Over 4,000 years ago, God called a man named Abraham to begin a wonderful journey of faith with him. Abraham was a pagan who worshiped idols; however, he left his home, family, and security to follow God. Abraham lived in a dark time where most no longer believed in the true God. It was the same way Paul described the pagan world of his day. In Romans 1:21–23, he says:
For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
The people of this world knew God but turned their backs on him. They suppressed the truth of God because of their love for sin (cf. Rom 1:18, John 3:19–20). It was in this dark world that Abraham began to follow God and declare his praises. Because of his steps of faith, God called Abraham to be a centerpiece in his plan to redeem the earth (Gen 12:1–3). All nations would be blessed through Abraham, as he was the father of Israel—God’s priests—and the great grandfather of Jesus—the one who gave his life to save the world (John 3:16).
Because of Abraham’s great faith, he is called the father of all who believe (Gal 3:7). Though our faith journey is unique, we encounter many similar trials and tribulations, joys and victories, as Abraham, and like him, we are called to be lights in a dark world that denies God (Matt 5:14–16). As we study Abraham, we learn how to faithfully live our life of faith.
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And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. (2 Timothy 2:2)
Paul’s words to Timothy still apply to us today. The church needs teachers who clearly and fearlessly teach the Word of God. With this in mind, The Bible Teacher’s Guide (BTG) series was created. This series includes both expositional and topical studies, with resources to help teachers lead small groups, pastors prepare sermons, and individuals increase their knowledge of God’s Word.
Each lesson is based around the hermeneutical principle that the original authors wrote in a similar manner as we do today—with the intention of being understood. Each paragraph and chapter of Scripture centers around one main thought, often called the Big Idea. After finding the Big Idea for each passage studied, students will discuss the Big Question, which will lead the small group (if applicable) through the entire text. Alongside the Big Question, note the added Observation, Interpretation, and Application Questions. The Observation Questions point out pivotal aspects of the text. The Interpretation Questions facilitate understanding through use of the context and other Scripture. The Application Questions lead to life principles coming out of the text. Not all questions will be used, but they have been given to help guide the teacher in preparing the lesson.
As the purpose of this guide is to make preparation easier for the teacher and study easier for the individual, many commentaries and sermons have been accessed in the development of each lesson. After meditating on the Scripture text and the lesson, the small group leader may wish to follow the suggested teaching outline:
On the other hand, the leader may prefer to teach the lesson in part or in whole, and then give the Application Questions. He may also choose to use a “study group” method, where each member prepares beforehand and shares teaching responsibility (see Appendices 1 and 2). Some leaders may find it most effective to first read the main section of the lesson corporately, then to follow with a brief discussion of the topic and an Application Question.
Again, The Bible Teacher’s Guide can be used as a manual to follow in teaching, a resource to use in preparation for teaching or preaching, or simply as an expositional devotional to enrich your own study. I pray that the Lord may bless your study, preparation, and teaching, and that in all of it you will find the fruit of the Holy Spirit abounding in your own life and in the lives of those you instruct.
Copyright © 2017 Gregory Brown
The primary Scriptures used are New International Version (1984) unless otherwise noted. Other versions include English Standard Version, New Living Translation, New American Standard Bible, and King James Version.
Holy Bible, New International Version ®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NASB) are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, and 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
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All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added.
The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” So Abram left, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran. He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there. Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. The LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him. From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD. Then Abram set out and continued toward the Negev. (Genesis 12:1–9)
How can I know God’s call on my life? What is my next step? Who should I marry?
We can learn a great deal about God’s call as we consider Abraham’s call. Abraham is a central figure in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. In the book of Genesis, his life spans twelve chapters. He is called a friend of God three times in the Bible (2 Chron 20:7; Isa 41:8; James 2:23), and he is referred to four times in the New Testament (Romans, Galatians, Hebrews, and James). He is called the father of all those who believe (Gal 3:7), and he is considered the founder of three religions: Judaism, Islam, and Christianity.
God called Abraham many years after the flood in Genesis 6–8. The earth was so sinful that God destroyed it and started over with Noah’s family. However, even Noah’s descendants became sinful. In Genesis 11, his descendants gathered to build the Tower of Babel. They declared, “Let us make a name for ourselves.” Like Adam and Eve, and Satan before them, they became proud and wanted to bring glory to themselves instead of God. They decided to disobey God’s commission of moving throughout the earth and settling it. Instead, they decided to stay in one place and build a tower for their honor. Because of that, God confounded their speech and the people scattered.
Abraham’s call was very special. God called him out of a rebellious world to be a conduit for salvation. He is a pivotal character in redemptive history. As we study him, we will learn a great deal about living a life of faith (cf. Heb 11:8–19). But, specifically in this passage, we learn about God’s call. In this study, we will consider ten characteristics of God’s call on the life of a believer.
Big Question: What are characteristics of God’s call as discerned from the call of Abraham?
The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. (Genesis 12:1)
Abraham’s call began with God speaking to him. We don’t know exactly how this happened. Maybe, God spoke to him through a fiery bush, through a cloud, a blinding light, or a soft whisper. We don’t know. But we do know that God made his will very clear to Abraham—he was to leave his country, his people, and his father’s household.
Many believers want to know God’s will. What is God’s will for my future? What major should I pursue? Who should I marry? What should I do next?
Everyone should understand a few important things about discerning and following God’s call. In one sense, there is a general call for all believers as revealed through God’s Word. God calls for all of us to make disciples, to daily spend time with him through his Word and prayer, to be involved with and serve a Bible preaching church, and to turn away from sin. These are aspects of God’s general call for all believers.
However, God also has a specific call for every believer—such as seen in God’s call for Abraham to leave his home and family to be a blessing to the world. A specific call deals with things that are not clearly revealed through his Word—such as who to marry, what job to take, and how to serve.
Interpretation Question: How can we discern our specific call or aspects of it?
Here are two things to remember about discerning our specific call:
For example, when a person is trying to figure out what career path to pursue, Scripture says that in the multitude of counselors there is safety (Prov 11:14). A wise person is going to get lots of advice from those who know more than him. Maybe, he will read books about that occupation or talk to people in it. Also, he would need to consider his own talents and desires. Scripture says, “God works in us to will and do of his good pleasure” (Phil 2:12–13). If I am walking with God and obeying his Word, many times my desires are prompted and led by God. He also gives me the ability to do his will. If I lack the aptitude and skills in a certain area or an occupation, maybe that is not God’s call. For example, I know God is not calling me to be a chef—because I don’t have any cooking skills.
Similarly, when choosing a spouse, God gives clear principles in Scripture. One should not marry someone who is not walking with God. Second Corinthians 7:14 says we should not be yoked with unbelievers. For women, Scripture teaches about the type of man they should consider. Ephesians 5:25–27 says that husbands should love their wives as Christ loved the church, washing her with the water of the Word of God. Women should look for a spiritual leader to marry. For men, Solomon’s mom in Proverbs 31 says, “A woman who fears the Lord should be praised” (v. 30). She declares how charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, and therefore, men should make their choice primarily based on a woman’s vibrant faith in the Lord.
In order to discern our specific call, we must apply the wisdom principles in Scripture. David said, “Your Word is a light unto my path and a lamp unto my feet” (Ps 119:105). When we are not using the principles given in Scripture, we walk in the dark.
Again, God has given a general call in Scripture for everyone to obey—like meditating on his Word day and night, sharing the gospel, using our spiritual gifts to serve the church, and turning away from sin. When we are faithful with what God has already revealed, he gives us more. Mark 4:24–25 says,
“Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.”
Jesus said if we are faithful with what we hear from God (including our general call and specific call), then he gives us more. But those who do not obey, God takes away.
There are many Christians that cannot discern God’s will because they are disobedient to their general call. Instead, they experience a hardening of the heart and an inability to hear and discern God’s voice. Another example of this is in Romans 12:2. It says, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
When we are not conforming to the pattern of the world, we will be able to test (Is this of God or not of God?) and approve (This is God!) his pleasing and perfect will. By being faithful to God’s general will, one can discern God’s specific will.
Are you faithfully following God’s revealed will so he can guide you in your calling?
Application Question: What are your thoughts about the necessity of fulfilling God’s general call in order to discern God’s specific call? In what ways have you seen or experienced an inability to discern God’s voice for lack of obeying God’s general will? What aspects of God’s specific call has the Lord already revealed to you?
The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. (Genesis 12:1)
Interpretation Question: Why did God call Abraham? What made him special?
The next thing we can discern about God’s call is that it is a call of sovereign election. Why did God call Abraham? Was he more holy than everybody else? Was he more faithful? No. It seems that Abraham worshiped pagan gods just like everybody else. He was from the land of Ur, in Mesopotamia, that was known for worshiping Nanna, the moon god.1 Joshua declared that Abraham’s family members were idolaters. Joshua 24:2–3 says,
Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Long ago your forefathers, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the River and worshiped other gods. But I took your father Abraham from the land beyond the River and led him throughout Canaan and gave him many descendants. I gave him Isaac,
Abraham was from a family of idolaters. Some commentators, like F. B. Meyer, believe that Abraham, like Noah before him, was a faithful follower of God.2 However, it seems that Abraham is included with the idolaters, as he was one of Israel’s “forefathers.” His call seems to be more like Paul’s. While Paul was on his way to persecute Christians, Christ appeared to him in a shining light and converted him (Acts 9). Like Paul, God stops Abraham right in the midst of his sin and calls him.
Abraham was an idolater. There was no special reason for God to call him. In fact, as we follow his story, we will watch him fail God many times. He lies about his wife twice and, at one point, marries another woman. He allows his wife, Sarah, to abuse his new, pregnant wife. He fails God in many ways.
What makes him special is God’s election. God chose him from among all the pagans to bestow special grace on him, and this grace was not just to bless Abraham but to bless the entire world through him. The messiah, Jesus Christ, eventually came through his lineage (cf. Matt 1:1–2).
Election is a theme taught throughout Scripture. Because God is King, he can do whatever he wants, but also since man is sinful and in total rebellion towards God, he must elect some to obedience and salvation. Consider what Paul said about man:
there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” (Romans 3:11–12)
the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. (Romans 8:7–8)
The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14)
After sin entered the world, nobody seeks God anymore—at least not the God of the Bible. They have all gone their own way. The mind of man is so corrupted that he is hostile to God and cannot submit to his law. Man is so corrupt that the things of God are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them—apart from God’s Spirit.
The question then becomes, “How can man know God or respond to his call?” The answer is election. Man was so negatively affected by sin, God had to elect some to himself so that they might be saved.
This mystery is important not only to understand Abraham’s call, but also Jacob’s, Israel’s, Paul’s, and Christians’ in general. Consider what Paul said about Jacob:
Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God's purpose in election might stand: not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” (Romans 9:11–13)
In the Jewish culture, the eldest received the inheritance. Therefore, Esau should have received his father’s inheritance and blessing. However, God chose Jacob, before he was even born, so that his purpose in election might stand. God said, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” Did God hate Esau? No, this refers to God’s election. God loved Jacob and hated Esau in the sense of who would receive his blessing.
What about the Israelites? Why did God choose Israel to be his nation of priests to the world? Was it because they were more obedient, more spiritual, or more faithful? Absolutely not. Deuteronomy 7:7–8 says,
The LORD did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the LORD loved you and kept the oath he swore to your forefathers that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
God chose them based on his sovereign right as King. They were chosen because of election.
What about all Christians—those with genuine saving faith in Christ? Scripture teaches their election as well. Ephesians 1:3–5 says,
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will
Paul tells us that we were chosen before the creation of the world and predestined to be God’s sons. Peter actually calls us “elect” in 1 Peter 1:1: “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia.” In the early church, elect became a common title for all born again believers.
Certainly, this is a controversial doctrine. Some would say if we were elected before time that means we do nothing for our salvation and are just robots. No, Scripture, at the same time, teaches that we must respond and accept the gospel; however, it also teaches that when we do this, it is only because of God’s grace. Humanity is so enslaved to their sinful nature, it is impossible for us to respond apart from grace (cf. Rom 8:7). That is why we must be elected. Ephesians 2:8–9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Paul taught that the very faith that we demonstrate in our salvation is only a result of grace. We believed in Christ as our Lord and Savior because of grace, and we received this grace because of God’s election. This is a difficult doctrine, but unless we accept it, we will find ourselves confused at much of Scriptures’ teachings.
How can God show up and save a murderer like Paul and call him to be an apostle? It isn’t fair. Wouldn’t everybody become a Christian if Christ actually appeared to them and blinded them to prove it? This may be true, but this is proof of the doctrine we are considering. Paul was saved and called to be an apostle by election. He was elect. And it’s the same with Abraham. God showed up and called an idolater, a liar, and a future polygamist to be the father of those who believe because of election. This is also true for every Christian. Though God may not appear to us in a shining light or a burning bush, our salvation is no less magnificent. It is a work of amazing grace. It is a work of election. Salvation could not happen any other way.
And this also tells us something about God’s call on our lives. God’s call for one person will be different from another’s. One person will be called to be a missionary sent to live in poverty and give his life for the gospel, while another Christian will live prosperously in a wealthy city with no overt persecution. Why are things this way? God chooses one person for this and another person for that. It is his right as Sovereign—his right as King.
Consider Christ’s communication with Peter after telling him about his future death as a martyr:
Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” (John 21:20–22)
Peter was wondering about John, “How would he die?” Christ simply said, “‘If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.’” Because God is King, he does what he wants. He calls one person for this and another for that.
Interpretation Question: Why is it important to understand God’s election when considering one’s call?
1. Understanding election helps us trust God instead of being angry at him when we consider our situation or others’.
We may not fully understand his electing grace and sovereignty, but we must trust that he is good and perfect in all his ways. Only someone who is all-wise and all-good is suitable to be sovereign over all.
2. Understanding election helps us to be humble instead of prideful when God prospers us.
Abraham could look back and remember that he was an idolater that God called and saved by grace. Paul was a murderer—the chief of sinners (1 Tim 1:15, KJV). David was a shepherd—the least in his household and despised by Israel because of his occupation. Election reminds us of God’s grace—it keeps us humble.
3. Understanding election helps us worship God.
Consider Paul’s response to God’s election of Israel in Romans 11:28, 34–36:
As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable… Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.
Are you still worshiping and trusting in our sovereign God? Only one who is all-good, all-wise, and all-powerful is worthy to be sovereign, and that’s our God. May he be glorified forever!
Application Question: What ways do you see election in Abraham’s call? Is the election of Abraham or anybody else fair? Why or why not? In what ways is God’s election an encouragement to you?
The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. (Genesis 12:1)
Observation Question: What did God call Abraham to do?
Another aspect of God’s call is that it is costly. Abraham was called to leave his country, his people, and his father’s household. Abraham probably lived in Ur his whole life until then. His friends, family, and contacts were there. His job was there. In order to follow God’s call, he needed to leave everything.
However, this is not only true of Abraham’s call but ours as well. Jesus said,
“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? (Luke 9:23–25)
If anyone is going to follow Christ, he must deny himself and take up his cross. When Christ called to the rich man to follow him, he told him to sell everything (Matt 19). Riches would hinder his full devotion to the Lord, and therefore, he needed to let them go. The cost of God’s call includes denying the pleasures of sin and denying our will in order to submit to his. All these were included in Abraham’s call.
Some cannot discern and follow God’s call because they are not willing to sacrifice. They are not willing to give up career goals or leave family, home, and country. They are not willing to suffer and be uncomfortable. Some simply will not forsake sin. If we are going to follow Christ, we must deny ourselves and take up our cross.
God called the rich man to let go of his riches. He called the disciples to leave their careers. He called Abraham to leave his land, home, and family. What is God calling you to sacrifice in order to fulfill his call?
Application Question: In what ways have you had to sacrifice to follow God’s call? Are there any specific ways he is calling you to sacrifice now?
The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. (Genesis 12:1)
Interpretation Question: In what ways was God calling Abraham to faith and dependence upon him?
Another aspect of Abraham’s call was that it included faith and dependence. God told him to leave everything and didn’t even tell him where to go. He just says, “Go to the land I will show you.” Can you imagine telling family and friends, “I’m leaving town.” They would say, “Where are you going?” You would respond, “I don’t know. I am just following God.” This wouldn’t make any sense. People would think you were mad. We can assume that is what people thought about Abraham. He was leaving for a land that God would show him.
Not only was this a life of faith because Abraham did not initially know the destination (cf. Gen 11:31), but also because he left much of his resources in Ur. By leaving his people and his father’s household, he left his security. The members of a household fought for one another in the case of raiders or war. Also, he left his job, house, culture, and many other securities. God was calling Abraham to a life of faith—a life of depending upon him.
Eventually, after Abraham left his country, God revealed where he was going. In Genesis 11:31, we see Abraham, with Terah and Lot, leaving for “Canaan.” This is true for us as well. Many times as we follow what God has revealed, he reveals the next step to us. This is the life of faith.
Our life of faith begins at salvation. God calls us to give up our striving for salvation through good works and to trust solely in Christ’s finished work. We still do good works, but as a result of salvation—not for salvation. Also, as Christians following God’s call, the Lord continually teaches us our insufficiency and his sufficiency. Essentially, he teaches us how to depend on him and live the life of faith.
Jesus said this in Matthew 18:1–4: He picked up a child (literally a small child, like an infant) and said, “Unless you become like this child you will not enter the kingdom of heaven, and he who becomes like this little child is greatest in the kingdom” (paraphrase). Christ taught that dependence (faith) was the door to salvation, and, at the same time, the pathway to maturity after salvation. The greatest in the kingdom is like a little child—totally dependent on God.
Many times God develops dependence by bringing us into trials that reveal our weakness. We start to realize that we are not strong enough or smart enough. We don’t have the right family background, education, or enough money. And yet, despite all these deficiencies, his grace is enough. God called Abraham to a life of faith, and God calls us to the same.
This, in fact, is one of the reasons why many won’t heed God’s call. “Rich Man, sell all your riches and depend on me alone!” This is very difficult. God sometimes calls a person to go to seminary and leave a good paying job. He calls another to leave the stability of family and country for missions. God will call you to serve in a ministry—many times, one you feel ill equipped for. God will constantly call you to depend on him and trust him more. In these times, he says that his grace is sufficient for you because his power is made perfect in weakness (2 Cor 12:6)—he is enough. The call of God is a call to faith. He says, “I will supply.”
There will be worries, fears, and obstacles to deter you from following God’s call. And for this reason, many don’t fulfill their calling. Israel didn’t enter the promised land because they feared “giants”. They knew that in their power, they were not capable of taking the land. They weren’t willing to put all their faith in God; therefore, they missed out. Sadly, this is true for most of us. God’s call is a call of faith—a call to do something impossible apart from God’s power to build his kingdom and glorify his name.
Are you willing to trust him? Are you willing to step out in faith to serve in a ministry or start a ministry—to do something for his glory and for others’ benefit? That is God’s call on your life—to depend on him and allow him to work through you. Are you ready?
Application Question: In what ways has God called you to step out of your comfort zone and learn to live by faith? How have you experienced his grace when stepping out in faith?
The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. (Genesis 12:1)
Probably, part of the reason that Abraham needed to leave his country, family, and household was because of temptations associated with them. Ur, though a prosperous city, was full of idolatry and Abraham’s family worshiped idols. We even see that when Isaac, Abraham’s son, sent Jacob to find a wife from Abraham’s family, they still worshiped idols. In fact, Rachel, Jacob’s wife, brought some back to Canaan (cf. Gen 31:30–34). No, doubt God called Abraham to leave his family and country to separate him from those temptations.
This is our call as well. If we are going to follow Christ, we must turn away from sin and all temptations to sin. First Thessalonians 5:22 says, “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” It can also be translated “flee” (Aramaic Bible in Plain English).3 In following God, Abraham needed to flee all appearance of evil and that included the pervasive sin in his family and country. Many Christians cannot fully follow Christ because they still want to hold onto sin and sinful relationships. Like the rich man, they want to keep their idols with them as they follow Christ. However, the Lord will not allow it. We can only have one master and that is God (Matt 6:24).
In fact, Christ calls us to daily get rid of sin. If our eye offends us, we should pluck it out. If our hand offends us, we should cut it off (Matt 5:29–30). We must do everything possible to be free from sin. Sometimes, we even need to leave certain surroundings because the temptations are too strong. That is what God called Abraham to do.
Interestingly, one of the things we notice with Abraham is that he did not fully obey God. He did not leave everything God commanded. He brought his father, Terah, with him and his nephew, Lot (cf. Gen 11:31). Because Terah was the family patriarch, no doubt, Abraham felt a responsibility to tell him about God’s call. In Genesis 11, the narrator tells us that when the family left Ur, Terah was actually leading the family. It says:
Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Haran, they settled there. Terah lived 205 years, and he died in Haran. (Genesis 11:31–32)
Abraham and Terah initially started traveling towards Canaan but then stopped in Haran. Scholars believe they stayed there for around fifteen years.4 Why did they stop? We can’t be sure, but we do know that Haran was a major center of worship for the Moon God—as Ur was.5 Maybe, Abraham could not get his father, Terah, to leave this famous center of idolatry, and therefore, he himself stayed there as well.
Sometimes, we can gain insight from Hebrew names. “Terah” means “delay” and “Haran” means “parched” or “dry.”6 Because Abraham sinned against God by bringing his father, it led to a delay in fulfilling God’s call. And, bringing Lot, as we will see later, led to conflict, eventual separation, and almost cost Abraham his life.
As we follow Christ, everything brought from the world will cause us delay and pain. Also, when we don’t follow Christ wholeheartedly, it ultimately leads to dryness in our spiritual lives. While Abraham was in Haran, no doubt, he experienced “Haran”—dryness in his relationship with God. We don’t see God speak to Abraham again until his father dies, and then, Abraham continues his journey to Canaan (cf. Gen 12:1–4).
This is true for many Christians. They have areas of disobedience in their lives keeping them from fulfilling God’s call and experiencing intimacy with him. They can’t hear his voice, discern his direction, or receive his comfort. Their spiritual life is dry. In general, we only experience God when faithfully walking with him and obeying him. In 2 Corinthians 6:17–18, Paul says:
“Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
We can’t experience the Father’s intimacy or fulfill his call when partnering with the world and practicing sin. How often does this happen because Christians will not separate from the world in the music they listen to, the books they read, the movies they watch, and the relationships they foster? God’s call is a call to separation from the world and sin.
What is holding you back? What is causing spiritual delay in your life? Christ said that the way to life is a narrow road—you can’t take everything with you—and few find this road. However, the path to destruction is broad and many are on it (Matt 7:13–14). In order to fulfill God’s call, we must leave the world and sin behind. Will you leave it?
Application Question: Are there any ways God is calling you to leave behind the world and sin to fulfill your call? In what ways have you experienced “delay” and “dryness” in your life because of disobedience or partial obedience?
The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. (Genesis 12:1)
Interpretation Question: How can we reconcile God’s call in Genesis 12:1 and what Stephen says about this call in Acts 7:2–4? Are these the same call?
Another aspect about God’s call to Abraham is its persistence. This was probably the second-time God called Abraham.7 Stephen tells us that God originally called Abraham while he was in Ur. Acts 7:2–4 says,
To this he replied: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran. ‘Leave your country and your people,’ God said, ‘and go to the land I will show you.’ “So he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. After the death of his father, God sent him to this land where you are now living.
God called him while he was in Mesopotamia; however, Genesis 12:1–4 shows God calling Abraham in Haran after his father’s death. Genesis 12:4 says, “So Abram left, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran.” In obedience to the second call, Abraham left Haran.
God’s first call to Abraham led to partial obedience. He brought his father, Terah, and nephew, Lot, and when they got to Haran, they stayed there around fifteen years.
One of the wonderful things about God is that he is persistent. Many times when he first calls people, they are not ready to fully obey. However, his grace continues after them, working in them to will and do of his good pleasure (Phil 2:12–13).
We get another picture of this persistent call in the story of Jonah. In Jonah chapter 1, God calls Jonah to go to Nineveh. Jonah rebels and boards a ship going in the opposite direction. While sailing, God brought a great storm that forced his shipmates to throw Jonah into the sea in hope that God would spare them. In God’s mercy, he prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah to spare his life. Jonah’s disobedience led to God’s discipline, but even God’s discipline was full of mercy. After a few days, this great fish vomited Jonah up onto dry land. In Jonah 3:1, Jonah experienced God’s second call, it says: “Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time.”
Jonah 3:1 may be one of the sweetest verses in the Bible. When we fail God and choose to go our own way, God’s grace doesn’t forsake us but continues after us. Often, God is not only the God of second chances, but of third, fourth, and fifth chances as well.
With that said, this is not cheap grace. Disobedience is costly. Time is lost. We, and sometimes those around us, must face consequences. Jonah’s disobedience almost cost the people in the ship with him their lives. However, Jonah’s disobedience did not change God’s call on his life. God is persistent—his grace continues to seek after us.
To some extent, this was my own experience as well. I felt God’s call to preach at nine years old. However, I essentially told God, “No. Not yet.” I remember telling God that one day I would do whatever he wanted, but at the moment, I was just a kid and not ready yet. It was ten years later when God’s grace came to me again. I was nineteen, about to start my sophomore year in college. Through some difficult trials in my life, God softened my heart and prepared me to say, “Yes.” Whatever God’s will for my life was; I was ready to follow. At that point, I could say like Christ, “Not my will, but your will be done.”
With that said, even though God’s grace is persistent, if we turn God down, his grace may move to another. Saul was anointed King of Israel, but when he turned from God, God’s grace went and found another—David. Similarly, with Israel, it was God’s plan to bring them into the promised land, but after a great rebellion, God promised that generation would never enter the land. They died in the wilderness, and instead, God gave the land to their children.
Let this remind us that God’s grace will not persist forever. He will always forgive, as we confess and repent of our sins (1 John 1:9), but sometimes, we must settle for second best. After Israel’s rebellion, they wandered in the wilderness until they died. Sometimes our rebellion forfeits God’s original plan for our lives. It is possible to be disqualified. Paul said, “No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize” (1 Cor 9:27).
How are you responding to God’s persistent grace? Scripture says it is God’s kindness that draws men to repentance (Rom 2:4). Let his persistent grace bring you to repentance, so that you can fulfill God’s call on your life. But, also let us be warned, “Today is the day of salvation” (2 Cor 6:2). We are not guaranteed tomorrow, and his grace may not persist in the same manner as today. Let us faithfully respond to God’s persistent and loving grace for this is our reasonable act of worship (Rom 12:1).
Application Question: In what ways have you experienced God’s persistent grace? Do you agree that sometimes because of rebellion, God’s call moves to others, and we have to settle for second best?
“I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (Genesis 12:2–3)
In addition, God’s call comes with many great promises. When God calls us or moves in our lives, many times he doesn’t give us reasons or calm the waves of our curiosity. He may not answer questions like, “Why?” or “What for?” Sometimes he doesn’t even tell us “Where?” or “How?” but he always gives us promises.
In Scripture, God gives conditional and unconditional promises. “I will never leave you nor forsake you” is an unconditional promise. “Give and it shall be given unto you” is a conditional promise. With Abraham, God seems to give a conditional promise that later becomes unconditional (cf. Gen 15). God says to him “Leave … I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you.” All of Abraham’s promises were based on his obedience to God.
As we consider these promises, they have specific applications to our call and walk of faith.
Observation Question: What promises did God give Abraham?
“Go to the land I will show you”
This promise is later expanded. In Genesis 12:7, God says, “‘To your offspring I will give this land.’” God promised to give his offspring the land of Canaan.
However, it must be known that God’s promise of a land was not just earthly—it was also heavenly. The writer of Hebrews says:
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. (Hebrews 11:8–10)
Abraham never received the land while living in it. He always lived as a foreigner in tents. However, his true hope was in a heavenly city—of which Canaan was a type.
This should be true for us as well. Yes, God has a call for us on the earth including a territory or ministry for us to spread his name and fame. It may be to a group of people, a city, or a nation, and as we are obedient, God opens the door to that ministry and blesses it. However, our primary call is heavenly. We must never let our earthly call—or successes or disappointments that come with it—dim the great call that we have in heaven. It must be our primary pursuit and endeavor (cf. Matt 6:20).
Application Question: Has God shown you a land or a ministry he wants you to focus on? How has God called you to be faithful in this area?
“I will make you into a great nation”
At the time Abraham received this promise, he was childless. His original name Abram meant “exalted father” while his later name, Abraham, meant “father of a multitude.”8
In that culture, it was shameful to not have any children. You can imagine the snickers that came every time Abram introduced himself: “What’s your name?” “My name is Abram.” “Really, how many kids do you have?” “None.” “Oh?” Abraham and his wife bore great shame and burden because of this reality. Obviously, it was always their hope to raise children.
Here, God promises to remove that shame and not only give them a child but to bring a great nation from him. This nation would be the nation of Israel. It was to Israel that God gave his covenant and his laws. He dwelt among them in the tabernacle and later the temple. It was through this nation that the messiah would come and bless the entire world. The nation of Israel is truly a great nation because of the spiritual lineage that came through them.
In addition, Scripture teaches that the church also came through Abraham. Again, Galatians 3:7 says that we are “children of Abraham” because of our belief. He is the father of all who believe in God. It is through him and his lineage that God chose to bring redemption.
In a sense this promise is true about us and our callings as well. God’s desire is for us to have children—specifically spiritual children. In 1 John 2:12–14, John writes to fathers, sons, and children. Each believer is in one of these stages, but God’s will is for all of us to become fathers and mothers. This means that we are giving birth—leading people to Christ and discipling them. God’s call for us is also to raise up a nation of people who love and follow him.
Are you willing to allow God to raise spiritual children through you? Most miss out on this part of their call by staying in spiritual immaturity.
Application Question: Why is it important for people in the church to mature into spiritual parenthood? What happens when believers never mature (cf. 1 Cor 3:1–3)?
“and I will bless you”
The word “bless” is a rich word. It can be translated “happy.” God’s blessing brings joy in the life of a person—no matter the circumstances. Blessing has to do with approval. When a man wants to marry a woman, he gets her father’s “blessing”—meaning his approval. Abraham would be approved by God for his obedience. But, it also has the connotation of favor. God was going to place his favor on Abraham’s life, as we see throughout his story. God prospers him with wealth; he gives him a baby when he and his wife were past childbearing age. The greatest blessing was obviously God’s presence. God would speak with Abraham and visit his house (Gen 18). Scripture calls Abraham God’s friend (James 2:23).
This is true for us as well. Faithful obedience brings God’s blessing on our lives. In fact, we see a similar promise in Psalm 1:1–3. God blesses the man who stays away from the path of the wicked (even as Abraham left his idolatrous home and country) and who delights in God’s law—therefore, meditating on it day and night. God promises to prosper everything he does.
Abraham was a man who obeyed God and received his blessing. Will you obey God and receive his blessings as well? Many forfeit God’s blessing by living in compromise and disobedience.
Application Question: What types of blessings have you received as a result of obedience to God? How have you experienced his discipline for not being obedient?
“I will make your name great”
This must stand out in the context. Genesis chapter 11 tells the story of how people sought to make their own name great. They cried out and said, “‘Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth’” (Gen 11:4). With the tower of Babel, people tried to make a name for themselves, and God shattered their ambitions by confusing their languages.
However, in Abraham’s case, God says, “I will make your name great.” While Abraham lived in the land, he became very wealthy and was treated as a “great prince” by the Canaanites (cf. Gen 23:6). And, his name is still revered today. Abraham is exalted in the three great religions. He is revered by Jews, Muslims, and Christians. His name is truly great.
In fact, the very first temptation of man was to be like God—to have his glory. Adam and Eve ate of the Tree of Knowledge to be like God, and God disciplined them. However, Abraham was not seeking his own glory, and God promised to exalt him.
This principle is still at work today. The world avidly pursues greatness. Each person pursues a name for him or herself through education, wealth, strength, or popularity. Similarly, each religion teaches people to try to save themselves through good works. However, God opposes the proud and exalts the humble (James 4:6). He rejects those who come to him based on their works, but accepts those who come to him like children—not trusting in their own works but trusting in the work of Jesus (cf. Matt 18:2–3; Rom 4:5).
He rejects those who fight to gain the world, and he gives the world and all its riches to the meek (Matt 5:5)—those who will not fight for their rights. Those who come to him in faith like Abraham, God calls “co-heirs with Christ” (Rom 8:17). The world and the heavens will be theirs. Yes, in a sense their names are truly great because their names will be forever associated with God, and God will exalt them. They will be married to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords throughout eternity (cf. Rev 19).
Are you trying to make your name great? If you are seeking to exalt yourself, you shall be humbled. But if you humble yourself and seek the Lord, you will be exalted.
David said to God, “I will make you a house,” but God responded, “No, I will make you a house and I will give you a name like the greatest men on the earth” (1 Chr 17). Those who humble themselves and pursue God’s will and not their own, God exalts. First Peter 5:6 says, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” Certainly, this is what we saw in Christ. He humbled himself to the lowest of the low in order to serve God and others, and God gave him a name above every name (Phil 2:5–11).
If we humble ourselves by obeying God, he promises to exalt us, not only on the earth but throughout eternity (cf. James 4:6). Are you willing to humble yourself and seek his will instead of your own?
Application Question: Why is it so hard to seek God’s glory over our own? Why is it natural for man to seek his own glory, apart from God?
“…and you will be a blessing”
It must be noted that God blessed Abraham not primarily for his enjoyment but so he could be a blessing to many. Abraham blessed those in Canaan. Early on, he wins a battle against the kings of the east who formerly oppressed the kings of Canaan, and then, Melchizedek, the king of Salem, blesses him for it (Gen 14). Abraham blessed the Canaanites. But, ultimately, he blessed them by being a witness of the living God.
Psalm 1:3 describes the man who is blessed by God as a tree that produces fruit in season. A tree does not bear fruit for itself. We never see apple trees eat their own fruit. God made trees to bless others.
In the same way, God prospers the obedient. He blesses them so that they can bless others. During their trials, he strengthens and delivers them so they can strengthen and help deliver others. In 2 Corinthians 1:4, Paul says he “comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.”
In addition, God often blesses the obedient financially so they can be channels of his blessing. He pours out financial blessings into their lives so that they can be poured into the kingdom of God. Second Corinthians 9:10 says this about those who are obedient givers: “Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.” Similarly, Psalm 37:25–26 says, “I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed.”
God blesses the obedient so they can be generous and lend freely. They widely distribute not only financial seed but spiritual seed in order to bless people. Are you willing to obey God and receive his blessings, so you can bless others?
Application Question: How have you experienced God using you more when you faithfully obey him? How have you experienced times of a loss of God’s blessing and usefulness because of unfaithfulness?
“I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse”
God also promises to bless those who bless Abraham and curse those who curse him. We see this several times in Abraham’s narrative. When he goes down to Egypt, Pharaoh takes Sarah as his wife, and God curses Pharaoh’s household with sickness. Afterward, Pharaoh gives Abraham his wife back along with great wealth (Gen 12). Similarly, when Abimelech takes Sarah as a wife, God cursed him (Gen 20). Then Abraham’s wife was returned along with wealth once again. God always protected Abraham (cf. Gen 15:1). He blessed those who blessed him and cursed those who cursed him. It also seems that this promise was passed on to Israel—Abraham’s children (cf. Num 24:9b).
With that said, we see this general promise reiterated throughout Scripture to those who faithfully obey God. Jesus said people should be careful of how they treat his little ones—those who believe in him. If we offend them, it would be better for a millstone to be put around their neck and for them to be tossed into the sea (Mark 9:42). He also said in Matthew 18:10 to not look down on them for their angels always see the face of God. Their guardian angels are always ready to move at God’s command on behalf of them. Similarly, Romans 12:19 says to believers, “Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.” In considering God’s blessings, Scripture says that even a bottle of water given to one of his people will be rewarded (Matt 10:42).
As we follow God’s call, he promises to bless those who bless us and curse those who curse us.
Application Question: How should God’s promise to bless or curse those who hurt his children affect how we treat other believers? How should it affect how we look at ourselves?
“and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
This is the most precious promise given to Abraham, and it is a key verse in redemptive history. God promised to bless all the people of the earth through Abraham. How would God do this? The primary way was by sending the messiah, Jesus Christ, through Abraham’s lineage. The messiah would be both divine and human. He would die for the sins of the world and rise from the dead on the third day. Jesus Christ is a blessing to all the peoples of the earth. This is true because he is the only way to salvation. There is no other way for people to have eternal life except through him. Christ said this, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the father but through me” (John 14:6).
Certainly, this should be true about us in one sense as well. God’s call for us is to share the messiah with others. This is done directly through the gospel and indirectly by living the gospel.
First Peter 2:12 says, “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” The reason pagans will glorify God on the day of the Lord is because they came to know Christ through us. This is part of God’s call on every believer’s life.
As we consider the seven promises given to Abraham, we must remember that God also gave us many great promises. By one person’s count, the Bible contains over 3,000 promises. Second Peter 1:3–4 says,
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
God gave us great and precious promises through which we can participate in the divine nature and escape the world’s corruption. Essentially, this means that the promises in Scripture are given to make us holy and deliver us from sin.
Sadly, many Christians do not drink deeply from these promises. While Abraham was in Canaan being tempted to be like those around him, he had to remember the great promises God gave him. It would help him to faithfully follow God and be the person God called him to be. In the same way, God gave us many great and precious promises which apply to our calling as well. We should memorize them, quote them, and cling to them, especially when tempted or in trial.
Application Question: What are some of these great promises God has given to help guide us in our callings?
Consider these promises:
Proverbs 3:6 says, “in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” God promises to give direction to the person who puts him first and seeks to glorify him in everything.
Matthew 5:6 says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” God promises that if we truly hunger for righteousness—to know the Word of God, to see souls saved, to get rid of sin in our lives and become more holy—he will give it to us. The question really is, “Do we really hunger for righteousness?”
Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” God promises that if we seek first the kingdom and his righteousness that he will always meet our needs. Many people seek their needs first and, therefore, find themselves impoverished and in lack.
Second Corinthians 9:6–8 says,
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
God promises that he will abundantly bless the giver. He will never lack and will have grace for every good work. Are you allowing yourself to be a channel of God’s blessing?
In considering our call, God may not tell us where, who, or how. But he does give us promises to help along the way, and many of these promises are conditional—coming after our obedience. God’s call is full of promises for those who obey. Are you obeying?
Application Question: What are your favorite promises in the Bible and how do they help you to fulfill God’s call?
Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. The LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him. From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD. Then Abram set out and continued toward the Negev. (Genesis 12:6–9)
Interpretation Question: Throughout Abraham’s narrative we commonly see him and his family in tents. What can we learn about God’s call through this?
Another aspect of God’s calling on Abraham’s life and also on ours is a calling to pilgrimage. We see this in Abraham’s life as he goes to the promised land and lives in tents. In fact, the only land that Abraham owned while in the land was his wife’s grave site (Gen 23). Even though he became wealthy, he lived and dwelled in tents as a foreigner in the land. Hebrews 11:9–10 says this about Abraham:
By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
This is true for us today. We are pilgrims. This does not mean that we are wanderers. A pilgrim is not a wanderer. A pilgrim is person on a journey seeking a land. America was settled by pilgrims who left their home country seeking a land where they could have religious freedom. In the same way, Christians are pilgrims in the world today. The world is not our home, and like Abraham, we should not settle down in it.
We see this pilgrim analogy used throughout Scripture. Consider how Peter used it in his epistle: “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul” (1 Pet 2:11, KJV). In 1 Peter, these Christians were forced to leave their homes and land because of Roman persecution. It was clear to them that earth was not their home and that they were called to live for another land—a heavenly one.
Application Question: What are some applications we can take from the fact that like Abraham, we are called to be pilgrims on this earth?
Christ said this in Matthew 6:19–21:
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Christ said that we should not store up treasures on this earth but, instead, store them up in heaven. When I go to a hotel, I don’t spend a lot of time trying to make the place very home-like. I don’t buy new curtains, covers, or a stereo system. Why? Because my stay at the hotel is temporary. Christ uses similar logic. He says that the treasures of this earth will be destroyed by moth and rust—they are temporary. Our life is but a breath here. We must spend our lives focused on the eternal. Therefore, as Christians, our lives and belongings should look very different from the world because we are not storing up our treasures on this earth. We are simply preparing and waiting for our eternal home. We are pilgrims. Abraham lived this way, even though he was wealthy, because heaven was his ultimate home.
If we are truly pilgrims and this is not our home, then we will never completely feel comfortable here. How can we feel comfortable with the temporary if we were made for the eternal? How can we feel comfortable in a sin infested society if we were made to live and dwell in righteousness? How can we feel comfortable in a loveless society, when we were made to dwell in perfect love?
As pilgrims, we will constantly feel dissatisfaction with life and the world as it is. Paul the apostle described it this way in Romans 8:22–23:
We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
We, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, grown inwardly. This is not a groaning that the world can have, it is only a groaning that true Christians have. We groan for the redemption of our bodies. We long to be free of sin and to be satisfied with righteousness (cf. Rom 7:14–25). This is a groaning that is particular to pilgrims. In this world, we will never be completely comfortable; it is not our home. Second Corinthians 5:2 says, “Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling.”
Similarly, C. S. Lewis said, “If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world” (Mere Christianity). Personally, I often find a dissatisfaction in my heart with life and the things around me. I commonly attribute this to the natural groaning in all believers. As believers, we groan for our heavenly dwelling—we are but pilgrims here.
First Peter 4:4 says, “They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you.” The world will find you strange because you don’t have the same values, the same belief system, or enjoy the same things. Sometimes, this will even lead to persecution. We should not be surprised if the world hates us, for the world hated Christ first (John 15:18). They persecuted and killed our Lord and Savior. We should not be surprised if this happens to us as well. This is not uncommon for pilgrims.
God’s call is a call to a pilgrim life. It is life of simplicity, a life of being uncomfortable, and a life of being considered strange by others. We should not be surprised by this, but embrace it, as a part of God’s calling.
Application Question: In what other ways can we apply the reality of being pilgrims on the earth? How have you experienced this pilgrim reality or sought to live it out as a discipline?
Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. The LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him. From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD. Then Abram set out and continued toward the Negev. (Genesis 12:6–9)
Interpretation Question: Throughout Abraham’s narrative we commonly see him build altars. What can we learn about God’s call through this?
Another aspect of our call is bold worship. Throughout Abraham’s life, we commonly see him build altars. When Abraham gets to Shechem in the land of Canaan, the Lord appears to him, and he builds an altar to God (v. 7). After moving, he then builds another altar in the hills between Bethel and Ai (v. 8). The altar symbolized his worship. When Abraham began to follow God, he became a worshiper.
But not only was Abraham a worshiper, he was a bold worshiper. When it says, “Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh,” the narrator is trying to get our attention. He calls it “the great tree of Moreh.” The title “Moreh” means “teaching.” This was the “the great tree of Teaching.”9 Most likely, this was a Canaanite shrine where people gathered to worship some deity and also listen to the deity’s teachers. Chuck Swindoll adds:
Historical records indicate that “the Canaanites had shrines in groves of oak trees, and Moreh may have been one of their cult centers.” [7] Worshipers of fertility gods believed that large trees were evidence of the reproductive power associated with the area; they thought one could become more fertile by worshiping there.10
This must stand out to us. Abraham builds an altar to God right by one of the great shrines of the Canaanite people. He was not a timid, quiet worshiper. He was a bold worshiper. No doubt, the Canaanites said, “Who is this Abraham guy and who is his God?”
Abraham was a bold worshiper, and this must be true of us as well. The call of God is a call to worship. Jesus said, “Whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven” (Matt 10:33, KJV). We cannot worship God in secret. Like Abraham, we must proclaim him and worship him everywhere we go.
This is the very reason God created man in the first place. We were created to worship God and enjoy him forever. This purpose was corrupted during the Fall, but in salvation, man is restored to this great call. First Peter 2:9 says, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”
God chose us out of the world to declare his praises. In fact, something that distinguishes the world is the fact that they do not worship God—at least not the true God. They worship themselves, others, or other things, but they do not worship God (cf. Rom 1:21–23). Abraham was in a world full of idols and idolaters; however, as part of his call, he boldly worshiped the true and living God. This should be our daily practice as well.
We can build our altars wherever we go. We can worship at work, school, dinner, recreation, and leisure. Everything we do should be worship. Paul said, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Cor 10:31).
Everything can be worship as we offer it to the Lord in prayer, as we work at it with all our heart, and as we seek to honor the Lord through it. Like Abraham, we should build altars everywhere, so others can see. He worshiped in the plain among the pagans, and he worshiped in the hills by himself.
Sadly, many Christians only worship at church or at home. We should make every place that we step a place of worship, as Abraham did. Jesus said, “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matt 5:16).
Application Question: How can we daily practice a lifestyle of worship? In what ways is God calling you to implement more worship into your daily routine?
The LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him. (Genesis 12:7)
Even though Abraham left his home and much of his family in Ur, while following God’s call, it would bring God’s blessing upon his children. God appeared to Abraham when he got to Canaan and said that he would give the land to his offspring—his children.
Similarly, the greatest thing we can do for our families and our children is to obey God’s call. Yes, obeying God’s call means, at times, being uncomfortable. It means living a life of faith, but God is a rewarder of those who pursue him by faith. Hebrews 11:6 says, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
God rewards those who earnestly seek him. Some of the greatest rewards that God gives are to our children and our children’s children. Abraham never received the land in his lifetime, but his children did. Exodus 20:5–6 says,
You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
God blesses to a thousand generations those who love him and keep his commandments. Because Abraham loved and obeyed God, God’s displayed his love to Isaac, then to Jacob, then to Jacob’s children. Similarly, God’s favor on David’s life followed his son, Solomon.
The decisions we make today do not just affect us, but they also affect our children and our children’s children. This is true with God’s blessing but also with God’s punishment. Again, Exodus 20:5 says, “I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me.” This doesn’t mean that God punishes us for our fathers’ sins; however, it does mean that their sins affect us. When Israel rebelled against God in the promised land—leading to forty years of wandering in the wilderness—their children had to stay in the wilderness, as well. They were affected by the consequences of their fathers’ sin, and many of these children eventually struggled with the same rebellion in their father’s hearts.
It is no surprise to see that as Abraham lied about his wife being his sister twice (Gen 12 and 20), this same sin was later found in his child as well. Isaac lied about his wife to Abimelech (Gen 26). Similarly, Jacob, Abraham’s grandson, was a compulsive liar. After this, Jacob’s children sold his son, Joseph, into slavery, and lied to Jacob about it for years.
Our sins commonly follow our children and, therefore, bring the same punishment from God that we received. This is why we see alcoholism, drug use, homosexuality, children out of wedlock, and witchcraft found generation after generation. The sins of the fathers’ visit the children to the third and fourth generation.
However, let us consider this. Whereas, our rebellion has effects to the third and fourth generation, our faithfulness to God has effects for a thousand generations. The rewards for obedience are greater than the punishment for sin. Let this motivate us to be faithful and obedient to God’s call; the lives of our children and our children’s children depend on it.
Application Question: In what ways have you seen or experienced generational blessing or generational cursing in your own family or others?
What are characteristics of God’s call on Abraham’s life and, therefore, our lives as well?
Copyright © 2017 Gregory Brown
The primary Scriptures used are New International Version (1984) unless otherwise noted. Other versions include English Standard Version, New Living Translation, New American Standard Bible, and King James Version.
Holy Bible, New International Version ®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NASB) are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, and 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are from the King James Version of the Bible.
All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added.
1 Getz, Gene (1996-01-15). Men of Character: Abraham: Holding Fast to the Will of God (Kindle Location 223). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
2 Meyer, F.B. (20
13-05-08). Abraham: The Obedience of Faith (Kindle Locations 123–124). CLC Publications. Kindle Edition.
3 http://biblehub.com/1_thessalonians/5-22.htm accessed 9/12/14.
4 Getz, Gene (1996-01-15). Men of Character: Abraham: Holding Fast to the Will of God (Kindle Locations 410–413). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
5 Kidner, D. (1967). Genesis: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 1, p. 120). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
6 Guzik, David (2012-12-08). Genesis (Kindle Locations 2192–2195). Enduring Word Media. Kindle Edition.
7 Guzik, David (2012-12-08). Genesis (Kindle Locations 2203–2205). Enduring Word Media. Kindle Edition.
8 Getz, Gene (1996-01-15). Men of Character: Abraham: Holding Fast to the Will of God (Kindle Locations 179–181). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
9 Swindoll, Charles R. (2014-07-16). Abraham: One Nomad's Amazing Journey of Faith (Kindle Locations 390–393). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.. Kindle Edition.
10 Swindoll, Charles R. (2014-07-16). Abraham: One Nomad's Amazing Journey of Faith (Kindle Locations 390–393). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.. Kindle Edition.
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 treated 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 treated 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. (Genesis 12:10–20)
How should believers handle crisis situations? How should we respond to trials?
One of the wonderful things about Scripture is that it does not sugar coat its heroes. All the men and women that God used in Scripture possessed character flaws. Jacob was a liar and a swindler. Solomon was polygamous like his father, David. The disciples constantly failed Christ, even denying him before his resurrection. Peter, specifically, had anger and pride issues.
This is also true with Abraham, who is called the father of those who believe (Gal 3:7). Even though Abraham is given as a model in the Old and New Testament of a man of faith, we see that men of faith fail. We all do. We all have character issues. In fact, some call spiritual maturity the decreasing pattern of sin in the life of believer. But, it must be known, it is not the eradication of sin (cf. 1 John 3:2). That will not happen until we get to heaven. Paul, possibly the greatest Christian that ever lived, said, “The things I would do, I don’t do, and the things I wouldn’t do, I do. Who can save me from this body of death?” (Rom 7 paraphrase).
One of the great catalysts of sin in the life of believers and nonbelievers alike are trials. Trials, like fire, demonstrate the weaknesses in our character. How do we respond when difficulties happen? What does it show about our character?
With Abraham, one of the weaknesses of his character was lying. In this text, he lies about his wife to protect himself and almost loses her. No doubt, since he was young, he learned that he could protect himself by telling a lie. Perhaps when his father asked, “Who stole the cookie?” He pointed to his older brother who was out in the field.
This pattern was still in the life of Abraham after his call, and God brings a trial to expose and deal with this character flaw. This trial did not eradicate his lying, but it brought it to the surface so God could begin to work on it in Abraham’s life. We see this character flaw again in Genesis 20:2, when Abraham lies to Abimelech to protect himself.
What character flaws show up in your life while in a trial? Is it anger, impatience, distrust for God or others, anxiety, or even lying, as it was with Abraham?
Let it be known, whatever character flaws that we don’t get rid of in our life will often hurt those around us. In this story, it puts Abraham’s wife in a dangerous situation. Also, we see later in the Genesis narrative that lying was a character flaw in the life of Isaac, Abraham’s son, Jacob, Abraham’s grandson, and Jacob’s children, Abraham’s great grandchildren.
What character trait is God trying to remove in your life? James 1:4 says: “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (NIV 2011). God’s plan is to rid us of character flaws through the gracious fire of trials. These trials are meant to help us mature so that God can use us more (Rom 5:3–4). That was God’s plan for Abraham, and trials were necessary to prepare him for that calling.
As we look at this text, we learn principles about how to respond to trials in order to help us be more faithful in them. Abraham does not handle this trial correctly, and therefore, he is a model to us by his failure. But Scripture teaches that even the failures of God’s people are meant to be examples to us. Paul said this about Israel’s failures and subsequent judgments in the wilderness: “Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did” (1 Cor 10:6). When Israel failed in the wilderness, their failures were meant to be examples for us to learn from, and this is true of Abraham’s failures as well. We can learn important principles about responding to trials through Abraham’s wrong response in Genesis 12:10–20.
Big Question: What can we discern about how believers should properly respond to trials through Genesis 12:10–20?
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. (Genesis 12:10)
When Abraham gets to the land, there is a famine. The Hebrew word for famine used in Genesis 12:10 simply means “hunger.” We are not told the cause of the famine. “The cause could have been drought, diseased crops, a plague of locusts, or simply a failed harvest.”1
No doubt, Abraham was shocked. He left his family, home, and country to obey God’s command, and his obedience led him right into a trial. Since his hometown, Ur, was near the Euphrates River, it was a very fruitful and rich area. It was quite possible that Abraham had never experienced a famine before.
However, now, he and his family were in trouble. This is a very common experience for those following God. Often, we feel that because we are following God we should not experience problems. But, that is not true; many times our problems increase because of following God. Sometimes our problems are natural. We live in a fallen world, in which sin has affected everything. There are droughts, tsunamis, sickness, and death. We are still affected by these things, even though we are following God. But there is also spiritual warfare and sometimes persecution. Satan does not want us following God so he works very hard to discourage us and make us turn away from God. That was his plan with Job. He brought sickness, bankruptcy, and death, all for the purpose of making Job curse God. And ultimately, all trials are used by God to help believers grow. They create perseverance, character, and hope in God (Rom 5:3–4).
Because of this reality, we should expect them. We can discern this not only from Abraham’s narrative but throughout Scripture. Joseph had a vision of his parents and brothers bowing down to him, and soon after, he was sold into slavery. Moses killed a man expecting to be Israel’s deliverer, and right after, he spends forty years in the wilderness. Elijah prophetically spoke against Ahab and Israel, and he was, immediately, sent to the Brook Kerith to be alone. Then, after some time, the brook dried up. Trials commonly come to those following God. James 1:2 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds.”
It must be noted that James doesn’t say, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, ‘if’ you face trials of many kinds.” He says “whenever” you face trials of many kinds. He, essentially, says we should expect them.
Similarly, Peter, writing to Christians being persecuted throughout the Roman Empire, said: “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you” (1 Pet 4:12).
Sometimes, we may be tempted to think that we are going through trials because we sinned or because God is angry at us, or because we somehow failed to discern God’s will correctly. Maybe, Abraham had these same questions while facing the famine. However, consider what Christ teaches in John 15:1–2: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”
He says, “every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” Pruning is a cutting away of all the dead or damaged branches; it implies pain. Every branch that is fruitful, he cuts at so that it can bear more fruit. No doubt, this is what happened with Abraham. He had been faithful, and now God prunes him so he can be more faithful and more fruitful. God does not waste any time in preparing Abraham for the great call on his life. He immediately sends him into the famine so he can start pruning him. God wanted to cut away old habits, sinful attitudes, self-reliance, and the fear of man. All these old attitudes were unfit for Abraham’s calling, and this is true for us as well.
God will always send us into trials so that he can train us to become godly. Consider what the writer of Hebrews said, “Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?” (Heb 12:7). He taught the Hebrew Christians, who were also being persecuted for their faith (cf. Heb 10:32–34), that they should see their trials as coming from the gracious hand of God. These trials were meant to change them into the very image of Christ. We should see our trials in the same way. Therefore, we should expect them.
Application Question: Have you ever experienced a trial like Abraham’s—where you were taking a step of faith and things took a turn for the worst? How did you respond? What did you learn from that experience?
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 treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.” (Genesis 12:11–13)
The next thing we can discern about trials from Abraham’s example is that every trial comes with a temptation. In this text, I think we see two possible failures from Abraham. When the famine comes, Abraham immediately leaves the promised land and goes to Egypt. Also, we see that he sets a plan to lie about his wife by saying that she is his sister to protect himself. Ultimately, through both decisions, Abraham decides to rely on himself and his wisdom instead of God’s.
Interpretation Question: Why was it a sin for Abraham to leave the promised land?
F. B. Meyer said, “In the figurative language of Scripture, Egypt stands for alliance with the world, and dependence on an arm of flesh.”2 We see this in Isaiah 31:1:
Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the LORD.
However, it must be noted that throughout Israel’s history, God at times called his people to go to Egypt for safety. We saw this with Jacob and his family. During a famine, Joseph was second in command in Egypt. God spoke to Jacob commanding him to go down to Egypt and informing him that one day he would bring his family back to the promised land. Genesis 46:3–4 says,
“I am God, the God of your father,” he said. “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph's own hand will close your eyes.”
We also see the same thing with Jesus’ earthly father, Joseph. When Herod was killing babies, God told Joseph to take his family down to Egypt. Matthew 2:13 says,
When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”
Therefore, the fact that Abraham left Canaan and went down to Egypt by itself doesn’t mean that Abraham sinned. The problem seems to be the fact that he didn’t seek God. He didn’t build an altar to seek God’s voice, and God never called him to go to Egypt. No doubt, Abraham became anxious and tried to take things into his own hands. Going to Egypt was indeed a picture of his self-reliance. He takes his family to Egypt and concocts a deceptive plan to protect himself.
We must be aware that with every trial there is a temptation. While Christ was in the wilderness fasting in obedience to the Spirit’s leading (Matt 4:1), Satan came to tempt him. Before Christ went to the cross, no doubt, he was tempted to quit. However, he prayed, “Take this cup from me, but nevertheless your will be done.” There was a temptation in Christ’s trials.
In every trial, there is a temptation. When we are stuck in traffic, there is a temptation to become impatient, anxious, or even angry. When there is conflict at work or in our family, there is a temptation to hold grudges, to respond harshly, or even to cut people off. We must choose correctly. We have the opportunity to grow in patience, love, and gentleness, or we have the opportunity to sin and build even deeper strongholds.
Every trial comes with an opportunity to grow or to fall further into sin. Abraham had the opportunity to trust and seek God while in the famine or to trust himself. Abraham chose to take things into his own hands and trust in his own wisdom, rather than relying on God. He chose to sin instead of practicing his faith.
What are your common negative responses to trials? Lying? Anger? Impatience? Throwing a pity party? Satan knows your inclinations and those will be the very temptations you encounter in your trial.
By knowing our tendencies and also what God wants to produce in us through the trial, we can better respond. In every trial, there is a temptation.
Application Question: What are your common negative tendencies in trials? How is God calling you to work on your reactions to trials?
Furthermore, as we consider Abraham’s failure to seek the Lord in the trial, it gives us our next principle. We must seek the Lord’s wisdom in trials.
Again, Abraham headed straight to Egypt. He didn’t build an altar and pray. He didn’t question God or ask for his will in the situation. He took everything into his own hands. Many times, we do this as well instead of seeking the Lord. We get anxious and start scheming.
If we are going to respond correctly to trials, we must seek the Lord’s will for the trial and get his wisdom.
Application Question: How can we seek God’s wisdom during trials?
James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” In the context of teaching on trials, James says we must pray for wisdom because God gives generously to all who ask.
Trials are meant to make us depend on God more. A trial is an invitation to pray and wait on the Lord. Sometimes, his answer will be removing the trial. Sometimes, his answer will be giving us perseverance to go through the trial. Always, with his answer, he gives us wisdom to properly respond to the trial.
How else should we seek God’s wisdom in trials?
David said this in Psalms 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” David said that when he studied the Word of God, the Lord turned the lights on. He could see what path to take. Scripture many times tells us exactly what to do, especially in moral issues. Should I date a nonbeliever? No! Should I cheat on this test? No! And, where it doesn’t give us exact answers, it gives us wisdom principles. It teaches us principles about wealth, marriage, conflict resolution, planning, etc.
Many times God gives us wisdom through other believers. Scripture calls the church the body of Christ (cf. 1 Cor 12). One person is the eye; another is the hand or the feet. Many times, we spiritually impoverish ourselves by neglecting the resources within the body. If the hand says that I don’t need the eye, how will he know where to go or how to keep himself from stumbling? This is hard to accept, especially in individualistic cultures; however, if it is not accepted, the consequences can be drastic. Sometimes a person will date or marry the wrong individual; he will make bad decisions about his future because he is operating apart from the body.
Proverbs 11:14 says, “For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make victory sure.” It can also be translated “in the multitude of counselors there is safety” (KJV). There is victory and protection when you have godly counselors around you.
Now, with all this said, Abraham didn’t have many of the resources that we have. Abraham lived before Scripture was written. He lived in a land full of pagans. No doubt, for this reason God spoke so clearly to him. That was one of God’s primary ways of revealing himself in those days. He spoke, sent an angel, or gave a dream. He still may choose to do those things today, but his primary revelation is through the Scripture, since it “equips the man of God for all righteousness” (2 Tim 3:17).
When we go through trials, we must seek God’s wisdom.
Application Question: In what ways have you seen the resources of prayer, God’s Word, and godly counsel helpful in gaining God’s wisdom when going through a trial?
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 treated Abram well for her sake, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, menservants and maidservants, and camels. (Genesis 12:14–16)
Observation Question: What were some of the negative consequences Abraham experienced because of his self-reliance and deception?
The next thing we must do in response to trials is consider the consequences of sin. If we are aware of the consequences, it will help dissuade us from sinning and, instead, encourage us to trust God. When Abraham moved to Egypt, the Egyptians saw that his wife was very beautiful and began to praise her to Pharaoh. Pharaoh, then, took her into his harem. While Sarai waited to be married, Pharaoh gave Abraham great wealth.
Some have wondered how Sarah could be so beautiful if she was sixty-five years old. What were her beauty secrets? This can be answered by simply understanding the life-span of the patriarchs. Abraham lived to the age of 175 and Sarah lived to 127. This would make her about middle age (the equivalent of being in her 30’s) while in Egypt.3
Many commentators have ridiculed Abraham for asking his wife to lie about their relationship by saying that she was his sister. She was his half-sister indeed, but it was still a lie because his intent was to deceive. His deceptive plan probably wasn’t purely selfish in solely trying to save himself. Saying that he was her brother allowed him to negotiate with whomever tried to marry her. Without the father, the oldest brother had the right of negotiation. This negotiation process would have given Abraham time to plan an escape. Any regular Egyptian would negotiate with Abraham. However, Abraham never considered Pharaoh. Pharaoh didn’t need to negotiate since he was king, and he also was considered divine.
This was disastrous both for Abraham and his wife, Sarah. It also endangered the “seed” that would be a blessing to all nations (Gen 12:3; 22:18). Abraham did, however, become very rich. Pharaoh gave him great wealth. We can discern how wealthy specifically by two of the gifts he received: the female donkeys and the camels. Kent Hughes shares:
Female donkeys were far more controllable and dependable for riding and therefore the ride of choice of the rich (the Lexuses and BMWs of the Nile). The camels (note the plural) had just been introduced as domesticated animals and were a rarity. They were prestige symbols, for show by the very rich, not for utility (the equivalent in my mind of a Ferrari Testarosa).9
But this wealth was not a blessing; it caused him great problems for years to come. Proverbs 10:2 in the ESV says, “Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death.” Later in chapter 13, the wealth caused him and Lot to split company because the land could not support them both. In addition, he received a servant woman named Hagar. He would later marry this woman and bear a child through her which would cause great conflict in his family (Gen 16). The wealth received in Egypt caused him great sorrow for years to come. In fact, in chapter 14, when the king of Sodom tried to give him wealth for conquering his enemy and retrieving his goods, Abraham rejected it. He said this in Genesis 14:22–23:
“I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and have taken an oath that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the thong of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’
Abraham would no longer accept the wealth of pagans. He would trust and depend on God alone.
In addition, we should remember that Abraham’s propensity to lie was passed down to his son Isaac, who also lied about his wife (Gen 26), and also his grandson Jacob, who swindled his brother Esau’s birthright (Gen 27). Ten of Jacob’s sons sold his son, Joseph, into slavery and lied about it for years. These were further consequences of Abraham’s sins. Our sins often affect our children (cf. Exod 20:5).
One of the things we must be aware of during trials is the consequences of sin. The consequences of sin never just affect us. Abraham’s sin affected his wife and his future as the ill-conceived wealth brought great pain and sorrow.
Similarly, Jonah’s sin almost got a whole crew of sailors killed. David’s adultery and murder affected his family for the rest of his life. God said the sword would never depart from his household. James said this about temptation and sin:
When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. (James 1:13–15)
He said evil desire gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Sin’s consequences are always destructive.
One of the ways we deal with temptation is by considering the consequences: how will it affect our family, friends, and future? Paul was always aware of the dangerous effects of sin and this motivated him to be disciplined. Consider what he said in 1 Corinthians 9:27, “No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”
Paul realized that he could eventually become disqualified from the prize, the approval of Christ on his ministry. Personally, the consequences of sin are very real to me. I have seen many pastors commit adultery, steal money from the church, etc.—essentially disqualifying themselves. Paul said, “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!” (1 Cor 10:12). Paul recognized his own vulnerability, and we must as well. We must stand firm and be careful so that we don’t fall.
One of the ways we do this is by being aware of the consequences of sin. Sin always leads to death—destruction.
Application Question: In what ways is the recognition of sin’s consequences a healthy protection against temptation? Have you ever considered wealth as a potentially bad thing? Why or why not?
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. (Genesis 12:17–20)
The next thing we see in this narrative is God’s amazing grace. While Sarah is in Pharaoh’s harem, God afflicts everyone in Pharaoh’s household. The word “disease” in the Hebrew is typically used of skin disease.4 Perhaps, like God’s judgment on Pharaoh’s household in the book of Exodus, God may have judged them with boils (Exod 9:10).
God was fulfilling his promise to Abraham. He said that he would bless those who blessed him and curse those who cursed him (Gen 12:3). God was cursing Pharaoh for taking Abraham’s wife. Even though Abraham was the one who sinned and didn’t trust God, God’s grace was still abundant upon him. Second Timothy 2:13 says, “if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.”
Even though Abraham was not walking in faith and was suffering the consequences of his own sin, God still lavishly poured grace on him. He defended him and fought his battles.
Imagine if Abraham believed God from the beginning. If God called for him to stay in Canaan, maybe God would have provided manna from heaven, water from a rock, ravens to bring food, or a jar of oil would never run out. God’s provision has no limits. If God called him to go to Egypt, God would have defended Abraham without him having to lose his integrity.
How often does this happen to us? We get angry so we fight for our rights, even though God says, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” (Rom 12:19). We get frustrated so we complain, instead of trusting God. We get anxious so we lie or cheat, instead of praying for supernatural grace and trusting for God to work it out.
One of the things we must do in trials is expect God’s supernatural grace. Sometimes, we need to be still to see that he is God (Ps 46:10) and that he will meet all our needs (Ps 23:1). We must stop seeing trials as obstacles and begin to see them as opportunities for God to show his glory.
It’s enjoyable conversing with the mature in faith. When you bring a trial to them, many times they smile. They already have confidence that this trial is of God, and that he is using it for his glory. The mature often say, “Settle down! God is not surprised! This trial is just a platform for God’s glory! Trust him!” Paul while in prison awaiting a possible death sentence said:
for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. (Philippians 1:19–20)
Paul expected a miracle. He knew that God was going to glorify himself in one way or another.
Similarly, when Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice in Genesis 22, the author of Hebrews says he did it because he believed that God would raise him from the dead (Heb 11:19). He expected a miracle!
In contrast to the spiritually mature, the spiritually immature often respond by hyperventilating. They come up with all kinds of schemes and plans, with no sense that God is with them in the trial. Sometimes, we need to settle down so we can hear God say, “This is of me. I am in this. Calm down. Be anxious for nothing. Fear not!”
In fact, we must remember the context in which this was originally written. Moses was writing this while Israel was in the wilderness, right before they went into the promised land. He, no doubt, wanted the Israelites to see the parallels to their story. During a famine Abraham went down to Egypt for provisions. God protected him, while he punished Pharaoh. Abraham left with great wealth. Similarly, Jacob’s family went down to Egypt in a famine. God protected his children, Israel, from Pharaoh. He later punished Pharaoh and sent Israel away with their wealth. Essentially, Moses was saying to Israel before they went into the promised land, “God is going to take care of you! God will do the miraculous! Don’t be afraid of the giants! God will curse those who curse you and bless those who bless you! If God is for you, who can be against you!”
We must heed this as well. Remember Paul’s words in Romans 8:33–39:
Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Saints, nobody can bring a charge against you because God has justified you. Saints, nobody can condemn you because Christ died for you. Saints, nothing will be able to separate you from the love of God—not trouble, not hardship, not persecution or famine, not danger or sword. And because of this, when you go through trials, you should expect God’s grace. You should expect a miracle; even if that miracle simply is perseverance that creates character and character, hope (Rom 5:3–4). The greatest miracle many times is God changing us from the inside out. That is what he wants to do in us through every trial. Saints, are you expectant in the trial? Even when you are faithless, God is faithful. He cannot deny himself.
Application Question: In what ways have you experienced God’s miracles in the midst of your trials? Why are we so prone to try to accomplish things in our own power and forget God’s grace?
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. (Genesis 12:17–20)
Here is the next principle we can learn about how to respond in trials. Believers must consider the watchful eye of unbelievers while going through trials.
One cannot but notice that an unbeliever—Pharaoh—rebukes Abraham who is supposed to be a blessing to the world. It seems that Pharaoh could discern that his sickness was Abraham’s fault, since everybody in Pharaoh’s palace had a skin disease except Sarah. They probably, then, questioned her and found out the truth—Abraham, the follower of God, lied.
Pharaoh was so upset his concluding words seem to Abraham seem to be very short. In the original language, he said just four words: “‘Here … wife … take … go.’ Such disdain.”5 In fact, he has his men escort Abraham out of his kingdom, and he doesn’t even take his riches back.
In reply, Abraham says nothing. What could he say? He had lost his witness and stained his integrity. The pagan king had shown himself more righteous than Abraham. This happens to believers all the time. They go to the same places and do the same things as the world. They respond the same way as the world when going through a trial and, therefore, lose their witness.
This is what Peter said to the Christians being persecuted in the Roman Empire:
Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. (1 Peter 2:11–12)
He said that we should abstain from sinful desires and live good lives so that pagans see our good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. The implication seems to be that the pagans will glorify God because they came to Christ through our chaste witness during our trials. Did not Nebuchadnezzar worship God after the three Hebrews kept their integrity within their trial? God showed up miraculously and Nebuchadnezzar praised God. He said,
“Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God” (Daniel 3:28)
How we respond in trials is very important. It is not only important for us and our families, but also for unbelievers—their lives could depend on it. Colossians 4:5 says, “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.”
Application Question: Have you ever experienced God opening the door for you to witness directly or indirectly during a trial? What should be the difference between a believer and a nonbeliever’s response to trials?
Here is our final principle about our response to trials: Believers must keep their eyes on Christ in their trials. What must stand out to us is that Abraham, who is the father of all who believe, called a friend of God, and given as a model for us to follow in Scripture, fails miserably.
Again, one of the great things about Scripture is that it never covers up the failings of its heroes. David committed adultery and murder, and yet he is called a man after God’s own heart. Peter and the rest of the disciples denied Christ in his greatest hour of need. Paul, the apostle, fought with his co-worker, Barnabas—leading to a split.
If our great men fail, what hope is there for us? In many ways, this story could be very depressing, but I think it reminds us of our need to focus on Christ. Many have fallen away from the church when their pastors or spiritual leaders stumbled. Instead of being marked by holiness, they were marked by pride, discord, and deception. How can we stay faithful in trials if they do not?
Yes, Abraham, David, Peter, and Paul are our models, but they are models of men who failed God yet continued to follow him. We need models of people who fail because we often fail and people fail us. However, Christ is our perfect model, and we should keep our eyes on him. If we focus on others, especially when they fail, we may find ourselves discouraged and ready to give up. We must focus on Christ.
Consider what the writer of Hebrews said to Christians suffering persecution:
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:2–3)
Christ is the originator of our faith and the perfecter of our faith. Christ is the only person that faced the full weight of temptation without failure. Therefore, he can enable us to persevere. He can enable us to be faithful in our trials. We must consider him, lest we grow weary and lose heart. Kent Hughes said:
Jesus did not stumble when trials came. His faith never wavered. He did not look to his own devices but only to God. Abram was a great man of faith, but Christ is the perfect man of faith. Abram left his home and family in Ur to go to an unknown land, but Christ left heaven in obedience to the Father’s call. Abram is known for both his great faith and great failure. Jesus’ life was one of unexceptionable faith. His life was all in faith and by faith from beginning to end.6
In our trials, we must focus our attention on the one who saved us and who will perfect us—Christ. He is our model, and he will faithfully carry us to the end.
Application Question: Have you seen or experienced the failure of spiritual leaders in the past? How did this affect you or others? How should we keep our eyes on Christ so that we will not give up during our trials?
How should we respond in trials?
Copyright © 2017 Gregory Brown
The primary Scriptures used are New International Version (1984) unless otherwise noted. Other versions include English Standard Version, New Living Translation, New American Standard Bible, and King James Version.
Holy Bible, New International Version ®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NASB) are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, and 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are from the King James Version of the Bible.
All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added.
1 Swindoll, Charles R. (2014-07-16). Abraham: One Nomad's Amazing Journey of Faith (Kindle Locations 406–408). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.. Kindle Edition.
2 Meyer, F.B. (2013-05-08). Abraham: The Obedience of Faith (Kindle Locations 566–575). CLC Publications. Kindle Edition.
3 Guzik, David (2012-12-08). Genesis (Kindle Locations 2287–2289). Enduring Word Media. Kindle Edition.
4 Hughes, R. K. (2004). Genesis: Beginning and Blessing (p. 193). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
5 Hughes, R. K. (2004). Genesis: Beginning and Blessing (p. 193). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
6 Hughes, R. K. (2004). Genesis: Beginning and Blessing (p. 195). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
So Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev, with his wife and everything he had, and Lot went with him. Abram had become very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold. From the Negev he went from place to place until he came to Bethel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had been earlier and where he had first built an altar. There Abram called on the name of the LORD. Now Lot, who was moving about with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. But the land could not support them while they stayed together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to stay together. And quarreling arose between Abram's herdsmen and the herdsmen of Lot. The Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land at that time. So Abram said to Lot, “Let's not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are brothers. Is not the whole land before you? Let's part company. If you go to the left, I'll go to the right; if you go to the right, I'll go to the left.” Lot looked up and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan was well watered, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, toward Zoar. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company: Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the LORD. The LORD said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, “Lift up your eyes from where you are and look north and south, east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted. Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.” So Abram moved his tents and went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron, where he built an altar to the LORD. (Genesis 13)
How should believers respond in faith to conflict? We live in an age where conflict is everywhere. We see it in society with the constant lawsuits and globally with the never-ending wars. But even worse, we commonly see it in the church. Churches split; the divorce rate in the church is virtually the same as the world; and many casualties in our families are related to these problems.
In fact, when we look at the narrative of Scripture, we see that discord was common among God’s people. Cain did not like his brother Abel. Jacob’s ten sons sold Joseph into slavery. Even in the New Testament, we see a fight in the church of Philippi between two women Euodia and Syntyche. The church of Corinth was separating into religious factions and believers were even suing one another. Paul and Barnabas got into a dispute over John Mark, about whether he should accompany them on a mission trip—leading them to separate and go different ways.
In fact, discord was so prevalent that Paul said this in Ephesians 4:26: “‘In your anger do not sin’: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.”
Paul essentially says that you’re going to get angry, you’re going to have disagreements, but in your anger and disagreements, do not sin because you will give the devil a foothold. Satan works where there is disorder. It gives him a stronghold to continually attack believers from.
Even now, if we look at our relationships and find anger and discord there, we can be sure that the enemy of our souls is at work. Scripture says that God is not a God of disorder but of peace (1 Cor 14:33). Therefore, when there is disorder and conflict, we lose God’s blessing on our lives, our families, our ministries, and our workplace; instead, we open the door for the enemy.
Since, as believers, we will have times of conflict, how should we respond to them? In Genesis 13, we learn a great deal about responding to conflict as we consider Abraham’s conflict with his nephew, Lot. In Hebrews 11, Abraham is listed as a hero of faith—somebody that should be modeled. In fact, Paul teaches in Galatians 3:7 that he is the father of all who believe—he is the father of those with faith. Abraham is someone worth modeling and that is why great emphasis is placed on him in the biblical record. His narrative is in Genesis 12–25; he is mentioned several other times in the Old Testament and in four books of the New Testament (Romans, Galatians, James, and Hebrews).
In this narrative, we learn from the “Father of Faith” about how “faith” should respond when in discord with others. Scripture says that faith is not just the way that we are saved; it should also be the lifestyle of believers. Hebrews 10:38 says, “my righteous one shall live by faith” or “the just shall live by faith.” Faith should affect every aspect of our lives including how we respond to conflict.
What principles can we learn from Abraham about how faith responds to conflict so that we will not give Satan a stronghold and lose God’s blessing? This is especially important to hear because, not doubt, many Christians have lost God’s blessing on their lives, because of discord.
In fact, we should notice God’s response to how Abraham handles this conflict: he reaffirms his covenant promises. Genesis 13:14–17 says,
The LORD said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, “Lift up your eyes from where you are and look north and south, east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted. Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.”
This is essentially God saying, “Abraham you have done well, and I will surely bless you.” It is the same thing God said to Abraham after he left Haran and came to Canaan in chapter 12. It’s the same thing God said after Abraham won the battle with the raiding armies in chapter 15, and it’s the same thing God said to Abraham before he offered his son as a sacrifice in Genesis 22. Responding properly to conflict brought God’s blessing and affirmation in Abraham’s life. Similarly, how we respond to conflict will affect God’s blessing upon our lives.
In this narrative, we see principles for responding in faith to difficult relationships. We should be aware that these difficult relationships will often be with people close to us: a wife, a husband, a brother, a sister, or a member of the church—just as Abraham’s conflict was with his nephew, Lot. Those who faithfully respond to conflict will receive God’s blessing on their lives.
Big Question: What principles can we learn about responding in faith to conflict, as we consider the conflict between Abraham and Lot?
So Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev, with his wife and everything he had, and Lot went with him. Abram had become very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold. From the Negev he went from place to place until he came to Bethel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had been earlier and where he had first built an altar. There Abram called on the name of the LORD… So Abram moved his tents and went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron, where he built an altar to the LORD. (Genesis 13:1–4, 18)
Interpretation Question: What is the significance of Abraham’s altars mentioned in Genesis 13:4 and verse 18?
Abraham’s altars should not go unnoticed in the story. In the previous narrative, we saw Abraham go down to Egypt (Gen 12:10–20). He decided to not trust in God when he encountered a famine in Canaan. He took things into his own hands. He built no altars to worship and seek the Lord, and consequently, almost lost his wife. In contrast, this narrative is enclosed by altars. After leaving Egypt, Abraham essentially repents of his sin as he returns to the first altar he built in Canaan. Soon after he works out the discord with Lot, he then builds another altar to God in Hebron. The word “Hebron” means communion.1
From this we can learn a great deal: if we are going to have a faith-filled response to discord, then, we must live in worship—we must live in constant communion with God. In chapter 12, Abraham does not respond in faith when he encounters the famine; he heads to Egypt. But, while in Egypt, his faith is strengthened. He learns that even while he is unfaithful to God, God is faithful to him. God miraculously protects his wife when she is taken by Pharaoh for marriage. In thankfulness and trust to God, Abraham worships at the altar he originally made, and soon after resolving the conflict with Lot, he builds another altar and worships God. This is what enabled Abraham to walk in faith when discord and conflict struck his family.
How can we properly respond to conflict in our lives—conflict with friends, family, co-workers, and church members? We must be people who live in communion with God. We must be a community of worship—not just on Sundays but every day.
In Galatians 5:20, Paul shares what the fruits of the flesh—our sinful nature—are: “hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions.” Therefore, to be human means to be in discord. Right after Adam and Eve sinned, Adam by implication blamed God and then the woman. The woman blamed the serpent. Discord was a result of sin. Therefore, many people know nothing of a day without some type of discord with others. It has been part of our human nature since the fall.
However, in the same text, Paul describes how God has given us his Spirit and the fruit of the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Gal 5:22–23). One of the reasons that Christ came was to give us his Spirit. He came to restore what was lost in the Garden of Eden. By giving us his Spirit, we can love those who hurt us, be patient with difficult people, respond with gentleness instead of harshness, and have self-control instead of anger. This is the fruit that the Spirit bears in our lives.
How do we gain this fruit so that we can have peace in our relationships? Galatians 5:16 says, “live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”
Each of us experiences a battle between the sinful nature and the Spirit. The acts of the sinful nature bring discord, but the fruit of the Spirit brings peace and fellowship. In order to live in the Spirit, or walk in the Spirit as some translations say, we must live in God’s Word, prayer, worship, service, and fellowship with the saints. We also must faithfully obey the Scripture. When we choose to get up each morning and not fill ourselves with the Spirit of God (Eph 5:18), we become vulnerable to the works of the flesh. We find ourselves angrier, less patient, and even prone to cut people off.
How was Abraham able to respond in faith when encountering conflict? Abraham responded in faith because he was living in the Spirit. He was living in communion with God. He worshiped before the altercation and after it. He was abiding in God, and therefore, the fruit of the Spirit grew in his life.
Are you a worshiper? Are you living in the Word and prayer? If not, you will be prone to the works of the flesh: anger, fits of rage, and discord. Are you living in the Spirit or walking in the flesh? You can tell by your response to those who upset or fail you. We must walk in the path of our father Abraham. Let us worship before the trial and after the trial, for only there will we find the fruit of the Spirit, which brings peace.
Application Question: In what ways have you experienced a propensity towards discord when not living in communion with God? In what ways have you experienced the ability to seek unity when living in communion with God? How is God calling you to live more in his presence?
Now Lot, who was moving about with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. But the land could not support them while they stayed together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to stay together. And quarreling arose between Abram's herdsmen and the herdsmen of Lot. The Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land at that time. So Abram said to Lot, “Let's not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine. (Genesis 13:5–8)
Interpretation Question: What is the significance of the narrator mentioning the “Canaanites and the Perizzites” who were in the land?
Here in this narrative, Abraham had just returned from Egypt with his nephew Lot, and they had become very wealthy people. Pharaoh gave Abraham great wealth for the sake of Sarah, and obviously, much of it was shared with Lot. They had flocks, herds, tents, and herdsmen, and therefore, they weren’t able to stay together. Moses, the narrator, said that the land could not support them (v. 6). Obviously, Moses is not saying that the land wasn’t big enough; he is probably referring to the amount of food available during the famine. If Abraham’s and Lot’s camps stayed together, it would be hard to find enough food.
In addition, Moses chooses to add another bit of information after describing Abraham and Lot’s conflict. He says,
The Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land at that time. So Abram said to Lot, “Let's not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are brothers. (Genesis 13:7–8 )
The narrator says there were Canaanites and Perizzites living in the land and for that reason, he says “So Abraham said to Lot, ‘Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me’” (v.8). Therefore, it wasn’t just because of the conflict with Lot’s herdsmen that Abraham approached Lot or because of the scarce resources; it was also because of the Canaanites and Perizzites who lived in the land.
This could mean one of two things. (1) It could mean that Canaan is so saturated with the four camps of people (Abraham’s, Lot’s, the Canaanites, and Perizzites) that there was great competition for food. (2) Or it could mean that Abraham approached Lot to fix the problem, in part, because of their witness to the Canaanites and Perizzites.
We must remember that God’s plan for Abraham wasn’t just to make his name great and make him a great nation. God was going to do those things primarily so that “all the nations of the world would be blessed through him” (Gen 12:3). Abraham was called to be a witness of God to the pagans, and one day the messiah would come through his lineage. In fact, if you remember, when he first got to the land he built an altar right next to the “great tree of Moreh” (Gen 12:6). This was probably a pagan shrine where the Canaanites worshiped. “Moreh” actually means “teaching.” Trees were symbols of fertility, so the Canaanites placed shrines in them and used them for worship. This particular tree was probably a place where the Canaanite prophets taught the people. However, Abraham places his altar to the God of heaven and earth right next to their shrine. He was a bold witness who desired for the pagans to know the true God.
At this time, Abraham was one of the only people in Canaan who still worshiped Yahweh God. At the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11, we see that the majority of the world was already rebelling against God after the flood. They also had become increasingly polytheistic, worshiping many gods. When Abraham came to town, he started building altars to the one God, the only God, as a witness to the pagans in the land.
One of the reasons that Abraham seeks to fix this situation with his nephew is probably because of his witness. This was perhaps even more pressing on Abraham’s heart after he had failed before Pharaoh and the entire nation of Egypt. When he lied about his wife and Pharaoh confronted him, Abraham had nothing to say. He had lost his witness.
When Abraham returned to Canaan and built the first altar, his initial worship was probably repentance (Gen 13:1–4). No doubt, he repented for not trusting God and also because of his bad witness to the Egyptians. Now, he is motivated to honor God with his witness in the land. Division between him and Lot would only further push the pagans away from God. The Canaanites would say, “They are just like us.” And, it would give them no reason to believe in and follow God.
This is an important concept for us to understand. It should help keep families, marriages, friendships, and even churches together. How we interact with each other will either promote our God or it will disgrace his name. We see this taught throughout Scripture. Consider what Jesus prayed in his high priestly prayer in John 17:23: “May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”
Essentially, Jesus says, “I pray that believers will love one another and walk in unity, even when things are difficult, because it affects evangelism.” It affects people believing that God sent Jesus into the world.
The world is always looking at how we relate to one another, and they value Christ not just on how we live individually, but how we live corporately. In fact, Jesus said, “they will know you’re my disciples by how you love one another” (John 13:35). Our relationships say something about Christ, and they also say something about us. Warren Wiersbe said this about the tragic effects of Christian disunity on the lost:
In my pastoral ministry, I frequently visited the unsaved relatives and friends of church members, seeking to interest them in spiritual things, only to discover that they knew about every “church fight” in town.2
Similarly, Ghandi said, "I like your Christ. I don't like your Christians. They are so unlike your Christ."
Nonbelievers are always watching and looking for a reason to mock Christians and their Christ. Therefore, when there is a scandal, it is always highly publicized in the news and on the Internet. Our unity is important for evangelism; therefore, this should encourage us to seek reconciliation.
How do we learn to respond in faith to discord? One way is by remembering the importance of our witness to unbelievers. Our unity affects evangelism
Do you think about the lost or other weak Christians when at odds with people in the church? Do you consider your witness and how people view Christ?
Weak faith only considers my pride, my wants, what I think is right, or how bad I was treated. But strong faith thinks about the gospel, other people’s faith, and ultimately, the glory of Christ. How do you respond when there is conflict? What does your response say about your faith?
Application Question: What should be our response to the reality that disunity amidst Christians deters people from the beauty of Christ and the gospel?
1. We should pray for unity in the church just like Christ did.
Christ understood how critically important Christian unity is. Therefore, he prayed for it before he died, and no doubt, he still prays for it today, as our heavenly high priest (Heb 7:25). Similarly, Paul prayed for the Philippians to grow in love for one another (Phil 1:9). He also prayed that the Thessalonians love for one another would overflow (1 Thess 3:12). Are you praying for the unity of the church?
Christ prayed for it, Paul prayed for it, and we should pray for it as well. We should also pray for Christian families. We should pray that the hearts of the fathers be turned back to the children (cf. Mal 4:6). We should pray for God to heal broken families. As we consider the importance of unity to the gospel, we must continually intercede for it as our Lord does.
2. We should seek to reconcile on the basis of our witness.
This is what Abraham did. If we are in discord with others, if we are holding grudges, then we should seek unity because of the Canaanites in the land, who do not believe in our God. The world judges Christ based on how you interact with your husband, your wife, your coworkers, your friends, and your church. Romans 12:18 says, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Are you doing your part to forgive and reconcile with those who have hurt you?
Application Question: In what ways have you seen or experienced disunity in a church, a family, or Christian friends that pushed people away from Christ? How do we help bring healing and restoration to those who have fallen away because of church conflict (cf. Phil 4:2–3)?
So Abram said to Lot, “Let's not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are brothers. (Genesis 13:8)
Observation Question: What reason did Abraham give to Lot for seeking to resolve their quarrel in Genesis 13:8?
In Genesis 13:8, we learn another wise principle from Abraham about how to resolve conflict. He essentially approached Lot and said, “Let’s not fight because we are brothers—we are family.” Abraham sought unity based on their commonality. Because they were family, he essentially said that being in discord was not an option.
However, when there is discord, typically, people choose to focus on their differences rather than their commonalities. We often make comments like, “We just don’t think alike,” “We are from different cultures,” and “We don’t understand one another,” instead of focusing on what is shared. Abraham didn’t say, “We have these differences, so let’s split.” He said, “We’ve got this in common, let’s figure this out in an amicable way.” That is a fundamental difference from the way most handle their conflicts.
We see something similar in what Paul says to the Philippians—a church also having conflict (cf. Phil 4:2). He says,
If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. (Philippians 2:1–2)
The word “if” essentially means “since.” “Since you have encouragement from being united with Christ, since you have comfort from his love, since you have fellowship with the Spirit … then make my joy complete by being like-minded … one in spirit and purpose.” Paul says because you have so much commonality in Christ—be one. God did something unique in the life of every believer. We have become one in Christ by the work of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, Ephesians 4:3 says, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”
Essentially, Paul says because the Spirit made us one, we must make every effort to live it. “Make every effort” can also be translated “Make haste”—meaning that we should seek unity quickly.3 Paul, later says, in Ephesians 4:26 says that we should not even let the sun go down while angry. We must quickly seek restoration.
This is a principle that has been lost in our Christian friendships, marriages, and churches. We are one and, therefore, living in discord is not an option. For many, it seems they would rather stay at war, move away, or never seek resolution. Thus, many Christians commonly bounce from church to church every time they encounter a problem. We also have many who bounce from friendship to friendship and marriage to marriage.
The church is often a place where we find very little commitment. There are splits over the color of the carpet, the style of worship, and the time worship should begin. The church often struggles with many petty discords and many big ones.
However, just like Abraham, we must seek unity on the basis of our family relationship, which came through our union to Christ and the Holy Spirit’s work. Having peace doesn’t mean that we don’t ever disagree or go our separate ways, but it means that we honor God and keep peaceful relationships, even when it comes to that. We need this mindset back in our churches; we need this mindset back in our families. We are one; therefore, we must make haste to keep the unity of the Spirit.
It has been said that you can choose your friends, but you can’t choose your family. God in his sovereignty chose to unite us as a body and as a family. We are called to treat each person in the church as members of our family. Look at what Paul said to Timothy, “Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity” (1 Timothy 5:1–2).
Maybe, you are in conflict right now with another believer and all you can think about is how you disagree with this person or how you can’t believe what this person said or did. In order to have unity, we must choose to focus on, not our differences, but on what we share in common. We are children of God—people for whom Christ died. We have been filled and indwelled with the Holy Spirit. We have been given the same mission to reach the lost for Christ. God has raised us up with him and seated us in heavenly places. We are citizens of heaven and the list goes on and on. We must seek unity based on our commonality in Christ. This commonality is greater than any other earthly commonality, because it is eternal.
Like Abraham, we must seek peace based on our family relationship, our commonality, which ultimately comes from the Lord. Certainly, this principle applies specifically to our Christian relationships, but it can be applied generally to all. Instead of focusing on our differences, we should focus on our commonalities in order to resolve conflict.
Application Question: In what ways should our commonality in Christ encourage us to seek unity? How can we focus on our commonality, instead of our differences, in the midst of discord?
So Abram said to Lot, “Let's not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are brothers. Is not the whole land before you? Let's part company. If you go to the left, I'll go to the right; if you go to the right, I'll go to the left.” (Genesis 13:8–9)
Interpretation Question: Why does Abraham offer Lot the first choice of the land, even though God promised it to him?
We should notice another aspect of Abraham’s response. He humbled himself by giving Lot the pick of the land. See, in the Semitic culture, Abraham was the patriarch—the oldest male and, therefore, the chief. Lot was his nephew, the son of Abraham’s brother. In that culture, Lot had to submit to Abraham. However, Abraham did something uncommon in that culture by giving up his rights and humbling himself before his younger relative.
But not only did Abraham have a cultural right to the best of the land, he also had a divine right. God promised Abraham and his descendants the land of Canaan. However, Abraham still offers the best of the land to Lot. This not only shows Abraham’s humility, but also his faith. In the previous narrative, when Abraham left the promised land and went to Egypt, he tried to protect his family and his interests by his own power and wisdom, as he lied to Pharaoh. However, here he offers the best of the land to Lot, no doubt, in part because he trusts that God is going to give it to him and his descendants in the future. Abraham is not fighting for his rights because he has entrusted them to God.
See, if we are going to respond in faith to conflict, we must learn how to humble ourselves in faith and seek the interests of others before our own.
Most conflict and division are a result of our pride. We fight because we don’t want to give in or relinquish what we think is our right. However, faith doesn’t respond that way. Faith sees any right we have as coming from God, and therefore, God will defend those rights if it is truly his will.
Here, in Abraham, we see a picture of Christ’s attitude. Paul describes this attitude in Philippians 2:3–5:
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
Christ gave up his rights as a member of the Godhead and took the form of a servant on earth, serving others even unto death. And, we are exhorted to have this mind in us—a humble mind that puts others first and does not grasp for one’s rights.
How do we implement this practically? We do the same thing that Abraham did, as he sought to resolve this conflict; he humbled himself and gave up his rights. He gave up his right as the patriarch and as the one God promised the land to, in order to mend his relationship with his nephew.
Jesus said this in Matthew 5:38–40:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.
“Eye for eye and tooth for tooth” was legal terminology from the Mosaic law for fairness. If a person sinned, there needed to be equal compensation given to the person wronged or an equal consequence given to the person who sinned. However, Jesus said that one of the characteristics of the people in his kingdom would be their willingness to humble themselves and give up their rights. Instead of demanding their rights, they would rather turn the other cheek and not only give away their shirt but their jacket as well.
Similarly, Matthew 5:5 says, “Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth.” The meek are commonly perceived as weak, but actually, they are not. They have a great inner strength. Even though they could fight, they instead humbly serve or suffer injustice. Christ could have called thousands of angels at his crucifixion, but instead, he gave up his rights. And consequently, the earth will one day be given to him. It will also be given to those who follow his example.
Paul taught the same thing in 1 Corinthians 6:7 to a congregation that was suing one another. He says, “The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?” This is a characteristic that we see in Abraham, the father of those who believe. He humbled himself by giving up his cultural right and divine right, in order to mend his relationship with his nephew.
How could Abraham do this, especially, if he knew this land was promised to him? How can we do this with our jobs, careers, and other rights that are so important to us?
Not only was it because he believed God would give him the land, but it also was because Abraham’s heart was ultimately not focused on the earthly land of Canaan but on the heavenly land. The land of Canaan (Israel) is primarily a picture of heaven. Hebrews 11:16 says this about Abraham and others of faith: “Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.”
It says he was really seeking a heavenly city, the heavenly Jerusalem. Hebrews 12:22 says how we, as believers, have come to the heavenly Jerusalem where the righteous men made perfect, the church, and the angels dwell. In fact, when we continue to follow the story of Israel under the leadership of Moses, we see that they were called to build a tabernacle according to the pattern of the heavenly one (cf. Exod 25:9; Heb 8:5). God gave Israel a land, a tabernacle, and laws that were all shadows of heavenly realities to make them thirst for heaven and Jesus their king.
Why could Abraham willingly give up the land? It was because earthly Jerusalem ultimately wasn’t his final destination. His sights were set on a heavenly kingdom. Earthly Canaan was just preparation for heaven—a foretaste of it.
It should be the same for us. Why should Christians willingly give up their rights here on earth: humbling themselves, giving up their shirts, and turning their cheeks? It is because this is not our home. The more we have a grasp on our heavenly home, the less our earthly home and its privileges will have a grip on us.
How does faith respond to conflict and discord? Faith responds by humbling itself and seeking the interests of others. Are you willing to humble yourself and seek the interest of others like Abraham and ultimately like Christ? Christ left heaven and its privileges to serve others here on earth.
Are you in discord with family or a friend? Maybe this world and its privileges have too much of a hold on your heart. God is calling you to humble yourself, give up your rights, and live a life of faith—seeking the heavenly country that is waiting for you.
Application Question: What makes it so hard to humble ourselves and seek the benefit of those who have offended us? How can we grow in this practice, especially when in conflict? Share a time when you felt God called you to give up your rights in order to work for unity.
Lot looked up and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan was well watered, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, toward Zoar. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company: Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the LORD. The LORD said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, “Lift up your eyes from where you are and look north and south, east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted. Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.” So Abram moved his tents and went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron, where he built an altar to the LORD. (Genesis 13:10–18)
Next, we see that Lot took Abraham up on his offer. He looked around at the land, but instead of focusing on Canaan, the land of promise, he looked at the area of Sodom and Gomorrah. He saw that it was well-watered like Egypt, and he decided to go there instead of staying in the land of Canaan. The narrator said, “Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the LORD” (Gen 13:12–13).
We see that Lot, though a righteous man according to 2 Peter 2:7, chose to pitch his tent near Sodom at the edge of the promised land. As we follow the narrative, he first lives outside of Sodom, even though it was a wicked city, but then he moves into the land in chapter 14. Then, in chapter 19, he is not only living in Sodom but has prospered there. We see him at the “gateway of the city” when the angels enter the land to save him (19:1). This probably means that he became an elder in the city.
Finally, we see that all the riches and prestige he gained was lost when God destroyed Sodom. He also lost his family because Sodom was in their hearts. His wife looked back to Sodom, as it was being destroyed, and she was turned into a pillar of salt. His daughters raped him to have children. Lot’s children were the founders of the Moabites and Ammonites, who throughout Old Testament history were enemies of God. Lot’s decision to choose the world over the things of God cost him everything.
Lot was a righteous man, but he made his decision based on the prosperity of this world. He didn’t choose the prosperity of Sodom over God. Lot thought he could have the prosperity of Sodom and still have the blessing of God. He wanted both.
Sadly, this is true for many Christians. They want to follow God, but they also want the esteem and prosperity of the world. However, this desire for the things of the world often destroys them as well. First John 2:15–17 says,
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.
For many Christians, like Lot, their primary focus in life is the world’s prosperity instead of God and his blessing. A person gets offered more money at a company, and they give no thought to the spiritual condition of the company. They don’t ask themselves, “Where can I be more faithful to God?” or “How can I be most profitable for the kingdom?” Many Christians makes their decisions solely based on money and prosperity, and therefore, often find themselves in dry seasons, as they leave their church home, their former ministry, and accountability partners. Lot, though a righteous man, only cared about secular success and not spiritual blessing, and it destroyed him and his family. First Timothy 6:10 says, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
Yes, Lot’s story is the story of many righteous Christians. Psalm 1 declares a blessing on the one who does not walk, stand, or sit in the counsel, the way, or the seat of the ungodly. Believers can lose their blessings by simply being in the wrong place. Lot wanted the prosperity of the world and lost the blessing that came from God. The promised land did not have the prosperity of Sodom, but it did have the blessing and promise of God.
However, let us shift our focus from Lot to Abraham. Abraham wanted the blessing of God and not that of the world. This is why he could offer Lot the best of the land. In the same way, we must desire the blessing of God over prosperity, if we are going to respond to conflicts with faith.
As mentioned before, it is no surprise that we see God pronounce a blessing upon Abraham right after this discourse. After Lot lifted his eyes and decided on the prosperity of Sodom, God tells Abraham to lift his eyes because the land would be given to him and his descendants. His descendants would be like the sand on the sea shore. Again, God revealed himself and blessed Abraham for his faithful response to Lot. This is the same thing God did after Abraham left Haran in chapter 12 and again in chapter 15 after Abraham heroically defeated a raiding army. Finally, God blesses him again in chapter 22 after Abraham offers his son to God. God was pleased with how Abraham handled the conflict, and therefore, he blessed him and renewed his covenant with him.
So what do we learn about how faith responds to conflict in this section? If we are going to respond in faith, we must seek the blessing of God and not the prosperity of the world.
Application Question: How do we apply this practically—desiring the blessing of God when we encounter conflict?
Consider 1 Peter 3:7: “Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.”
Why does Peter tell husbands to treat their wives with respect in this passage? He says so that their prayers would not be hindered. Essentially, he tells them that, when in conflict, they must focus on the blessing of God. He says live at peace so you will receive God’s blessing, which is answered prayer.
I’ll be honest. I’ve been in arguments with my wife where I didn’t feel like reconciling. I didn’t feel like apologizing, but I would remember this verse and feel compelled to get right. I didn’t want to lose God’s blessing over my life or my family’s life.
There are many families where God does not hear their prayers because they live in discord. All that the family members see is their prosperity and their rights, and not God’s blessing. They live by sight and not by faith.
Psalm 133 says the same thing:
How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron's beard, down upon the collar of his robes. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.
Does this mean God gives eternal life to those who are in unity? No, life forevermore or eternal life simply means a greater quality of life—a life full of God’s blessings. God promises his blessing to those who walk in unity with their brothers. He promises to hear their prayers, anoint their work, and make them fruitful.
There may be some people reading this who have been missing God’s blessing for a long time; their prayers are not being heard by God. God is waiting for them to walk in faith—to seek reconciliation with those who hurt or failed them. And when they do this, he will speak to them clearly again and renew his favor over their lives, as he did with Abraham.
If we are going to respond in faith to conflict, we must keep our eyes on God’s blessing. Discord removes God’s blessing. The blessing of God must be more important than our pride and our prosperity. Lot got what he wanted, but he lost God’s blessing. And, it eventually cost him everything. Many Christians withhold forgiveness and harbor anger towards others, because their feelings and rights are more important than obedience to God and receiving his blessing. Eventually, like Lot, they will lose everything, if they do not forgive and get right with God and others.
Are you lifting your eyes to see your prosperity? Or are you looking in faith at God’s blessing—the blessing he gives to those who walk in unity?
Application Question: In what ways have you experienced a clearer hearing of God’s voice and received his blessing after faithfully responding to conflict? How can we keep our eyes on God’s blessing instead of our prosperity when in conflict?
How should believers respond in faith to conflict and discord?
Copyright © 2017 Gregory Brown
The primary Scriptures used are New International Version (1984) unless otherwise noted. Other versions include English Standard Version, New Living Translation, New American Standard Bible, and King James Version.
Holy Bible, New International Version ®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NASB) are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, and 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are from the King James Version of the Bible.
All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added.
1 Guzik, David (2012-12-08). Genesis (Kindle Locations 2421–2424). Enduring Word Media. Kindle Edition.
2 Wiersbe, W. W. (1991). Be Obedient (p. 26). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
3 Strong, J. (2001). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
At this time Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Kedorlaomer king of Elam and Tidal king of Goiim went to war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). All these latter kings joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (the Salt Sea). For twelve years they had been subject to Kedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled. In the fourteenth year, Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him went out and defeated the Rephaites in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, the Emites in Shaveh Kiriathaim and the Horites in the hill country of Seir, as far as El Paran near the desert. Then they turned back and went to En Mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and they conquered the whole territory of the Amalekites, as well as the Amorites who were living in Hazazon Tamar. Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) marched out and drew up their battle lines in the Valley of Siddim against Kedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five. Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, and when the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some of the men fell into them and the rest fled to the hills. The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food; then they went away. They also carried off Abram's nephew Lot and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom. One who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the great trees of Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshcol and Aner, all of whom were allied with Abram. When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan. During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people… (Genesis 14)
How do we rescue a brother who has fallen into sin or away from the Lord all together?
One of the ways that Scripture pictures the Christian life is as a continual war. We war against our flesh. Peter said, “flee fleshly lusts which war against the soul” (1 Pet 2:11). Where the world accepts sin and the desires of the flesh as normal, genetic, or at worst a psychological disorder, Scripture teaches that the only proper response to our sin nature is to put it to death. Christ said if your hand offends you to cut it off, if your eye offends you to pluck it out (Matt 5:29–30). We must fight to be holy, and this includes not only our outwards actions but also our inward desires. Christ said that to even lust after a woman was to commit adultery (Matt 5:28).
We war against the world. The world is constantly trying to conform us into its image (Rom 12:2). It wants us to think like it, to dress like it, to worship like it, and to live like it, in every way. And if one does not conform to the ways of the world, he will receive persecution, even if that means being considered strange (1 Pet 4:4). Scripture says that friendship with the world is enmity with God. He who is a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God (James 4:4).
We war against the devil. Ephesians 6:12 says that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against powers, principalities, and rulers of the darkness. Our enemy fights against all that is good, just, and righteous. He tempts, distracts, oppresses, and even captures believers. Second Timothy 2:24–26 describes a believer that has been caught and trapped by the devil. It says:
And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
But not only do we war against the flesh, the world, and the devil, we also war to save those who have fallen captive to the temptations of each. This was the ministry of Christ. In Luke 15, he compares himself to a woman who loses a coin and cleans the entire house to find it. He also compares himself to a shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine sheep to save the one who went astray. This was the ministry of Christ, and it also must be our ministry, as his body.
Therefore, believers must fight to save those who have gone astray. If you have been a Christian for any amount of time, you know somebody who fell away from God or is caught in some sin. Maybe, they don’t go to church anymore; maybe they have anger towards the leadership of the church. Or maybe their struggle is more subtle. At church they worship and praise just like everybody else, but on the weekdays and on the weekends, they look no different than the world. Or in their private lives they have deep struggles that they won’t tell anybody about. Many of these people don’t even realize that they are captives to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, or the pride of life (1 John 2:16). They don’t realize that ultimately Satan has trapped them.
Again in 2 Timothy 2:26, Paul describes these people as drugged and taken captive to do his will. They are not thinking properly; they need to come to their “senses.” Many times, like the prodigal son, they have to hit rock bottom to realize how far away from God they really are (Luke 15:17). One of the ministries of Christ, and therefore believers, is restoring an erring brother. James 5:19–20 says this:
My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
James is clearly referring to saving a professed Christian from death because he calls the original audience, “brothers,” and says, “If one of you should wander from the truth.” This is a ministry that we all must be a part of in some way.
Here, in Genesis 14, we see that Lot, the nephew of Abraham, was captured by an army of four kings from the east. The four kings of the east were at war with five kings near the Dead Sea, which included Sodom. When they conquered Sodom, they took Lot captive, and Abraham went to save him.
The story of Lot is a sad one. In Genesis 12, Lot went down to Egypt with Abraham and while there he got a taste of the world, and he loved it. In Genesis 13, he lifts his eyes to look at Sodom, which was known for its wickedness, and the text says that to him it looked like a well-watered plain in Egypt (v. 10). Lot had gotten a taste of the world and its wealth and was now ready to leave the land of God’s blessings for the lure of the world. In Genesis 14, he has moved into the land to gain the wealth of it, and then became a slave because of this decision.
One commentator said this about Abraham and Lot: “Abraham was the father of the faithful…. And Lot, his nephew, was the father of all such as are scarcely saved.”1 First Corinthians 3 describes how each believer’s works will be tested by fire at God’s judgment. Some will enter heaven with rewards, and others will enter as ones who just escaped the flames (v. 15). Yes, they were saved, but their life was worldly. They turned people away from God, instead of turning people towards God. Christ calls these people the least in the kingdom of heaven (Matt 5:19). However, along with them, there will be the faithful, who will be welcomed into eternal dwellings by all those they blessed during their life on the earth (cf. Luke 16, 2 Peter 1:11). Abraham is a picture of this type of life.
Peter calls Lot a righteous man so we know he was saved (2 Pet 2:8). But he was a righteous man that loved the prosperity of the world. In this narrative, he is captured, which probably was a discipline from God.2 Abraham saves him; however, Lot doesn’t seem to repent as he moves right back to Sodom. In chapter 19, he loses everything because of his short-sighted decisions. Sodom is destroyed by God with everything Lot owned. His wife was turned into a pillar of salt, and his daughters, who still had Sodom in their heart, raped him and bore children by him in the mountains. Lot, though a believer, was a captive to the world, his desires, and Satan. He wasn’t thinking correctly.
In this text, we see Abraham, the father of all those who believe (Gal 3:7), save Lot, and this must be our ministry as well. “My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins” (James 5:19–20). By going after them, we will save them from a multitude of sins and possibly an untimely death, as a discipline for sin.
How do we restore a fallen brother?
Big Question: What principles can we learn about rescuing a fallen brother from Abraham’s rescue of Lot?
One who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the great trees of Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshcol and Aner, all of whom were allied with Abram. When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan. (Genesis 14:13–14)
Observation Question: What was the reason for this war?
In this story, five small kings from around the area of the Dead Sea rebel against King Kedorlaomer of Elam, whom they had served for twelve years. In the ancient world, one of the ways nations found protection was by subjecting themselves as vassals to a great king. They paid taxes to the king, and in return, the king protected them. After twelve years of serving as vassals, the five kings broke the contract, which started a war. King Kedorlaomer and his three alliances from the east came down to fight against Sodom, defeating them and taking the spoil—which included Lot.
Abraham is about 120 miles away from these kings3, and he seems unconcerned about them, until he hears that Lot was taken. Somebody from Lot’s household had escaped and told Abraham (v. 13–14). Immediately, Abraham responded by preparing a rescue mission.
Observation Question: As we consider Abraham’s narrative up to this point, in what ways can we see that Abraham lived a life of separation (cf. Gen 12–14 and 14:13 specifically)?
One of qualities that is necessary for us to perform the ministry of rescuing fallen brothers and sisters is that we must live a life of separation. Because Abraham was not in Sodom, and therefore not a captive, he could seek to rescue Lot.
We must remember that Abraham, even though he resided in Canaan, did not live like a Canaanite. Canaan was also known for their sin but not to the extent of those living in Sodom. While in Canaan, Abraham lived a separate life.
We can see his separation in several ways. When Abraham first entered Canaan, he built an altar to the Lord (Gen 12:6–7). Scripture says that he built the altar right by the great tree of Moreh, which was probably a shrine for pagan worship, as the Canaanites believed that trees represented fertility. This did not matter to Abraham; he immediately built an altar to the living God there. He was in the world but not of the world.
We also see Abraham’s separation in how he chose to live. Abraham never built a home in the land. As we follow the narrative, we see that Abraham lived in tents the entire time he stayed in Canaan (cf. Gen 12:8, Heb 11:9). He never settled down, he was a pilgrim ultimately waiting for his heavenly home. Similarly, Scripture calls us pilgrims (1 Pet 1:1, 2:11). This is not our home, and this reality was clearly seen in Abraham’s life. While Lot settled down and built a home in Sodom (cf. Gen 14:12; 19:2), Abraham continued to live as a pilgrim, even in the land of promise.
Finally, we also see Abraham’s separation in the title given to him. He was called “the Hebrew” (Gen 14:13). “Hebrew” means “the outsider, the person with no secure place in society.”4 This probably represents the way he was viewed by the Canaanites. He was different, and everybody knew it.
Yes, we are called to be good citizens and to help society become better. We are called to be salt and light, but nevertheless, we must remain different. We are pilgrims. This world is not our home.
Sadly, with many Christians, the world cannot see any difference. Many use the same language as the world, watch the same movies, listen to the same music, wear the same clothes, have the same goals, the same worldview, and practice the same morals (or lack of). Nothing really separates them from the world, and therefore, they are not effective in reaching the world or helping someone caught in sin.
Here, Abraham lived outside of Sodom and was even considered an outsider in Canaan. Sodom in Scripture always represents the world. He was outside of it and, therefore, could rescue Lot. Consider what Paul wrote to the Corinthians, which was a church who struggled with worldliness. He said:
Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? (2 Corinthians 6:14–15)
Paul said that we must not be yoked in any relationships with unbelievers. Yoking is a farming picture. A cow and a donkey cannot plow together. They have different temperaments and strengths. They will pull against one another, and the work will be unproductive. They may even hurt one another. In the same way, Christians yoked with the world cannot work for God. They will be unprofitable in the fields of the kingdom. They won’t even be able to plow a straight line and will do more damage than good.
Abraham was known as the Hebrew. He was an outsider. You do not need to look like the world to win the world. Salt must be different than the medium it is placed on for it to be effective. You must be salt; you cannot be bland. You must be light; you cannot live like the darkness. It is only by being different that you can win the world or restore Christians in error.
Yes, we must incarnate—meaning to the Jew, we must become a Jew as Paul taught (1 Cor 9:20–22). But this means adopting aspects of the culture that are not sinful or that could potentially lead us or others into sin. We must abstain from all appearance of evil (1 Thess 5:21). This is what Abraham did, and this is what we must do, if we are going to rescue our fallen brothers.
Application Question: Why is it important to be different in order to restore an erring brother? How can we discern what aspects of culture we can adopt and those that we must abstain from? Share examples.
One who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the great trees of Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshcol and Aner, all of whom were allied with Abram. When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan. (Genesis 14:13–14)
Interpretation Question: Why does Abraham risk everything to save Lot?
After hearing the bad news, why does Abraham prepare a rescue mission for Lot? Clearly, the motivation was love. Abraham loved and cared deeply for Lot. Verse 13 says that Lot was “his relative.” Abraham had essentially raised him for many years after the death of Lot’s father, Abraham’s brother (cf. Gen 11:28). Abraham was willing to go and confront four armies, with only a couple hundred men. It is obvious that Abraham loved Lot a great deal.
This is the very reason that we must go after those who have fallen into sin. We must go after them because we love them. Jesus said to his disciples, “A new command I have given you, love one another as I have loved you” (John 13:34). How did Christ love his disciples? He loved them so much that he left the comfort and wealth of heaven to come to earth and die in order to save man from sin.
Abraham in this passage is a type of Christ. He risks death to save his relative over 2,000 years before Christ came to the earth to do the same. And this is the way that Christ has called us to love as well. We must love people in such a way that we are willing to risk anything to save them.
Application Question: What keeps many Christians from reaching out to those caught in sin?
There are many reasons:
1. Some won’t reach out because of pride.
They say to themselves, “Serves them right! They shouldn’t have been doing that any way!” These people have forgotten that they also were once captives to sin, and God graciously saved them. Pride can often keep us from reaching out.
2. Some won’t reach out because of apathy.
Abraham was safe at his home in Canaan, 120 miles away, however, this wasn’t sufficient reason to not get involved. Christ was safe and protected in heaven, and yet, he came down and got involved in our mess. It is easy to be apathetic if it doesn’t affect us. We must be careful of apathy.
3. Some won’t reach out because of sin in their own lives.
A common reason that many don’t reach out is because they have compromise in their own lives. If they tried to help someone caught in sin, they would feel hypocritical, and they might be rebuked by those they were trying to help. Therefore, Satan condemns them and keeps them from reaching out to others.
4. Ultimately, the main reason we don’t reach out is because we don’t love as we should.
Love compelled Abraham to go and save his relative, and it should compel us as well. Love for God and love for others should be our greatest motivation to serve. Paul said, “For Christ’s love compels us” (2 Cor 5:14). He served because Christ’s love inside of him compelled him to. In Philippians 1:8, he said to the Philippians that he loved them with the very loins of Christ. It must be the same for us.
Application Question: How do we grow in love so that we can be more effective in restoring fallen brothers?
Paul prayed for the Thessalonians to abound in love for one another (1 Thess 3:12). We must pray for this as well. Love is a gift that God gives his believers. He pours it out into our hearts by his Holy Spirit (Rom 5:5); therefore, we must pray for it.
Love is not primarily emotional, as the world often teaches. That type of love is fickle. Love is an act of the will. We choose to love as a discipline. When our enemy is thirsty, we give them something to drink. When our enemy is hungry, we give them something to eat (Rom 12:20). This is an act of love. Sometimes, we may not have the emotions. We may not feel like helping somebody who is caught in sin. But, as an act of love, we must. We must love as an act of discipline.
Application Question: Who is God calling you to love more so that you can be part of his or her rescue mission?
When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan. (Genesis 14:14)
After Abraham hears about Lot being taken, he calls out the 318 trained men born in his household to go and pursue Lot. The expression “born into his household” does not necessarily mean that they were born as babies in Abraham’s house. Chuck Swindoll adds great insight to this. He says,
This ancient expression meant “not purchased.” The narrator makes it clear that these men were servants by choice, not involuntary slaves. Back in the days before strong national governments, people sought safety in numbers. Some became citizens of a city; others asked to live under the protection of powerful men like Abram, offering their personal service in exchange for the benefits of community. They were not slavishly bound to Abram; they participated in a business arrangement: provision and protection in exchange for loyalty.5
Most likely these were men who sought provision and protection in Abraham’s household. While there, they were trained to fight. Because Abraham was so wealthy, there were probably always looters trying to steal his herds and other wealth. Therefore, these men had to be trained. The expression that the narrator uses is very telling of their training. “‘He led forth … 318 of them’ is literally, ‘drew out 318 men,’ as you would draw out a sword from its sheath.”6 “It has the connotation of unsheathing his trained men. It portrays Abram’s servants as a blade that had been forged, sharpened, and polished into a gleaming, razor-sharp instrument of death.”7
These men were like weapons in the hand of Abraham. They were trained and ready to die for the master they loved. Similarly, if we are going to rescue those who have fallen into sin, we also must be trained. Paul said something similar in Galatians 6:1: “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.”
Paul said that those who are spiritual must be the primary ones that go after someone caught in sin. Essentially, he says that the untrained are not ready to go into dark territory and rescue someone caught in sin. This is a dangerous ministry that we must be trained for. How can we be trained to do this ministry?
Application Question: How can we become spiritually trained to rescue captured believers?
It is because this believer has learned how to conquer his own sin that he can help others caught in sin. He does battle with his anger, depression, insecurity, and lust and has learned how to gain victory. Therefore, he is prepared to help others who struggle with the same vices. They are not perfect. In fact, it is their imperfection that makes them ready to help someone struggling. They see themselves in the same war and still susceptible, but they have learned to protect themselves and have victory. This humility helps them better minister to those caught in sin. These spiritual believers have been wounded and hurt in battle, and they still bear the marks. Therefore, they can relate to those struggling.
Consider how John describes spiritual young men in the church in 1 John 2:14. He says, “I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.” It is because the Word of God abides in these young men that they can defeat the evil one. Like Christ, when tempted, they know and use Scripture to secure victory.
In fact, we must use the Word of God when ministering to those stuck in sin. Second Timothy 3:16–17 says: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
It is by the Word of God that we teach them what is right and wrong. We expose sin when we teach. It is by rebuking that we confront those in rebellion. These people know what they should be doing, but they don’t want to do it. Therefore, they need rebuke through Scripture. We often do this by showing them the consequences of sin and the coming discipline of their heavenly Father. Through Scripture we also give correction. It is by correction that we lead fallen brothers to the right path. Correcting is a word used of restoring something to its proper position. After they receive correction, through the Word of God, we can train them on how to live righteously. It is one thing for a person to know and accept that he is living in sin, but it is another thing to know how to do what is right and how to stay free. The Word of God equips the man of God for this ministry. It sharpens them like a sword.
In considering John’s metaphors of the child, the young man, and the father from 1 John 2:12–14, the spiritual child does not know how to be set free; sometimes, they live for years in habitual sin. They need to be helped and trained by others. However, the young man has become strong because the Word of God lives in him. He is not hit or miss with his devotions. The Word of God lives or abides in him. It is an all-day affair. The young man is still prone to pride and lack of wisdom because of his youth, but he has learned how to do warfare and he wins more than he loses. The father is more seasoned. He has history with God, and his life is devoted to training and equipping others. The spiritual child, who is prone to go astray and pick up spiritual bruises and pains, must grow up into spiritual adulthood by rigorous study of the Word of God.
First Peter 2:2 says, “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.” In the Greek, grow is passive. Literally it can be read, “so that it may grow you.” The Word of God does all the work. We must get into the Word of God, and it will make us grow. The spiritually trained believer is someone abiding in the Word of God.
Are you abiding in God’s Word?
We can discern this by Abraham and his trained men’s mission. They only have a couple hundred men against four armies. These four armies had just defeated five armies. It was a ludicrous mission. No doubt, these were men of the same faith as Abraham. They knew that God had a plan for Abraham, and Abraham had taught them about his faith. They had even seen God’s power, as he inflicted Pharaoh’s household with a disease to protect Abraham. These were men of faith. Other than sheer foolishness and possibly blind devotion, there is no other way to explain their acceptance of this mission. They believed God could rescue Lot.
Similarly, a spiritually trained believer is also a person of great faith in God. They are not counting on their knowledge of the Bible, their wisdom, or endurance to set a prisoner of war free. They are trusting in God alone. Only he can open the eyes of the blind and confused. Only he can set the captive free. Listen again to what Paul says about how the man of God seeks to restore those who have been captured:
And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. (2 Timothy 2:24–26)
Paul says this person doesn’t argue or fight with others because his hope is in God. God is the one who grants repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth. It doesn’t make sense to raise one’s voice, to get upset, and hold grudges. That is a picture of someone trusting in themselves and not God. The spiritually trained person is not a quarreler. He is gentle because he knows God is sovereign over the hearts. He teaches, rebukes, and corrects, but his manner in doing these is different than the spiritually immature because he trusts in God. He works but leaves the results in God’s hands. He is a person of faith.
Again, because he is not trusting in his own strength or wisdom, he is faithful in prayer. When Paul teaches about putting on the armor of God in spiritual warfare, he closes with an exhortation towards prayer. He says, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints” (Eph 6:18).
He says to pray in the Spirit on all occasions and to always keep on praying for all the saints. Spiritual warfare is done in the atmosphere of prayer. The spiritually trained believer is a person living in prayer. He is not only praying for those he knows but for all saints. The spiritually trained believer recognizes that this is a global war and not just a local one, so he faithfully petitions the Father.
Paul says that we should have all kinds of prayer. “All kinds of prayer” includes corporate prayer. This believer understands the power of corporate prayer (cf. Matt 18:19). Like Abraham pulling out his sword of trained men, they constantly call on their prayer warriors to pray and sometimes even fast for those caught in sin. The spiritually trained realize that the more prayer offered to God, the sooner and the greater the deliverance. Like Paul, they constantly ask others to pray (cf. Eph 6:19, Col 4:3–4).
Are you one of the spiritual people who are called to go after others who have fallen? The sad thing is that there are very few trained men and women in the church. Very few are willing to prepare themselves for this ministry. Like soldiers preparing for war, it takes hard work, but it also takes faithfulness. Many don’t like to faithfully get up in the morning to pray and read the Word. They don’t like being faithful in an accountability relationship with someone more mature than them. It takes faithfulness to train, and also it takes faithfulness to do the ministry of caring for fallen brothers and sisters.
Are you willing to prepare for a life time of rescuing other believers?
Application Question: What are other characteristics of the spiritually trained who are called to rescue fallen brothers? Does Paul’s admonition to the “spiritual” mean that less mature believers should not participate in this ministry at all?
One who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the great trees of Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshcol and Aner, all of whom were allied with Abram…. I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me—to Aner, Eshcol and Mamre. Let them have their share.” (Genesis 14:13, 24)
Another thing we can discern about the ministry of rescuing fallen brothers is that sometimes we need to partner with other likeminded brothers. We must notice that Abraham not only had his 318 trained men, but he also had an alliance with three other men living in Canaan (Aner, Eshcol and Mamre). They probably had trained men of their own.
Because of constant threats in the ancient world, not only would nations partner with other nations for protection, but also tribes with tribes. Abraham had partnered with three other men in the land. Maybe, these people had become followers of God because of Abraham’s witness. The text does not tell us. We can be sure that if they were pagans, Abraham’s partnership with them did not negatively affect his values in any way at all. No doubt, these men had benefited from God’s blessing on Abraham, and now they wanted to partner with him in rescuing his nephew.
This practice is also important for restoring those caught in sin. Most times, this is a ministry that should not be done alone. We often need the prayers and counsel of others to restore a fallen brother or sister. Surely, before Abraham heads off to rescue Lot, he took counsel with his three alliances on how it should be done. They attacked at night while the armies were resting and routed them. No doubt, Abraham had the wisdom of wise counselors. We will need this as well.
Similarly, Scripture calls us to at times go with others to restore a brother in sin. Consider Christ’s directions in Matthew 18:15–17:
“If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
Christ said we should at first go by ourselves to speak to a brother in sin. If he doesn’t respond, then we should bring one or two others. If he still doesn’t respond, then it should be brought before the church. If he still doesn’t respond, then the church should separate from this brother. By doing this, they are lovingly disciplining him so he can see the severity of his sin and repent.
The problem with many restoration projects is that people are not willing to challenge or subsequently separate from believers in rebellion, who choose to continue in sin. Listen to what Paul says about how we should treat a brother living in sin that will not repent:
I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat (1 Corinthians 5:9–11)
However, the primary point we want to focus on here is the need for others to be involved in the restoration process. Yes, at times, it is wise to first go and speak to a brother alone, especially if we know him or her well. But after that we must seek further help from the body of Christ. Abraham, not only had his 318 men but also an alliance with three other likeminded men who helped save his nephew.
Who are your alliances? Who are your partners in ministry? Who are the ones that you seek counsel from in order to best minister to someone struggling? Who are the ones that you seek for help when the situation is too difficult for yourself? If we are going to perform rescue missions, we must have godly alliances.
Application Question: In what ways have you seen or experienced church discipline? How can we practice this ministry in a loving way that promotes the health of the church and the health of an erring brother or sister?
During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people. (Genesis 14:15–16)
Observation Question: What wise tactics did Abraham use to defeat the four armies from the east?
As mentioned, Abraham used wisdom to defeat these four armies. We see this in several ways. (1) He attacks at night while they would be resting. (2) He divides his men to surround the camp. (3) And he pursues them for a great distance, which would have kept them from regathering their forces for a counterattack.
This is true for believers as well. Rescuing fallen brothers is a dangerous mission and, therefore, calls for great wisdom. We see this type of wisdom used throughout the Scripture when followers of God fell into sin. When David committed adultery with Bathsheba and killed her husband, the prophet Nathan did not just show up and directly challenge David about his sin. He used great wisdom. He comes up with an elaborate scenario of a rich man who took a poor man’s only lamb and killed it for dinner, which greatly angered David. Then it was revealed that David was the man (2 Sam 12). He used great wisdom.
How can we use wisdom in ministering to those fallen into sin?
Application Question: In what ways can we use wisdom in ministering to those who have fallen in sin?
This was mentioned before. Abraham probably sought the counsel of his alliances before attacking the four kings of the east. Similarly, we must seek wise counsel. Proverbs 11:14 says, “For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make victory sure.” This is war terminology. Every nation has a department of defense. It is there that the generals, other advisors, and the president gather to make wise war-time decisions. Scripture says many advisers make victory sure. It can also be translated there is “safety in the multitude of counselors.”
Again, rescuing a brother that has fallen into sin is dangerous. Spiritual forces are involved, and it can often negatively affect the entire church. This is a decision that many times needs the counsel of wise saints.
Often in restoring a fallen brother, the person that knows him best may be the most effective in reaching him. A person with no prior relationship might actually push the person further away from God. This is something to be discerned.
Ephesians 4:15 says, “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.” The manner of this ministry is very important. If we only have truth, we can hurt people and push them away from Christ. What we are saying might be true, but the way it is presented can at times be destructive. A wise person ministers in a loving manner. Proverbs 15:1 says, “A gentle answer turns away wrath.” Our manner of ministry is very important. We must have truth, but it must be presented in a loving manner.
We must discern if this person is open to receive correction or if he is not. Christ said this in Matthew 7:6, “Do not cast your pearls before swine.” There were times when Christ had opportunities to minister to people and try to restore them to God, but he said nothing. When Herod was trying to get Christ to do a miracle, he said and did nothing (Luke 23:9). Wouldn’t this have been a great chance to share the gospel with the king? Absolutely not. Herod had no interest in following Christ as Lord; he only wanted to see the miracles (v. 8). Christ would not cast his pearls before pigs. A pig cannot properly evaluate a pearl. He will step on it, roll on it, and even play with it in the mud. It is pointless to waste such a valuable jewel on such an animal. Christ said there are some people like that.
How do we know when our attempts at restoration will be totally wasted on a person like casting pearls before a pig? Most times, we won’t be able to know this until we have tried to restore the person. Listen to what Paul said to Titus: “Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned” (Titus 3:10).
Paul said if you have warned him twice and he still won’t respond, have nothing to do with that person. He is self-condemned. There is a point when the wise believer stops offering the pearl. He is not ready to receive. At that point, we may need to step away from them, pray, trust God, and wait for his heart to be ready.
Application Question: What are some other aspects of wisdom that can be helpful in ministering to those caught in sin? Share a time when you saw or experienced wisdom being used to restore a fallen brother or sister.
Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything. But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and have taken an oath that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the thong of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me—to Aner, Eshcol and Mamre. Let them have their share.” (Genesis 14:18–24)
Interpretation Question: Who was Melchizedek? What does the narrative and the rest of Scripture teach us about him?
After the victory, the king of Sodom and the king of Salem, Melchizedek, came out to meet Abraham. Melchizedek brings wine and bread and speaks to Abraham first. He says, “‘Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.’” Melchizedek means “King of Righteousness” and Salem means “peace.” He was the priest of God and, at the same time, king of what would later become Jerusalem. Even though he is only mentioned a few times in Scripture, he is considered a great man. In Psalm 110:4, David prophesied that the future messiah would not be a priest in the order of Aaron but a priest from the lineage of Melchizedek. Christ is both a priest and king—two lines that were always kept separate in Israel.
Melchizedek, the priest of God, discerned that this victory was not something Abraham could have done in his own power. That is why he blessed “God Most High.” The source of this victory was clearly divine (cf. Prov 21:31). Abraham implicitly agrees with the assessment. We know this because Abraham gave a tithe to God by offering it to Melchizedek.
It must be noted that Abraham did not say, “Hold up! What about me? I am the one who led the army!” No, he agrees with Melchizedek. God was the one who won the victory.
After this time of worship to God, as Melchizedek prayed and Abraham gave a tithe, the king of Sodom approached Abraham. He asked for the people taken from his land and offers Abraham all the spoils (v. 21). This would have made Abraham even wealthier. Sodom was known for its great wealth in the ancient world (cf. Ezek 16:49–50).
However, even though Abraham would have had great wealth, he refused the king of Sodom’s offer. He says,
I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and have taken an oath that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the thong of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’
Abraham knew that God had promised to make him great, and he didn’t want the king of Sodom stealing God’s honor. It seems that the reason Abraham does not accept the wealth is not only because he is trying to protect the honor of God, but also to protect himself from temptation. The prosperity of Sodom was the very thing that caused Lot to fall into sin in the first place. Also, if Abraham accepted the king of Sodom’s riches, he would be indebted to him, and he did not want any alliances with the world. In fact, it must be noted that the king of Sodom’s name is Bera (cf. 14:2) which means “gift”8 and Sodom means “burning.”9 Those who accept the gifts of the world will not leave unscathed.
This is important for us to hear because ministering to those caught in spiritual slavery is again a very dangerous ministry. It comes with many temptations. Abraham was tempted to be proud. Where the king of Salem sees God in this victory, the king of Sodom only sees Abraham. He is not a believer, and he does not see the divine hand on this victory. Abraham also was tempted with the riches of this world, the very temptation that landed Lot in slavery and later caused him to lose everything.
Many times when ministering to a brother caught in sin, the very temptation that a brother is enslaved to will become a temptation for us. The one who is caught in a cult, exposes others to the teachings. The one caught in sexual sin often exposes others to lust. Sometimes, even just listening to the details of a sinful act becomes a form of temptation.
Rescuing people caught in spiritual slavery is sometimes like trying to help someone drowning in water. The person drowning, often to save themselves, will cling to the rescuer in such a way that it could potentially drown him. This happens all the time in rescue ministry. In fact, there is a temptation for the person caught in sin to only see the rescuer and not God. This can lead to codependency—an unhelpful helping relationship—which can at times suffocate those in a rescue ministry.
This ministry brings many temptations. That is part of the reason Paul calls for the spiritually mature to be the ones who do it. Consider again Galatians 6:1: “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.”
One of the things we must be careful of in rescuing a fallen brother is the many temptations that come along with it.
Application Questions: In what ways can we protect ourselves from temptations associated with rescuing fallen brothers or sisters?
In this narrative, by God’s grace, Abraham meets with the priest of God, Melchizedek, before encountering the king of Sodom. Again, Melchizedek blesses God in this narrative and calls him the “Creator of heaven and earth” or it can be translated the “possessor of heaven and earth” (v. 19). The priest reminds Abraham that not only did God win this battle for him but that God owns all things. In fact, when Abraham replies to the king of Sodom, he uses the same title. He says, “I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and have taken an oath” (v. 22).
It seems that Abraham still had the influence of the priest on him, when encountering the temptation from the king of Sodom. After being strengthened by the priest, Abraham boldly rejects the great wealth of Sodom. We also should continually have times of prayer, encouragement, and accountability from other likeminded brothers while performing rescue ministry.
After being blessed by Melchizedek, Abraham immediately responds by giving a tenth of everything (Gen 14:20). It seems he is not giving a tithe of the spoils since he did not accept any wealth from the king of Sodom. Therefore, he must have given a tithe of all his wealth. Abraham was very wealthy; therefore, this would have been a very generous tithe.
This is an important principle for us as well. The more sacrificial we are with our wealth, our time, our career, and our plans, for the Lord, the less of a grip the world will have on our hearts. The temptations of this world will be minor to a man or woman that gives as generously as Abraham (cf. 1 Tim 6:17–18).
However, those who will not take up their cross, those who have no sacrifice in their lives are more susceptible to the temptations of the world, because the world has a tight grip on their hearts. Their focus is their time, money, friends, and plans—instead of God’s time, money, friends, and plans. In order to stand against temptation, we must sacrifice. We must be people who take up our cross daily and follow Christ (Luke 9:23).
Abraham committed to God that he would not take any of the king of Sodom’s wealth (Gen 14:22). This is important to hear because earlier in chapter 12, Abraham accepted great wealth from the pagan king of Egypt, Pharaoh. See, Abraham had failed previously in this area. That is probably why he made a commitment to God.
Sadly, often when Christians fail, they declare that they don’t want to repent or make a commitment because they know they will just fall again. I’ve met Christians who didn’t want to go to a retreat, a purity pledge, or a discipleship school because they say, “Oh, I will just get on fire for God, go home, and then flame out.” That is dumb logic. If you fail, you should just re-commit.
This is the process for every man or woman of God. Abraham will fail again. He fails in Genesis 20, when he lies again about his wife. However, this did not stop him from making commitments.
Proverbs 24:16 says, “for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity.” Seven times is not meant to be a definite number; it is meant to represent many times. The righteous man keeps falling, but he keeps getting back up. The difference between the righteous and the wicked is that the wicked fall to calamity and stay down.
One of the ways we stand against temptation is by continually making commitments to God. Don’t let your failures deter you from making a commitment to God. It didn’t deter Abraham, and he is the father of all those who believe (Gal 3:7). He was a righteous man that just kept getting back up.
What commitments is God calling you to make today?
If we are going to restore fallen brothers, we must guard ourselves from the temptations associated with this ministry.
Application Question: In what ways have you seen or experienced temptations in trying to help someone caught in spiritual slavery? What are some other ways that we can protect ourselves?
How can we rescue a brother or sister who has fallen in sin?
Copyright © 2017 Gregory Brown
The primary Scriptures used are New International Version (1984) unless otherwise noted. Other versions include English Standard Version, New Living Translation, New American Standard Bible, and King James Version.
Holy Bible, New International Version ®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NASB) are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, and 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are from the King James Version of the Bible.
All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added.
1 Wiersbe, W. W. (1991). Be Obedient (pp. 35–36). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
2 Wiersbe, W. W. (1991). Be Obedient (p. 32). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
3 Hughes, R. K. (2004). Genesis: Beginning and Blessing (p. 208). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
4 Wiersbe, W. W. (1991). Be Obedient (p. 32). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
5 Swindoll, Charles R. (2014-07-16). Abraham: One Nomad's Amazing Journey of Faith (Kindle Locations 748–751). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Kindle Edition.
6 Hughes, R. K. (2004). Genesis: Beginning and Blessing (p. 208). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
7 Swindoll, Charles R. (2014-07-16). Abraham: One Nomad's Amazing Journey of Faith (Kindle Locations 787–789). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Kindle Edition.
8 http://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/bera/
9 http://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/sodom/
After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” But Abram said, “O Sovereign LORD, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.” Then the word of the LORD came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir.” He took him outside and said, “Look up at the heavens and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness. (Genesis 15:1–6)
How do we battle fear, doubt, and discouragement?
It has been said that the most repeated phrase in Scripture is, “Do not be afraid.” Some variation of it is mentioned over 350 times. God said it to Gideon when calling him to lead Israel (Judg 6:23). God said it to Jeremiah when calling him to be a prophet to the nations (Jer 1:8). Christ said it to the women at his resurrection (Matt 28:10). Christ told his disciples, “Do not worry about what you will eat, drink, or wear” (Matt 6:25). Philippians 4:6 says, “Be anxious for nothing.”
It was never God’s will for mankind to be fearful. It wasn’t until the advent of sin that fear became a problem for mankind. In Genesis 3, when Adam committed sin, a new word came into his vocabulary. In speaking to God, Adam said, “I was afraid so I hid.” Mankind now struggles with fear. We struggle with fear about the past, present, and future, anxiety disorders, phobias, etc. Fear is natural to man; even though, it was never God’s will for us to be afraid.
First John 4:18 says, “Perfect love casteth out fear. He who fears has not been made perfect in love” (KJV). For those who know God and are born again, we have experienced a love that when perfected in us, can wipe away all our fears.
Fear is not only common to people in general, it is even common to believers. After calling down fire from heaven and having the priests of Baal put to death, Elijah runs out of fear, as Jezebel threatened to kill him (1 Kgs 19). The disciples, after Christ was taken to be crucified, fled in fear. This is the very reason that we see so many admonitions in Scripture to not be afraid or to not be anxious. It is because we all struggle with fear in some way or another.
Application Question: What are some consequences of living in fear?
Because of all this, we can see why our enemy works so hard to bring fear in believers’ lives. It can severely handicap them from doing God’s will. It is through fear that Satan rules in many men’s hearts.
Interpretation Question: What was Abraham afraid of in Genesis 15?
In Genesis 15, Abraham was attacked by fear. We know he was afraid because God approached him and said, “Do not be afraid” (v.1). God is not like us. He does not waste words. If he says, “Do not be afraid,” we can be sure Abraham struggled with fear, and probably discouragement as a result of it.
What exactly was Abraham afraid of? It seems to be many things. In Genesis 14, he defeated a coalition of four kings from the east. One of them was a very strong king named Kedorlaomer, who oppressed five kings near the Dead Sea for twelve years. In fact, Kedorlaomer and his three alliances defeated the kings by the Dead Sea, including the king of Sodom, and ran off with Abraham’s nephew. Abraham, his 318 trained men, along with two alliances, defeated the four kings of the east through a night attack. They defeated these kings and took all their spoil, including Lot.
Perhaps, Abraham fears the repercussions of this attack. These kings were dangerous and probably wanted retribution. Some have speculated, maybe Abraham was also dealing with the natural consequences of battle. We were not made to kill or watch men die. The effects of battle leave scars on the greatest of men. Abraham may have been no different. But, we can also discern through his exchange with God that Abraham was also worried about his future. He left everything to come to the promised land—the land of Canaan. God promised to make him great and a great nation. In fact, Abraham, at this point in time, has become great. He conquered the armies of the east and, no doubt, was now revered by all those living in Canaan. However, Abraham still had no son—no heir to his household. The potential of retribution and death probably caused Abraham to consider who would be his heir and how God would fulfill his promise. As God appears to Abraham to comfort him, Abraham shares his concerns about not having an heir. God then renews his promise to Abraham saying that he would have a son from his body and that his seed would be like the stars in the sky (v. 4–5).
As we consider this dialogue between God and Abraham, many principles can be learned about battling fear, doubt, and discouragement, which will help enable us to walk in the peace and love God desires for us. What are secrets to battling fear, doubt, and discouragement?
Big Question: What can we learn about battling fear, doubt, and discouragement through Abraham’s dialogue with God in Genesis 15:1–6?
After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” (Genesis 15:1 )
Again, Abraham is probably afraid of retribution from the four kings of the east. He also is considering his future, as he does not have a child. God shows up and speaks directly to the root of his fears by declaring that he is Abraham’s shield and great reward. Abraham didn’t need to worry about protection or provisions because God would take care of him.
Similarly, one of the ways we battle fear is by being aware of the root causes of our fear.
Application Question: What are common roots of fear, doubt, and discouragement?
No doubt, Abraham had just come off a spiritual and physical high, as he and his allies defeated the four kings of the east. He would have just gained a new level of respect from his Canaanite neighbors, and he had just seen God’s miraculous provision. A common physical response to an emotional high is an emotional low. When we are running on an adrenaline high, the next step is a crash that hits right before our bodies go back to a state of equilibrium. This is how our body chemistry works.
No doubt, this was the reason that Elijah struggled with fear, depression, and a desire to die after defeating Ahab and his prophets (cf. 1 Kgs 18). He ran in fear, asking for God to take his life (1 Kgs 19:4). His response didn’t make any sense. If he really wanted to die, why not just let Jezebel kill him instead of running away?
However, God does not even correct him; he simply gives him a good meal and rest (v. 5–7). Elijah needed to eat and sleep. Many times it’s the same for us; we have been running on adrenaline to meet deadlines and finally we complete them. Then soon after, we crash. With our inhibitions down, we are now more open to irrational thoughts, fear, anxiety, and discouragement.
Sometimes, we just need to take a rest and eat good food. In order to battle fear, doubt, and discouragement, we need to know the root of it.
To fear is ultimately to not trust God, and for that reason, Satan always seeks to draw people into fear. To have faith is to receive God’s promises and to fear will often draw people away from them. The Israelites feared the giants in the promised land and, therefore, received God’s judgment instead of his blessing. Many people miss God’s best because of fear. They say, “I can’t do this! This is impossible!”
The enemy commonly draws people into fear, doubt, and depression because he realizes that a fearful and depressed person is not very effective for the kingdom. Scripture calls Satan a roaring lion seeking to devour anyone he can (1 Pet 5:8). It has been said that lions roar to paralyze their prey. In the same way, Satan wants to paralyze us with fear so he can devour us and keep us from God’s best.
King Saul actually had a tormenting demon that brought him anxiety and fear (1 Sam 16:14–15). He battled it by having the Psalmist of Israel, David, play worship music for him. Certainly, at times the root of our fear maybe spiritual in nature as well; therefore, we must combat it through spiritual means such as reading God’s Word, worship, and prayer. We need to resist the devil by using the spiritual weapons God gave us (Jas 4:7).
Abraham is probably focusing on the kings of the east and them potentially seeking revenge, instead of God. Because he could potentially die, he probably questions his lineage and the fact that God gave him no seed. He had a wrong focus which led him to fear and depression. He also probably questioned his rejection of the king of Sodom’s spoils and thus why God calls himself Abraham’s reward.
Like Peter walking on water, when he started to look at the wind and the waves, he became afraid and started to sink. Commonly, we do the same. All we see are problems, difficulties, and deadlines, instead of Christ, and therefore, we begin to sink. Since fear, doubt, and discouragement often come from a wrong focus, we need to develop a right focus. Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” We gain this by focusing on Christ, as we prioritize our relationship with him.
Application Question: In what ways are you commonly led into fear, doubt, and discouragement? How do you deal with it?
After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” (Genesis 15:1)
While Abraham struggles with fear, God reveals himself to Abraham to calm his fears. In the same way, we should battle our fear by seeking God more. Many times in the midst of fear, doubt, and depression, God will reveal himself in new ways to us. Here, God tells Abraham that he is Abraham’s shield and very great reward.
God would protect him and, even though Abraham gave a tithe of all he owned to the king of Salem and rejected the wealth of Sodom, God would be his reward. God was enough for Abraham, and he is enough for us as well. If we just had a revelation of this, it would deliver us from all our fears.
Application Question: How can we battle fear, doubt, and discouragement through having a deeper revelation of God?
Obviously, the first way we can battle fear is by knowing God through his Word. Genesis 15:1 says that “the word of the Lord came to Abram.” It must be remembered that when Abraham lived Scripture was not yet written. Moses, the narrator, is writing some of the first portions of Scripture, as he teaches Israel about Abraham in the book of Genesis.
God may choose to speak to us in a charismatic way, as he did with Abraham; however, his primary way of speaking to us is through the Word of God. Second Timothy 3:17 says that the Word of God equips the man of God for every good work. One of the good works God wants to equip us for through his Word is having peace and joy instead of fear, doubt, and discouragement.
David said, “The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes” (Ps 19:8). One of the ways God wants to give us joy is through studying his Word—by living in Scripture. It gives joy to the heart and radiance to the eyes. If we are not living in the Word of God, we will lack joy.
Similarly, Paul said,
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:8–9)
He told the Philippians to think on whatever was true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. No doubt, the primary thing that Paul had in mind was the Word of God. It is the truth. It is noble and righteous. It is pure and without fault. It is admirable. And he promises that the God of peace will be with whoever meditates on God’s Word and practices what it says (v. 9).
The way to encounter God, as Abraham did, is to study God’s Word and to practice it. God manifests himself to those who do, and he calms their fears and gives joy to their hearts.
Here, we see that God tells Abraham that he is his shield and great reward. I think this is a picture of God’s love for him. He would protect him, and he would satisfy him. Similarly, when we struggle with fear and doubt, we need to know how much God loves us. Again, this is what John said, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love” (1 John 4:18).
One of the reasons that we struggle with fear is because we don’t know the love of God, as we should. We fear the future, the past, the present, and people, all because we really don’t know how much God loves us. Perfect love casts out fear.
Application Question: How can we have a fuller revelation of God’s love?
Consider what Paul prayed for the Ephesians:
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:17–19)
Paul prayed that the Ephesians would know the depth, the height, and the width of God’s love for them. We need to pray this as well. If we had a revelation of God’s love, it would deliver us from fear and the resulting discouragement.
God has called for the church to be the body of Christ, and it is through his body that we often hear his words, feel his touch, and sense his care.
Many Christians don’t know God’s love because they refuse to really get involved with the body of Christ. The more you are involved with God’s body, the more you can start to experience “together with all the saints” the love of Christ (Eph 3:18).
In order to know God’s love, we should pray for it and also seek it through the fellowship of the saints. Are you thinking on God’s love so you can battle fear (cf. 1 John 4:18)?
What’s another way that we can experience a revelation of God that removes fear?
Finally, to battle fear, we must be people of prayer. In this passage, we see something theologians call an “interchange.”1 God and Abraham dialogue with one another. This seems to be the first interchange that Abraham experiences. Previously, God spoke, and Abraham just listened and obeyed. But here, he has a conversation with the Lord, and in this conversation, God quiets Abraham’s fears.
Having a conversation with the Lord really is just prayer. When attacked by fear, doubt, and discouragement, we should run to God in prayer. Abraham doesn’t hide his doubts. He acknowledges his fear of not having a son, and maybe even a doubt in God’s promises. I think there is a place for that in our prayer. We should not sin by accusing God, but we should be honest about our genuine feelings and emotions, even if only in confession. David wrestles with himself before God, “Oh soul why are you disquieted within me, we will trust in God” (Ps 43:5).
We may not feel comfortable being fully honest and transparent with everybody, because some people may use the information to harm us. However, God already knows our fears and worries, and therefore, we should constantly bring our cares and petitions before him. First Peter 5:7 says, “Cast your cares before the Lord for he cares for you.”
Paul taught the Philippians to go to God in prayer when struggling with fear and anxiety. In Philippians 4:6–7, he says:
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
When we live in prayer (talking to God, adoring, and worshiping him), petition (bringing our requests before the Lord), and thanksgiving, then God gives us his peace.
If we are going to battle fear, doubt, and discouragement, we must continually experience a revelation of God through his Word, his love, and through prayer. Are you running to the Word of God and prayer? Are you accepting and experiencing his love? This is necessary to battle fear and discouragement.
Application Question: In what ways have you experienced a revelation of God that took away your fear, doubt, or discouragement? How is he calling you to seek a deeper revelation of him?
After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” (Genesis 15:1)
Application Question: Why do some people accept fear instead of rejecting it? Why is it rational for us to reject fear?
Again, the first thing God says to Abraham is “Do not be afraid.” As mentioned, God say this many times in Scripture. Because it is so often repeated, we must recognize its importance.
It is very common for people to accept fear rather than reject it. It must be noted that some fears are healthy. Scripture says the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom (Prov 9:10); however, if we experience any fears that prevent us from obeying God and knowing him, they must be rejected.
Why do people accept fear? For many, they accept fear because they see it as rational. When God called Moses to lead his people, Moses saw his lack of speaking ability as a rational reason to fear leading Israel (Exod 4:10). Many times our fears are rational. Maybe, we have a tendency towards fear and depression that is chemical. Maybe, we are not good speakers or good leaders. Maybe, we are unequipped for a certain job or ministry. However, these excuses are only rational if we don’t consider God.
Why is it rational to reject fear?
God says to Abraham, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” God essentially says to Abraham, “I am enough for you! I’ve got everything you need! Therefore, don’t fear!” Paul said something similar to Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:7: “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.”
He essentially says, “Timothy, don’t be afraid because God gave you power to accomplish his work. He gave you the ability to love difficult and needy people and self-discipline to complete your tasks. Timothy, God gave you his resources!” This is true for us, as well. God is so big, that we don’t need to be afraid.
Abraham did not have to worry about an army attacking him because God would protect him. He did not have to worry about the fact that he gave away and rejected so much wealth. God would provide for him. Certainly, this is true for us as well.
Do you know that God’s resources are at your disposal?
Not only was God referring to his resources, as he would protect and provide for Abraham, but primarily he was referring to himself. “I am your shield and your great reward.” The reality is that if we have God, we have everything.
Hebrews 13:7 says, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” Essentially, the author says, “Don’t be anxious about money and possessions because you already have God.” Christians who are anxious for this and for that are Christians who don’t know God’s person as they should.
First Timothy 6:6–8 says, “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.” Why should we be content? We should be content because we have God. It’s like a married man who doesn’t look lustfully at other ladies because of contentment with his wife.
When we are not content with God, we find ourselves anxious for all the things in the world. Again, this is probably part of Abraham’s concerns. He is concerned about all the wealth he just rejected, and God says to him, “Abraham, I am enough. I am your reward.”
If we are going to battle fear, doubt, and discouragement, we must reject fear and worry. We must be “anxious for nothing.” We do this by recognizing our resources in God and enjoying his person.
Are you content with God? Do you know that he is enough? If not, you will be prone to fear, doubt, and discouragement. You will anxiously seek the things of this world because you ultimately hope that they will fill and satisfy you. However, they cannot—only God can.
Application Question: What do you think about Paul’s teaching that “Godliness with contentment is great gain … if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that” (1 Tim 6:6–8)? How do we implement this practically to avoid the anxiety that most of the world suffers from?
But Abram said, “O Sovereign LORD, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.” Then the word of the LORD came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir.” He took him outside and said, “Look up at the heavens and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness. (Genesis 15:2–6)
Lastly, Abraham expresses his doubts about having a son. At this point, Abraham’s chief servant is his heir because he was the highest-ranking male in Abraham’s home. Since Lot left, he was next in line. However, God makes a promise to Abraham. He commands Abraham to look at the heavens and count the stars. He says to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Then the narrator says, “Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.”
The way Abraham settled and removed his doubts and fear was by believing God’s promises. Warren Wiersbe said this about the word “believe”:
Abraham believed God, which is literally, “Abraham said, ‘Amen, God!’” The Hebrew word translated “believed” means “to lean your whole weight upon.” Abraham leaned wholly on the promise of God and the God of the promise.2
“‘Amen’ in Scripture never means a petition (‘May it be so’), but is always a strong assertion of faith (‘It shall be so,’ or ‘It is so’).”3 It meant “it is done.” Abraham believed and continued to believe the promise of God, and God counted it as righteousness.
Genesis 15:6 is a very important passage. It is quoted three times in full in the New Testament. It is quoted in Galatians 4, Romans 4, and James 2. Paul used this verse to teach how Abraham was saved by faith and not works. Believers were saved both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament by faith. Nobody has ever been saved by works. In fact, Romans 4:3–5 says:
What does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.
It is not the man who works that is saved but the man who does not work. If anybody is trusting in their baptism, their practice of the Lord’s Supper, their church attendance, or any other good deed for salvation, they cannot be saved. It is the man who does not work but, instead, trusts solely in God who is justified—made righteous by God.
Hebrews 12:14 says, “Without holiness no one will see God.” Because our God is so holy and righteous, no sinner can have a relationship with him or enter heaven. Therefore, the only pathway to salvation is grace—God’s unmerited favor. We must trust in his provision—through Jesus Christ—alone for salvation. In fact, the righteousness credited to Abraham’s account is the same righteousness credited to our account. God saved people in the Old Testament through Christ’s righteousness as well. Revelation 13:8 says, “All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.”
Was Christ slain before the creation of the world? No, but his death and imputed righteousness applies to all with faith in God from the foundation of the world. Second Corinthians 5:21 says, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” The content of the faith may have been different. Ancient believers didn’t understand what we know now about Christ. However, they probably understood more than we think. Jesus did say that Abraham rejoiced to see his day (John 8:56), which meant he knew about the coming messiah. Either way, all are saved by faith in God alone.
With that said, we must all ask the question, “Does the narrator’s assertion of Abraham being made righteous mean that Abraham was not yet a believer?” He had followed God for fifteen years now, as he was eighty-five.
Interpretation Question: Was Abraham saved when he believed God in Genesis 15 or beforehand? If he was already saved in Genesis 15, why does Paul use his belief as an analogy for how all have been saved?
Most commentators believe that Genesis 15 is simply a confirmation of his early conversion. Hebrews 11 supports this interpretation. It gives Abraham’s faith in leaving Ur as a model for us all. It says,
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. (Hebrews 11:8–10)
Why would God describe Abraham’s early faith as a model if he were not truly converted? The text even says that he was looking forward to the city with foundations whose architect and builder is God. Abraham was not primarily looking for Canaan, but heavenly Canaan, which earthly Canaan is only a shadow of (Heb 12:22). Pastor Steven Cole, from Flagstaff Christian Fellowship, shared this about Calvin’s view on this passage:
“John Calvin thought that it is mentioned here, long after Abram was first justified, to prove that justification does not just begin by faith, only to be perfected later by works. Rather, justification is by faith alone, apart from works, from start to finish (Calvin’s Commentaries [Baker], 1:408–409)”.4
Abraham still possessed the same saving faith he initially had when he left his home in obedience to God. And this is true for all true believers; they are not perfected by works but by grace—through a continuing, persevering faith in God (cf. Eph 2:8–9). This is true saving faith that leads to justification.
With that said, the main principle we are focusing on in this text is that we, similarly, must by faith hold onto God’s promises to battle fear, doubt, and discouragement. Consider what Peter said about God’s promises:
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. (2 Peter 1:3–4)
God has given us his promises, so that by them, we can participate in the divine nature, which means looking more like God, and escape the sin and corruption of the world. The world is prone to worry, doubt, and anxiousness; however, as Christians, we don’t have to live that way. God gave us promises so we can be free from the corruption of the world.
Application Question: What are some of these precious promises that can deliver us from fear, doubt, and discouragement?
Here are a few: Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” If we put God first, he will take care of all our needs. This was given in the context of the disciples worrying about their future provisions. If we put God first, he will provide for us.
Similarly, when struggling with our future and what path to take, Proverbs 3:6 says, “in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” It can also be translated, “He will show you which path to take.” When worried about our future and what direction to take, we must focus on putting God first. We put him first by serving the church, by consistent devotions and prayer, and by being a light in the world, among other things. When we do this, God guides and delivers us from fear and worry.
In addition, as mentioned earlier, Philippians 4:6–7 says:
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
When we are living in prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, God promises to give us his peace. This peace will many times not make sense. How can we have peace in the midst of chaos? It is a divine blessing given to those who take hold of God’s promises.
Another great promise to consider and to continually drink deeply from is Psalm 23. It says:
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
If we have not committed these verses to memory, we should. We will need them, when we, like Abraham, struggle with fear, doubt, and discouragement. We must by faith take hold of God’s promises and believe them. As we do, God will comfort and strengthen us.
Application Question: What promises of God are especially helpful to you when battling fear, doubt, and discouragement? How is God calling you to trust him more in your circumstances?
How should we battle fear, doubt, and discouragement?
Copyright © 2017 Gregory Brown
The primary Scriptures used are New International Version (1984) unless otherwise noted. Other versions include English Standard Version, New Living Translation, New American Standard Bible, and King James Version.
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Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are from the King James Version of the Bible.
All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added.
1 Swindoll, Charles R. (2014-07-16). Abraham: One Nomad's Amazing Journey of Faith (Kindle Locations 893–895). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.. Kindle Edition.
2 Wiersbe, W. W. (1991). Be Obedient (pp. 46–47). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
3 Hughes, R. K. (2004). Genesis: Beginning and Blessing (p. 224). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
4 Steven Cole’s Sermon on Genesis 15:1–6, “Making God’s Promises Yours” accessed on 10/4/2014 https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-30-making-god-s-promises-yours-genesis-151-6
He also said to him, “I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it.” But Abram said, “O Sovereign LORD, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?” So the LORD said to him, “Bring me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon.” Abram brought all these to him, cut them in two and arranged the halves opposite each other; the birds, however, he did not cut in half. Then birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away. As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him. Then the LORD said to him, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years. But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions. You, however, will go to your fathers in peace and be buried at a good old age. In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.” When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces. On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram and said, “To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates—the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites.” (Genesis 15:7–21)
How can we strengthen our faith in God and his promises?
Scripture calls Abraham the father of those who believe (Gal 3:7). He is our father of faith. However, even though Abraham was an example of faith, he still struggled with doubt. In Genesis 15:1, God spoke to him and said, “Do not be afraid. I am your shield and your great reward.” In the previous chapter, Abraham conquered four armies from the east while saving his nephew, Lot, and after, he was probably afraid of retaliation. However, God comforts Abraham by sharing that he would protect and provide for him (i.e. shield and great reward).
In reply to God’s assurance, Abraham said, “‘You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir’” (Gen 15:3). In considering his own mortality, Abraham started to think about his future heir. At that time, Abraham’s chief servant was his heir because he had no son, and Lot had left him. God comforts Abraham by saying that he will have a son from his own body and his descendants will be like the stars (Gen 15:4–5).
Even though Abraham was the father of faith, he struggled with fear and doubt. In the second half of Genesis 15, God begins to strengthen Abraham’s faith, even more. He says, “‘I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it” (v. 7). Not only did God want to comfort Abraham about his future child, but God also wanted to confirm his future possession of the land.
In Genesis 12, Abraham left Haran for Canaan, in order to inherit the land, but when he got there, ten tribes were dwelling in it (cf. v. 19–20). How was God going to fulfill this promise? In fact, Abraham honestly asks God the question. He says, “‘O Sovereign LORD, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?’” (v. 8). God dramatically assures Abraham and strengthens his faith by cutting a covenant with him and giving him a prophecy about his future children, Israel.
Have you ever struggled with doubt? Have you ever doubted God’s love for you? Have you ever doubted whether the Christian life was even worth living? Many great saints struggled with doubt. Asaph, in Psalm 73, looked at the prosperity of the wicked and said, “Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence” (v. 13). He doubted and wavered in his faith.
One of the apostles doubted the resurrection. Thomas declared, “I will not believe, unless I see him with my own eyes, touch his hands, and put my hand in his side” (John 20:25, paraphrase). Thomas doubted. Have you ever doubted God?
How do we deal with doubt? In Ephesians 6:16, as Paul talks about spiritual warfare, he says that we must take up the shield of faith to quench the enemy’s fiery darts. If we don’t have strong faith, we are vulnerable to the lies and attacks of the enemy. Many Christians live in doubt and fear; they are doubtful and fearful about their past, present, and future, instead of living in faith.
Not only, do we need strong faith to protect ourselves in spiritual warfare but also to see God move powerfully in our lives and others. Jesus said that if we had the faith of a mustard seed we could move mountains (Matt 17:20). To see the kingdom of God advance in lives, churches, and nations, mountains must be moved. How do we strengthen our faith?
In this text, Abraham struggles with doubt and God strengthens his faith. We can learn a great deal about strengthening our faith through God’s ministry to Abraham.
Big Question: What principles can we learn about strengthening our faith from God’s response to a doubting Abraham?
He also said to him, “I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it.” But Abram said, “O Sovereign LORD, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?” (Genesis 15:7–8)
The first thing we can discern about strengthening our faith is our need to be transparent. Abraham openly shares his struggle with God. He says, “O Sovereign Lord, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?”
We must understand that it is OK for us to struggle before God. It is OK to tell him our fears and worries. He already knows anyway. First Peter 5:7 says, “Cast your cares before the Lord for he cares for you.” The word “cares” can be translated “anxieties.” It literally means “to divide” or “to pull into parts.” We should bring everything to God that divides our mind and keeps us from fully trusting him. Peter said to “cast”—to throw all our worries before God and leave them there. When God called Moses to be the leader of his people, Moses freely shared his anxieties and doubts. He said, “Lord, I have a slow tongue” and in response God encouraged him. If we are going to strengthen our faith, we must be open and transparent with God.
Many Christians, however, never do this. They keep their struggles to themselves. They only bring their “big” problems before God. Some even walk around with a chip on their shoulder towards God. They boastfully declare, “God and I aren’t talking right now! I’m angry with God!”
This is not the way to respond to God. We humbly share our struggles and pains with him, and allow him to strengthen our faith and encourage our hearts.
Application Question: What are common hindrances that keep people from sharing their struggles with God?
He also said to him, “I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it.” But Abram said, “O Sovereign LORD, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?” (Genesis 15:7–8)
Right after God confirms to Abraham that he will have a child from his own body (v. 4), God tells him that he will possess the land of Canaan as well. Again, Abraham questions God and says, “How can I know that I will gain possession of it?” Like Gideon asking for a sign with the fleece (Judg 6:36–40) or Hezekiah asking for God to do a miracle with the sun dial (2 Kgs 20:8–11), Abraham asks for confirmation from God.
Here, we learn our second principle. If we are going to strengthen our faith, we must first have faith. Now this may seem strange because it looks like Abraham has no faith at all and in fact doubts God. However, even though Abraham asks for confirmation, his question comes from belief. Abraham wants to believe God and more fully understand God’s promises and, therefore, asks for confirmation. Abraham’s faith is like the man who wanted Christ to heal his son (Mark 9:23–24). Jesus said to him, “Everything is possible for him who believes.” The man replied, “I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief!” This man believed but was struggling to believe God and so was Abraham.
Interpretation Question: How do we know Abraham believed God, even though he clearly struggled with doubt?
We can tell Abraham still has faith in God, primarily, by God’s response. He doesn’t rebuke him or discipline him. Remember when Zechariah, John the Baptist’s father, questioned the angel about him having a child in old age? Because of his lack of belief, God struck him with muteness (Luke 1:18–20). Sarah, Abraham’s wife, doubted and questioned God in her heart saying, “‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’” and was rebuked (Gen 18:13). However, when Mary asked how she could give birth to a child, being a virgin, God simply answers her question (Luke 1:34–35). Like Abraham, Mary questioned God in faith, and therefore, God graciously strengthened her faith.
Because Abraham believes, God strengthens his faith by giving him a prophecy and a covenant. This is true for us as well. In order to strengthen our faith, we must first believe.
This might seem like a paradox or an unfair situation. It’s kind of like applying for a job, and being told that you need experience; however, you can’t really get experience unless you have a job. How does that work? Similarly, Scripture teaches that God only assures and strengthens those who come to him in belief and not unbelief. Consider what Christ said to the Jews who doubted him:
Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me. If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. (John 17:16–17)
Essentially, he says that those who believe and want to obey God, will be given more. He will give them assurance and revelation that Jesus is the messiah. But for the unbelieving and disobedient, God will not assure or confirm them.
Matthew 13:12 says, “Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.” Whoever has faith, God strengthens their faith and gives them further understanding. But, he who does not have, God takes away—he disciplines by hardening and removing understanding.
Certainly, this is a difficult doctrine; however, this is exactly what Scripture teaches. When Herod questioned Christ and entreated him to perform miracles, Christ remained quiet and said nothing (Luke 23:8–9). Herod didn’t have any faith and didn’t desire to believe. But, when Gideon and Hezekiah asked for a miracle, God answered. What’s the difference? Some approach God with pride and say, “Prove yourself!” While others humbly approach God and say, “I believe! Lord, help my unbelief!”
How are you approaching God? For those who come to him in faith, he gives more. For others, he removes even what little they have. The Lord wants to answer your questions. He wants to remove your doubts. But you must bring your doubts and struggles to him in faith.
Yes, let us cast our anxieties, worries, doubts, and fears before the Lord, but let us bring them before God in faith, because he cares for us (1 Pet 5:7).
Application Question: What do you think of the Scriptural requirement of needing faith in order for God to assure us or answer our questions? How do we know if we are approaching God in faith or in unbelief?
So the LORD said to him, “Bring me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon.” Abram brought all these to him, cut them in two and arranged the halves opposite each other; the birds, however, he did not cut in half. (Genesis 15:9–10)
Next, God commands Abraham to gather five different animals in order to make a covenant. Abraham immediately obeys God, even though struggling with his faith. In contrast, many times when struggling with our faith, our obedience to God falters. We stop going to church, stop reading our Bible, stop praying, and drop out of fellowship. This is not the way to strengthen our faith; it is the path way to destroying our faith. Abraham does not do that. Even though Abraham is struggling, he immediately obeys God.
Often Scripture teaches that genuine faith always produces works. This is true, but in a sense walking in obedience increases our faith. Just as, in the same way, disobedience weakens our faith.
Jesus said this in Mark 4:24: “‘Consider carefully what you hear,’ he continued. ‘With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more.’” He said if we faithfully use what God teaches us, if we obey and share it, then God will give us even more. When we’re obedient, God gives us more faith, and when disobedient, we lose it.
If Abraham had not obeyed God by preparing for the covenant, then he would have lost the opportunity for God to increase and strengthen his faith. And many people do this: they doubt God and stop reading their Bibles, stop attending worship, etc., and therefore lose the blessing of God.
Are you walking in obedience to God? If so, God will give you more. He will give you more of himself and more faith to believe and receive his promises. If you disobey God, your faith will decrease and you will incur the discipline of God instead of his blessing (cf. Heb 12:6).
Application Question: How can we respond obediently to God, even when struggling with doubt?
Then birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away. As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him. Then the LORD said to him, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years. But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions. You, however, will go to your fathers in peace and be buried at a good old age. In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.” (Genesis 15:11–16)
Abraham gathers five animals and cuts them into halves, except for the birds. He makes a pathway between them. In those days, written contracts were uncommon. People instead made covenants by killing animals and walking through the remains. When doing this, they said, “Let this be done to me if I fail to keep the covenant.” No doubt, Abraham expects that both God and him would somehow make this covenant.
However, while waiting on God, birds flew down and began to attack the carcasses. Since they were scavengers, they tried to eat the dead bodies and fly away with some of the meat. In response, Abraham drives them away. No doubt, this would be confusing to Abraham. He was probably tempted to think, “If I’m being obedient, why are you allowing the birds to try to steal the meat? In fact, where are you?” However, struggle and trial was one of the ways that God strengthened his faith, and this is true for us as well.
Romans 5:3–4 says, “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”
Suffering produces perseverance, perseverance produces character, and character produces hope. What is hope? Hope is really just another name for faith. Hope is faith in future promises. After suffering produces the fruit of perseverance and character, it leads us to hope. Through suffering, we begin to trust and hope in God and his Word more. It is a necessary process in the strengthening of our faith.
Similarly, James said,
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:3–4)
These birds were part of the “trials of many kinds” God allowed, as a part of strengthening Abraham’s faith. As we see in the following prophecy, trials would also be used to strengthen Abraham’s seed’s faith.
Many commentators see the attack of these birds as a visual picture of the prophecy that God was about to make. Kent Hughes said, “The assault by the carrion-eating birds of prey and Abram’s driving them away foreshadowed the attacks that would come upon Abram’s offspring from the nations and God’s protection.”1 Abraham’s descendants would be slaves in Egypt for 400 years, and then God would return them to the land. There would be attacks and threats towards God’s promise; there would be struggle to help strengthen and purify the Israelites’ faith.
Don’t we see this commonly throughout Scripture? Joseph dreamed his parents bowed down before him but, soon after, was thrown into slavery and later prison. Most scholars believe that Joseph was in Egypt, as a slave and prisoner, for some fifteen years. Suffering strengthened his faith for the promise. While in slavery and prison, he, no doubt, was tempted to question the promise of God. However, he persevered to receive it.
Moses did as well. Stephen tells us that when Moses killed the Egyptian, he thought the Israelites would know that he was called to be their deliverer. However, right after, he runs for his life and becomes a shepherd in the wilderness for forty years before God calls him to deliver Israel (cf. Acts 7:23–30). Suffering and trial came to strengthen his faith. In fact, when Moses leads Israel out of Egypt, they still needed to persevere through the wilderness to get to the promised land.
Suffering always comes to strengthen one’s faith. God allowed Joseph to suffer to strengthen his faith for his calling. It was the same with Moses, Israel, and even Abraham.
Let us understand this: If we are a Christian whose faith wavers, then we must realize that God will strengthen it through trial and suffering. Here, Abraham runs off the birds that tried to threaten God’s work. Then in the vision, Abraham learns that the fulfillment of the promise would not happen without suffering. The Israelites would go through suffering before experiencing God’s promise.
Suffering always precedes glory, and it is always the pathway to a stronger faith. Therefore, we must faithfully persevere through suffering. Those who do not, those who complain, quit, or run away from God in trials, only weaken their faith.
How are you responding to the trials, even small ones, sent to strengthen your faith? Are you persevering or quitting? Are you trusting or doubting? Are you praising or complaining? Let us remember that God is faithful and that he has a purpose in the trial—our maturity and the strengthening of our faith.
Application Question: In what ways have you experienced suffering that strengthened your faith? What is your typical response to God’s trials—even minor annoying ones? How is God calling you to respond better?
As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him. Then the LORD said to him, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years. (Genesis 15:12–13)
We cannot but notice that when God called Abraham to prepare for a covenant, not only does he struggle with birds, but he has to wait until night fall. In fact, he waited so long that he fell asleep. God didn’t immediately give Abraham a vision when he finished preparations. God allowed Abraham to not only struggle but wait.
Then in the vision, he discovers that he would not inherit the land in his lifetime and that his descendants would inherit it after 400 years of slavery. God’s timing is not our timing, and if we do not understand that, our faith will falter. Second Peter 3:8 says this in the context of waiting on the promise of Christ’s second coming: “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” We often want God to be on our time schedule, but he is not. Our God is eternal and all-powerful, and therefore, time is different to him. He waits till Abraham is 100 years old before he gives him a son, fifteen years after this promise and twenty-five after the original. Abraham waits and waits and waits. However, God strengthened his faith through the waiting.
This is true for us, as well. God often strengthens our faith by delay. By delaying a promise or a desire in our heart, we are forced to trust in God and not ourselves. God often allows the delay to last long enough that we know the desire or promise can only be accomplished by him. In waiting for a child, Abraham waited until his body was figuratively dead. The child of promise could only come from God—not Abraham’s strength or wisdom.
God made Abraham, Joseph, and Moses wait. He made the Israelites and David wait. In the vision, God tells Abraham that he must continue to wait. Hebrews 11:13 says this about Abraham and other men of faith:
All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.
Waiting is the pathway to strong faith. Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God.” In order to see God move, we must often wait, and in this waiting, God works on our faith. He weakens our flesh, fortifies our faith, and builds hopeful anticipation.
Are you waiting on God’s direction? Are you waiting for a godly spouse? Are you waiting for some dream he put in your heart? Take joy, so did the great men and women of God before you. God is worth waiting on. Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength and strengthen their faith (cf. Is 40:31).
Application Question: In what ways has God made you wait for something that he put in your heart? What does God have you waiting on now? How can we better wait on the Lord without becoming anxious, impatient, or angry?
Then the LORD said to him, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years. But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions. You, however, will go to your fathers in peace and be buried at a good old age. In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.” (Genesis 15:13–16)
As mentioned, God prophesied to Abraham about Israel’s 400 years of slavery in Egypt before they returned to Canaan. Exodus 12:40 actually says 430 years, so it seems that God rounded the number. Also, when it says in verse 16, “In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here,” this obviously refers to the lifespan of the patriarchs. Since the patriarchs typically lived over 100 years there is no contradiction in this prophecy. God tells Abraham all this so he would know his inheriting the land would not happen in his lifetime but his descendants.
God’s words were given to strengthen Abraham’s faith so it would not waver while waiting in the land. It is the same for us. Scripture says that one of the primary ways our faith is strengthened is by knowing God’s Word. Romans 10:17 in the KJV says, “so faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.”
As Abraham listened to the words of God, it would immediately begin to fortify his faith, and it’s no different for us. One of the reasons that many of us have so little faith is because it is not built on God’s Word and his promises.
Romans 15:4 says, “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” The stories and doctrines in the Scripture were written to give us hope and faith. If we do not know the stories of Abraham, Moses, and Joseph, if we don’t know the teachings of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Paul, and Peter, our faith will be weak.
It is through God’s Word that he matures and builds our faith. First Peter 2:2 says, “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.” Literally it reads “so that it may grow you.” The word “grow” is passive. The more we read the Word of God, the more it makes us grow.
We must plant our roots deep in Scripture if we are going to faithfully stand in trials and waiting seasons. We must constantly read, study, memorize, and speak Scripture.
Are you constantly feasting on God’s Word? It will strengthen your faith and enable you to take hold of God’s promises.
Application Question: In what ways has God strengthened your faith through studying his Word? What are your primary hindrances to spending time in God’s Word, and how is God calling you to overcome them?
When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces. On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram and said, “To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates—the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites.” (Genesis 15:17–20)
God appears to Abraham through a smoking firepot and a blazing torch. These were theophanies—temporary manifestations of God to his people. The smoking firepot reminds us of the pillar of cloud that led Israel by day in the wilderness (Exod 13:21). The blazing torch reminds us of the pillar of fire that led them by night (Exod 13:21). It seems that Abraham is still asleep when this happens, but somehow, he is still aware.
Through this, God strengthens Abraham’s faith. This was possibly the first-time Abraham ever saw God, and therefore, this would greatly strengthen his faith. Certainly, it was an awesome and scary sight. When this happened, there was great darkness. Similarly, when God revealed himself to Israel on Mt. Sinai, a great darkness appeared (cf. Exod 19:16–18). Also, when Christ died on the cross, a great darkness came over the land (cf. Mark 15:33). God was manifesting himself and his glory.
We must continually experience God’s manifest presence as well, if our faith is to be strengthened. Christ said to the disciples in the Great Commission that he would never leave or forsake them (Matt 28:20). Scripture teaches that God indwells each believer (1 Cor 6:19). However, Scripture also declares that God wants to manifest himself more to us, and, in these manifestations, we can have, no doubt, that he strengthens our faith.
Interpretation Question: How do we experience more of God’s manifest presence in our lives?
Philippians 4:8–9 says,
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Paul said that the God of peace will be with believers who continually think on righteousness and practice it. When we are living in righteousness, both internally and outwardly, we experience more of his manifest presence.
Are you consumed with righteousness—thinking on it and practicing it?
Second Corinthians 6:14, 17–18 says,
Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? ... “Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
In talking about not being yoked together with unbelievers, Paul quotes some words of God from the Old Testament (cf. Isa 52:11, Lev 11:8). He says come out from them and be separate, touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters.
This seems strange in the context because Paul is already speaking to Christians. God is already their Father. However, this is not talking about salvation but intimacy with God.
Many Christians feel distant from God because “friendship with the world is enmity with God” (James 4:4). We can’t love and enjoy the world and, at the same time, enjoy God. For those who are yoked with the world, God separates from them. He removes his intimacy and his presence. He still indwells them, but they don’t experience his intimacy—only his discipline. In order to enjoy God’s presence, we must be separate from sin and the world.
Are you separating from sin and the world—cutting things out of your life that hinder God’s presence?
Psalm 22:3 says, “He inhabits the praises of Israel” (paraphrase). We see this many times in Scripture: Israel would worship and God’s presence manifested in the temple (cf. 2 Chron 7:1). Similarly, when we worship and thank him throughout the day, we experience his manifest presence.
Therefore, the complainer and the bitter person misses his blessing (cf. Phil 2:14; 1 Thess 5:18–19). He inhabits praise, not grumbling and complaining. Grumbling only brings the discipline of the Father (cf. 1 Cor 10:10), not his blessing.
Matthew 18:20 says that where two or more are gathered in his name, he is in the midst. When we worship together at church and listen to his Word, when we gather in small groups or do ministry together, God’s presence is there. Many people miss God’s presence because they don’t faithfully fellowship with brothers and sisters in the Lord. Maybe, they were hurt or wounded by the church and, therefore, separate from God’s people. God’s people are not perfect, but by God’s grace, he meets with them when they gather in his name.
Let us not neglect gathering together with saints (Heb 10:25), for that is where God’s presence manifests. If our faith is going to be strengthened, we must continually experience the manifest presence of God. Yes, God is everywhere, but there are times when he especially shows up to meet with his people, in accordance with his promises. We need these experiences to grow in our faith.
Are you daily seeking God’s presence? He says, “Draw near him, he will draw near you” (James 4:8, paraphrase).
Application Question: At what times do you most experience God’s presence? At what times do you least experience it? How is God calling you to seek his presence in a deeper way?
When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces. On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram and said, “To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates—the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites.” (Genesis 15:17–20)
Here, God makes a covenant with Abraham (v. 18). Literally it reads “the Lord cut a covenant.”2 In that ancient culture, both parties walked through the severed pieces of meat when making a covenant. This ceremony said, “Let this happen to me, if I do not hold my part of the deal.” However, Abraham does not walk through the pieces, only God does. God makes a unilateral covenant with Abraham, declaring that he would fulfill the promise on his own. Ancient covenants established ones’ character; people made them to prove they could be trusted.
It seems that when Abraham first followed God, it was a conditional promise. “Leave your land and I will make you great, make you a great nation, give you land, and you will be a blessing” (Gen 12:1–3, paraphrase). But here, the promise becomes unconditional. Even if Abraham fails God, God will fulfill the covenant based on his own character.
God essentially says, “This covenant will happen. It is done. You can trust me.” Abraham is not called to trust in himself but to trust in the character and faithfulness of God alone. The writer of Hebrews refers to this unilateral covenant and its reflection of God’s character in Hebrews 6. He says,
When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself…. Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged.(Hebrews 6:13, 17–18)
This oath reflected several characteristics of God which encouraged Abraham’s faith. It reflected his immutability. This is a theological word that simply means “God is unchangeable.” He said it; therefore, he will fulfill it. He does not change like the shifting clouds (cf. James 1:17, Heb 6:17). It also reflected God’s truthfulness. God cannot tell a lie (cf. Heb 6:18, Titus 1:2). Christ called himself the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). This promise was as good as done, because God made it.
But this ceremony and prophecy also revealed more about God. God declared the reason Israel would not receive the land yet was because the iniquity of the Amorites was not yet complete. The Amorites were one of the major tribes in Canaan, and therefore, their name was used to refer to everybody in the land. God would not give the land to Abraham’s descendants until the sins of the Amorites were complete.
In Leviticus 18:1–24, God told Israel to not participate in the sexual sins of the Canaanites because he was removing them from the land for those reasons (cf. v. 24). They were known for incest, bestiality, and all kinds of illicit sex. Therefore, God promised to judge and remove them. In fact, when Joshua goes into the land to wipe out the Canaanites, it is basically God’s justice—his wrath.
Abraham learned more about the characteristics of God through this ceremony and prophecy. He learned about God’s immutability, his truthfulness, his wrath, and specifically, his patience. God waited for hundreds of years for these people to repent. “Donald Grey Barnhouse said, ‘If the iniquity of the world had been full a hundred years ago, none of us would have been born to be born again.’”3 He waits and waits and waits for us to return to him. However, a time comes when grace runs its course because God is just and righteously angry. One day, God promised to wipe out the Canaanites because of all their sin.
This was important for Abraham’s faith. Abraham’s faith was strengthened by learning more about God’s character. God is unchangeable; he does not lie; he is patient; he is just; he is holy and wrathful. The more we know of God’s character, the stronger our faith will become. The less of God’s character we know, the more vulnerable we are.
It was God’s character that Satan attacked in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve. He tried to make God seem like the ultimate kill joy. He said, “Did God say you could not eat of all the trees in the garden?” He then essentially called God a liar. He said that God knew if they ate of the tree they would be like God.
The reason Eve fell was because she doubted God’s character. She didn’t know God well. I often counsel people who have listened to the lies of Satan and, therefore, have weak faith. They think God doesn’t want them to have fun. They think God doesn’t have their best interest in mind. They think God is going to whip them every time they fail. The reason their faith is weak and they are drawn into all kinds of sin is because, they don’t know God’s character.
God is all good, all-wise, omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient. He is transcendent—there is nobody like him and nothing like him on earth. He is immortal, all-loving, and all-kind. The more we know his character, the more our faith will be strengthened. Abraham’s faith grew as he learned more about the character of God.
Are you growing in the knowledge of God’s characteristics and his teachings?
Application Question: How can we grow in the knowledge of God’s character?
Scripture is the revelation of his character, and the more we know it, the more we know him. This is one of the reasons that the study of theology is so important. The study theology is a systematic study of God and his teachings in Scripture. It teaches us more about his person and character so our faith can grow. God wants us to be a thinking people. He wants us to love him with our whole heart, mind, and soul.
One of the ways we grow to know his character is simply by having various experiences with God. The more God parts the seas for us, the more he disciplines us, the more he comforts us, and the more we wait on him, the more our knowledge of him develops. After walking with God for years, we develop a history with God, and that history becomes a means of strengthening our faith and knowing his character. This is one of the reasons that journaling is so important—it helps us remember how God provided for us and others. Sadly, we are prone to forget God’s faithfulness and good works.
Application Question: Why is knowing God’s character so important? What aspect of God’s character is he currently teaching and revealing to you?
How can we strengthen our faith, like God did Abraham’s?
Copyright © 2017 Gregory Brown
The primary Scriptures used are New International Version (1984) unless otherwise noted. Other versions include English Standard Version, New Living Translation, New American Standard Bible, and King James Version.
Holy Bible, New International Version ®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NASB) are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, and 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are from the King James Version of the Bible.
All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added.
1 Hughes, R. K. (2004). Genesis: Beginning and Blessing (p. 231). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
2 Guzik, David (2012-12-08). Genesis (Kindle Locations 2647–2651). Enduring Word Media. Kindle Edition.
3 Hughes, R. K. (2004). Genesis: Beginning and Blessing (p. 233). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar; so she said to Abram, “The LORD has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family through her.” Abram agreed to what Sarai said. So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian maidservant Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. He slept with Hagar, and she conceived. When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my servant in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the LORD judge between you and me.” “Your servant is in your hands,” Abram said. “Do with her whatever you think best.” Then Sarai mistreated Hagar; so she fled from her. The angel of the LORD found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. And he said, “Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?” “I'm running away from my mistress Sarai,” she answered. Then the angel of the LORD told her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her.” The angel added, “I will so increase your descendants that they will be too numerous to count.” The angel of the LORD also said to her: “You are now with child and you will have a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the LORD has heard of your misery. He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone's hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.” She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi; it is still there, between Kadesh and Bered. So Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram gave the name Ishmael to the son she had borne. Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore him Ishmael. (Genesis 16)
How do we protect our family from spiritual attack and the severe consequences of sin?
This narrative in many ways resembles Satan’s attack on the first family in the garden with Adam and Eve. The consequences of that failure were drastic, affecting every child of Adam with sin. Similarly, the consequences of David’s family failure were drastic as well. David slept with Bathsheba and murdered her husband, which led to the sword never departing from his home. We also see a grave consequence here with Abraham’s failure of taking another wife and having a child named Ishmael by her. This resulted in two competing seeds whose descendants are still battling thousands of years later. We see this in the current Arab-Israeli conflict.
How can we protect ourselves and our family from the attacks of the enemy and the severe consequences of sin?
In this narrative, Abraham was about eighty-five years old and his wife, Sarah, was about seventy-five. Even though the patriarchs had a long-life span, Abraham and Sarah were both approaching post-childbearing years. This was a problem since God promised to make Abraham a great nation, and he didn’t yet have a child. It was about ten years since the first promise and maybe Abraham and Sarah struggled with doubts (cf. Gen 12). Therefore, Sarah sought to take matters into her own hands. She encourages Abraham to marry Hagar, Sarah’s maidservant, to have a seed.
God promised Abraham a seed but never clearly said that it would come from Sarah; therefore, she probably rationalized that this might be God’s provision. However, this plan backfires, because after Hagar became pregnant, she despised Sarah. Hagar probably saw herself as possessing a higher status because she now had a child. Women without children in those days were often looked down upon in society. Bearing children, especially sons, provided protection for the family, allowed them to gain more wealth, and continued the family name. Having children was the major role of women in that society, and now that Hagar was pregnant with Abraham’s child, she probably saw herself as superior to Sarah.
This caused a conflict in the home which would have tremendous future ramifications. Ishmael, the son of Hagar, would, similarly, despise Isaac, the future son of Sarah (Gen 21:9). Ishmael is the father of the Arab nations and Isaac is the father of Israel. These nations have been in conflict for thousands of years.
How do we protect our family from attack and the consequences of sin? God always forgives when we repent, but sometimes the consequences of our sins last for generations. Here we learn from Abraham’s and Sarah’s failure. In this study, we will consider eight principles about how to protect our family from attack and the consequences of sin.
Big Question: From this narrative, what can we learn about protecting our family from attack and the consequences of sin?
Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar; so she said to Abram, “The LORD has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family through her.” Abram agreed to what Sarai said. So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian maidservant Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. (Genesis 16:1–3)
God promised Abraham that his seed would be like the stars in the sky; however, there was a problem. He had no children. Therefore, Sarah approaches Abraham and says, “The LORD has kept me from having children. Go sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family through her” (v. 2). Sarah’s intentions probably were not bad. God never directly said the seed would come through her, and so she decides to take action.
Asking her husband to marry her maidservant was a common cultural practice in those days. It was her job as the wife to provide her husband a child. In the case of barrenness, a wife would often give her maidservant to her husband to produce a child. When this happened, the child would be considered the seed of the first wife.1
However, there is a problem with this idea. In this text, we don’t see Abraham or Sarah pray or seek the Lord. As in the narrative when they left Canaan and traveled to Egypt (cf. Gen 12:10–20), the altar is absent. At this point, no Scripture is written to explicitly forbid this practice. It seems that during this period of time, God spoke to people directly: sometimes through prophets and also through the conscience—the natural law in man (cf. Jude 1:14–15, Rom 2:14–15). Marrying another woman was clearly outside God’s original design of a man and a woman becoming one flesh (Gen 2:24). As mentioned, this caused great problems in their family and with their descendants throughout history.
However, this danger is common to all families. There is a tendency to build our family according to the culture and traditions of this world, instead of according to God’s revelation. Romans 12:2 says: “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
When it says, “Do not conform any longer,” it has the connotation that Roman believers were already conforming to the world and that they needed to stop. Each of us has been saved out of the world system which is empowered and ruled by the devil. Scripture calls Satan the ruler of this world (cf. John 12:31). His imprint is on every culture. It is on government, education, business, and entertainment, and Christians must be aware of this.
The very fact that many Christians are not aware often causes dangerous consequences in their lives and in their families. There are similar trends in modern day cultures destroying families.
Application Question: What cultural trends are dangerous to families, and in what ways do we see these aspects reflected in Abraham’s and Sarah’s unfortunate decision?
Scripture clearly teaches the leadership of the man in the home. Paul said this,
Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, (Ephesians 5:22–26)
Paul taught that wives should submit to their husbands as unto the Lord and that husbands should love their wives as Christ loved the church. However, culture teaches anything but a biblical view of gender roles in the home. It will teach that there is no headship in the home, even though, this conflicts with practical reason. In every company or business there is authority, and without authority, chaos ensues. Headship does not mean inequality. A captain and a corporal are equal; however, the corporal must submit to the captain to have order in the military. It is the same in the home. But since most homes don’t follow biblical order, there is chaos.
Some cultures teach that there is no authority in the home, and others wrongly emphasize either the male’s authority (patriarchal) or the female’s (matriarchal). Neither are biblical models. The wife is not to be a doormat and neither is the husband. They both are designed by God with wonderful and unique gifts that should be exercised in the context of love and authority. Husbands must love their wives and wives must submit to their husbands. Sadly, even many Christian marriages have been affected by culture and no longer practice a biblical view of gender roles. Therefore, like Abraham and Sarah, they suffer the consequences of rebellion against God’s design.
In many cultures, children are the focus of the family, instead of the marriage itself. Families spend all their time and energy making sure the children go to the best schools and get the best training, which is fine. However, they commonly do this to the detriment of the marriage.
This is part of what happened with Abraham and Sarah. In the ancient culture, tremendous focus was placed on having children for their obvious benefits: they were the retirement plan, the defense plan, and the plan to achieve social status. Because of this, they often were the focus of the marriage. We not only saw this with Abraham and Sarah, but also with Hannah and, her husband, Elkanah, in 1 Samuel. The husband cries out to her, “Am I not better than ten sons?” (1:8). The focus on bearing a child was suffocating the marriage.
It is the same today. The highest rate of divorce is in the first year of marriage, as people come in with unrealistic expectations. But the second highest is around year twenty. Why are so many people getting divorced after twenty years of marriage? They don’t know each other anymore. They don’t know each other because the focus of the marriage was the children. When they had a baby, the wife basically moved into the room with the baby and intimacy with the husband stopped. From infanthood till adulthood the parents’ focus was the child’s education and extracurricular activities and somewhere in the midst of that the marriage was lost.
When God started the human race with a man and a woman, he meant for that to be the center of the family and society. We see this even in Paul’s command in Ephesians 5. The woman is called to submit to the husband as unto Christ. The husband is to love the wife as Christ loved the church. For the husband and wife, the focus should be God, their marriage, and then their children. Children benefit when parents model these priorities. Children need to see a biblical model of marriage at home; otherwise, they become self-centered and prideful because the home revolves around them. This actually cripples them for the rest of their life, since the world does not revolve around them. Ultimately, they repeat the sins of the parents with their own children.
This was common in ancient cultures, and it still happens today to the detriment of the family. The marriage should be the priority relationship in the home.
Sadly, in many cultures promiscuity is acceptable, especially for men, as seen with Abraham. In these cultures, the man is the patriarch of the home—the unquestioned leader—and with that comes a certain amount of freedom to enjoy the comforts of women. In the ancient culture, this was seen in the role of concubines. The man would marry a woman to bear him children and to increase his social status by uniting with her family; but he would secure concubines to fulfill his lust. Solomon married the princess of Egypt to strengthen his alliances, but, in order to fulfill his lust, he had a harem of concubines. This was socially acceptable. Sadly, in Judges 19, we even see a Levite (essentially a pastor) with a concubine.
This is growing in our culture as well. For some, it is acceptable to invite others into the marriage (an open marriage). For others, as with Abraham, it is acceptable for the man to have many wives or mistresses. There is a growing cultural trend called “hooking up,” which has made monogamy almost archaic, even in marriage. The church must be aware of this trend and condemn it, as Scripture does.
Again, this may have been part of Abraham’s and Sarah’s thinking. Having many children was part of being prosperous and having status in society. Therefore, they were willing to go out of their marriage covenant to gain a child.
Sadly, the pursuit of prosperity often destroys many families. Paul said this,
People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1 Timothy 6:9–10)
How do we see families piercing themselves with many griefs as they pursue money?
The husband, and sometimes the wife as well, are never home to disciple and train their children because of work—their attempt to gain prosperity. This creates anger in their children because they really don’t know their parents and, at times, doubt if they really care. Parents send their children to the best K-12 schools, sometimes in other countries, and miss out on the role of discipling and loving their children. They give the role of parenting over to someone else. Again, this creates an unresolved anger in the hearts of children.
Scripture says: “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord” (Eph 6:4). The word “Fathers” can also be translated “Parents.” It is the parents’ role to train their children in the instruction of the Lord. Sadly, many parents, by seeking the prosperity of the world, give up their God-given mandate to parent.
This again destroys the home. Instead of training the children, it creates a deep-seated anger in them that many never get over. Unfortunately, most children repeat the sins of the parents, and they raise up neglected children who are angry at them as well.
Abraham and Sarah, who notably were relatively young believers, still bore the remnants of the world culture on their lives, which brought drastic consequences on their marriage and their descendants.
Application Question: How do we protect our marriage and children from the influence of world culture?
Again, Paul said, “Do not be conformed any longer to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds.” If we are going to protect our marriage and families, we must develop a different thinking. We must saturate ourselves with a biblical worldview through studying Scripture, and we must test what we already believe. We must ask ourselves, “What does the Bible say about marriage, parenting, work, retirement, etc.?” This is crucial if we are going to build homes that stand against the wind and waves of culture. The home built on God’s Word will stand; however, the home built on the sand of culture will not last (cf. Matt 7:26–27).
Application Question: In what ways have you seen or experienced how the unbiblical priorities of culture negatively affect families, even Christian families?
Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar; so she said to Abram, “The LORD has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family through her.” Abram agreed to what Sarai said. So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian maidservant Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. (Genesis 16:1–3)
The next thing we must notice is that Sarah is the one who asked Abraham to take another wife. Often, the enemy attacks our families from within or through other close relationships. In fact, in Genesis 12, it was Abraham who asked Sarah to lie about their marriage when they went down to Egypt. Often the enemy attacks from within the family. He did this with Adam and Eve. Scripture says that Eve was deceived but it never says that Adam was (cf. 1 Tim 2:14). He sinned with eyes wide open, as a result of his wife’s influence.
We can be sure that happened here with Abraham. If Mamre, Abraham’s neighbor, approached him about taking another wife, it probably would have fallen on deaf ears. The enemy wisely attacked through someone close and trusted. Satan even attacked Christ through his chief disciple, Peter (cf. Matt 16:22–23).
Commonly, this happens to us as well. The enemy attacks through a spouse, children, parents, cousins, or close friends. We are more prone to be influenced by people close to us, than those we don’t know, which is why Satan uses this tactic.
Application Question: How do we commonly see this attack on families?
Sadly, this often happens through the influence of parents on children. Many times parents teach their children primarily from a cultural standpoint, instead of a biblical one. I do not mean to say that all culture is bad; however, much of it conflicts with Scripture, as Satan is the ruler of this world, which includes culture. Many youth pastors and Sunday school teachers feel like they spend most of their time trying to retrain the children from their parents’ teaching.
The attack of the enemy through parents often continues in marriage. One of the top reasons for divorce is struggles with in-laws. In Genesis 2:24, when God brought Adam and Eve together, he said that a man should leave his father’s house and cleave to his wife. This means that the husband and the wife are called to make a separate family unit. Yes, they are still called to honor their mother and father, but first, they must honor God by prioritizing their spouse.
Unfortunately, many marriages are pulled in multiple directions by in-laws—causing great conflict in the home. The wife still wants to submit to her father and mother over her husband. And the husband is still trying to please mommy before his wife. Wise couples are aware of this reality.
However, Satan doesn’t just influence through family; he uses any number of close relationships. Again, these people are the most prone to influence us. Some marriages are torn up by the influence of friends. The wife has her girlfriends and the husband has his buddies, who many times are poor marriage counselors.
If we are going to protect our families, we must be aware of the enemy’s attacks through family and close relationships, and we must test everything through Scripture. This will protect our homes.
Application Question: In what ways have you seen or experienced homes being attacked through family or close friendships?
He slept with Hagar, and she conceived. When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my servant in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the LORD judge between you and me.” (Genesis 16:4–5)
After Abraham took Hagar as his wife and she conceived, she began to despise Sarah. Sarah then accused Abraham for the wrong done to her. She says, “You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my servant in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the LORD judge between you and me.”’
Now, this doesn’t make sense. Sarah is the one who told Abraham to take Hagar as a wife, and, after he did it, she blames him for the wrong done to her. This is not uncommon in the home or our individual lives. As soon as sin came into the world, people started blaming one another. Adam indirectly blamed God for his sin. He said, “The woman YOU gave me, gave the fruit to me and I did eat.” He implicitly accused God for his failure and explicitly blamed Eve. Eve then blamed the serpent.
One of sin’s effects is the tendency to misevaluate our own sin. We tend to blame others and not see our own culpability, and that is exactly what happened with Sarah. No doubt, her own sin affected her ability to properly attribute blame. Was Abraham to blame? Certainly, he was the leader of the home. However, she persuaded him to take this course.
This also happens to us. Consider what Christ said about the ministry of correcting others in sin:
How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. (Matthew 7:4–5)
Christ described a brother with unconfessed sin, as someone with a plank in his eye. The implication is that sin affects one’s ability to see clearly and thus correctly evaluate sin. Unconfessed sin makes our spiritual sight blurry. This is what probably happened with Sarah. Because of her own sin, she could no longer properly evaluate Abraham’s sin or her own. Abraham’s sin looked really big because of the plank in her eye.
We get another great picture of this in the story of David after his adultery with Bathsheba. Nathan approached David to challenge him. He tells an elaborate story about a rich man with many sheep and a poor man with one lamb that he loved dearly. The rich man had visitors and instead of preparing one of his own sheep for dinner, he took the poor man’s lamb. David was so mad he said, “This man shall surely die.” Nathan replied, “You are the man!” (2 Sam 12:1–5).
Do you see the spiritual blindness? David is willing to kill a man for taking a poor man’s lamb, when he took a man’s wife and killed her husband. He could no longer properly evaluate because of his own sin. He had a plank in his eye—affecting his moral thermometer.
This happens many times in marriages and in our relationships in general. We are angry; we feel disrespected (and maybe we have been). However, we cannot properly evaluate the sin of others, without first confessing and repenting of our own. Therefore, we misjudge—sometimes even making mountains out of mole hills.
Christ said if we are going to perform spiritual surgery. If we are going to help others or restore a relationship in conflict, we must first get rid of our own sin, so we can see clearly to help others.
Marriages and relationships in general struggle through many misunderstandings because of spiritual blindness resulting from sin.
Application Question: How do we get rid of spiritual blindness so we can better minister to others or resolve a conflict?
This is the only way to take the plank out of our eye, so we can help others. First John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” To “confess” means “to say the same thing.” We must not soften our sin; we must see it as God does and turn away from it. When we do this, God cleanses us from not only confessed sin but also sin we are unaware of—he purifies us from “all unrighteousness.” This purification removes our spiritual blindness and gives us new clarity.
The reality is that we will never be fully free from sin until we get to heaven or Christ returns, whichever comes first. We are full of sin—prone to wrong thoughts and actions. This always affects our ability to properly evaluate others and ourselves. Therefore, our spiritual perception is never crystal clear. I think this should cause us to be humble when responding to someone’s accusations or when trying to help others. It is very possible that like Sarah, we have misevaluated the failure of others and our own.
Application Question: In what ways have you seen or experienced spiritual blindness from sin which affected one’s ability to morally evaluate?
“Your servant is in your hands,” Abram said. “Do with her whatever you think best.” Then Sarai mistreated Hagar; so she fled from her. (Genesis 16:6)
Sadly, the person most responsible for this debacle is Abraham. God called him to be the leader of his home—to shepherd and love Sarah. When she approaches him with this sinful idea, he never says, “No” or “Let’s pray and seek God.” He just passively goes along with her plan. In fact, in Genesis 16:2b, when it says “Abram listened to the voice of Sarai,” it is very reminiscent of what God said about Adam in Genesis 3:17:
Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat of it,’ “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.
Not only is Abraham passive when his wife tells him to marry Hagar, but he is also passive when she complains about the decision’s consequences. He simply says, “Your servant is in your hands… Do with her whatever you think best.” He essentially says, “It’s your problem. Deal with it!” Sarah abuses Hagar—leading her to run away. Abraham doesn’t repent. He doesn’t protect Hagar and his unborn baby. Throughout the narrative, he is passive.
Sadly, male passivity has plagued the family since the beginning of time. Commonly, the wife is more spiritual than the husband. She is the spiritual engine of the family—promoting church attendance, Scripture reading, and prayer. However, God called the husband to be like Christ in the family, to wash his wife and children with the Word of God. Yet, many husbands refuse to stand up and lead, not only spiritually, but with everything.
God called the husband to lead the home, and when he doesn’t lead, everything begins to fall apart.
Application Question: How should a wife respond to a passive husband?
The wife should not nag the husband. Nagging will only make the passive husband more passive and even resentful. She must pray for him, gently encourage him, and respectfully, submit to him, even when he doesn’t merit it. Ultimately, she must be patient, because God changes hearts, not man (cf. 2 Tim 2:24–26). Consider what Peter said to wives with non-believing husbands:
Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. (1 Peter 3:1–2)
The wife’s greatest strategy to change her husband is her submissive, pure, and reverent behavior in the home. This can change the most hardened heart.
Application Question: How should the husband respond to a wife that will not follow?
The husband must actively seek to lead the home, especially spiritually. He must pray for his wife and serve her. Though Christ was the disciples’ leader, he still did the ministry of a servant. He humbled himself by washing their feet (John 13). The husband, though the leader, must do the same. He must be meek and gentle like our Savior (Matt 11:28–30). He must pray for his wife, serve her, lead her, and when needed, forgive her.
If the wife will not follow, he must continue to be gentle and patient. The husband, like the wife, must remember that God changes the heart. He should humbly love and serve her regardless of how she responds. He must entrust his wife to God, as he faithfully obeys God.
Application Question: What about singles? How should they apply this reality?
Single women should not compromise in their dating/courting relationships. It is wise to understand that the pickings will often be slim, but even in that situation, they should not compromise. They should patiently wait for God to bring a man that is willing and prepared to be a spiritual leader. And in their waiting, they must prepare to be a godly wife by humbly serving God, the church, and others.
Single men must prepare themselves to be spiritual leaders. They do this by growing in the knowledge of the Lord and Scripture. By knowing Christ, a man begins to know what true leadership looks like, which will prepare him to lead a family. And also by knowing Scripture, he prepares to wash his family with it and to make decisions guided by it throughout life.
One of the ways we protect the family is by being careful of male passivity. It seems that at the fall Adam was right next to his wife when Satan tempted her. He didn’t step on the serpent’s head like he was supposed to, he just listens, and then submits to his wife. Christ, the model husband, is the seed that steps on the serpent’s head (cf. Gen 3:15), and husbands must do the same, as they imitate Christ.
Application Question: In what ways have you seen or experienced male passivity in the home? How should we protect our families from that?
The angel of the LORD found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. (Genesis 16:7)
After Hagar is mistreated, she runs to a spring beside the road to Shur (v. 7). Shur was near the border of Egypt (cf. Gen 25:18; 1 Sam 15:7).2 Hagar was running back home. That is the tendency for most when they encounter family problems. Most have a negative response instead of a positive one.
Application Question: What are some negative responses to trials in our family?
Application Question: What are some positive responses to trials that we should practice in our family?
James 1:4 says this about our response to trials: “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (NIV 2011). Scripture says that we should let trials do their perfect work in our lives. God wants to make us stronger through trials, and I believe this is true not only individually but also corporately. Families that go through pain, hardship, and discord without giving up, often become very strong families. Many times, God uses these families to help in the mentoring and healing of others.
Roman 12:21 says, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Instead of responding negatively, we must bless those we are in conflict with: pray for them, serve them, and forgive them.
When going through family problems, we must avoid negative responses by persevering and overcoming evil with good. As we consider the rest of the narrative, we will see other positive responses we must practice.
Application Question: What is your common response to trials and conflict, especially with family?
And he said, “Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?” “I'm running away from my mistress Sarai,” she answered. (Genesis 16:8)
While Hagar is at the spring, the Angel of the Lord shows up and begins to speak to her. It is clear that this angel was God, since Hagar addresses him as such. Many scholars believe the Angel of the Lord was a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ. We cannot be sure of this. This conclusion is a form of biblical reasoning. Christ is the image of the invisible God (Col 1:15), and it is logical that Christ would be involved with earth’s affairs before the incarnation, just as the Holy Spirit and God the Father. Therefore, it is a logical conclusion that the Angel of the Lord was a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ.
The Angel of the Lord showed up and asked Hagar a few questions. He says in verse 8, “Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?”
When God asked these questions, clearly, since he is omniscient, he already knew the answers. He asks so that Hagar would confess the situation to him. God did the same with Adam in Genesis 3:11. He said, “Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”’ God already knew the answer. He just wanted Adam to confess, even as he wanted Hagar to confess. God did the same thing with Cain, when he asked where his brother, Abel, was.
This is one of the ways that we protect our families. We must be open and transparent with God. We must continually confess our problems to him. No doubt, God approaches us regularly and says, “Where have you come from and where are you going?” “What have you done?” He does this so we can confess and receive his forgiveness.
First Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” First John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
God cares, and he wants to forgive and help us. Let us confess our anxieties, wrong heart motives, and unforgiveness to him. Let us freely share our family issues. When we do this, we invite the Divine into our lives and our families’ lives.
Sadly, many people are not transparent with God and, consequently, aren’t transparent with others. Those who aren’t open with God typically aren’t open with others. Our vertical relationship always reflects our horizontal relationships, and vice versa. First John 4:20 says, “How can a person love God who he has not seen, if he does not love his brother who he has seen.” If a man doesn’t love his brother, how can he love God? Our horizontal always reflects our vertical. You can be sure that families that hide their problems and never confess or ask for prayer from others, will not faithfully do so with God.
Are you confessing your problems and that of your family to the Lord? This is one of the ways we protect our family.
Application Question: What are major hindrances to confessing and bringing our problems to God and others?
Then the angel of the LORD told her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her.” The angel added, “I will so increase your descendants that they will be too numerous to count.” The angel of the LORD also said to her: “You are now with child and you will have a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the LORD has heard of your misery. He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone's hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.” (Genesis 16:9–12)
After Hagar told God that she ran away from Sarah, the Lord commands her to go back and submit to her mistress. Often people don’t confess their problems, sins, or discord to God because they don’t want to submit to God’s guidance.
Yes, Hagar had been abused and the home was unhealthy, but God still calls her to go back and submit. God then tells her that she will have descendants too numerous to count, and that she will have a son, named Ishmael, who would be a wild donkey of a man. This metaphor pictures his free spirit and his rebellion, as his hand would be against everyone.
This is true for us as well. One of the ways we protect our family and also receive God’s blessing is by submitting to his will for our lives. We learn what his will is through the study of Scripture, prayer, the counsel of the saints, and God’s providence over events. And when we know, we must submit to it.
Application Question: In what ways does God often call us to submit to him in the midst of a family conflict or difficulty?
Many miss God’s best because of unforgiveness. They don’t want to forgive, which hinders God’s blessings including spiritual growth and healing in their family. In order for Hagar to go home and receive God’s best, she had to forgive.
Even though God established the husband as the family’s authority, we all are to submit to one another in love. Right before calling wives to submit to their husbands, Paul says, “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Eph 5:21). Even an authority can humbly submit to someone under them. I think that’s what Christ did when he washed his disciples’ feet. He was serving them.
Many times God will call you submit to another to resolve family conflict or problems. We must humble ourselves before one another in obedience to God.
Hagar doesn’t have any assurance that things will get better with Sarah, even though God promised to bless her descendants. However, she was still called to go back and submit. Many times that is God’s will for us. He calls us to persevere while understanding perseverance leads to his blessing. Consider the following Scriptures:
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9)
Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:4)
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. (1 Peter 5:6)
Submitting to God will ultimately lead to blessing, if we do not give up.
Application Question: In what ways has God called you to submit to his will in a family discord or a difficulty? How have you seen submission with perseverance lead to blessing?
She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi; it is still there, between Kadesh and Bered. So Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram gave the name Ishmael to the son she had borne. Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore him Ishmael. (Genesis 16:13–16)
After God speaks to Hagar and calls her to return, Hagar gave God a name. She said, “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me” (v. 13). She then names a well, Beer Lahai Roi, after him.
The reason she names the well is so that she will always remember her encounter with the Angel of the Lord. When she calls him, “the God who sees me,” she is reflecting on more than God’s omniscience. God sees and knows everybody. She is reflecting on God’s care for her.
And this is something we must do as well. While in family conflict and difficulties, we must remember that God sees and cares; he has good plans for his children. If we don’t realize this, we will be prone to get angry at God or others and quit. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Our God cares so much that he works all things for our good, including family conflict. We never leave his protecting eyes. We must remember this, even as Hagar sought to remember it. God knows the number of hairs on our head (Luke 12:7), and he puts our tears in a bottle (Ps 56:8, ESV). He sees us and is involved, even when we are unaware. We must take comfort in this.
Application Question: In what ways does the love and omniscience of God comfort and encourage you? How can we practice remembering his faithfulness in the midst of difficulties?
How do we protect our family from spiritual attack and the severe consequences of sin?
Copyright © 2017 Gregory Brown
The primary Scriptures used are New International Version (1984) unless otherwise noted. Other versions include English Standard Version, New Living Translation, New American Standard Bible, and King James Version.
Holy Bible, New International Version ®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NASB) are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, and 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are from the King James Version of the Bible.
All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added.
1 Swindoll, Charles R. (2014-07-16). Abraham: One Nomad's Amazing Journey of Faith (Kindle Locations 1113–1116). Tyndale
House Publishers, Inc.. Kindle Edition.
2 Hughes, R. K. (2004). Genesis: Beginning and Blessing (p. 241). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless. I will confirm my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.” Abram fell facedown, and God said to him, “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. The whole land of Canaan, where you are now an alien, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.” Then God said to Abraham, “As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come. This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you. For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised… (Genesis 17)
How can we experience more of God’s power in our lives?
In this text, God appears to Abraham as El Shaddai—God Almighty (cf. Gen 17:1), which is the first time this name is used in Scripture.1 In Genesis 15:1, after Abraham fought a battle against the four kings of the east and rescued Lot, God appeared to Abraham and said that he was Abraham’s “shield”. He had protected him. To Abraham’s worries about refusing the wealth of the king of Sodom, God said that he was his “reward.” He would provide.
Many of us know God as Father. He cares, directs, and disciplines us. We know him as our Shepherd who meets our needs and guides us in life’s affairs. But very few know God as El Shaddai—God Almighty. The word pictures God’s strength and power to accomplish impossible things. El is the Hebrew word for God, but there is some debate over the word Shaddai. Some scholars say it comes from a word meaning mountain—again representing God’s strength. Others see it coming from a word meaning breast—where a child receives nourishment. Either way, it ultimately refers to “the all-powerful and all-sufficient God who can do anything and meet any need.”2
Very few know God as El Shaddai. They see a God in Scripture who delivers Israel from slavery in Egypt, splits the Red Sea, turns water into wine, raises the dead, and heals the blind, and they wonder why they never experience the miraculous in their lives.
Christ said that those who believed in him would do greater miracles than these (John 14:12). They would do greater miracles than his raising the dead, healing the blind, multiplying the bread, etc. How can this be? Certainly, the disciples experienced this. When Peter preached his first sermon, 3,000 people were saved (cf. Acts 2:41). Christ’s ministry was largely limited to Israel, but the disciples reached and turned the world upside down (cf. Acts 17:6). Certainly, this still happens today as nations and governments are transformed by the gospel. However, with that said, most Christians still have no personal experience of this.
Here, God reveals himself to Abraham as El Shaddai, God Almighty—the God for whom nothing is impossible. Then he renews the promise of a seed and making him a great nation. This is the God we need to know as well. We need him for our individual lives that continually fall short of his image. We need him to see our families, churches, and nations transformed. We need to know God as El Shaddai. Paul made it his mission to not only know Christ but his power. He said: “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death” (Phil 3:10).
Second Chronicles 16:9 says, “For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” God is looking for people to demonstrate his power in and through.
How can we have lives that continually experience God’s power—that continually experience the miraculous? We learn six principles about this in Genesis 17, as God reveals himself as El Shaddai to Abraham.
Big Question: What principles can we learn about experiencing God’s power from the narrative in Genesis 17?
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless. I will confirm my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.” (Genesis 17:1–2)
In Genesis 17, God appears to Abraham at ninety-nine years old to tell him that he was about to increase his numbers and that this would happen through Sarah. Both Abraham and Sarah were beyond the age of child bearing, and therefore, this word from the Lord seemed incredulous. In fact, at this point in the narrative, Abraham probably believed God already gave him the child of promise. In Genesis 16, he married Hagar and she conceived Ishmael. The Angel of the Lord appeared to Hagar saying that her descendants through Ishmael would become too numerous to count (cf. Gen 16:10). Certainly, Ishmael was a donkey of a man and difficult to deal with, but Abraham probably believed God would fulfill his promise through him. No doubt, Abraham had not considered the impossible, that God could bring a child through barren Sarah.
However, that is exactly what God did. When God prophesied about this miracle child, Abraham laughed (cf. Gen 17:17). He probably didn’t laugh because he didn’t believe, but simply because the promise was incredulous. Not only would the child come through Sarah, who was barren and past the age of child bearing, but it would also come through Abraham at an age where his reproductive organs were essentially dead.
This is important for us to consider, for many times, like Abraham, we don’t consider the possibility of the miraculous. We ask questions like, “How can God fix this situation?” “How can God turn this around?” or “How can God use somebody like me?” We do not consider that God is in the miracle working business, and it is through miracles that he often chooses to glorify himself. It is not that he doesn’t work in the mundane. God is always working, but he especially shows his glory through the impossible.
Christ told his disciples about the impossibility of mankind being saved in Matthew 19:24–26. He said it was easier for a rich man to go through an eye of a needle. The disciples responded, “Who then can be saved?” Christ’s replied, “With man this is impossible but with God all things are possible.”
The greatest way we experience El Shaddai’s power is in our salvation. We were dead in our trespasses and sins, but God resurrected us (cf. Eph 2:1–5). We were resurrected from death to life, darkness to light. Salvation, essentially, is the greatest miracle we can experience. The natural mind is at enmity with God (Rom 8:7). It cannot accept or understand God’s Word apart from the Spirit (1 Cor 2:14). Man is dead to God and needs a miracle to be saved. And since, believers have experienced the greatest miracle, why would we not continually expect God to work miracles in our lives? Consider what Paul says,
What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:31–32)
If God gave us his Son, the greatest gift he could give us, how much more will he not meet all our needs? How much more will he not move mountains to provide for us?
One of the things we must take from God’s appearance to Abraham at ninety-nine years, when it was physically impossible to have a child, is that God often works in the impossible.
What is your impossible situation? Many Christians will not even bring some circumstances or situations before God. Why? It’s because to them, it seems too impossible. Can God change hearts? Absolutely. He is in the heart transplant business. He can take a stony heart, remove it, and place a fleshy heart in its place (cf. Ezek 36:26). He can give people hearts that beat for his Word, desire him, and desire righteousness. Can God change a government? Can God change a nation? Absolutely, our God works in the impossible.
With Israel, he took a small nation in slavery to Egypt, delivered them, and made them a great nation. Under Solomon’s reign, the nations of the world came to Israel to bask in its glory.
What situation is God calling you to bring before him? Our God is the God of the impossible. Let us bring our problems, fears, and hopes before him because that is exactly where he works. He works in the impossible.
As we consider Abraham’s situation, we must come to the realization that we should not discount the impossible, no matter how bleak the situation. In fact, by discounting the impossible, we often miss the glory of God. In Christ’s hometown, he said that he did not perform many miracles there because of their unbelief (Matt 13:58). Mark 6:5 says, “He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them.”
Sometimes our lack of faith in the impossible will actually keep God from moving. Is your faith keeping God from breaking into your circumstance in a special way? Whatever our situation, we must not discount the impossible if we are going to see El Shaddai—God Almighty—move.
In fact, we gain some insight by peeking at the end of Abraham’s story. We know that when God gives Abraham the child of promise, Isaac, he eventually asked Abraham to sacrifice him in Genesis 22. Hebrews 11:19 says he was willing to do this because he knew that God could raise him from the dead. After decades of walking with El Shadai, Abraham starts to expect God to perform the miraculous.
Are you expecting miracles in your life—in your difficult situation? Some people stay discouraged, depressed, and bound to sin because they have no expectation—no faith. We must not discount the miraculous when it comes to God.
Application Question: How have you experienced El Shaddai? In what ways have you seen him work the impossible to glorify himself?
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless. I will confirm my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.” (Genesis 17:1–2)
When God appears to Abraham, he tells him to walk before him and be blameless. The word “blameless” does not mean “sinless.” “The word means “single-hearted, without blame, sincere, wholly devoted to the Lord.”’3
Walking is a picture of continuous repetition. It may not be exciting. It is not running, jumping, or climbing. God wants us to faithfully walk step by step with him. When believers walk faithfully with God day by day, he moves in mighty ways.
It was said of Enoch that he walked with God and he was no more (Gen 5:24)—God took him to heaven. We learn more about Enoch from Jude. Enoch prophesied about Christ’s second coming before the first coming, as he called people to turn from sin (cf. 1:14–15). He was a person willing to walk blamelessly before the Lord. This was, also, said about Enoch’s grandchild, Noah. He was blameless and walked with God (cf. Gen 6:9). God did not keep him from the flood, as with Enoch, but he, miraculously, saved him through the flood on a great ship.
This is true for us, as well. We must understand that if we want to continually experience God’s power, we cannot walk in sin. David said this about God, “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened” (Ps 66:18).
Even for God to hear our prayers, we must separate from sin and live a holy life. James 1:7–8 says a double minded man—a person not living in faith, a person trying to live for God and the world—will receive nothing from God.
Abraham needed to walk blamelessly to experience God’s power. Yes, God was going to fulfill this covenant through his power and based on his faithfulness alone, as it was a unilateral covenant, but Abraham still needed to walk blamelessly, through the grace God provided.
We will see later in the biblical narrative that Israel also had to be blameless in order to receive the land promised. When Israel did not walk blamelessly with God, they missed out: They wandered in the wilderness, were conquered by their enemies, and eventually were exiled from the promised land.
This is also true for many Christians. They miss the miraculous in their lives because they fail to walk blamelessly in response to God’s grace. Paul said: “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me” (1 Cor 15:10). We must respond to God’s grace to experience the miraculous.
Are you walking blamelessly before God?
God has given us grace as well. He gave us his Holy Spirit, his Word, and his church so that we can be blameless. We cannot expect to see El Shaddai move, when we are not walking, step by step, with him.
Application Question: In what ways have you seen or experienced missing out on God’s best because of unfaithfulness? Are there any specific areas in which God is calling you to be blameless?
No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you… (Genesis 17:5–7)
The next thing God does is change Abram’s name to Abraham. Abram meant “exalted father” and Abraham meant “father of a multitude.” The name change pictured a change in character or destiny, but it also pictured God’s Lordship. To name someone in the ancient world, as it does today, pictured lordship or sovereignty (cf. 2 Kgs 24:17). Only one in complete ownership of another could name them. Mothers and fathers named their children. Kings at times renamed their subjects (cf. Dan 1:7). Adam named the animals in the field and his wife Eve. God named Abraham because he was his sovereign.
However, there is more to this name change. This will not stand out to us, but it would stand out to those in the ancient culture. God adds a breath sound to Abram’s name. No longer would he be Abram but Abraham. The “ha” sound was added.
What does that mean? Pastor, scholar James Boice pointed this out in his commentary. He said that the breathy sound would jump out to the ancients—it represented the spirit. In Hebrew, ruach is the word for wind or breath, but it also means spirit. The creation story says the “Spirit” of God hovered over the waters (Gen 1:2). It also could be translated the “wind” of the God. Similarly, when it says God breathed into man the “breath” of life (Gen 2:7), it could also be translated the “Spirit” of life.
Not only was this true in the Hebrew culture but also in the Greek culture and the Roman culture. In Greek, the word pneumos, spirit, also means breath. In Latin, the word spiritus, spirit, similarly, means breath.4 God gave Abraham the breath sound, and he did the same with his wife, Sarai. Sarai meant “my lady” or “princess,” and her new name Sarah meant “princess of a multitude.”5 The breathy “ah” sound also represented God’s Spirit. His Spirit would accomplish this great work through Abraham and Sarah. The Spirit would give them a son in their old age.
One of the necessary components of experiencing God’s power is the Holy Spirit. Jesus said to the disciples that they needed to wait in Jerusalem until they were endowed with power through the Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 1:8). The Holy Spirit was crucial for them to accomplish God’s will and to have God’s power in doing it.
In order to experience God’s power, like Abraham and the apostles, we must experience God’s Spirit. God essentially tells Abraham that he would complete the work through his Spirit. In fact, there are twelve “I will” statements in this passage.6 I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations out of you, and so on... Even Abraham’s walking before the Lord and being blameless would be done through the work of the Holy Spirit. This is true for us as well.
Do we want to experience God’s power in our lives to conquer sin and to accomplish great works? This can only be done through the Holy Spirit.
Application Question: How can we experience the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives?
The indwelling of the Holy Spirit happens at salvation. The Holy Spirit comes and indwells every believer who is truly saved. Christ said the Holy Spirit was with the disciples and would be in them (cf. John 14:17). This happened at Pentecost in the book of Acts (chapter 2). Now, Scripture teaches that we each are indwelled by the Spirit, as we are his temple (1 Cor 6:19).
This should go without saying. In order to experience the power of the Holy Spirit, we must first be indwelt by the Holy Spirit, which is true of every believer.
Every true believer experienced the indwelling of the Holy Spirit; however, the “filling” of the Holy Spirit is a continual experience we must seek. There is one indwelling at salvation and many fillings throughout the believer’s life. Ephesians 5:18 says, “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.”
The Greek word for “filled” actually means to be “continually filled.” It is not a one-time experience. In the Old Testament, the Spirit of God came upon the prophet and empowered him to prophesy. He came upon the king and empowered him to lead and fight wars. God does the same to us through the Spirit’s filling. He empowers us to accomplish his works; therefore, we must daily seek it.
How can we be filled with the Spirit? We see part of the process described in Ephesians 5:19–21. It says,
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
In this text, we see the need for corporate worship, “speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs,” and individual worship, “Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord.” When we live in worship, God’s Spirit comes upon us in power. In fact, we see this in 2 Kings 3:15 when Elisha calls for a harpist. The harpist plays, and the hand of the Lord fell upon him empowering him to prophesy. Worship empowers us today, as well.
We also are filled by the Spirit through practicing thanksgiving. It says, “always giving thanks to God the Father for everything.” The complainer and the worrier will not experience the power of God. This power goes to the one who practices thanksgiving.
In addition, we see that the person who submits to others out of reverence for Christ also will be filled with the Spirit. When I am living in discord—fighting with other brothers or sisters—I lose the filling and, therefore, the power of the Spirit.
Two other ways that we are filled by the Spirit are through prayer and time in the Word. In Acts 4:31, the apostles and the early church got together to pray, in response to persecution, and the place they gathered was shaken. They were filled with the Spirit and spoke the Word of God boldly. It says, “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”
Living in God’s Word is also a critical aspect of being filled with the Spirit. Colossians 3:16–18 is a parallel passage to Ephesians 5:18–21. It says,
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
The believers were commanded to let the word of Christ dwell in them richly, and the characteristics or results of this would be teaching one another, worshiping, having gratitude, and also practicing submission. These are virtually the same results as being filled with the Spirit. This means that being filled with the Spirit is synonymous to allowing the Word of Christ to dwell in us richly. It produces the same fruit. Therefore, we must live in God’s Word to be filled by the Spirit.
Are you being filled with the Spirit of God?
God symbolized this by adding the breath sound to Abraham’s and Sarah’s names. God has, also, given us his Spirit to indwell us and fill us. Are you daily being filled with the Spirit in order to experience God’s power?
Application Question: In what ways have you experienced God’s power when being filled with the Spirit? Do you daily seek this experience? Why or why not?
This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you. For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner—those who are not your offspring. Whether born in your household or bought with your money, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant. Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh, will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.” (Genesis 17:10–14)
Interpretation Question: What is the significance of circumcision for Jews? What did it represent?
After God renews the seed promise to Abraham and gives him a new name, God commands him to circumcise himself and every man in his household. Circumcision was a sign of God’s covenant with Abraham and his descendants. The males were to be circumcised eight days after birth.
When God covenanted with Noah to not destroy the earth by flood, he gave the rainbow as a sign. Here, God gives the sign of circumcision. We can understand this symbolism by considering the wedding ring often used in marriage ceremonies. It is a picture of the enduring love and commitment of a married couple; however, it is not the marriage. It’s only a symbol of the marriage.
Similarly, circumcision was meant to be a picture of one’s spiritual commitment to God. It never was meant to be salvific, even though, sadly, many Jews believed circumcision was equal to salvation. Circumcision was only meant to symbolize one’s inner commitment to God. We see this in several verses:
The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live. (Deuteronomy 30:6)
Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, circumcise your hearts, you men of Judah and people of Jerusalem, or my wrath will break out and burn like fire because of the evil you have done— burn with no one to quench it. (Jeremiah 4:4)
Circumcision was meant to be an external sign of an internal work. It was very similar to baptism for believers today. Baptism does not save, but it represents our death, burial, and resurrection with Christ in our salvation. It is an act of obedience that represents what happened in our lives.
With that said, circumcision also seemed to represent more than an internal faith commitment for Abraham. Kent Hughes said this about the act of circumcision for Abraham:
Significantly, circumcision involved Abraham’s powers of procreation—the area of life in which he had resorted to fleshly expediency—and had so failed. Man’s best plans and strength of will would never bring about the promise. For Abraham circumcision was an act of repentance and a sign of dependence upon God for the promise.7
James Boice adds,
Abraham’s obedience did not mean that he was contributing anything to the covenant. In fact, it meant the opposite. The cutting away of the flesh meant the renunciation of human effort, which arises out of the flesh, and the willingness to bear about in the body the mark of the individual’s identification with God.8
Circumcision would always represent to Abraham the failure of his flesh. He tried to secure a seed through his own works, instead of through faithfully trusting God. Circumcision would always remind him of that. I think we also see this symbolism in how Paul described our spiritual circumcision in the New Covenant. He said: “For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh” (Phil 3:3). In addition to commitment to God, circumcision represents putting no confidence in the flesh.
Similarly, if we are going to experience God’s power in our lives, we must have a revelation of the weakness of our flesh. Jesus said, “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing” (John 6:63). God cannot work through the flesh. The flesh is at enmity with God. If it is of the flesh, it is not of Spirit. Every work of the flesh must be put to death. We must learn our weakness to truly see and experience God’s power.
Because of this reality, God often allows us to experience failure, pain, and suffering to show us how weak we really are. Consider what Paul said about his weaknesses and trials:
We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. (2 Corinthians 1:8–9)
To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:7–10)
Paul realized that sometimes God allows us to experience what feels like death for us to experience God’s resurrection power. Sometimes, he allows us to have a thorn in the flesh so his power might be made perfect in us. Pain and suffering is God’s gracious reminder of how much we need him.
Sadly, we often need reminding of this just like Abraham because of the pride in our flesh. With Jacob, who was also pridefully dependent on his flesh, God wrestled with him and hallowed his thigh. He would forever limp, which reminded him of his weakness. He needed to know his weakness to know his need for God.
Those who, by God’s grace, learn their weakness and strength in God often experience more of God’s abundant grace and his power in their lives.
But the independent and prideful only experience his power in discipline. James 4:7 says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” He fights against the independent and prideful—those who trust in their strength and resources. But, he gives grace to the humble—they experience his power.
Are you striving to experience the promises through your own power and wisdom? Or have you learned your weakness and that of the world? Have you learned to depend upon God? Often God brings trials—he often allows us to be humbled in order for us to experience his power.
John 15:2 says that those who bear fruit, he prunes so that they can bear more fruit. He cuts—he allows pain in our lives—so that we can truly be conduits of his power. Certainly, we can discern a sense of this in Abraham’s circumcision. He and his descendants would forever be reminded of their weakness and need for God’s power.
Application Question: Are there any special ways that you feel that God allowed you to endure pain so that you could know your need for him and experience his power?
Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, “Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?” And Abraham said to God, “If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!” Then God said, “Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation. But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you by this time next year.” (Genesis 17:17–21)
As God shares the miracle of Sarah birthing a child, Abraham couldn’t help but laugh. This laugh does not seem to be out of unbelief but simply because this miracle was incredulous. We can discern this by the fact that God doesn’t rebuke or become angry with him. This was unlike Sarah’s laugh in Genesis 18, when God rebuked her. He said, “Why did Sarah laugh?”
In response to God’s promise, Abraham said, “If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!” Abraham does not ask for more blessings on himself. He wants God to not forget about his son, Ishmael. He was selfless. In fact, all of God’s promises to Abraham are really about others. It was through his seed that all the nations would be blessed. God was going to bless Abraham so he could be a blessing to others (cf. Gen 12:3). Therefore, Abraham’s prayer to experience God’s power was selfless. He wanted God’s blessing for others.
I think this is also a necessary attitude for people to have in order to experience God’s power. We must practice a selfless, others-focused attitude. Abraham is not all about himself. He is a man growing in the character of God. He is all about others. In the conflict between Abraham and Lot in Genesis 13, Abraham speaks to Lot and says, “Take your pick of the land.” Though, it was his right to choose the best portion, as the patriarch, he wanted Lot to have the best. He was unselfish.
In talking to the scattered Jews that were warring among one another, James said:
You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. (James 4:2–3)
These Jewish Christians were very much like the world. They were fighting and bickering because they were not getting their own way. Consequently, it led to wars and even murder in the church. This even made their prayers corrupt. James said their prayers weren’t being answered because they were selfish—consumed with their own desires. However, this was not true about Abraham. Abraham’s hope and prayer was selfless. He desired for God to bless Ishmael, and in response, God affirmed him.
No doubt, this is true about Christians who experience God’s power. They are not living for themselves—seeking their own blessing—but they are like their Savior—selflessly seeking the blessing for others. Christ said that he did not come to be served, but to serve others and give himself as a ransom for many (Matt 20:28).
Why do you want to experience God’s power? Is it so that you can bring glory to yourself or gain your desires?
There was one man like this in the early church. His name was Simon. He approaches Peter with money, hoping to receive power to pray and for people to receive the Holy Spirit. Peter, in anger, responds to him:
“May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.” (Acts 8:20–23)
Simon wanted to experience God’s power so that he could bring glory to himself. However, Abraham had different motivations. He selflessly, cared about Ishmael.
No doubt, this was Paul’s desire as well, when he said that he wanted to know the “power of the resurrection” in his life (Phil 3:10). Paul wanted to be just like Christ, which included blessing people through his prayers, preaching, and serving. He wanted Christ’s power in his ministry for others.
Do you cry out to God, “If only my family might live under your blessing!”, “If only my church might live under your blessing!”, “If only my nation, might live under your blessing!”? Are you seeking his power so others might be blessed and that God might receive the glory?
Many Christians want to experience resurrection power for their glory instead of God’s—for their selfish desires instead of the Lord’s desires. No doubt, there are Simon’s in the church today, who, instead of receiving God’s blessing, receive his condemnation, because of their selfish motives.
Paul said, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves” (Phil 2:3). Let this be true of us, as we desire to know and experience El Shaddai—God Almighty. Let us seek for God’s power in order to bless others and to glorify God (cf. John 15:8).
Application Question: As we seek to experience God’s power in our lives, how do we make sure that we have right motives? Who has God currently put on your heart to pray for like Abraham prayed for Ishmael?
As we consider Abraham in this passage and God’s call on his life, we cannot but think about Abraham’s grandson, Jesus (cf. Matt 1:1). Jesus was given a name by God, just like Abraham was. Jesus means “God is salvation” or “Savior” (cf. Matt 1:21). He was filled with the Spirit from the womb. He was led by the Spirit throughout his life and in a special way during his ministry. He experienced weakness—he hungered, thirsted, felt pain, and even struggled with depression, as he was weary unto death. He was others focused—he did not come to be served but to serve others. He was the ultimate fulfillment of God’s covenant with Abraham, as he is a blessing to the nations. He was a man full of God’s power, and we are called to follow in his footsteps.
How can we experience God’s power in our lives?
Copyright © 2017 Gregory Brown
The primary Scriptures used are New International Version (1984) unless otherwise noted. Other versions include English Standard Version, New Living Translation, New American Standard Bible, and King James Version.
Holy Bible, New International Version ®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NASB) are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, and 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are from the King James Version of the Bible.
All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added.
1 Wiersbe, W. W. (1991). Be Obedient (p. 63). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
2 Wiersbe, W. W. (1991). Be Obedient (p. 63). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
3 Wiersbe, W. W. (1991). Be Obedient (p. 64). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
4 Boice, J. M. (1998). Genesis: an expositional commentary (p. 583). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.
5 Guzik, David (2012-12-08). Genesis (Kindle Locations 2919–2920). Enduring Word Media. Kindle Edition.
6 Wiersbe, W. W. (1991). Be Obedient (p. 63). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
7 Hughes, R. K. (2004). Genesis: Beginning and Blessing (p. 248). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
8 Boice, J. M. (1998). Genesis: an expositional commentary (pp. 585–586). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.
The LORD appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground. He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by. Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant.” “Very well,” they answered, “do as you say.” So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. “Quick,” he said, “get three seahs of fine flour and knead it and bake some bread.” Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree. “Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him. “There, in the tent,” he said. Then the LORD said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.” Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. Abraham and Sarah were already old and well advanced in years, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?” Then the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son.” Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.” But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.” When the men got up to leave, they looked down toward Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them on their way. Then the LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. For I have chosen him… (Genesis 18)
What are characteristics of God’s friends? How can we grow in intimacy with our Lord?
In this text, God miraculously shows up at Abraham’s home in the form of a man, with two other men who were angels. Abraham prepares a feast for them, and God reaffirms his covenant with Abraham. He tells him that within a year’s time, Sarah would birth a child. When the three visitors are about to leave, God decides to share with Abraham his plan to visit Sodom and Gomorrah, confirm their sins, and then destroy the land. Then we see Abraham intercede for Sodom and Gomorrah and move God’s heart.
Several times in Scripture Abraham is called God’s friend. We see this in James 2:23, 2 Chronicles 20:7, and Isaiah 41:8. No doubt, this title refers to Abraham’s whole life, but it seems to have particular reference to this chapter. Listen to what God says about Abraham in Genesis 18:17–19:
Then the LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.”
When verse 19 says, “I have chosen him,” it can literally be translated, “For I know him,” as in the KJV. God was intimate with Abraham and because of this, he shared his plans for Sodom and Gomorrah. This is true of our friendships as well. We share intimate secrets with those we know intimately.
In John 15, Christ called the disciples, and therefore us, friends as well. He said,
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. (John 15:13–15)
Christ laid his life down for us and if we are people who obey him, then we are his friends. And because we are his friends, he shares his secrets with us through the Word. We are friends of God; however, not all friends have the same intimacy and closeness with one another. I am more intimate with my wife than with anybody else. And though I have many friends, she is my closest friend.
I think this is true with God. It is not that God didn’t have many friends in Scripture, he did. But there were some he was closer with. Abraham was one of them. In fact, one of the greatest forms of intimacy is going to somebody’s home. God visits Abraham’s home in physical form and shares intimate secrets about Sodom, that even the Sodomites and Lot, who lived there, were unaware of. God had a deep friendship with Abraham, which afforded him many great privileges. Psalm 25:14 says, “The LORD confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.”
How can we have a deeper friendship with God? How can we grow in intimacy with him, so that he reveals himself in such a way that we can more effectively worship him and serve others? That was a benefit of Abraham’s intimacy.
Some might declare, “There is nothing that we can do to be more intimate with God!” However, this would be illogical even from a practical stand point. Can one have friends without first showing himself friendly (Prov 18:24, KJV)? James even declared, “Draw near God and he will draw near you” (James 4:8). There is a greater intimacy and greater rewards from this intimacy that can be gained.
In this text, we will see characteristics of Abraham’s friendship with God. We will study this in the hope that we can similarly grow in intimacy with God.
Big Question: What are characteristics of friends of God as seen in Abraham’s interaction with God in Genesis 18? How can we grow in intimacy with God?
The LORD appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground. (Genesis 18:1–2)
In this narrative, we see Abraham sitting at the entrance to his tent, in the heat of the day, when the Lord appears to him. It seems like these three men appear out of nowhere. Abraham looks up, sees them, hurries to meet them, and then bows before them.
An important part of ancient Middle Eastern culture was being hospitable to foreigners. There were very few inns. Traveling long distances could be dangerous, and therefore people relied on hospitability. In fact, hospitality is still a significant aspect of Eastern culture.
There is some controversy over when Abraham became aware these three men were special, and that one of them was God. It certainly would have been clear when these strangers asked Abraham where Sarah was (v. 9). This was the name God gave Sarai not too long ago. If Abraham did not know then, certainly, it was clear when these men prophesied about her having a baby in old age (v. 10).
However, Abraham probably knew immediately that these visitors were from the Lord. God had appeared to Abraham before, and therefore, he had a greater familiarity with God’s presence and how he appeared. Also, we cannot but notice how respectful he was to these three men. The text says he bowed low to the ground. The word used for bow is typically translated “worship” when God is the object.1 We see this in Genesis 24:26 when Abraham’s servant worshiped the Lord. It says, “Then the man bowed down and worshiped the LORD.”
It seems clear that Abraham knows these visitors are special and that one of them is God. In fact, he calls one of them “my lord” in verse 3. One of the three was clearly prominent, as he was God incarnate. To further support this, Abraham said to him, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by” (v. 3). The implication is that Abraham had a previous relationship with the prominent one; otherwise the comment wouldn’t make sense. He had just met these gentlemen. It seems like a fair conclusion that Abraham knew the man was God with two angelic guests.
Worship is a natural response for those who know God intimately. Worship comes from the fact that one recognizes how “worthy” an object or person is. Abraham had known God for over twenty years; he knew God’s beauty and his characteristics. Abraham, therefore, bowed in worship to the Lord and reverence towards the two angels.
When the Lord gave Isaiah a revelation of God in Isaiah 6:3, he saw the angels crying, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty.” Angels cannot but continually worship God, as they consider his characteristics.
Worship is not only a characteristic of a friend of God, but it is also a way we grow in intimacy with him. How can we grow in worship?
Application Question: How can we grow in worship towards the Lord?
The more we know God, the more we will worship. As we know his characteristics—his love, sovereignty, wrath, goodness, and holiness—the more we will want to worship him. Theologians often call God’s characteristics, his perfections. His love, wisdom, wrath, and goodness are absolutely perfect and worthy of praise.
How do we come to know his characteristics more? We get to know God’s characteristics more by studying his Word and creation, through fellowship with the body of Christ, and by continually being intimate with him. Romans 12:1 says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.”
As the readers considered the truths about God and his work in the previous eleven chapters of Romans, they should be drawn to worship God—drawn to offer him their bodies as living sacrifices. This is true for us as well. The more we know God, the more we will worship.
If we are not continually worshiping God, maybe we don’t really know him as we should.
We get a picture of this in the extreme respect Abraham gives to God. He not only bows, but the text says that he bowed low to the ground. This means that Abraham recognized that God and the visitors were greater than him. Whenever people see God in Scripture, they always humble themselves, as they recognize the depths of their sin. Isaiah cried out, “‘Woe to me!’ I cried. ‘I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty’” (Isa 6:5). Similarly, when Peter became aware of Jesus’ Lordship, he cried, “Away from me Lord, I am a sinful man” (Luke 5:8).
One of the reasons many of us don’t worship God, and therefore grow in intimacy with him, is because we don’t know the depths of our sin. A diamond’s beauty is best displayed against a black cloth. We cannot truly worship God unless we know how great our sin is. And yet, the paradox is that we can’t truly know our sin unless we see God. In comparison to this great light, our sin appears extremely dark.
Are you recognizing your sin and that of others so that you can worship God more? Friends of God know both their sin and God’s beauty, and therefore, they worship.
In this narrative, Abraham recognizes God in human form and, therefore, bows down to worship. Many times our problem is that we simply don’t recognize God. Jesus talked to his disciples about how God provides clothing for the lilies of the field and food for the birds of the air (Matt 6). He saw God’s work and provision everywhere. Colossians 1:17 says that Christ holds all things together. Ephesians 1:11 says that he works all things according to the purpose of his will. Romans 8:28 says that God works all things to the good of those who love the Lord.
Our God is involved in everything. He is not a watchmaker who simply allows the earth to function on its own. His hand is everywhere, sustaining and guiding all things, and unless we recognize this, we will not continually worship. As with Christ’s resurrection and appearance to the disciples, it is very easy for us to receive ministry from the Lord and not recognize him (cf. Luke 24:15–16). It’s easy to forget that every good and perfect gift comes from above (James 1:17). It’s also easy to forget that when disaster comes to a city the Lord caused it (Amos 3:6). Some only recognize God in the good and therefore don’t worship in the bad. However, Job cried, “The Lord gives and he takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). He lived in continual worship because he recognized God’s sovereignty both in the good and the bad.
Do you see God’s hand in everything? If you don’t, then you will not have sustained worship and, therefore, won’t grow in intimacy with him.
Application Question: How is God calling you to worship him more each day so you can grow in intimacy with him?
He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by. Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant.” “Very well,” they answered, “do as you say.” (Genesis 18:3–5)
Next, Abraham petitions the Lord to not pass by, but to instead stay a little while at his house. He doesn’t act asleep or busy when the Lord approaches; he stops everything and begins to petition him. He asks for them to stay in order to have a meal, wash up, and rest before continuing their travels.
Here we see the priority of God’s friends: they prioritize time with him. This is no different than any genuine friendship. Genuine friends continually spend time with one another because they enjoy each other. Abraham said, “If I have found favor in your eyes” please stay for a little while at my house.
Jesus said this in John 15:4–6:
Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.
The word “remain” can also be translated “abide.” Christ said, “Abide, make your home in me, and I will make my home in you.” Friends of God are intimate with the Lord. They make their home in God, and God makes his home in them. In fact, Christ described an unbeliever as one not remaining in him. He described him as a withered branch, eventually thrown into a fire. The person that doesn’t abide in the Lord is not really saved.
This may seem harsh, but this is exactly how Christ described false disciples in Matthew 7:21–23. They called him “Lord, Lord,” but Christ responded, “I never knew you.” They never had a relationship with him. Yes, they were doing ministry, but they were not in an abiding relationship with God.
Now, certainly, nobody is saved by spending time with God. They are saved by faith in the Son of God, who paid the penalty for their sins. However, the one who is truly saved will spend time with God. He will know God, and God will know him.
Are you spending time of God? This is proof of whether you really know him or not.
Application Question: How can we prioritize time with God?
Again, Abraham stops whatever he was doing—he interrupts his plans to meet with God. We must do the same. He must be first. Matthew 6:33 says, “Seek first the kingdom of heaven and his righteousness.” Sometimes the best way to put something first is by doing it first in the day. That way nothing else can come before it. We must prioritize God by putting him first.
It has been said that if we fail to plan, we plan to fail. This is a problem for many Christians. They really don’t have a plan for their spiritual life. They say, “I may read my Bible in the morning; I may not. I might do it later in the day.” They really don’t have a plan for their time with God. If I did this with my marriage, my marriage would die. My wife and I have to plan dates. Every Tuesday night is pretty much nonnegotiable. We have a date night. If for some reason we miss it, we reschedule for the same week. We make plans. We try to spend at least the last hour of every day together talking and praying. We learned early on in marriage that we needed to set dates daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly, otherwise our intimacy will wane.
It’s the same with the Lord. It’s good to make short and long term plans to grow in intimacy with him. For example, “To cultivate my relationship with God, I will corporately worship him in small group and in church worship on Sunday and Wednesday. Every day, I will start and end my day with thirty minutes or more of time in the Word and prayer. Tuesday, I will fast half the day to give myself to extra prayer. In the summer, I will attend a mission trip to experience and serve God.”
We must plan to develop intimacy with God. Proverbs 21:5 says, “The plans of the diligent lead to profit.” James 4:8 says, “Draw near God and he will draw near you.”
What is your plan to draw near God?
Ephesians 5:15–16 says: “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”
“Making the most of every opportunity” can also be translated “redeeming the time” or “buying up the time.” When you purchase something, there is always a cost. To make the most of your time by spending it with God, you will have to let something else go. You might need to spend less time on social media, a hobby, work, or sleep to spend more time with God.
In business, we call this an opportunity cost. To take advantage of the opportunity to be with God, you will by necessity have to give something up. This is the opportunity cost. David said, “I will not offer the Lord something that cost me nothing” (2 Sam 24:24, paraphrase). What are you giving up to spend time with God?
Application Question: In what ways is God calling you to prioritize time with him? What is your spiritual plan? What are some opportunity costs of spending time with God? What are some of the benefits?
Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground…So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. “Quick,” he said, “get three seahs of fine flour and knead it and bake some bread.” Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. (Genesis 18:2, 6–8)
After the three men agreed to stay, Abraham hurried to make preparations to serve them. One of the things that cannot but stand out is Abraham’s zeal. In verse 2, he hurried from the tent to greet the three men. In verse 6, he hurried to his wife and said, “Quick, get three seahs of fine flour and knead it and bake some bread.” He then ran to select a calf. Abraham was zealous in serving the Lord.
This is common of God’s friends. Typically, they are noted for their zeal. Paul is probably the greatest Christian that ever lived. He wrote almost half of the New Testament, traveled on many great missionary journeys to reach Gentiles, and suffered a great deal for Christ. His life was noted for its great zeal. Consider these verses written by the apostle Paul:
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. (Romans 12:11 )
Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58 )
He said, “Never be lacking in zeal” and “Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord.” This is what we saw with Abraham who hurried to meet the Lord and hurried to serve him.
Are you still zealous for God? Are you still zealous to see his kingdom come and people saved? Or have you lost your zeal?
Application Question: How can we grow in zeal, as we serve the Lord?
Paul said this about his ministry, “For Christ's love compels us” (2 Cor 5:14). He was compelled by the love of Christ—meaning his love for Christ and Christ’s love for him. These compelled him to work hard in serving God and others. Love made him zealous. One of the reasons we lack zeal in serving God and others is because we lack love.
Love is a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit. It is one of his many fruits, as seen in Galatians 5:22. The way we bear the fruit of the Spirit is by walking in the Spirit (Gal 5:16). As we live in prayer, the Word, fellowship, and service, the fruit of love will naturally grow in us, and we will find apathy slowly, if not quickly, drifting away, as we walk in submission to the Spirit.
Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”
The more we are around others with zeal for God, the more our zeal will grow. Their zeal will challenge our apathy. However, when we are constantly around spiritually apathetic people, our zeal will diminish as well. Proverbs 13:20 says, “He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.”
Application Question: When were you most zealous in your service of the Lord? What led to the growth of your zeal? What led to times of apathy in your spiritual life?
Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant.” Very well,” they answered, “do as you say.” So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. “Quick,” he said, “get three seahs of fine flour and knead it and bake some bread.” Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree. (Genesis 18:5–8)
As we consider Abraham’s serving, we notice that he initially only offered a little snack. When it says “something to eat,” it literally can be translated to have “a morsel of bread” (Gen 18:5, ESV); however, he immediately leaves and prepares a large feast! His wife prepared three seahs of flour into bread, which is roughly five gallons.2 Maybe Abraham was going to feed his whole camp, including his servants, or he was planning to send them off well supplied. He prepared a tender calf, with milk and curds (yoghurt). He was generous in his offering to the Lord.
I think this is also a common characteristic of God’s friends. They are extremely generous. We have seen this with Abraham before. When he met the high priest, Melchizedek, he gave the Lord a tenth of all he owned (Gen 14:20). Abraham was extremely generous with his offerings to the Lord.
This is true of most good friends. They are generous with their time, thoughts, emotions, and money. Why are they this way? It’s because they are friends. Good friends are generous with one another, and it’s the same with God’s friends.
I would also add that generosity is necessary to grow in intimacy with God. Consider the conclusion to the Parable of the Unjust Servant in Luke 16:1–8. In the story, a master told his servant that he would soon be fired. When the servant considered this, he went to those who owed his master a debt and cut the price. To the one who owed 800 gallons of oil, he had him pay only 400. To the one who owed 1,000 bushels of wheat, he had him pay only 800. He did this so that when he was fired, these people would welcome him into their homes because of his generosity. Certainly, there are some complications with this parable, but listen to Christ’s application of it. He says,
I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? (Luke 16:9–11)
He tells us to use our money to make friends in heaven. We do this by supporting missions and the work of the gospel, so that we, similarly, will be welcomed by those affected into eternal dwellings. However, Christ amplifies this by saying, “‘Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?’”
What does Christ mean by this, especially the last question, “So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?” (v. 11). He seems to mean this: If we are unfaithful with our money, then God cannot give us more blessings. He cannot give us true riches. However, if we are faithful with our money, he can give us true riches.
What are true riches? This, no doubt, refers to many divine blessings, but none more important than himself. If we are faithful with our money, he will give us more of himself. Those who are very intimate with God are very generous with their money. Instead of being a reservoir, they are a channel. God gives to them, and they give it right back to God by using it for ministry. And because of this, God continually gives them more.
We see this promise throughout Scripture. In 2 Corinthians 9:8, Paul says this about the cheerful giver: “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” God promises that through his grace the cheerful giver will never lack (having all that you need), and also that he will abound in every good work. The greatest work is knowing God. Generosity leads to a deeper relationship with our generous God.
Sadly, one of the common hindrances to growing in generosity is a misunderstanding of the tithe. In the New Testament, we are not under the tithe (cf. Rom 6:15). However, because many people think we are, their thought process is, “As long as I have given my ten percent, I am alright with God.” Giving a tithe is great, but really that is just a starting point for our giving. Second Corinthians 8:7 says, “But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.”
We are called to excel in giving in the same way that we seek to excel in faith, speech, knowledge, earnestness, and love. We should constantly be praying about and setting goals to give more. And those who practice such giving will find great intimacy with God—all grace will abound towards them as God gives them true riches.
Are you excelling in giving? It is clear that Abraham was. He asked if they wanted a morsel of bread and then gave them a feast. No doubt, as God watched Abraham, he said, “Look at my son! Look at my son! He is just like me!” John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son…” Abraham was generous just like God is, and this brought great intimacy with God.
Application Question: What is your view on the necessity of the tithe in the New Covenant? How can we grow in the practice of grace giving? How have you experienced more of God because of your giving?
“Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him. “There, in the tent,” he said. Then the LORD said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.” Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. Abraham and Sarah were already old and well advanced in years, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?” Then the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son.” Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.” But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.” (Genesis 18:9–15)
In the next part of the narrative, the visitors ask about Abraham’s wife; the LORD, then, tells Abraham that she will have a child around the same time next year. Sarah is at the entrance of the tent behind Abraham and she hears this conversation. She laughs in her heart and thinks, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?” (v. 12). The Hebrew term for “worn out” was used of shabby clothes.3 She essentially says, “My body is like shabby clothes that have been destroyed by the wilderness. How can I have a child?” The LORD responds to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh?... Is anything too hard for the LORD?”
Sarah denied laughing and God rebuked her, “Yes, you did laugh.” The implication from Sarah’s unbelief is that Abraham, at this point, has failed to convince her of God’s promise.4 In Genesis 17, God promises Abraham that the seed would come through Sarah; however, Sarah did not yet believe. Clearly, Abraham’s original sharing of the promise with Sarah, Abraham’s current conversation with the Lord, and the Lord’s rebuke was all part of helping her grow in faith. From what we know, God had never appeared to Sarah before, but because she was in relationship with Abraham, God’s friend, her faith was challenged.
This is important to notice because Scripture says part of the reason God gave Abraham and Sarah a child in their old age is because of Sarah’s faith. Hebrews 11:11 says, “And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise” (NIV 2011). Sarah is placed in the “Heroes of Faith” chapter. It was because she considered God faithful that God enabled her to bear a child.
Yes, God promised to give her a child, but she also needed to believe the promise to receive it. And it was Abraham’s relationship with God that helped her believe.
This is certainly important for husbands as spiritual leaders of their homes; they are called to wash their wives with the Word, so they can become pure and blameless brides (Eph 5:25–27). With that said, this is necessary for Christians in general. Our relationship with the Lord should inspire and challenge others. Sometimes, we might not even be able to use words, for whatever reason, but hopefully our relationship and walk with God will provoke others to faith (cf. 1 Pet 3:1–6).
Matthew 5:16 says, “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Proverbs 13:20 says, “He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.” Our lifestyle and friendship with God should always inspire faith in others.
Application Question: How can we more affectively inspire faith in others?
Just the fact that Abraham faithfully worshiped and served God opened the door for God to challenge his wife. This is true for us as well. First Peter 2:12 says, “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” By living godly lives before others, it will draw them to Christ and possibly even salvation.
Are you living a godly life before others?
Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God” (KJV). The Word of God is the root of faith and, therefore, if we are going to inspire faith in others, we must use the Word of God. We must preach, teach, and live it.
Sarah didn’t believe, and, therefore, God rebuked her. What is the big deal? She hadn’t even verbalized it; however, her heart was very important. Her belief in the promise would affect the coming of the Seed and, therefore, generations after her. It was through faith that she gave birth to Isaac (cf. Heb 11:11).
Yes, sometimes sin doesn’t seem like that big of a deal, but when somebody is living in sin, it affects everybody around them, even when unaware of it. Paul said, “a little leaven, leavens the whole lump” (1 Cor 5:6). Sin spreads—even affecting future generations. If God did not challenge Abraham’s wife, maybe she would have never believed and, therefore, never received the promise.
Abraham’s relationship with God inspired Sarah’s faith, and ultimately affected eternity. And it’s the same for us. When we inspire faith in others, it will affect not only them, but people around them, and even people in the future. Friends of God inspire the faith of others.
Application Question: Whose faith had the greatest impact on your Christian life? Who do you feel God is calling you to inspire in their spiritual life?
When the men got up to leave, they looked down toward Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them on their way. Then the LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.” Then the LORD said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.” The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the LORD. (Genesis 18:16–22)
As the three men were about to leave for Sodom, the LORD said to himself, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. For I have chosen him”. God decided to share with Abraham his plan to confirm how wicked Sodom really was and then destroy it. God had heard the “outcry” caused by their great sins. Kent Hughes said this about the word “outcry”:
The Hebrew word for “outcry” is used in Scripture to describe the cries of the oppressed and brutalized. It is used for the cry of the oppressed widow or orphan (cf. Exod 22:22, 23), the cry of the oppressed servant (cf. Deut 24:15), and the cries of the Israelites in Egypt (cf. Exod 2:23; 3:7, 9).5
Not only was Sodom practicing homosexuality but its people also neglected and oppressed the poor and the needy. Ezekiel says, “Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy” (16:49). We certainly see this in how they treated the two visiting angels in Genesis 19. No doubt, the poor and needy were commonly oppressed in these cities.
Because of this, God sent two angels to confirm their sins before judgment. He shares this with Abraham because he had “chosen him,” also translated “known him.”
One of the characteristics of those who are really intimate with God is that he shares his secrets with them. Consider these verses,
Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets. (Amos 3:7)
The LORD confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them. (Psalm 25:14)
The Lord makes his will known to his servants.
Interpretation Question: In what ways does God make his will known to his servants—his friends?
This knowledge may come in charismatic ways like strong impressions, dreams, or even a small still voice, but his primary way of revealing himself is through the Word of God and prayer.
Those who are friends of God constantly receive revelation from the Lord through his Word. Isaiah 66:2 says, “‘This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.” God esteems and favors those who reverence his Word. Job declared that he treasured God’s Word more than his daily bread (Job 23:12). David was a man after God’s own heart, and he wrote the longest chapter in the Bible about the Word of God in Psalm 119. In it he heaps praises on the Word of God. “Oh how I love your law, it is my meditation all the day long” (119:97). He was God’s friend.
Those who are God’s friends meditate on his Word and receive revelation from it. It is while in the Word that they receive a strong sense of God’s displeasure for a sinful act, a person, or a nation. It is while in the Word that they sense God’s great love, concern, and compassion.
But not only does God reveal his will in response to time in the Word, he also reveals it in response to prayer. Consider Paul’s prayer in Colossians 1:9: “For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.”
Paul continually prayed for the Colossians to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will. We must do the same. We must intercede to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will and for God to reveal it to others. In response to prayer, God makes himself and his will known.
A great example of this is Paul’s call to missions. Consider Acts 13:1–3,
In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.
After prayer and fasting, the Holy Spirit revealed God’s plans to send Barnabas and Saul on missionary journeys. In response to prayer, God revealed his will.
Are you willing to pray to know God’s will? Are you willing to abide in his Word to know it?
God reveals his covenant to his friends. He ministers to them in a special way. Many do not know God’s will because they don’t spend time in God’s Word and prayer.
Application Question: In what ways have you experienced God’s direction or concern for a person, a situation, or even a country while being intimate with God? In what other ways has God revealed his heart to you?
Then Abraham approached him and said: “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:23–25)
After the Lord shared this revelation, Abraham approached God (v. 23). The Hebrew word “approached” means “to come to court to argue a case.”6 Abraham was burdened for the lost in Sodom and Gomorrah and also for Lot and his family. He said to God, “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? What if the number is five less than fifty? What if only thirty can be found there?” Abraham’s last petition was, “What if only ten can be found there?” Each time God said that if that specific number of righteous people were in Sodom he would save it.
We can learn many things from this. We learn something of what it means to be the salt of the earth (Matt 5:13). It is because of the few righteous in the land that God does not destroy nations, cities, and communities. Though these people are often hated and persecuted, it is their presence and righteous life that keeps back God’s wrath. When believers compromise with the world by their lifestyles, they usher in God’s destruction. They fail to serve their purpose.
But, the primary thing we can learn from this passage is how God’s friends are intercessors. I believe this is the very reason God shared this with Abraham. Ezekiel 22:30 says, “I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none.” God looks for people who will intercede and pray so that he will not destroy the land. The problem is that so few share his heart and his burdens, therefore nations, cities, families, and individuals are destroyed because so few intercede.
God shares his burdens with his friends, and they intercede. Christ said, “Blessed are the mourners for they shall be comforted” (Matt 5:4). The mourners bear the pain from their own sin but also the pain from the sins of their friends, churches, cities, and nations. In their mourning, they cry out for God’s mercy.
We see a similar story to Abraham’s with the prophet Amos. God revealed to Amos several judgments coming against Israel, and for each, Amos prays for God’s mercy and God removes the judgment. Consider the story below:
This is what the Sovereign LORD showed me: He was preparing swarms of locusts after the king's share had been harvested and just as the second crop was coming up. When they had stripped the land clean, I cried out, “Sovereign LORD, forgive! How can Jacob survive? He is so small! So the LORD relented. “This will not happen,” the LORD said. This is what the Sovereign LORD showed me: The Sovereign LORD was calling for judgment by fire; it dried up the great deep and devoured the land. Then I cried out, “Sovereign LORD, I beg you, stop! How can Jacob survive? He is so small!” So the LORD relented. “This will not happen either,” the Sovereign LORD said. (Amos 7:1–6)
Are you a friend of God? God’s friends care about his concerns. They bear his burdens and intercede for them. Moses interceded for Israel (Exod 32:9–14). Samuel promised Israel that he would not sin against the Lord by ceasing to intercede for them (1 Sam 12:23). Friends of God intercede.
In fact, Scripture commands us to intercede for everyone because God desires that none should perish. First Timothy 2:1–4 says:
I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
Paul also commands us to intercede for all saints in the context of spiritual warfare. Ephesians 6:18 says, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”
In fact, when interceding, we participate in the ministry of Christ. One of his current ministries as High Priest is praying for saints. Hebrews 7:25 says, “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” He constantly intercedes for his people, and we should as well. Friends carry the burdens of one another.
Are you willing to carry God’s burden for individuals, families, churches, and nations? God is looking for those who will intercede. He desires that none should perish but that all would come to repentance.
Will you intercede? Sometimes, it’s the only thing we can do, and at the same time, the only thing needed.
Application Question: In what ways has God been challenging you to grow in intercession? What burdens has God put on your heart?
How can we grow in intimacy and friendship with God, as seen in God’s relationship with Abraham?
Copyright © 2017 Gregory Brown
The primary Scriptures used are New International Version (1984) unless otherwise noted. Other versions include English Standard Version, New Living Translation, New American Standard Bible, and King James Version.
Holy Bible, New International Version ®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NASB) are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, and 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are from the King James Version of the Bible.
All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added.
1 Hughes, R. K. (2004). Genesis: Beginning and Blessing (p. 254). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
2 Swindoll, Charles R. (2014-07-16). Abraham: One Nomad's Amazing Journey of Faith (Kindle Locations 1507–1508). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.. Kindle Edition.
3 Swindoll, Charles R. (2014-07-16). Abraham: One Nomad's Amazing Journey of Faith (Kindle Locations 1531–1533). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.. Kindle Edition.
4 Kidner, D. (1967). Genesis: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 1, p. 143). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
5 Hughes, R. K. (2004). Genesis: Beginning and Blessing (p. 263). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
6 Wiersbe, W. W. (1991). Be Obedient (p. 77). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city. When he saw them, he got up to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground. “My lords,” he said, “please turn aside to your servant's house. You can wash your feet and spend the night and then go on your way early in the morning.” “No,” they answered, “we will spend the night in the square.” But he insisted so strongly that they did go with him and entered his house. He prepared a meal for them, baking bread without yeast, and they ate. Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom—both young and old—surrounded the house. They called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them.” Lot went outside to meet them and shut the door behind him and said, “No, my friends. Don't do this wicked thing. Look, I have two daughters who have never slept with a man. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do what you like with them. But don't do anything to these men, for they have come under the protection of my roof.” “Get out of our way,” they replied. And they said, “This fellow came here as an alien, and now he wants to play the judge! We'll treat you worse than them.” They kept bringing pressure on Lot and moved forward to break down the door. But the men inside reached out and pulled Lot back into the house and shut the door. Then they struck the men who were at the door of the house, young and old, with blindness so that they could not find the door… (Genesis 19)
What are characteristics of worldly believers—friends of the world? If Abraham is pictured as a friend of God in Genesis 18 (cf. Jas 2:23), in Genesis 19, Lot is pictured as a friend of the world (cf. Jas 4:4).
In Scripture, we are warned of this possibility; it is possible for a follower of Christ to be conformed to the world in such a way that it is hard to distinguish him. Paul said this to the Corinthian church:
Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? (1 Corinthians 3:1–3)
These Christians were acting and living just like the world and, therefore, could not understand or digest the spiritual riches of God’s Word. They were jealous and quarreling with one another. He said, “Are you not acting like mere men?”
Yes, this is at times common of new believers. Though born again and possessing a new nature, they are still worldly and often hard to distinguish from nonbelievers.
Sadly, this is often not only true for young believers but for old believers as well. Many Christians never shed the garment of the world but, instead, become more entrenched in it. This was true of Lot, Abraham’s nephew.
Lot was a believer, as 2 Peter 2:7–8 calls him a righteous man. However, he was righteous because of his faith, not because of his actions. Like Abraham, God justified him because of his faith (cf. Gen 15:6); however, worldliness was still a strong part of his character.
Instead of staying in the promised land with Abraham, in Genesis 13, he sets his tents towards the wicked city of Sodom. He desired Sodom because of its wealth. He looked at it, and it reminded him of Egypt and its wealth (v. 10). No doubt, he was tired of living in tents with Abraham and wanted luxury. He desired the riches of this world, and in the end, it produced destructive fruits in his life and that of his family. In chapter 14, he is living in Sodom. Then, here in Genesis 19, he is at the gates, meaning that he probably achieved his desires. The elders and officials sat at the city gates, where business and legal transactions were conducted. Lot gained the world but, ultimately, lost everything else.
As we consider Lot’s story, one cannot but be reminded of Paul’s teaching about the judgment of believers in 1 Corinthians 3:12–15:
If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.
At the judgment seat of Christ, some believers will be rewarded for their faithfulness on earth, while others barely escape the fire. Their lives produced no enduring fruit for God’s kingdom. They were worldly.
Here in this narrative, God destroys Sodom and Gomorrah and Lot loses everything. The worldly success he gained, as he sat at the city gates, was lost. His popularity, prestige, and property were lost. And worst of all, he lost his family. His wife was turned into a pillar of salt and his daughters, though saved from the fire, had Sodom in their hearts. They raped him and bore two sons from him.
Yes, Scripture testifies that some true believers will still be friends of the world and spiritual adulterers (cf. James 4:4). Just as some will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven, and some will be called least in the kingdom (Matt 5:19)—missing God’s best.
What do worldly Christians look like—friends of the world? If Abraham is pictured as a friend of God in Genesis 18, as God shares secrets with him, Lot is pictured as a friend of the world here. It is important to ask ourselves this question so that we don’t have the same fate as Lot. In this text, we see eleven characteristics of worldly Christians—friends of this world.
Big Question: What characteristics of friends of the world can be discerned from Lot’s life?
The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city. When he saw them, he got up to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground. “My lords,” he said, “please turn aside to your servant's house. You can wash your feet and spend the night and then go on your way early in the morning.” “No,” they answered, “we will spend the night in the square.” But he insisted so strongly that they did go with him and entered his house. He prepared a meal for them, baking bread without yeast, and they ate. (Genesis 19:1–3)
One thing that stands out in this narrative is that God never comes to Lot’s home. In Genesis 18, the angels and the Lord were on their way to Sodom until Abraham invited them into his home. The narrative doesn’t tell us about any hesitation on the part of the visitors. They just say, “Very well,” and enter Abraham’s home (v. 5). However, with Lot, God does not come with the angels. He stays with Abraham, as Abraham intercedes for Sodom. God never comes to Lot’s home.
In addition, when Lot petitions the angels to spend the night at his home, they first say, “No.” Lot had to “strongly” insist for them to enter his house. “Gordon Wenham translates it, ‘manhandled’ them! He did some major arm-twisting till they said yes.”1
This is true of carnal believers in general; they lack intimacy with God. Certainly, God indwells every believer with his Holy Spirit (cf. 1 Cor 6:19); however, not every believer has intimacy with God. Abraham is called God’s friend; God enters his home and fellowships with him. With Lot, he does not.
As mentioned, Scripture also teaches that the Corinthian believers were worldly. In 1 Corinthians 3:1, Paul calls them carnal or worldly. Throughout the Corinthian books their worldliness is clearly displayed. In 1 Corinthians 1, they are separating into factions, as they idolize their teachers. In 1 Corinthians 5, a man is having sex with his father’s wife. In 1 Corinthians 6, they are suing one another. In 1 Corinthians 14, they are abusing spiritual gifts. In 2 Corinthians, they challenge Paul’s apostleship, even though he started the church. Consider what he says to them in 2 Corinthians 6:14, 15–17:
Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?... Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
He writes to Christians and calls them to separate from the world. Then he writes a promise from God, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters.” God is not promising salvation for being separate; he is promising intimacy. The Corinthians lacked intimacy with God because they yoked with the world, as did Lot.
Now, it wasn’t so much about Lot’s location. Daniel lived and worked in Babylon. Joseph lived and worked in Egypt. Lot’s problem was that Sodom was in his heart, as he lived a compromised Christian life. The world affected him, instead of him affecting the world, and because of his worldliness, he lacked intimacy with God.
James 4:4 says, “Don’t you know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?” If we are friends with the world, we will lack intimacy with God and, instead, invite his judgment.
Application Question: What is the difference between being in the world and not being of the world? How can we know if we are yoked with the world? How can we break this yoke so we can have greater intimacy with God?
But he insisted so strongly that they did go with him and entered his house. He prepared a meal for them, baking bread without yeast, and they ate. (Genesis 19:3)
Another obvious difference between Lot’s interaction with the angels and Abraham’s is that Lot gave them only unleavened bread—essentially crackers. There is nothing wrong with this; however, there is a great difference between Lot’s generosity and Abraham’s. Abraham prepared three seahs of grain (or five gallons), a calf, milk, and yogurt for the Lord and the angels (cf. Gen 18:6–8). Abraham was very generous with what he offered to the Lord and Lot wasn’t.
Certainly, there may have been a difference in wealth; although, Lot was wealthy too. In Genesis 14, Abraham and Lot separated because the land could not hold both of their herds. Also in Genesis 19:1, we see that Lot rose to prominence in Sodom, as he was sitting at the gates. He probably was an elder in the land. Therefore, considering that they were both wealthy, the difference in hospitality stands out.
In considering the diversity of offerings, it is hard to not think of Cain and Abel. Genesis 4:3–4 says that Cain gave “some” of the fruits of the field, while Abel gave the “fat portions” from the “firstborn.” Abel’s offering was accepted while Cain’s was rejected. The first born was considered the best of the flock and the fat portions were considered the choice part of the meat. All the flavor and seasoning are there. We will see later in the Mosaic law, God requires the Israelites to give the fat portions to him. Leviticus 3:16 says, “All the fat is the Lord’s.” Essentially, Abel gave his best, while Lot only gave scraps.
As with Cain and Abel, Abraham’s and Lot’s offerings reflected their hearts. Abraham gave his best because he cherished God, and Lot only gave some because he didn’t. This is common with worldly believers. Because their heart is attached to their wealth, they are not generous in their offerings to the Lord. They are too worried about securing a higher living status or preparing for retirement. Their minds are consumed with this world, instead of the next, and this is seen in their generosity both to the Lord and others.
However, whenever we study God’s Scriptural requirements for offerings, it is clear that he always requires the best. With the sacrificial lambs, he required lambs without spot or blemish. They had to be the best lambs.
In fact, in Malachi 1, God becomes angry with Israel because they didn’t offer their best. Consider what he says,
“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?” says the LORD Almighty. “It is you, O priests, who show contempt for my name. “But you ask, ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’ “You place defiled food on my altar. “But you ask, ‘How have we defiled you?’ “By saying that the LORD's table is contemptible. When you bring blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice crippled or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?” says the LORD Almighty. “Now implore God to be gracious to us. With such offerings from your hands, will he accept you?”—says the LORD Almighty. “Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would not light useless fires on my altar! I am not pleased with you,” says the LORD Almighty, “and I will accept no offering from your hands. (Malachi 1:6–10)
God rejects their offerings. They offered the blind and the crippled, and he essentially says, “Would you give that to your governor? Then I will not accept it either!” The reason the Israelites did not offer God their best was because they wanted to keep the best for themselves; however, God only accepts our best. No doubt, God rejects a lot of offerings in the church, as well. Instead of offering the best of our time, effort, and mind, we give him scraps. We give our best to work, family, friends, and entertainment and then offer God the last five minutes of the day, as we fall asleep. The Lord says, “I won’t receive that!” We offer him offerings that cost us nothing. We ask ourselves, “What will cost me the least so that I can give it to the Lord?”
Consider David’s heart in giving an offering to the Lord. He said, “I will not give the Lord what cost me nothing” (2 Sam 24:24, paraphrase).
What are you giving the Lord? Are you giving him your best? Or are you giving the blind and the crippled?
God wants our best. The difference in Abraham’s offering and Lot’s is the fact that Abraham gave his best, while Lot just gave a portion. This reflected the giver’s heart. Friends of God give him their best. Friends of the world offer him their scraps.
Application Question: In what ways is God challenging you to offer him more of your best? In what ways do you feel the tension of keeping back the best portions for yourself? How do we overcome our clinging hearts?
Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom—both young and old—surrounded the house. They called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them.” Lot went outside to meet them and shut the door behind him and said, “No, my friends. Don't do this wicked thing. Look, I have two daughters who have never slept with a man. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do what you like with them. But don't do anything to these men, for they have come under the protection of my roof.” (Genesis 19:4–8)
Before it was time to go to bed, the men in the city, both young and old, came to Lot’s house and asked for the visitors. They wanted to have sexual relations with them. This shows the great depravity of these cities. Commonly, in cultures that are being corrupted, it is the youth that have loose morals and the older generations stand in awe of the youth. This is how it is in many nations when considering the acceptance of things like homosexuality and transgenderism. The youth say, “What’s wrong with it? What’s the difference between same-sex, opposite-sex, or pan-sex?” and the older generation shakes their heads in awe. However, in Sodom’s depraved culture, it was both the young and the old who were corrupted. In fact, they were so corrupt they saw nothing morally wrong with raping two visitors. They say this about Lot who tried to stop them, “This fellow came here as an alien, and now he wants to play the judge!” (v. 9). They essentially say, “Don’t judge us! Who are you to judge us? What makes your morals better than ours?” Have you ever heard that before?
Something that should come to mind as we consider this incident and the men’s reply is the question, “What is the standard?” The men are right, if there are no moral absolutes. How can Lot judge the gang rape as wrong? What makes his standard better or moral? If the philosophy of relativity is correct, no standard is better than another. However, the reason we know this incident is wrong is because God sets the standard, and the standard is his Word.
As we consider this scenario, Lot clearly has morals that these men don’t have. However, when they continued to pressure him, he did something which could be considered worse than their sin. He offered his two daughters to be gang raped by this crowd of men. There is a similar story in Judges 19 where a concubine was handed over to a crowd of men and not only was raped but killed. The same fate probably awaited Lot’s daughters.
Here we see the next characteristic of worldly Christians, they have compromised morals, especially when pressured. In some ways they are just like the world or even worse.
How did Lot become this way?
Paul said, “A little leaven leavens the whole lump” (1 Cor 5:6). Lot probably started with just a little bit of sin—a little compromise. Maybe, it started with materialism. He was materialistic like the world. But then to gain more material, he lied about his taxes. And then to gain even more, he compromised his morals to do “business” in corrupt Sodom. He continued this snowball until he was leavened just like the world.
Yes, Christians can compromise to the point where they are just like the world. Remember James 4? These Christians were arguing and fighting with one another, even leading to murder. James said,
What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. (James 4:1–4)
These Christians were so worldly, murder seemed justifiable. Similarly, David, a man after God’s own heart, allowed lust to stay around in his life. One day he lusted so much that he committed adultery. Then to cover his sin, he committed murder. Afterward, he lived a hypocritical life until confronted by a prophet—leading him to repent.
Yes, Satan’s desire is to steal, kill, and destroy. He uses temptation and sin to destroy believers and that happened with Lot. Lot’s fall began with little compromises, and now Lot was almost as bad as these men.
But let us notice this: before the pressure came into Lot’s life, he looked godly. He offered hospitality to the visitors and tried to protect them. He was outwardly moral. However, when the pressure came, he compromised and offered his daughters. Trials revealed what was really in his heart, as they do with all.
This is common for us. We want to be godly, but when taking a test we could potentially fail, we choose to cheat. When pressure comes, worldly believers give into the world. They like the concept of godliness, as long as it doesn’t cost them something, as long as it doesn’t hurt. Psalm 15:1–4 says this:
LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman, who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the LORD, who keeps his oath even when it hurts,
Those who dwell in the Lord’s presence (i.e. friends of God) keep their oaths “even when it hurts.” They keep their oaths even when the pressure is on, but worldly believers continually compromise under pressure. It would have been more righteous for Lot to offer himself to protect these men, instead of offering his daughters.
Are you willing to be holy and righteous even when it hurts, even when there is a cost? Worldly believers only want to be godly when it’s convenient—as long as there is no cost or pressure. When it gets lonely on the weekends, they give in and find satisfaction and joy in the same ways the world does. They want no cost in their lives—no cross (cf. Luke 24:26–27).
Application Question: What are common ways that we are tempted to compromise when under pressure? How can we stand when temptation comes?
Look, I have two daughters who have never slept with a man. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do what you like with them. But don't do anything to these men, for they have come under the protection of my roof.” (Genesis 19:8)
We have just considered Lot’s tragic offer of his daughters to a gang of men and how friends of the world compromise their morals when pressured; however, more insight can be gained from this. His offer was actually in accordance with cultural expectations of that day. In the ancient eastern culture, there was a strong emphasis on hospitality, so much so, that “it was understood a guest was to be protected more than your own family.”2 If Lot failed to do this, he would have lost face in the community—it would be considered shameful.
Sadly, this happens in Christian homes all the time, but in different ways. To protect themselves from the shame of society, Christians who become pregnant out of wedlock commonly sacrifice their unborn children at abortion clinics all around the world. They offer their children on the altar of shame. Others who are married offer them on the altar of comfort. They don’t want the discomfort children would bring to their lives so they sacrifice them.
Some parents, to appease family and culture, spend their life seeking a certain economic status by securing the right education, the right housing, and the right cars. Sadly, in order to do this, many neglect their children. They don’t see their kids. They expect the education system to raise them. By seeking the applause and affirmation of the world, they sacrifice their children.
Many Christian families, sometimes even those in ministry, sacrifice their children while pursuing success. Consequently, many young females give themselves physically to men seeking the affirmation and love lacked in their homes. Many young men struggle with great insecurity and anxiety because of a lack of parental affirmation. They find themselves on an endless pursuit of approval, which often leads them to the world. If the world will love and approve them, where their mothers and fathers did not, then they will follow the world. Many Christians do exactly what Lot did; they just do it in a different way.
As we will see, not only did Lot literally offer his daughters to this gang of men, but it is clear that he really sacrificed them long before. At the end of the story, his daughters rape him to have children. While Lot was seeking wealth and riches in Sodom, Sodom was being sown into his daughter’s hearts every day. Sodom was not only known for homosexuality, but incest and bestiality, just as its neighbors in Canaan (cf. Lev 18:24). These girls were neglected by their father and became worldly just like Sodom.
Friends of the world sacrifice their children for cultural status.
Application Question: In what ways have you seen Christians sacrifice their children for cultural status? How can we protect our families and our children from this common scenario?
“Get out of our way,” they replied. And they said, “This fellow came here as an alien, and now he wants to play the judge! We'll treat you worse than them.” They kept bringing pressure on Lot and moved forward to break down the door. (Genesis 19:9)
Another thing we can learn from this narrative about worldly believers is that they lack spiritual influence. When Lot tries to get these men to stop, they replied, “‘Get out of our way…This fellow came here as an alien, and now he wants to play the judge! We'll treat you worse than them.’”
It is implied by their statement that Lot either never or rarely challenged Sodomites over their sin. They said that he was “now” trying to play the judge. No doubt, Lot realized long ago that if he was bold for God in that culture, he would lose friends and his ability to prosper, so he remained quiet. He saw silence as a reasonable opportunity cost.
Second Peter 2:7–9 said this about Lot:
and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)—if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment.
Peter called Lot righteous and said that Sodom’s sins tormented his righteous soul; however, it must be assumed that it stopped there. He was tormented but didn’t speak out against it.
In fact, as mentioned, he had so little spiritual influence, he barely affected his family. He lost his wife to worldliness and love for Sodom. He lost his sons-in-law who thought he was joking when he warned them about God’s judgment (cf. 19:14). Obviously, he had never warned them about God’s judgment, and therefore, they could not take him seriously. He also lost his daughters who eventually raped him.
In his many years of living in Sodom, Lot didn’t even save his family. Even his daughters were corrupted by the world. Lot had little to no spiritual influence.
This is true of worldly believers as well. Because their language, clothing, entertainment, goals, and morals, are no different from the world’s, nobody takes them seriously when it comes to faith. They don’t really spiritually affect their family and peers in a positive manner.
Christ said this in Matthew 5:13: ‘“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.”
The metaphor of salt is meant to demonstrate how Christians are to influence and preserve society from corruption. However, Christ said that if salt loses its saltiness, it is good for nothing. For those who are familiar with chemistry, we know that salt cannot lose its saltiness. Sodium Chloride (NaCl) cannot lose its essential properties. Then, what was Christ talking about? The way salt loses its saltiness is by mixing with something else. Often salt could be found on river banks, and if it was mixed with dirt or other particles, it would no longer be salty.
This is true for believers as well. When believers start to mix with the world, though they can never lose their essential properties as a child of God, they lose their effectiveness by compromise. Worldly believers have lost their saltiness. They may have some positive effects on people, but it is largely absent. Lot is to be praised for raising daughters that still had their virginity in that society. He obviously shepherded their actions but neglected their hearts. Because of that, he lost them.
Are you still salty? Are you still influencing others for Christ?
Application Question: How can Christians strike the balance of being in the world but not of the world?
With the coming of dawn, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Hurry! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away when the city is punished.” When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the LORD was merciful to them. As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, “Flee for your lives! Don't look back, and don't stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!” But Lot said to them, “No, my lords, please! Your servant has found favor in your eyes, and you have shown great kindness to me in sparing my life. But I can't flee to the mountains; this disaster will overtake me, and I'll die. Look, here is a town near enough to run to, and it is small. Let me flee to it—it is very small, isn't it? Then my life will be spared.” He said to him, “Very well, I will grant this request too; I will not overthrow the town you speak of. (Genesis 19:15–20)
After the men refused Lot’s offer of his daughters, they tried to break down the doors to reach the angels. The angels blinded the men, and yet, the men still tried to claw their way to the door—showing their desperation (v. 10–11). Even blindness would not stop them.
After this scenario, the angels had their evidence. Sodom was corrupt, and therefore, God was going to destroy it. They asked Lot if he had any others in the city with him (v. 12). This interesting narrative note demonstrates the fact that angels are not omniscient. They did not know if others were with him. Lot tried to convince his sons-in-law but they would not listen (v.14).
Next, the angels urged Lot to take his wife and two daughters out of the city or they would be punished with it (v.15). Then verse 16 says something peculiar, “When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the LORD was merciful to them” (v. 16). It says that after they urged him to flee, Lot “hesitated.” The Hebrew term means to linger, delay, or wait.3
This doesn’t make any sense. If someone said the building I was located at was about to explode, I would run for dear life! This hesitation shows Lot’s reluctance to give up his sin. Now, it was not sin to live in Sodom. The sin was Sodom being in Lot’s heart—he loved the world and the things of the world (cf. 1 John 2:15).
In fact, after dragging him and his family out of the city, the angels urged Lot to flee to the mountains, but he petitions to stay in a small city named Zoar—a little town at the southern end of the Jordan River Valley.4 Zoar literally means “small.” Lot implies that traveling to the mountains would be too difficult for him or that living there would be too hard, so he asked to go to Zoar. However, it really seems that Lot is just unwilling to give up his sin—his love for the world. He wants to keep at least a little bit in his life. Derek Kidner said this about Lot, “Not even brimstone will make a pilgrim of him: he must have his little Sodom again if life is to be supportable.”5
Sadly, this is how many Christians are. They like aspects of the world, even though they grieve God’s heart. It is for that reason many never get rid of certain sins but instead allow them to linger in their lives. They are hesitant like Lot to fully give up the world—a sinful character trait, hobby, ambition, or relationship—and therefore, it stays in their lives.
Christ said this about sin in Matthew 5:29–30:
If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
Essentially Christ says that if we are going to get rid of sin, we must have an absolute animosity for it. We must hate it so much that we are willing to murder it. This is the reason many cannot be set free from besetting sins—they don’t hate them enough.
Often the person struggling with pornography is not willing to get rid of the TV, the Internet, or any other doorway to that sin. The person in an ungodly relationship often is not willing to end that relationship in order to be holy. People often are not willing to be drastic to be free from sin.
This was Lot’s problem. That is why he hesitated and had to be dragged out of Sodom. And that is why he asked to go to Zoar. He was a man who loved the world and the things of the world. He did not hate his own compromise enough to be free of it. Friends of the world are reluctant to get rid of their sin and compromise. They want just a little Zoar in their life.
What is your Zoar? What are your little areas of compromise in your life?
Application Question: Why is it so hard to hate certain sins in such a way that we will do anything to get rid of them? Have you experienced certain sins or compromises lingering in your life simply because you didn’t hate them enough?
As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, “Flee for your lives! Don't look back, and don't stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!”… Then the LORD rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the LORD out of the heavens. Thus he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, including all those living in the cities—and also the vegetation in the land. But Lot's wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt. (Genesis 19:17, 24–26)
Interpretation Question: Why did Lot’s wife look back at Sodom, even though the angels told her not to?
Next, we see the unfortunate death of Lot’s wife. The angels told Lot and his family to flee the city and to not look back. When they got to Zoar, the angels would then destroy the city. However, while on the way to Zoar, Lot’s wife looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt. This sounds like a fairytale; however, Josephus, a Jewish historian who lived from 37–100 AD, said he saw the pillar of Lot’s wife. It was still there over 2,000 years later.6
Most likely Lot’s wife was a Sodomite, someone he met in Sodom. Why did she look back?
Christ used the story of Lot’s wife as a picture of the time right before the second coming in Luke 17:28–32. He said,
“It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. “It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. On that day no one who is on the roof of his house, with his goods inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. Remember Lot's wife! Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.
During the time period that the Son of Man comes, nobody on the roof of his house should go back to get his goods. It will be a time of great judgment, as with Sodom. Christ says, “Remember Lot’s wife! Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it.” Since he uses Lot’s wife as a reference in the context of a person returning to get goods in his house, the implication is that she looked back because of her possessions. They left their house, herds, and fields. Everything they owned was left behind, and therefore, Lot’s wife could not but look back. Her heart was in Sodom with all her things!
This is how many Christians are. They are consumed with things: houses, cars, iPhones, iPads, and clothes. They are materialistic.
Christ gives materialism as a descriptor of the world and how Christians should not live for these things. In Matthew 6:31–32, Christ says, “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.”
He says the pagans run after food, drink, and clothes. They are consumed with them, but Christians should not be. Sadly, a lot of Christians are just like the world—consumed with material. They are frantic every time a new product comes out, and they run around like the world does to obtain them.
Interpretation Question: What should the Christian’s relationship to the material things of this world be like?
At least two verses clearly address this. Christ said in Matthew 6:19–21:
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Christ said believers should not store up the riches of this world because they tend to steal our hearts. He said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” When Christians store up the riches of this world, it becomes hard for them to focus on heavenly things. Like Lot and his wife, they often become more concerned with keeping or gaining wealth rather than the things of heaven. Lot and his wife had a difficult time leaving their wealth because wealth had their hearts.
Paul also teaches about the Christian attitude towards the material things of this world in 1 Corinthians 7:29–31. He says,
What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.
Paul said that those who buy something should treat it as if it was not theirs to keep. When I go to a hotel, I don’t buy new curtains or covers because I will only be there temporarily. Similarly, we should never forget the temporary nature of worldly things, as they are passing away. In addition, those who use the things of this world should not be engrossed in them. The things God graciously gives us should instead be used as tools to worship and glorify him.
However, worldly Christians are consumed with the things of this world. They run around seeking to gain them just like the world. They know nothing of, “Do not store up riches on this earth.” They have been raised in the world, and they have never gotten the spirit of materialism out of them. If you ask them how they practice the discipline of not storing up riches on this earth, they would have nothing to say because their practice is no different from the worlds’.
The disciples sold all they had. Much of the early church did the same. Scripture does not command us to practice this discipline the same way, but we all must at least pray about it and ask God how we should obey his command. Lot and his wife knew nothing about this. They were consumed with their things, which hindered their obedience to God.
Application Question: How big of a problem is materialism for you? How do you practice the discipline of not storing up riches?
With the coming of dawn, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Hurry! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away when the city is punished.” When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the LORD was merciful to them. As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, “Flee for your lives! Don't look back, and don't stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!”… Then the LORD rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the LORD out of the heavens. Thus he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, including all those living in the cities—and also the vegetation in the land. But Lot's wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt. (Genesis 19:15–17, 24–26)
The previous point leads us to the next. Not only were Lot and his wife materialistic, but they also clearly lacked a fear of the Lord. The angels told Lot’s family to not look back nor to stop anywhere in the plain, and if they did, they would be swept away (v. 17). However, Lot’s wife still looked back and, consequently, was turned into a pillar of salt.
Why did she not heed the angel’s warning? Obviously, she didn’t take God and his discipline seriously. She thought, “God won’t discipline me for looking back” or “A little look won’t hurt” or “God is a forgiving God.” Sadly, this is all too common in the church. We know about a God of love, but we know very little about a God of discipline.
Application Question: Why is the fear of the Lord so uncommon among Christians today?
Maybe it’s uncommon because of the watered down preaching often seen in churches. When considering the gospel, it is often taught as a means of self-fulfillment and higher self-esteem. It is the pathway to getting rid of problems and the door to health and wealth. But the reality of God’s wrath and being delivered from it is often minimized or not mentioned at all.
Sadly, this is the current state of the church. Christ preached more on hell than heaven; however, the church today doesn’t want to mention hell or God’s wrath for fear of offending others. However, the gospel is offensive! It is foolishness to those who are perishing (1 Cor 1:18)! In addition, Scripture says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Prov 9:10). We can’t live wise lives unless we fear God.
Often, carnal Christians view God as their big Buddy in the sky. They often declare that he doesn’t mind their sin. He knows that they are just going through “a phase,” and everything is OK. Or, they know God will forgive their sins, so they will just ask forgiveness when they’re done sinning. They know nothing of the God who is a consuming fire (Heb 12:29). To them, the God who destroyed the world with water is a fairy tale. The God who destroyed Sodom is a God of the past, and the God who exiled Israel is not the God of the New Testament. Worldly believers don’t fear or take God seriously.
Lot’s wife turned back because she didn’t fear God, and no doubt, part of the reason Lot hesitated was his lack of fear. The angels said, “God is going to destroy the city! Run!” Then Lot stopped to think, “Is God really going to destroy the city? Would he really do such a thing?” He had to be dragged out of the city by the angels. Often worldly Christians must be dragged to church, dragged to read their Bible’s, dragged out of darkness. Why? It’s because they don’t fear God. The fear of God is the beginning of living a wise life.
Application Question: What are major hindrances to fearing God? How do we grow in the fear of the Lord? Do you you fear God? Why or why not?
But Lot said to them, “No, my lords, please! Your servant has found favor in your eyes, and you have shown great kindness to me in sparing my life. But I can't flee to the mountains; this disaster will overtake me, and I'll die. Look, here is a town near enough to run to, and it is small. Let me flee to it—it is very small, isn't it? Then my life will be spared.” He said to him, “Very well, I will grant this request too; I will not overthrow the town you speak of. But flee there quickly, because I cannot do anything until you reach it.” (That is why the town was called Zoar.) By the time Lot reached Zoar, the sun had risen over the land. (Genesis 19:18–23)
Interesting enough, when Lot pleads with the angels to allow him to go Zoar, the angels grant his request. Certainly, this is pretty amazing. Yes, Zoar was small, but it was sinful just like the rest of Sodom and Gomorrah.
This was a tremendous grace to Zoar, as it would give the people longer to repent. However, this was not good for Lot and his daughters. This would only enforce Lot’s worldliness and put them around more corrupt people. In fact, we later see that Lot eventually moved away from Zoar to the caves in the mountains because of fear. Genesis 19:30 says, “Lot and his two daughters left Zoar and settled in the mountains, for he was afraid to stay in Zoar. He and his two daughters lived in a cave.”
Why was Lot afraid to stay in the city that he requested to live in? Obviously, Zoar was full of wicked people—just like Sodom—and we already know how Sodomites treated visitors. No wonder, they, eventually, fled to the mountains.
Interpretation Question: Why did God allow Lot to go Zoar, when he had already condemned the city because of its sin?
Allowing them to go to Zoar was probably a form of discipline. Sometimes God spanks us when we sin, and sometimes he simply says, “Go ahead. You don’t want to obey. Go ahead and reap the consequences of your sin.” The story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15 is a good example of this. The son approached the father and asked for his inheritance, essentially saying, “I want you dead!” The father gave the son the inheritance and let him go until he learned his lesson and returned home.
Many times God does that with us. He doesn’t fight us. He says, “Go ahead and enjoy your sin and compromise, until you have learned your lesson.” Like the Prodigal Son, worldly believers often must get to the point of brokenness—where they come to their senses—and then return to the Father’s house.
We see something of this in Romans 1:21–28, where God’s judgment on pagans for not acknowledging him is described. Consider God’s judgment,
Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. (Romans 1:24)
Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. (Romans 1:26)
Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. (Romans 1:28)
What was God’s judgment on the pagan world? He gave them over to the sexual impurity, homosexuality, and depravity that was already in their hearts. Many times God’s judgment is displayed by allowing a nation, a community, or a person to experience their evil desires and its consequences, with the hope that they eventually repent.
Sadly, this not only happens to the world but to Christians. They want to enjoy the sexual immorality of the world, and therefore, God hands them over. They experience conflict, emotional scars, disease, or worse. This happens in the church far too often.
One of the characteristics of worldly Christians is experiencing God’s discipline. Hebrews 12:5–6 says,
And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.”
It seems Lot experienced God’s discipline when he was allowed to go to Zoar, which he soon left out of fear.
Application Question: Do you think that Lot being allowed to go to Zoar was a form of God’s discipline? In what ways have you experienced God’s discipline, and how did you respond to it?
Lot and his two daughters left Zoar and settled in the mountains, for he was afraid to stay in Zoar. He and his two daughters lived in a cave. One day the older daughter said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is no man around here to lie with us, as is the custom all over the earth. Let's get our father to drink wine and then lie with him and preserve our family line through our father.” That night they got their father to drink wine, and the older daughter went in and lay with him. He was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up. The next day the older daughter said to the younger, “Last night I lay with my father. Let's get him to drink wine again tonight, and you go in and lie with him so we can preserve our family line through our father.” So they got their father to drink wine that night also, and the younger daughter went and lay with him. Again he was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up. So both of Lot's daughters became pregnant by their father. The older daughter had a son, and she named him Moab; he is the father of the Moabites of today. The younger daughter also had a son, and she named him Ben-Ammi; he is the father of the Ammonites of today. (Genesis 19:30–38)
The story is not over; it only gets worse. Lot and his daughters move away from Zoar and settle in a cave in the mountains. Caves were often places where people buried the dead. Lot would rather live in a tomb than stay in Zoar. As mentioned earlier, his daughters, who desired to have children, got their father drunk and raped him. They bore two sons: The older son’s name was Moab, which means “from father” and Ben-ammi, which means “son of kinsman.”7 The fact that the daughters named their children after their incest means they weren’t ashamed of it. It was actually something they boasted about! When they met people and introduced their children, they essentially boasted in how their children were conceived.
Interestingly, early records tell us incest was forbidden in this ancient eastern culture, which shows how depraved the daughter’s actions were. Kent Hughes gives us some insight into this:
Incest was considered wrong in Near-Eastern culture, as Harry Hoffner has shown in his festschrift for Cyrus Gordon, Orient and Occident. And Hebrew culture explicitly forbade a man’s having relations with his daughters or daughters-in-law (Leviticus 20:12; Ezekiel 22:10, 11). The penalty for such sin was death (Leviticus 20:11–13). Mesopotamian culture similarly forbade such incest in the Code of Hammurabi (Paragraphs 154–158). Likewise Hittite laws forbade such sins, punishing them either by death or banishment and, later, by paying a fine and sending an animal out of the town bearing the guilt on the analogy of Israel’s scapegoat.8
Though incest had become a common practice in Sodom and Gomorrah and also in Canaan, it was against the common laws of that time. Lot’s daughters’ deceptive acts were clearly wrong, and their boast in it made it even worse.
Lot’s compromise was not only passed onto his children but his children’s children. The two male children became the fathers of the Moabites and the Ammonites—future enemies of Israel. It was the Moabite king that tried to persuade the false prophet Baalam to curse Israel while in the wilderness (Num 22–24). Then, when Baalam wouldn’t curse them, the king sent Moabite women to tempt the Israelite men with sexual immorality and Baal worship (Num 25).
In the book of Judges, the Ammonites are seen fighting against Israel while they were in Canaan (Judges 11). They were bitter rivals. The sins of Lot continued in his children, even to the point that they became enemies of God and his people.
This happens with many parents who profess Christ but don’t practice their faith at home or in their daily lives. Often they raise up children who eventually become antagonistic towards God. They say, “If that is Christianity, I want nothing to do with it!” Like the Ammonites and Moabites, they become enemies of God all together.
Exodus 20:5–6 describes the process of the fathers’ sins following the children:
You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
Does this mean the children of the disobedient will be punished to the third and fourth generation? No, it means that the parents’ sins and the consequences of them will show up until the third or fourth generation (cf. Deut 24:16). Sin is hard to root out of a family line. It is common to find alcoholism, domestic abuse, children out of wedlock, and even witchcraft, pass from generation to generation. Lot’s sins affected his children’s children, and this commonly happens in the homes of worldly Christians as well.
Application Question: In what ways have you seen or experienced how sin and its consequences pass from generation to generation? In what ways have you seen or experienced how righteousness and its blessings pass from generation to generation?
Observation Question: In what ways do we see God’s grace and mercy on Lot in this narrative?
As we finish this text, we also cannot but notice how God’s grace and mercy were still on Lot’s life. God’s favor is like a thread running throughout the entire narrative. Where do we see this?
Again, Peter calls Lot a righteous man—meaning that he was saved (cf. 2 Pet 2:7). He was not righteous because of anything righteous he did, but because of the righteousness given to him through faith in God. Just like Abraham, he was justified by faith (cf. Gen 15:6). This in itself is grace—unmerited favor. God saves undeserving sinners. Thank you, Lord.
Abraham was incorrect in his assessment that God would not allow the righteous to suffer with the wicked (cf. Gen 18:23–25). The righteous suffer with the wicked all the time. The angels even told Lot that if he didn’t leave Sodom he would be swept away with the wicked (19:15). It was God’s grace and mercy that Lot was saved.
In fact, many times God, by his grace, protects us from the consequences of our sins and others, even though we deserve them. We saw this in Genesis 12, as Abraham rebelled in Egypt. He lied about his wife, and she was taken into Pharaoh’s harem. While there, God protected her and brought a disease upon Pharaoh’s household until she was released. Yes, even in rebellion, the Lord is still the shepherd of lost sheep; he cares for them and graciously provides for them. Many times God protects us from the full consequences of sin, as well.
In addition, one of the great mercies in Lot’s life was his uncle Abraham. I have no idea why Lot did not return to his uncle’s house after losing everything in Sodom. When the angels told Lot to go to the mountains, they were probably referring to Abraham’s house. Sodom was the land of the plain and Abraham lived in the mountains (cf. Gen 19:27). Maybe, Lot was too ashamed to return to Abraham. Maybe, he was angry at Abraham because of the constant conviction coming from his righteous life.
Whatever the reason, we can be clear about this: Lot was saved from judgment because of righteous Abraham’s prayer. Genesis 19:29 says, “So when God destroyed the cities of the plain, he remembered Abraham, and he brought Lot out of the catastrophe that overthrew the cities where Lot had lived.” When Abraham prayed to God about delivering the righteous, God did. He saved Lot.
This is true of many worldly Christians; they are recipients of grace stemming from the prayers of the church, believing parents, or friends. As the saints pray for them, though God disciplines, in that discipline God remembers mercy (cf. Hab 3:2). He gives mercy to them because of the saints’ prayers, and many times he eventually leads them back to Christ. Lot and his daughters received God’s mercy in response to Abraham’s prayers.
Let us not give up on those who are far away from God. God hears the prayers of his saints. The prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective (James 5:16).
But, I think we see another form of grace and mercy in Lot’s prayer. When Lot prays to go down to Zoar, God spares the city, even though they were wicked. Lot’s prayers, though probably few, were effective. In the same way, by God’s grace, God still uses worldly Christians to save and bless some. Those who are truly born again will always produce some fruit (cf. James 2:17, John 15:8), even though they miss God’s best.
Because they are God’s children, they are still recipients of God’s grace and mercy. It is his love, goodness, and patience that are meant to draw them to repentance (cf. Rom 2:4). Like the Prodigal Son’s father, God waits, and waits for worldly believers to return so he can kiss them, hug them, and put his robe on them (cf. Luke 15:20–23). He still wants to give them his best. Thank you, Lord, for your amazing grace and mercy.
Application Question: In what ways have you experienced God’s grace and mercy, even while in rebellion? How can we show God’s love to those not faithfully walking with God or in total rebellion?
What are characteristics of worldly believers—friends of the world?
Copyright © 2017 Gregory Brown
The primary Scriptures used are New International Version (1984) unless otherwise noted. Other versions include English Standard Version, New Living Translation, New American Standard Bible, and King James Version.
Holy Bible, New International Version ®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NASB) are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, and 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are from the King James Version of the Bible.
All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added.
1 Hughes, R. K. (2004). Genesis: Beginning and Blessing (p. 270). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
2 Guzik, David (2012-12-08). Genesis (Kindle Locations 3188–3190). Enduring Word Media. Kindle Edition.
3 Swindoll, Charles R. (2014-07-16). Abraham: One Nomad's Amazing Journey of Faith (Kindle Locations 2062–2063). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.. Kindle Edition.
4 Swindoll, Charles R. (2014-07-16). Abraham: One Nomad's Amazing Journey of Faith (Kindle Locations 2109–2110). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.. Kindle Edition.
5 Kidner, D. (1967). Genesis: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 1, pp. 145–146). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
6 Hughes, R. K. (2004). Genesis: Beginning and Blessing (p. 275). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
7 Swindoll, Charles R. (2014-07-16). Abraham: One Nomad's Amazing Journey of Faith (Kindle Locations 2313–2314). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.. Kindle Edition.
8 Hughes, R. K. (2004). Genesis: Beginning and Blessing (p. 281). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
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… (Genesis 20)
How do we conquer habitual sins?
Habitual sins are sins that we are especially prone to stumble in. Some people struggle with anger, some struggle with complaining, some struggle with lust or drunkenness. Habitual sins are sins that tend to linger in our life for years and sometimes a lifetime.
In this narrative, Abraham left the area where he probably lived for over twenty years by the great trees of Mamre and moved to the Negev region. Negev actually “means dry, parched—a synonym for desert.”1 He lived in a city called Gerar in the western Negev. It was a fertile plain between the mountains and the Mediterranean Sea that had been settled by the Philistines.2
We don’t know why he moved, but many suggest that it probably had something to do with Sodom and Gomorrah’s destruction. God rained down sulfur on these cities and destroyed them. We don’t know exactly how it happened, but Sodom and Gomorrah are now under the Dead Sea. God possibly destroyed it through some type of natural disaster, and as Abraham witnessed it, he decided to uproot his family and move.
When Abraham moved into Gerar, he lied about his wife by saying that she was his sister in order to protect himself. Consequently, Abimelech took her into his harem—endangering the promised seed. This mirrored the story of his move to Egypt in Genesis 12. There he also lied about his wife, and she was taken into Pharaoh’s harem. Lying was Abraham’s habitual sin. It was the sin that he typically succumbed to when pressured.
How do we overcome habitual sins? Here we will learn not from Abraham’s success, as in many of the other chapters, but from Abraham’s failure. We will consider twelve steps to conquering habitual sins.
Big Question: What steps to conquering habitual sins can we discern from Abraham’s failure in Gerar?
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. (Genesis 20:1–2)
As mentioned, Abraham moves his family to Gerar, where the Philistines lived. When he gets there, he lies about his wife, as he previously did in Egypt.
As we consider how to conquer habitual sins, the first thing we must do is identify them: What negative tendency do we often succumb to when pressured? Is it lying? Is it depression? Is it anxiety? Is it gossiping? Very clearly, Abraham’s negative tendency—his habitual sin—was lying.
One of the ways, we start to conquer our habitual sins is by first identifying what they are. What is your habitual sin? What is the sin or sins that you are most prone to fall to?
Consider Hebrews 12:1,
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Each of us has a race to finish; however, certain sins hinder us from finishing that race—completing the things God has for us. The author says, “let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.” He did not say “sin that so easily entangles” but “the sin that so easily entangles.” He seems to be referring to a specific sin that we easily fall into. It is probably more than one sin. We all have them; these are our habitual sins, which tend to easily trip us up.
Sometimes these are hard to identify because they are so ingrained into our character. For one person, his grandpa had an anger problem, his mother had one, and he has one as well. Everybody knows him as having a temper, and he just accepts it as a natural part of his identity rather than something to be conquered. Some sins are socially acceptable, like telling little white lies, exaggerating, boasting, or illegal downloading. If we accept the world’s thoughts about these sins (Rom 12:2), again it may be hard to identify them.
What sin or sins easily entangle you? We must first identify them so we can conquer them.
Application Question: What are your habitual sins? When are you most prone to fall to them?
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. (Genesis 20:1–2)
Another thing we must do to conquer habitual sins is to recognize our vulnerability to them. When we look at this narrative, we cannot but be surprised at Abraham’s stumble. He had been walking with God for at least twenty-five years. In fact, in the last couple of chapters, he was noted for his great faith.
In Genesis 17, God told him he was going to have a son in his old age. At age ninety-nine, God commanded him to circumcise himself and his household. Though circumcision would have been extremely painful, he immediately obeyed God. In Genesis 18, God and two angels visited Abraham’s household. Abraham was very generous, as he prepared them a great feast. While there, God shared his plan to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah for their great sins. After hearing this, Abraham interceded for Sodom. His nephew Lot and his two daughters were saved as a result of his prayers (cf. Gen 19:29). Abraham had been a model of great faith.
Here though, he falls back into a sin that he originally committed at the beginning of his faith journey in Genesis 12. No doubt, one of the things we can learn from Abraham’s fall is that we are always vulnerable—no matter how spiritually mature we become. In fact, it is when we think that we are no longer vulnerable that we are the most prone to stumble. Paul said this in 1 Corinthians 10:12: “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!”
If we think that we are no longer susceptible to a certain sin—that we have conquered it—then we are most vulnerable to it. Certainly, by God’s grace, we can start to maintain a certain level of victory. However, we should always be painfully aware of our weakness and propensity to stumble. Consider what Paul called believers in Philippians 3:3: “For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh.”
We must put no confidence in the flesh. Paul said that in his flesh dwelt no good thing (cf. Rom 7:18). Often, this is the very reason many Christians fall back into habitual sins. They start to think they are over it. Proverbs 16:18 says, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”
It is when a person says, “I’m OK. I am no longer tempted in this area,” that it often comes back and bites them. In this area, members of Alcoholics Anonymous came to some right conclusions. Even though they might have maintained sobriety for ten years, they still say, “I am an alcoholic.” By saying this, they are not recognizing their current practice, but their current vulnerability.
Some people really struggle with this concept for Christians. Scripture says we are now the righteousness of God (2 Cor 5:21) and co-heirs with Christ (Rom 8:17); therefore, they say that we should never call ourselves sinners. However, the very verses that they quote about being the righteousness of God and co-heirs with Christ were written by Paul. He is the same man who called himself “the chief of sinners” (1 Tim 1:15). He said, “In my flesh dwells no good thing” and “the things I would do, I don’t do, the things I wouldn’t do, I do” (Rom 7).
I am a little worried about Christians who emphasize one part of Scripture without the full picture. Paul said both. Yes, I have been crucified with Christ and my old man is dead (cf. Gal 2:20, Rom 6). But at the same time, I have a sin nature and there is a battle between the Spirit and my flesh, and sometimes I don’t do what I want (Gal 5:17).
Abraham had been faithful to God and shown great faith; however, he was still vulnerable and so are we. If you think you are standing, if you think you have conquered it, take heed lest you fall. In order to conquer habitual sins, we must, in humility, recognize our vulnerability to it.
Are you still recognizing your vulnerability? This should stand out to us, as Abraham succumbs to the same sin he committed over twenty years earlier.
Application Question: How do we reconcile the truth that our old nature is dead and we are now the righteousness of God, with the fact that we are still sinners? How can we keep a proper balance?
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. (Genesis 20:1–2)
Again, Abraham clearly is vulnerable to lying when in a potentially hostile situation. The question we cannot but ask is, “Why did he move to an area where he would be tempted to lie?” He previously lived in safety by the trees of Mamre, but he moves to an area with potentially hostile people, which tempted him to sin.
Surely, we can learn a great deal from this. If we are going to conquer habitual sins, we must stay away from possible temptations. Jesus said this in Matthew 5:29–30:
If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
Christ said if what you are looking at (eyes) causes you to sin, get rid of it. If what you are doing (hand) causes you to sin, get rid of it. We must have such an animosity to sin that we get rid of every door or potential door that might tempt us to sin.
We see a similar teaching from Solomon who warns his son of the adulterous woman in Proverbs 7:25–27. He says, “Do not let your heart turn to her ways or stray into her paths. Many are the victims she has brought down; her slain are a mighty throng. Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death.” Solomon essentially said, “Stop temptation at its root—the heart motive. Don’t entertain the possibility of sin with this woman. Keep her out of your mind and stay away from paths that lead to her.” Solomon warned his son so that he would not be victimized by this woman like so many before him.
In the same way, one of the ways we protect ourselves from falling to habitual sins is by staying away from every form of temptation. If Abraham knew that lying to protect himself was his habitual sin, why is he moving to a dangerous area where Philistines live? If he failed previously in Egypt, why is he moving to Gerar—a similar situation?
First Thessalonians 5:22 says, “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” If you have a tendency to occasionally overdrink, “Why do you still go to the bar?” If you have a tendency towards falling into lust, “Why are you watching shows with partial nudity?” If you have a tendency to cheat on tests when feeling unprepared, “Why are you waiting to the last minute to study?” If you have a tendency towards depression, “Why are you listening to music that makes you sad?” If you struggle with cursing, “Why do you listen to music and watch movies with lots of cursing?” If you struggle with gluttony, “Why are you at the buffet?”
If we are going to conquer habitual sins, we must close every door that might lead to them. Are you closing all potential doors and temptations to sin?
Application Question: In what ways has God taught you to avoid certain temptations in order to conquer habitual sins? Are there any doors you feel God is convicting you to close now?
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. (Genesis 20:1–2)
Another thing we must recognize, in order to conquer habitual sins, is their effects on others. Abraham’s lie about Sarah being his sister led to his wife being taken into King Abimelech’s harem. The king had the right to take any single women he desired, and that’s just what Abimelech did.
Now Sarah is almost ninety years old in this text, why would he desire to take her into his harem? Sara would live to 127, but even considering the long-life span of the patriarchs, her age was still equivalent to a fifty-three-year-old woman that lived to be seventy-five.3 Why does Abimelech take her?
Well, in Egypt, the text mentioned her great beauty (Gen 12:14) and maybe she was still relatively beautiful, even at this late age. Commentator Henry Morris said this, “She had in some measure been physically rejuvenated, in order to conceive, bear, and nurse Isaac, and possibly this manifested itself in renewed beauty as well.”4 It is possible God physically rejuvenated her for birth, and therefore, her beauty was renewed.
Most likely, Abimelech took her for political purposes. Ancient kings often married to gain allies or wealth. Solomon probably married Pharaoh’s daughter to strengthen his alliance with Egypt. Similarly, Abimelech probably took Sarah in order to secure an alliance with Abraham, who was a very wealthy man.
Either way, Abraham’s lie almost cost him his wife, just as it did while in Egypt. This is something we must be aware of. Our sins always affect others, even when they are done privately. As the church, we are the body of Christ, and one body part cannot hurt or be infected without affecting the other parts. Paul compared sin to leaven that leavens the whole lump (1 Cor 5:6). Sin has a tendency to spread towards others, and the consequences of sin also often affect others.
When Jonah sinned against God, it almost killed those traveling in the boat with him. When David sinned by taking Bathsheba, it led to her husband’s death, his child’s death, and the sword never departing from his home. Sin always affects others, even when committed in private. We must be aware of this.
In fact, Isaac, Abraham’s unborn son, later lies about his wife as well (Gen 26). Isaac’s lie was even worse because Rebekah was not his sister in any sense. Isaac’s son Jacob was a liar, as he deceived his father. Jacob’s sons lied to him for years saying that his son Joseph was dead. Sin always affects others.
This is important to understand because many times the psychology of one struggling with sin is, “My decisions don’t affect anybody else,” or “I don’t care about my life right now. Who cares if I sin?” The psychology of a person in a habitual sin is usually selfish—thinking only about himself. However, if one considered the consequences towards others, it would help him fight sin.
Adam and Eve probably wouldn’t have sinned if they considered that their private sin would negatively affect the entire world. Abraham, probably, wouldn’t have lied if he considered that lying could cost him his wife and, potentially, his unborn child.
It’s the same for us. We must recognize that our habitual sins hurt not only ourselves but others. Understanding this will aid us in our fight against sin.
Application Question: How can considering our sins’ potential effects on others help in our fight against sin? How can we foster this type of mindset?
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. (Genesis 20:1–2)
Another thing we must discern from the narrative is Abraham’s lack of trust in God. God told Abraham that his wife was going to bear him a child and that from his seed all nations would be blessed (Gen 17:15–16). God also told him that those who blessed him, God would bless and those who cursed him, God would curse (Gen 12:3). In Genesis 13, God cursed Pharaoh’s household to protect Abraham and Sarah. In Genesis 14, God conquered several armies to protect him. After that, in Genesis 15:1, God told Abraham that he was his shield—God promised to protect him.
However, Abraham decided to protect himself by lying about his wife. He didn’t trust God. Abraham’s sin was rooted in a lack of faith and so is ours. In our faithlessness, we might say, “God I am lonely, and I don’t trust that you will provide someone good for me.” Therefore, we run off to satisfy our loneliness—not wanting to wait on God. Or, “God you don’t care about me,” so we rebel against God and his goodness. Or, “God I have to fight for myself because you are not protecting me.” Therefore, we get angry and fight against those harming us, instead of believing God’s Word, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay saith the Lord” (Rom 12:19, KJV). All sin is rooted in a lack of faith and a trust in self.
Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the Lord and lean not on your own understanding.” In order to break habitual sins, we must choose to trust God, instead of ourselves.
Are you trusting God in your fight against sin—in your fight to be holy—or are you trusting in something other than God?
Application Question: In what ways are habitual sins rooted in a lack of faith and selfishness? How can we increase our faith, our trust in God?
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. (Genesis 20:1–2)
When God allowed Abraham’s wife to be taken by Abimelech, no doubt, this was a form of God’s discipline. When Abraham lied about his wife, he probably thought that if somebody wanted to marry her, he would negotiate with him, as her brother, giving them time to escape. However, this would only be true if taken by someone other than the king. The king does what he wants without permission. This was probably Abraham’s logic in Egypt as well. He must have reasoned, “That will never happen again.” Clearly, God disciplines Abraham in hopes that he would learn to trust him and always practice honesty.
Hebrews 12:7–8 says,
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.
God disciplines everybody who is a son; if we are without discipline, then we are not sons of God. God disciplines his children not to punish them but to train them in righteousness. Hebrews 12:10–13 says,
Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.
Abraham was also disciplined in Egypt, when he lied about his wife. God allowed Pharaoh to take her. No doubt, this left Abraham in a great deal of mourning and repentance until God delivered her. Apparently, Abraham never learned his lesson, so he repeated the sin and, therefore, the discipline.
The writer of Hebrews said that discipline “produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it” (v.11). Discipline should always make us more holy and make us have more peace. However, when a person is not properly trained by discipline or trials that God allows, it can actually maim them. They can become spiritual cripples. That’s why God says, “strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees… so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed” (v. 12–13).
After trials and discipline, some people become angry at God and angry at people instead of having more peace. They leave the trial saying, “I will never trust again. I will never love again.” They leave with spiritual baggage that often hinders them for the rest of life. Others leave the most horrible situations loving God and people more and having more peace. The discipline produces a harvest of righteousness and peace in their lives.
When Abraham lost his wife, no doubt, this was a discipline of God. It was meant to train him to trust God and to always practice honesty.
Are you becoming more holy through the trials and the discipline God allows? Or are you becoming more bitter, more fearful, less trusting, and less godly?
Application Question: In what ways have you seen or experienced trials or discipline that produced a harvest of righteousness and also ones that crippled people? How can we learn from these trials instead of becoming disabled by them?
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.” (Genesis 20:3–7)
After Abimelech took Sarah as his wife, God appeared to him in a dream. In the dream, God told Abimelech that he and his people would die because he took Abraham’s wife. In addition, God closed the wombs of all the women in Abimelech’s house (Gen 20:18).
Abimelech, immediately, began to rationalize with God: “Will you kill an innocent nation? Did not Abraham tell me that she was his sister?” God agreed and said that it was because of his innocence that the Lord kept him from touching Sarah. God shared that Abraham was a prophet and commanded him to return Sarah. After doing this, Abraham would pray for them and God would heal his nation.
God’s grace runs throughout this narrative. Abraham sinned, but God kept him from the full consequences of it. Instead, Abimelech suffered. It almost seems unfair. However, Abraham was God’s child, and even in his failures, the Lord shepherded him. God protected and lavished mercy on him.
In fact, when Abimelech restored Sarah, he gave Abraham sheep, male and female slaves, and a thousand shekels of silver (v. 14–16). Abraham became wealthier after his failure. God was gracious, even in Abraham’s failure. However, God’s grace was ultimately meant to make him repent, as it is with us.
Oddly, God’s grace is often used as a motivation to sin. I remember counseling a person struggling with some rebellion in his life. He admitted that he wasn’t ready to repent, as he knew that God would forgive him. The logic doesn’t make sense.
This is all too common. Part of it is a wrong understanding of God. These people see God as a gracious God, which is true, but they have no understanding of God as a God of wrath and discipline.
Even more, it is a wrong understanding of God’s grace and mercy. It’s cheap grace. God’s grace should not motivate us to sin but motivate us to repent. Romans 2:4 says: “Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?”
God’s goodness should draw men to repentance—not lead them further into sin. Yes, God may be patient with us, while we rebel and sin against him. He may graciously keep back the full weight of sin’s consequences. But if he does, it is meant to draw us closer to him in repentance, not farther away.
In order to conquer habitual sin, we must recognize God’s grace. God’s grace towards Abraham was meant to draw him to repent, not encourage further rebellion. With that said, God’s grace is not unlimited. Remember what God said to the people before sending the flood in Genesis 6:3, “Then the LORD said, ‘My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal; his days will be a hundred and twenty years.’” God essentially says, “My grace is up. You only have one hundred and twenty years left before destruction.” God’s grace and patience will not last forever. Today is the day of salvation (2 Cor 6:2).
How are you responding to God’s grace? When you sin and then confess, God forgives you. He, at times, protects you from sins’ full consequences. He even uses your failures for your good in some way or another (cf. Rom 8:28). Does his grace motivate you to change—to fight against sin? Or are you showing contempt for God’s grace?
God’s grace draws us to repentance. In order to conquer habitual sins, we must recognize God’s amazing grace towards us.
Application Question: What is the “cheap grace” mentality? How have you seen or experienced it? How do we get rid it?
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.” (Genesis 20:7)
In God’s reply to Abimelech, he calls Abraham a prophet, even though he lied. God does not speak of him on the basis of his sin but on the basis of what God called him to be. While Abraham was living in Ur—worshiping his fathers’ idols—God called him to speak for him. God ministered to Abraham in special ways and called him to be a blessing to the nations. Even though Abraham failed many times, it didn’t change who he was before God.
We see this often in Scripture. When Israel is being oppressed by the Midianites, God approaches a man named Gideon, who was hiding from the Midianites. He calls him a “mighty warrior” (Judges 6:12). This comment didn’t make sense. He was hiding. God then calls him to save Israel, and in response, Gideon came up with many excuses. He said, “My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am least in my family” (Judges 6:15). Gideon had a different view of himself than God did, which hindered his spiritual progression.
And this is true of many of us—causing us to stay stuck in certain besetting sins. We think that our sins are too great, we’ve fallen too much, and that we’ll never be free. We have a view of ourselves that contradicts God’s call and our new identity. It does not agree with what God says about us and our sin. Much of the Christian life is learning our new calling and identity in Christ and accepting it.
It is important for us to understand this so we can begin to conquer sin. I have, no doubt, that when Abimelech approached Abraham about interceding, Abraham was a little surprised. Abraham had failed God and was walking in the flesh. He was not operating according to God’s promises and calling. We often do the same. Consider what Paul said in Romans 6:
What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—…In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 6:1–6, 11)
These believers said, “Should we go on sinning so that grace may increase?” Paul replied, “By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” He began to teach them who they were in Christ. They and their sin died with Christ—meaning it no longer had power over them. They were raised with Christ to live a new life. He commanded them in verse 11, “Count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” Count is a thinking word. He says, “You have to think about yourself differently. You are not the same anymore.”
This is important to recognize because Satan often uses wrong thinking to trick and trap people in sin. He says to them, “You will never be free. You will never be a man of God.” He lies, and sadly, many adopt these lies. However, God says, “This is not true. You are my prophet to the nations. On the cross, I broke the power of sin over your life. I raised you from spiritual death to spiritual life. You are new. Now walk in this newness.”
Personally, when I had a major battle with lust during college, understanding Romans 6 changed this losing battle into a winning battle. I was duped into believing Satan’s lies. I felt defeated and that there was nothing I could do to be free. However, when I began to understand Romans 6, I realized that God had already won the battle. When tempted to lust, I literally began to speak God’s words about me, “I am dead to sin and alive to Christ. That is not me anymore.” Then I would pray to be filled with the Spirit.
Similarly, before the conversion of Augustine, one of the early church fathers, he lived a very promiscuous lifestyle. After his conversion, he encountered one of his past flings. When he saw her, he turned around and ran. The lady said, “My Love! Where are you going? It is I!” Augustine replied, “I know, but it is not I anymore!”
When battling habitual sin in our lives, we must do the same. We must count ourselves dead to sin but alive to Christ. Like Abraham, though at times, we walk below our calling, we are still God’s prophets. We are new in Christ—the old has passed away (2 Cor 5:17). We are by God’s declaration the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Cor 5:21). We must count ourselves dead to sin, even after failure. We must declare like Augustine, “It is not I anymore.”
Are you viewing yourself according to your new identity and God’s calling? Or are you accepting Satan’s lies? “You are a failure!” “You’ll never be righteous!” and “God can’t use you!”? Who are you believing? Your view affects whether you win this battle or lose it.
Application Question: How have you experienced defeatist thoughts in your battle against habitual sin? How can you begin to appropriate your new calling and identity in Christ?
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.’ (Genesis 20:11)
While talking to Abimelech, Abraham shares the thought process that led him to lie: “‘I said to myself, ‘There is surely no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’” The implication is that Gerar was a very ungodly place, and therefore, Abraham became afraid. He thought they would take his wife and so he lied about their relationship. Yes, they were really brother and sister, as they had the same father. The intent, though, was to deceive.
This is a common doorway to sin. In fact, fear is both a result of sin and a catalyst to sin. If you remember, after the fall, a new word entered Adam’s vocabulary, “afraid.” After he sinned, he started to experience fear. Genesis 3:9–10 says: “But the LORD God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’ He answered, ‘I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.’” When Adam heard God in the garden, fear made him hide from God. Fear began because of sin, and it also provoked further sin.
In the same way, fear still draws us into sin. We are afraid of what people think of us. We are afraid of failure. We are afraid God doesn’t love us or that others don’t love us, and this fear commonly leads us to sin.
Abraham was afraid, and therefore, he lied. Adam was afraid, and he hid from God. Fear is a catalyst for sin. It often provokes it. No doubt, Peter wants us to understand this in 1 Peter 5:8, when he describes the devil as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. Why do lions roar? They roar to frighten and paralyze their prey. After they are paralyzed, the lion can then devour them.
In the same way, Satan works through fear to paralyze and conquer us. Proverbs 29:25 says, “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.”
Often people are led into sin because of fear and then trapped by it. They say, “If I follow God, I may lose everything.” “If I end this relationship, nobody else may ever love me.” “If I don’t cheat on this test, I might fail and not get accepted into graduate school.” Fear leads us into sin and keeps us there. It begins to rule us like slaves.
What is the remedy?
Application Question: How can we get rid of fear that enslaves us to sin?
First John 4:18 says, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”
The more we know God’s love, the less we will fear. Perfect love drives out fear. When we are living in fear, it means that we are not acknowledging God’s love. Jesus said this to the disciples, when they were worrying about their futures: what they would eat, drink, and wear: “Look at the lilies of the field, how God clothes them. Look at the birds of the air, how God feeds them. If God cares for them, won’t he care for you?” (Matt 6, paraphrase). Christ essentially told the disciples that if they really knew how much God loved them, they wouldn’t worry.
Similarly, our fear about the future, people’s opinions of us, and rejection would be removed if we knew how much God loves and cares for us.
Application Question: How can we grow in knowing God’s love more?
We grow to know God’s love more by knowing God in a deeper way. As we draw near God, he draws near us (James 4:8), and in his drawing near us, we experience and understand more of his love. We do this by praying, being in his Word, fellowshipping with his people, and serving.
Part of perfect love driving out fear has to do with God’s love working through us to love others and not just knowing God’s love for us. It has been said that, “Love is giving when you don’t care what you get in return.” Isn’t that what often keeps us from loving? We don’t share with or serve others because of fear of being rejected or hurt. Fear keeps us from loving. But, if we truly loved people then it wouldn’t matter what we received in return. Worldly love is selfish, it cares more about itself than the person or object it supposedly loves. But God’s love is unselfish. He loves us whether we return it or not. First Corinthians 13:5 says, “Love is not self-seeking.”
Are you seeking to love others perfectly? If so, it will deliver you from fear—you won’t worry about being rejected or hurt.
Colossians 3:15 says, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”
The word rule can be translated “decide.” It is an athletic word used of an umpire in a competition. The umpire decides if somebody is safe, if he won, or if he is disqualified. In the same way, instead of being ruled by fear, we must be ruled by Christ’s peace. Fear tells us to run away from God and away from others. It drives us towards sin in order to protect ourselves or others. Instead, we must be ruled by the peace of Christ, which leads us into righteousness. The peace that Christ gives us in our hearts must decide our direction.
Application Question: How can we discern where or how the peace of Christ is leading us?
We can ask ourselves these types of questions:
Christ wants to guide us through his peace (cf. 2 Cor 2:13). We must be ruled by Christ and his peace instead of fear. Fear often leads us into sin, as it did with Abraham.
Application Question: What types of fear commonly try to rule your heart and lead you into sin? How have you experienced the peace of Christ? How can we “let” it rule in our hearts?
Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father though not of my mother; and she became my wife. (Genesis 20:12)
In Abraham’s reply to Abimelech about his deception, he makes excuses. He said, “she really is my sister, the daughter of my father though not of my mother” (v. 12). Was Abraham telling the truth? Yes—sort of. Was it still a lie? Yes, because Abraham’s intent was to deceive. Here, Abraham is trying to rationalize and soften his culpability. He is essentially saying, “I didn’t really deceive you.”
This response would only hinder Abraham from ever truly being set free. Sadly, we see that his son, Isaac, also lies about his wife in Genesis 26. This gives further evidence to the possibility that Abraham never got over this stronghold. It just got passed along to his children.
This is true for many Christians. The reason they can’t break a certain sin or stronghold is because they keep rationalizing the severity of it. They say, “Oh it’s not that bad,” “Everybody else is doing the same thing,” or “It’s just my personality.” Because they keep rationalizing it, they never see how bad it is, which keeps them from truly confessing and getting rid of it. And when they do confess it, they only confess it half-heartedly.
First John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” “To confess” in the Greek means “to say the same thing as.” Who are we to say the same thing as? We are to say the same thing as God. We must see our sin as God sees it for him to forgive and cleanse us. We must say, “God, I dishonored you. I lied. I cheated. I stole. Lord, forgive me and help me turn away from it.”
Many Christians continue to rationalize their sin, instead of saying the same thing God says about it. They instead say what the world or other compromised Christians say: “Everybody illegally downloads. It’s not really sin.” “Everybody cheats on their tests.” “Cheating on taxes is not a big thing.” Therefore, they can’t get rid of certain sins or be forgiven for them. God forgives those who “say the same thing” about their sin that he does.
To God all sin is horrible and wretched. Sin put his Son on the cross; therefore, sin is not a little thing to him. It is big! We must say the same thing about our sin that God does—both to be forgiven and set free from it.
Application Question: Why do we commonly rationalize sin? Are there any sins that you’re rationalizing that God wants you to truly confess?
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.”’” (Genesis 20:13)
Another thing we must notice about Abraham’s excuse to Abimelech is that he blames God. Abraham says, “God made me wander from my father’s household” (v.13). This may not be as clear in the English, but, in the Hebrew, it stands out much more. Commentator Donald Barnhouse said this about the word “wander”:
“There is a terrible meaning in this verb wander which Abraham uses. The Hebrew word occurs exactly fifty times in Scripture and never in a good sense. It is used of animals going astray, of a drunken man reeling, or staggering, of sinful seduction, of a prophet’s lies causing the people to err, of the path of a lying heart. Six other words are translated wander, any one of which Abraham might have used, but he used the worst word available.” (Barnhouse)5
Essentially, Abraham said, “God put me in a rough spot, as we wandered from my father’s house, and I had to protect my family. That is the reason I lied.” This is all too common for those stuck in habitual sins. They tend to blame God or others, which only further entrenches them in sin. God is the only way out of sin. If one blames the deliverer, what hope is there?
But sadly, this happens all too often. Remember what Adam said to God, when asked if he ate from the tree. In Genesis 3:12, Adam said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” By implication, Adam blamed God and then the woman to lessen his culpability.
Typically, Christians get mad at God and say, “Why did you allow this to happen?” or even, “Why did you let me do this?” after they commit some sin. Their accusations further mire them in the sin.
Instead of blaming God, we must declare that he is always good, righteous, wise, and our only hope for deliverance, even when we don’t understand our circumstances. That is the only proper response to sin or difficult circumstances.
Be careful of blaming God and others. Some people stay trapped in habitual sin because they focus on others instead of themselves. It is their mom’s fault, their teacher’s fault, the milk man’s fault. It is everybody’s fault but their own, and therefore, they stay captive to bitterness and sin. They are so focused on the spec in someone else’s eye that they miss the plank in their own.
Application Question: Why do people tend to blame God or others for their own failures and yet miss their own culpability? How does this cripple people and keep them from being set free?
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. (Genesis 20:17–18)
Finally, we can learn one more thing from Abraham’s struggle with habitual sin in Genesis 20. When God confronted Abimelech about taking Abraham’s wife, he told him Abraham was a prophet, that he would pray for him and his household, and that they would be healed. God had closed the wombs so the women could not bear children.
When God restored Abraham from this sin, he also restored him to ministry. It is only by God’s grace that Abraham had a ministry to Abimelech. Many times when in sin, we lose our witness to the world around us. The world won’t listen to us because our sin is as bad or worse than theirs. When Abraham was caught lying by Pharaoh, he had nothing to say. Pharaoh, quickly, had him escorted out of the city. However, in this scenario, God graciously provided Abraham with an opportunity to minister to Abimelech and his home.
With all this said, a great deterrent from sin is giving ourselves fully to God’s work. If Abraham had gone to Gerar to be a prophet and witness to the nation, instead of just a sojourner, it probably would have kept him from lying. In Ephesians 5:15–17, Paul says:
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.
When Paul says, “Be very careful, then how you live…because the days are evil” he was warning them about falling into sin. By the phrase, “the days are evil,” he referred to the evil that is so prevalent in our day and that we have a tendency to fall into. For this reason, we must know God’s will and make the most of every opportunity to do it. We must stop wasting time and get busy doing God’s work to keep us from falling into sin. Serving God is a tremendous deterrent to sin.
I think we see something of this in the story of David’s adultery. Second Samuel 11:1–4 says,
In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king's men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem. One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “Isn't this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her. (She had purified herself from her uncleanness.) Then she went back home.
The narrator tells us it was the spring time when kings usually went off to war; however, David chose to stay home. This is significant because the kings of Israel were called to conquer the promised land. David’s call was very similar to Joshua’s. He was called to subdue the promised land in fulfillment of God’s revelation to Abraham. However, David decides to not lead his people.
One night while remaining at home, he was restless and went out on his porch where he saw a naked woman bathing. He lusted after her and then committed adultery with her. If David had made the most of his opportunities to do God’s will by fighting the battles of Israel, it would have protected him from sin.
How often do we fall into sin or stay stuck in a habitual sin because we are not fully committed to God’s will? We are not going to small group or church, not serving others, not reading the Word or abiding in prayer, and therefore, we fall into sin or our struggle gets worse.
One of the ways we break strongholds is by knowing God’s will and doing it. If Abraham had gone to Gerar to speak for God and exalt him, it probably would have kept him from lying. Similarly, the more we redeem our time and use it to do God’s will, the less likely we are to fall into the evil of the day.
In 1 Corinthians 15:58, Paul says something similar: “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
Paul calls the church to stand firm. Standing firm is warfare terminology—standing against the attack of an oncoming enemy. How do we do this? We stand firm by always giving ourselves fully to the work of the Lord. We must battle and break habitual sins by always using our time to serve God and do his will.
In considering this, we must be careful of free time and wasted time. Those are usually times that Satan tries to draw us into sin. We must conquer habitual sins by giving ourselves fully to God’s work.
Application Question: In what ways have you experienced faithfully serving and doing God’s work as a protection from sin? In what ways have you experienced not being faithful with God’s work as an open door to fall into habitual sins?
How can we conquer habitual sins in our life?
Copyright © 2017 Gregory Brown
The primary Scriptures used are New International Version (1984) unless otherwise noted. Other versions include English Standard Version, New Living Translation, New American Standard Bible, and King James Version.
Holy Bible, New International Version ®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NASB) are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, and 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are from the King James Version of the Bible.
All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added.
1 Swindoll, Charles R. (2014-07-16). Abraham: One Nomad's Amazing Journey of Faith (Kindle Locations 2417–2420). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.. Kindle Edition.
2 Swindoll, Charles R. (2014-07-16). Abraham: One Nomad's Amazing Journey of Faith (Kindle Locations 2417–2420). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.. Kindle Edition.
3 Cole, Steven. “Lesson 42, Besetting Sin (Genesis 20:1–18)”. https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-42-besetting-sins-genesis-201-18 accessed 11/17/14.
4 Guzik, David (2012-12-08). Genesis (Kindle Locations 3331–3334). Enduring Word Media. Kindle Edition.
5 Guzik, David (2012-12-08). Genesis (Kindle Locations 3377–3383). Enduring Word Media. Kindle Edition.
Now the LORD was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what he had promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore him. When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God commanded him. Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.” And she added, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.” The child grew and was weaned, and on the day Isaac was weaned Abraham held a great feast. But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking, and she said to Abraham, “Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac.” The matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son. But God said to him, “Do not be so distressed about the boy and your maidservant. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned. I will make the son of the maidservant into a nation also, because he is your offspring.” Early the next morning Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. He set them on her shoulders and then sent her off with the boy. She went on her way and wandered in the desert of Beersheba. When the water in the skin was gone, she put the boy under one of the bushes. Then she went off and sat down nearby, about a bowshot away, for she thought, “I cannot watch the boy die.” And as she sat there nearby, she began to sob. God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.” Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink. God was with the boy as he grew up. He lived in the desert and became an archer… (Genesis 21)
How can we continually experience God’s promises?
In 2 Peter 1:3–4, Peter says:
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
God gave us everything needed for godliness, which includes his precious promises. By taking hold of these, we participate in the divine nature (godliness) and escape the corruption of the world. Somebody counted over 3,000 promises in the Bible. Each is a special gift enabling us to become more godly and escape sin.
In Genesis 21, Abraham experienced the fulfillment of a promise he had been waiting for since the beginning of his faith journey. In Genesis 12, God told Abraham to leave his family and his land because God was going to make him a great nation and bless all nations through him.
Abraham was seventy-five and his wife was sixty-five and barren. This fact seemed a detriment to the promise. Abraham, in faith, left his home and followed God; however, at moments, his faith lapsed or was tested. In Genesis 13, because of a famine, he left the promised land for Egypt. There he lied about his wife being his sister, and she was taken by Pharaoh into his harem. But while there, God protected and delivered her. In Genesis 16, Abraham and his wife, Sarah, doubted whether God’s promise included her. Therefore, Abraham married Sarah’s servant, Hagar, and bore a child, Ishmael, through her—causing conflict in his home. God clarified his promise to Abraham in Genesis 17 and 18 declaring that this seed would indeed come through Sarah. Even after this, in Genesis 20, the promised seed was threatened. Abraham again lied about his wife, and she was taken by Abimelech, the Philistine king, into his harem. However, God again protected her. Here, in Genesis 21, God fulfills his promise to Abraham. Sarah gives birth to the promised seed—the child they were waiting for. God filled them with great joy, and they named the child, Isaac, which means laughter.
God has given us promises as well. He gave us promises in his Word. Some of his promises are conditional and some are unconditional. He promises to save us if we respond to his Son in faith (Rom 10:13). He promises to meet all our needs as we put him first (Matt 6:33). He promises to allow grace to abound to us if we are faithful givers (2 Cor 9:7–8). He promises to draw near us if we draw near him (James 4:8). Some of his unconditional promises include the fact that he will never leave us nor forsake us (Matt 28:20), no matter what happens in life. He promises to use everything that happens in life for our good (Rom 8:28). He gave us many great and precious promises, both conditional and unconditional.
Furthermore, for many of us, he has given personal promises. Like Abraham, as we walked with him, he gave us special and unique promises. Maybe, he promised to provide a spouse. Maybe, God promised to give you a specific ministry. Maybe, God promised to restore a broken relationship, save a friend or family member. Because God gives us so many promises, through his Word and our relationship with him, the Christian life should be a continual unwrapping and enjoying his gifts and promises. This makes following God an exciting and rich journey. What promises has he given to you? In what ways have you experienced answers to these promises?
In this text, we learn eight principles about experiencing God’s promises, as God finally fulfills his promise of a son to Abraham. This should comfort and encourage us as we both wait on and experience God’s precious promises.
Big Question: What principles can we learn about experiencing God’s promises through Genesis 21?
Now the LORD was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what he had promised. (Genesis 21:1 )
Genesis 21:1 says, “Now the LORD was gracious to Sarah as he had said and the LORD did for Sarah what he had promised.” Interestingly, the narrator attributes Isaac’s birth to God’s grace. Grace means unmerited favor. Even though God promised to give Sarah a child, it was still a gracious gift from him. God was not obligated to give Sarah anything, just as he is not obligated to us. The birth of Isaac, especially considering Sarah’s barrenness, was a work of God’s unmerited favor.
Abraham’s and Sarah’s experience was a work of grace because they did not earn it. It was not because Abraham was special that the Lord appeared to him in Ur. Abraham and Sarah were pagan idol worshipers just like everybody else in Ur. However, because of his grace, God appeared to Abraham and made a promise to him.
This is very challenging to our pride. Man naturally wants to earn favor with God. We live in a graceless society. It is based on competition and survival of the fittest. We must earn everything we get. However, God breaks into the midst of our society and says, “You are not good enough, not educated enough, not pretty enough, not strong enough, or righteous enough. Your only hope is my grace.” Therefore, all God’s promises are given by his grace and not any merit of ours.
Even our salvation is a work of grace. Yes, we are called to respond in faith in order to be saved, but Scripture says that even our faith is a work of his grace. Ephesians 2:8–9 says: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Application Question: What applications can we take from the fact that experiencing God’s promises are a work of grace?
Experiencing God’s blessings and promises can often lead to pride and ultimately God’s discipline. David became prideful with the favor and promises the Lord gave him. He counted his army to boast in his strength, and the Lord brought severe discipline upon him and Israel (2 Sam 24). God’s grace should always encourage humility in its recipients.
First Corinthians 4:7 says, “For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?” How can we boast in anything we have, including experiencing God’s promises, if they come from him?
Therefore, as recipients of God’s grace, we should be humble because we understand everything good comes from God (cf. James 1:17). This leads us to the next point.
Paul said this about experiencing the promise of salvation in Ephesians 1:3–6:
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.
The experience of God’s promised salvation is all to the praise of God and his glorious grace (v. 6). Every good and perfect gift that we receive from God should draw us to worship and adore him more. In fact, one of the reasons that God gives us his promises is so that we will worship and enjoy him more. Therefore, as recipients of God’s promises, we should continually offer worship to the Lord.
Does being a recipient of God’s promises cause you to worship and give thanks to God? Are you still standing in awe of his grace or have you started to take it for granted? David prayed for God to restore the joy of his salvation (Ps 51:12). We too often lose the joy we should have over God’s gifts and promises.
Application Question: How does it make you feel to know God has given you many great and precious promises? How can we stay humble instead of prideful when experiencing them? How can we keep our joy over them?
Now the LORD was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what he had promised. (Genesis 21:1 )
Another aspect that must stand out in the narrative is God’s faithfulness to his Word. Genesis 21:1 says, “the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised.” This is important for us to see. No doubt, Moses, the narrator, wanted the Israelites, who were reading this while in the wilderness, to remember that God would fulfill his Word to them. They would enter the promised land, and it would be given to them in fulfillment of God’s promise. Moses said this in Numbers 23:19: “God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” Jeremiah 1:12 says that God watches over his Word to make sure it is fulfilled.
One of the things we learn from experiencing God’s promises is that God is faithful and trustworthy. The enemy of our souls always tries to get us to doubt God’s integrity. Satan essentially called God a liar in the Garden of Eden, when he said, “You will not surely die. If you eat of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, you will be just like God.” He similarly tempts each of us. He wants us to doubt God’s love, his intentions, his faithfulness, and most of all his Word.
This is one of the truths we can hold onto, as we wait for God to fulfill his promises. If God said it in his Word, then you can trust it. God said he will give you eternal life if you call on the name of the Lord (Rom 10:13). You can trust his Word. He said that he will meet all your needs as you seek his kingdom first. You can trust him. Matthew 5:18 says, “I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.”
God will accomplish his Word. If he said it, he will do it. And if it does not come to pass, then God did not say it. Sometimes with our personal promises, we must put them on the shelf and say, “I believe this is what God told me, and if it comes true, God said it. If it does not, I was presumptuous.” It is not a lack of faith to test what we “think” God said. It is wise and biblical, because God commands us to test the spirits to see whether they come from God or not (cf. 1 John 4:1).
The narrator wants us to know, as he desired Israel to know, that we can trust God’s Word. God cannot tell a lie (Titus 1:2). He will fulfill his promises to us.
Application Question: Have you ever been tempted to doubt the validity of God’s Word? How did you wrestle through that? How do we grow to trust God and his Word more?
Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. (Genesis 21:2)
The next thing we learn about experiencing God’s promises is that God’s promises happen in his timing. Genesis 21:2 says that Sarah bore Abraham a son “at the very time God had promised him.” One of the most difficult things about experiencing God’s promises is that we want him to answer our prayers and his promises in our timing. We live in a fast-paced society. We want everything now, and for many things, we can have them immediately. We don’t have go to the movie theatre; we can pay for the movie and download it to our laptop. We don’t have to go to store, we can shop online.
Perhaps, these comforts make it even harder for us to wait on God. However, God is not on our time schedule; we are on his. Many times we have to wait to receive his promises. Abraham waited twenty-five years for God to give him a son. He had a child in his old age. When he died, Abraham had not yet received the land as an eternal inheritance, and his children, Israel, are still fighting over the land. It took over 2,000 years for Jesus Christ, the seed who would bless all nations, to come. Most times those who experience God’s promises have to wait.
Let us not forget that Moses waited forty years in the wilderness. Joseph waited over twenty years for God to exalt him to second in command over Egypt and for his father and brothers to bow down to him, like he saw in the original vision. God called Paul to be an apostle, but most scholars believe his apostolic ministry really didn’t begin for about eleven years after his vision.1
Application Question: Why do we commonly have to wait to receive God’s promises?
Peter said this about God’s timing in 2 Peter 3:8–9, when considering the promise of Christ’s second coming:
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
For God, a thousand years is like a day—meaning it happens as fast as a day. And at the same time, a day is like a thousand years—meaning it happens as slowly as a thousand years. The New Testament says that we are living in the last days as we wait for Christ’s second coming; however, Christ still hasn’t come for two thousand years.
One of the reasons we often have to wait on God’s promises is because God’s timing is different than ours.
Since God is more concerned about our character than our destination, he intentionally allows us to wait. It teaches us patience and perseverance which are necessary to develop character. Remember what Romans 5:3–4 says: “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”
An implication of perseverance is not only suffering but waiting. Persevering is waiting while bearing up under a heavy weight. As we do this, it creates character, and character leads us to hope in God more. Hope is another word for trust. As Abraham waited on God’s promises, it forced him to develop character traits like patience, perseverance, and hope in God. The longer we wait, the more we realize that the fulfilment of the promise is not in our power. It causes us to depend more on him, instead of our wisdom or activity. Dependence upon God is a great character trait. Matthew 18:3 says that the greatest in the kingdom of God are like little children—meaning they are totally dependent upon God.
Are you waiting on the Lord? It is in the waiting season that he refines you. Don’t be in a hurry. Everything will happen in his perfect time. God will bring a spouse in his perfect timing. He will save the friend or the family member you’re praying for in his perfect timing. He will open the door for your ministry in his perfect timing.
Part of maturity is learning how to wait; just as part of immaturity is not being willing to wait. Abraham in the waiting process became impatient and married another woman, making his situation worse. Often our impatience reaps consequences on our lives; sometimes the consequences have long term affects, as Abraham’s did.
Are you willing to wait on the Lord? Waiting is good for us. Sarah birthed the child of promise in God’s perfect timing.
Application Question: What has God taught you through waiting seasons? What does God have you waiting on now?
Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore him. When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God commanded him. (Genesis 21:3–4)
After Abraham and Sarah had a child, Abraham immediately named the son Isaac, which means laughter. God told Abraham in Genesis 17 that Sarah would have a child and to name him Isaac since Abraham laughed at hearing the promise (and, later in Genesis 18, Sarah laughed as well). Abraham not only was obedient in naming the child Isaac, but, also, in the fact that he circumcised the boy on the eighth day. In Genesis 17, God commanded Abraham to circumcise every male in his household and the male children on the eighth day.
Obedience is a necessary aspect of receiving God’s promises. In Genesis 12:1, God said to Abraham, “Leave your country and your family and I will make you a great nation.” Abraham had to obey to receive the promise. Similarly, in Genesis 17:1–2, God appeared to Abraham and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless. I will confirm my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.” In order for Abraham to receive the promise, he had to faithfully walk before God (cf. Gen 24:15–18). Now, God had already made a unilateral covenant with Abraham in Genesis 15, promising that he would fulfill the covenant in his own power alone, and this was true. However, Abraham still needed to walk with God, but God’s power would enable him to do it.
Obedience is a necessary component of receiving God’s promises. If God blessed the disobedient, it would only affirm or inspire them to continue in disobedience. Consider some of God’s conditional promises again:
In Joshua 1:7–8, God promised Joshua that he would prosper in everything if he meditated on God’s Word day and night and if he never let it depart from his mouth. Psalm 1 reiterates the same promise. This promise comes to those who are obedient. In 2 Corinthians 9:7, God promises to give us “all grace” so that we possess everything we need and abound in all righteousness if we are cheerful givers. Again, this promise is for the obedient. In Matthew 6:33, God promises to meet all our needs if we seek first the kingdom of heaven and his righteousness. God blesses those who are obedient.
In fact, Jesus said in John 14:23, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” Obedience is a proof of loving Christ and therefore salvation. For those who obey, Christ and the Father make their home in them and indwell them forever.
The very reason many never experience God’s precious promises is because they lack obedience. They instead disobey and, therefore, miss God’s blessings. Christ said this in John 15:7 about answered prayer: “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.”
Part of how Christ’s words remain in us is by obeying them. A person who Christ’s words remains in is someone meditating on God’s Word and obeying it, and therefore, God answers his prayer.
Are you practicing obedience like Abraham? Abraham wasn’t always like this; it was a process. When he went to the promised land, he immediately left because of the famine and then lied because he didn’t trust God. I have no doubt that God was preparing obedience in Abraham over the twenty-five years so he could receive all of God’s great and precious promises.
Surely, God does that with us as well. He is patient with us in our disobedience, but, like any good parent, he waits, urges, and disciplines us so we can learn obedience and experience his best. God wants to give us his best. He wants us to experience his promises, but like Abraham, we must walk with God and be blameless to experience “God Almighty,” El Shaddai.
Application Question: Why is obedience important to receiving God’s promises? In what ways have you experienced his promises while being obedient and experienced the loss of them while being disobedient?
Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him …Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.” And she added, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.” (Genesis 21:2, 5–7)
The narrator also highlights the fact that Abraham and Sarah were past the age of childbearing. Verse 2 says that Sarah bore Abraham a son in his old age, and verse 5 says Abraham was a hundred years old. Again, in verse 7, Sarah’s old age is emphasized when she says, “‘Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.’”
However, this is exactly how God often works. It is when we are the weakest or when we have given up that God moves. Consider what God said to Paul, after he prayed for God to remove his thorn in the flesh:
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9–10)
God basically told Paul, “No, because my power is made perfect in weakness.” Abraham’s and Sarah’s dead reproductive organs were the ideal place for God’s power to be perfected. Mary’s womb, in the absence of a male seed, was the perfect place for God to display his power. Moses’ tongue and his lack of ability to speak was the perfect place for God to move.
Where is your weakness? Where are you the least competent? What are you most insecure about? That is often the very place that he moves. Many of us have experienced this in our lives. Many met their spouses when they least expected to. God allowed them to reach the end of their resources in order for them to experience God’s grace and power. Many found their callings in areas that they still profess are not their strength.
The very reason that some never experience God’s promises is simply because they are too strong and too confident. Everything they do, even in ministry, is a work of the flesh and not of God’s grace. It is often God’s grace to allow us to go through trials to weaken us or to reveal our weakness, so we can experience his promises.
For those who are too strong, he fights against them to make them weak, so he may build them up again. James 4:6 says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” He fights against the proud—the independent—but gives grace to the humble—those who recognize their total dependence and need for God.
Application Question: In what ways have you experienced God’s promises or power at your weakest moments?
The child grew and was weaned, and on the day Isaac was weaned Abraham held a great feast. But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking, and she said to Abraham, “Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac.” The matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son. But God said to him, “Do not be so distressed about the boy and your maidservant. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned. (Genesis 21:8–12)
Sadly, this story isn’t all “peaches and cream”; there is a sour part to the story. When it was time to wean Isaac, which probably was around three years old—the typical age Jewish children were weaned2—Ishmael, the son of Hagar, mocked Isaac. The word “mocked” is an intensive verb form of Isaac’s name, “to laugh.”3 In Galatians 4:29, Paul said Ishmael “persecuted” the son born by the power of the Spirit, which shows how dramatic this mocking must have been.
We can imagine something of Ishmael’s psyche. Until the birth of Isaac, Ishmael was probably considered the child of promise—he was going to receive Abraham’s inheritance. But ever since Isaac was born, Abraham’s disposition changed towards him. Ishmael probably experienced jealously, as many older siblings do when a new child is born.
As he mocked Isaac, Sarah noticed and became furious. She said to Abraham, “‘Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac.’” This greatly grieved Abraham because he loved and cared for his son, Ishmael. However, God spoke to Abraham and said, “‘Do not be so distressed about the boy and your maidservant. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”
Now was God affirming Sarah’s jealousy? Absolutely not. However, Sarah was right in the fact that Ishmael would not share in Isaac’s inheritance. Even though culture necessitated that Ishmael receive the first portion of Abraham’s inheritance, that was not God’s will. Ishmael represented Abraham’s flesh. Ishmael was Abraham’s best efforts to receive the promise of a seed; however, Abraham’s efforts were sinful and out of God’s will. Now, there was a conflict between Abraham’s work of the flesh and God’s work through the miracle birth of Isaac.
When Paul talks about Ishmael and Isaac in Galatians 4, he says that these two children were typologies (cf. Gal 4:24–27). The Galatians were being tempted to return to the legalism of the Old Covenant law for salvation, instead of continuing in the grace of the New Covenant, which comes through Christ. A group of false teachers called Judaizers were seeking to draw them back into circumcision and other Jewish rites, and Paul said this in Galatians 4:22–23 and 28–30:
For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. His son by the slave woman was born in the ordinary way; but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a promise...Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. At that time the son born in the ordinary way persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. But what does the Scripture say? “Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman's son.”
Paul said that the Jewish Christians should throw out the “ordinary” way of the law—representing the works of the flesh (Gal 3:3)—because they were now under the “power of the Spirit.” Similarly, our flesh always opposes God’s Spirit in us (cf. Gal 5:17). We try to fulfill God’s will in our own way, sometimes even by sin. Instead of seeking peace through the Spirit, we often seek it through the things of the world. Instead of waiting on God’s time, we rush things and receive the consequences of it.
In order for us to experience the fullness of God’s promises, we must deny our flesh. If we are holding onto some sin, holding onto a relationship that is out of God’s will, holding onto worldly desires, we hinder God’s work.
As with Abraham, many times the consequences of following our flesh continue to cling to us, and it can be very hard to get rid of. Abraham was legally married to Hagar, and Ishmael was his son. Abraham was distressed because of how complicated his situation was, and because he loved his son.
God then spoke to Abraham and relieved his pain. He told him exactly what he needed to do. When Abraham kicked Hagar and Ishmael out, Ishmael was around sixteen years old. Even though the text calls him a boy, he was of marrying age, as soon after he marries a woman from Egypt. God promised Abraham that he was going to prosper and care for Ishmael.
This is important to hear as often relationships keep people from progressing spiritually and fully experiencing God’s blessings. Sometimes people even feel distressed like Abraham. They think that if they step away from these relationships, the other people won’t make it without them. Maybe it might even push them away from God. What we need to understand is that God cares about these people more than we do. And many times, separation is exactly what they need. They need to learn that God is their provider and not the relationship. It says in the text that God was with Ishmael (v. 20). He never left him, and he also would make him into a great nation.
To be honest, this is good for me to consider because I also have had complicated relationships in my past that were hard for me to walk away from, but I knew it was God’s will. It is good to remember that God heard my prayer and that he will take care of them. For many of these relationships, now, years later, I can see God’s faithfulness.
Casting out the slave woman and her child may look different for each one of us. For one, it is letting go of some sin or addiction. For another, it may be relinquishing self-effort and anxiety and instead trusting God and his timing. For another, it may be letting go of a relationship born out of the flesh. Whatever it may be, we can be sure that the doorway to more of God’s blessing is letting it go.
It was not God’s will for this rivalry to exist between Ishmael and Isaac. Ishmael was a threat to Isaac, and therefore, Ishmael needed to leave. Galatians 5:17 says, “For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.” There is still a conflict between our flesh and the Spirit, and the only way for the Spirit to win is for us to deny the flesh. Galatians 5:16 says, “So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”
Are you living by the Spirit or by the flesh? Which is ruling in your life? To live in the Spirit is to live in obedience to God—abiding in his Word, prayer, worship, and service. This is the doorway to experiencing God’s promises. However, if the flesh and its efforts linger in our lives, they will hinder God’s promises.
Application Question: In what ways is God calling you to deny the flesh so you can fully experience his promises? In what ways have you experienced God’s freedom and blessings when denying the flesh?
At that time Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his forces said to Abraham, “God is with you in everything you do. Now swear to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or my descendants. Show to me and the country where you are living as an alien the same kindness I have shown to you.” Abraham said, “I swear it.” Then Abraham complained to Abimelech about a well of water that Abimelech's servants had seized. But Abimelech said, “I don't know who has done this. You did not tell me, and I heard about it only today.” So Abraham brought sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelech, and the two men made a treaty. Abraham set apart seven ewe lambs from the flock, and Abimelech asked Abraham, “What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs you have set apart by themselves?” He replied, “Accept these seven lambs from my hand as a witness that I dug this well.” So that place was called Beersheba, because the two men swore an oath there. After the treaty had been made at Beersheba, Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his forces returned to the land of the Philistines. (Genesis 21:22–31)
Next, we see that Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of the Philistine forces, met with Abraham. They said, “God is with you in everything you do” (v. 22). No doubt, they heard about how God gave him a child in his old age, and they also had seen his prosperity. Therefore, they sought to make a covenant with Abraham. Abraham was powerful and his estate continued to grow, and therefore, they feared that at some point Abraham might attack them. Because of this, they sought a peace treaty.
After they approached Abraham, he agrees, but he also complains about a well Abimelech’s servants seized. Abimelech said that he was unware of it. Then Abraham brought sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelech, and they made a treaty (v. 27). Most likely, they cut the animals in half and walked through them.4 This custom was them saying, “Let this happen to me, if I don’t keep my side of the covenant.” Then Abraham gave Abimelech seven ewe lambs, as a witness that he dug the well (v. 28). They were almost like a receipt—proof of his ownership.5 They then called the well, Beersheba, which means “well of seven.”6
It is important to notice in this text that the Philistines could see God’s favor on Abraham’s life. This was God’s plan from the very beginning. God promised that he would bless Abraham and that Abraham would be a blessing (cf. Gen 12:2). When he was living by the great trees of Mamre, no doubt, the people learned to reverence the God of this foreigner. Abraham showed great integrity while living in the land, and he prospered. With only three hundred men and a few alliances, he conquered the four armies from the east. Melchizedek, the king of Salem, blessed him, and the king of Sodom respected him (Gen 14). People could see that God was with this man, and through his witness, they were being drawn to know and honor the God of heaven.
Remember, Abraham wasn’t perfect. He failed, while living among the Canaanites, by becoming a polygamist like many of them. He also lied to Abimelech when he first moved to Gerar in Genesis 20, but God still used him, and God still uses us, as well.
Similarly, when a person experiences God’s promises, their lives becomes lights to the lost—drawing them to worship the true God. Matthew 5:16 says, “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
When we are experiencing God’s promises, it should exalt God and not us. We see this throughout Scripture. Laban said to Jacob, “I know that God has blessed me because of you” (Gen 30:27, paraphrase). With the three Hebrew males living in Babylon, King Nebuchadnezzar said this after God delivered them from the fiery furnace:
Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.” (Daniel 3:28–29)
He declared that no god could save in the way Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego’s God could. In the same way, when we are walking with God and experiencing his promises, it is a witness to the world. They see things that only God can do, and it draws them to worship and glorify God.
Are you allowing your light to shine so that others will glorify God? Is that your hope while being a student? Is that your hope while working in a business? That is God’s desire for you and one of the reason’s he blesses you. He blesses you to honor his name among unbelievers, and that they may come to know him.
Application Question: How is God calling you to be a light among your family, friends, and co-workers? In what ways have you seen God draw people to himself or bless others in spite of your failures and imperfections?
Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called upon the name of the LORD, the Eternal God. And Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines for a long time. (Genesis 21:33–34)
Finally, after Abimelech and Phicol left, Abraham planted a tamarisk tree. A “tamarisk is a shrub-like tree that has very hard wood and evergreen leaves.”7 There he began to call upon the name of the Lord. He called him the Eternal God. Abraham’s planting a tree was very similar to his building altars throughout Canaan (cf. Gen 12:7). Every time he saw this tree it would remind him of God’s faithfulness and provoke him to worship. He called God “El Olam,” the Eternal God because he had experienced God’s unchangeableness, as he had faithfully fulfilled his promises. God had blessed Abraham with the child of promise in his old age and protected him in the land of the Philistines. In just the previous chapter, Abraham lied about his wife to Abimelech, out of fear for his life (Gen 20). Now, the Philistines made a treaty with him and restored the well they took.
God had told Abraham that he would make him a great nation, which began with his great wealth and continued with the birth of Isaac. He promised that he would bless those who blessed him and curse those who cursed him. God would protect him and be his shield. In view of all these blessings, Abraham could not but plant a tree to remember God’s faithfulness and worship his eternality. By calling God, El Olam, he was saying, “God you have always been my provider, you have always met my needs, you are always faithful. You are the same yesterday and forever.”
In the same way, God faithfully blesses us and allows us to experience his promises so we can worship and enjoy him more. He tells us of his characteristics in his Word: his love, power, omniscience, and wisdom. Then he displays them before us as he answers our prayers and fulfills his promises. We experience God’s promises not only to glorify God and bless others but also to bless us and enable us to worship him more.
If you are not experiencing God’s promises in your life, maybe because of sin or compromise, then you are missing one of the greatest avenues of knowing and worshipping God more. The Christian life is to be a continual unwrapping and enjoying of God promises, which reveal more of God’s character. In walking with God, Abraham continually learned more about him. God was Yahweh (Gen 12:1), the God who made a covenant with him. He was his shield—his very great reward (Gen 15:1). He protected him when he fought against the four kings of the east and was his reward for his victory. He was El Shaddai (Gen 17:1), the Almighty God, who gave him a child in his old age. He was El Olam (Gen 21:33), the Eternal God, who doesn’t change and who is always faithful. It must be the same way for us. We must continue to know and worship God more through experiencing his promises.
Are you being drawn to a deeper intimacy with God and worship of him through experiencing his promises?
Application Question: How can we grow in our worship of God, as we experience God’s faithfulness to his promises?
When God brought Abraham from his home in Ur to the promised land, Abraham immediately built and altar. Here, after God gave him a son and protected him from the Philistines, he planted a tree to worship. Similarly, when God parted the Jordan River for the nation of Israel and they went into the promised land, God commanded them to take stones from the riverbed to remember his parting of the river. When God gave the Israelites manna from heaven, he commanded them to place a few pieces of bread in the Ark of the Covenant so they could remember.
We must do the same. When God answers our prayer or blesses us, we should write his works down in a journal to help us remember his faithfulness and provoke us to worship him a new. Or, we should make a unique memorial like collecting a keepsake, writing a poem, or, like Abraham, planting something. This is important because we are so prone to forget.
Abraham not only planted the tree to remember but also to “call upon the Lord” (v. 33). In the same way, when we experience answered prayer or God’s blessings, we should take time to worship and thank God. It’s so easy to receive an answer to prayer and yet continue life as usual without worshipping or giving God thanks. Not only do we often not give thanks in trials, but we commonly forget to give thanks when he blesses us (cf. 1 Thess 5:18).
Application Question: In what ways do you practice remembering God’s faithfulness? How has this practice been a blessing to your relationship with God? How is God calling you to make memorials in order to not forget his faithfulness?
God has given us everything we need for life and godliness, and one of the things he gave us is many great and precious promises. The Christian life should be a continual unwrapping of these promises to the glory of God and the benefit of others and ourselves. In Genesis 21, we learn many principles about experiencing God’s promises:
Copyright © 2017 Gregory Brown
The primary Scriptures used are New International Version (1984) unless otherwise noted. Other versions include English Standard Version, New Living Translation, New American Standard Bible, and King James Version.
Holy Bible, New International Version ®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NASB) are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, and 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are from the King James Version of the Bible.
All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added.
1 Accessed 2/20/2016 from http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/issues/issue-47/apostle-paul-and-his-times-christian-history-timeline.html
2 Hughes, R. K. (2004). Genesis: Beginning and Blessing (p. 294). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
3 Hughes, R. K. (2004). Genesis: Beginning and Blessing (p. 294). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
4 Wiersbe, W. W. (1991). Be Obedient (p. 92). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
5 Wiersbe, W. W. (1991). Be Obedient (p. 92). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
6 Kidner, D. (1967). Genesis: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 1, p. 153). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
7 Wiersbe, W. W. (1991). Be Obedient (pp. 92–93). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.” Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.” Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together. When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide… (Genesis 22)
Interpretation Question: What is the difference between a test (or a trial) and a temptation?
What are characteristics of God’s tests and how can we faithfully pass them?
As we study Abraham’s life, it is clear God brought him through many tests. In Genesis 12, he was called to leave his home and family to go to a land that God would show him. He was challenged with the family test. For many of us, leaving our family to do what God has called us to do, or doing what God has called us to do in spite of family is a difficult test.
Abraham arrived at the promised land only to find a famine. He lacked resources and had to decide whether to trust God or not. He had the famine test. In Genesis 13, Abraham’s herdsmen and Lot’s herdsmen had a conflict in the promised land. There he encountered the conflict test. In Genesis 14, he went to fight against the four armies of the east with his 300 men and a few alliances. Abraham had the warfare test.
While Abraham followed God, he faced many tests, and we will as well. James 1:2–3 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.”
God takes us through tests to try our faith and discern its composition. Is it genuine or false? Is it weak or strong? Furthermore, since God has great plans for each of his children, tests are preparation for greater works, just as tests in school. Believers go through tests to build and strengthen their faith. Without believing in God, nothing is possible. Therefore, tests are the lot of God’s children because they must be prepared for the things God desires them to accomplish.
In this narrative, Abraham encountered a very difficult test primarily because of the great call on his life. Abraham was called to be a great nation and through his seed all nations would be blessed. Essentially, the gospel was to come through Abraham and his family. In order to fulfill this, Abraham needed to be tested and built up, and so do we.
How do we pass God’s tests? In considering this, let’s clarify that God never tempts believers to sin. James 1:13–14 says,
When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.
God does not tempt anyone because he is holy and perfect; however, he does test believers. God tests his children to make their faith strong, and Satan tempts them to make it weak. In fact, I would add that whenever God tests believers, Satan always comes behind to tempt them. God tested Adam and Eve in the garden. He said, “Do not eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, and if you do, you will surely die.” Then Satan came and tempted them to fail the test.
In every trial God brings, we can be sure that Satan comes behind to tempt us with our own natural desires (cf. James 1:14). Maybe, he tempts us with our desire for safety, for pleasure, or to be known and esteemed. But, he tempts us to fail God’s tests by using our natural desires within us.
How can we pass God’s tests? In Genesis 22, we learn a great deal from Abraham about passing God’s tests.
Big Question: What can we learn about passing God’s tests from the Genesis 22 narrative?
Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.” When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. (Genesis 22:1–3)
After God told Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Abraham did not question God or respond with shock or anger, he just went to bed and the next day obeyed. In contrast with previous narratives, Abraham often dialogued with God.
In Genesis 15:1, God showed up to Abraham and said, “I am your shield, your very great reward.” Abraham replied, “‘O Sovereign LORD, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?’ … ‘You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir’” (v. 2–3). This is not a man who is afraid to converse with God, especially when he doesn’t understand or agree.
In Genesis 17:18, when God told Abraham that he was going to have a son in his old age with Sarah, he responded by requesting a blessing over Ishmael. He said, “If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!” Abraham essentially said, “What about Ishmael?”
In Genesis 18, when God told Abraham he was about to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, where Lot lived, Abraham immediately responded by questioning and petitioning God. Genesis 18:23–25 says,
Then Abraham approached him and said: “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?”
The word “approached” in Genesis 18:23 was used of a lawyer about to plead his case. Abraham went before God and pleaded Sodom and Gomorrah’s case. He, in humility, challenged the Lord’s righteousness. He essentially said, “Lord, you are righteous, you will not do such a thing.” However, when God called Abraham to sacrifice his own son, he said nothing.
I think he had learned to expect tests from God and also to trust him. Since Abraham began following God, he experienced many tests and for each one God showed himself faithful, even when Abraham wasn’t faithful. When Abraham lied to Pharaoh and Abimelech about his wife, each time God protected him and his wife. Abraham knew God was faithful, and he had learned to trust him.
With that said, one of things that we must learn if we are going to pass God’s tests is to expect them. As a general rule, if we take a test without knowing about it, we typically fail.
And, to be honest, many believers fail God’s tests, in part, by not expecting them. They get mad at God. They are shocked by the difficulty they encountered. Some even fall away from God when tests come.
In Matthew 13:20–21, the Parable of the Sower, Jesus describes people who receive the Word of God on stony ground. They receive it with joy, but when trouble or persecution comes they quickly fall away. The implication is that these people weren’t expecting it and, therefore, weren’t prepared.
Peter said this to Christians suffering for their faith in the Roman Empire: “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you” (1 Pet 4:12). He said don’t be surprised and don’t think it’s strange. Essentially, he says, “Expect it.”
James 1:2 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds.” James doesn’t say “if” you face trials of many kinds but “whenever” you face trials of many kinds. We should expect them.
The Christian life is a series of trials and tests because these reveal and strengthen our faith. If we are going to pass God’s tests, we must expect them. They are part of life.
Application Question: What is your typical response to a trial? How can you respond better?
Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.” (Genesis 22:1–2)
The next thing we must understand about passing God’s test is that God has already prepared us. Now, as we read this narrative on Abraham, we cannot but notice the similarity to what happened in the previous chapter. In Genesis 21, Isaac was a toddler, and the family celebrated his weaning. During this celebration, Abraham’s other son, Ishmael, stood at a distance and mocked Isaac. In Galatians 4:29, Paul actually says he “persecuted” him.
When Sarah saw this, she became angry and told Abraham to throw Hagar and Ishmael out, for the son of the slave woman would not share the inheritance of her son, Isaac. The text said this greatly distressed Abraham (Gen 21:11). He loved his son. However, God spoke to Abraham and comforted him. He told Abraham to let him go, that God’s presence would be with Ishmael, and that Ishmael would become a nation (v. 12–13). Therefore, Abraham let his son go.
Now only a chapter later, God asks for Abraham’s other son. With Ishmael, Abraham could send him away because he knew that God was faithful and that he would provide for him. And now, in this narrative, probably well over ten years later, Abraham had watched God’s faithfulness with his son Ishmael. He married and God was prospering him, which only further confirmed Abraham’s faith. Abraham had been trained, not only because of that test, but because of many previous tests.
This is true for us, as well. God never takes us through a test that he has not prepared us for. That wouldn’t be fair. Why give his children tests they couldn’t pass? He only gives what we can handle by his grace. Consider 1 Corinthians 10:13,
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
God is faithful; he will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear and with the temptation he always provides away to “stand up” or bear it. I cannot but think of the disciples right before Christ went to the cross. John 18:7–9 describes the events:
Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” “I told you that I am he,” Jesus answered. “If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.” (John 18:7–9)
Why did Christ ask the soldiers who they wanted? It was because he was protecting his disciples. They were not yet ready to be martyrs, and he was making sure none of them would ultimately turn away from him. He was keeping their faith.
God does the same with us. He only puts us into trials he has prepared us for. Now, we still have to make use of that preparation. We must use the resources God gave us in the church—godly counsel and mentors. We must continually discipline ourselves unto godliness by studying Scripture, prayer, and serving (cf. 1 Tim 4:7). We must also flee from all appearance of evil as he has taught us (1 Thess 5:22). In doing this, we put on the armor of God to stand against spiritual attacks (Eph 6:10–13). If we fail the test, it is not for lack of preparation or resources. God has given us everything needed for life and godliness (cf. 2 Pet 1:3).
The trial may seem like too much, but if we look back over previous tests encountered and teachings received, he has prepared us to faithfully stand. We must take comfort in this, as we go through tests. He is a loving father who never allows us to encounter something we are unprepared for.
Application Question: As you consider the various tests you’ve encountered, how can you see God’s faithful preparation for these tests?
Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.” (Genesis 22:1–2)
As we consider the Lord’s command, it must have seemed illogical to Abraham, as it may to us. God promised Abraham that Isaac would become a great nation and all nations would be blessed through him (cf. Gen 12:1–3, 21:12). How could this happen if Abraham sacrificed Isaac?
Interestingly, “to an ancient Middle Easterner, ‘burnt offering’ suggested a process: first cutting the offering’s throat, then dismemberment, and then a sacrifice by fire in which the body parts were completely consumed on the altar.”1 How could Abraham even bare this image? And, how could this fit with the Lord’s previous promises? It must have clearly sounded illogical to Abraham.
No doubt, many times in our lives, the tests God allowed us to go through, at least at first, didn’t make any sense. We asked ourselves these types of questions, “Why would God allow me to go through this?” “Why did this happen to my friend or my family member?” God’s tests often are confusing.
For Abraham, sacrificing one’s son to a deity was not foreign to his worldview. This was common to the Canaanite religions. The people sacrificed children to appease their gods (cf. Lev 18:21, 24). Maybe, Abraham reasoned to himself, “If the pagan gods are worthy of such affection, then most certainly it must be true of my God.” We can only speculate.
Abraham did not have the benefit of the progressive revelation that God has given us in Scripture. In the Mosaic law, human sacrifice was clearly forbidden. Again, this must have been very confusing and difficult for Abraham, as it is for us to understand. I’m not sure one can give a fully satisfying answer to the morality of God’s command. However, with that said, we can say that God is all wise and all just. Therefore, his will is always perfect. Secondly, we can also, unequivocally, say that this is nothing God would ever require today. It is clearly forbidden throughout Scripture.
But the point remains the same; many times God’s tests will be a logical struggle for us. We must take comfort in the fact that God is infinite and that we are finite. He knows all things and our insight is limited at best. Consider what God said in Isaiah 55:8–10:
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
God’s ways are not our ways and his thoughts are not our thoughts. His thoughts and ways are higher than ours, and we must take great comfort in this. And for that reason, we must, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5).
We must trust him with all our heart because our understanding is flawed and there is no better guide or leader than him. Unless we do that, God’s tests and trials will lead us to bitterness, anger, frustration, and confusion, instead of a deeper trust in his faithfulness. Lord, we trust you.
Application Question: Have you ever experienced or witnessed a test that seemed illogical, at least at first? How can we trust God at those times?
Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.” (Genesis 22:1–2)
Next, we must notice that God’s test potentially involved Abraham’s greatest treasure—his only son. As a father, I can say that the most sensitive and vulnerable area in my life is my daughter. I remember when she was a toddler, I would often go to bed at night praying over her feet, toes, and head. I wanted God to protect every part of her body. I got scared when seeing doors. Just the reality that her finger could get caught in a door frightened me. It is very common for children to take this special place in a parent’s heart.
In fact, I cannot but wonder if Abraham’s affection for his son took a dangerous place in his heart. He wanted a child with Sarah, probably, ever since he was married. His previous name, Abram, meant “exalted father.” As he started to age, the snickers around him probably increased. His name meant exalted father, but he had no children. And for a time, after God named him “Abraham,” meaning “father of a nation,” at ninety-nine years old, maybe the snickers turned into roars. People probably said, “You’re changing your name to what? Why? Sarah, your wife is barren!”
Therefore, when God gave him a miracle child at the age of 100, maybe his affection grew too deep, bordering on idolatry. And the depth of his affection, no doubt, grew as he dealt with the pain of Ishmael’s leaving. Quite possibly, he dealt with his hurt by loving Isaac even more.
This is the reason that when we start following Christ, he calls us to hate our father, mother, wife, children, brother, sister, and even our own life to be his disciple (Luke 14:26). Our love for anything else, including family, must look like hate in comparison to our love for God. The greatest command is to love God with all our heart, mind, and soul. God will not have any rivals for our love.
Perhaps, this is why God asked for his son. Maybe, his love progressed to the brink of idolatry. But, we must hear and understand that this is common for God’s test. God often tests us where our affections are strongest.
Do you find your identity in work, studies, hobbies, friends, family, or a significant other? Then have no doubt that is where God will test you. Where ever our heart is, God will test us.
When God tests our most vulnerable areas, the tests are meant to help loosen our grip on these things and make our hearts cling more to God.
Application Question: How should we respond to this reality of God testing us in the areas of our greatest treasures?
Are you guarding and protecting your heart (Prov 4:23)? God must always be first.
Application Question: What areas of your life are you most prone to idolize? How have you experienced God’s tests in your most sensitive areas, your treasures? How can we protect our hearts from loving gifts over the Giver?
Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. (Genesis 22:3)
Interpretation Question: What can we discern from the fact that in the morning Abraham got up, saddled the donkey, took two servants and Isaac, cut the wood, and then set out for the place God called him to?
After God spoke to Abraham, presumably at night, the narrator tells us that the next morning Abraham saddled the donkey, gathered two servants and Isaac, cut the wood, and set out for the place God called him to go. He immediately obeyed.
Now certainly this wasn’t easy. In fact, some commentators have noted the fact that Abraham saddled his donkey before he cut the wood, which doesn’t make any sense.2 Normally, one would cut the wood and then saddle the donkey. Maybe, he was a little disoriented after a night without sleep. However, he still immediately obeyed God. This must be true of us as well. We must practice immediate obedience when we encounter God’s tests.
Application Question: What happens if we practice delayed obedience or rebellion in response to God’s test?
When we do not practice immediate obedience, it opens the door for the enemy to tempt us. He will try to draw us into questioning God. He will lead us to depression, discouragement, and ultimately sin. To sin in God’s test only leads to repeating the test. Like Israel, we end up spending years going around the same mountain in the wilderness. To practice disobedience, only brings God’s discipline and a repetition of the test. In addition, the repeated test only gets harder because our hearts become even more attached to whatever sin we struggle with.
Application Question: What happens when we practice immediate obedience?
When practicing immediate obedience to God’s tests, instead of receiving his discipline, we experience God’s blessing. James 1:25 says, “But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.”
The doer of God’s Word receives his blessings. God’s blessing may manifest as joy in the trial. While being disobedient in God’s tests, we often experience discouragement and depression (cf. Ps 32), but while being faithful, God enables us to find joy even in hard times. God’s blessing also gives us strength to persevere and be faithful. No doubt, Abraham experienced many of these blessings as he immediately obeyed God. If he had stayed at home and delayed obedience, the enemy of our souls and his would have tempted and tormented him.
Are you practicing immediate obedience in your trial? Or are you practicing procrastination and disobedience?
Application Question: Why is immediate obedience in trials so important? What are some of the consequences of delayed obedience or disobedience to God in trials?
On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.” (Genesis 22:4–5)
The trip took about three days to get to the region of Moriah (v. 4), which is where Jerusalem is today.3 Many believe Abraham, his servants, and his son ascended Golgotha, the same mountain Christ was crucified on, outside the gate of Jerusalem.
When they saw the place in the distance, Abraham told his servants to stay while he and the boy went up the mountain to “worship.” What stands out about this is Abraham’s view of this test. He called the sacrifice of his son worship to God.
I don’t think Abraham was lying or being deceptive. It was indeed worship to God. He was on his way to sacrifice to the Lord, and he saw it as worship.
This must be true of us as well when going through God’s tests. We must see them as our reasonable worship. Romans 12:1 says: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.”
Paul said that we should offer our bodies as living sacrifices to God, as an act of worship. Sacrifice is never easy. Sacrifice has the connotation of pain, and pain is not enjoyable. However, sacrifice can be worship to God if offered and given with the right attitude. And that is how Abraham saw his life and sacrifice, as worship to God.
The very reason many of us get angry at God, when going through trials, is because we see our life as worship to us. If a trial brings pain or discomfort, we get upset, because our lives are often more about ourselves than God. Our lives are about our success and happiness and anything that hinders those goals creates anger or animosity in us.
However, when we see our lives as sacrificial worship to God, it will change our response to tests and trials. Romans 5:3–4 says, “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”
We rejoice in trials because they ultimately lead us to hope in God. Trials take our hopes off our jobs, hobbies, family, friends, and dreams, and help us place our hopes, where they belong—with God. That is why going through tests and trials can cause rejoicing. It can only cause rejoicing when the purpose of our life is really God. We rejoice because trials help us ultimately know and trust God more.
Our attitude is very important in trials. If we have the wrong attitude, if we are complainers and whiners, then we will fail the test and bring God’s discipline on our lives. Philippians 2:14 says, “Do all things without complaining and arguing.” First Thessalonians 5:18 says, “give thanks in all circumstances because this is God’s will for our lives.”
When Israel complained while being tested in the wilderness, God disciplined them (1 Cor 10:10). The wilderness was not worship to them, because it took away their comfort. But if their true desire was to know and trust God more, the wilderness could have become their greatest joy.
Paul said this in 2 Corinthians 12:9–10:
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Paul’s trials became the subject of his boast because it was when he was weak that Christ’s power rested on him. For Paul the tests were worship, as it was with Abraham. Tests drew them both closer to God which was their ultimate desire. This should be true for us as well.
What is your attitude while going through tests?
Application Question: What is your typical attitude when God’s tests you? How can we learn to be thankful instead of bitter in our tests?
On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.” Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together. (Genesis 22:4–8)
Interpretation Question: Why did Abraham tell his servants that he and Isaac would go up the mountain and then come back? What was his reasoning?
We also must notice how Abraham not only shares that he and his son were going to worship but also that he said, “we will come back to you.” Now, was Abraham lying? We know Abraham had a tendency to stretch the truth. However, it seems Abraham was responding in faith. Hebrews 11:17–19 says:
By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.
The author of Hebrews says the reason Abraham offered his son was because he reasoned that God could raise the dead. When Abraham said, “we will come back to you,” it was because he believed that if he sacrificed his son, God would raise him from the dead. This was great faith, especially since up to this point in biblical history there were no previous resurrections.
Abraham throughout his journey learned that God was trustworthy and that he could not tell a lie. If God said it was through Isaac that his offspring would be reckoned, then it made sense that God would indeed raise him from the dead.
We also see his faith in how he responded to Isaac when asked about the lamb. Abraham responded, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son” (v. 8). Abraham didn’t exactly know how, but he knew that God would provide.
This must be true of us as well, when going through God’s test. We must have faith. Hebrews 11:6 says, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” In order to please God in a test, we must believe in him. We must believe in his goodness and his faithfulness to his people. We may not fully understand why or how, but we must trust him. The writer of Hebrews says that God rewards those who come to him with faith.
Are you trusting God in your trial? Faith is necessary to please God and to pass the test.
Application Question: Why should we trust God when going through trials? How can we increase our faith as we go through them?
When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. (Genesis 22:9–10)
When they reached the place God told Abraham to go, Abraham built an altar, arranged the wood on it, and then bound Isaac and placed him on the altar. The narrator mentions nothing about a struggle. Abraham was probably at least 116 years old at this time. We can guess this by the fact that the same Hebrew word for “boy” used of Isaac in this text was used of Ishmael in Genesis 21, who was sixteen at the time.4 Abraham was an old man. Isaac was stronger and faster at sixteen years old, and therefore, it would have been very difficult for Abraham to bind and place him on the altar without his cooperation.
The implication is that Isaac cooperated with Abraham. Maybe, while on top of the mountain, Abraham shared God’s command to sacrifice him and, at the same time, assured him of God’s faithfulness. No doubt, Abraham taught Isaac many times that a great nation would come through him, and that all the nations of the earth would be blessed through him. It is clear that not only did Abraham have great faith, but so did his son.
With that said, one of the principles we can learn from this about passing God’s tests is that we will also commonly need the cooperation and support of other believers to pass God’s tests. The Christian life was never meant to be walked alone. We need brothers and sisters supporting us and helping us get through.
In fact, if God calls us to any great work or to go through any great test, one of the right answers to the test will be, “Phone a friend”—get help. Scripture teaches that as Christians we are part of the body of Christ. One person is the hand, another is an eye, another is the liver, and another is a leg. In order for me to accomplish anything with my body, I need the cooperation of other parts. My leg cannot function without my hip, knees, and muscles doing their part.
Is it any surprise that this reality also applies to us when going through tests? We need the wisdom, the insight, the prayers, and support of others to be faithful in tests. Consider what Paul said about him being a prisoner in Rome and his eventual deliverance in Philippians 1:19: “for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.”
Paul was convinced that the prayers of a tiny congregation in Philippi were enough to thwart the plans of the Roman Empire. That is how confident he was in their prayers. It also showed his dependence upon them to receive deliverance.
What are you seeking deliverance from? Is it unforgiveness, anger, discord, depression, or some other sin? You can be confident that much of the grace of God needed to pass that test will come through the body of Christ. If you neglect the body of Christ, if you are not integrated into the life of a church, you will find yourself spiritually impoverished and failing most tests you go through.
We need one another. In order for Abraham to offer his son in obedience to God, he needed his son’s cooperation and faith as well.
Application Question: In what ways have you received grace through God’s body to pass tests or trials? How has God revealed your need to depend on brothers and sisters in Christ?
Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” (Genesis 22:11–12)
As Abraham was about to slay his son, the angel of the Lord commanded him to not lay a hand on the boy. The angel of the Lord was a theophany—a temporary appearance of God in order to reveal himself to his people. Many believe this was a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ. The angel of the Lord said, “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son” (v. 12).
We can discern from the angel’s words one of God’s purposes in Abraham’s trial. It revealed what was in Abraham’s heart. He said, “Now I know that you fear God.” The test revealed that Abraham feared God even more than losing his son. He truly did hate his mother, father, wife, children, brother, sister and even his own life for the Lord’s sake (cf. Luke 14:26–27), as we each are called to do.
In the same way, one of God’s purposes in trials is to reveal what is in our hearts. Consider what Peter said to the Christians suffering in the Roman Empire in 1 Peter 1:6–7:
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
Peter said the trials these Christians were encountering were to prove their faith genuine. The Greek word for “proved” was used of a metallurgist purifying or testing a metal to see if it was genuine.
Now the reality is that God doesn’t need to know what is in our hearts; we need to know what is in our hearts. God already knows everything.
For some professing Christians, trials essentially prove if God is their Lord at all. Remember in Matthew 13:21, the stony ground received the seed of the Word of God, but when trials came, the plant withered because it lacked deep roots. For many going through various trials with church, work, or family instead of drawing them to God, the trials push them away—never to return. They fall away proving that their faith was shallow and not genuine, as Christ taught. Maybe, it was more centered on the church rather than God, and therefore when the church failed them, they fell away. Or, following Christ was more focused on their prosperity, and therefore, when they experienced sickness or difficulty, they left God.
Trials come to reveal what is in our hearts. God said this to the Israelites while they were in the wilderness in Deuteronomy 8:2: “Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.”
God took them through the desert (or the wilderness) to test them and see what was in their hearts. As you know, while the Israelites were in the wilderness, trials revealed complaining, idol worship, sexual immorality, and rebellion. It revealed that “Egypt” was still in their hearts.
This is how many Christians are. When God brings them into a trial, it reveals that the world really rules their hearts. They complain, get drunk, commit sexual immorality, and rebel against authority, just like the Israelites did.
Sometimes people blame their actions on a certain situation or relationship; however, the blame is misdirected. They may say, “I only act this way when I’m around this person.” They say this to relieve blame from themselves. However, the situation or difficult person is really like a fire that brings all the impurities to the surface. It brings anger, lust, bitterness, and lack of faith; it shows what is already in the heart. The person or situation is not the cause—our heart is. The person or situation only revealed the sin already in our heart, which needed to be removed.
I remember stepping down from my pastoral ministry in Chicago and moving back to Texas with my parents, as I applied for new ministry positions. While waiting, I started struggling with my identity. I stepped down from my job in December and wasn’t hired to a new position until June. During that time, I realized that at some point while in ministry, I stopped seeing myself as, “God’s child.” I had become, “Pastor Greg, God’s child.” My identity started to come from my ministry position and not simply my identity in Christ. The trial of waiting revealed what was in my heart.
During that season of waiting, I really drew near God by being in his Word and prayer—to restore my identity as his child. Trials reveal what is in our hearts. That is part of the reason God allows them.
Again, for Abraham, the trial revealed that he feared God, even more than the loss of his son. What do your trials and tests reveal about your heart? Does it reveal anger, pride, lack of faith, or worldliness? Does “Egypt” come out of your heart, as it did with the Israelites while in the wilderness?
One of the reasons God allows tests and trials is to help us know our hearts, so we can repent and be transformed. In the midst of a test, it is good to pray, “Lord, what are you trying to show me about my heart, and how can I change?”
Application Question: What has God revealed about your heart through tests and trials? How has God called you to work on those issues?
Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.” (Genesis 22:13–14)
After the Lord stopped Abraham from sacrificing his son, God provided a ram to sacrifice instead. In response to this, Abraham named the place, “The LORD Will Provide,” Jehovah Jireh. Literally, it can be translated, “The Lord Will See to It.”5
To pass God’s tests not only do we need others’ cooperation and support, but we need God’s. God is the one who provides us with grace to make it through trials or to escape them. Remember 1 Corinthians 10:13 says,
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
With every trial or temptation, God always provides a way out or the ability to persevere through the trial.
It is for this reason that we must draw near God in trials (James 4:8). God provides wisdom, strength, and endurance for us to be faithful in it. James said that in every trial we should ask God for wisdom since he provides liberally (James 1:5). Again, Paul said this in Philippians 1:19, “for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.”
Not only was Paul confident of deliverance because of the saint’s prayers but the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Paul knew Christ was faithful. He would carry him through. And, Christ will do the same for us during trials. In fact, it is during trials that we will find his grace abundant. Paul said in his weakness, God’s power was made perfect (cf. 2 Cor 12:9).
One of the ways we depend on God and experience his grace in the trials is by abiding in him. Jesus said: “‘I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Whatever fruit needed to pass God’s test grows as we make our home in him. We abide in him through worship, prayer, time in the Word, and fellowship with saints. It was in the midst of Abraham’s worship that God provided a ram, and he will often do the same for us as well.
Are you bearing God’s fruit through abiding in him during trials? God is Jehovah Jireh—our Provider.
He will see to it. He will make sure we have everything needed.
Application Question: In what ways have you seen God miraculously meet your needs or provide grace for you in a trial? What do we have to do in order to receive his grace and provisions?
So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.” (Genesis 22:14)
Not only must we notice that God met Abraham’s needs, but also that Abraham came to know God in a new and deeper way. This is the first time Abraham called God, Jehovah Jireh. As we walked through Abraham’s story, we saw God reveal himself in special ways through each test or trial. When God called Abraham to leave his family and home, he was YAHWEH the covenant God, in Genesis 12:1. When God empowered Abraham to defeat the four armies from the east, God revealed himself as his shield—his very great reward—in Genesis 15:1. In Genesis 17:1, when God told Abraham he was going to have a child in his old age through Sarah, he revealed himself as God Almighty, El Shaddai.
In each trial, we get to know God’s character and person more deeply. In many ways, it is like any close relationship. Our deepest and most intimate relationships typically are formed by going through hard times together. It is in those hard times, we learn to trust them more, and we learn more about their character. That is just what God desires to do with us through trials. He wants to reveal himself in a deeper and more intimate way.
How has God revealed himself to you in the past? Has he shown himself as YAHWEH—the God you are in covenant with? Has he revealed himself as El Shaddai—the God who does miracles? Has he revealed himself as Jehovah Jireh—the one who provides all your needs?
God has many names/character traits he wants to reveal to you. He wants to reveal that he is Jehovah Sabaoth, “The LORD of Hosts.” He is the Lord of the armies of heaven who fights your battles. He wants to reveal that he is Jehovah Rapha, the God who heals you. He wants to reveal that he is Jehovah Roi, the Shepherd who leads you. He wants to reveal that he is Jehovah Shalom, the Lord who gives you peace, even in the midst of storms.
That is one of the greatest things that God does in our lives through tests. He reveals more of who he is to us. Lord, make yourself known. We want to see your glory.
Application Question: What characteristic of God is he revealing to you at this stage of your life?
The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, “I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.” (Genesis 22:15–18)
Observation Question: What blessings did God give Abraham after he passed the test?
After God provided the ram for Abraham to sacrifice, he pronounced a blessing on Abraham. He reassured Abraham of his promise to make his descendants like the stars in the sky and the sand of the seashore. But he also gave a further promise of the messiah coming through Abraham’s lineage. He said, “through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me” (v. 18). In Galatians 3:16, Paul teaches that the word “offspring” is singular—referring to Christ.
The reward for being faithful in the test was reassurance and the privilege of the messiah coming through his lineage. It is no different for us. Faithfully navigating the trials of life opens the door for greater rewards from God. Understanding this, helps encourage us to be faithful.
After Job faithfully persevered through his trials, God rewarded him with a double blessing. Paul said this in 2 Corinthians 1:3–4 about the trials God allowed him and his associates to go through:
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
God comforted them in their trials so that they could comfort those in “any trouble” with the comfort they received. When God comforts a believer in a trial, he enables them to comfort others going through various trials, not just the same one. Through trials God equips believers for ministry and expands their outreach.
Have you experienced this before? Sometimes God equips and expands our ministry through trials by giving us not only comfort but compassion. This happened to me. Before going through a battle with depression in college, I had problems crying. I had been hardened by life. But when God took me through a season of struggle, I began to weep—not only for myself, but for others. I began to develop empathy—I could feel the pain of others. He prepared me for ministry through struggle. He enabled me not just to feel but to comfort others with the comfort he gave me.
One of the greatest encouragements to pass God’s test is looking at his reward. James 1:12 says, “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” There is reward on earth, as God matures us and opens doors for further ministry, but there is also great reward in heaven (cf. 2 Cor 4:17–18).
Application Question: In what ways have you experienced God’s reward by faithfully going through his tests? In what ways has he expanded your ministry and your ability to minister?
Observation Question: How does Isaac resemble Christ in this text?
As we consider this text, it is almost impossible to miss Isaac’s resemblance to Christ. We see this in many ways:
The parallels are impossible to miss.
But the reality is this is God’s purpose in every trial and circumstance we encounter in life. Romans 8:28–29 says,
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
God works everything for the purpose of conforming us to Christ’s image and that includes both blessings and trials. They all are for the purpose of making us like Jesus. Therefore, our primary purpose in trials must be becoming like Christ. If we had this mindset in the midst of difficulty, instead of primarily seeking to lessen pain or embarrassment, then we would pass our tests.
It’s a lot easier to pass an exam or a paper if we know what the professor is looking for. God’s purpose in trials is to make us look just like himself. In this text, Abraham looks just like God the Father, and Isaac looks like Jesus the Son. Paul said this about his imprisonment and possible death sentence in Rome:
I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:20–21)
What was his expectation, his hope in his trial? It wasn’t to be delivered from death. That was not Paul’s focus. His focus was Christ being exalted in his body whether by life or death. If he lived, he wanted Christ exalted, and if he died, he wanted Christ exalted. That was all that mattered.
The word “exalted” can also be translated “magnified.” He wanted to display the magnificence of Christ in his trial. In the midst of his test, he wanted his body to be a theater where all could clearly see Christ.
Is that your desire when going through a trial or test? Is it that Christ be magnified, both so you could see him more clearly and others as well? Or is it simply to escape the trial? Resembling and glorifying Christ must be our goal in every aspect of life, including our trials.
And for that reason, while going through tests, we must ask ourselves and God, “How can I glorify Christ best?” This is something we must ask because that question leads us to the right answers to pass God’s test.
Application Question: How can we develop a mindset of seeking to glorify Christ in every test or trial? Why is this mindset so difficult to maintain?
How can we pass God’s tests?
Copyright © 2017 Gregory Brown
The primary Scriptures used are New International Version (1984) unless otherwise noted. Other versions include English Standard Version, New Living Translation, New American Standard Bible, and King James Version.
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Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added.
1 Hughes, R. K. (2004). Genesis: Beginning and Blessing (p. 301). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
2 Hughes, R. K. (2004). Genesis: Beginning and Blessing (p. 302). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
3 Guzik, David (2012-12-08). Genesis (Kindle Locations 3563–3564). Enduring Word Media. Kindle Edition.
4 Hughes, R. K. (2004). Genesis: Beginning and Blessing (p. 301). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
5 Wiersbe, W. W. (1991). Be Obedient (p. 110). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
Sarah lived to be a hundred and twenty-seven years old. She died at Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep over her. Then Abraham rose from beside his dead wife and spoke to the Hittites. He said, “I am an alien and a stranger among you. Sell me some property for a burial site here so I can bury my dead.” The Hittites replied to Abraham, “Sir, listen to us. You are a mighty prince among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs. None of us will refuse you his tomb for burying your dead.” Then Abraham rose and bowed down before the people of the land, the Hittites. He said to them, “If you are willing to let me bury my dead, then listen to me and intercede with Ephron son of Zohar on my behalf so he will sell me the cave of Machpelah, which belongs to him and is at the end of his field. Ask him to sell it to me for the full price as a burial site among you.” Ephron the Hittite was sitting among his people and he replied to Abraham in the hearing of all the Hittites who had come to the gate of his city. “No, my lord,” he said. “Listen to me; I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. I give it to you in the presence of my people. Bury your dead.” Again Abraham bowed down before the people of the land and he said to Ephron in their hearing, “Listen to me, if you will. I will pay the price of the field. Accept it from me so I can bury my dead there.” Ephron answered Abraham, “Listen to me, my lord; the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver, but what is that between me and you? Bury your dead.” Abraham agreed to Ephron's terms and weighed out for him the price he had named in the hearing of the Hittites: four hundred shekels of silver, according to the weight current among the merchants. So Ephron's field in Machpelah near Mamre—both the field and the cave in it, and all the trees within the borders of the field—was deeded to Abraham as his property in the presence of all the Hittites who had come to the gate of the city… (Genesis 23, 25:1–10)
How can we respond to death in a God-honoring way? How should we comfort those who have lost loved ones?
One of the purposes of Scripture is to equip the man of God for every good work (2 Tim 3:17), and one of these good works is responding to death well. Many don’t like to think about death; however, death is a reality that must be considered and prepared for. And in one sense, as Christians, we should be more prepared for death than others. Hebrews 9:27 in the KJV says, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Scripture teaches us to live with a view towards eternity, and in order to do that, we must realistically view and prepare for death.
In this text, we see how Abraham responded to his wife’s death, and we will, eventually, see his death as well. This is important to consider because we all will experience the loss of a loved one and ultimately our own death. And it is also important because people close to us lose loved ones. How can we prepare to minister to them and help them respond in a God-honoring way?
When Paul was confronted with the possibility of dying while imprisoned in Rome, he said this in Philippians 1:20–21:
I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
Paul’s desire in confronting death was that Christ would be magnified through him, and it must be the same for us. How can we respond to death in a God-honoring way—a way that magnifies Christ?
As we consider both Genesis 23 and 25, two of the last narratives on Abraham, we learn principles about how to respond to death in a God-honoring way.
Big Question: What can we learn about responding to death in a God-honoring way from Abraham’s response to Sarah’s death?
Sarah lived to be a hundred and twenty-seven years old. She died at Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep over her. (Genesis 23:1–2)
As we consider Sarah’s death, we must first consider the fact that she lived. The text says, “Sarah lived to be a hundred and twenty-seven years old.” If she married Abraham at fifteen, the common marrying age of the ancients, she was married for 112 years1 and following God for at least sixty-two years. A great deal can be celebrated and learned from her life.
Often when people die, instead of celebrating and learning from their lives, we commonly over-focus on the death and how sad it was. However, the most important thing to remember is the fact that they lived, no matter how brief or difficult life was.
Sarah was a great woman of faith. We are never clearly given Mary, Jesus’ mother, as a model of faith in the Scripture; however, we are given Sarah as a model of faith three times. In fact, she is put in the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11. Listen to these texts:
By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. (Hebrews 11:11 [ESV])
For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear. (1 Peter 3:5–6)
“Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the LORD: Look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn; look to Abraham, your father, and to Sarah, who gave you birth. When I called him he was but one, and I blessed him and made him many. (Isaiah 51:1–2)
When confronted with death, we must remember the person’s life. Sarah was a great woman of faith. Not only did Abraham leave his family and his home, so did Sarah. When Sarah had a miraculous birth, the writer of Hebrews attributes it to her faith. In 1 Peter 3:5–6, she is honored for her humble submission to her husband, and women who do the same are called her daughters.
No doubt, Abraham and Isaac comforted one another by talking about how great a woman she was. She was a Proverbs 31 wife and mother. In the same way, one of the ways we should respond to death is by remembering the life of the deceased and taking lessons from them. As mentioned, Hebrews 11 is the Hall of Faith. It mentions Abraham, Sarah, Moses, David and other great men and women of faith. Hebrews 12:1 says this about their lives:
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
The writer says that we should remember the lives of these dead saints because their lives encourage us to get rid of sin and persevere in the life of faith. Many times God uses deceased saints to inspire us, remind us of the brevity of life, and motivate us not to waste ours. In responding to death, we must remember the lives of the deceased.
Pastor Bruce Goettsche from Union Church, in his sermon on Genesis 23, gives us some helpful insight on how to comfort those who have lost a loved one. He says,
In fact, many people make a terrible mistake when talking with someone who has suffered a loss. They avoid talking about the person who died or anything associated with the loss. We say we “don’t want to upset” the one who is grieving. But what a foolish approach this is. We are acting like the person never lived. And there is nothing that deepens the pain of one who is grieving like the feeling that the one who is gone has been so easily forgotten. Truthfully, the one thing most grieving people want to do is talk about the one who died. They want to talk about how rich life was when that person was around. They love hearing a special memory or being told that you were missing that person today. Sometimes it brings a tear…but it is usually a grateful tear.2
One of the ways we respond to death is by remembering that the people lived and talking about them. Talking about them is a necessary part of healing from the loss—celebrating and learning from them. Lord, give us grace to celebrate and learn from your saints.
Application Question: Have you ever lost a loved one? How important is it to remember and talk about them? How can we wisely comfort grieving people by remembering the lives of their loved ones?
Sarah lived to be a hundred and twenty-seven years old. She died at Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep over her. (Genesis 23:1–2)
After Sarah died, the text says that Abraham mourned and wept over her. Sadly, in many circles today it is considered a lack of faith to mourn. They would trumpet the fact that Christ defeated death (2 Tim 1:10), that God works all things to the good (Rom 8:28), and therefore, we shouldn’t mourn. However, those statements do not represent the full counsel of Scripture. When Lazarus died, Jesus wept, even though he knew Lazarus would rise from the dead. When Jacob died, Joseph and the Egyptians mourned for over seventy days (Gen 50:3, 10).
Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 7:3–4, “Sorrow is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.”
There is a place for sorrow and sadness. There is tremendous wisdom in it. It is the fool who tries to escape pain and drown it out with pleasure. In mourning, we remember the people, lament the loss, and find healing. If we do not properly mourn, we will handle that pain in an unhealthy way, which eventually affects us and others negatively. If Jesus mourned death, then so should we.
Application Question: What are some normal stages of grief? What should distinguish these stages in the life of a believer from that of a nonbeliever?
The normal stages of grief include:
Now with that said, believers should not mourn in the same way the world does, we mourn in hope. In 1 Thessalonians 4:13, Paul said, “Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.” We grieve, but it is not the grief of hopelessness.
We hope because of the realization that we will see them again in heaven, if they were believers. We hope because we know that our God is ultimately good and wise and always does what’s best. Yes, we mourn, but we mourn in hope because of God’s faithfulness.
Application Question: How can we know when we or somebody else is mourning without hope? How can we minister to these people?
Then Abraham rose from beside his dead wife and spoke to the Hittites. He said, “I am an alien and a stranger among you. Sell me some property for a burial site here so I can bury my dead.” The Hittites replied to Abraham, (Genesis 23:3–5)
Interpretation Question: What did Abraham mean when he called himself an “alien and a stranger” among the Hittites?
The narrative only spends one verse on Abraham’s mourning and then moves on to Abraham’s securing of a grave plot. This may seem like a ridiculous amount of space given to purchasing a burial place for Sarah; however, we can learn many important principles from this correspondence.
From Abraham’s interaction with the Hittites we must notice what he called himself in verse 4. Abraham said, “I am an alien and stranger among you. Sell me some property for a burial site so I can bury my dead.”
What did Abraham mean when he called himself “an alien and a stranger” among the Hittites? Obviously, he meant that Canaan was theirs and that he owned no property in the land, but the writers of Scripture seem to imply that he meant much more. Hebrews 11:9–10 says this,
By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
The writer of Hebrews says that the reason Abraham never owned land in Canaan other than his wife’s burial site was because he viewed heaven as his home. He saw himself not just as a pilgrim waiting for God to give him the land of Canaan, but he also was waiting for heavenly Canaan.
God said the same thing about Israel through Moses in Leviticus 25:23: “‘The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine and you are but aliens and my tenants.” Even though the nation of Israel would indeed own the land of Canaan, it was really God’s, and they were just aliens and tenants in the land—heaven was their ultimate home.
David said the same thing in 1 Chronicles 29:1 and Psalm 39:12. He said:
“We are aliens and strangers in your sight, as were all our forefathers. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. (1 Chronicles 29:1)
Hear my prayer, O LORD, listen to my cry for help; be not deaf to my weeping. For I dwell with you as an alien, a stranger, as all my fathers were. (Psalm 39:12)
Even though David owned great land and property, he realized that it was all God’s and that he was really just a stranger waiting for his heavenly abode.
Do you realize that Scripture says the same thing about us? Peter said this in his introduction to his first epistle, “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia” (1 Pet 1:1).
We are strangers in this world; this world is not our home. While Abraham was living in Canaan, he lived as a pilgrim and a stranger because he was really waiting for heaven. This is the same way that many saints have viewed themselves in this world. This reality becomes especially important as we encounter persecution and death. We must hold on even tighter to our heavenly home. Paul said this to persecuted Christians in Philippians 3:20–21:
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
As we encounter death, we must remember our citizenship. This is not our home. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Cor 5:8), and one day at the resurrection, our bodies will transform into glorious bodies like our Lord’s. This is what we must remember when encountering death. This is what we must consider when losing loved ones or when confronted with our own mortality.
Application Question: How does remembering our heavenly citizenship encourage you when considering death? How can we better live as citizens of heaven while on this earth, instead of assimilating to the culture?
Then Abraham rose from beside his dead wife and spoke to the Hittites. He said, “I am an alien and a stranger among you. Sell me some property for a burial site here so I can bury my dead.” (Genesis 23:3–4)
As we witness Abraham’s purchase of a burial plot, we are reminded that when encountering death, we must respond practically. Some when encountering death bottle up and go into a corner—leaving the practical issues of death to others. But, pragmatic issues like burial, finances, and wills, must be addressed.
Some have wondered if God, by his grace, allows us to deal with these matters as a way to not be overwhelmed with death. It often helps with grieving and continuing to live after loss.
The practical issues of death must be tended to, and they should not only be considered after somebody dies but also before. Consider what God said to Hezekiah when telling him about his impending death in Isaiah 38:1. The text says:
In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, “This is what the LORD says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.”
God told Hezekiah to put his house in order. This consisted of choosing an heir for his wealth and his kingdom. It also included preparing his family, friends, and nation practically, spiritually, and emotionally. Sadly, when people do not put their “house in order,” it often leaves undue stress on their family and friends.
Application Question: What does putting one’s house in order include in our context?
Funerals, caskets, and burial plots, can be costly, and these things must be considered. One should have money set away for these. Even though it will not affect us when we die, it affects those we leave behind. In addition, when considering a funeral, we should shy away from being luxurious, but maybe we shouldn’t be as cheap as possible either. Burials are not for the deceased; they are for the friends and family to mourn, celebrate the person’s life, and heal.
Again, this removes the burden from family members and allows them to both mourn and go forward with their lives afterwards. Scripture calls us to leave no debt outstanding (Rom 13:8).
A will establishes who inherits what and who handles certain practical matters after the death of a loved one. Establishing this after the death of a loved one can be a very difficult legal process, and some families actually divide over it. A will should be set up early in life and continually updated.
In wealthy societies, people tend to pick up a lot of things that others need to sell, maintain, or give away in the event of death. When we die, we will take nothing with us. This reality alone should keep us from hoarding possessions (Matt 6:19). Either way, as we prepare for death, we should practically consider what to do with our things.
As Christians, we must prepare for death in a practical, God-honoring way, even before it happens.
Application Question: Have you ever considered these practical aspects that come along with death? Why is it important to prepare for the practical aspects of death? How can one start making preparations for one’s self or for older family members?
Then Abraham rose from beside his dead wife and spoke to the Hittites. He said, “I am an alien and a stranger among you. Sell me some property for a burial site here so I can bury my dead.” The Hittites replied to Abraham, “Sir, listen to us. You are a mighty prince among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs. None of us will refuse you his tomb for burying your dead.” Then Abraham rose and bowed down before the people of the land, the Hittites. He said to them, “If you are willing to let me bury my dead, then listen to me and intercede with Ephron son of Zohar on my behalf so he will sell me the cave of Machpelah, which belongs to him and is at the end of his field. Ask him to sell it to me for the full price as a burial site among you.” Ephron the Hittite was sitting among his people and he replied to Abraham in the hearing of all the Hittites who had come to the gate of his city. “No, my lord,” he said. “Listen to me; I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. I give it to you in the presence of my people. Bury your dead.” Again Abraham bowed down before the people of the land and he said to Ephron in their hearing, “Listen to me, if you will. I will pay the price of the field. Accept it from me so I can bury my dead there.” Ephron answered Abraham, “Listen to me, my lord; the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver, but what is that between me and you? Bury your dead.” Abraham agreed to Ephron's terms and weighed out for him the price he had named in the hearing of the Hittites: four hundred shekels of silver, according to the weight current among the merchants. So Ephron's field in Machpelah near Mamre—both the field and the cave in it, and all the trees within the borders of the field—was deeded to Abraham as his property in the presence of all the Hittites who had come to the gate of the city. (Genesis 23:3–18)
Throughout this narrative, as Abraham secures a burial plot for Sarah, the narrator repeatedly establishes how this was done “in the presence of all the Hittites.” This is shared in different ways four different times (Gen 23:3, 7, 10, 18).
The Hittites already admired Abraham. When he approached them, they literally called him “a prince of God” (v.6, ESV). Throughout his time in Canaan, he acknowledged and glorified God. In fact, soon after arriving, he built an altar to God in Genesis 12:7. No doubt, the Hittites always watched and respected him.
Now, even in how he responded to his wife’s death, he was a witness for God. We can see this in his negotiation with the Hittites. He first approached them asking to purchase a burial plot, and in response, they offered to allow him to bury his dead in the choicest of their tombs (v. 6). For the Hittites, this was a very generous offer. The ancients believed that wherever a person was buried affected where he lived in the afterlife.3 Therefore, to bury Sarah in the Hittite tombs meant she would dwell with their relatives in the afterlife.
However, Abraham believed in a different God and a different afterlife. Only owning his own burial plot would suffice. He then asked for the cave of Machpelah, which Ephron owned. Through the negotiations in Genesis 24:10–18, we learn something about bargaining in this ancient culture. Commentator David Guzik said this:
Ephron the Hittite followed the cultural customs of bargaining. First, the seller offered to give the item. Then, when that was refused, the seller suggested a price, which he claimed was modest but was really very high. This was understood to be the starting point, and from there the bargaining began.4
Ancient bargaining was often full of false humility and deception. When Ephron offered the cave plus the land for free, according to that culture, Abraham was supposed to reject the offer. It seems that Ephron added the plot of land because according to Hittite law, if he only sold the cave and not the whole property, he still owed taxes on the entire property. Therefore, he tried to unload the whole plot for financial purposes.5
Ephron’s offer of 400 shekels of silver was an extremely high price. It was there that the bidding would have begun. Abraham was supposed to bargain for a fairer price; however, he doesn’t. In the presence of the Hittites, Abraham acted with great integrity and accepted the initial offer.
This would have been a tremendous witness to the Hittites of whom dishonest practices was part of their culture. In the same way, death is another opportunity for believers to be a light and share their hope with the lost.
Application Question: How can believers share their hope with the world, even in response to death?
At a funeral people are more conscious of death and the afterlife; it helps bring these unsettling realities to the forefront of their minds. During the funeral, yes, the deceased should be remembered, but even more importantly, the gospel must be proclaimed so that those without hope may find hope in Christ.
As mentioned, when dealing with wills, property, and bills after a loved one dies, many believers lose their witness before the world. All these matters become opportunities for fighting and discord—pushing many away from Christ. Like Abraham, these matters must be handled with humility and integrity.
Certainly, we should show love to grieving families by reaching out, trying to help in any way possible, and also by grieving with them. It must be remembered that Christ wept, when he met with Lazarus’ family at the burial site (cf. John 11:33–35).
This might be especially important in the case of one’s own family. Many families have a great deal of discord within them, and funerals bring all the family members physically together. This can be an explosive time or a time of great healing. As believers, this is a time to love each family member, regardless of the previous baggage, and to be a peacemaker (cf. Matt 5:9). By loving grieving family members, we show our hope in Christ.
Application Question: Have you ever experienced a God-honoring funeral? What were characteristics of it? In what ways have you seen or experienced believers losing their witness by how they handled the practical matters of death?
Afterward Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave in the field of Machpelah near Mamre (which is at Hebron) in the land of Canaan. So the field and the cave in it were deeded to Abraham by the Hittites as a burial site. (Genesis 24:19–20)
One of the things we must notice about Abraham’s purchase of the land is that it was an act of faith. In that culture, it was normative to bury one’s loved ones with family members in their homeland. But Abraham didn’t return home; he, in faith, buried Sarah in the Land of Promise. God promised that Abraham and his descendants would own the land of Canaan, and this property was a stake in that promise. It was very similar to God telling Jeremiah to buy the field of Anathoth in Jerusalem, even though Israel was about to be exiled to Babylon. Jeremiah bought the property as an act of faith, because he believed God’s promise that Israel would return (cf. Jer 32:6–15).
The cave of Machpelah was the same tomb that Isaac, Ishmael, Rebekah, Leah, and Jacob would later be buried in (Gen 25:9, 49:31, 50:31) and, no doubt, many others. It would become a great monument of faith to the people of Israel. In fact, this narrative would have been very important as Moses, the narrator, was preparing the Israelites to leave the wilderness and to conquer the promised land. He was calling them to have faith, just as their forefathers did.
Application Question: In what ways must we as Christians hold on to God’s promises as we encounter death?
There are many important promises to hold on to when encountering death—one’s own death or the death of others.
Second Corinthians 5:8 says, “We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.” A believer that dies immediately enters God’s presence. We must take comfort in that great promise.
First Thessalonians 4:15–18 says,
According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.
It was never God’s will for us to live as dismembered spirits. One day our bodies will be resurrected. This can be tremendously comforting to those with a terminal sickness, as they watch their bodies waste away. This body will one day be resurrected, and it will be a more glorious body (cf. 1 Cor 15:36–37, 42–44).
This is also tremendously comforting to those still alive when loved ones pass away. The bodies of those who died in the Lord will be resurrected first, and then those still alive at the Lord’s coming will resurrect to meet with them and Christ in the air. We are instructed by God to comfort one another with these words (1 Thess 4:13–18).
Psalm 34:18 says, “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” A grieving person may not always experience a special revelation of God’s presence. We are not told that God appeared to Abraham after he lost Sarah, as he did at other times. However, we can trust that he was present with him, even as he will be with us. Like the poem titled “Footprints in the Sand” says, we can trust that at discouraging times when God seems distant; it is then that God carries us.
“You promised me Lord, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there has only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?” The Lord replied, “The years when you have seen only one set of footprints, my child, is when I carried you.”6
Exodus 20:5–6 and Psalm 37:25–26 give us these great promises:
You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. (Exodus 20:5–6)
I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging for bread. They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed. (Psalm 37:25–26)
This may be especially important as we face our own mortality while still having living children, especially young ones. We can trust that as we have followed God, he will faithfully take care of our children. They shall not be forsaken or left to beg for bread. God will meet their needs, and they will be blessed to a thousand generations.
Again, when Abraham’s wife died, it was normative to bury one’s loved ones with their family in the homeland. But Abraham didn’t go back to Ur or Haran; he trusted God’s promise and buried her in the land of Canaan. And we’ll see that at Abraham’s death, his children did the same, as they buried him with his wife (Gen 25:9).
We also, when encountering death, must hold on to God’s promises.
Application Question: Why is it so important to hold on to God’s promises as we encounter death? What promises are especially important to you as you consider death?
Abraham took another wife, whose name was Keturah. She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah. Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan; the descendants of Dedan were the Asshurites, the Letushites and the Leummites. The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida and Eldaah. All these were descendants of Keturah. Abraham left everything he owned to Isaac. But while he was still living, he gave gifts to the sons of his concubines and sent them away from his son Isaac to the land of the east. Altogether, Abraham lived a hundred and seventy-five years. Then Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age, an old man and full of years; and he was gathered to his people. His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah near Mamre, in the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite, the field Abraham had bought from the Hittites. There Abraham was buried with his wife Sarah. (Genesis 25:1–10)
After Sarah died, Abraham didn’t crawl into the cave with her and become a hermit, he moved on with his life. God was not done with him yet. The Lord still had promises to fulfill in Abraham’s life. Abraham lived another thirty-eight years after the death of Sarah.7 At some point during that time, he married a woman named Keturah and had six children with her. Obviously, when God rejuvenated his reproductive organs at the age of ninety-nine, they still worked over twenty years later.
As we read the names of his children, we just read names. But when the Israelites read this narrative, they heard the names of nations. Jokshan, the second son of Keturah, had several nations come out of him: the Asshurites, the Letushites, and the Leummites. Midian was the father of the Midianites. In fact, Moses’s father-in-law, Jethro, was a Midianite priest (Exod 3:1).
Similarly, we must continue to live after the death of a loved one. We will never forget. Our lives will always be richer because of them, and they should always remain in our memory. However, there is a time to mourn and a time to heal. There is a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to embrace and a time refrain (cf. Ecc 3:1–8). For Abraham, it was a time to embrace again.
This can be especially difficult for family members to watch when a widow or widower remarries. Some will choose to never remarry, but many will. In fact, Scripture encourages young widows to remarry to protect themselves from temptations (cf. 1 Tim 5:11–15). When and how soon remarriage happens is between them and God; however, in the process of discerning timing, it is probably wise to consider the sensitivities of others.
This principle applies to everybody who loses a loved one and not just for those previously married. There is a time to mourn and a time to heal. We must trust God and continue walking this pilgrim life. He still wants to use us, even after the death of a loved one, and he still has promises to fulfill in our lives.
God continued to bless Abraham and fulfill his original promise to him, that he would be great and nations would come from him (cf. Gen 12:1–3; 17:6). Abraham lived till 175 years old and then died. Before he died, he sent his six new children away with gifts, but he left his inheritance to Isaac. He then was “gathered to his people” (v. 8)—meaning he was buried with his wife, and ultimately reunited with her in heaven.
Death is not the end of living for the deceased nor the living. In heaven, if they knew Christ, the deceased are more alive than they ever were. And those on earth must continue to walk with God as well, until he takes them home and reunites them with their loved ones. In response to death, we must keep on living and encourage others to continue to as well.
Application Question: How can we wisely encourage others to continue to live in a healthy way after losing a loved one? Also, how can we help encourage others to accept when a loved one moves on, especially when it comes to remarriage?
How should we respond to death?
Copyright © 2017 Gregory Brown
The primary Scriptures used are New International Version (1984) unless otherwise noted. Other versions include English Standard Version, New Living Translation, New American Standard Bible, and King James Version.
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1 Swindoll, Charles R. (2014-07-16). Abraham: One Nomad's Amazing Journey of Faith (Kindle Locations 3123–3125). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Kindle Edition.
2 Goettche, Bruce. “Sermons on Genesis.” accessed 12/13/14, from http://www.unionchurch.com/archive/071199.html
3 Swindoll, Charles R. (2014-07-16). Abraham: One Nomad's Amazing Journey of Faith (Kindle Locations 3191–3194). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Kindle Edition.
4 Guzik, David (2012-12-08). Genesis (Kindle Locations 3704–3707). Enduring Word Media. Kindle Edition.
5 Swindoll, Charles R. (2014-07-16). Abraham: One Nomad's Amazing Journey of Faith (Kindle Locations 3215–3218). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.. Kindle Edition.
6 Stevenson, Mary. “Footprints in the Sand”. Accessed 12/15/14, from http://www.footprints-inthe-sand.com/index.php?page=Poem/Poem.php
7 Swindoll, Charles R. (2014-07-16). Abraham: One Nomad's Amazing Journey of Faith (Kindle Locations 3231–3235). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Kindle Edition.
Abraham was now old and well advanced in years, and the LORD had blessed him in every way. He said to the chief servant in his household, the one in charge of all that he had, “Put your hand under my thigh. I want you to swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living, but will go to my country and my own relatives and get a wife for my son Isaac.” The servant asked him, “What if the woman is unwilling to come back with me to this land? Shall I then take your son back to the country you came from?” “Make sure that you do not take my son back there,” Abraham said. “The LORD, the God of heaven, who brought me out of my father's household and my native land and who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, ‘To your offspring I will give this land’—he will send his angel before you so that you can get a wife for my son from there. If the woman is unwilling to come back with you, then you will be released from this oath of mine. Only do not take my son back there.” So the servant put his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and swore an oath to him concerning this matter. Then the servant took ten of his master's camels and left, taking with him all kinds of good things from his master. He set out for Aram Naharaim and made his way to the town of Nahor. He had the camels kneel down near the well outside the town; it was toward evening, the time the women go out to draw water. Then he prayed, “O LORD, God of my master Abraham, give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. May it be that when I say to a girl, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I'll water your camels too’—let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.… (Genesis 24)
How can one find a godly mate?
In Genesis 24, we witness Abraham’s search for Isaac’s wife. He doesn’t actually conduct the search himself, but commissions his chief servant to do it. We don’t know for sure who the servant was because he is unnamed, but this was most likely Eliezer, who is mentioned in Genesis 15:2. He had previously been Abraham’s heir, before Abraham had a son. Eliezer’s selflessness is demonstrated as he served Isaac, even though he had lost his inheritance to him.
Genesis 24 is the longest chapter in Genesis, and from it we learn a great deal about finding a godly mate. Yes, in this ancient culture marriages were arranged for young people by their parents for "practical" reasons. Today, young people generally choose their own marriage partners, and do so based largely on “romantic” reasons. However, we can discern from this text that God is not bound by culture. He is involved in the selection of godly mates in any culture. Proverbs 19:14 says, “Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.” He is the one who made and chose Eve for Adam, and he wants to guide our selection of mates today, if we will allow him. Sometimes in Scripture God tells us what to do, but other times he gives us principles to guide us. As we consider Genesis 24, we learn many great principles about finding a godly mate.
Big Question: What principles can we learn about finding a godly mate from Genesis 24?
Abraham was now old and well advanced in years, and the LORD had blessed him in every way. He said to the chief servant in his household, the one in charge of all that he had, “Put your hand under my thigh. I want you to swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living, but will go to my country and my own relatives and get a wife for my son Isaac.” The servant asked him, “What if the woman is unwilling to come back with me to this land? Shall I then take your son back to the country you came from?” “Make sure that you do not take my son back there,” Abraham said. “The LORD, the God of heaven, who brought me out of my father's household and my native land and who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, ‘To your offspring I will give this land’—he will send his angel before you so that you can get a wife for my son from there. If the woman is unwilling to come back with you, then you will be released from this oath of mine. Only do not take my son back there.” (Genesis 24:1–8)
In the narrative, we see that Abraham was well advanced in age when he calls for his chief servant to go and find a spouse for Isaac. Maybe the fact that Abraham had just lost his wife, Sarah, and his ever-increasing age reminded Abraham of his need to find Isaac a wife. Isaac was also getting older. He was probably in his forties at this time.1
As we consider the servant’s commission, we cannot but notice that Abraham’s motivation was God and fulfilling his purpose. He quotes God’s promise of giving the land to his seed: “‘To your offspring I will give this land’—he will send his angel before you so that you can get a wife for my son from there” (v. 7). Typically, ancient marriages were arranged to increase one’s wealth and status. Marriages were often used as contracts between families or between nations. A pretty daughter was often seen as a meal ticket for a poor family. However, Abraham’s concern was not wealth, status, or finding a beautiful bride. God had told Abraham that through Isaac’s seed a nation would be born, and through a seed from this nation all the nations would be blessed. Isaac’s marriage was crucial to the fulfillment of this promise.
Therefore, Abraham had his chief servant swear to not take a bride from Canaan. The Canaanites were a sinful people, and God said that once their sins were full, he would give Israel the land (Gen 15:16). Abraham knew that it was imperative for his descendants to stay separate from the Canaanites and their ungodly influence.
When the chief servant asked questions about the process, Abraham reiterated the need to keep Isaac apart from Canaan:
“Make sure that you do not take my son back there,” Abraham said. “The LORD, the God of heaven, who brought me out of my father's household and my native land and who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, ‘To your offspring I will give this land’—he will send his angel before you so that you can get a wife for my son from there. If the woman is unwilling to come back with you, then you will be released from this oath of mine. Only do not take my son back there.” Genesis 24:4–8
Abraham said that even if the woman would not come back with his servant, Isaac should not move to Haran. Abraham knew that God had called for his offspring to inherit Canaan. In the process of seeking a mate, Abraham was primarily concerned about God and his purposes. He also declared confidently that God would guide the process. He would send his angel to guide his servant.
Similarly, when seeking a godly mate, God’s purposes and his will must guide the process. Yes, a mate may seem like a need, but the primary need is doing God’s will and completing the work he called one to do. This work will be greatly affected by the person one marries. Solomon married pagan wives, and they led him away from God’s will and into idolatry.
It has been said that the most important decision that people make after following Christ is whom they will marry. This is because one’s spouse will play an integral role in their completing God’s work. When God gave Adam a wife, his purpose was for them to tend the garden, rule the earth, and subdue it.
God has a similar purpose for marriages today. Scripture implies that marriage is a spiritual gift and therefore meant to build up the body of Christ and spread God’s kingdom. Consider what Paul said about marriage in 1 Corinthians 7:7:
Sometimes I wish everyone were single like me—a simpler life in many ways! But celibacy is not for everyone any more than marriage is. God gives the gift of the single life to some, the gift of the married life to others. (The Message)
Scripture teaches that marriage is a spiritual gift just like singleness. Therefore, God’s purpose in marriage is to build his kingdom, just as it was with Adam and Eve in the garden.
As in Abraham’s day, many factors can guide the selection of a mate: loneliness, friends, family, wealth, social status, shame, lust, and beauty, among others. However, our purpose in finding a mate (and thus marriage) must be to fulfill God’s will and to build his kingdom. That was Abraham’s purpose. When God and his kingdom are one’s purpose in marriage, Scripture says that God will guide the process. Proverbs 3:5–6 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
What is your primary purpose in seeking a mate? Is it removing loneliness, achieving status, having children, or fulfilling your lust?
Abraham’s purpose was to fulfill God’s will and that must be one’s primary purpose as well. When God and his kingdom are first, he guides the steps. Certainly, Matthew 6:33 can be applied to the pursuit of a godly mate: “Seek first the kingdom of heaven and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” Those who put God and his kingdom first will be guided by him.
Again, Proverbs 19:14 says, “Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.” God wants to guide your process of finding a mate because he has a kingdom to build. Will you let him guide it?
Application Question: What are some common motivations for seeking a marriage partner? Is building God’s kingdom your main purpose in seeking a mate or being married? Why or why not?
Abraham was now old and well advanced in years, and the LORD had blessed him in every way. He said to the chief servant in his household, the one in charge of all that he had, “Put your hand under my thigh. I want you to swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living, but will go to my country and my own relatives and get a wife for my son Isaac.” The servant asked him, “What if the woman is unwilling to come back with me to this land? Shall I then take your son back to the country you came from?” “Make sure that you do not take my son back there,” Abraham said. “The LORD, the God of heaven, who brought me out of my father's household and my native land and who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, ‘To your offspring I will give this land’—he will send his angel before you so that you can get a wife for my son from there. If the woman is unwilling to come back with you, then you will be released from this oath of mine. Only do not take my son back there.” (Genesis 24:1–8)
Another principle we can learn from the process of finding a spouse for Isaac is the need to have parents and godly mentors involved. Arranged marriages were the norm in ancient cultures, as it still is in many parts of the world. God may not be calling you to allow your parents or spiritual mentors to pick your spouse; however, a wise person will keep them highly involved in the process.
Abraham and his chief servant were leading this process on behalf of Abraham's son, Isaac. Abraham was a man of great faith and apparently, his servant was as well. In this passage, the servant becomes only the second person with a prayer recorded in Scripture, after Abraham.2 Obviously, in his many years serving Abraham, he had learned a great deal.
Similarly, one should have parents and godly mentors involved in the selection of his or her mate. Proverbs 15:22 says, “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” One of the problems with the modern dating culture is that it is commonly done apart from godly counsel. The two date by themselves, often without the benefit of the parents’ or godly mentors’ knowledge, wisdom, and insight. Then the two just show up one day and say, “I’m in love!” or even worse, “I’m engaged!”
The courting model is so much wiser and more prudent than the dating model. In courting, when two people are seriously considering one another as potential marriage partners, they immediately approach their parents or the church, or both, to seek their wisdom, insight, and covering. They want godly people talking with them throughout the process and also getting to know the potential mate.
This is crucial because when two people are face to face enjoying one another, they often miss major cues that could be disastrous in a marriage relationship. Also, they often lack the sexual accountability of having parents and mentors involved. As we will talk about later, sexual intimacy before marriage will greatly blind the couples, as well as remove God’s blessing from the courtship. Only the pure in heart will see God (Matt 5:8).
Now certainly some may not have Christian parents or they may live far away. In that case, they should pray and seek the guidance and oversight of spiritually mature married couples, small group leaders, or mentors. For lack of guidance, plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.
Who are your many advisers? Also, for those who are married, are you willing to mentor a young couple so they can have success and protection in the dating process?
Application Question: Why is it important to have parents and mentors involved in the process of finding a mate? Who would you ask to help guide your process? If asked, how would you help mentor someone while dating or courting?
“The LORD, the God of heaven, who brought me out of my father's household and my native land and who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, ‘To your offspring I will give this land’—he will send his angel before you so that you can get a wife for my son from there. If the woman is unwilling to come back with you, then you will be released from this oath of mine. Only do not take my son back there.” (Genesis 24:7–8)
While talking with Abraham, the chief servant brought up the possibility of the woman not wanting to return to Canaan. Abraham replied that God would send his angel before the servant to guide the process, but then he said, “If the woman is unwilling to come back with you, then you will be released from this oath of mine” (v. 8).
In seeking a mate, one must be realistic and trust God’s sovereignty over the process. Sometimes, young people seek the Lord’s guidance in dating or courting and they feel God’s peace throughout the process. But when God allows a break-up or some difficulty to happen, they question or get mad at God. Seeking God’s guidance does not necessarily mean you will find your mate the first time you date somebody or go through a courtship. Sometimes, God will allow failure or make it clear late in the process that the person is not the one for you.
This is not a reason to get mad at God. It is a time to praise and trust him. We must praise him because he knows best. Sometimes, by ending the relationship, he protects the couple from something potentially hazardous, and certainly, we can trust that he is preparing them for something better. In addition, we must realize that God’s focus is on our character. Many times, he allows seasonal relationships to reveal character issues and to draw people to seek him more. He allows them to help people grow, even though they might not last for a lifetime.
Abraham declared that God would guide the process, but he also recognized the possibility that God might choose to not bless it. Similarly, we must trust God’s sovereignty as well. Again, many become angry and upset with God in the process of seeking a mate, because it doesn’t happen as fast as they want or because of failed relationships. We must be realistic and trust God’s sovereignty throughout the process.
This also amplifies the reason why couples must be holy and pure throughout the process. Scripture says that we should treat people in the church as brothers and sisters with all purity (1 Tim 5:2). When you handle dating relationships in that fashion, it eliminates a lot of emotional and physical baggage often picked up in ungodly relationships. In the dating or courtship process, couples must protect themselves by staying pure, especially since God may have somebody else for them. In order to find a godly mate, one must be realistic about the process and trust God’s sovereignty.
Application Question: Why is it so important to be realistic about the process and trust God’s sovereignty when seeking a mate? Why would God allow failures in the courtship process? How have you experienced failure and disappointment in the courtship process and what did you learn from it?
So the servant put his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and swore an oath to him concerning this matter. Then the servant took ten of his master's camels and left, taking with him all kinds of good things from his master. He set out for Aram Naharaim and made his way to the town of Nahor. (Genesis 24:9–10)
When seeking a mate for Isaac, the chief servant was told to go to the town of Nahor. Many eligible bachelorettes lived in Canaan, and it would have been relatively easy to marry one of them. However, that wouldn’t have been God’s best for Isaac. It would have opened the door for compromise in his life and endangered the promise. The alternative, however, was much more difficult. The servant had to travel one month and over 500 miles through rough and dangerous terrain to find the spouse God had for Isaac.3 And then he needed to convince her to leave home and family to marry a guy whom she had never met.
Similarly, in seeking a godly spouse, the easiest route is usually not God’s path. Many Christians, because they are lonely and can’t find a godly mate, often go to the same places as the world to find one. There are many nice Canaanite men and women and also some nice worldly Christians. Numerous are the temptations to take the easy route instead of waiting for and seeking a godly mate.
To find a godly mate, it will often mean waiting while God prepares one’s character for a godly mate. It will also often mean waiting because godly mates are so hard to find. Proverbs says,
Many a man claims to have unfailing love, but a faithful man who can find? (Proverbs 20:6)
“Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all. Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.” (Proverbs 31:29–30)
A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. (Proverbs 31:10)
There are a lot of men who claim unfailing love, but it’s hard to find a faithful man. There are many women who do noble things, but a woman who fears God is to be praised. These types of people are like precious jewels; they are hard to find, and therefore, many times waiting is necessary. In this waiting, sometimes people get discouraged and anxious, then they commonly take things into their own hands. Like Abraham, who became anxious while waiting on the child of promise, they go and find a Hagar to fulfill their desires. Many believers compromise and miss God’s best for them. Sometimes they marry an unbeliever, or they marry a spiritually lethargic believer.
Are you willing to take the hard journey instead of the easy one? The benefits are priceless and last a lifetime.
Application Question: What makes the road to finding a godly mate so difficult at times? How would you encourage a lonely Christian to not compromise?
So the servant put his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and swore an oath to him concerning this matter. Then the servant took ten of his master's camels and left, taking with him all kinds of good things from his master. He set out for Aram Naharaim and made his way to the town of Nahor. He had the camels kneel down near the well outside the town; it was toward evening, the time the women go out to draw water. (Genesis 24:9–11)
The next principle one must apply in seeking a godly mate is putting oneself in a position to find him or her. Abraham’s chief servant left Canaan, which had a reputation for being ungodly, and traveled to Abraham’s hometown to find a mate. Before leaving, he made preparations for finding a marriage partner for Isaac. By taking ten camels—the Bentleys or Lamborghinis of ancient days—he was proving that his master was wealthy and that the woman would be well provided for. He also brought many of the master’s goods, which were necessary to pay the bride’s dowry. He then went to a well outside of town in the evening, when the women drew water (v.11). He put himself in a position to find a mate.
Often in the church an emphasis is put on trusting God for a mate, but sometimes this emphasis leads towards inactivity. In order to find a mate for Isaac, the chief servant took valuables to prove his master’s ability to provide, traveled to Abraham’s hometown, and went to a location with eligible women. He put himself in a position to find Isaac’s spouse.
Similarly, it is not unspiritual to be active. God did not send a godly mate to Isaac’s door. Isaac was not called to just wait and pray; he had to be active. With that said, the most important thing in putting oneself in a position to find a mate is being intimate with God and knowing his will. For one person, God’s will may be to just wait and pray patiently. We have no evidence that Rebekah was seeking a husband. She was just being faithful where God placed her. However, for Isaac, the chief servant went to a place where he was more likely to find a godly woman. Single believers seeking mates must do the same.
Application Question: How can a person put him or herself in a position to find a godly mate?
In Genesis 2:24, it says that the man must leave his father and mother and cling to his wife. One of the implications of this is that a couple should be financially independent. In this narrative, the chief servant brought wealth so the family could see that Isaac could provide. Isaac was financially prepared to marry.
When considering marriage, one must remember that there is a time for everything. A flower that blooms in the winter dies. In the same way, many relationships don’t work simply because of timing. One must ask, “Is it the right time to seek a mate?” “Am I financially ready to take care of somebody or to be married?” “How can I place myself in a position to contribute or provided for a household?”
These are practical questions. I remember when God started to put in my heart a desire to soon be married. I moved out of the apartment I shared with several roommates, and got an apartment by myself. After moving in, I started to prepare my home by getting basic furniture, kitchenware, etc.
Previously, as a bachelor, working and going to school, my housing was simply functional. I just slept, studied, and ate there. But, when I realized that God was calling me to start looking at marriage, I started preparing. Now, when God brought me a mate, she didn’t like anything I had, but at least I had something for our humble beginnings.
There is a time for waiting. Many of God’s promises come by waiting as he prepares us—as well as those who will also take part in the promise. However, there is a time to be active, and we must discern that. Being active could mean praying, getting godly counsel, and discerning where to look. It also could mean asking someone out to coffee.
You probably won’t find a godly mate at the bars or clubs. But, there is a good chance God might provide one at church, small group, or through some ministry. If the wells have dried up at the church or ministry you attend, then maybe God is calling you to be creative. Being creative could include asking spiritually-minded people you know and respect to pray and consider suggesting a potential mate, or even joining a Christian dating site. Again, it must be heard that it is not disobedient to be active. Many times, it is disobedient or presumptuous to not be active. We should pray and discern what God wants us to do. For Rebekah, she waited and faithfully served God and others. For Isaac, his servant went to an area with eligible ladies.
How is God calling you to prepare for and seek a godly mate or to help others do so?
Application Question: How would you counsel a single person who feels called to actively pursue a mate? Where would you recommend him or her to go? How can a person discern if they should wait like Rebekah or be active like Isaac in the pursuit of a mate? If you already found your mate, where and how did you meet them?
Then he prayed, “O LORD, God of my master Abraham, give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. May it be that when I say to a girl, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I'll water your camels too’—let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.” (Genesis 24:12–14)
When the chief servant reached the well, he began to pray. Again, this is one of the earliest recorded prayers in the Bible. The servant prayed for God to show kindness to Abraham and that he would essentially make it very clear whom the woman was.
This is not the only prayer in this chapter. Right after God confirmed that Rebekah was the one, he bowed down and worshiped God (v. 26). Then after the parents confirmed that they would give Rebekah to Isaac as a bride, he bowed down and worshiped again (v. 52). When Rebekah was about to leave her parents’ house, her family prayed a blessing over her that she would increase to thousands upon thousands (v. 60)—resembling God’s blessing on Abraham. This entire process was bathed with prayer.
Similarly, since a godly spouse is a gift of the Lord, one must continually bathe the process in prayer. I spent two years at a Christian school while in fifth and sixth grade. During that I time, I was taught to pray for my future spouse. From that point on till I was twenty-seven years old, when I met my wife, I had always prayed for her. In fact, after I got married and told my wife about my prayers, she shared all the ways she experienced divine protection and grace, which didn’t make sense to her at the time. She didn’t become a Christian until she was a senior in high school, but throughout that time God protected her purity, among other things.
If one is going to find a godly mate, the process must be bathed in prayer.
Application Question: Why is it important to continually pray over your future spouse and also for God to guide the process of finding the person? When should people start praying for their future spouse or their child’s future spouse?
See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. May it be that when I say to a girl, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I'll water your camels too’—let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.” (Genesis 24:13–14)
Interpretation Question: What does Rebekah’s giving a drink of water to the servant and to his ten camels say about her character?
While the chief servant prayed for God to make it clear who Isaac’s wife was, he set some very high standards. He asked God to make it clear by allowing her to respond to his request for water by saying, “‘Drink, and I'll water your camels too” and her fulfilling this commitment. Now, this seems like a random request to try to confirm a spouse, but it was not.
No doubt, this chief servant knew exactly what it took to be a good spouse because these actions would show a very high character in this woman. For a woman to agree to share some water with a foreigner would show that she was nice, but it would not have been an uncommon character trait. There are a lot of nice people in the world. But for this lady to agree to water his ten camels would have been highly unlikely, and would show extraordinary character. Kent Hughes’ comments about this unlikely scenario are helpful:
To grasp what a wonder this was, we must understand that the ancient well was a large, deep hole in the earth with steps leading down to the spring water—so that each drawing of water required substantial effort. And more, a camel typically would drink about twenty-five gallons of water, and an ancient water jar held about three gallons of water. This means that Rebekah made between eighty to one hundred descents into the well. As to the amount of time she gave to this, a camel takes about ten minutes to drink its full complement of water. Rebekah’s labors filled one and one half to two sweaty hours! And all the while the servant watched without saying a word, to see whether or not the Lord had made his journey successful.4
The servant’s qualifying test was almost two hours of very difficult labor which would have shown great things about this lady. First, it revealed that she was a very hard worker. When looking for a potential spouse, find somebody that works hard. When Solomon writes about the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31, that is one of her characteristics—she works hard. She takes care of the children; she oversees the servants in the house; she makes clothes; she is a business woman; she serves her husband. And best of all she is a woman of integrity who loves the Lord. When seeking a godly mate, find somebody who works hard at whatever God calls them to do. Laziness only brings conflict and discord in a home, because a home takes hard work to keep.
Rebekah’s act of kindness also showed selflessness. The root of almost all marital difficulty is selfishness. Two people selfishly fighting for their own rights will cause conflict and discord. But a selfless, sacrificial person, the kind who would joyfully serve a stranger for two hours, without complaint, will make a great marriage partner.
When seeking a mate, one should seek a person of high character. It is not about how much money one makes, how many degrees one earned, or how attractive he or she is. The most attractive qualities must be his or her character. Consider what God said about women who are like Sarah, Abraham’s wife, in 1 Peter 3:3–5:
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands ….
In talking about women, he says what makes them beautiful is the “inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit.” The word gentle can also be translated “meek.” Meek really means “power under control.” Instead of using their power to get their own way, they serve people. Instead of being angry at those who mistreat them, they are gentle in response. They use their power to honor God. God says that type of character makes a person beautiful. In seeking a mate, pursue a person with high character.
Application Question: What are other character traits that one should seek in a potential mate? If you have found your mate, what character traits drew you to him or her?
Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, who was the wife of Abraham's brother Nahor. The girl was very beautiful, a virgin; no man had ever lain with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jar and came up again. The servant hurried to meet her and said, “Please give me a little water from your jar.” “Drink, my lord,” she said, and quickly lowered the jar to her hands and gave him a drink. After she had given him a drink, she said, “I'll draw water for your camels too, until they have finished drinking.” So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, ran back to the well to draw more water, and drew enough for all his camels. Without saying a word, the man watched her closely to learn whether or not the LORD had made his journey successful. (Genesis 24:15–21)
Before the servant finished praying, Rebekah, who was Abraham’s niece, went down to the spring to fill her jar of water. When she came up from the spring, the servant asked for a drink. Rebekah immediately gave him a drink and then said that she would also water his camels. In Genesis 24:21, it says that the servant “watched her closely to learn whether or not the Lord had made his journey successful.” He doesn’t say a word; he just watches.
Similarly, when seeking a mate, a person must also watch the potential mate very closely. In considering Rebekah, one might say, “Well, does watering camels really say something about her fitness for marriage?” Absolutely, it does. Scripture teaches that if a person is faithful with little, he will be faithful with much. If he is unfaithful with little, he will be unfaithful with much (cf. Lk 16:10).
A wise person must survey and watch the potential mate very closely because little things say a lot. How does he treat people who disappoint him? Is he gentle in his response or does he become very upset? How does she handle her money? How does she respond to trials? How does she treat her parents? How does he take care of his possessions? As mentioned before, what is his or her work-ethic like?
All these little things say something about how the person will be within marriage. If a person is rude to those serving him at a restaurant, who he barely knows, it tells you something about how that person will eventually treat you when he isn’t having a good day. If that person is not very good with his money, then it tells you something about how he will be at providing or using the money that you both make as partners. If the person is unfaithful with little, he will be unfaithful with much—and marriage is “much”!
This reinforces the reason why it is very important to have wise mentors involved in the courtship process. They will often see things that one might miss, which could become large things in marriage.
Application Question: Why is it important to observe a potential mate carefully? Are there some especially important scenarios that one should observe and learn from?
Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, who was the wife of Abraham's brother Nahor. The girl was very beautiful, a virgin; no man had ever lain with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jar and came up again. The servant hurried to meet her and said, “Please give me a little water from your jar.” “Drink, my lord,” she said, and quickly lowered the jar to her hands and gave him a drink. After she had given him a drink, she said, “I'll draw water for your camels too, until they have finished drinking.” So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, ran back to the well to draw more water, and drew enough for all his camels. Without saying a word, the man watched her closely to learn whether or not the LORD had made his journey successful. (Genesis 24:15–21)
Another principle that we can learn from Rebekah’s great service, as she served not only Abraham’s servant, but also his camels, is that in order to find a godly mate, one must first become godly. If Rebekah had not been the type of person to perform this great service, she would have missed out on the opportunity to marry Isaac.
Certainly, this happens all the time. A man is praying for a godly wife; however, he has not given himself to the cultivation of his own character. Therefore, this man continues to display character flaws that won’t attract somebody godly. How can one pray for a godly spouse, if he or she is not seeking godliness?
There is a saying, “Birds of a feather flock together.” In the same way that birds of the same kind gather together, we typically draw people that are like us. If there are areas of compromise in our lives, we will attract people who are compromised. If we are zealous for the kingdom of God and to serve God’s church, we will attract people with the same values.
When God was guiding the search for Isaac’s mate, he provided a woman that had been preparing herself for years. She was a woman of great character. Great character does not come without work. A woman of great character was needed for the great calling that was on Isaac’s life. It was through Isaac’s seed that the whole earth would be blessed.
When one considers marriage, he must first begin by asking him or herself, “Am I ready for marriage? Am I the type of mate that I would want for somebody else?”
Application Question: What character trait(s) is God calling you to get rid of so he can bring you a godly mate to compliment and help fulfill his or her calling? How can we help singles with the self-evaluation process so they can be prepared for marriage?
Now if you will show kindness and faithfulness to my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, so I may know which way to turn.” Laban and Bethuel answered, “This is from the LORD; we can say nothing to you one way or the other. Here is Rebekah; take her and go, and let her become the wife of your master's son, as the LORD has directed.” …. But her brother and her mother replied, “Let the girl remain with us ten days or so; then you may go.” But he said to them, “Do not detain me, now that the LORD has granted success to my journey. Send me on my way so I may go to my master.” Then they said, “Let's call the girl and ask her about it.” So they called Rebekah and asked her, “Will you go with this man?” “I will go,” she said. (Genesis 24:49–51, 55–58)
Previously, we talked about finding a person with high character; however, the greatest character trait one can find in a person is obedience to God. In the next part of the narrative, the servant arrived at the house and was welcomed by Laban, Rebekah’s older brother. The servant told the family about Abraham and Isaac and how God had blessed and guided the servant’s journey—leading him to Rebekah. When he inquired about whether the family would let her go or not, Rebekah’s mother and brother replied, “This is from the Lord; we can say nothing to you one way or other. Here is Rebekah; take her and go” (v. 51). The family could clearly sense God’s hand on this process.
After the servant spent the night, he requested to immediately leave with Rebekah to go to his master. However, the family wanted Rebekah to wait ten days before leaving. Abraham’s servant was not okay with the delay (as they could potentially change their mind in ten days). The parents then responded, “Let’s call the girl and ask her about it” (v. 57). Then we see the most remarkable character trait of Rebekah. She immediately responded, “I will go.”
This was a great act of faith. Rebekah had never met Isaac. She would have to move over 500 miles away from home. The only thing she could discern, like her parents, was that God was in this; so she immediately agreed to leave. When Rebekah did this, she placed herself on the same path that Abraham had taken. Many years earlier, Abraham, similarly, heard God’s call and left home and family to heed it. Later, God told Abraham to circumcise himself and his household, and he immediately obeyed (Gen 17). Abraham was also told to banish his son, Ishmael, and he did (Gen 21). Then God called Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac, and he left for the mountain early the next morning (Gen 22). Obedience marked Abraham’s life. And, therefore, he is called the father of all those who believe (cf. Gal 3:7, Rom 4:16). Rebekah demonstrated similar faith in this narrative.
In 1 Corinthians 11:3, Paul says, “Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.” The head of the man is Christ and the head of the woman (better translated as “wife”) is the man. The wife is supposed to submit to the man, and the man is supposed to submit to and be led by Christ. As a woman discerns her potential mate, she needs to be sure that this man is submitting to Christ. Otherwise, her home will be in disarray.
Similarly, Paul said in Ephesians 5:22, “Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.” The wife must submit to her husband as unto the Lord. When a man is discerning whom to marry, he must discern if the woman is obedient in her relationship with the Lord. If she doesn’t submit to the Lord, then she will not submit to him. It is a lesson from the greater to the lesser. If she is disobedient to God (the greater), then she will not submit to her husband (the lesser).
Therefore, for both a man seeking a wife and a woman seeking a husband, the defining characteristic they should consider is obedience to the Lord. Does this person faithfully attend church and feel called to serve the church, as God commands? Does she faithfully study the Word of God and live a life of prayer before the Lord? Is he seeking first the kingdom of heaven or is something else his priority? Obedience to God marked Rebekah, as she was just like her father-in-law, Abraham. She was obedient, even when the cost was great.
In what ways is God calling you to grow in your obedience to him? Is the potential mate you are considering living a life marked by obedience to the Lord? This is the all-important characteristic. Marriage was made by God, and if a couple doesn’t submit to God, the marriage won’t fulfill its purpose.
Application Question: Why is obedience to God so important in a potential spouse? In what ways is God calling you to grow in obedience?
Now Isaac had come from Beer Lahai Roi, for he was living in the Negev. He went out to the field one evening to meditate, and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching. Rebekah also looked up and saw Isaac. She got down from her camel and asked the servant, “Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?” “He is my master,” the servant answered. So she took her veil and covered herself. Then the servant told Isaac all he had done. Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he married Rebekah. So she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death. (Genesis 24:62–67)
After Rebekah agreed to leave with Abraham’s servant, they immediately traveled to Beer Lahai Roi, in the Negev, where Isaac lived. When the servant and Rebekah arrived, Isaac was walking in the field meditating. (Maybe, in anticipation, he was praying about his future spouse.) When Rebekah learned that this man was Isaac, she immediately put on her wedding veil, signifying that she was his bride.5
After Isaac heard the story of God’s faithfulness, he took Rebekah into his mother’s tent. The language implies that they consummated the marriage. There is another principle here that we should be aware of in seeking a godly mate. Couples must practice purity before marriage. Rebekah was a virgin on her wedding day (cf. 24:16) and presumably so was Isaac.
Application Question: Why is it important for a couple to wait to have sex until marriage?
This is important for many reasons:
Sex before marriage will hinder one’s ability to properly discern God’s will. When two people have sex, they become one flesh (cf. 1 Cor 6:16). They are attached mentally, physically, and spiritually. This is a hard tie to break, and many individuals enter a courtship still yoked to previous partners. This affects their mind and emotions and many times makes it a struggle to commit, even to the person they believe God has chosen for them. It often hinders people from being able to break up when God makes it clear that a certain person is not right for them. Again, the yoking that happens in sex creates soul-ties. The person will often then try to convince themselves (and God) that this is the right person by ignoring all their flaws. Impurity affects one’s ability to discern and obey God’s voice. Matthew 5:8 says, “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.” One must see and hear God’s voice in the process of discerning a marriage partner; again, it’s the second most important decision a person will make.
Impurity in a relationship opens the door for the enemy to destroy the relationship. It opens the door for the enemy to tempt with jealousy, anger, and even further promiscuity (within or outside of the relationship). First Corinthians 5:6 says, “A little leaven leavens the whole lump” (ESV). Sin has a tendency to spread. Therefore, when Satan gets a doorway, he will try to destroy that relationship. Sadly, when couples open the door of impurity before marriage, it becomes almost impossible to close again. Couples must vigorously guard their relationship.
Paul said in 1 Timothy 5:1–2, “Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.”
How should a person in a dating or courting relationship treat their potential spouse? They should treat them as a brother or sister—with absolute purity. Practically, that means Christians should not do anything with their girlfriend or boyfriend that they would not do with their natural sibling. One should treat him or her with absolute purity.
Sadly, the church has not trained our young people well on how to date or court, so they adopt the world’s methods—opening themselves up to all kinds of temptations that destroy many relationships.
Statistics say that couples who wait until marriage to have sex have better relationship outcomes.6 No doubt there are many reasons for this. It protects them from Satan’s attacks whether through comparison, expectations, emotional baggage, or other avenues/open doors. It also brings God’s blessings on the relationship, as the couple faithfully obeys him.
Application Question: What are some consequences of opening sexual doors before marriage? How can couples guard themselves from these temptations and consequences?
Now Isaac had come from Beer Lahai Roi, for he was living in the Negev. He went out to the field one evening to meditate, and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching. Rebekah also looked up and saw Isaac. She got down from her camel and asked the servant, “Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?” “He is my master,” the servant answered. So she took her veil and covered herself. Then the servant told Isaac all he had done. Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he married Rebekah. So she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death. (Genesis 24:62–67)
As we consider Isaac’s marriage, one cannot but notice how it resembles Christ and the church. Isaac is a type of Christ. He had a miraculous birth and, figuratively speaking, experienced death and resurrection (cf. Gen 22, Heb 11:19). His father sought a bride for him, even as God chose the church for Christ before creating the earth (cf. John 6:37, Eph 1:3–6). Abraham sent his chief servant to secure the bride, even as God sent the Holy Spirit to woo the church to Christ. If the chief servant was indeed Eliezer, it is notable that his name means “God of help.”7 In this case, it’s hard not to think of the Holy Spirit, who is called the “Helper” (cf. John 14:26, ESV). Rebekah, in obedience, left all to marry Isaac. Similarly, the church left all to marry Christ (cf. Luke 14:26–33). Isaac’s marriage is a tremendous typology.
Furthermore, every marriage really is a typology—meant to share Christ with the world. Again, Paul said this in Ephesians 5:22–32:
Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church—for we are members of his body. “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.
Marriage was always meant to reflect Christ’s relationship with the church. Even more, it was meant to reflect the triune relationship in the Godhead. First Corinthians 11:3 says, “Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman [or wife] is man, and the head of Christ is God.” The husband is the head of the wife, as God is the head of Christ.
Therefore, when seeking a mate, more than anything, one must ask, “Will this relationship glorify God?” The man must ask, “Am I ready to sacrifice everything for this woman like Christ did for his church? Am I ready and willing to wash her with the Word of God like Jesus does his church? Am I ready and willing to lead a family in ministry like Christ does his church? Is this woman willing to submit to me, like the church does to Christ?” The woman must ask, “Am I willing to submit to this man as I do Christ? Am I willing to submit to his will over my own? Am I willing to follow this man in ministry for the rest of my life? Is this man a spiritual leader like Christ? Will this marriage reflect and magnify God?”
Marriage is meant to reflect Christ and the church. It is meant to magnify the beauty of the Godhead. Anything less defames and dishonors God.
When seeking a mate, one must seek after somebody who wants to glorify God and build his kingdom together.
Application Question: In what ways are Christ and the church and the tri-unity of God a model for marriage? How will this model benefit a marriage and benefit those watching?
Copyright © 2017 Gregory Brown
The primary Scriptures used are New International Version (1984) unless otherwise noted. Other versions include English Standard Version, New Living Translation, New American Standard Bible, and King James Version.
Holy Bible, New International Version ®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NASB) are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, and 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are from the King James Version of the Bible.
All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added.
1 Hughes, R. K. (2004). Genesis: beginning and blessing (p. 315). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
2 Hughes, R. K. (2004). Genesis: beginning and blessing (p. 318). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
3 Swindoll, Charles R. (2014-07-16). Abraham: One Nomad's Amazing Journey of Faith (Kindle Location 3302). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.. Kindle Edition.
4 Hughes, R. K. (2004). Genesis: beginning and blessing (p. 318). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
5 Hughes, R. K. (2004). Genesis: beginning and blessing (p. 321). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
6 Accessed 12/10/2014, from http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/fam/24/6/766/
7 Guzik, David (2012-12-08). Genesis (Kindle Locations 3890-3891). Enduring Word Media. Kindle Edition.
Leading a small group using the Bible Teacher’s Guide can be done in various ways. One format is the “study group” model, where each member prepares and shares in the teaching. This appendix will cover tips for facilitating a weekly study group.
The strength of the study group is that the members are required to prepare their responses before the meeting, allowing for easier discussion. Another is that each member has the opportunity to further develop his ministry skills through teaching. These are distinct advantages.
Copyright © 2017 Gregory Brown
Writing is one of the best ways to learn. In class, we take notes and write papers, and all these methods are used to help us learn and retain the material. The same is true with the Word of God. Obviously, all of the authors of Scripture were writers. This helped them better learn the Scriptures and also enabled them to more effectively teach it. In studying God’s Word with the Bible Teacher’s Guide, take time to write so you can similarly grow both in your learning and teaching.
Copyright © 2017 Gregory Brown
How can a person be saved? From what is he saved? How can someone have eternal life? Scripture teaches that after death each person will spend eternity either in heaven or hell. How can a person go to heaven?
Paul said this to Timothy:
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 3:14-15)
One of the reasons God gave us Scripture is to make us wise for salvation. This means that without it nobody can know how to be saved.
Well then, how can a people be saved and what are they being saved from? A common method of sharing the good news of salvation is through the Romans Road. One of the great themes, not only of the Bible, but specifically of the book of Romans is salvation. In Romans, the author, Paul, clearly details the steps we must take in order to be saved.
How can we be saved? What steps must we take?
Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” What does it mean to sin? The word sin means “to miss the mark.” The mark we missed is looking like God. When God created mankind in the Genesis narrative, he created man in the “image of God” (1:27). The “image of God” means many things, but probably, most importantly it means we were made to be holy just as he is holy. Man was made moral. We were meant to reflect God’s holiness in every way: the way we think, the way we talk, and the way we act. And any time we miss the mark in these areas, we commit sin.
Furthermore, we do not only sin when we commit a sinful act such as: lying, stealing, or cheating. Again, we sin anytime we have a wrong heart motive. The greatest commandments in Scripture are to “Love God with all our heart, mind, and soul and to love others as ourselves” (Matt 22:36-40, paraphrase). Whenever we don’t love God supremely and love others as ourselves, we sin and fall short of the glory of God. For this reason, man is always in a state of sinning. Sadly, even if our actions are good, our heart is bad. I have never loved God with my whole heart, mind, and soul and neither has anybody else. Therefore, we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23). We have all missed the mark of God’s holiness and we must accept this.
What’s the next step?
Why are we under the judgment of God? It is because of our sins. Scripture teaches God is not only a loving God, but he is a just God. And his justice requires judgment for each of our sins. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death.”
A wage is something we earn. Every time we sin, we earn the wage of death. What is death? Death really means separation. In physical death, the body is separated from the spirit, but in spiritual death, man is separated from God. Man currently lives in a state of spiritual death (cf. Eph 2:1-3). We do not love God, obey him, or know him as we should. Therefore, man is in a state of death.
Moreover, one day at our physical death, if we have not been saved, we will spend eternity separated from God in a very real hell. In hell, we will pay the wage for each of our sins. Therefore, in hell people will experience various degrees of punishment (cf. Lk 12:47-48). This places man in a very dangerous predicament—unholy and therefore under the judgment of God.
How should we respond to this? This leads us to our third step.
Romans 6:23 does not stop at the wages of sin being death. It says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Because God loved everybody on the earth, he offered the free gift of eternal life, which anyone can receive through Jesus Christ.
Because it is a gift, it cannot be earned. We cannot work for it. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Going to church, being baptized, giving to the poor, or doing any other righteous work does not save. Salvation is a gift that must be received from God. It is a gift that has been prepared by his effort alone.
How do we receive this free gift?
If we are going to receive this free gift, we must believe in God’s Son, Jesus Christ. Because God loved us, cared for us, and didn’t want us to be separated from him eternally, he sent his Son to die for our sins. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Similarly, John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life.” God so loved us that he gave his only Son for our sins.
Jesus Christ was a real, historical person who lived 2,000 years ago. He was born of a virgin. He lived a perfect life. He was put to death by the Romans and the Jews. And he rose again on the third day. In his death, he took our sins and God’s wrath for them and gave us his perfect righteousness so we could be accepted by God. Second Corinthians 5:21 says, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” God did all this so we could be saved from his wrath.
Christ’s death satisfied the just anger of God over our sins. When God saw Jesus on the cross, he saw us and our sins and therefore judged Jesus. And now, when God sees those who are saved, he sees his righteous Son and accepts us. In salvation, we have become the righteousness of God.
If we are going to be saved, if we are going to receive this free gift of salvation, we must believe in Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection for our sins (cf. 1 Cor 15:3-5, Rom 10:9-10). Do you believe?
Romans 10:9-10 says,
That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
Not only must we believe, but we must confess Christ as Lord of our lives. It is one thing to believe in Christ but another to follow Christ. Simple belief does not save. Christ must be our Lord. James said this: “Even the demons believe and shudder” (James 2:19) but the demons are not saved—Christ is not their Lord.
Another aspect of making Christ Lord is repentance. Repentance really means a change of mind that leads to a change of direction. Before we met Christ, we were living our own life and following our own sinful desires. But when we get saved, our mind and direction change. We start to follow Christ as Lord.
How do we make this commitment to the lordship of Christ so we can be saved? Paul said we must confess with our mouth “Jesus is Lord” as we believe in him. Romans 10:13 says, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
If you admit that you are a sinner and understand you are under God’s wrath because of them; if you believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that he died on the cross for your sins, and rose from the dead for your salvation; if you are ready to turn from your sin and cling to Christ as Lord, you can be saved.
If this is your heart, then you can pray this prayer and commit to following Christ as your Lord.
Dear heavenly Father, I confess I am a sinner and have fallen short of your glory, what you made me for. I believe Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay the penalty for my sins and rose from the dead so I can have eternal life. I am turning away from my sin and accepting you as my Lord and Savior. Come into my life and change me. Thank you for your gift of salvation.
Scripture teaches that if you truly accepted Christ as your Lord, then you are a new creation. Second Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” God has forgiven your sins (1 John 1:9), he has given you his Holy Spirit (Rom 8:15), and he is going to disciple you and make you into the image of his Son (cf. Rom 8:29). He will never leave you nor forsake you (Heb 13:5), and he will complete the work he has begun in your life (Phil 1:6). In heaven, angels and saints are rejoicing because of your commitment to Christ (Lk 15:7).
Praise God for his great salvation! May God keep you in his hand, empower you through the Holy Spirit, train you through mature believers, and use you to build his kingdom! “The one who calls you is faithful, he will do it” (1 Thess 5:24). God bless you!
Copyright © 2017 Gregory Brown
The primary Scriptures used are New International Version (1984) unless otherwise noted. Other versions include English Standard Version, New Living Translation, New American Standard Bible, and King James Version.
Holy Bible, New International Version ®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NASB) are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, and 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are from the King James Version of the Bible.
All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added.