Gen. 18:19 A Father Used by God
Intro: Today is "Father’s day". A day in which we want to honor someone very special.
Today, I would like for us to look at one of the main fathers in the entire Bible.
He is an O.T. character who due to his faith the entire world received a blessing
(the Messiah). This man is considered the "father of the Jews", the "father of the
nation of Israel." Listen as I read a few verses.
Gen. 17:5 "Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall
be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee."
Luke 3:8 "Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say
within yourselves, We have Abraham to [our] father: for I say unto you,
That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham."
John 8:53 "[The Jews said to Jesus] art thou greater than our father Abraham…."
Rom. 4:16 "Therefore [it is] of faith, that [it might be] by grace; to the end the
promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law,
but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us
all,"
Gal. 3:29 "And if ye [be] Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs
according to the promise."
It is because of verses like these we sing "Father Abraham".
How did Abraham become the "father of us all"? Or perhaps we should ask, why
did God choose him to become the father of us all. Out of all the people on the
earth, why Abraham? How did he get this job?
The answer is found in Gen. 18:19.
Prop: God can use a father like Abraham.
I. God could use Abraham because He knew him. "For I have known him…"
Know (Heb. Yada)
A. God’s knowledge of Abraham was intimate. Yada = intimate knowledge
It is used to speak of sexual intercourse (Gen. 4:1).
This shows the intimate knowledge God has for we humans.
B. God’s knowledge of Abraham was extensive.
Yada is used in Jeremiah 1:5.
"Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out
of the womb I sanctified thee, [and] I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations."
You see here God’s knowledge extends all the way to prior to our birth. He
knows us even before we were born.
God deeply knows everything about you, nothing is hidden from Him. It is as if
all is laid bear before Him.
In theology this is called the omniscience of God. God is all knowing.
God knows about our strengths, weaknesses, fears, thoughts, deeds, sins…
God knows these things yet He still initiates a relationship with mankind,
just like He did with Abraham.
II. God could use Abraham because he would fulfill His purpose.
"in order that" shows purpose
A. God wanted Abraham to lead his family.
"command" reflects a firmly established structure. A structure whereby one has
the right to rule by God, Himself. It means that God has placed someone in a
position to command others and to expect them to obey.
It is used of God commanding David (1 Sam. 13:14).
It is used of a king who commands his servants (2 Sam. 21:14).
It is used of a father commanding his son (Jesse & David; 1 Sam. 17:20).
President Bush, as a leader needs to set policy, set tone, set direction for his
administration….
Likewise, we men, need to as well.
We need to set some policy, tone and direction for our homes.
Men our wives want us to get out there and lead and quit dumping everything on
them.
Ill. Having a supervisor who will not lead and dumps on you -- you get frustrated
with them. So do our wives with us.
Caution: We must realize, just like our supervisor has a limited authority, just
like our president has a limited authority, we can not just say anything, do
anything or require anything. We do not have the authority to ask someone to sin.
We must not tell someone to not do something God has said to do, or to do
something God has said we should not do. We husbands, we fathers will be held
accountable to God for how we lead our families.
The best kind of leader is the one who leads by example. Christ lead by example
(1 Peter 2:21). The Apostle Paul lead by example (1 Cor. 11:1). A shepherd
leads his flock (Ps. 23:2). To say, "Do as I say, not as I do" will not cut it. No
one wants to follow a leader who is unkind, uncaring, negligent, immoral or
hypocritical.
B. God wanted Abraham to be involved with his family.
"command" is in the "piel" (intensive) form in Hebrew which suggest multiple,
repeated or busy action on the subject’s part.
God wants you men to lead, Yes, but He also wants you to be involved in the
lives of your family members. This takes day-in day-out diligence.
If you are doing this right you will be tired…
III. God could use Abraham because he would produce a desired product.
A. God desired the whole family live in complete obedience to Him.
"keep the way of the Lord" = the idea of exercising great care
over, to perform carefully, to give careful heed to God’s way. This is not only an
external obedience, but is also obeying and keeping God’s way in the heart (Prov.
4:21).
In the Hebrew this is in the Qal Perfect which speaks of the certainty of the event
in the mind of the speaker. In God’s mind there is no doubt. Because He "knew"
Abraham, Abraham would lead his family and his family would live according to
His ways. In God’s mind it was a done deal. It will happen.
B. God desired the whole family live right before others.
To live in accordance to God’s ways involves doing "justice and judgment".
This phrase expresses your relationship with others. When a person is "keeping
the way to the Lord" his relationships and his behavior will be affected. He will
live a righteous, moral, ethical life. He will seek the equality of all, rich or poor,
before the law and treat others equally.
It is the same old story -- we are not saved by our works -- but our works are an
indication that we are right before God.
Conclusion: How do you know a man "knows" God? He will lead his family and his
family will serve God and live right before others.
Men, Fathers, if we were to take a close look at the evidence (your leadership and
your family) would we say "you know God"?
Invitation:
