God With Us Part 1: The Great Blessing Genesis Deuteronomy EXTRA God with Us-- --Whether We Believe it or Not Chapters 12, 20, 26 The Big Question: What are the people around me picking up from the way I live my life? Abraham s family had a pattern of deception that was passed on from generation to generation. Three Stories of Deception Story Pattern 1. Here is the situation. Where am I? 2. Tension (fear) grows from people s ideas about the future. Oh no, what do I do? 3. The problem is fixed by people. I ll take care of it! 4. The problem solvers lose control. What s happening?! 5. God intervenes and reveals the truth. Aha moment 6. Peoples actions have long-term results. That s not what I expected. ABRAM and SARAI in EGYPT - GENESIS 12:10-20 NIV84 Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe. As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, "I know what a beautiful woman you are. When the Egyptians see you, they will say, 'This is his wife.' Then they will kill me but will let you live. Say you are my sister, so that I will be well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you." When Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw that she was a very beautiful woman. And when Pharaoh's officials saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh, and she was taken into his palace. He Abram well for her sake, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, menservants and maidservants, and camels.
But the LORD inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram's wife Sarai. So Pharaoh summoned Abram. "What have you done to me?" he said. "Why didn't you tell me she was your wife? Why did you say, 'She is my sister,' so that I took her to be my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!" Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had. *Do you create your own fictitious future? *How often do I ask the question, How can I make this turn out well for me? *Do I believe I am in control? *Blessing God s Approval ABRAHAM and SARAH in GERAR - GENESIS 20:1-18 NIV84 Now Abraham moved on from there into the region of the Negev and lived between Kadesh and Shur. For a while he stayed in Gerar, and there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, "She is my sister." Then Abimelech king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her. But God came to Abimelech in a dream one night and said to him, "You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman." Now Abimelech had not gone near her, so he said, "Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation? Did he not say to me, 'She is my sister,' and didn't she also say, 'He is my brother'? I have done this with a clear conscience and clean hands." Then God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against me. That is why I did not let you touch her. Now return the man's wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not return her, you may be sure that you and all yours will die." Early the next morning Abimelech summoned all his officials, and when he told them all that had happened, they were very much afraid. Then Abimelech called Abraham in and said, "What have you done to us? How have I wronged you that you have brought such
great guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should not be done." And Abimelech asked Abraham, "What was your reason for doing this?" Abraham replied, "I said to myself, 'There is surely no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.' Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father though not of my mother; and she became my wife. And when God had me wander from my father's household, I said to her, 'This is how you can show your love to me: Everywhere we go, say of me, "He is my brother." ' " Then Abimelech brought sheep and cattle and male and female slaves and gave them to Abraham, and he returned Sarah his wife to him. And Abimelech said, "My land is before you; live wherever you like." To Sarah he said, "I am giving your brother a thousand shekels of silver. This is to cover the offense against you before all who are with you; you are completely vindicated." Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife and his slave girls so they could have children again, for the LORD had closed up every womb in Abimelech's household because of Abraham's wife Sarah. *How responsive am I to what God says? *In what way do I justify my bad decisions? ISAAC and REBEKAH in GERAR - GENESIS 26:1-14 NIV84 Now there was a famine in the land--besides the earlier famine of Abraham's time--and Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines in Gerar. The LORD appeared to Isaac and said, "Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you. For to you and your descendants I will give all these lands and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham. I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because Abraham obeyed me and kept my requirements, my commands, my decrees and my laws." So Isaac stayed in Gerar.
When the men of that place asked him about his wife, he said, "She is my sister," because he was afraid to say, "She is my wife." He thought, "The men of this place might kill me on account of Rebekah, because she is beautiful." When Isaac had been there a long time, Abimelech king of the Philistines looked down from a window and saw Isaac caressing his wife Rebekah. So Abimelech summoned Isaac and said, "She is really your wife! Why did you say, 'She is my sister'?" Isaac answered him, "Because I thought I might lose my life on account of her." Then Abimelech said, "What is this you have done to us? One of the men might well have slept with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us." So Abimelech gave orders to all the people: "Anyone who molests this man or his wife shall surely be put to death." Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the LORD blessed him. The man became rich, and his wealth continued to grow until he became very wealthy. He had so many flocks and herds and servants that the Philistines envied him. *I can turn on the light before I make decisions. *Do I settle for trusting people, when I could be trusting God? Abraham s deception was rooted in fear, and the desire to be in control of his circumstances and other people. It resulted in Isaac s inability to trust God, growing family deception and manipulation, hatred, division and loss. God did not want Abraham to live in fear. He doesn t want you to live in fear. *Do I believe I can trust God? Matthew 28:18-20 NIV84 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Three Stories of Decep on Gen 12 Gen 20 Gen 26 Situa on Famine (v. 10) Moved no reason given (v. 1) Famine (v. 1) Loca on Egypt Gerar Gerar Wife Beau ful, Fair (v. 11, 14) Sarah is at least 65. Does Not Say - Sarah is near 90. God s Covenant Just introduced Wai ng for the promised son Thought Process When the Egyp ans see you, they will say, This is his wife. Then they will kill me but let you live. (v.13) Type of Lie How she was How he was Discovery The king s response How he was How she was End Decep ve Half-Truth Abram instructs Sarai to say she is his sister. Praised to Pharoah Taken into the palace (v. 15) Treated well acquired animals and servants (v. 16) Disease on Pharaoh and his house (v. 17) Ques oned Abram (v.18-19) I said to myself, There is no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife. (v. 11) Decep ve Half-Truth Abimelech reports they both lied. Taken not touched (v. 2) Does not say God spoke to king warned death to all (v. 3-7) Told his officials Fear (v. 8) Ques oned and heard answers (v. 9-13) Sent away (v. 19-20) Given animals and land to live on (v. 14-15) Sent away (v. 19-20) Silver given to her brother. Sarcas cally Rebuked (v. 16) Sent away (v. 19-20) Abraham prayed for the king and his household (v.17-18) Beau ful, Pleasant (v. 7) Rebekah is at least 60. God speaks directly to Isaac, confirms the covenant and promises to be with Isaac and bless him. The men of this place might kill me on account of Rebekah, because she is beau ful. (v. 7) Outright Lie to Deceive Isaac says, She is my sister. Does not say not taken Does not say A er a long me the King saw them laugh together (v. 8-9). Ques oned and heard answers (v. 9-10) Feared what could have happened. King protected (v. 10) King protected (v. 10) Lived in the land and grew wealthy (v. 12f)