SIGN-POST #1: Abraham Obeys through Faith
Gen 12:1 … LORD had said to Abram: "Get out of your country [Haran], From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you.”
Gen 12:2 Promise of Blessings: … great nation; … bless you… your name great; … you shall be a blessing… 3. [protection] … And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."
Gen 12:4 So Abram departed as the LORD had spoken to him…
Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
Questions: How does your journey compare with Abe’s journey?
SIGN-POST #2: Abraham Obeys Even when God is taking His time to fulfill His Promises
Gen.12:5 they came to the land of Canaan. … 8. And he moved from there to the mountain east of Bethel… 9 So Abram journeyed, going on still toward the South. 10 … Abram went down to Egypt to dwell there … Gen.13:1 Then Abram went up from Egypt … to the South. 3 And he went … as far as Bethel ….
Heb 11:9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Questions: What is a common reaction when God doesn't immediately give you what you think He's promised (Victory, peace, etc) or what you want (happiness vs. joy). What is the consequence?
SIGN-POST #3: Abraham Reasons with God to Better Obey God (Not to Stall)
Gen 15:1 … "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward."
Gen 15:2 But Abram said, "Lord GOD, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?" 3… Then Abram said, "Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed one born in my house is my heir!"
Gen 15:4 … "This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir." 5 Then He brought him outside and said, "Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be."
Gen 15:6 And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.
Questions: What is your reason/motivation for questioning God?
SIGN-POST #4: God Tests Abraham to Bless b/c of Abraham’s Good Reputation with God
Gen 22:1 Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, … And he said, "Here I am."
Gen 22:2 … offer him [Isaac] there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you."
Gen 22:3 So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; … split the wood … 10 And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.
Gen 22:12 And He said, "Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God,
Gen 22:16 … because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son — … 18 "In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice."
Questions: What is a potentially vulnerable area of your life? Are you ready to be tested in that area? When tested, are you willing to give it up to enhance your reputation with God? If you don’t, what’s the result?
FINAL SIGN-POST: YOU HAVE ARRIVED, FIND OUT WHAT YOU’VE EARNED
Additional Questions: - Why look at Obedience again?
- What is Obedience?
- Is Obedience and Compliance the same?
- How do choices, testing and faithfulness tie together?
- Is there a different kind of challenge for obeying expressly stated commands (do’s and don’ts) vs. the Law of Liberty (profit)?
- Is there an inter-generational impact of obedience?
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