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that the existence of Mohammedanism today is really to be traced to Abraham’s false step;^—Mohammedanism, which is in some respects the deadliest opponent of Christianity. Isaac and Ishmael will struggle in fierce opposition.— Griffith Thomas. It is a pithy saying of some one, “Saints who will carve for themselves are sure to cut their fingers.” Let us be lieve God, that it shall be exactly and unreservedly as He hath told us—in His time.—Lincoln. 17:1. Abram’s disobedience or unbelief as illustrated in the matter of Hagar kept him out of fellowship with God for fourteen years or more. (Compare first verse of this chapter with the last of the preceding one.) What takes place after so long a time? With what new name does God introduce Himself? The Hebrew here is “El Shaddai.” “El” means might or power, and “Shaddai” means “a shedder forth of bounty.” The name represents God as the all-bountiful One, and comes as His revelation of Himself to Abram just when the latter needed to learn that the strength of God is made perfect in human weakness. Abrám sought to ob tain by his own energy what God only could give him, and having learned his lesson and being ready to give himself to God, God is ready tor give Himself to Abram and- make him fruitful. To quote Jukes here: “He puts something into Abram which at once changes him from Abram to Abraham—something of His own nature.”—James M. Gray. m After Abraham had fought for Lot, and had come báck home, he wondered about God’s promises to him. So God came to him and said, “Fear not, Abraham, I’ll do what was promised.” “What will that be?” asked Abraham? Will I have to adopt the son of one of ELEMENTARY my s e r v a n t sG o d then told him to Kate H. Haus look up at the stars and number them. “If you can do that,”' said He, “then you will know how many descendants you are going to have, and you will not need to adopt any other man’s boy. All this country is going to be given to your descendants.” (Explain meaning of “descendants.” ) Abraham believed what God said. To make sure, God told him to prepare a sacrifice of two goats, a calf, a turtle dove, and a pigeon, but make ho fire under the sacrifice. Abraham did so and waited to see what God would do. When the sun went down, he fell asleep; •he dreamed it was very dark, and he saw a smoking furnace and a burn ing lamp pass between the pieces of the sacrifice on the altar. When he awoke, God said, “You can be sure now, by what you have seen, that I am going to keep all the promises made to you. You will have this great nation, and they will be slaves to a strange king for 450 years.” When Abraham had waited a long time for God to send him children, his wife Sarah said, “Marry my maid Hagar, and then you will have a son.” Abraham did so, and they had a son, but God said, “That son is not the one I prom ised you.” Hagar named her boy Ishmael, and God said that Ishmael would have many descendants, but he would be a wild man. God told Abraham to be patient,.That He would send him another son when the right time came. Abraham would then have two nations, one; from Ishmael, and one from Isaac, the other son God yas going to give'him. . God said, Isaac.would.be/the greatest son, because one of Isaac’s descendants would be the mother of the Savior that would be sent into the world to die for men’s sin, so they might be saved, if they would believe what God said. God told Abraham'when he was TOO years old this son Isaac would be born to his wife Sárah, and both Ishmael and Isaac must be dedicated to God. (Explain “dedica tion.”) Abraham believed fully what God said, especially as he was promised great blessings in his son Isaac.
Memory Verse: “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God.” 2 Cor. 1:20.
NOVEMBER 18, 1923 THE PROMISE OF THE BIRTH OF ISAAC, AND DESTRUCTION OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH Genesis, Chapters 18, 19 Golden Text: “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” Outline: (1) Decree Concerning Isaac’s Birth, 18:1-15. In the preceding chapters we found Abraham seeking to secure the fulfillment of God’s promise through the en ergy of the flesh and meeting with failure. Sarah was in a measure responsible but Abram was lacking in patience. He believed God, but undertook to secure in sorrow to both of them, EXPOSITION 11 1 . , . H9H _ „ „ the result in his own way. This resulted T. C. Horton (1) wife, shall have1a son,” v. 10. The scene in the opening verse is picturesque. Abraham is in the door of his tent. What is he thinking about? Do the subsequent verses suggest what might have been the subject of his meditation? Might he have been thinking of God’s promise? Is it helpful for us to meditate on God’s promises? Was'God thinking of Abraham? (Jer. 9:11) “For I know the thoughts that I think towards you* saith the Lord; thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an ex pected end.” Was God preparing to answer the desire of Abraham’s heart? The appearance of three men awakened Abraham and afforded the Lord the opportunity to answepjiis prayer. One of these men is superior to the others for Abraham calls him “My Lord.” Abraham’s character is revealed in his spontaneous hos pitality. Did his intuitive spiritual perception enable him to recognize Jehovah? And did his faith lay hold of Him and his love move him to entertain Him? Did God come as a man to Abraham’s door. Can you contrast this pic ture with the picture in the'New Testament when our Lord came to the door of tbe Temple and the sons of Abraham rejected Him? Abraham gives his best and Jehovah accepts it. He will always accept our gifts if we offer them in the same spirit as did Abraham. In Abraham’s preparation we recognize the basis of fel lowship with the Lord. The meal (or fine flour) which we AAC’S BIRTH, “And Sarah, thy (2) Divine Divulgence, vs. 16-22. , (3) , Drawing Near to God, v. 23. (4) Definite Prayer, vs. 24-33. (5) Destruction of Sodom, ch. 19. Introduction:
THE DECREE CONCERNIN
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