This exposition of Genesis 17:1-8 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, November 18, 2018.
Intro:
There is that part of us that stands in awe of biblical characters as if they were incapable of struggling like mere mortals such as ourselves. That somehow they had a little something extra to carry them through the struggles of believing and trusting. Sort of a “divine royalty” as payment for allowing their names and stories to appear in the book! But an honest look at their lives says otherwise. Consider Abraham, a careful reading of the biblical text makes it clear that he was indeed a frail child of dust who struggled greatly and yet God did extraordinary things in and through him.
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He had to be considered an odd duck in his day. We know him as “Father Abraham,” the “Father of Faith” and “the Friend of God.” But he was a man out of step with the world of his day. He was a monotheist in a world of polytheist. He was a man who walked and talked with God! Not in chants or riddles but plane old, everyday language – he didn’t even use the langue of the “authorized King James!” I think he was the regular topic of conversation down at the local doughnut shop. And yet we greatly admire and revere Father Abraham. Why? Because Abraham believed God. In spite of the struggle, in spite of the difficulties, he believed. Our text this evening is found in the 17th chapter of Genesis.
Text: Genesis 17:1-19
Abraham was 75 years old when God called him.
When God called Abraham he made him a promise.
He promised to make of him a “great nation.”
In addition he promised the land in which he sojourned would one day belong to his descendants.
But, Abraham had no descendants! He had no children.
As he sojourned in the land, God blessed him.
In spite of his failure to trust God in the famine, in spite of his trip to Egypt – God blessed him.
Along the way he was learning to be a pilgrim.
He was learning to live as an alien and stranger in this earth.
He learned to look for a city whose builder and maker is God.
God wanted to encourage him so He came to him again to restate the promise.
In essences God said, “Abe, I haven’t forgotten the promise, the check’s in the mail.”
Chapter 15 records the restatement and the encouragement given.
10 years later – he is still waiting. Now you and I can get very spiritual at this point and talk about how we should wait on the Lord and trust him. Or we can be honest enough to recognize that 1000 years may be as a day to the Lord but 10 years is an eternity to you and me!
Abram and Sarai (Their names had not been changed yet) were struggling to believe.
You remember the ill-conceived plan found in chapter 16.
“Here take my handmaid please” - that didn’t work out.
Abram is now 85 and Sarai is 76.
Now look at 17:1 – 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…
How old is Abram? 99.
It has been another 14 years!
24 years he has waited - that is hard.
Now add to that the difficulty within the culture in which he lived.
He was on the major trade route.
He owned the wells.
Caravans stopped to water their animals.
In the natural course of events the wealthy owners of the caravans would be entertained in Abram’s tent.
Over meals and during times of refreshments there would be conversation. There would be pleasantries exchanged. Questions like:
Who are ?
How old are you?
Where are you from and where are you going?
The same things we ask as we make conversation with strangers. Now, imagine one of those travelers asking Abram, “What is your name?”
He answers, “Abram (father of many)”
The natural question would be, “How many children do you have?”
Abram answers, “None.”
It had to be galling. The traveler would no doubt snicker, as would the servants.
That led to many questions about which one was sterile – Abram or Sarai (marital stress).
Then you had the incident with Hagar.
After that, when asked, “How many children?” The answer would be, “One.”
Didn’t help.
It’s been 24 years.
24 years of shame, embarrassment and confusion.
The LORD comes calling
Thesis: The heart of faith learns to trust God for the impossible.
Three things I want us to note from chapter 17.
Three principles of what it means to trust, to live by faith.
- Trust is anchored in the character and nature of God. (17:1)
- Trust recognizes its own inability. (17:17)
- Trust rests ultimately in the promise of God. (17:19)
Conclusion:
There are some spiritual lessons from all this:
It is by God’s power not our ingenuity or strength - Galatians 4:21-31
It is by faith - Romans 4:19-21
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