HOW GOD PROMISES
After these things, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram, I am your Shield, your abundant compensation, and your reward shall be exceedingly great (Genesis 15:1).
“After these things” … what transpired before this verse?
A war took place and Lot’s nephew was captured, including his goods, and all other people and provisions of Sodom and Gomorrah (vv.11-12). Abraham pursued the enemy and brought back all the goods, and Lot (vv. 14-16). The king of Salem (Melchizedek) blessed Abraham, and Abraham offered him a tenth of all he had taken (vv.18-20). Then the king of Sodom offered him all the goods in exchange for all his people (v.21). Abraham refused to accept the goods except those the portion that his people deserve (22-24). He did this because he gave his word to God that only Him will be glorified (v.23).
Let us look at these one by one to see what Abraham did.
1. Abraham took back what rightfully belongs to him.
2. He offered his tithe to the Lord.
3. He kept his word to God.
4. He gave all the glory to Him.
5. He refused to compromise.
6. He discerned which is from the Lord (Melchizedek) and which is not.
As a result of all these, God promised him abundant compensation and great reward.
Conversation between God and Abraham
And Abraham continued, Look, You have given me no child; and (a servant) born in my house is my heir (v.3)
Abraham was clarifying with God.
And He brought him outside (his tent into the starlight) and said, Look now toward the heavens and count the stars – if you are able to number them. Then He said to him, So shall your descendants be (v.5.).
God did not give specifics. Neither did he talk about the here and now. He showed Abraham the distant future and how big it will be.
And he (Abram) believed in the Lord, and He counted it to him as righteousness (v.6).
Abraham believed what God said. He did not question.
And He said to him, I am the (same) Lord, Who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldees to give you this land as an inheritance (v.7).
This was God’s added assurance to Abraham. He reminded Abraham of what He can do.
But he (Abram) said, Lord God, by what shall I know that I shall inherit it?
Abraham wasn’t doubting here. He wanted more clarity.
And God said to Abram, Know positively that your descendants will be strangers dwelling as temporary residents in a land that is not theirs, and they will be slaves there and will be afflicted and oppressed for 400 years. But I will bring judgment on that nation whom they will serve, and afterward they will come out with great possessions (vv.13-14).
God didn’t give Abraham the “how-to’s”. He again showed Abraham a distant future.
On that same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram saying, To your descendants I have given this land (v.18).
When God makes a covenant, He speaks in the past tense … “I have given” … indicating that it is a done deal. This covenant seals the promise.
What happened next?
The next chapter talks about the birth of Ishmael.
The question that comes to mind is, “If Abraham believed in what God said, how could he have made a wrong decision about God’s promise?”
For sure, Abraham relayed his conversation with God to Sarah. Sarah, of course, could not comprehend it the way Abraham understood and believed it. It was probably during the conversation of the husband and the wife when all these ideas about Hagar came about.
And Sarai said to Abram, See here, the Lord has restrained me from bearing children. I am asking you to have intercourse with my maid; it may be that I can obtain children by her. And Abraham listened to and heeded what Sarai said (v.2)
Again, let us look at this verse one by one.
1. Sarah looked at the impossibility of her own body.
2. She made a decision to let Abraham have intercourse with Hagar.
3. It was an option she thought may work (“it may be that I can obtain children by her). (There was doubt in that decision).
4. Abraham listened to her. In effect, Abraham’s faith was somehow shaken by everything that Sarah said and suggested. (This indicates the power of oneness in a marriage.)
The verses that follow explain the realization of Sarah that she made the wrong decision. Yet, instead of taking the responsibility for it, she put it upon Abraham. Abraham, probably because he didn’t want any confrontation anymore, gave Sarah the right to do anything she wants with Hagar.
And so the story continues.
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, I am the Almighty God; walk and live habitually before Me and be perfect (blameless, wholehearted, complete). And I will make My covenant between Me and you and will multiply you exceedingly. Then Abram fell on his face, and God said to him, As for me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of many nations (vv.2-4).
God visited Abraham again and said the same things He said to him regarding His promise. This time, however, He asked Abraham to walk and live habitually before Him and to be perfect. God knew the mistake that Abraham did and the reasons behind it.
Then God gave Abraham more specific revelations of what was going to take place. He started talking about Isaac … (v.19).
But My covenant, My promise and pledge, I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this season next year. And God stopped talking with him and went up from Abraham (vv.21-22).
Why did God stop talking to Abraham? God planted a seed of faith in Abraham and He waited for it to grow.
Now the Lord appeared to Abraham … (Gen. 18:1)
(The Lord) said, I will surely return to you when the season comes round (v.10)…
Is anything too hard or too wonderful for the Lord? At the appointed time, when the season comes around, I will return to you (v.14).
God said all these to strengthen the faith of Abraham all the more.
(Check out … Are we ready for our promised land?)
(http://www.godzgurlz.com/are-we-ready-for-our-promised-land.html)
~Lisa Maki~
“After these things” … what transpired before this verse?
A war took place and Lot’s nephew was captured, including his goods, and all other people and provisions of Sodom and Gomorrah (vv.11-12). Abraham pursued the enemy and brought back all the goods, and Lot (vv. 14-16). The king of Salem (Melchizedek) blessed Abraham, and Abraham offered him a tenth of all he had taken (vv.18-20). Then the king of Sodom offered him all the goods in exchange for all his people (v.21). Abraham refused to accept the goods except those the portion that his people deserve (22-24). He did this because he gave his word to God that only Him will be glorified (v.23).
Let us look at these one by one to see what Abraham did.
1. Abraham took back what rightfully belongs to him.
2. He offered his tithe to the Lord.
3. He kept his word to God.
4. He gave all the glory to Him.
5. He refused to compromise.
6. He discerned which is from the Lord (Melchizedek) and which is not.
As a result of all these, God promised him abundant compensation and great reward.
Conversation between God and Abraham
And Abraham continued, Look, You have given me no child; and (a servant) born in my house is my heir (v.3)
Abraham was clarifying with God.
And He brought him outside (his tent into the starlight) and said, Look now toward the heavens and count the stars – if you are able to number them. Then He said to him, So shall your descendants be (v.5.).
God did not give specifics. Neither did he talk about the here and now. He showed Abraham the distant future and how big it will be.
And he (Abram) believed in the Lord, and He counted it to him as righteousness (v.6).
Abraham believed what God said. He did not question.
And He said to him, I am the (same) Lord, Who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldees to give you this land as an inheritance (v.7).
This was God’s added assurance to Abraham. He reminded Abraham of what He can do.
But he (Abram) said, Lord God, by what shall I know that I shall inherit it?
Abraham wasn’t doubting here. He wanted more clarity.
And God said to Abram, Know positively that your descendants will be strangers dwelling as temporary residents in a land that is not theirs, and they will be slaves there and will be afflicted and oppressed for 400 years. But I will bring judgment on that nation whom they will serve, and afterward they will come out with great possessions (vv.13-14).
God didn’t give Abraham the “how-to’s”. He again showed Abraham a distant future.
On that same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram saying, To your descendants I have given this land (v.18).
When God makes a covenant, He speaks in the past tense … “I have given” … indicating that it is a done deal. This covenant seals the promise.
What happened next?
The next chapter talks about the birth of Ishmael.
The question that comes to mind is, “If Abraham believed in what God said, how could he have made a wrong decision about God’s promise?”
For sure, Abraham relayed his conversation with God to Sarah. Sarah, of course, could not comprehend it the way Abraham understood and believed it. It was probably during the conversation of the husband and the wife when all these ideas about Hagar came about.
And Sarai said to Abram, See here, the Lord has restrained me from bearing children. I am asking you to have intercourse with my maid; it may be that I can obtain children by her. And Abraham listened to and heeded what Sarai said (v.2)
Again, let us look at this verse one by one.
1. Sarah looked at the impossibility of her own body.
2. She made a decision to let Abraham have intercourse with Hagar.
3. It was an option she thought may work (“it may be that I can obtain children by her). (There was doubt in that decision).
4. Abraham listened to her. In effect, Abraham’s faith was somehow shaken by everything that Sarah said and suggested. (This indicates the power of oneness in a marriage.)
The verses that follow explain the realization of Sarah that she made the wrong decision. Yet, instead of taking the responsibility for it, she put it upon Abraham. Abraham, probably because he didn’t want any confrontation anymore, gave Sarah the right to do anything she wants with Hagar.
And so the story continues.
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, I am the Almighty God; walk and live habitually before Me and be perfect (blameless, wholehearted, complete). And I will make My covenant between Me and you and will multiply you exceedingly. Then Abram fell on his face, and God said to him, As for me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of many nations (vv.2-4).
God visited Abraham again and said the same things He said to him regarding His promise. This time, however, He asked Abraham to walk and live habitually before Him and to be perfect. God knew the mistake that Abraham did and the reasons behind it.
Then God gave Abraham more specific revelations of what was going to take place. He started talking about Isaac … (v.19).
But My covenant, My promise and pledge, I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this season next year. And God stopped talking with him and went up from Abraham (vv.21-22).
Why did God stop talking to Abraham? God planted a seed of faith in Abraham and He waited for it to grow.
Now the Lord appeared to Abraham … (Gen. 18:1)
(The Lord) said, I will surely return to you when the season comes round (v.10)…
Is anything too hard or too wonderful for the Lord? At the appointed time, when the season comes around, I will return to you (v.14).
God said all these to strengthen the faith of Abraham all the more.
(Check out … Are we ready for our promised land?)
(http://www.godzgurlz.com/are-we-ready-for-our-promised-land.html)
~Lisa Maki~
