(3)A Divine Dialogue • Gen 12-13:1-4

Review & Overview

Introduction

“Pastor Clark & Sally are in Colorado, Clark’s speaking at a Calvary Chapel there and they are attending their nephew’s H.S. graduation, please pray for safe travels”…

If you don’t know me: My name is Anthony I am one of the Pastor’s here and I serve the High School ministry.

And it is a great honor to be here before you all this morning.

With that let’s get right into our study...

If you have your bibles turn w/ to Genesis, Genesis Chapter 12.

1. The Book of Genesis Overview

The word Genesis derives from a greek word which means “origin” or “beginning”.

This is a book of origins, the origins of...

Creation

Marriage

Sin

Covenants between God & man

Languages & Nations

of the Hebrew people etc.

This book is easily divided into 2 sections: 4 Major Events & 4 Major People.

Chapters 1-11 Deals w/ 4 Major Events:

1. Creation: Where God created space, time, and matter.

2. The Fall of Man: Where sin came into the story line of humanity.

3. The Flood: As man multiplied sin also multiplied and God destroys humanity except for Noah & his family.

Noah finds grace in the eyes of God.

4. The Nations: Because of rebellion at the Tower of Babel, God fragments the people and scatters them all over the globe.

Chapters 12-50 follows the life of 4 Major People:

Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, & Joseph in that order.

2. Current Study’s Overview

Today we begin the second section here in Ch. 12 and we are going to look at Abram whose name will later be changed to Abraham.

at this point it’s about 2,000 years after creation and 400 years after the flood.

This is when God chooses to use one man to bring about His perfect plan for redemption.

As we’ll see he was a man of Faith, a man of obedience but he wasn’t perfect he was also a man of faults & flaws.

APPLICATION: And you know this really humbles me & it should bless all of us because God uses imperfect people to accomplish His perfect plan and purpose - so there is hope for all of us Amen? Read...

So as you can see in our quick reading of scripture we are introduced to a new Character by the name of Abram which I will interchangeably Abraham or Abram.

If your taking notes we want to look at 3 things as it pertains to God’s interactions w/ Abram.

We’re going to look at 3 C’s

1. The Call to Faith Vs. 1-9

2. The Collapse of Faith Vs. 10-20

3. The Cure of Faith Ch. 13:1-4

1. The Call to Faith Vs. 1-9 (4)

1.1 The Call to Faith Involves A Cost Vs. 1b

Now here it seems as though God is leading Abraham blindly by telling him to go to a land that I will show you?

In other words, walk by faith, take the next step, and as you do that I will reveal to you the following step, and ultimately the land.

And though God does operate in that manner at times, I don’t think that’s what’s happening here. Turn /w me to...

Because there it seems as though God had already revealed it to Abraham where he was going.

Genesis 11:27–28 NKJV

27 This is the genealogy of Terah: Terah begot Abram, Nahor, and Haran. Haran begot Lot. 28 And Haran died before his father Terah in his native land, in Ur of the Chaldeans.

So Abe’s brother Haran dies in the land of Ur of the Chaldeans.

Genesis 11:29–31 NKJV

29 Then Abram and Nahor took wives: the name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran the father of Milcah and the father of Iscah. 30 But Sarai was barren; she had no child. 31 And Terah took his son Abram and his grandson Lot, the son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, his son Abram’s wife, and they went out with them from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Canaan; and they came to Haran and dwelt there.

So we see here before Ch. 12 Abram and his family were already on there way to Canaan. (Hold that thought)

Because look what happens at the end of Vs. 31

Genesis 11:31–32 NKJV

31 And Terah took his son Abram and his grandson Lot, the son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, his son Abram’s wife, and they went out with them from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Canaan; and they came to Haran and dwelt there. 32 So the days of Terah were two hundred and five years, and Terah died in Haran.

So Abram and his family were on there way to Canaan but they instead came to Haran and it say’s they dwelt there.

Haran is an ancient city that kinda overlapped Mesopotamia and Syria, but it was not the land of Canaan.

Meaning, Abram stopped going to where God called him to go. (Pause)

Now you may be here pointing out the fact: Pastor Anthony, in Gen 11 it doesn’t specifically say that God told Abe to go to Canaan?

What if it was just a coincidental idea from his father to go to Canaan?

That is a great observation, but I don’t think it is correct. Turn w/ to...

There we have one of the best defense for one’s faith in Christ, by Stephen the Martyr.

And we get a little more insight on what is happening here. Read...

Acts 7:1–2 NKJV

1 Then the high priest said, “Are these things so?” 2 And he said, “Brethren and fathers, listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran,

Stop right there! Back in Gen 11 we see that they leave Ur of the Chaldeans (which is Mesopotamia) and where do they stop? In Haran.

Here we see God appeared to Abraham in Mesopotamia BEFORE he dwelt in Haran.

So God did indeed appear to Abraham before Gen 12. (Pause)

Now, why is this so significant? (Pause), For a couple of reasons:

1. Because Abe Was Not Fully Obedient - I believe Abram allowed his attachment to his father to delay his journey to the promised land. In fact, look at Vs. 3...

Acts 7:3 NKJV

3 and said to him, ‘Get out of your country and from your relatives, and come to a land that I will show you.’

The command was to leave his country and his relatives.

Abraham didn’t leave his father, his family, nor did he leave the land.

So Abram failed to be fully obedient to God. Go back...

Because what’s also interesting is that Abram’s father’s name: Terah

Terah Definition - The word means “A stopping place”; “To delay.”

The plan that God had for Abraham was delayed by his father.

Abraham was attached to his father and did not leave him until he died.

APPLICATION: Understand there is a cost to following God, to leave it all behind and follow Him. Look at...

Matthew 10:37–38 NKJV

37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.

The cost to follow Christ is to leave everything behind.

And that may seem like a steep cost, till you understand the reward. Look at...

Matthew 19:29 NKJV

29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.

APPLICATION: Now listen to what I am NOT saying: I am not saying to neglect your family and put your family on the alter in the name of ministry.

But is there a well balanced scale when it comes to God, His calling in your life, and your family?

Understand as a Christian we are to put God first! He is thee priority.

1.1 The Call to Faith Involves A Cost Vs. 1b

so we see here that Abram was not fully obedient, and #2 we also see...

2. Abraham Was Not Perfect - And that should really bless all of us here today. That God uses imperfect people.

If Abraham was perfect and never wavered in his faith, that would discourage me.

I would think that God couldn’t use me because of all my imperfections.

APPLICATION: You know sometimes people use their imperfections as an excuse to step out into the will of God.

But understand, God uses imperfect people, He used Abraham.

So we can’t disqualify ourselves because of imperfections.

Because at the end of the day, God seeks a person who is yielded not perfect.

1 Corinthians 1:26–27 NKJV

26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;

1 Corinthians 1:28–29 NKJV

28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence.

So Abraham didn’t make it all the way he fell short.

APPLICATION: And so do we by the way, we all fall short of the glory of God.

Romans 3:23 NKJV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

And so it is a blessing to see that God will take us in that state, and begin to work in us by His Spirit.

To change us and transform us into the image of Christ.

Rather than looking at our weaknesses we are to look to God in faith.

Just like Abraham, because in spite of his weaknesses God remained faithful. Look at...

1.2 The Call to Faith Involves Blessings Vs. 2-3

1. I Will Make You A Great Nation Vs. 2a- From the descendants of Abram come the nation of Israel.

And the nation of Israel is a great nation BTW? - It has existed for about 3000 years already - which makes it argueably the oldest still existing nation on earth today.

Every writer in the Bible was Jewish - Every Apostle was Jewish - Everyone in the first Church was Jewish - Most important Jesus was Jewish - Amazing Nation.

2. I Will Bless You & Make Your Name Great Vs 2b- Abram is the Father of Many!

He is the father of all the Jewish people

In addition, the Arabs & Muslim communities claim to be sons of Abraham

and Abraham is the spiritual father of all Christians

Romans 4:16 - For Abraham its the father of all who believe

This accounts for more than 1/2 of the population of the world!

3. You Shall Be A Blessing - In You All The Families of the Earth Will Be Blessed

The promise was to his seed—and that, of course, means Christ.”

All the nations were blessed through Abram because Jesus came through Abraham.

1.2 The Call to Faith Involves Blessings Vs. 2-3

4. I Will Bless Those Who Bless you & Curse Those Who Curse You

This holds true to this very day! - History teaches us a very interesting lesson as it pertains to blessing & cursing Israel - Every nation who has ever came against Israel God has humbled.

SPAIN - Was a world power in the 1500s - They they had the Spanish Inquistion - Targeting the Jewish People - Their empire crumbled soon afterward and never was a power again.

GERMANY - Was a World Power in the early 20th century - At the height of WWII they controlled all of Europe.

Then came the Holocaust 6million slaughtered - The empire crumbled and has never been a world power again.

ENGLAND - Was a massive empire - Then they sided with the arabs in the Israeli War of Indepenedence - Shortly after that they slipped from the world stage as a major power.

USA - is a blessed nation - Who for many years has supported Israel and we ever stop supporting Israel cursing are for sure coming.

1.3 The Call to Faith Involves Obedience Vs. 4-5

So here Abram finally is obedient and makes his way out to the Land of Canaan.

And at this point in their lives Abram is 75 yrs old and Sarai was 65 years old.

APPLICATION: And here is the point, it’s never too late to be obedient to God.

Even as the sun sinks low in the sky and the twilight of our lives approaches, remember, it is never too late to turn to the Lord and heed His commandments.

Learn from the prodigal son. The wayward son, after squandering his inheritance in a distant land, feared it was too late to seek his father's forgiveness.

Yet when he returned home, he was welcomed with open arms. So it is with our Heavenly Father.

His patience is vast as the sea, His mercy is unending as the heavens.

No matter how far we have strayed, His arms are always open, ready to embrace us if we turn to Him in obedience.

So don’t keep waiting, thinking it is too late, for God awaits our return.

We must humble ourselves, confess our transgressions, and yield to His will.

And He will guide us through the twilight and into a new dawn, where redemption and peace are available.

1.4 The Call to Faith Involves Relationship Vs. 6-9

So Abraham got to the land that God promised him and he went through the land and it said he saw a bunch of people already living there, Canaanite people.

Then God gave Abram another promise - I will give your descendants this land.

Right there I would have been like God! You didn’t tell me that this land that you are going to give me is already inhabited?

And that this land you are going to give is for my descendant and not me?

ILLUSTRATION: In Acts 16 Paul was on his second missionary journey. He had already visited all the churches he planted on his first missionary journey to see how they were doing.

So he and his team were trying to figure out where to go.

They tried to go to Asia Minor but the Holy Spirit forbade them to preach the word there.

Then they tried to go into Bithynia, and again the Spirit did not permit them.

And what’s interesting the grammar there explains that Paul tried over and over and over to go to Bithynia.

He kept on trying but the Holy Spirit kept on saying: No, no, no.

The team then goes to Troas on the coast and it is there where God gives Paul a vision.

A vision of a man from Macedonia telling Paul to come and help us.

So they immediately go to Macedonia and into a city called Philippi.

And if you know Paul everywhere Paul went he went straight to the synagogues - But there wasn’t a synagogue.

Indicating Jewish population was low. explain.

So when there was no synagogue Jewish people would go to a riverside and worship and pray to God.

So Paul goes to a riverside and he doesn’t see a man. But he sees a bunch of women.

Now, at that point Paul could have been very rigid. He could have said: Where is this man from the vision?

It has to be a man! A man was in my vision asking me for help!? Where is this man?

But Paul was flexible and he spoke to the women and long story shorty Lydia was used by God to establish the first church in Europe.

This is what happens here, Abraham is flexible with the plans of God.

The Lord appeared to him and Abram built and alter and there Abram called on the name of the Lord.

It was here that Abram really got to know God, Calling Him by name.

LORD HEBREW - YHWH

APPLICATION: Understand, When we step out in faith it is not about where we end up and it is not about what we are doing it’s about getting to God personally.

STINGER - It’s not about where we go, its about who we know.

Often times, God uses our life journey to bring us to a place where we can get to know God more.

But we have to be flexible, we can’t be rigid. We have to be open, we can’t be stringent.

Because we don’t know everything, we think we do but we don’t.

Proverbs 14:12 NKJV

12 There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.

2. The Collapse of Faith Vs. 10-20 (4)

2.1 A Collapsed Faith Involves Hardships Vs. 10

Times got tough - So Abram decided to go down to Egypt - The Idea was that Egypt was an advanced nation so there would be food.

You know, in the Bible Egypt is often a picture of the world - So rather than trusting in the Lord - Abram ran to the world for help & answers.

APPLICATION: So often in life rather than going to the Lord in times of trouble, we run to the world for help & answers.

We say we believe in God, but rather than asking Him for the solution we ask the world.

God told Abram to go to the Promised Land, not to leave it. So why did he leave?

He forgot about the Promises of God - Back in Vs. 2-3

2 Corinthians 1:20 - all the promises of God in Him are Yes and amen!

In other words, If God said it, it’ll happen.

You see, Abram failed to keep his eyes on God, he took his eyes off of the Lord and on to his situation.

APPLICATION: You see, hardships are used by God to teach us to depend on God. It teaches us many things and it makes us stronger.

James 1:2 - My brethren, bcount it all joy cwhen you fall into various trials,

2 Corinthians 5:7 - we walk by faith and not by sight

2.2 A Collapsed Faith Involves a Falsehood Vs. 11-13

So because Abram looked to the world he found himself thinking like the world.

His wife Sarai was a beautiful woman, so beautiful that Abram was afraid he’d be killed so that another man could take her.

So Abram’s solution was “Say that you are my sister” - Perhaps he hoped that as her brother he would be able to refuse any marriage proposals.

Now, this is interesting because by making Sarai say she is his sister is technically the truth but a half truth.

Genesis 20:12 NKJV

12 But indeed she is truly my sister. She is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.

So either way it was a lie.

2.2 A Collapsed Faith Involves a Falsehood Vs. 11-13

APPLICATION: And the point is: When we look to the world for help & answers we are forced to think like the world - We are forced to lower the level of our thinking.

Colossians 3:1–2 NKJV

1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

APPLICATION: You see when you look to God for help & answers you are forced to raise the level of your thinking...

Isaiah 55:8-9 - “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.

Philippians 2:5 - Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus...

1 Corinthians 2:16 - ...we have the mind of Christ.

Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

Romans 8:6 - a mind set on the flesh is death, but to be spiritually minded is life & peace.

2.3 A Collapsed Faith Involves Consequences Vs. 14-16

MAKE A FUNNY - Now this is remarkable btw! The Egyptian princes thought Sarai was beautiful even thought she was 65 years old… Ok I’ll skip that point...

So Abram’s scheme backfired. Instead of approaching Abram to request Sarai's hand in marriage, Pharaoh just took her as his wife.

He then made some kind of dowry payment to Abram after the fact for his wife or “his sister”.

Pharaoh paid Abram with livestock, working animals, and even human servants.

One of which was named Hagar and if you know anything about that, this servant becomes a problem later on.

So Abram's scheme had increased his wealth, but lost him his wife. (Pause)

Now this is very important because if you remember, God promised Abram that through his wife a promise child would be born - And through this child the whole nation of Israel would be brought forth.

And through Israel the Messiah would come and bring Salvation to the world.

So Abram’s scheme to go to Egypt A.K.A. the world and lie, this scheme born out of fear turned against him & now God’s promise to him is thrown into jeopardy.

At this point only God could rescue his wife so that the promise to Abram might be fulfilled.

APPLICATION: And you know sometimes, God has to take something really important from us.

And sometimes he has to put us in a position that is impossible to get out of - To get our attention - To show us we need to rely on Him

APPLICATION: Because every time we look to the world for help and answers we might find what looks like the answer but in reality we only find ourselves caught up in another problem.

APPLICATION: Rather than finding a solution we just changed our problem.

2.4 A Collapsed Faith Requires God’s Intervention Vs. 17-20

So God intervenes in this big mess that Abram finds himself in by plaguing Pharaoh & his house.

Here we see, divine intervention alone could deliver Sarai from becoming Pharaoh’s wife.

So we see here that God did not forsake Abram, but notice God did allow the sin to present its consequences.

Abram’s wife was almost stolen - God’s Promise to Abram was in jeopardy- Abram was publicly humbled by Pharaoh & deported out of Egypt in disgrace.

You can choose the sin, but you can’t choose the consequences.

But in all of this God never forsook Abram - He never forgot about Abram.

God never said, alright you wanna go over there, forget you then.

Hebrews 13:5 - ...I will never leave you nor forsake you

APPLICATION: you see we are always prone to wander off & get lost - it is in our nature to be led by things other than God.

Isaiah 53:6 (NKJV)

All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way...

APPLICATION: But guess what, God is always intervening He is always faithful to bring His sheep back.

We just have to be aware of it and make the choice to turn back.

2 Timothy 2:13 - If we are faithless, He remains faithful...

John 10:4 - ...the sheep follow him, for they know His voice.

APPLICATION: You are His sheep there is no point in listening to the voices of the world - Listen to your shepherd Jesus.

3. The Cure for a Collapsed Faith Ch. 13:1-4

So what’s the cure for a collapsed faith? Going back to the beginning, going back to the basics.

Abram returned to the place where he had first made the alter to God - between Bethel & Ai

We see here for the second time Abram called on the name of the Lord - YHYW - His personal name.

And you know this place Bethel it means “House of God”

Curing a collapsed faith demands having a personal relationship with God.

APPLICATION: And maybe you are here today like Abraham who has been set apart, who is a Christian, and living a life for the Lord.

But in the process, in the day to day, in the serving, we have drifted a little away from God in our hearts.

APPLICATION: You know sometimes we may be out of Egypt, we may be in the presence of God’s people, we may be serving the Lord like Martha, but our hearts are far from God.

Stephen speaking of the generation that was delivered from bondage in Egypt - They were free in the Lord, but in...

Acts 7:39 NKJV

39 whom our fathers would not obey, but rejected. And in their hearts they turned back to Egypt,

This is why we find in…

Hebrews 2:1 NKJV

1 Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.

ILLUSTRATION: Have you ever been floating out on the beach enjoying the movement of the water.

And then you look and without knowing you have drifted away from the shoreline?

Or maybe we are like Lot’s wife who was technically out of Sodom, but Sodom was not out of her.

It’s no wonder why Jesus said remember Lot’s wife.

You know in 1 Corinthians...

They were problematic

They over emphasized spiritual gifts - Thinking that made them more spiritual.

They couldn’t differentiate a demonic manifestation from the manifestations of the Holy Spirit.

Paul dedicated 3 chapters

1 Corinthians 13:8 (NKJV)

...But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

1 Corinthians 13:7 (NKJV)

Love bears all things… Love endures all things.

1 Corinthians 13:8 (NKJV)

Love never fails...

The only thing we will take from this life to the next life is God’ love - His Loving relationship.

POP OFF!!

APPLICATION: You know when we make that mistake of running to the world or depending on the world or even ourselves.

The answer is simple, go back to the basics - Go back to Jesus - Go back to the house of God.

Go to that secret place Jesus talks about in Matthew 6:6

Because Jesus does not go anywhere - He is right where we left Him - waiting for us to find Him - the one and only answer to every problem.

James 4:8 - Draw near to God & He will draw near to you...

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