REPROACH, RECOVERY, & REVELATION
Genesis 22:1-14 open to…
Lessons to learn From The Life Of Abraham: tonight we continue our Character study from the life of Abraham… While Abraham will go down in the history books as a “friend of God” he was by no means a perfect man.
Abraham had his defects just like us, and tonight we will take a trip into his life… to see how God provided for him even when he falls short, how his repentance brings him back into the fullness of his relationship with God
and we will end up reviewing just how God revealed himself to Abraham, not only in an introductory way (to say hi) but how God reveals HIS character to Abraham… and to us
Lets read from our text passage…
Genesis 22:1-14
This is a great passage that shows not only Abrahams trust in God, it also reveals Gods willingness to provide for us… even to the point of providing our offering to Him.
But lets take a step back and see what was happening in Abrahams life before this time of testing… Abraham suffers a reproach of sorts… a failure on his part to fully trust God, to fear man more that God.
Lesson #1. (REPROACH) NO LIE IS WORTH TELLING!
Genesis 20:2, 11-13 (review the background of the story)
Abraham falls into the same trap that many after him have… we try to skirt the truth by telling a little white lie. The problem is that any deviation from the truth is a lie.
It only takes one drop of black paint to change white to gray, and in the same way it only takes one drop of falsehood to compromise the truth.
Abraham failed to trust God and took matters into his own hands, and this act of the flesh almost led to disaster…
Have you ever fallen prey to the temptation to lie about a situation in order to get your way… don’t tell the whole truth about who your living with in order the get on government aid… the disaster comes in when you pass your poverty mentality onto your children…
You exadurate an injury in order file a frivolous law suit cause you think that will set you up for that financial come back… the disaster happens when you blow thru that money on junk, just to be in a more serious financial struggle that takes an act of bankruptcy which is in itself a bad example of Christian integrity that will haunt you for years and tells your kids its ok to do the same.
when a Christians back is against the wall they must turn their eyes toward heaven, pray and trust the creator of the universe to deliver them from their trouble. To lie is to mistrust God, and to mistrust God is to fall prey to the schemes of the devil who is the father of all lies.
Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Col. 3:9-10
A little white lie can destroy lives and will always compromise the integrity of a Christians testimony. Had Abraham trusted God nad not feared man, the story could have been one of victory and stood as a Biblical illustration of faith and trust.
No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house; no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence. Psalm 101:7
Are you a man of woman of truth, or have you compromised the pure white for the gray? Commit the words of your mouth to God and ask His help in walking today in truth… its never to late to repent, the time is now to ask for forgiveness and turn to live an uncompromised Christian truthful life.
Then Abraham prayed to God for forgiveness…Genesis 20:17
2. (RECOVERY) GOD STILL PROVIDES! (as our text shows)
Abrahams sleep must have been uneasy as he tossed and turned on the bed, wrestling with the unusual request of God to sacrifice Isaac.
Regardless the next morning Abraham sets out on his journey of faith, knowing that if he was obedient even to the unusual… God would provide the sacrifice.
What out of the ordinary, unusual thing has God asked of you… perhaps God has asked you to bless someone in an unusual way… are you going to trust Him enough to the point of obedience…
I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. Psalm 37:25
Do you want to see your children break the bondage of a poverty mentality handed down from generations before? Than it starts with you trusting him to provide without trying to cut corners.
God provided for Abraham, for david, for the Apostle Paul and God provides for His children today. He provides us with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places. And supplies all our needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Phil. 4:19
Abrahams encounter with God on Mt. Moriah stands as a spiritual monument to the faithfulness of God, and gives us a view of God’s heart.
What are you lacking in your walk with Christ? Are you lacking the fruit of the Spirit? Are you lacking the provision of God? Are you lacking in your personal relationship with others? Call upon His name and watch Him meet your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
3. (REVELATION) GOD WILL REVEAL HIMSELF!
God is known in the Bible by many different names and titles. Each name bears significance to His character and attributes.
Abraham received special revelation of at least five of these names, and with each revelation came a lesson for living
The Lord first introduces Himself to Abraham as:
1. MOST HIGH GOD = EL ELYON = this revelation taught Abraham that God transcends all of creation and emphasizes His strength and sovereignty.
Next, he meets God as: 2. LORD = ADONAI = this revelation taught Abraham of Christ’s mastership, ownership
And then he meets him simply as 3. GOD = JEHOVAH = this revelation shows God as being a personal God, wanting and desire a personal relationship with us… this is the most personal name of God used in the old testament.
then God shows Himself to Abraham as 4. ALMIGHTY ONE = EL SHADDAI = this name “almighty one” must have given a great deal of confidence to Abraham the father of the Jewish nation… imagine the pressure he would have been under just being father Abraham…
but to know that your God is ALIGHTY ONE…EK SHADDAI than there would be nothing too impossible for you to overcome & conquer. No mountain to high and no valley too low.
And finally as 5. GOD OF PROVISION = JEHOVAH-JIREH = the Lord his provider. God became to Abraham a personal, as well as a powerful Lord.
These personal revelations of God’s names and character are just as much for us today as they were for Abraham four thousand years ago
He is still the God of our provision, so trust in His mercy. He is still the most high God and El Shaddai, so believe in Him as your shield and protector. He is Lord and Jehovah so embrace His Lordship in your life and trust Him with your future.
As Christians we must take time to get to know our Lord and enjoy both the power and the majesty of His presence. Today He is calling you to kneel at His throne and partake of His goodness.
Ask God to reveal Himself to you as you study the scriptures that embody His divine titles.
