How Far Do You See? - until God's promises are fulfilled!
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How Far Do You See? - until God promises are fulfilled!
How Far Do You See? - until God promises are fulfilled!
Over the last few weeks, if not months, we have been asking ourselves some overlapping, intersecting questions. Because these questions overlap and intersect, how we answer one impacts how we answer the other interconnecting questions.
“How far do we see?” “What do we see?” overlap with and intersect with “How long are we willing and able to continue to look into the future for what God has promised to be provide?”
With the passing of time, some of us might understandably ask “What/who determines the truth or validity of promises, guarantees and commitments? The answer to that, is the trustworthiness and resources of the person making the promises or guarantees.
For that reason, in human terms, there is no way that there can be anything like an unequivocal, irrevocable, unconditional guarantee. The reason is that we are human/mortal and have no way of foreseeing the future. None of us can control what we will face or how we can face it. The variables can never be fully forecast or covered. The only option would be having multiple guarantors, with each successive guarantor agreeing if needed to covering what the preceeding guarantor might not be able to guarantee.
THAT IS NOT THE CASE WITH GOD - Having created and sustained all that we see and cannot see is more than able to care for each of us and keep His promises. As Jesus reminded His disciples,
And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin,
Even for those who know and believe what Jesus said and is promised many times in the word, waiting is never easy!
Waiting is even harder when what has been promised seems to take forever!
Waiting and trusting becomes “impossible” when what has been promised finally has a timeline and circumstances that threaten to stretch us too far.
In times like that, the LORD sometimes intervenes in some special way.
The LORD’s promise of LIFE - the birth of Isaac - Gen 18:1-15; 21:1-7
The Lord’s repeating of His promise of the birth of Isaac must be understood in its fuller Scriptural context.
Promise first made almost 20 years earlier when Abraham first came to this land to which the LORD had called him from Ur of the Chaldeans. Making a great nation of Abraham might not have been clear to Abraham, but it was to the LORD.
And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.
Some years later, when Abraham was troubled over no offspring and assumed that Eliezer his servant would the one through God fulfilled His promise, the Lord explained that Abraham would indeed father a son and ensuing generations would be as innumerable as the stars in the heavens.
And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
Later still, no long before the events of Genesis 18, the promise was again repeated and clarified. This time it was to explain that Ishmael, the son born to Hagar and fathered by Abraham, was not the son whom God had promised. The promised son would be born to Sarah and would be called Isaac. This was the first mention that the child promised to Abraham would be born to Sarah.
Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, “Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?”
This was the 4th time that the promise was given. This time, the promise was delivered to Sarah. The repeated promise was also given to Abraham. Within the LORD’s repeating and brief explanation of the promise, it is all too clear to Abraham and Sarah that what the LORD has promised and promised again is not naturally possible.
Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, “Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?”
The promise was repeated after a wonderful account of hospitality as it was expected to be generously and selflessly offered in that day.
Retrospective, reflective account of the LORD appearing to Abraham and speaking to Abraham but primarily to Sarah
Oaks of Mamre:
Gen 13:18 - large grove of oak trees - Hebron - about 30 km SW of Jerusalem - altitude 3,000 ft - owned by Mamre brother of Eschol and Aner - all 3 allies of Abraham - Gen 14:13
3 men appeared in front of Abraham while he sat in the tent door under the oaks = shade in the heat of the day
Hospitality offered - “O Lord” - common greeting of a host to a visitor
If I have found favour in your sight - entreaty of one who saw himself as subordinate. This kind of hospitality was assumed to be offered and to to accepted, unless for some reason favour was not found.
Water to wash feet
Rest under the tree
3 seahs of fine flour - 7 liters of fine flour - more than enough bread - Sarah
Meat - tender and good calf - meat not often eaten - more than generous - young man
Curds and milk - perhaps goat or camel milk or cheese - excellent quality
Abraham stood while they ate
They said/asked - “Where is Sarah?” - Abraham - “She is in the tent.”
The LORD said - one of the 3 - other 2 angels - “Next year at this time, Sarah shall have a son. It is obvious that these words imprinted themselves in Abraham’s heart and memory.
Sarah - listening at the door of the tent behind Abraham
Both old/advanced in years
Sarah no longer fertile in her eyes
The LORD to Abraham :
“Why did Sarah laugh and say shall I indeed bear a child now that now that I am old?”
“Is anything too hard for God?”
“At the appointed time next year I will return at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” - Gen 21:1-2 - the LORD would intervene Himself to fulfill His promise. Whereas Abraham and Sarah had sought to help God, the LORD said, I will make this happen. It will a miracle from the LORD.
Sarah - “I did not laugh” for she was afraid.
The LORD - “No, you did laugh
AND WITH THAT REPEATED AND REAFFIRMED PROMISE OF LIFE, A NEW LIFE, A SON TO BE BORN TO SARAH AND ABRAHAM, the three men set out.
2. The LORD’s promise of DEATH/RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT - Gen 18:16-33; 19:1-29
With the renewal of the LORD’s promise of a son to be born to Abraham and Sarah by that time next year, the LORD and the 2 angels that were with Him took their leave. As they left from the oaks of Mamre, Sodom and the southern part of the Jordan were clearly visible lower in valley below them.
This valley was significant for a couple of reasons. It was where Lot pitches his tent when because of the size of their herds he and his uncle were forced to separate.
And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley, and Lot journeyed east. Thus they separated from each other. Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the valley and moved his tent as far as Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the Lord.
Within the description of Sodom toward which Lot pitched his tent, there was also the record as to the people of Sodom. Before we note that, we do well to all the word to again remind us that that this was a fertile, well watered area, like the garden of God or what they thought Eden must have been like or the land of Egypt that Abraham and Lot had seen when they sought refuge and food there during and earlier famine - Gen 12:10-20
Within and in spite of the physical beauty and fruitfulness of that area, there was an inherent wickedness and sin that was clearly noted.
Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the Lord.
That sin and the LORD’s concern for those who had cried out over that sin was to context for the LORD’s second promise, that of death and righteous judgment.
Then the Lord said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave,
The LORD’s promise has not been formulated and will not be acted on lightly. The text before us, recorded the LORD’s intention not to simply judge this city, these cities from a distance, but to visit them to see first hand if what He saw was as bad as the outcry indicated.
I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, I will know.”
So the LORD’s promise of death and judgment that will be explained to Abraham, had been prompted by two things:
The outcry - 18:20; great outcry - 19:13 - From the time of Abel having been murdered by his brother Cain, the Scriptures noted that God explained to Cain that Abel’s blood is crying out to Him. We do well to ask ourselves what Abel’s blood was crying out. Perhaps, something like ths
And the Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground.
We do well to ask ourselves what Abel’s blood was crying out. Perhaps, it was something like this, LORD, I brought the first born of my flock for an offering. I know that was what You asked for and regarded as acceptable. Why, when I did that and was told that this was acceptable, did you allow my brother to kill me. We both know that what he brought to You was not acceptable. You told him what he needed to do. He didn’t do it. He was angry with you and me. And he killed me. WHY? WHY? WHY?
There is also the fact that God is righteous and just. While the reference here is with regard to Abraham, the Scriptures are unequivocally clear. What God commands of those who believe stems from who He is.
“The Rock, his work is perfect,
for all his ways are justice.
A God of faithfulness and without iniquity,
just and upright is he.
As your name, O God,
so your praise reaches to the ends of the earth.
Your right hand is filled with righteousness.
Declare and present your case;
let them take counsel together!
Who told this long ago?
Who declared it of old?
Was it not I, the Lord?
And there is no other god besides me,
a righteous God and a Savior;
there is none besides me.
Righteous are you, O Lord,
when I complain to you;
yet I would plead my case before you.
Why does the way of the wicked prosper?
Why do all who are treacherous thrive?
O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me.
And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,
“Great and amazing are your deeds,
O Lord God the Almighty!
Just and true are your ways,
O King of the nations!
The LORD did not hide from Abraham what He was about to do. Please not the reason that the LORD gave.
Even before Isaac was born, the LORD knew and for sure Abraham would be be a great nation and in him the earth would be blessed. God does not bless us to be blessed, but to be a blessing. One of the greatest blessings is the Gospel but there is an overflow of care and kindness. We care for our neighbours.
and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.
And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.”
Abraham was to command his children in the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD might bring to Abraham what He had promised Him.
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE HEIGHT OF HYPOCRACY IF GOD HAD ASKED ONE THING OF ABRAHAM AND NOT DONE RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HIMSELF.
As the account of the LORD’s visit drew to a close, we are allowed a glimpse into Abraham’s heart cry and intersession for the righteous whom Abraham assumes are in the city. By now Abraham would have been aware that Lot was living in Sodom and had 2 marriage age daughters who were to marry.
In the recounting of Abraham’s intercession, Abraham never once questioned that by sweeping the city with its wicked, the judge of the earth would do anything other than that which was just.
Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?”
In asking his question, Abraham knew the answer and therefore he interceded. The LORD would not put the righteous to death with the wicked. WHAT ABRAHAM DID NOT KNOW HOW FEW RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE LIVED IN SODOM.
So humbly, confessing that he was but dust and ashes, mortal AND in no way daring to anger the LORD, Abraham if even for a limited number of righteous people the LORD would spare the whole city:
As the LORD gently answered Abraham with regard to the number of righteous or the lack of righteous believing people the answer is staggeringly, soberingly, regrettably sad - NOT 50, NOT 45, NOT 40, NOT 30, NOT 20, NOT EVEN 10 righteous.
IF THERE HAD BEEN 10 RIGHTEOUS, THE LORD WOULD HAVE SPARED THE CITY, THE CITIES.
HOW SOBERING, HOW SO VERY SAD!
By way of review, re this promise of death & righteous judgment, I would suggest we remember:
The LORD & Abraham - their transparent relationship
The LORD - “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?
Abraham - “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked>?”
Abraham - “Shall not the Judge of the earth do what is just?”
The LORD - “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.”
For those of us who might also be a bit impatient, we need to remember and remind each other that:
GOD KEEPS HIS PROMISES, ALL OF THEM!
then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment,
Promises of life:
Physical:
Our Lord cares for us and provides for our needs.
Our Lord hears our cries and outcries.
Our Lord hears our unspoken cries and prayers.
Spiritual:
Forgiveness and peace
Direction
God’s presence and care in difficult times
WITH THESES PROMISES THERE ARE OFFERS THAT ARE NOT FORCED ON US. THEY CAN ONLY BE RECEIVED BY FAITH.
Promises of death/righteous judgment
The way of life and the way of death - Deut 30:15-20; Jer 21:8
“See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess. I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”
“And to this people you shall say: ‘Thus says the Lord: Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.
None of us can throw stones - Ezek 16:48-50
As I live, declares the Lord God, your sister Sodom and her daughters have not done as you and your daughters have done. Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy. They were haughty and did an abomination before me. So I removed them, when I saw it.