Real People Real Problems - Abraham - leaders notes
Real People - Real Problems
The Life of Abraham
Background
God called Abraham out of idolatry Josh 24:2
He was called when he was in Ur of the Chaldees (Gen. 11:28, 31; 15:7, Neh 9:7)
His Father was Tarah
A reflection on some common ground between Abraham and us - A Calling: Abraham was called: Gen 15:7; Neh 9:7, Isa 51:2
How God called Abraham: Acts 7:2 - He spoke to him Gen 12:1
We too are called: 2Thes 13:14
How God Calls us: Romans 10:17 shows that God speaks to us through his word
We have a number of things in common then including the call to separate ourselves from the corruption around us, and Abraham obeyed by faith. Heb 11:8-10
Consider Acts 3:25-26 - The covenant
Problem 1 - Perhaps not doing exactly as God commanded
1. Did Abraham obey God?
Key to this is a reading from Gen 11:27-32 and Gen 12:1-4 - He brought his family with him, at least Lot and from 11 it seems he stayed with Tareh in Haren until his death.
2. Reading Gen 12:10-20; 20:1-18 What do we note about another problem Abraham had?
In this discussion we need to seriously consider what is written in Isa. 51:1-2 - What does this mean for this study?
Three Special Tests will be examined in light of:
Circumstance bringing about a test of faith - Gen 12:10
Peolpe bringing about a test of faith - Gen 12:11-13:4
Things bringing about a test of faith - Gen 13:5-18
I wonder if Abraham said: "Why did God allow a famine after leading me here?"
3. Circumstance: What is Egypt a symbol for?
Egypt is a symbol of the world system and its bondage, while the land of Israel is a picture of the inheritance of blessing God has for us
Spiritually speaking, going down to Egypt means doubting God's promises and running to the world for help. (See Isa. 30:1-2; 31:1; and Jer. 42:13ff.)
4. Circumstance - Famine in the land Did Abraham have doubts when he went to Egypt fleeing the famine?
God alone is in control of circumstances. You are safer in a famine in His will than in a palace out of His will. It has well been said, The will of God will never lead you where the grace of God cannot keep you.? Abraham failed the test of circumstances and turned from the will of God.
5. People problems In Fleeing the famine a whole new set of trials come upon Abraham that are people related: What are they?
To begin with, Abraham moved from trusting to scheming.
He also moved from confidence to fear. Abraham was saying They will? (Gen. 12:12). He took his eyes off the Lord and started looking at people.
He moved from others to self. He lied so that it might be well with me for thy [Sarah?s] sake (12:13)
He moved from bringing blessing to bringing judgment. because of Abraham?s disobedience, judgment fell on Pharaoh and his household (12:17).
6. "Things" that bring problems: What caused strife with Abraham and Lot after leaving Egypt?
Read Unity verses (John 17:20-23). and (Ps. 133)
A key verse to understand is this: His heart was really in Egypt (Gen 13:10)
Observation on difference between Abraham and Lot
Lot had a great opportunity to become a man of God as he walked with Abraham, but we don't read of Lot's building an altar or calling on the Lord. First, Lot looked toward Sodom (Gen. 13:10); then he moved toward Sodom (13:11-12); and finally, he moved into Sodom (14:12). Instead of being a sojourner, Lot regressed into the world and away from God?s blessing. He "journeyed east" (Gen. 13:11) and turned his back on Bethel (house of God) and toward Ai (ruins). The people in Sodom may not have appeared wicked to Lot, but they were wicked as far as God was concerned; and His evaluation is all that matters.
Fear
7. Read Gen 15:12 - Did he fear because of a lack of faith?
Chapter 14 deals with Abrahams servants going out to rescue Lot from various Kings. In 15:1 it is the first time the term "Fear not" is used. In verse 1 ist is the first time you see the words "The word of the Lord came" later there are more then 100 references to this.
God repeated the words "Fear Not" to Isaac (Gen. 26:24) and Jacob (46:3) and often to the people of Israel (Ex. 14:13; 20:20; Num. 14:9; Deut. 1:21). The 'fear not' promises in Isaiah are good to read and ponder when we find ourselves dealing with fear (Isa. 41:10, 13,14; 43:1, 5; 44:2, 8).
A Lesson in Waiting on the Lord
Turn to Gen. 16 - Abraham was now eighty-five years old. He had been walking with the Lord for ten years and had learned some valuable lessons about faith. God had promised Abraham and Sarah a child but had not told them when the child would be born. It was a period of waiting, and most people don't like to wait. Real People, Real problems. Remember, it is through 'faith and patience [that we] inherit the promises?
8. Why did God wait so long?
Heb 11:12 "as good as dead"
9. Why did Sarah look to Hagar for "the seed"/
Sarah knew that she was incapable of bearing a child but that her husband was still capable of begetting a child. God had specifically named Abraham as the father of the promised heir, but He had not yet identified the mother.
Gen 16:1-6: A look at how each party dealt with the emerging situation.
Instead of facing their situation honestly, each of the persons involved in this chapter took a different course; and this only made things worse. Sarah's solution was to blame her husband and mistreat her servant as she gave vent to her anger. She seems to have forgotten that she was the one who had made the marriage suggestion in the first place. Abraham's solution was to give in to his wife and abdicate spiritual headship in the home. He should have had pity for a helpless servant who was pregnant, but he allowed Sarah to mistreat her. He should have summoned them all to the altar, but he did not.
Hagar's solution was to run away from the problem.
One outstanding lesson in this view of Abrahams life is that we should always turn to God looking for solutions, worship him and confess our sin and tell him our problems.
Discuss why we have a repeat of Gen 12 in Chapter 20? What is the real problem?
