Lesson 36
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Bible Study 1 - Genesis 15
Series # 4: FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF FAITH
Lesson 36: Genesis 15.1-6 RECEIVING A WORD FROM GOD
Genesis 15:1-6 (KJV) “1 After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. 2 And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus? 3 And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir. 4 And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. 5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. 6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.”
INTRODUCTION:
Years ago Dr. Seuss published a children's book entitled "Horton Hears A Who". This book is about an elephant named Horton who hears voices coming from a little speck of dust. The story relates how Horton placed the speck of dust on a clover bloom and did his best to protect the tiny residents inside that speck of dust from the other animals who could not hear the voices rising from the dust particle. As the story develops, Horton learns that the race living inside that speck of dust were the "Who's". They lived in a town called Whoville and needed a protector to prevent them from being blow about by the wind, or destroyed by other means. Of course, the other animals in the jungle do not believe Horton and give him a hard time about his belief that a tiny race inhabits a particle of dust. They try to destroy the speck of dust and they even try to tie Horton up. Eventually, all the "Who's" in "Whoville" join their voices and shout in unison so that they might be heard by the animals who have torment Horton about his strange beliefs. They are finally heard when the tiniest "Who" of them all, a tiny, yo-yo throwing tike by the name of "Jo Jo" lifts his voice and says "Yupp". To make a long story short, there are two great moral lessons taught in "Horton Hears A Who." The first is that we should be kind to all people, even when others refuse to be. The second is that even the smallest of the small is an important person. You may wonder what this has to do with our text. The answer lies in the fact that Horton heard a voice one day that forever changed his life.
In our text, Abram hears the "word of the LORD" and this word from God changed his life. In Abram's day, he was just one insignificant person among millions of other people, but God had a special plan for his life. To God, Abram was of supreme importance. In this passage, Abram receives a word from the Lord concerning his Fear, his Future and his Faith. What he heard changed his life forever. He receive a word from the Lord and it revolutionized his life.
By the way, of all the possessions we have in this world, none can compare to the Word of God! To be able to hold in our hands the complete and perfect revelation of God to man is a treasure without equal. In this passage, God had a word for Abram, but He also has a word for you and me. Let's listen in on this conversation between the Lord and Abram. Let's hear the words that Abram heard and see what they have to teach us about our own walk with the Lord.
INTERPRETATION:
A WORD ABOUT ABRAM'S FEAR VERSE 1
“1 After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.”
Abram has just returned from a great military victory. During the course of the campaign, he made a bitter enemy in king Chedorlaomer. This king was mighty enough to come against Sodom and the cities of the plain, surely Abram felt that he too was in danger of attack from this king from the East. God has a word to comfort him in his fear.
THE PEACE THAT COMES FROM KNOWING GOD
This is the first time the phrase "fear not" is used in the Bible. But, thank God, it will not be the last! Men may encourage us to walk in peace and fear not, but their words are empty and without power. However, when the Lord comes by and speaks peace to your heart, fear must take flight! Remember the Disciples in the ship in John 6:17-21? The Bible says, “17…it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them. 18 And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew. 19 So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid. 20 But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid. 21 Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went. He is still the great "I AM". Let him on your vessel and he will calm your storm!
THE PROTECTION THAT COMES FROM KNOWING GOD
Abram needed not fear the attack of his enemies. The Lord was camped about him and all he had providing perfect protection day and night. Those who are the Lord's are sheltered by Him all the time. The Bible says in Psalm 34:7, “The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.” "ROUND ABOUT" that means that the Lord was standing on watch 24/7 on every side."
THE PRIZE THAT COMES FROM KNOWING GOD
Abram is a man who has left home and family to follow God, but as yet, he has not received even the slightest hint of all that he has been promised. He is also a man who gave up much when he refused the offer of the king of Sodom. Genesis 14:21-24 says, “21 And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself. 22 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, 23 That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich: 24 Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.”
Now, the Lord comes by to remind Abram that if one has the Lord, they possess everything! What earthly treasure can compare with God's love, grace, mercy, salvation, forgiveness, presence, peace, power, heaven, hope, etc? When we have Him, we possess it all, even if we have none of this world's goods! The child of God is not to be pitied. He is to be envied! When we have God, we have all that is His. In Romans 8:17 the Bible says, “17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” The Prodigal received the Father's ring when he returned from the far country. The Bible says in Luke 15:22, “22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: ”
EXPLANATION:
A WORD ABOUT ABRAM'S FUTURE VERSES 2-5
“2 And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus? 3 And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir. 4 And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. ”
Abram is concerned and burdened about all the promises he has received. His are not questions of doubt, but they are honest questions, which, by the way, God doesn't mind at all! Abram knew where to take his burden and, as a result, he received the answers he sought! There is a lesson in that for you and me in this study. The Bible says in Phil. 4:6-7 “6 Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” God's answer brought hope to the old man's heart once again.
V. 4 THE SIMPLICITY OF GOD'S PROMISE
“4 And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.”
God's promise is stated in the simplest and clearest of terms. Abram is assured, again, that he will have a son and that this son will be his heir. All of God's promises are made in the same manner. He speaks very clearly in His Word. Oh that we would learn to take Him at His Word and believe all that He tells us without question. He is looking for childlike faith. The Bible says in Luke 18:17, “17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.”
V. 4-5 THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD'S PROMISE
“4 And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. 5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.”
God's promise said something about God's power. Abram is an old man, well past the days when most people think of fathering children. God's promise is designed to overcome the "laws of nature" and do what men say cannot be done. It would do the people of the Lord to learn that our God is an "able" God. The Bible says in Eph. 3:20 “20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,” We need to remember that He is a God who operates in the realm of all-power. The Bible says in Matt. 28:18, “18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” We need to remember that we do not serve the God of the "can do"; we serve the God of the "has done"! The Bible says in Luke 1:37, “37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.” Before we ever exercise our little faith, His plan is already in motion and He is working out His will through His Sovereign power.
V. 5 THE SIZE OF GOD'S PROMISE
“5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.”
Abram was concerned about a single heir to his fortune. God was concerned with giving him more heirs than he could count. God wanted Abram to know that he was about to receive a blessing so big that it would blow his mind! We serve the God of "abundance." The Bible says in John 10:10, “10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” He wants to do more in our lives than we can even imagine, The Bible says in Eph. 3:20, “20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, ” If we could ever get hold of that, it would revolutionize our praying and our faith. God is not just "enough", He is "more than enough". He's not interested in doing the ordinary and the run of the mill. He wants to leave us scratching our heads in amazement at His power when He comes through. He wants to blow our minds! He's not just all we need! He's all we have and He is more than enough for any situation!
APPLICATION:
V. 6 A WORD ABOUT ABRAM'S FAITH
“6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.”
This is one of the simplest, yet greatest verses in all the Bible. It tells us all about Abram's faith. What it teaches us about his faith should be true about our own faith as well.
THE DIRECTION OF HIS FAITH
The little word "in" tells the tale. Abram has moved beyond hearing the Word of the Lord and believing the promises of God into the realm of casting himself totally in faith upon the Lord Himself. He doesn't just believe the Word anymore, he believes God. He is like Job. The Bible tells us in Job 13:15, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.” His faith was in the Lord. Has your faith made that transition? It is one thing to believe what the Bible says about God and His promises. It is another thing altogether to move from the intellectual acceptance of the facts to the absolute trust in His person. One belief leads to Hell, the other belief leads to Heaven. Which belief is yours?
THE DEPTH OF HIS FAITH
Abram believed in spite of the obstacles. No doubt others around him thought he was a fool when he started talking about what the Lord had promised him. Nevertheless, he still believed God! What a challenge to you and me today. Our faith in Him should be unquestionable and unwavering. Men may mock us because we believe in Heaven. They may think we are fools when we speak of "being saved" and "knowing the Lord". If you are saved, then let no trial, no naysayer, and no devil cause you to waiver in your faith!
THE DIVIDEND OF HIS FAITH
Faith in God always pays off big time and Abram's was no exception. When Abram believed God, God erased Abram's sin and applied His own perfect righteousness to Abram's account. God looked at Abram as being a just an righteous man. Salvation has always been a work of faith. This lesson from Abram's life is applied to our own lives in Romans 4:13-25. The Bible says, “13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: 15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. 16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, 17(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. 18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. 19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb: 20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. 23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.”
Abram was not saved by "keeping the Law", for it had not yet been given. He was not saved by being "circumcised", for it had not yet been commanded. He was saved by simple, childlike faith in God. What was the message that Abram believed? A message about a promised son! That is the same message that saves the sinner today. In John 3:16 the Bible says, “16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
CONCLUSION:
You will probably live your whole life and never hear voices coming from a speck of dust. At least I hope that is the case. However, I know that God has a word for your life. Abram heard a Word from the Lord, he believed that Word and it forever changed his life. I wonder, has the Lord spoken to some need in your life during this study? Is there some battle you need peace about? Is there some storm you need calmed in your life? Is there some area of your life where you need a Sovereign God to move in and take control? Has your sin been dealt with biblically? You may know a lot about the Bible and Jesus but do you really know Him in a personal way? Are you saved? Are you walking in the perfect will of the Lord right now? Have you received the dividend of faith in Christ: perfect righteousness? If He has spoken to your heart, you can do business with Him right where you are. Will you privately obey Him so you may publicly display Him in your life and living?
DO YOU NEED SOME HELP?
To find more help in receiving Jesus Christ as your personal Savior please go to the Bible Study Title Page “ETERNAL LIFE.” Please send me an email and let me know about any decision for Christ you make so that I may pray for you. Feel free to send me any questions, comments, or responses you may have as well. For those who are already Christians I invite you to also please let me know of any decisions you make in your Christian life for Jesus. Please send me your questions, comments, or responses and let me know if the Bible Studies are helping you.
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All Bible Studies Are Prepared by Pastor Frank Denning And May Be Be Used By Permission.