Post by charlescameron on Jun 20, 2009 7:28:39 GMT -6
Chapter 12
This is a divine Story, carried forward by God's grace and power. God's very great promises (1-3) find their ultimate fulfilment in the coming of God's eternal Kingdom (Revelation 21:10). We have not reached our heavenly destination. We are still caught in the tension between obedience (4) and disobedience (11-13). We are conscious of our human failure, yet we rejoice in the divine faithfulness.
We read of Abraham's sin, yet we look beyond this to God's salvation. This is not simply the story of Abraham. It is the story of Abraham's God. This becomes clear in the change of name. Abram ('Exalted Father') draws attention to the man. Abraham ('Father of Many') points to God's purpose (17:5). Like Abraham, we are to worship God (7-8). We are to say, 'He is exalted'. We are to say, 'Christ must increase, and I must decrease' (John 3:30).
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More notes at christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com/2007/05/genesis-12-14.html
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Chapter 15
God is greater than our circumstances. God had given great promises to Abraham, yet there appeared to be no sign that His promises were being fulfilled. The circumstances seemed bleak, and Abraham felt despondent. Abraham was full of questions.
In verse 2, he asks, 'What can you give me ... ?' This is the question of salvation. What does God give? He gives salvation. In verse 8, Abraham asks, 'How can I know ... ?' This is the question of assurance. We ask for assurance. God gives it, the assurance of salvation, the assurance that salvation has been given and received.
Where are we to look for answers to these questions? Are we to look to our circumstances? Are we to look to our feelings? No. We are to look to the 'Almighty God' (2,8). Trusting in Christ, the 'Passover Lamb ... sacrificed for us', we receive a sure salvation (6,1; 1 Corinthians 5:7; John 20:31; 1 John 5:13).
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More notes at christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com/2007/05/genesis-15-17.html
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Chapter 18
Is anything too hard for the Lord?(14). We need to hear these words as God's call to greater faith. Sarah, like Abraham, had heard God's promises, yet 'she laughed to herself' (12). We can hear God's Word, and still remain, in our hearts, men and women of unbelief. The Word of God does not benefit us when we do not receive it with faith (Hebrews 4:2). God knows what is in our hearts, just as He knew what was in Sarah's heart (13-15). He knows the human heart, 'deceitful above all things' (Jeremiah 17:9), yet He continues to love us. He does not give up on us. He perseveres with us. He could have given up on Sarah as a hopeless waste of His time, but He did not. 'The evil heart of unbelief is always with us, but God is constantly at work to create in us 'a clean heart' (Hebrews 3:12; Psalm 51:10). 'Soften my heart, Lord.' ...
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More notes at www.christinallthescriptures.blogspot.co.uk/
This is a divine Story, carried forward by God's grace and power. God's very great promises (1-3) find their ultimate fulfilment in the coming of God's eternal Kingdom (Revelation 21:10). We have not reached our heavenly destination. We are still caught in the tension between obedience (4) and disobedience (11-13). We are conscious of our human failure, yet we rejoice in the divine faithfulness.
We read of Abraham's sin, yet we look beyond this to God's salvation. This is not simply the story of Abraham. It is the story of Abraham's God. This becomes clear in the change of name. Abram ('Exalted Father') draws attention to the man. Abraham ('Father of Many') points to God's purpose (17:5). Like Abraham, we are to worship God (7-8). We are to say, 'He is exalted'. We are to say, 'Christ must increase, and I must decrease' (John 3:30).
-----
More notes at christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com/2007/05/genesis-12-14.html
----------
Chapter 15
God is greater than our circumstances. God had given great promises to Abraham, yet there appeared to be no sign that His promises were being fulfilled. The circumstances seemed bleak, and Abraham felt despondent. Abraham was full of questions.
In verse 2, he asks, 'What can you give me ... ?' This is the question of salvation. What does God give? He gives salvation. In verse 8, Abraham asks, 'How can I know ... ?' This is the question of assurance. We ask for assurance. God gives it, the assurance of salvation, the assurance that salvation has been given and received.
Where are we to look for answers to these questions? Are we to look to our circumstances? Are we to look to our feelings? No. We are to look to the 'Almighty God' (2,8). Trusting in Christ, the 'Passover Lamb ... sacrificed for us', we receive a sure salvation (6,1; 1 Corinthians 5:7; John 20:31; 1 John 5:13).
-----
More notes at christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com/2007/05/genesis-15-17.html
----------
Chapter 18
Is anything too hard for the Lord?(14). We need to hear these words as God's call to greater faith. Sarah, like Abraham, had heard God's promises, yet 'she laughed to herself' (12). We can hear God's Word, and still remain, in our hearts, men and women of unbelief. The Word of God does not benefit us when we do not receive it with faith (Hebrews 4:2). God knows what is in our hearts, just as He knew what was in Sarah's heart (13-15). He knows the human heart, 'deceitful above all things' (Jeremiah 17:9), yet He continues to love us. He does not give up on us. He perseveres with us. He could have given up on Sarah as a hopeless waste of His time, but He did not. 'The evil heart of unbelief is always with us, but God is constantly at work to create in us 'a clean heart' (Hebrews 3:12; Psalm 51:10). 'Soften my heart, Lord.' ...
-----
More notes at www.christinallthescriptures.blogspot.co.uk/