BELIEVING FAITH
-
from Ordinary to Extraordinary -
Genesis
12-22
Abram’s
name was changed to Abraham and Sarai’s name was changed to Sarah.
Nothing is impossible because God is able.
Abram and Sarai were
just ordinary people
used in an
extraordinary way
because they were
willing to obey.
(What could God
accomplish through us today
if we were always
willing to trust then obey?)
God chose Abram once
upon a time
to leave behind the
familiar ties that bind.
So Abram left his
country and family then went.
He took his wife,
his nephew, their possessions, with his tent.
(How willing are
we to go where God wants?
How about to
speak when God prompts?)
He left with God’s
promises ringing in his ears.
God’s promises are
meant to chase away any fears.
God promised to
bless Abram and to make his name great.
God always keeps His
promises. God waits, but won’t be late.
(Read the other
promises in Genesis 12:2-3.)
Two ordinary people
set out in obedience
with only the
assurance of God’s faithful promises.
They would learn
about an extraordinary plan
that God had in mind
for two ordinary humans.,
(Watch for God’s
extraordinary plan for your life too.
And be sure to
thank Him for His promises to you.)
Where Abram was
going he did not know,
but God had promised
he would one day show.
God guided Abram and
Sarai along
as each day they
traveled further away from home.
(God promises to
guide us one day at a time.
His daily
faithfulness is proven each and every time.)
They journeyed
toward Egypt. One day there was a fork in the road, so to speak.
Abram rationalized
in exchange for more cattle, donkeys, and sheep.
Yes, Abram had his
faults, was known to lie,
because he was just
an ordinary guy.
(Rationalization
involves manipulating the truth
which often ends
up leaving behind someone hurt.)
Abram sold his wife
to Pharoah saying, “She is my sister.”
How come Sarai
didn’t have a few words with her mister?
I suppose that would
not be the way of a good wife,
though I’m sure it
became the cause of strife in their life.
(What lie has
caused strife
to burden your
life?)
Did Abram learn from
telling a lie?
Wait and see. We’ll
find out as time goes by.
Time went by. The
place called Bethel could no longer support Abraham and Lot.
Hardships had
formed. A decision had to be made between Abram and Lot.
(Hardship could
be a time of evaluation.
A time to seek
God for His solution.)
Lot chose the plain
of Jordan, well-watered,
looking like the
garden of the Lord.
Abram was left with
dry Hebron,
where he learned God
would provide for him.
(A life of
gratitude
grows a positive
attitude.)
Although
it seemed like Lot chose the best option
that
decision lead him down the road of ruin.
I
wonder, did he seek the Lord first
or
was his decision based on thirst?
(Never compare
your lot in life with others
for you’re not
aware of burdens they bear.)
Thirst
based on city life
versus
living in dust?
His
choice lead to wrong decisions
that
invited sin and temptation.
(Be sure to seek
God’s direction
before your own
inclinations.)
God reminded Abram
of his original promises.
As was his custom,
Abraham built an altar and worshiped.
Yes, Abram was just
an ordinary man
who worshiped his
extraordinary God often.
(How often do you
spend time with God?
In prayer, in
Scriptures, in praise, in song?)
Although Abram was
an ordinary man,
God had an
extraordinary plan.
God’s plan was:
north and south, east and west – as far as Abram could see,
and as many as the
countless sands would his offspring be. (Genesis 13:14-15)
(How often do you
thank God for His many gifts?
Or do you find
yourself only asking from a list?)
Life went on,
troubles confronted God’s chosen, Abram.
Abram learned over
the years troubles were meant as God’s lessons.
Seeking God’s
guidance, Abram sought to bring God honor.
Yet, Abram’s
heart’s desire was to be a father.
(Have you learned
that your burdens
are meant to be
God’s lessons?)
Now Abram was just
an ordinary man
so he asked God
again (for God’s ways he did not understand),
“O Lord, I’m
still childless. I have no descendants.
You’ve promised me
- more than once – many descendants.”
(God wants us to
ask when we don’t understand.
He loves
communication with humans.)
So God reminded
Abram once again.
He told Abram to
count the stars in the heavens.
God promised Abram
his descendants would be
more than all the
bright stars in the sky he could see. (Genesis 15:5-6)
(Think of your
generations before you and after you.
How has your
family history influenced the world anew?)
Abram being just an
ordinary man
believed what God
told him that day, you understand.
Because Abram had
believing faith, he was extraordinary in God’s eyes.
You would have
thought his extraordinary believing faith would have made him always
wise.
(God has a
solution when we make unwise decisions.
It’s called
forgiveness. What freedom comes when forgiven.)
Now Sarai was just
an ordinary woman.
She, too, was
waiting on God for children.
So one day Sarai had
a plan,
though not a very
good plan.
(Do you devise
human plans without consulting God?
After all,
waiting on God does seem to be hard.)
Abram agreed to
Sarai’s plan.
He should have
consulted God, not woman.
Abram had a child
with the maid.
From this union
hostility was made. (Read Genesis 16.)
(Ill will was
formed between all.
If only on God
they had called.)
One good thing that
came out of this unwise human plan
was the angel of the
Lord consoled Hagar, the maiden,
and she was
comforted to know “You are the God who sees me.”
Hagar’s story is
recorded for us as part of "HisStory." (Genesis 16:13)
(Yes, God knows
and sees you
and has a plan to
guide you too.)
Abram got ahead of
God’s timetable,
though he knew with
God nothing was impossible.
Getting ahead of
God’s timetable,
you’ll find,
causes nothing but trouble.
(Do you have such
an experience in your life?
Are you still
dealing with the result of strife?)
God reminded Abram
of His promises once again
when Abram was the
wise old age of ninety-nine.
At that time God
changed Abram’s name to Abraham
stating he would be
the father of many nations. (Genesis 17:5)
God also changed
Sarai’s name to Sarah
stating she would
give birth to a son; God would bless her
and she would become
the mother of nations. (Genesis 17:15-16)
A covenant promise
fulfilled for all generations.
(Abraham’s new
name means father of many. Sarah means princess.
God was about to
fulfill His promise. He is the Keeper of Promises!)
Abraham was so
astonished he laughed in disbelief,
after all, he was
nearly100 years old (doubting faith).
God promised Abraham
a son to be named Isaac.
Issac means
laughter, a name God picked.
(Do you know the
meaning of your name?
May your
name/legacy be acclaimed.)
When Abraham heard
this, he laughed.
When Sarah heard
this, she laughed.
They laughed in
disbelief
for they thought
they were ancient.
(Disbelief is
doubting God can provide.
Doubting is the same
as worry - it lies.)
You see, with God
nothing is impossible.
That’s a promise
because God is able.
And God always uses
ordinary people
to show the world
with Him all things are possible.
(How has God
shown you all things are possible?
God uses ordinary
people to prove He is able.)
As
promised before Abram started his journey into the unknown,
God
promised “Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation,
and
all nations on earth will be blessed through him.
For
God had 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
the Lord will bring about for Abraham
what
he has promised him.”
Genesis
18:18-19
(God does not
forget His promises.
As you wait,
don’t become a doubting Thomas.)
Now Abraham, being
ordinary, lied once again.
He said Sarah was
his sister to Abimelech the king.
Sarah was to become
the king’s wife but God intervened.
How could Sarah not
speak up or at Abraham scream?
(Be careful what
you speak
the seven days of
the week -
for out of your
mouth/heart comes blessings
and/or hurtful,
condemning cursings.)
Abraham being
fearful lied.
Abimelech asked him
why.
It was the same lie
as once before
saying his wife was
his sister.
(Have you ever
lied due to fear?
Did it benefit
you, this fear?)
Despite
Abraham’s failures as a human being,
God
kept His promise He made at the beginning.
A
promise only God could orchestrate
for
these expectant parents.
(What have you
been waiting on God for?
Praising God
before receiving will open the door.)
Within the year,
Issac was born
to two ordinary
persons.
An extremely
extraordinary event
for Abraham and
Sarah were considered ancient.
(God always keeps
His promises and is never late.
Learn to wait in
expectation, to enjoy the journey, it’s great.)
For God who keeps
His promises and cannot lie
was gracious to
Abraham and Sarah by and by.
Issac was born when
Abram was 100 years old.
Unbelievable but
true. In the book of Genesis it’s told.
(Waiting does
bring its rewards -
blessings, in
other words.)
Their tent was
filled with laughter
for Issac means
laughter.
In God’s time,
God’s promises to them came true.
In God’s time, God
will keep His promises to you.
(What are you
waiting on God to unveil?
Remember, God is
working out the details.)
Years came and went.
How quickly Issac grew.
God spoke to His
friend Abraham anew.
God asked him to
sacrifice his one and only son.
Abraham prepared to
do as was asked of him.
(After waiting a
lifetime for his promised son,
Abraham did not
question God’s wisdom.)
It
was a test. A test of obedience.
Through
the years Abraham had learned obedience.
He
learned to trust God’s ways, believing faith,
without
wavering, a hard-earned belief.
(Abraham’s
obedience was immediate.
A lesson he had
learned through expedience.) experience
Abraham had learned
through the years to trust God.
As we’ve learned
through Abraham, it’s sometimes hard.
Abraham had learned
to trust God’s timetable
for with God nothing
is impossible.
(What has God
asked of you that seemed impossible?
Did you question
God? Or did you trust God to work out the obstacles?)
Abraham, being quite
ordinary,
was asked to do the
extraordinary
by God who does the
impossible.
Yet Abraham trusted
God was able.
(Would you call
your faith believing faith?
Have you
experienced God’s mercy and grace?)
When Issac asked his
father where was the lamb,
Abraham answered,
“God will provide, my son.”
Abraham had an
extraordinary faith
in an extraordinary
God – believing faith.
(Faith is
trusting God is faithful
and trusting in
God’s timetable.)
God did provide a
lamb, found in a thicket,
for God was testing
Abraham’s faith.
Abraham was more
than willing to obey
for he had learned
everything would turn out okay.
(Abraham obeyed
without question. That’s believing faith.
Later God
referred to Abraham as His friend. What grace!)
Abraham worshiped
God then and there, as was his practice,
saying, “The Lord
Will Provide” – without counting the price.
Just as when Abraham
left his family and country,
he willingly obeyed
for he knew God was with him, always.
(Is your
obedience willingly?
Or do you count
the cost sacrificially?)
The Lord reminded
Abraham of His promises once again
stating his
descendants would be as numerous as all the sand.
Yes, Abraham and
Sarah, like us, were just two ordinary persons
who trusted an
extraordinary God when they didn’t always understand.
(How has the
extraordinary God impacted your life?
Have you shared
His wonder-working in your life?)
They started out
having faith that was immature
but as the story
progresses their faith matured.
They developed
believing faith in God who is able
and learned
throughout life that with God nothing is impossible.
(What’s the
difference between having faith
and Abraham and
Sarah’s believing faith?)
Nothing is
impossible when you have faith that believes.
It takes a lifetime
to grow believing faith, you see,
as you learn to
trust in God who oversees
and does what’s
always best for you and me.
(Believing faith
will turn your trust in God from ordinary to extraordinary.)
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.
Genesis
12:1-2
So
Abram left, as the Lord had told him;
and
Lot went with him.
Abram
was 75 years old when he set out from Haran.
Genesis
12:4
The
Lord took him outside and said,
Look
up at the heavens and count the stars -
if
indeed you can count them.
Then
God said to him,
So
shall your offspring be.
Abram
believed the Lord,
and
the Lord credited it to him as righteousness.
Genesis
15:5-6
I
will surely bless you
and
make your descendant as numerous as the stars in the sky
and
as the sand on the seashore...
and
through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed,
because
you have obeyed me.
Genesis
22:17
