Blessings Passed Down

 

Blessings Passed Down

Genesis 25: ⁷ This is the sum of the years of Abraham’s life which he lived: one hundred and seventy-five years. ⁸ Then Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people. ⁹ And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, ¹⁰ the field which Abraham purchased from the sons of Heth. There Abraham was buried, and Sarah his wife. ¹¹ And it came to pass, after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac. And Isaac dwelt at Beer Lahai Roi.

 

============

 

Abraham’s father, Terah, lived two hundred five years. His grandfather lived one hundred nineteen years. And his ancestor Seth lived five hundred years. Terah may have heard directly from Seth regarding the Garden of Eden and the flooding of the earth. Terah passed this information to Abraham who took it another step by believing everything GOD said. He passed this information on to Isaac.

 

My Observations:

• Ismael must have gotten word that his father, Abraham, died.
• Ismael worked with Isaac to bury their father.
• Isaac grew up listening to Abraham and heard about the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.

 

Hearing about the miracles of GOD seemed to place a fire in the heart of those who could receive it. This fire guided each person’s actions. GOD promised that Abraham would be the father of many nations and he lived his entire life as the chosen one.

 

Isaac would now accept the responsibility of being the chosen one to give birth to nations. But what about Ismael. He too was blessed with forming nations. GOD’s blessings cascaded down to generations to follow. Abraham was buried in the same cave as Sarah. The deed was passed to Isaac.

 

Challenge

• Why did GOD mention Abraham’s age so descriptively to Moses?
• Do you worry about age?
• If you measure your accomplishments, will you stop so you can focus on GOD’s blessed calling for you right now?

Strength Through Adversity

 

Strength Through Adversity

Genesis 21: ¹⁴ So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water; and putting it on her shoulder, he gave it and the boy to Hagar, and sent her away. Then she departed and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba. ¹⁵ And the water in the skin was used up, and she placed the boy under one of the shrubs. ¹⁶ Then she went and sat down across from him at a distance of about a bowshot; for she said to herself, “Let me not see the death of the boy.” So she sat opposite him, and lifted her voice and wept.

 

¹⁷ And God heard the voice of the lad. Then the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said to her, “What ails you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is. ¹⁸ Arise, lift up the lad and hold him with your hand, for I will make him a great nation.”

¹⁹ Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water, and gave the lad a drink. ²⁰ So God was with the lad; and he grew and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer. ²¹ He dwelt in the Wilderness of Paran; and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt.

 

============

 

GOD promised Sarah that HE would return in one year and that she would have a child. She did. But this caused a change in her plan. She had Abraham have a child with Hagar, but now that she had the child that GOD promised, she wanted Harag and Ishmael to leave. Abraham was now placed in the middle of a mess.

 

He gave Hagar and Ishmael all the water they could carry and some bread. She wandered in the wilderness and eventually gave up. JESUS showed up and helped them out.

 

My Observations:

• Hagar was given next to nothing and was expected to survive.
• Ishmael had nothing and was told that he would become a great nation.
• JESUS appeared and did not give them money, shelter or people.

 

Hagar’s life seemed strange. She was an Egyptian slave who was given to Abraham as a commodity, because Pharoah almost took Sarah as his wife. Sarah was given Hagar by Abraham. Hagar had a child by Abraham based upon Sarah’s demands. GOD heard Hagar when she was sent away the first time and heard her again this time.

 

JESUS showed them a well that just happened to be there. I believe HE put that there, but the passage doesn’t say it. She got water, but what about food? JESUS stayed with them, teaching Ismael. Eventually Hagar made it back to Egypt and got a slave wife for Ismael. He grew despite the odds.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think GOD didn’t intervene by placing Ismael in a palace like in the movies with a genie?
• Have you ever thought GOD should be making your life easier?
• Is your adversity strengthening you for the greatness GOD has in store for you?

Because of You

 

Because of You

Genesis 21: ⁸ So the child grew and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the same day that Isaac was weaned.

 

⁹ And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, scoffing. ¹⁰ Therefore she said to Abraham, “Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, namely with Isaac.” ¹¹ And the matter was very displeasing in Abraham’s sight because of his son.

 

¹² But God said to Abraham, “Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called. ¹³ Yet I will also make a nation of the son of the bondwoman, because he is your seed.”

 

============

 

After the miracle of birth, Sarah was elated, but reminded that her plan of Abraham having a child through Hagar was a mistake. She wanted Hagar and her son thrown out to keep them from getting an inheritance. This was very disturbing to Abraham. GOD had to intervene.

 

My Observations:

• GOD had a plan for Isaac and a plan for Ismael.
• GOD had to talk to Abraham to let him know that Ishmael was still part of HIS plan.
• GOD let Abraham know that “because of your seed” Ishmael would become a great nation.

 

Through the bickering, and dysfunction, GOD had a plan for this family. Because of Abraham’s walk with the LORD, many nations would be born. GOD kept HIS promise with Abraham simply because of HIS relationship with him.

 

It seemed like mistakes were made. Sarah convinced Abraham to have a child with Hagar, then turned around and had them thrown out. You would think GOD would be angry. BUT GOD took the difficult situation as a factor in HIS complex plan that no human can understand. HE then mentioned that through Isaac, JESUS would be born as a human, even though HE existed as GOD.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about Sarah’s feelings towards Ishmael?
• Have you ever thought you made a mistake with GOD?
• Do you know that the mistake you thought you made is being used for good through GOD?

Emotional Rollercoaster

Emotional Rollercoaster

Genesis 17: ¹⁷ Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” ¹⁸ And Abraham said to God, “Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!”

¹⁹ Then God said: “No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him. ²⁰ And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. ²¹ But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year.” ²² Then He finished talking with him, and God went up from Abraham.

 

============

 

Abraham experienced some strange requests from GOD. Leave your family’s land without knowing where you are going was the first strange request that Abraham obeyed. Rename yourself from Abram to Abraham was another strange request because Abram was known.

 

Cut off your foreskin along with everyone in your household was another strange request as a sign of human promise back to GOD. But now GOD was telling Abraham that he would have another child.

 

My Observations:

• Abraham secretly said to himself “Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” 
• Abraham tried to steer GOD towards Sarai’s plan.
• GOD told Abraham when the child would be born, then left abruptly.

 

Abraham was probably on an emotional rollercoaster after hearing the promise from GOD. He had believed everything said up to this point, but how in the world would his barren wife have a child not? Abraham knew about his ancestors. He knew that Shem lived six hundred years and had many children well into his years.

 

But people around him were probably dying at an age younger than one hundred. He too, may have felt the effects of getting older and wondered if he would die soon. GOD, knowing Abraham’s persistence, told him “No” in answer to his statement about Ishmael being the possible chosen child. GOD left abruptly, possibly because of Abraham’s inquisitive nature. The answer was final.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD include the secret thoughts of Abraham in a conversation revealed to Moses?
• Has GOD told you a promise that seems to be taking a very long time to come to fruition?
• When GOD promises you something bigger than your imagination, how do you react?

Seen

Seen

Genesis 16: ¹³ Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, “Have I also here seen Him who sees me?” ¹⁴ Therefore the well was called Beer Lahai Roi; observe, it is between Kadesh and Bered.

 

¹⁵ So Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram named his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. ¹⁶ Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.

 

============

 

Hagar had a conversation with JESUS, the Angel of the LORD. She had probably heard about GOD from Abram, but may have never experienced HIM. JESUS sought out Hagar after she had escaped the persecution of Sarai. HE told her HE would make her have many descendants. When she heard this, she knew it was GOD speaking to her.

 

My Observations:

• Hagar’s situation did not change, only her mindset.
• Hagar had a rare face to face conversation with JESUS without asking, praying, giving, going to church or praising GOD.
• Hagar may have become committed to the LORD so she named the place Lahai Roi, possibly to remind her of what happened.

 

One thing to notice about Hagar’s encounter is that she did not ask for anything. She did not ask for Sarai to be kinder or for her to become rich enough to leave comfortably. She was so excited about seeing GOD and being seen by HIM, that she went back to serve under Sarai.

 

GOD changed her mind so that she could endure. She was part of GOD’s plan, even though she would not be the one who would fulfil the promise GOD made to Abram. Hagar’s encounter with JESUS made her see things differently. GOD saw Hagar.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think Hagar seemed excited?
• Have you ever had a memorable encounter with the LORD?
• Do you know GOD sees you and wants HIS best for you today?

Blessed Up Plan

Blessed Up Plan

Genesis 16: ⁷ Now the Angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur. ⁸ And He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where have you come from, and where are you going?”

 

She said, “I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai.”

 

⁹ The Angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hand.” ¹⁰ Then the Angel of the Lord said to her, “I will multiply your descendants exceedingly, so that they shall not be counted for multitude.” ¹¹ And the Angel of the Lord said to her:

 

“Behold, you are with child,
And you shall bear a son.
You shall call his name Ishmael,
Because the Lord has heard your affliction.
¹² He shall be a wild man;
His hand shall be against every man,
And every man’s hand against him.
And he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.”

 

============

 

Hagar fled into the wilderness from Sarai. Abram heard from the LORD that he would have countless descendants. Sarai was barren and made Abram marry her maid Hagar so she would confiscate her child. But she got jealous and began to abuse Hagar.  Having nowhere to go, Hagar sat by a spring.

 

JESUS came to her and asked her questions HE knew the answers to. She did not tell HIM the full story, rather an abbreviated version. HE told her to go back. HE then said HE would make her have countless descendants.

 

My Observations:

• JESUS knew the mess Sarai made and blessed the plan anyway.
• JESUS saw Hagar, who never bowed to HIM before, and came to her because she was part of a larger plan.
• JESUS sent her back to a hostile place, but gave her a new spark of life, knowing she would be the mother of a great multitude of people.

 

What a messed-up plan. Sarai introduced dysfunction that would remain for years. Hagar may have feared for her life. BUT GOD told her HIS plan of protection. She could then, go back and face the harsh treatment. Despite the trouble, Hagar would become the mother of countless people.

 

Challenge

• Why does JESUS tell Moses about HIS conversation with Hagar?
• Have you ever been in a difficult situation and wanted to escape?
• Even if it is difficult, will you continue on the journey with JESUS as your teacher and guide?