Reflecting on Assignment # 9 of Genesis 17 & 18 (2nd one)

Re-do of reflections on Genesis chapter 17-18, since it was windy earlier and video skips some at the beginning.

Reflecting on Assignment # 9 Study Lesson: Gen. 17-18

Kassie shares notes and reflects on assignment #9: Genesis chapter 17-18.

Assignment # 9 Old Testament Study Lesson: Gen. 17-18

Hello, welcome back to our study in Genesis. We have a lot to consider in this lesson, so lets get right to.

Gen. 17

God Establishes His Covenant

When we finished up chapter 16, it was with the birth of Ishmael. It has now been 13 years since then. And once again, we find God speaking with Abram. Notice how God introduces himself: I am the God Almighty. This is the first time we are introduced to God by this name. Why would God start off His conversation this way? Because He is fixing to declare what would seem impossible.

• Remember that Abram was 75 years old when God commanded him to leave his home. He was 86 when Ishmael was born. Now he is 99 years old.

As we read chapter 17, there is a key phrase repeated several times, “I will establish my covenant…” God then goes on to declare what HE WILL DO. In fact, look at verse 4, He says, “as for Me…” notice at this point, it is all God, He has yet to say what Abram’s role is to be.

The phrase “I will establish…” God is the one determining what He wants to do, so since He is the one declaring it, He will also be the one to bring it to pass. 

• Look up Isa. 46:10-11 and write down the key points that reflect what He is saying here in Gen. 17.
•  Now look up Ps. 138:8. What does it say?

In verse 5 of Gen. 17, God makes a statement that would seem contrary… “I have made you…” Notice He did not say, “I WILL make you…” God spoke as if He already had.

How can He state this? Because He is God and sees the end from the beginning. He is all-knowing, and because He is, He can declare what is to be as if it already were.

• Read Isa. 49:8 with me: Thus says the Lord, “In a favorable time I have answered you, and in a day of salvation, I have helped you. 
• Again, here we see God speaking of something He will do in the future as if He already has accomplished it. And since He has spoken it, His Word will not come back void (as it says in Isa.55).

In verse 19 of Gen. 17, God tells Abraham that his to be son shall be called Isaac. Again, speaking as if the child were already born.

How does Abraham respond? He laughed (in his heart) as if to say, “yeah right” and then went on to suggest that God’s promise be brought about through Ishmael. Why would Abraham suggest this? Maybe because he looked at how old he was now and was to tired to let his hopes get up again for something that would seem impossible.

So, what was God’s response? God didn’t take offense, instead, He reassured Abraham that He would indeed have a son, and what is more, is that the child will be from his wife (Sarah). Hence starting out His conversation with the “I am the Almighty God”

• El Shaddai: This name of God means exactly what it says. He is the Almighty One, the Powerful One, or Mighty One. Some think this name also means that He is the All-Sufficient One.

After declaring what He Himself would do, God goes on to say “And as for you (Abram)…”

He told Abram to walk before Him and be blameless, in other words to live as God would have him live. This was not to say that he had not been doing this, but it was a command from God to keep on living as he should.

God then began to speak of covenant again. He then changed Abram’s name to “Abraham.”

And what was the promise behind this name? God promised that nations and kings would come from Abraham.

• NOTE: In Genesis 12:2, it says that God told Abram He would make him a great nation. Here God said He would make him the father of a multitude of nations. The great nation promised in Genesis 12 was the nation of Israel that came out of Egypt in very large number. 

What else did He promise? God said that His covenant with Abraham and his descendants would be an everlasting covenant and that the land will be theirs forever. In fact, He stated twice that He will be their God.

In Verses 9-14 God talks about the circumcision.

• Abraham and his descendants were to keep this as a condition of the covenant.

Why did God declare a circumcision and not something else as the sign? What about women? And, isn’t circumcision part of the Law?

• The physical location of circumcision is the place closest to the seed that God told Abraham would come forth from his own body. It was a sign of the promise God made to Abraham for descendants. Also, since the lineage is through the men (and not the women), the sign of the covenant was unnecessary for the women.
• NOTE: The circumcision was instituted as a sign of the Abrahamic Covenant, not of the Law as sometimes is assumed. It was given by God many years earlier than the Law was given.

What did Abraham do? He believed God and put action to his faith. He didn’t mole it over, he didn’t think about it for a few days… No ON THE VERY SAME DAY Abraham took and active step of faith.

What is faith? The ability to trust that something is true before you see it manifested.

• Look up James 1:22-24 and write it down. 
• And then of course read and write down Heb. 11:6

God also made a promise concerning Sarai, and changed her name to Sarah, meaning “princess.”

God made a promise concerning Ishmael as well. God said that he would be fruitful and multiply and be the father of twelve princes and a great nation. But the covenant promises would go to Isaac whom Sarah would bear to Abraham at the same season the next year.

GENESIS 18

The Time has Come

The Lord appeared to Abraham again by the oaks of Mamre in Hebron (which is where Abraham had built an alter to the Lord in Gen. 13.

So how did the Lord appear to Abraham this time? He was one of three men.

Something to consider while reading chapter 18; God could have given His message to Abraham through a vision, or an angel. But He didn’t. Instead, God came down in person (this is the second time we see Jesus manifested in the Old Testament). Not only did God make it personal, but Jesus ate a meal with Abraham (thus having fellowship with him).

Where was Sarah during all this? Inside the tent listening to their conversation. What was her reaction about the timing? She laughed. But there must have been some bitterness in her laugh, or something, because when Abraham laughed at the idea in Gen. 17, God didn’t say anything. But here, where we see Sarah laugh, one might almost think it was more of a scoffed laugh. The reason being is Jesus’ response.

The Lord who asked Abraham why Sarah laughed, which she quickly denied. However, God being all-knowing, knew better. And His reply? Is there anything to difficult for God?

We have to keep in mind, that so far, we haven’t seen God do the impossible yet.

What did the Lord tell Abraham in verses 9-10? At that time the next year, Sarah would have a son (look back at the timing to Genesis 17:21). So apparently Genesis 17 and 18 were very close in time.

Look up Romans 4:18-21. Even though he knew that there was no physical way that Sarah and he could produce a child, he believed what the Lord told him. He wasn’t weak in faith. In fact, he was fully assured / convinced that what God promised, He was able to perform.

He came to a decision to believe that nothing was too difficult / hard for the Lord.

Look at the last part of Gen. 18. God didn’t hide from Abraham what He was going to do, because in him all nations of the earth will be blessed. God chose him so that he could command all those nations who would come from him to do right according to the Lord’s ways.

• What does Amos 3:7 say?

Because God considered Abraham a friend, He confided in him what He (God) was going to do.

• Look up Isa. 41:8
• Look up Ps. 25:14
• And finally look up John 15:13-16 and summarize it.

My friend, only a friend would feel comfortable enough to “nose in” and ask questions the way Abraham dared to do.

Why do you think Abraham kept dwindling the numbers down?

Who do you think Abraham was thinking about when he asked if God would spare the city for 10 people? I will give you a hint… Abraham called him family.

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One last thought about this lesson: God said from generation to generation. So, what are we to do to ensure that generations after knows God’s ways? We are to teach them.

Look up Ps. 78:1-8 and summarize what you read.

My friend, that is all for this lesson, I hope you are encouraged and will take God’s message to heart.

Kassie

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Assignment #8 New Testament Study Lesson: Matt. 6:19-34

Other study lessons from Matthew

Jesus Continues with His Teaching
on the Mount (part 4)

Matt. 6:19-34

We are still on the Sermon on the Mount. So, read Matt. 6:19-34 and continue your outline the lessons (with any insight God gives you).

#4 (vs 19-24)    ____________________________________

#5 (vs 25-34) _____________________________________

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So, now let’s look a little bit deeper into this section of Matt. 6.

Did you happen to notice a repeated command in these verses?

 I will give you a hint: “Do not” is used four times in these verses.

So, what did Jesus say not to do?

Why do you think He did (or what was the reason) in verses 19-24?

In verses 25-34 He said “Do not…” but what was the rest of the sentence that He stated THREE times?

Do a quick lookup of the following verses:

• Genesis 1:31
• Psalm 19:1
• Psalm 29:3-9
• Psalm 104:1-4 
• Romans 1:20

So, who created nature? Of course, God did. And He is more than able to care for nature. We may take care of our yards but out in the middle of no-where, where there isn’t man to tend it, nature and all in it continues to be cared for by God. So, if God will go to such extremes to provide and care for nature, how much more do you think He will tend to us? After all, we are made in His image, He created us to have a relationship with us.

• Now look up Rom. 12:2 and write it down in your notes.
• Also look up Phil. 2:13 and add it to your notes.
• And finally look up Eph. 2:10

Do you see a pattern in these verses?

God has “work” for us to do. He has created each of us for a purpose. So, if we are walking with Him and are seeking His will for our lives (and we are being obedient), then doesn’t it make sense that God is going to provide for us so that we can do His will?

This doesn’t mean we won’t have hardships. This doesn’t mean we are going to be filthy rich… but if we are truly seeking His will, and we are earnestly stepping out in faith, then His Word says He will provide. Keep in mind though that sometimes “our needs” are more of what we desire to have. And sometimes, what we need and what we desire are two totally different things.

Now look up Ps. 37:25 and write it out in your notes.

How does this comfort you? What are your thoughts now?

 These set of verses also talk about the eye and the body.

What we watch, or what we allow ourselves to “look upon” will fill our minds… once that happens, then we start thinking about it… and eventually it takes root inside of us. So Jesus is basically warning them not to fill their minds with garbage from what they are gazing upon.

What are your thoughts now on this?

  

That’s all for now. See you soon!

Kassie

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Assignment #8 Old Testament Study Lesson: Gen. 15-16

Click here for other lessons in Genesis

Hello, I hope you are ready to dig deeper in God’s Word!

Before we start this lesson, lets recap what we have already seen in the last few chapters:

>> In Genesis 12 we saw God’s promises to Abram, and a step of faith taken as Abram obeyed God and left his people to travel to Canaan. However, Abram decided to go down to Egypt due to a famine and suffered the consequences.

>>In Genesis 13 Abram and Lot separated due to the feuding between their herdsmen. And we saw God restate His promise to Abram.

>> In Genesis 14 we read where Abram was called into a battle to rescued Lot after he (Lot) was taken captive. We were also introduced to Melchizedek, who gave glory to God for Abram’s victory.

Because neither of the two chapters in this lesson are very long,

we are going to go straight to our study survey.

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Study Survey

Chapter 15:  The Cutting of the Covenant

When starting out in chapter 15, the first thing we read is God telling Abram “Not to be afraid…” Typically not the best way to start out a conversation. This reminds me of several times my sons would come in and start out their conversation with me by saying, “Mon, don’t get mad, but…” However, if we look back over chapter 14, we see that Abram just came from a battle with some very fierce tribes.  He probably was a little concerned that there might be some retribution, so God starts by telling him not to worry.

Something very important to grasp in this very first verse: God didn’t tell Abram that He would give Abram a shield. No, God said “I am a shield to you.” 

The next thing to take note of is that Abram totally accepted God’s pledge and went on to discuss something totally different. In other words, God said “Hey, don’t worry…” So, Abram basically said “OK”. How can I say that? Because Abram obviously didn’t feel the need to ponder God’s pledge any further, because he went on to change the subject.

So, what did Abram want to talk about? He brought up the topic of another promise God had made him… and that was of an heir. God listened to Abram and then reassured him that he will have a son (one from his own flesh). Notice something else: God didn’t take offense to Abram questioning Him.

God then went on to reaffirm the promise of the land to Abram’s descendants. Then Abram asks something that might seem peculiar. Abram asked, “But how will I KNOW….?”

My friend there is a difference between believing something and KNOWING something.  Let me give you an example: Say my phone rings and I see that the caller ID shows my oldest son’s name. I would instantly believe that it was my oldest son calling, but when I answer it and hear his voice, well, then I KNOW it is him.

We can believe something to be true (even if its not). We can believe a lot of things… until they are put to the test. And then we know for certain what is true and that which is not. God did not take offense to Abram needing a little more reassurance. After all, there were a lot of people living in the land that God had just promised him.

But notice something else. Abram didn’t ask God “how will I know you will give me a son?” God said he would have a son, and Abram completely accepted this as truth and trusted God for it. Somewhere in his heart and mind, he must have thought there was still a way for him to have a son. But the land… now that was something different.

What did God do to build the same faith (and trust) to this part of the promise? He made a blood covenant with Abram. And in verse 13 God Himself declared, “You can know for certain…”

• Read very carefully verse 17. God Himself made the covenant. God was the one to walk through the sacrifice laid out (as a flaming torch). Abram didn’t have to meet God half way and shake hands like you and I would if we were making an agreement with each other. God took full responsibility.

 So, let’s look at this a bit deeper: "How can I know?"(Gen. 15:7-21)

Abram did believe, but he also needed to know. Again, God was not upset. Instead, God had Abram prepare the most binding of all forms of ancient covenants from that culture, which was a "covenant of blood."

Take a moment to read Hebrews 6:17-18. It tells us that God took this action because He wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear (and not only to Abram, but also to us as heirs of what was promised). God confirmed it with an oath. But why would He do this? To show that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie. And, because God is totally committed to us as well, we can also know that when God makes us a promise, He will uphold it.

My friend, God not only knows the future, but is also in full control of the future. So, on this basis we (like Abram) needn’t have doubts when God reveals His intentions to us. Abram had to “know” based on God's word alone. We can “know” (not only because God is the One who speaks to us), but because we can look back on fulfilled prophecy (which Abram could not do) and see the faithfulness of God.

We can look back at the 400 years in Egypt, the slavery imposed on Abram's descendants, the punishment of Egypt, and the Exodus deliverance as history today. And what do we see when we do? Everything happened just as God said it would.

One last thing to consider before going on to the next chapter.

God told Abram that his descendants would be blessed, but that there was also going to be hardship. My friend just because we are Christians, doesn’t mean we won’t have hardships as well. Just as Abram’s descendants would suffer trials and long periods of waiting… so will we at times.

>> Thought to ponder: God’s Word came to Abram in a vision (vs. 1) but then there was action on Abram’s part. Look up Hab. 2:1-3. Notice it says he will “keep watch to see what God will speak to him…” And he was to write it down. My friend, God does the same for us while we are in prayer with Him. Many times, He will “speak to our hearts” and we can "see" with our spiritual eyes what He is speaking to us. And when we do, we need to write it down!

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Study Survey

Chapter 16: Impatience & Consequences

“Perhaps I can build a family” (Gen. 16:1-16).

Let’s start with on overview of this chapter:

When reading Gen. 16, we need t0 remember that in biblical times, bearing children was viewed by women as giving meaning to their lives. Abram had believed God's promise, but as the years passed and no children came, Sarai became impatient.  Finally, she decided to take matters into her own hands and she urged Abram to sleep with her maid, Hagar.

This might seem awful to us, but according to the customs of those times, this was not an immoral act. It was actually a recognized way to provide a childless wife with children she would then call her own.  Though this might have been acceptable in man’s eye, but it wasn’t by God.

Sarai’s impatience is proven to be a horrible mistake… all starting with one thought, "Perhaps I can build a family."

It was foolish for her to think that SHE could build it when God had already said HE would build Abram's family!

>> Life Lesson: My friend, anytime we try to do God's work in our own strength (or insist on imposing our timing instead of waiting for God to act), it will always wind up proving to be a dreadful mistake.

As we see, Sarai's self-help effort turned out horribly. Because, Hagar did become pregnant, however, soon after Hagar began showing contempt for her mistress! And, since Hagar was pregnant by Abram, it was now very clear that the couple's childlessness was Sarai's fault. Sarai probably didn’t expect this result when she set out on her own. The strife that then dominated Abram's tents (as a result) reminds us to wait on God rather than going ahead without His guidance or direction.

>> Life Lesson: This invariably happens when we take over for God, trying to make His promise come true through efforts that are not in line with His specific directions.

In this case, time was the greatest test of Abram and Sarai's willingness to let God work in their lives. My friend, sometimes we too must simply wait. When we ask God for something and have to wait, we can be tempted to take matters into our own hands and interfere with God's plans. But when we do, it only causes more hardship and possible delays.

Look back at vs. 2, notice that it says, “Abram listened to the voice of Sarai…” Consider this:

          >> Who did God talk to?

          >> Who did God make the promise to?

          >> Who should be the leader (head) of the family?

          >> So, who should have enforced God’s Word in the family?

          >> What did he do instead?

He became passive and followed the voice of his wife instead of what God had told him.

         >> What was the result?

Where have we seen this pattern before? 
In Gen. 3 with Adam and Eve.

Now look at vs. 5. Although Sarai arranged for Hagar to have a child by Abram, she later blamed Abram for the results (Adam and Eve did the same thing in Gen. 3:12-13).

In vs. 6 we see that Sarai was angry with Abram, but she took it out on Hagar.  Instead of accepting her responsibility to what was now happening, she blamed everyone else.

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Though Hagar was originally the victim in this situation, she made it worse by HER treatment towards Sarai. And then instead of facing the problem, she did what a lot of us do… She tried running away from her mistress, thus running away from her problem.

So now, we have three people who are entangled in a serious mess: (1) Sarai, who took matters into her own hands and gave her servant to Abram; (2) Abram, who went along with the plan but, when the circumstances began to cause strife, he refused to help solve the problem; and (3) Hagar, who added to the strife with her attitude and then ran away from the problem.

However, despite this messed up situation, we will soon see God demonstrate His ability to work all things for good (see Rom. 8:28), and the truth of Pr. 19:21 (look this verse up and write it down).

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Going Deeper:

After Hagar ran away, the Angel of the Lord found her in the desert at a spring (beside the road to Shur) on the way to her homeland (Egypt).

This is the first reference in the Old Testament to "the Angel of the Lord".

o    Though this Angel is identified with God, this Angel also identifies distinctive from God. And by doing so, refers to a theophany (meaning a visible manifestation) of the preincarnate Christ.

§  I highly suggest you highlight this in your Bible in a special way, so that you will know that you just saw Jesus.

God (Jesus) asked Hagar two questions: Where have you come from, and where are you going? Why would He ask her these questions if He is all knowing? To draw her closer to Him in relationship, and to have her voice (admit) what she is doing (running away).

After God (Jesus) asked her these questions, He did two things. First, He gave her a command which was to return to her mistress and submit to authority instead of rebelling. The fact that she was able to conceive after all these years that Sarai couldn’t would suggest that the “contempt” she was showing her mistress was a form of GLOATING, and that is never acceptable in God’s eye.

Secondly, He gave her a promise. He told her that she would give birth to a boy and was to call him Ishmael.

• God Himself named her son Ishmael, which He then explained: for the Lord has heard your misery. He also promised her that her descendants would be too many to number (thus giving her a future and a hope).

Somewhere in her, she accepted and believed. And she stated what each of us needs to know about our God…

• She called God the One who sees me. and to commemorate the event she named the well at that ion Beer Lahai Roi ("well of the living One who sees me”).

 Insight:

God spoke to Hagar in direct revelation, and she responded in faith. My friend, God really does see our distress and affliction, and He hears us.  And this was something that Sarai should have known. Since God knew Sarai was barren (but had promised Abram a son), she should have cried out to God for help, instead of trying to figure out her own solution.

This is a great reminder to us that in our distress (like that of Sarai's barrenness), we should turn to God because He hears our cries and sees our needs. God is able to miraculously fulfill His promises He doesn’t need our help

God provided for this woman who was thrust out into the desert. And He made her a promised; that her son would become the father of a great tribe of wild, hostile people. However, he would not be the promised son to fulfill God’s Word to Abram. By Sarai taking matters into her own hands, she caused the origin of the Ishmaelites, and that harvest is still being reaped today. Ironically, Sarai's great-grandson (Joseph) was later taken to Egypt in slavery by the Ishmaelites (see Gen. 37:28).

>> Life Lesson: God's people can trust His Word and should wait for its fulfillment, enduring patiently till the end.

o   Look up Hab. 2:2-3 and write it out as a reminder.

My friend, that is all for this lesson, I hope you are encouraged and will take God’s message to heart.

Kassie

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