El Roi – The God Who Sees. Abram, Sarai, Hagar, Ishmael

2024.04.28. Sermon Notes. Elroi – The GOD Who Sees. Abram, Hagar, Ishmael, Elroi

William Akehurst, HSWC

BIG IDEA: GOD’s Plans are best and in HIS own timing. Sometimes with knowledge of what is to come, we try to take matters into our own hands, move things along, only to find that we’ve gone the wrong way, and if we had only waited on the LORD, HIS plans would have been fulfilled. But GOD is the GOD Who sees, and will redirect us when we go off track.

Scriptures: Genesis 14:18-20, Genesis 15:1-19, Genesis 16:1-16, 1 Peter 2:20

Last time, we were introduced to Melchizedek who blesses Abram. Even before the Passover had occurred, Melchizedek presents a blessing with bread and wine to Abram, as a Common Union, or communion.

Melchizedek is noted as a King and High Priest throughout all of scripture. He has no origin and yet his legacy is significant even to this day.

We see a comparison to JESUS as our KING and PRIEST. We understand that JESUS at the Last Supper took both the bread and wine of the Passover meal and presented these elements as HIS Body, the bread, and HIS Blood, the wine, representing the New Covenant moving forward.

What’s interesting is that Melchizedek presents this blessing before it became established as a standard for a covenantal agreement. Like with the Bride and Groom’s covenant in Galilee (referencing “Before The Wrath” movie.)

Genesis 14:18-20 (Melchizedek’s Blessing to Abram)

18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. 19 And he blessed him and said:

“Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth;

20 And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And he gave him a tithe of all.

FROM THAT BLESSING, GOD ENCOURAGES ABRAM (VS 15:1). GOD’S COVENANT IS MADE KNOWN TO ABRAM. THOSE WHO COME AFTER ABRAM WILL ALSO BE BLESSED.

Genesis 15:1-19 (NKJV)

God’s Covenant with Abram (Heb. 11:8–10)

GOD ENCOURAGES ABRAM (Vs. 1)

1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”

THE DIVINE PROMISE, ABRAM IS JUSTIFIED BY FAITH (2-6)

2 But Abram said, “Lord GOD, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 Then Abram said, “Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed one born in my house is my heir!”

ABRAM WAS TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT GOD WAS SAYING.

GOD MADE HIS PROMISE TO ABRAM AND ABRAM’S HEIRS, BUT ABRAM HAD NO CHILDREN.

4 And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.”

PROPHECY EXPLAINED:

ONE WILL NOT BE YOUR HEIR, Hagar and Ishmael.

BUT THE ONE WHO COMES FROM YOUR OWN BODY WILL BE. Sarai and Isaac.

MARRIAGE PRINCIPLE. MAN AND WOMAN, THE 2 SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.

Abram was married to Saria, therefore “from his own body.”

5 Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”

THE WORD OF THE LORD. LOOK TOWARD HEAVEN AND COUNT THE STARS, YOU CAN’T; SO SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE.

6 And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.

ABRAM BELIEVED, AND GOD COUNTED ABRAM’S FAITH FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

GOD PROMISES CANAAN TO ABRAHAM FOR AN INHERITANCE. (7-11)

7 Then He said to him, “I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to inherit it.”

8 And he said, “Lord GOD, how shall I know that I will inherit it?”

9 So He said to him, “Bring Me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” 10 Then he brought all these to Him and cut them in two, down the middle, and placed each piece opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds in two. 11 And when the vultures came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.

THE PROMISE CONFIRMED IN A VISION. (12-16)

12 Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, horror and great darkness fell upon him.

13 Then He said to Abram: “Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years.

REFERRING TO THE 400 YEARS IN CAPTIVITY IN EGYPT AFTER JOSEPH.

14 And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions.