Explore the Bible Lesson Preview February 10, 2008 "Do You Obey in Faith?" Background: Genesis 20:1-23:20 Lesson: Genesis 22:1-6, 9-18 Motivation: Sin, testing and faith are certain themes of almost any Biblical character. We are to learn both from their example as well as their mistakes. Examination: I. Foolish Deception(20:1-18) The similarity of this account with Abraham's previous sin in Egypt (12:10-20), leads one to several conclusions: A. Once committed, Sin Leaves a Stronger Temptation - Abram's lie in 12:12 seems to be a repeated pattern (20:13). Total abstinence is the best defense against temptation. (I Cor. 10:13) Once tasted, the pleasure of sin "for a season" is often almost irresistible. (Ps. 16:11) B. God Expects Faithfulness, Not Perfection - As opposed to many mythical heroes of other religious books, the real-life characters in the Bible are shown as completely human, full of capacity to fail. Throughout Scripture, Abraham is recalled as a hero; yet, he failed more than once. C. Honesty Brings It's Own Rewards - In both cases of Abraham's lies, God protected him; and honesty brought material rewards. II. Joyful Birth/Painful Rejection (21:1-21) A. Isaac, Son of Abraham and Sarah(1-7) In the birth of Isaac we have a foreshadowing or a "type" of the birth of Christ: Isaac 1 / 7
Jesus 1. Predicted in Advance Gen. 12:2; 15:4; 17:16 Micah 5:2 2. Named by God Gen. 17:19 Isaiah 7:14 3. Miraculously conceived Gen. 21:2 Matthew 1:20 4. Miraculously Timed 2 / 7
Gen. 18:14 Gal. 4:4 5. First-born of a New Race Gen. 21:7 Acts 26:23 B. Conflict Over Isaac and Ishmael(21:8-21) Here we see the inevitable turmoil caused by Abraham's sin of Genesis 16:4. The conflict seen here is but a snapshot of generations of hate and strife. Modern day Muslims trace their ancestry back to Abraham through Ishmael. 1. The Results of Sin Are Public "great feast" (8) The conflict boiled over at a very public event, no doubt attended by hundreds of Abraham's servants. Numbers 32:23b " and be sure your sin will find you out." 2. The Results of Sin Are Predictable (9-10) Two heirs and two mothers were inevitably going to be at odds with one another. Galatians 6:7 " Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows." 3. The Results of Sin Are Painful "And the matter was very displeasing in Abraham's sight " (11) Abraham had two sons: Ishmael and Isaac. As painful as the parting was, he had to send Ishmael away. This upsetting experience was about fourteen years after the sin itself. The results of sin are often like a credit card bill - it comes due at the most inopportune time. 4. The Results of Sin Are Pardonable (12-21) "Yet I will make a nation of the son of the bond woman, because he is your seed 3 / 7
" (13) God's grace and mercy are strikingly displayed in these verses. Ishmael was never a part of God's plan for Abraham. He was the result of doubt and disobedience. Yet, God still cared for him " And God was with the lad." (20) (Gal. 4:19-5:1) III. Formal Treaty (21:22-34) Believer's Study Bible, p. 37: 21:32, 33 "This covenant with Abimelech made at Beersheba apparently filled Abraham with gratitude and praise. In answering Abimelech's request not to deal falsely' (v. 23) with him or his people, Abraham said simply, I will swear' (v. 24). The meaning of Beersheba' is probably the well of the oath,' remembering the oath sworn by the men. Beersheba' ( be'er sheva' or be'er shava', Heb.) comes from shava', swear,' or sheva', seven,' plus be'er, well.' They used seven ewe lambs to formalize the covenant." IV. Proved Faith (22:1-24) Explore the BibleCommentary (OND, 1997) p. 120: "Typically in Scripture a person tested another to find out what someone was really like. Daniel and his friends asked for a test (Dan. 1:12-16) so Nebuchadnezzar would discover what kind of people they were. The Queen of Sheba tested Solomon to see if he really was wise (2 Chron. 9:1). Sometimes God tested Israel, and they were known to test God. When Israel tested God, the testing was usually negative, uncalled for, and out of place (Num. 14:22). When God tested Israel, He wanted to give them an opportunity to demonstrate their trust in Him. That is the purpose of His test of Abraham here. The aim of the test as revealed in verse 12 was to demonstrate that Abraham did indeed fear God." A. God's Tests Are Preceded By Preparation"Now it came to pass after all these things that God tested Abraham " (1) God had prepared Abraham in advance for this moment. Through visions, trials and fulfilled promises, God had molded Abraham's character to stand firm in the time of testing. How was David prepared for the test of Goliath? He first fought lions and bears! (I Samuel 17:34) I Corinthians 10:13, promises that we will not be tested above our ability. That ability only comes through learning to depend on Christ and His empowering Spirit. B. God's Tests Are Personal "Take now your son, your only son Isaac " (2) God's words remind us of the intense pain that Abraham would have felt. Having already sent one son into the wilderness, he was being asked to give up his child of promise. While some have called the test cruel, remember that all Abraham had including Isaac had been given to him by God. In order to be the Patriarch God wanted him to be, Abraham had to demonstrate that nothing stood between him and obedience to God. Sometimes Christians are afraid that God will take away some personal possession. It's helpful to remember that God owns it all; it is His to give and His to take. (Heb. 11:17-19) C. God's Tests Are Preordained "My son, God will provide Himself a lamb..." (8) J. Vernon McGee comments on p. 92 of Thru the Bible, Vol. I: "Verse 13 tells us that shortly after this there was a ram that was caught in the thicket by 4 / 7
his horns, and Abraham got that ram and offered it. Abraham says here that God will provide Himself a lamb. but there was no lamb there; it was a ram, and there is a distinction. The Lamb was not provided until centuries later when John the Baptist marked Him out and identified Him, saying, "...Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering' - it is very important to see that Abraham was speaking prophetically." (Rev. 13:8) God knew the answer to the test. He was more than willing to provide that answer. (I Cor. 5:7; I Peter 1:19; Heb. 9:14) All Abraham had to do was continue to obey in faith. Believer's Study Bible, p. 37: 22:12 "God tested Abraham in the command to offer Isaac as a sacrifice. God in His omniscience had always known the heart of Abraham, but here He gave Abraham an opportunity to demonstrate his faith. Abraham himself had his faith exercised (James 2:21-22) and developed while learning a new lesson - that God would provide (vv. 8, 13). Almost certainly the event on Mt. Moriah is typological. Abraham, advancing up the slope, very possibly where Solomon's temple later stood, felt something of the agony of the Heavenly Father sacrificing His only Son, Jesus. At the summit of Moriah, the type changes, and Isaac is a type of all lost and condemned men, for whom a substitute ram, typical of Christ, was sacrificed." (John 8:56-58) D. God's Tests Are Designed To Provide "And Abraham called the name of the place, The Lord Will Provide " (14) Believer's Study bible, p. 38: " 22:14 The Lord-Will-Provide' is a play on the verb translated provided.' The verb means basically see,' as the English word provide' is from the Latin, meaning see beforehand.' God sees our need before it arises and makes provision for it." (Phil. 4:19) God not only provided a ram, he also provided Abraham with further blessings (16-18). Depending on God in times of testing will strengthen our character and add credibility to our faith. V. Sarah's Death (23:1-20) Explore the Bible Commentary, (OND, 1997) p. 122-123: "The author began to close out Abraham's story with the account of Sarah's death and the purchase of a burial plot in Canaan. Abraham was determined to bury Sarah in a grave that truly belonged to her family. He was not willing to receive the site as a gift. He negotiated for the purchase. The burial cave was the only piece of the promised land Abraham would ever own. Later, the same burial site was the tomb of Abraham, Isaac, Rebekah, Leah, and Jacob (Gen. 49:31). The tomb 5 / 7
today called the Machpelah, which means double cave,' is in Hebron." Application 1. Sin is always followed by God's judgment. 2. Testing is always followed by God's grace. 3. Faith is always followed by God's blessing. Leader's Pack Item 19: Poster: Lesson Outline; Item 20: Handout: Blessings Biblical Illustrator: No Article Notes: **You may access David's Lesson Preview in MP3 format at: http://www.hfbcbiblestud y.org/ ; also, the Highpoint Bible Study (Downtown) is available on MP3 at the HFBC site under the Highpoint link/downloads. Dates: 1/3-3/20 - Men's Life & breakfast; 1/8-3/25 - LivingProof with Beth Moore; 2/9 - Summit Annual Variety Show; 2/22-23 - Summit Winter Retreat (away); 2/29-3/1 - Revive Our Hearts Women's Conf.; 3/6-7 - FBA Musical "Oklahoma"; 3/9 - Spring Loaded; 3/23 - Easter Sunday, two identical A.M. services, Ascend as usual and no Bible Study; March 24 thru September - No events in Worship Center; 5/25 - Memorial Day weekend - one service (10 am) No Ascend, no Bible classes ; 6/9-13 - VBS; 6/23-27 - Middle & High School Camp; 6/27-30 - Children's Camp; 6 / 7
7/6 - Independence Day, normal schedule; 7/6-10 - Houston Project. 7 / 7