Godly fathers-ungodly sons-11

Abram lost the spiritual leadership of his family when he sacrificed Sarai for his own personal safety. He had to either deny God’s promises or decide that he had to rely on his own power to protect his life. This bad decision will plague Abram for the rest of his life.

Genesis 17:1  Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am God Almighty; Walk before Me, and be blameless. 17:2  "I will establish My covenant between Me and you, And I will multiply you exceedingly." 

17:3  Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying, 17:4  "As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, And you will be the father of a multitude of nations. 

God is now repeating the promise he made to Abram in Genesis 12. Could it be that Abram was still a little skeptical that this would come to pass?

17:5  "No longer shall your name be called Abram, But your name shall be Abraham; For I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. 17:6  "I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings will come forth from you. 17:7  "I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you. 17:8  "I will give to you and to your descendants after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God." 

God is not only reminding Abram, He is also renaming him to be now known as Abraham. The land promise, the descendant promise, and the creation of nations promise are all being summarized again.

17:9  God said further to Abraham, "Now as for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. 17:10  "This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: every male among you shall be circumcised. 

This covenant required of Abraham’s descendants to be active participants. The males were the only ones upon which this requirement was placed.

Genesis 18:1  Now the LORD appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, while he was sitting at the tent door in the heat of the day. 18:2  When he lifted up his eyes and looked, behold, three men were standing opposite him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth, 18:3  and said, "My Lord, if now I have found favor in Your sight, please do not pass Your servant by. 18:4  "Please let a little water be brought and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree; 

18:5  and I will bring a piece of bread, that you may refresh yourselves; after that you may go on, since you have visited your servant." And they said, "So do, as you have said." 

18:6  So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, "Quickly, prepare three measures of fine flour, knead it and make bread cakes." 18:7  Abraham also ran to the herd, and took a tender and choice calf and gave it to the servant, and he hurried to prepare it. 18:8  He took curds and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and placed it before them; and he was standing by them under the tree as they ate. 

Abraham was a ‘prince’ in the area and was respected by many. It was not the custom for men like Abraham to bow to uninvited guests. Abraham knew that they were not truly normal men.

God had personally spoken to Abraham many times and now the LORD came for a personal visit. Why the visit?

18:9  Then they said to him, "Where is Sarah your wife?" And he said, "There, in the tent." 18:10  He said, "I will surely return to you at this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son." And Sarah was listening at the tent door, which was behind him. 

18:11  Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; Sarah was past childbearing. 18:12  Sarah laughed to herself, saying, "After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?" 18:13  And the LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh, saying, 'Shall I indeed bear a child, when I am so old?' 18:14  "Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son." 

Sarah was not included in this meal.However, she was paying attention. Now she heard for herself that she was going to have a child, but she did not believe it and laughed to herself.

18:15  Sarah denied it however, saying, "I did not laugh"; for she was afraid. And He said, "No, but you did laugh." 

Now both Abraham and Sarah learned something about God that they had not known before, which is, God knows our thoughts. As both of them were once again being reminded that God was going to give them a son, they had trouble truly believing it as their age was in the way.

When your worldview is in direct contrast with your biblical view, which do you believe and act upon?

More next Saturday.