This week's Bible Study - October 13, 2002
Blessing All Nations
 Background Scripture:
Genesis 3:1-24
What concern should I have for nations other than my own?
Quote of the Week:
When I was research head of General Motors and wanted a problem solved, I’d place a table outside
the meeting room with a sign: Leave slide rules here. If I didn’t do that, I’d find someone reaching for
his slide rule. Then he’d be on his feet saying, “Boss, you can’t do it.”
--- Charles F. Kettering in Bits and Pieces, December, 1991, p. 24
On this past weekend, October 4-6, my church hosted a World Mission Conference.
35 missionaries were in attendance, from all over the world. We heard instance
after instance of how God is working in the midst of tribes in Africa (such
as the Digo people in Kenya and Tanzania), impoverished areas such as India,
well to do areas in Europe and around the world, and in dangerous parts of
the world (such as China and Laos). It is apparent that these missionaries
have sensed that if God has concern for the entire world, so should we.
Throughout scripture, it is apparent that God desires to reach the peoples
of the world.
However, what really stuck out in my mind was that these missionaries were
willing to step out on faith and go where God wanted them to go. Over and
over again, they said going was not about where they wanted to go, but where
God would have them be - that's all that matters. Their families, careers,
futures, security and so much more they have laid into God's hands. Contrast
that to the majority of us. We are consumed by what happens in 'our' world.
Life normally revolves around self, or collectively around groups of selves.
We have so many things going on, but how much of it is
about making a difference in the world? Many of these things need
to happen, but have we found that we can hardly squeeze time in for the things
of God? In this lesson, we see how God took Abraham and took care of the
impossibilities of life and established a covenant with Him.
Abram was 99 years old. How old is too old? From what I've noticed, people
tend to 'give up' on life way before it is necessary. Playing sports my entire
life, I've noticed less and less people that are in their late 30s and 40s
still involved in sports such as basketball. On the other hand, I've seen
some play into their 50s, 60s and 70s. A good friend of mine from my church
is Mack Swindle. Mack retired from McDonnell Douglas well over 10 years ago
and he is still actively involved in many sports. Too many have bought into
the idea that everything has to stop at a certain age. Granted, I will be
surprised if Mack were to still be playing basketball at age 99, but God
still saw Abram as a man in his prime. It's not just sports, some people
think they've spent a lifetime of teaching and serving, so now they are ready
to sit on the sidelines and enjoy. (Thankfully, this isn't true for all,
as evidenced by many of the senior citizens at my church). But this is such
a pity for those on the sidelines. How many lessons of practical experiences
could young couples learn from those who have lived a lifetime of staying
married, or have dealt with issues in life, such as loss of a loved one -
a friend, a spouse or a child? What advice or comfort could they offer someone
who has been laid off or is in some other type of financial crisis? What
a blessing they could be to a church, in helping watch preschoolers, so that
young families can attend Bible Study. I doubt that there are many retired
folks that read these lessons each week, but if this is you, know that you
are still of much worth in the church, and in society as a whole.
You're not finished until God is finished with you.
At this point of his life, God offered a covenant to Abram and his descendants.
The conditions were straightforward, but it did require more than intellectual
assent. On one extreme, many people today know the story of Jesus - they
may even believe that He is the Son of God. James 2:19-20 states "You
believe that God is one, you do well - the demons also believe and shudder,
but are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without
works is useless?" True belief in Jesus Christ is not belief in Him as
an historical person, but as Lord and Savior in your life. Yes, we are saved
by faith - Romans 10:9 says "that if you confess with your mouth Jesus
as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you
will be saved." It is the placement of trust in Christ that brings salvation,
but there is a lifestyle that is associated. On the other extreme, there
is legalism. There are those that spend their lifetime jumping through certain
hoops and avoiding others. If they are depending on their own goodness, they
are not only in for what will be a long, tedious and repressive life, but
they will be striving for a futile goal. This is what the Jewish nation in
general is still doing and that Paul refers to in Romans 9:31-32, "but
Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law. Why?
Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as though it were by works".
The key? Don't fall into either extreme. Believe on the
Lord Jesus and you will be saved and live your life as God has intended -
let the works of your faith be evident.
Abram's part of the covenant was to walk before God and be blameless. God's
part of the covenant was to confirm His covenant and bless Abram and his
family in many ways. Nowhere in Scripture can it be promised that life will
be easy and successful for any of us. But, there are principles throughout
Scripture that indicate that God does intend to bless those who seek Him.
What was Abram's response? He fell facedown before God. Sometimes, I think
we've allowed God to become too familiar. Seldom do people exhibit this type
of fear and reverence for our Lord. We are not called to be afraid of God,
but we are also not to be flippant before Him. I remember a soloist having
a concert in our church several years ago on a Sunday evening. He had a deep,
booming voice and was quite enjoyable to listen to. However, in front of
him was a group of youth that was cutting up, laughing and making jokes during
his performance. At one point, in between songs, he stopped and looked right
at them, and said something like "We are standing on Holy ground - show respect
for your Lord". Right or wrong in his approach or delivery, he had a point.
How often do we approach God in our churches with an attitude of flippancy?
It may not be observable by those who sit around us, but what does it say
when we have our minds set on what's for lunch or if the home team will win
or lose that afternoon? When we approach God, we need to
have an attitude of reverence and truthfully seek His word for us.
Of all the things that God wanted to do for Abram, perhaps one of the most
remarkable is to change his name. No longer to be Abram, but now Abraham.
Names mean a lot to people today, but everything about a person was wrapped
up in their name at that time. It is sometimes interesting to see what Biblical
names meant - as they often said a lot about a person's character or the
circumstances of their life. (For a look at Biblical names and their meanings,
click
here ). Abram meant 'high or exalted father'. Abraham meant 'father of
many' - for I have made you a father of many nations. I believe that the
name of a person in Biblical times was perhaps the most significant part
about them. It is noteworthy that God changed the names of so many people
in Scripture. He may not be looking to change names of people today, but
He wants to have the authority in your life to change anything about you.
One way to show His favor on Abraham was to change His
name. Is there part of your life that God would desire to change?
As we'll see in the next section, becoming a father of many was quite a blessing,
if not a miracle, considering that he and Sarai were not yet parents of any.
But, God looked past the obstacle that they couldn't get past. He didn't
focus on the son, but He looked to the nations and kings and descendants.
He saw the place that would be called theirs - that's not the way it was
at that time, but how it would become. However, the greatest thing for Abraham
was not the blessings that would come in future generations, but the special
relationship that he had with God. People will come and go in your life.
Jobs come and go. Houses, cars, boats or other possessions will come and
go. But, your relationship with God is the only thing that will stick with
you from the time you accept Christ to throughout your life to your death
and for all eternity. Your relationship with God is truly an everlasting
possession - the only one possession that you can have for eternity.
God told Abraham what was expected of him. Keep my covenant. It wasn't enough
to know the covenant, but it was also necessary to keep it. But, it didn't
stop there. This was for Abraham and his descendants after him for generations
to come. How difficult is this? Do you see how easy it
is to get wrapped up in your own spiritual pursuit that you neglect this
important aspect of your life? Likely, God has impressed something
on your heart at one time or another. Are you passing it on to your children?
Are you deliberate in doing so? Have you ever thought about how fortunate
you should be to your ancestors that have 'greased the skids for you', so
to speak? I didn't know any of my great grandparents, although I know they
were godly people. One great grandfather was a minister, and I could also
see the impact upon the faith evidenced in my grandparents and in my parents.
Am I keeping this alive? Will my faith be seen in my children and their children?
Some of you may not have this spiritual heritage, but you are still called
to pass it on to your children.
God not only impacted Abraham and worked through him, but he also changed
those around him. His wife, Sarai (meaning contentious or quarrelsome), was
now to be called Sarah (meaning princess). One can easily imagine how Sarai
could have been quarrelsome - the age of 90 and no children, when children
were considered perhaps the biggest sign of God's blessing on an individual.
The things that people must have said you can only imagine.
It was not only a name change for Sarah, but she was also to have a son.
Abraham, who was nearly 100, and Sarah, 90, were to be the proud parents
of a baby boy. Not likely - so unlikely that Abraham started laughing. It
wasn't just a smile or a repressed giggle. Abraham fell facedown and laughed
- a gut-wrenching type of laughter. Abraham's first reaction was not belief
that God could pull it off. In fact, Abraham seemed to tell God "I know you
mean well, but here's the solution to the problem". Abraham was prepared
to let Ishmael, the son who was not of the promise, be the heir through which
God's blessings would come. Why? Because that was possible. We seem to gravitate
towards the possible alternatives. Sarah, having a son at 90, seemed impossible
to say the least. Have you ever been there? You saw the situation, knowing
full well what God's plan or desire was for the situation, yet you planned
your own way out. How many marriages end this way? One or both spouses will
give up - there's no hope of reconciliation. We need to remember that the
God we serve created the world. In Romans 4:17, "God, who gives life to
the dead and calls into being that which does not exist". It is interesting
to me that people will agree that God is capable of raising the dead and
created something from nothing, but their situation is beyond His control.
It's not just marriages - you and I can both think of other examples where
people didn't allow God the opportunity to work in a situation.
Instead of trusting God for the Isaac (His way), we often
choose the Ishmael (our way).
God desires the God sized solution. When we really put our faith and trust
in Him, we'll wait. Abraham did catch on, as evidenced by Romans 4:19-21
- "Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as
good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of
Sarah's womb; yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in
unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured
that what God had promised, He was able also to perform."
Don't accept your own substitute. God would bless
Abraham and Sarah through the birth of a miracle child, Isaac. This was God's
plan to bless the world. Stick with God's plan.
Although God was going to work through Isaac, He was to also bless Ishmael.
Why? Because this was Abraham's concern and plea. Through Ishmael, many other
nations would be blessed, but also through Ishmael came many more problems.
It is interesting to note that all of these problems began with Abraham's
desire to solve the 'problem' in his own manner. In the same way, sometimes
the choices we make that are of our own making can have lasting consequences.
We need to be aware that choosing our own path and marching
to the beat of our own drum, can become the seemingly insignificant occurrence
that wreaks havoc upon havoc at a later time.
However, at this time, God blessed Ishmael. This blessing was more or less
by association. Have you ever considered the blessings
that come because of association? A couple of questions that bear
asking - "Are you living so that your associates are being blessed?" and
"Are you associating with people from whom blessings are likely to fall?"
I've noticed in my own life that it's best to run with the people that God
is using. They provide living examples of how to live and exhibit a lifestyle
and character that is pleasing to God. God is at work in their lives and
provides many blessings in many ways. Are you one of these types of people?
Another key point of this passage is that God intends to bless all people.
But, as I read this, the blessing comes from Abraham's request - God had
heard him. When God hears you, are others to be
blessed? Is it others outside of your family? Is it others outside
of your friends? Is it others outside of your city, state, country? Is it
others in other countries? Who are you asking God to bless? Over the past
weekend, our church had a largely successful World Mission Conference. The
world is bigger than what you and I know. We know to pray that God blesses
the world. He hears our requests. Don't be silent.
Closing
Over and over again, the point of these lessons is clear. God
is not looking for the smart theologians. He doesn't want head knowledge.
He wants your life. Study the word, yes, but study to apply to your life
each day. Allow God to change you - your name, or any other part He desires.
It doesn't matter if you're 9 or 99, God can use you if you place yourself
in His hands.
Your relationship with God is the only thing that can be guaranteed five,
ten, twenty or more years from now. When you are in step with God, no obstacle
is too big. Impossibilities become possibilities. Romans 8:35-39 says "Who
will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress,
or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? … But in
all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For
I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities,
nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth,
nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of
God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." God's plan works, the others
that are offered in life don't. He is the power behind the implementation
of His plan. Don't give in. If you say that nothing will separate you from
His love and affirm that He has power to give life to the dead, do you believe
it? Stick with it, even if you can't see it.
What is the next generation catching from you? It's
not what you say, it's who you are. It's not who you are at church, it's
everywhere else that matters. Be deliberate about sharing what it means to
be a Christian with your children or others in your family. You will impact
more than just family, but also co-workers, neighbors, friends. You can be
a blessing to them. Choose the friends that will bring God's blessings on
you as well. Know what matters.
Lastly, do your prayers reflect concern for the world? Missionaries, even
right now, are trying to spread the gospel to a lost and dying world. People
literally are placing their lives on the line all over the world for the
sake of the gospel. Are these people, the missionaries
and the lost people of our world, in our prayers? God did not give
you a faith that promotes selfishness. It is to be lived openly, as God intended,
as a blessing for others.
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