Genesis
Lesson 9
God chooses ordinary people and makes them extraordinary.
The more we know about God, the more our life will be impacted.
Outline
Beginnings Creation
Fall
Flood
Nations
Gen 12-25 – Abraham
Someone once said Hezekiah
Gen 12:13 – Thou shalt not eat black beans. Therefore don’t drink coffee. So we will not be deceived, we need to know our bible and study it well.
The book of Genesis is written to show or reveal the heart of God.
God created us to enjoy him but what happened. The Fall.
The heart of God. God loves us. He created us that we may enjoy him forever with Him in the garden. The fall. We disobeyed him. We plunged the world into chaos. Who plunged the world into chaos? God – to show his disgust for sin. To show us he is a holy God and he will not tolerate sin.
Gen 3-5 – so you won’t forget that God is a holy god. In chapter 6, you have another experience. When men turned against God and did not follow God. He sent the flood. Sin is very serious, so serious that God judged the whole world.
Chapter 11 – he dispersed the people into different nations and different languages and ethnic groups.
The Life of Abraham
Why do we need to study the life of Abraham? Abraham is the beginning of redemption. God tells us he will send a Savior thru this line, this family.
Gen 12 – tonight’s lesson, God chooses ordinary people and makes them extraordinary.
Gen 12 – God chooses ordinary people and makes them extraordinary.
When you study the Book of Genesis you will be amazed at how God chooses people. Some of you may be thinking, will God every use me?
Let’s look at Abraham. He was an n ordinary man. But God made him extraordinary. We will be learning:
How do I know the will of God?
How will I know whom to marry?
We should study the bible. How will I know the future?
Study the Bible. Know how God guides his people. Would you like to know the will of God?
Gen 111:26 – Terah, Abraham, brothers of Abraham, nahor and Haran
Lot nephew of Abraham. The son of Haran
Gen 11:28-30 - Sarai, Abraham’s wife is barren.
Principle #1 –God initiates
Gen 12:1 – what did God initiate in the life of Abraham? What are God’s promises?
7 great promises
Who forced God to have a relationship with Abraham? Who forced God to make this covenant with Abraham? Who compelled God to make these promises to Abraham?
Daniel 4: - the sovereignty of God.
Dan 4:3-4 – Nebuchadnezer became the king of Babylon. Babylon was a world power at that time. Israel was under Babylon. The dictator is speaking.
Before God created the world, there was God. He was complete by himself. He does not need me nor does he need you. God is self-sufficient. Eternity past, there was God. Someday in the future eternity there will still be God.
But God is in his wisdom and love decided to create a planet called earth and to make people like you and me. For what purpose? That we may know Him. That we will learn to love him. We are accountable.
v. 35 – to him someday.
Couples son in law driving nice car met an accident and died. When God says its time. It’s time. We think God is answerable to us.
V, 35 – he does according to his will and no one can question him. No one can strike his hand and tell him not to do it.
God chose Abraham. Did he choose God or did God choose you?
John 15:16 – you didn’t choose me
Gen 12: - God chooses ordinary people and makes them extraordinary
Gen 12:1 – Go forth and leave your country, leave relatives, leave house.
He left without knowing where he was going to go.
Gen 11:31 –they went to Haran.
Heb 11:8 –
What do we learn about God?
God guides us step by step.
Gen 12 – why did Abraham bring Lot? His father had died. When God gives us instructions, sometimes we don’t follow completely. When we don’t do things god tells us to do, he will use situations to develop or train us. He will teach us to obey through discipline.
Gen 12:6 – foreign land – it was always a risk to be in a foreign land.
Gen 12:7 – when did God reveal his promise to Abraham? InUr? Haran or Shekem?
When did he reveal this "this is the land I am going to give you. After he obeyed? From Sechem, he went to Canaan.
Gen 12:7 – many times before I obey god I want to know all the plans of God. When God reveals his plans, he does it one step at a time. The greatest enemy of obedience is fear.
Principle 1 – God initiates
Principle 2 – God guide progressively
I may not know the future but I know who holds the future.
Will there be risks as you commit to live to follow Jesus? Yes, this might happen where that might happen. When God reveals his plan, he does not reveal like a movie. Part 1 – obey, then you will love.
As of now, what is my will for you?
God’s will is for you to obey your parents.
As of that moment, what is /god’s will for you? How will you know God’s will for you?
God guides us
We pursue the good at the expense of the best.
Abraham said yes but her initiates. He guides us progressively. He trains us.
Gen 12:7-8 – bethel – house of God built an altar to the Lord
When you are walking with God, god will train you through adversity
God told Abraham, he was giving him the land yet instead of staying in the land because of famine and trusting God to provide for him, he went to Egypt.
Egypt during those times was like America today. God’s people going to Egypt were symbolic of depending on something else instead God.
Isa 31:1 – trusting in Him and no trusting in man. Egypt hi the bible is a symbol of reliance in something else.
See this principle repeated again and again in the lives of God’
S people. What is our Egypt today? Lady whose husband fooled around, also fold around, got real depressed. Many people today long for happiness, which is legitimate; they try to fulfill those with anything but God. Best wife cannot satisfy husband the other way around. People cannot fill the need. My happiness is basically found in the Lord.
Marriage not centered on God can be compared to 2 ticks without a dog. They suck on each other. Pretty soon, both become tired. If that is your mentality, you will become tried. God says come first to me and then you will have the love to give to your spouse.
Abraham believed in God. When Abraham went to Egypt saw all the greatness of that plan he became intimidated. He learned Pharaoh interested in women. Told his wife to lie. Sarai was the half sister of Abraham. Half-truth. God will train and develop you. Abraham did not trust God re his own wife. Only in certain areas. In the process, what did God do?
Some teacher’s don’t know how to teach their students. Daughter not a good school. His teacher had a reputati9on for giving people low grades. God is not in the habit for joyful when you flunk. God always gives us take 2; he doesn’t kick you out of the classroom. In his mercy, he intervened. He used a pagan king to rebuke Abraham.
Pagan king rebuked him. Abraham learned that God is involved in his life. He will bless and protect you.
Test # 2. When you stumble spiritually, go back to where you came from. When old Christians commit sin, we should just encourage you to walk with the Lord again. When Abraham went town to Egypt. He built the altar in Bethel. Antler test was given to Abraham
v. 4-5 – Abraham now had a problem with his nephew.
If I walk with God, I should not have any problems? When there was famine, was Abraham in the will of God? Who is in the famine? Who is in control of the situation?
Test # 2 0 the test of prosperity
Vanderbilt, an American millionaire (like Rockefeller during his time) said, "It is a burden to manage $100 Million. I cannot sleep. I cannot rest. I am most miserable.
v. 8 – Abraham said a lot. God allows us to experience problem because he wants to train us. There is no shortcut. How many of us go to the gym? Building muscles is lifting adversities. The weight breaks the muscle fibers and when it heals it becomes bigger and stronger. Don’t run away from problems. If you keep doing that, you will not grow. God wants to develop your faith, spiritual muscles. You have to responding faith.
What was Abraham’s proposal to Lot? Humanly, and in a business sense, it was ridiculous. And Lot, being wise, chose the better land. What would have happened if you were Abraham’s business adviser? Would you just shake your head in disgust? What made Abraham decide this way? His faith was not in the land. He knew God’s promise to bless and he put his faith in the one from whom all blessings flow.
Where is our faith? In our business, our bank accounts. What are the promises of God to his people?
Heb 13:5 – I will never leave you nor forsake you. What is the command? Let your character be free from the love of money and be content.
Do your best and leave the rest to God.
\God promises us he will never leave us nor forsake us.
John 10:10 – life abundance – are you experiencing abundant life?
Maybe your e still in Our?
What hapepened to lot. They separated. God wanted to bless Abraham but lot was with him. It was time to separate.
God brings about adversity to bring us to him. God uses our problems as opportunities. Because God is committed to you, he says he will develop you. If my son moves away from me. As a father, what will I do? Will I just leave him alone? As his father, I am committed to do whatever it takes for his best.
Abraham gave up his rights. His values were different. The secret of walking with God, surrender your rights,
Surender your rights. They have learned to give up their rights. Change your values to put your confidence in the Lord.
God reveals himself to us progress8ively.
Gen 13:14-18 – land as far as the eye could see
When did God reveal hi9s land to Abraham?
Canaan Jerusalem is on a mountain.
When God gives you something, no man can take it away from you. God’s best for you. In his time, he will make all things beautiful.
How many years did Abraham have to wait?
God initiates.
God will guide you progressively. His purpose for your life is to bless you. Every failure is due to lack of faith.