham, and then wrote down on the record that He, God credited this man Abraham to be perfect even at a moment when Abraham was ungodly in himself. [Romans, God s Remedy, volume 3, page 208] Abraham understood that he was accepted by God, which freed him up to have an open positive relationship with the Lord. The relationship was built on the same foundation ours can be: as a gift through faith! TEACHERS: Briefly share the gospel with your class and add a personal word of how you trusted Christ and the difference He has made in your life. Do not assume that they know and understand this! TRANSITION: Just as I was with my boyhood buddy, you and I can be relaxed and free to be honest & open with God. We can have a friendship relationship with God. What might a relationship with God look like? II. THE QUALITIES OF A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, Genesis 18:1-8 A. The Positive Excitement of a Son Genesis 18:1 says that the Lord appeared to Abraham. He knew it was the Lord. What was his response? Verse 2 he ran to meet the 3 guests the Angel of the Lord and two angels who later visited Lot. Verse 6 he hurried into the tent to ask Sarah to prepare bread for the visitors. Verse 7 he ran to the herd to select a calf for the barbecue meal. Now, why all of the hurrying and running? He knew he was being visited by the Lord; he was excited and wanted every minute to count. He was like a son being visited by his father whom he loves and respects. ILLUSTRATION: Picture in your mind your favorite famous person who is living today. It could be an athlete, elected official, entertainer, Pastor, etc. Now, imagine that person calling you and wanting to come to your home for a meal and to spend some time with you. How excited would you be? You probably would clean up your house & yard, get a meal ready, be looking out the window and watching the clock eagerly anticipating their arrival. You would treasure every moment with them. That was Abraham s attitude with the Lord s arrival. APPLICATION: How would you describe your relationship with God? Close? Distant? Formal? Do you feel that most of the time He is frowning with disapproval? Waiting for you to make a mistake? Do you know that He loves and accepts you no matter what? Are you free and open with Him? We should have the

3 same positive excitement in being with the Lord as we would our famous person. If your relationship with Him centers on confession of sin and hoping that He forgives you, then chances are it is because you don t know much about Him. I would encourage you to study passages of scripture about His love, forgiveness and grace. B. The Humility of a Subject This is the balance of the first quality. As a believer we are a child of God, but He is still the Lord God of the universe. He is not our buddy or a genie who pops out of a bottle ready to fulfill our every wish. He is the Lord of Lords and King of Kings and we are His subjects. As the Creator of the universe He commands our awe, our respect and our worship. Verse 2 Abraham bowed himself to the earth when they arrived at his tent. Verse 3 he called him My Lord Verse 8 he was standing by them as they ate. The one who stands is the one who is awaiting instructions/orders. Griffith Thomas, in his commentary on Genesis, says of Abraham, although he had all the privileges of fellowship, he never forgot his own true place and position. (page 161) A healthy relationship with the Lord includes the attitude which constantly asks, Lord, what do You want me to do? It is His agenda not ours. C. The Generosity of a Servant The principle here is give your best to the Lord. Verse 6 Abraham asked Sarah to prepare 3 measures of fine flour to make bread cakes. This was about 8 gallons of flour. Abraham was not being stingy with the food or giving the Lord leftovers. Verse 7 he took a tender and choice calf for the meal. Again, only the best for the Lord will do. A healthy relationship with the Lord includes giving Him our best the best of our time, our talent and our treasure, NOT the leftovers. Think back to the famous person who is coming to your home. No doubt you would provide the best meal in the most elegant setting possible. So, why cut corners with the Lord? ILLUSTRATION: I know of a couple who gave a piano to their church the piano had 22 broken keys! Give your best to the Lord, not your junk. II. A CONTRAST SARAH, Genesis 18:9-15 In this section God gives Abraham & Sarah the wonderful news that in one year they would have a son. This son would be none other than Isaac, the son of promise. However, Sarah s reaction reveals her relationship to the Lord. Verse 9 Sarah had kept her distance, staying in the tent. Verse 12 When she heard the news she laughed the laugh of unbelief.

4 Verses She looked only at her own and Abraham s limitations rather than what the Lord could do. They were both elderly how could they have a baby? In verse 14 the Lord answered her unbelief with the great statement: Is anything too difficult for the Lord? Verse 15 Sarah lied because she was afraid. She denied that she had laughed and the Lord rebuked her: No, but you did laugh. The Bible does not gloss over the shortcomings of God s people. At this point in Sarah s spiritual journey we see a negative example. Her faith was behind Abraham s. It was characterized by fear, unbelief and deception. APPLICATION: How would you characterize your relationship with the Lord? Is it closer to Abraham s or Sarah s? Never doubt God s promises nothing is impossible with God. III. A UNIQUE ASSOCIATION WITH GOD, 18:16-33 [TEACHERS: We will not look at all of the details of this section it is too long] A. Special Revelation of God s Plan A relationship with God includes being on the inside of God s plans. In verses we have a soliloquy. Now, you may be thinking, Whoa, Scott using the word soliloquy brings back bad memories of my high school English classes! But a soliloquy is just a fancy word for a character in a story or a play revealing his inner thoughts to the audience. In this case, it is God! God is asking Himself if He should reveal His plans to Abraham. God decided to tell Abraham of His plan to destroy the cities of Sodom & Gomorrah because of their wickedness. Fellowship with God always includes knowledge of His will. Jesus explained this same concept to His disciples in John 15:15. He explained the difference between a slave and a friend. The slave does not know the master s plans; the friend is on the inside knowing the master s plans. B. Part of God s Plan A relationship with God means not only knowing God s plan but being part of the plan! Having the knowledge of God s intention to destroy Sodom, Abraham asks God in verse 23, will you destroy the righteous with the wicked? In the rest of Chapter 18 Abraham spent haggling with God over the extent of His destruction of the cities. Would God suspend judgment if He found 10 righteous people? Since God is a righteous Judge He will not destroy the righteous along with the wicked He answers Abraham s question. Now, the point of all this is that we can be included in the carrying out of God s will. As Griffith Thomas states in his commentary on Genesis, The man who is in fellowship with God does not merely know the Divine will, but becomes associated with God in the carrying out of that will [page 162].

5 APPLICATION: This is a simple but profound principle of prayer whatever is on your mind, take it to the Lord and ask Him for what you want. Abraham did not want the righteous to be punished with the wicked and he boldly but reverently asked God to spare them. He was not questioning God for he said, Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly? (verse 25) Abraham affirmed God s justice. And, in Genesis 19:12-16 we see that Abraham s prayer is answered. The angels made sure to get Lot and his family out of Sodom. Notice the expression in verse 16, for the compassion of the Lord was upon him. In the midst of God s judgment on sin, He demonstrates compassion. APPLICATIONS: 1. In Sodom we see the depths of human depravity. 2. We also see the certainty of God s judgment on sin. When Satan tempts us, he would have us believe that sin has no consequences not so! 3. God s mercy and compassion are available to any and all who turn to Him even in the midst of His executing divine justice. CONCLUSION So, where are you in your relationship with God? One man said it this way, I value a friend who for me finds time on his calendar but I cherish the friend who for me does not consult his calendar. The Lord desires to be that kind of friend to you!

Genesis 18. Knowing Our Call and Persevering In It

Genesis 18. Knowing Our Call and Persevering In It Genesis 18 Knowing Our Call and Persevering In It Recap Genesis 12: Abram & Sarai (& Lot) -> Canaan -> Egypt Genesis 13: Abram & Lot Split Genesis 14: Abram Rescues Lot Genesis 15: Covenant Made and Promises