Printed Text
Gen. 15:1-6; 17:17-21; 21:1-3
Introduction
A. Stop the Bus
A small boy riding a bus home from Sunday school was very proud of the card he had
received, which had a picture and a caption that read: “Have Faith in God.” Then to his
dismay the card slipped from his hand and fluttered out the window. “Stop the bus!” he
cried. “I’ve lost my ‘faith in God!’”
The driver pulled the bus to a stop, and as the lad climbed out and went to retrieve his
card, one of the adult riders smiled and made a comment about the innocence of youth. A
more perceptive adult observed, “All of us would be better off if we were that concerned
about our faith. All too often we plunge ahead on our own when we have lost our faith in
God.”
Abraham provides an excellent example of this truth. God promised him that he would
give him a son who would be the heir of all of his promises to Abraham. However, after
many years passed and the promise had not been fulfilled, Abraham attempted to take care
of the matter on his own. He plunged ahead, leaving his faith behind.
B. Lesson Background
Some years passed between the events covered in last week’s lesson and the events
narrated in today’s lesson. During this time Abram had been forced by a famine to move
into Egypt. There Sarai, who was quite attractive, caught the attention of Pharaoh, who
desired to make her his wife. Fearing that Pharaoh would kill him in order to acquire her,
Abram had told Pharaoh that Sarai was his sister, which was a half-truth (Genesis 20:12);
and Pharaoh took Sarai into his house. But God plagued Pharaoh’s house because of it,
and Pharaoh sent Abram and Sarai away (Genesis 12:11-20). We are not told how
Pharaoh knew the plagues were associated with Sarai. In a similar incident later God
spoke in a dream to Abimelech, king of the Philistines (Genesis 20). We assume God made
some specific revelation to Pharaoh in this case as well.
Abram and his company then left Egypt and returned to Canaan (Genesis 13:1). By
this time, Abram and Lot both had become rather wealthy and their flocks quite large —
so large that there was not adequate pasture for the flocks of both of them. To avoid strife
between the herdsmen of the two men, they agreed to go their separate ways. While
Abram remained in the highlands, Lot chose to move to the Jordan Valley, which was well
watered and green.
Before long this area was attacked by a group of marauders, who defeated the rulers
of Sodom and Gomorrah and their allies, carrying off Lot and his family as a part of their
booty. When Abram learned what had happened, he led a rescue party that defeated the
raiders and rescued the captives. As he returned from his victory, Abram was greeted by
Melchizedek, “king of Salem and priest of God Most High” (Hebrews 7:1), who
pronounced a blessing on him. Abram then gave Melchizedek tithes of all he had obtained
(Genesis 14:19, 20). It was “after this” that the events found in the first part of today’s
printed text took place.
I. God Reaffirms His Covenant
Genesis 15:1-6
A. God’s Reassurance (v. 1)
What Do You Think?
The Lord appeared to Abram and described himself as Abram’s “shield” and his “very
great reward.” Since Abram had just returned from battle, these terms were especially
significant. If God appeared to you in such a way, what terms might he use to describe
himself? Why?
B. Abram’s Concern (vv. 2, 3)
What Do You Think?
Abram questioned God about his promise. It had been a long time since God first
appeared to Abram, and still he was childless. Why is waiting on God such a test of faith?
What do you do to keep your faith strong even when it seems nothing is happening to
bring you closer to what you want or expect from God?
(Note: Abram took his concern to the Lord. We, too, can pray and study God’s Word
to be sure what we want or expect is in harmony with his revealed will.)
C. God’s Answer (vv. 4-6)
That’s Incredible!
Can you believe what some people believe these days? Thousands of “hot-line”
subscribers swallow the prognostications of so-called “psychics” every day. And what about
the untold numbers who fall prey to the con man? Promising something “too good to be
true,” he swindles otherwise sensible people out of millions every year. It’s incredible that
intelligent human beings could be so naive and gullible.
Abram seems to have wondered whether he had chosen to believe something that was
“too good to be true.” He was an elderly man and concerned that God’s promise of an heir
was quickly leaving the realm of possibility. Yet God insisted that Abram would have an heir
“from your own body” (Genesis 15:4). And despite all the probabilities to the contrary, Abram
“believed the Lord” (v. 6). Now that is truly incredible — or is it?
We can believe that Abram believed because he trusted the same God whom we trust.
We believe the record of Genesis because we regard the Bible as the inspired Word of God
— totally true. And we believe in miracles because we know that our God can do
exceedingly more than we could ever ask or think (Ephesians 3:20).
— RWB
II. God Promises a Son
Genesis 17:17-21
A. Abraham’s Doubts (vv. 17, 18)
What Do You Think?
Abraham’s faith stumbled on some occasions. When he lied about his relationship with
Sarah, and when he took Hagar to bear him a son, he was taking matters into his own
hands instead of trusting God. The results were always trouble for Abraham and for others
involved. What do you think is the difference between working to achieve our goals and
dreams and taking matters into our own hands?
B. God’s Plans (vv. 19-21)
Laughing at God
Most everyone loves a good laugh. “Situation comedies” are featured on prime-time
television every night. Sometimes our whole world seems locked into its own
twenty-four-hour comedy channel.
No topic is sacred anymore; any subject is fair game for a laugh. Some people laugh at
disabilities, misfortune, pain, religion, and sin (they may be laughing themselves right into
Hell).
What was going through Abraham’s mind when he laughed at God’s promise of a son?
Did he actually fall down laughing? Was it a laugh of amazement and wonder? Abraham
had already expressed his faith in significant ways; God wanted to address the degree of
unbelief that apparently he still possessed regarding this latest promise. He knew Abraham’s
heart was right; he knew this righteous servant wanted to believe. So, lovingly and patiently,
God simply repeated his promise.
Do you suppose it seems to God that we laugh at him and his promises sometimes?
Some say that God has a sense of humor, but God never kids around with his promises. We
may misunderstand God, and we may raise our eyebrows at some of his ways and methods;
but we must always take him seriously. He says what he means, and he means what he
says.
— RWB
III. God Keeps His Word
Genesis 21:1-3
What Do You Think?
Abraham did have a very hard test of trust, but God appeared to him repeatedly
through the years and reaffirmed his promises. We do not have the same benefit. How
does God reaffirm his promises to us and encourage us to keep our faith strong?
A. A Son Is Born (vv. 1, 2)
What Do You Think?
Though God delayed in fulfilling his promises to Abraham, his delay gave him
opportunity to display his greatness, power, and glory. For Isaac to be born when
Abraham and Sarah were so advanced in age was truly miraculous. The result was that
Abraham’s faith, though sorely tried, was greatly strengthened. What positive results have
come to you when you have had to wait to see God working in your life?
B. A Son Is Named (v. 3)
Conclusion
In the scriptural “Hall of Faith” Abraham ranks high. His faith withstood numerous
challenges during his long life. When his faith caused him to leave Ur, he had to give up a
life of comfort. Archaeological findings from Ur indicate that citizens of that city,
especially people of means as Abraham appears to have been, lived in comfortable, roomy
houses and had numerous slaves to take the drudgery out of life. In addition, Abraham had
to give up the security that people in Ur enjoyed. Evidence indicates that Ur in Abraham’s
day was not threatened by any outside forces and was able to provide adequate food
supplies for its citizens. People of every age, ours included, desire these securities and are
usually very reluctant to give them up once they have them.
Once Abraham decided to leave Mesopotamia, he had to leave behind much of his
family and all of his friends. Unless one has had the experience of “pulling up stakes” and
leaving behind his loved ones, he has no way to understand the pain that such separation
can bring. By faith Abraham made this move, taking along only Lot and his family (and
they turned out to be more of a problem than a blessing).
Most important, Abraham believed God’s promises even when there was no evidence
of any kind that they would be fulfilled. As the years passed, Abraham was continually
challenged to trust God to do what appeared impossible, and yet he kept his faith.
Through it all “Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness”
(Genesis 15:6).
Abraham’s faith serves as a model for all of us today. Most of us have never had our
faith tested as he did. Occasionally we may hit a little bump along life’s highway, but these
are usually not devastating. And often these challenges to our faith come because of our
own carelessness or foolishness. When we do have severe tests, let us look to Abraham
and take heart.
Thought to Remember
The righteous shall live by faith.
