Faithful Abraham Series

#6~Heb.11:8-10 & 17-19 Abraham-pt.2 5-17-14

Today we'll continue our study of Heb. chapter 11: -- "the hall of the faithful chapter"

* Listen as I read today's text:

Heb. 11:8-10 -- & 17-19 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

9By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles (tents) with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him (in his loins) of the same promise: 10For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

++- 17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, -- 18 Of whom (Isaac) it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

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Last time we talked about Abraham, and pointed out that he is called "father Abraham" by more nations than just the Israelis.

~From Abraham came Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Gen. 15: 5 And HE brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.

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~ Abraham's had two wives that bore him 7 sons. - Sarah and Keturah.

Genesis 25:1-2 Then again Abraham took a wife. And her name was Keturah. 2And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian. And Ishbak, and Shuah.

~ So Keturah bare him six sons, the daughters are not named.

Then verses 3-4 tell us of the sons that came from these 6 sons, remember Abraham is considered the father of all of these, the father of many nations.

~ We notice here in Gen.25: 1 that Keturah is called Abrahams wife, but in 1 Chronicles 1:32 she is called his concubine.

1st. Chronicles 1:32 Now the sons of Keturah, Abraham's concubine: she bare Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah.

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~ Listen, it is possible that Keturah was Abraham's "concubine" in the beginning, and then became his "wife" at a later time, perhaps after Sarah's death.

~The very fact that Keturah was Abraham's concubine suggests that Sarah was alive when Abraham first took her.

~ LISTEN; Abraham's sons by Keturah were not considered heirs, so she was indeed a concubine as 1st Chron. 1:32 has it. ---- A concubine was considered a secondary wife, but a concubine did not possess all the privileges that belonged to the primary wife.

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~ Abraham's wife's name was Sarah (Sarai) and they were the parents of Isaac.

* Notice only one son, ISACC by Abraham and Sarah.

~At Sarah's suggestion before she bore Isaac, Abraham went into Sarah's maidservant Hagar, and she bare Ishmael, which Sarah would claim as her own. ---"HAGAR" was Sarah personal servant; she was not just an ordinary slave. -- She was Sarah's handmaid.

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~ The people in Abram's culture regarded a concubine as a secondary wife with some, but not all, of the rights and privileges of the primary wife. -- In effect Hagar became Abram's concubine.

~ Sarai and Abram chose fleshly means of obtaining the promised SEED rather than waiting for God in faith. They let their old native ways guide them rather than God.

~Listen, both Sarah and Abraham jumped ahead of God, they didn't wait for Gods set time, she thought she was now to old to bare children, and in our way of thinking she was, but they over looked the fact that God was involved.

~ Luke 18:28 -- The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

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>Gen. 16:1-3 Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.

2And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.

Listen, 3 And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.

-- Here we're told that Sarai gave Hagar to Abraham to be his wife. -- That is, for a second wife, this amounts to a concubine, that she might have children by her. -- Hagar bore Abraham a son and his name was Ishmael, he was the father of 12 sons. -- think of all the people that has been born of these 12 sons, and their all the children of Abraham. Gen.17:20.