80 BEAUTY FROM ASHES: REDEEMING YOUR BROKEN MOMENTS
We all make mistakes. Failure is not the end. No two human beings are exactly alike. Each of us has a unique personality, background, life experience, and even DNA. But we all share something in common: we ve all made mistakes. We ve all failed. Whether it s a speeding ticket, a bad business decision, or a failed marriage, we all know the pain of regrets and hurts. We often struggle with the consequences of our actions, feeling burned and abandoned in a pile of ashes after everything went up in flames. Yet, in these broken moments, Jesus comes to us with tenderness and grace, offering to do something beautiful in us and through us for His glory and the good of others. Christ extends forgiveness for our sins. He offers mercy in the midst of our mess. Jesus has come to give us a crown of beauty instead of ashes (Isa. 61:3). This study looks at the lives of six people from Scripture whose actions were wrong people who failed unquestionably. Yet in spite of their failures, each one experienced God s redemption. They received a crown of beauty instead of ashes. And so can we. Clayton King Clayton King is an evangelist, pastor, and author. He s the founder and president of Crossroads Summer Camps, Crossroads Missions, and Clayton King Ministries. He s passionate about preaching the gospel, training leaders, and serving the church. Clayton is married to Sharie, and together they wrote True Love Project. Their ministry is located at Anderson University in South Carolina, where Clayton is Distinguished Professor of Evangelism. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 81
Beauty from Ashes As you lead your group through this study, help them know CHRIST and His gracious work, live as contributing servants in the COMMUNITY of faith, and engage the CULTURE without losing distinction. Note in the group plans the icons (below), which identify activities to help group members connect in specific ways to Christ, Community, and Culture. Christ Community Culture Christ Jesus is able to deliver us from our past, no matter the sin or circumstances. Our relationship with Christ is reflected in our obedience to His Word. 82
Community We are to exercise humility in how we interact and work together as the body of Christ. We should be content and thankful for the role God has given us in His church. Culture The world needs to see believers who make a bold stand for Christ. A life content in Christ is a sharp contrast to the selfish ambition that permeates the world. Helping you move from where you are to where you want to be. This is your passion for your class or group. Yet helping different individuals each take their next step to grow as disciples is challenging. The Transformational Discipleship Assessment (TDA) is a quick and easy tool to help you discover how you and the members of your group move from where you are to where God wants you to be. The assessment is online, which allows each group participant to take it in the comfort and privacy of their home, office, or even their mobile device. Discover more at TDA.LifeWay.com. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 83
REDEEMING YOUR BROKEN MOMENTS Session 1 Redeemed From Poor Choices Genesis 15:1-6; 16:1-5; 17:18-19 Session 2 Redeemed From Broken Relationships Genesis 27:41; 33:1-11 Session 3 Redeemed From a Critical Spirit Numbers 12:1-11,13-15 Session 4 Redeemed From Crippling Doubt Luke 1:11-20,63-65 Session 5 Redeemed From Devastating Failure Luke 22:54-62; Acts 4:8-13 Session 6 Redeemed From an Unbelieving Past Acts 26:9-20 Songs, Magazine Articles, and Book Excerpts are available online to support this study. Go to BibleStudiesForLife.com/blog. Here are some examples: Session #3 Not By Sight Three-time Dove Award winner Ginny Owens learned long ago that seeing has very little to do with your eyes. Session #6 Walking with God Encouraging your child as a new Christian. 84
SESSION 1 REDEEMED FROM POOR CHOICES The Point God s plans are always better than our own. The Passage Genesis 15:1-6; 16:1-5; 17:18-19 The Bible Meets Life I hate waiting. Right up there with spiders, clowns, and cilantro, few things cause me more anxiety and discomfort than waiting to see if someone will come through on a promise. I m not alone. Many of us don t like to wait. And many of us have learned the hard way what happens when we rush ahead and don t wait. Two friends of mine had an opportunity to purchase a piece of property that could have been a great financial investment. If they waited for the property to go into foreclosure, they could have bought it far below market value, held it for a year or two, and then sold it for a huge profit. But because they hated to wait, they purchased the property at its full appraisal price. Six months later, the stock market crash of 2008 sucker-punched my friends, and the value of their purchase plummeted. Because they rushed ahead, they were the ones who eventually lost the property to foreclosure. There is value in waiting especially when you re waiting on God. The Setting God called Abram to leave his relatives and his homeland for a land that God would show him. In addition to giving Abram the land, God promised to bless Abram, make his name great, and to make him into a great nation (see Gen. 12:1-3; Acts 7:2-4). God made another covenant with Abram, promising him that he would have a son, from whom would come countless descendants (see Gen. 15:1-5). But Abram and his wife Sarai were advanced in years, and Sarai remained childless. Abram struggled with the tension between God s promises for the future and his present reality. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 85
What does the Bible say? Credited (15:6) This Hebrew word means to reckon, or to count. In God s estimation, Abram s faith had the value of righteousness right standing with Him. Through her (16:2) According to the custom of the time, Sarai would adopt a son born of Abram s union with Hagar, and that son would become the family s heir, replacing Eliezer. Covenant (17:19) This Hebrew term means treaty, alliance, or agreement. Parity covenants were made between equals; others, called suzerainty covenants, were made by a superior with binding obligations placed on an inferior party. Genesis 15:1-6; 16:1-5; 17:18-19 15:1 After these events, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield; your reward will be very great. 2 But Abram said, Lord God, what can You give me, since I am childless and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus? 3 Abram continued, Look, You have given me no offspring, so a slave born in my house will be my heir. 4 Now the word of the Lord came to him: This one will not be your heir; instead, one who comes from your own body will be your heir. 5 He took him outside and said, Look at the sky and count the stars, if you are able to count them. Then He said to him, Your offspring will be that numerous. 6 Abram believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness. 16:1 Abram s wife Sarai had not borne any children for him, but she owned an Egyptian slave named Hagar. 2 Sarai said to Abram, Since the Lord has prevented me from bearing children, go to my slave; perhaps through her I can build a family. And Abram agreed to what Sarai said. 3 So Abram s wife Sarai took Hagar, her Egyptian slave, and gave her to her husband Abram as a wife for him. This happened after Abram had lived in the land of Canaan 10 years. 4 He slept with Hagar, and she became pregnant. When she realized that she was pregnant, she treated her mistress with contempt. 5 Then Sarai said to Abram, You are responsible for my suffering! I put my slave in your arms, and ever since she saw that she was pregnant, she has treated me with contempt. May the Lord judge between me and you. 17:18 So Abraham said to God, If only Ishmael were acceptable to You! 19 But God said, No. Your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will name him Isaac. I will confirm My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his future offspring. 86 Session 1
THE POINT God s plans are always better than our own. GET INTO THE STUDY 5 minutes ENHANCEMENT: Use Pack Item 6, Beauty from Ashes, to introduce the major theme of this study, along with the specific focus of each session. Notes DISCUSS: Question #1 on page 67 of the Personal Study Guide (PSG): When was the last time you leaped before you looked? Note: Remind group members that this question is intended to be light and fun, rather than seeking confession of sin. ACTIVITY (OPTIONAL): Give your group members a small taste of the look before you leap phenomenon by filling a candy dish with a mixture of M&M s and Skittles. (The candies look alike at first glance, but they produce a strange taste when grabbed and eaten in the same handful.) Set the bowl in a prominent place as group members enter the meeting space, or pass around the group as you discuss Question #1, above. GUIDE: Direct group members to The Bible Meets Life on page 68 of the PSG. Introduce the topic of waiting on God s plans by reading or summarizing the text or by encouraging group members to read on their own. GUIDE: Call attention to The Point at the top of page 68 of the PSG: God s plans are always better than our own. PRAY: Transition into the discussion by thanking Him for the privilege of studying His Word. Ask that the Holy Spirit would uplift and inspire your group as you study together the redemption available to all people in spite of our failures. TIP: When helpful, use this Notes column to record additional discussion questions, concepts, and activities that connect the study content with your specific group. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 87
10 minutes STUDY THE BIBLE Notes Genesis 15:1-6 1 After these events, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield; your reward will be very great. 2 But Abram said, Lord God, what can You give me, since I am childless and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus? 3 Abram continued, Look, You have given me no offspring, so a slave born in my house will be my heir. 4 Now the word of the Lord came to him: This one will not be your heir; instead, one who comes from your own body will be your heir. 5 He took him outside and said, Look at the sky and count the stars, if you are able to count them. Then He said to him, Your offspring will be that numerous. 6 Abram believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness. RECAP: Highlight the first paragraph on page 70 of the Personal Study Guide (PSG) to introduce the major theme of this study: We ve all made poor choices. Whether it s something huge, like losing millions of dollars on a hasty property purchase, or something more minor, like sending a hasty email when you were frustrated none of us is immune to this experience. Not even the great men and women of the Bible. READ: Genesis 15:1-6 on page 69 of the PSG. Read the text out loud or ask a volunteer to do so. GUIDE: Use the first two paragraphs on page 89 of this Leader Guide to help summarize the problem Abram was experiencing regarding his lack of an heir. ALTERNATE QUESTION: How do people sometimes respond when God s leading seems vague? DISCUSS: Question #2 on page 70 of the PSG: What expectations do we typically have when we take steps to follow God s leading? Note: We can imply from these verses that Abram expected God to grant him an heir more quickly. What kinds of expectations do we carry when we do what God wants us to do? TRANSITION: Abram s faith was a positive moment in verse 6. As we continue forward, however, things take a downward turn. 88 Session 1
THE POINT God s plans are always better than our own. Genesis 15:1-6 [Verses 1-2] After Abram returned to his dwelling place near the oaks belonging to Mamre (see 14:13), he received a message of reassurance from God in a vision. When God alluded to the great reward Abram could expect, Abram s thoughts went to what he wanted most and had not received. Abram had been in Canaan for 10 years (see 16:3), waiting for God to keep His promise to give him descendants. Abram s question reflected a cautious, reverent approach: Lord God, what can You give me? The word Lord carries the idea of master, and the term God is the self-designation of Deity God had revealed to His people. Abram did not question God s ability, but expressed his natural perplexity and concern. Time had passed since Abram had answered God s call and received His covenant, yet Abram was still childless. At some point during Abram s long wait, he had designated Eliezer, his household slave, as his legal heir. The implication is that the patriarch had grown impatient and concerned at God s delay in fulfilling His promise of natural descendants. [Verses 3-4] Either in the form of a mild complaint or of an impassioned request, Abram reminded God that He had not delivered on His promise of offspring, specifically a son who would continue Abram s family line. God responded to Abram s concern. The covenant-keeping God would deliver on His promise to give Abram a natural heir. God solemnly declared He would keep His word. The phrase this one refers to Eliezer, Abram s slave and designated heir. Instead has the force of a sharp contradiction: but rather. Not Eliezer, but a son from Abram s own body would be Abram s heir. Through normal marital relations with his wife Sarai, Abram would father a son. [Verse 5] After God responded to Abram s request/complaint, God took Abram outside and directed him to focus his attention on the heavens starry canopy. God challenged Abram to count the starry host. The words if you are able to count them underline the impossibility of doing so. Then God assured Abram his offspring would be as numerous as the stars, too many to count. [Verse 6] Buoyed by God s reassurance, Abram believed the Lord. The Hebrew term translated believed occurs here for the first time in the Scriptures and has the sense of Abram s relying on God as One who is true, stable, trustworthy, and faithful. It conveys the idea of Abram s having firm confidence in God. The word s form expresses Abram s settled trust in God that continued throughout his lifetime. Abram s faith was implied in his obeying God s call to journey from Haran to Canaan (see 12:4). His belief (trust) at this time (see 15:6) was an expression of his ongoing faith. God s response to Abram s affirmation of faith is one of the key statements in the Scriptures. The Lord credited it [Abram s belief] to him as righteousness. Because of Abram s trust in God, God considered Abram to be in right standing with Him. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 89
10 minutes STUDY THE BIBLE Notes Genesis 16:1-5 1 Abram s wife Sarai had not borne any children for him, but she owned an Egyptian slave named Hagar. 2 Sarai said to Abram, Since the Lord has prevented me from bearing children, go to my slave; perhaps through her I can build a family. And Abram agreed to what Sarai said. 3 So Abram s wife Sarai took Hagar, her Egyptian slave, and gave her to her husband Abram as a wife for him. This happened after Abram had lived in the land of Canaan 10 years. 4 He slept with Hagar, and she became pregnant. When she realized that she was pregnant, she treated her mistress with contempt. 5 Then Sarai said to Abram, You are responsible for my suffering! I put my slave in your arms, and ever since she saw that she was pregnant, she has treated me with contempt. May the Lord judge between me and you. DO: Direct group members to complete the activity Making Plans on page 71 of the PSG. If time permits, encourage volunteers to share their responses. How do you feel about making and following plans? Use the space below to record your typical emotional reactions in the following situations. Choose two. When you make plans When you wait for a plan to mature When plans go wrong When plans go right What emotions do you experience when your plans line up with God s plans? ALTERNATE QUESTION: How would it change our experience of waiting if we embraced the process? READ: Genesis 16:1-5 on page 69 of the PSG. GUIDE: Encourage group members to read the first two paragraphs on page 72 of the PSG in order to gain a sense of what Sarai may have been thinking and feeling while she waited for God s promises. DISCUSS: Question #3 on page 72 of the PSG: How have you experienced spiritual growth during a time of waiting? 90 Session 1
THE POINT God s plans are always better than our own. Genesis 16:1-5 [Verse 1] Abram s wife, Sarai, was concerned that she had not borne any children. Doubtless, she was aware of God s promise of offspring for Abram. Ten years had gone by, and she had not become pregnant. She and Abram were advanced in age. Also, no doubt her childlessness was a stigma in society. She settled on a plan to solve her problem of childlessness. Probably during her and Abram s earlier stay in Egypt (see 12:10-20), Sarai acquired an Egyptian slave named Hagar. In her impatience and anxiety, Sarai implemented an accepted custom of the time. [Verses 2-3] Sarai believed the Lord had prevented her from bearing children. She suggested Abram have sexual relations with her slave, Hagar, in the hope that through her Sarai could build a family (extend the family line). Abram agreed to her proposal and approved of it. At that time, it was the accepted practice that a childless wife could give her female slave to her husband as a secondary wife for the purpose of producing a male heir. With Abram s approval, Sarai gave Hagar to him as his second wife. The Hebrew words translated took and gave make clear that Abram and Hagar were married; she was his wife, not a concubine. The notation that this event occurred after Abram had lived in the land of Canaan 10 years probably indicates Abram and Sarai s shared concern and impatience as they waited for the fulfillment of God s promise they would have a son. Their anxiety grew as the years passed. [Verses 4-5] Abram had sexual relations with his new wife Hagar, and she conceived. When she became aware of her pregnancy, she treated her mistress with contempt. Hagar felt superior to Sarai and made no effort to hide her attitude. Hagar s air of superiority infuriated Sarai, and she turned on Abram. She charged that he was responsible for her suffering. Jealousy and injured pride may have caused her to lash out. An alternate view is that Sarai was not blaming Abram, but merely emphasizing his duty to correct the situation. With the words, May the Lord judge between me and you, Sarai called on God to determine who was right concerning the situation with Hagar and to settle the matter. Abram responded that Hagar was Sarai s slave, and Sarai could do with her as she wished. Technically, Abram was right. Sarai retained authority over Hagar and could exercise that authority. The sense of Abram s words is not that Sarai was free to do anything she wished to Hagar, but that she treat the slave properly. Sarai, however, mistreated Hagar so harshly that she ran away. She stopped by a spring in the desert, where an angel appeared to her and directed her to return to Sarai. The angel told her she would bear a son she was to name Ishmael, which means God hears. Hagar returned to Sarai and eventually bore Abram s son (see vv. 6-16). BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 91
15 minutes STUDY THE BIBLE Notes Genesis 17:18-19 18 So Abraham said to God, If only Ishmael were acceptable to You! 19 But God said, No. Your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will name him Isaac. I will confirm My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his future offspring. READ: Genesis 17:18-19 on page 69 of the PSG. DISCUSS: Question #4 on page 73 of the PSG: What does this passage reveal to you about the heart of God? Note: This passage refers specifically to Genesis 17:18-19. However, you may consider broadening the discussion to include the earlier passages studies in this session, as well. SUMMARIZE: Call attention to the main points on page 73 of the PSG: 1. When they had unsuccessfully tried things their own way, Abram and Sarai refocused their attention on God and His plan. 2. Sadly, it often takes the pain and frustration of our own failures to point us back to God. We have to come to the end of ourselves and exhaust our limited resources before we can really surrender control to Him. 3. God renewed His promise to Abram and Sarai. In His timing, He gave them a son when they were, respectively, 100 and 90 years old (see 21:1-3)! From that child came the nation of Israel. 4. God s ways are never predictable, but they are always reliable. So trust Him. And wait. ALTERNATE QUESTION: In what ways do we try to control our own lives? DISCUSS: Question #5 on page 73 of the PSG: How can you develop deeper trust in God s timing and God s plans? GUIDE: Refer back to The Point for this session: God s plans are always better than our own. If time allows, encourage volunteers to share any final thoughts and questions. 92 Session 1
THE POINT God s plans are always better than our own. Genesis 17:18-19 [Verse 18] Abraham voiced an impassioned plea to God: If only Ishmael were acceptable to You! Literally, Abraham pleaded that Ishmael might live before God in the sense of experiencing God s favor or blessing. One interpretation of Abraham s words is that he was asking God to work through the son he already had. An alternate view is that Abraham was not asking that Ishmael be the promised son instead of one born to Sarah; rather, he was asking that Ishmael not be excluded from God s covenant promises. In either view, Abraham expressed his concern for Ishmael. Evidently, he loved his son deeply. [Verse 19] The word no translates a Hebrew word that can mean no, but. If that is the proper rendering, God turned down Abraham s request that He work out the covenant through Ishmael to give Abraham descendants. The Hebrew term also can mean verily or of a truth. If that is the correct reading, God emphatically assured Abraham Sarah would bear the son of promise. God directed that Sarah s son be named Isaac, which means he laughs. The name reflects Abraham s laughter when God declared Sarah would bear a son (see 17:17). (Later, Sarah also would laugh silently at the promise that she and Abraham would have a son [see 18:12].) Isaac s name stressed that his birth would be a source of genuine, great joy. In addition, God would confirm (make, establish, ratify) His covenant with Isaac and his offspring; it would be an everlasting covenant. For additional information, read the article Eliezer, Abraham s Faithful Steward in the Spring 2016 issue of Biblical Illustrator. A previous Biblical Illustrator article Abraham s Family: An Overview (Summer 2013) relates to this lesson and can be found on the DVD in the Leader Pack. Previous Biblical Illustrator articles Abraham s Family: An Overview (Summer 2013), Covenant as a Biblical Theme (Summer 2013), Canaan in the Patriarchal Age (Spring 2008), Isaac (Winter 1993), and Ishmael (Fall 1987) relate to this lesson and can be purchased, along with other articles for this quarter, at lifeway.com/ biblicalillustrator. Look for the Biblical Illustrator material associated with Bible Studies for Life. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 93
5 minutes LIVE IT OUT Notes GUIDE: Direct group members to page 74 of the PSG. Encourage them to consider the following options for focusing on God s plans this week: > > Confess. Talk to God about your sins especially the ways you have abandoned His plans in favor of your own. Confess these to God and ask for His forgiveness. > > Pray constantly. To the best of your ability, spend a quick moment in prayer before you make any decisions this week. Ask for God s guidance each time you make a choice, and recommit yourself to following His plan. > > Let go. Identify an area of life in which you have been following your own plan rather than God s anything from your entertainment choices to your career. Take whatever steps are necessary to let go of that path and return to where God wants you to be. Wrap It Up TRANSITION: Read or restate the Conclusion from page 74 of the PSG: You may never become fond of waiting, and that s OK. You may never become fond of not knowing the end of God s plans, and that s OK, as well. All that s required is for you to trust that He is God and, therefore, His plans are better than your own. PRAY: Conclude by confessing that you have made mistakes in your efforts to follow God and obey His plans. Thank God for His forgiveness demonstrated in your life, and for the reality that His plans are always better than our own. 94 Session 1