Sermon Notes April 22, 2012 FBCam
Will You Wait on God?
Genesis 17
We often equate FAITH with DECISIONS. Sometimes FAITH is about WAITING.
Romans 4:9-12 describes Abraham as the “Father of our Faith.” When we consider Abraham’s faith, we normally consider his faith in trusting God for salvation. This is the truth conveyed in Genesis 15:6 "Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness." Here, Abraham’s JUSTIFICATION is illustrated through the faith he demonstrated in trusting God.
But if we look to another passage of Scripture describing Abraham’s faith, we find an event much later in his life as the picture of faith.
Hebrews 11:11–12 "By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. " "And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore."
The theological truth illustrated by Abraham’s faith in this passage is Abraham’s SANCTIFICATION. The event recorded by the Author of Hebrews refers to the Genesis 17 event that we are studying today, and occurs years after Abraham’s justification.
We come to God by faith. The only way we can be justified is through faith (Romans 3:28; Galatians 2:16). But we must also continue to walk by faith (Galatians 2:20). As much as Justification depends on faith, so also sanctification depends on faith. We must continually trust God to provide what we need so that we can serve him.
QUESTION: Am I waiting on God for the things in my life that are most difficult?
- When I’ve prayed and there is no answer
- When I feel that I cannot go on
- When I suffer for doing what is right
- When my struggle has been going on for years
- When there seems to be an easy way out if I just forget my principles
- When others are telling me that God cannot be trusted
Our faith in God in the ongoing details of life is most often tested by waiting. We often start out with good intentions and brave commitments to the Lord, but we lose hope and go back to our own methods of doing things our way when the answer does not come soon enough, or the obstacles are larger than what we anticipated.
John Ortberg describes this process waiting by faith. “Biblically, waiting is not just something we have to do until we get what we want. Waiting is part of the process of becoming what God wants us to be.”
http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/25-great-waiting-quotes/#ixzz1sm7mMzrD
The lesson of Abraham’s FAITH in WAITING is demonstrated through
DATES and NAMES here in Genesis 17,
The Theme of Genesis 17 is CONFIRMATION of the Covenant. Genesis 17:2 "I will confirm my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.”"
In this chapter, two events symbolize the confirmation of the Covenant. First, Abraham’s Name is Changed. (17:5). The second is the command that Abraham and his descendants be circumcised (17:9-14).
Circumcision was practiced in other cultures. It was a tremendous test of the depth of Abraham’s faith! Notice that Abraham obeyed God immediately (Gen 17:23, “on that very day..”)
Circumcision reminds Abraham of two truths
1. Purity in marriage was necessary for the promise to be fulfilled
2. the Promised seed (the deliverer) could only come in God’s way. “Human nature is unable to generate the promised seed.” (Bible Knowledge Commentary)
The STRUCTURE of this passage emphasizes the importance of the signs God gave to remind Abraham of the Covenant. The center of this chiasmic structure is the name change for Abraham and the very center point of the chiasm is the command for circumcision. Notice the chiasm here.
i. Abraham was 99 years old (17:1)
(1) God appeared (17:1b)
(a) Abraham fell face down (17:3)
(i) Abraham’s name changed (17:4-8)
1) CIRCUMCISION (17:9-14)
(ii) Sarah’s name changed (17:15-16)
(b) Abraham fell face down (17:17)
(2) God when up (17:22)
ii. Abraham was 99 years old (17:24)
How is Abraham’s FAITH in WAITING for GOD being tested? The text gives us two ways that Abraham’s faith was tested. The first is found in the significance in DATES
24 years since Abraham set out for Canaan. (12:4)
Ishmael is 13 years old! Ishmael represents the struggle between FAITH and FLESH
In Abraham’s FLESH, he first sought Lot as his promised seed, then Eliazer (15:3), and finally through Hagar (16:2). The result of this was the birth of Ishmael. We can see in the text how Abraham had his hopes fixed on Ishmael and not on the promise of God. “if only Ishmael would live under your blessing” (17:18).
Abraham’s FAITH is being tested. Will he trust God?
The second test of Abraham’s faith is found in the significance of NAMES. The way tha God changes these names, and the name that he gives to both Ishmael and Isaac demonstrate the lessons that God is teaching Abraham.
Abram. “Exalted Father” (ties Abram back to Terah)
ABRAHAM. “Father of a multitude” Genesis 17:4 “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations."
Sarai/ Sarah. “princess”
Ishmael. “God hears” Genesis 17:20 "And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation."
Isaac. “He laughs”
Gen 17:17. Abraham laughs
Gen 18:20-22. Sarah laughs
Gen 21:6-7. Sarah tells everyone to laugh!
Application. Waiting illustrates The Struggle between FAITH and FLESH
Faith says “trust in God.”
Flesh says “do it yourself.”
Faith says “Wait until God answers”
Flesh says “Put a time limit on God”
Faith practices unconditional obedience.
Flesh practices conditional obedience, saying “God, I’ll serve you if....”
Faith waits with joyful expectation
Flesh waits with fear.
Flesh decisions carry their own set of consequences. Abraham’s led a dysfunctional family because of he took matters into his own hands in having a child through Hagar.
Flesh decisions rob us of the joy of the miraculous.
In the story of King Saul in 1 Samuel 13:7-11, Saul gives up and offers a sinful sacrifice just moments before Samuel returns. Had he waited, he would have seen God deliver in a powerful way.
Flesh decisions postpone God’s blessing in our lives.
Isaac’s name means “he laughs”
Every time they called his name, they remembered God’s faithfulness. This is a reminder to me that God is going to have the final word!
“The folly of not waiting for God is that we forfeit the blessing of having God work for us. The evil of not waiting on God is that we oppose God’s will to exalt Himself in mercy.”- John Piper
http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/25-great-waiting-quotes/#ixzz1sm86lYi4
God’s ways sometimes seem impossible. This is why Abraham laughed. But God delights in the impossible!
To show his power, God gives one more name. It is HIS NAME. “I am God Almighty” (Gen 17:1). IT is the name El Shaddai. This name of God is associated with the promise of CHILDREN.
Isaac tells Jacob, “God Almighty will bless you” Genesis 28:3 "May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and increase your numbers until you become a community of peoples."
God to Jacob. Genesis 35:11 "And God said to him, “I am God Almighty; be fruitful and increase in number. A nation and a community of nations will come from you, and kings will come from your body."
Genesis 43:14 "And may God Almighty grant you mercy before the man so that he will let your other brother and Benjamin come back with you. As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved.”"
It is a reminder to wait on God and be delivered by His power and not our own efforts.
If the Lord Jehovah makes us wait, let us do so with our whole hearts; for blessed are all they that wait for Him. He is worth waiting for. The waiting itself is beneficial to us: it tries faith, exercises patience, trains submission, and endears the blessing when it comes. The Lord’s people have always been a waiting people- Charles Spurgeon
http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/25-great-waiting-quotes/#ixzz1sm7YYl8v
The words of this song are appropriate for this theme.
I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
Josh Waller, “While I’m Waiting”
