Sermons tagged #Abimelech

Isaac and Abimelech have two very different responses to the unmerited favor of God.

I. AN OUTLINE OF THE CHAPTERS 10:19-12:29 The Superiority of Believers' Privileges Faith that Saves, 10:19-25 (taking action: exhortation) Faith that's Disingenuous, 10:26-31 (the road backward: warning) Faith that's Full of Hope, 10:32-39 (the road forward: encouragement) Faith that's Genuine, 11:1-3 (what faith is) Faith that's Godly, 11:4-40 (how faith behaves) Faith that Perseveres, 12:1-29 (when faith endures) II. AN OBSERVATION OF TODAY'S PARTICULARS v4, Abel's sacrifice v5, Enoch's walk v6, (the pleasure of God) v7, Noah's fear v8, Abraham's call v9, Abraham's sojourn v10, Abraham's expectation v11, Sarah's conception she was past age, v11b the way of women had ceased, Gen 18:11 Sarah laughed to herself, Gen 18:12-15 (Gen 18:9-10) "She is my sister." Gen 20:2 (Gen 12:11) considered Him faithful who had promised, v11c God is faithful, Heb 6:13; 1Thess 5:24 She considered, Heb 10:29 received power to conceive, v11a power, δύναμις (DOO-nam-is) -- a. Luke 1:35 -- b. Acts 1:8 conceive, καταβολή (ka-ta-bo-LĀ) -- a. "foundation" -- b. 1 Pet 1:18-20 -- c. Eph 1:4-5

As the idolatry of the Israelites deepens, the LORD declares that He will no longer deliver them. Does God ever abandon those who cry out Him for help?

Abimelech relied on worldly and immoral ways to obtain power, but the weight of the Crown upon his head was to lead him to his doom.

Gideon duplicates the ephod of the high priest to abide in his own city which leads to personal and national decline.

As the Midianites descend as a swarm upon the Israelites, Gideon is visited by the LORD and given authentication regarding his calling as judge.

Complacent in sin Complacent in regards to their sin Celebration on the birth of a boy Persecution

Genesis 21 has an unusually large number of interesting features embedded within the language of the text itself. What was Ishmael doing with or to Isaac that got Sarah so upset? Laughing at him, mocking him, or even molesting him? Why does this text say, "the angel of God" and not "the angel of Yahweh" as in ch. 16? We can learn much from the actual language used in this text. But we can also learn a great deal about this biblical account specifically and the entire biblical meta-narrative by examining how Paul uses this chapter in his letters, especially in Galatians 4:21-31. Why can Paul take this passage as an allegory, when the Reformed hermeneutic discourages allegorical interpretation? We can learn a great deal about God and His Word through passages like this one.

In Genesis 20, we see Abraham try to pass off his wife (and half-sister) Sarah as his mere sister, and this for a second time. But God intervenes to continue to protect the line that will produce the seed of the woman, this long-awaited son Isaac, both long-awaited by Sarah and Abraham, but also the next in line of that seed who would ultimately culminate in Jesus Christ, who would crush the head of the seed of the serpent. But we also learn a few other things about God in His relations to mankind. We learn that God can (and absolutely does) override the will of man. This is true even when it comes to salvation. We also learn that God may strike a person ill to keep them from sinning further against Him. These two massive truths are understood especially in the context of how we pray for people, and they should inform how we pray for both believers and unbelievers alike.

This covenant between Abimelech and Abraham is a helpful example of a covenant, helping us understand what a covenant is, and is itself a benefit of God's covenant with Abraham.

In Genesis 20, Sarah is taken by King Abimelech just after receiving the promise that she would soon conceive the promised offspring of Abraham. But as before, God comes to the rescue.

We consider the gripping narrative of Abimelech's end and what it means for God's justice in chaotic times.

We consider the rise of Abimelech and why leadership matters in the church.