{"id":106,"date":"2012-06-15T20:25:06","date_gmt":"2012-06-16T01:25:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/?p=106"},"modified":"2012-06-15T20:26:15","modified_gmt":"2012-06-16T01:26:15","slug":"106","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/?p=106","title":{"rendered":"God’s Promises Never Fail"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lesson 17<\/p>\n

God\u2019s Promises Never Fail<\/p>\n

Genesis 21<\/p>\n

Me-<\/p>\n

My impatience does not constitute God\u2019s failure on my behalf.\u00a0 Although there have been many times in my life when I have asked God to do something, I have learned a difficult lesson that He may give the desires of my heart but it will be according to His perfect timing.\u00a0 Because I went to Him for direction He often has kept me from jumping into a situation for which I was not qualified to handle.\u00a0 One of my first full time jobs was as an insurance agent. \u00a0I did not go to Him for guidance but took the job to escape a job that seemed to have no future.\u00a0 For a whole year I was miserable and a failure at what I was doing.\u00a0 Being an introvert did suit me to go out and sell anything much less life insurance.\u00a0 I have learned over the years to wait on the Lord.\u00a0 When I do good things will come.\u00a0 They will come because God never fails to fulfill His promises to His children.<\/p>\n

We-<\/p>\n

To reiterate what has been said previously in other lessons, it is never a good thing to try and get ahead of God.\u00a0 If we will stop being so busy and listen and wait on God, He will work out His purpose for our lives.\u00a0 It has been said that for a church to change direction takes about seven years.\u00a0 In today\u2019s culture that seems like a life time.\u00a0 When compared with the twenty-five years that Abraham and Sarah had to wait for the promised son, seven years does not seem so long.\u00a0 The time we wait is not to be wasted but, is to be spent in prayer and preparation of our hearts for all God wants to do for the church.\u00a0 When the time comes the result will be greater than anything we could do on our own.<\/p>\n

God-<\/p>\n

Genesis 21:1-5<\/p>\n

Abraham and Sarah had waited, sometimes impatiently and with missteps, but they had waited non-the-less.\u00a0 The time had arrived for God to do as He had promised.\u00a0 He remembered Sarah and she conceived giving birth to a son in her and Abraham\u2019s old age.\u00a0 As had been commanded to him, Abraham named his son Isaac which means laughter.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Obeying the covenant of God, Isaac was circumcised on the eight day.\u00a0 Once again the writer emphasizes Abraham\u2019s age at one hundred years old.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. What if Abraham and Sarah had decided they were too old to have a child and decided not to even try?<\/li>\n
  2. What would that say about their faith?<\/li>\n
  3. Why does the writer specifically say, \u201cThe Lord took note of Sarah?\u201d<\/li>\n
  4. Why does the writer speak of Abraham\u2019s age twice in these verses?<\/li>\n
  5. Why was the child named Isaac?<\/li>\n
  6. What was the importance of the act of circumcision?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Genesis 21:5-7<\/p>\n

    From the response of Sarah, it is evident that this was an extra special event in their lives.\u00a0 Not that any birth into a family is not a blessed occasion, but never had a child been born to a woman the age of Sarah.\u00a0 She expressed her own personal joy when she said that God had brought laughter into her life.\u00a0 She also knew that those who knew her circumstances would also be happy for her and Abraham. Once again the age of the couple is mentioned.<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. What is seen in the response of Sarah to the birth of Isaac?<\/li>\n
    2. Why was the event so special?<\/li>\n
    3. What did the birth of her son mean to her?<\/li>\n
    4. \u00a0What does the statement that God brought her happiness tell us about the years before his birth?<\/li>\n
    5. Why would she believe that others would share in her happiness?<\/li>\n
    6. What is God trying to tell us in His inspired Word by continuing to mention the age of the parents?<\/li>\n
    7. What should seeing what God did for Abraham and Sarah say about how He views and lives?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Genesis 21:8<\/p>\n

      The writer now tells that Isaac passed from babyhood to childhood.\u00a0 He no longer had to depend on Sarah for nourishment.\u00a0 He would at that point come under the leadership of his father. Upon the occasion of the milestone, Abraham gave a great feast in his honor.<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. What was the occasion that prompted the feast?<\/li>\n
      2. \u00a0Why was this an important time in the life of Isaac?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Genesis 21:9-10<\/p>\n

        The uneasy truce that had lasted for over fourteen years came to end.\u00a0 Sarah saw, what she concluded as Ishmael mocking or persecuting Isaac. Other commentators see the incident as playful interaction.\u00a0 Whatever took place does not matter.\u00a0 In the mind of Sarah it was time for Hagar and Ishmael to go.\u00a0 Isaac was the promised heir, the covenant child, and there was no room for Ishmael.\u00a0<\/p>\n

          \n
        1. Why had the truce between Sarah and Ishmael lasted for fourteen years?<\/li>\n
        2. What changed?<\/li>\n
        3. In what ways was Sarah possibly over sensitive?<\/li>\n
        4. In what ways would her reaction to be expected?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          Genesis 21:11-13<\/p>\n

          Abraham was not of the same mindset with Sarah.\u00a0 Ishmael was his son in the same way that Isaac was. Just because Isaac was the child of promise did not mean that there was not a place for Ishmael in the family.\u00a0 God had to convince Abraham that this was all in His plan.\u00a0 He was not to be distressed but to listen to his wife.\u00a0 Abraham could live with the words because God promised to make Ishmael into a great nation.<\/p>\n

            \n
          1. How did Abraham differ from Sarah?<\/li>\n
          2. What changed his mind?<\/li>\n
          3. What convinced Abraham to listen to Sarah?<\/li>\n
          4. Why would Abraham accept what God had said to him?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            Genesis 21:14-16<\/p>\n

            The next morning Abraham obeyed God and sent Hagar and Ishmael away.\u00a0 He provided provisions for them to take on their journey.\u00a0 The description of what happened next was appropriate.\u00a0 They wandered around in the wilderness of Beersheba.\u00a0 It is obvious that the two had no direction or destination.<\/p>\n

            Evidently, Hagar had forgotten the promises made about her son.\u00a0 When the provisions ran out, she thought that both of them were going to die.\u00a0 Because she could not bear to watch Ishmael die she moved some distance away and began to weep.<\/p>\n

              \n
            1. How did Abraham try to make sending Hagar and Ishmael easier?<\/li>\n
            2. What was the problem for Hagar?<\/li>\n
            3. What indications are in the text that she had forgotten the promises made to her by God concerning her son?<\/li>\n
            4. Why did she leave him alone?<\/li>\n
            5. What do you think of her actions?<\/li>\n
            6. When have there been occasions in your life when you were directionless?<\/li>\n
            7. In what ways did God show Himself to you in those circumstances?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

              Genesis 21:17-18<\/p>\n

              God, however, had not forgotten Hagar and Ishmael.\u00a0 He called out to Hagar asking what was bothering her.\u00a0 God immediately gave her encouragement and instruction to get her son.\u00a0 She was to take his hand. God was going to make him into a great nation.<\/p>\n

                \n
              1. What does verse 17 say to us?<\/li>\n
              2. If God had forgotten Hagar what would that say about Him?<\/li>\n
              3. Why did God first tell Hagar not to be fearful about the future?<\/li>\n
              4. Why did He expressly give her instructions about what to do?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                Genesis 21:19-21<\/p>\n

                Once God got her attention, she saw something that had not been apparent to her in her time of grief.\u00a0 She was shown a well from which she was able to refill her water skin.\u00a0 She also gave a drink to Ishmael<\/p>\n

                As promised before Ishmael was born, God was with him.\u00a0 From that time forward Ishmael lived in the wilderness and became an archer.\u00a0 Hagar took a wife for him from the land of her birth, Egypt.<\/p>\n

                  \n
                1. Why could she not see the well at first?<\/li>\n
                2. What did God do that allowed her to see the well?<\/li>\n
                3. What examples are given that indicate that God was with him?<\/li>\n
                4. How does his occupation fit what God had promised for him?<\/li>\n
                5. Why did Hagar take a wife from Egypt?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                  Genesis 21:22-24<\/p>\n

                  Abimelech and the commander of his army, Phicol, came to meet with Abraham.\u00a0 Even though they were pagans they still recognized that God was with him. Their request to him was for fair dealings.\u00a0 According to Abimelech, he had treated Abraham with respect and all he was asking was that he do the same with all of the Philistines under his rule.\u00a0 Abraham agreed to do so.<\/p>\n

                    \n
                  1. Why did Abimelech come to Abraham?<\/li>\n
                  2. Why did he need to bring the commander of his army with him?<\/li>\n
                  3. What was his request?<\/li>\n
                  4. Why did he feel it necessary to make such a request?<\/li>\n
                  5. What was his justification?<\/li>\n
                  6. What was Abraham\u2019s response?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                    Genesis 21:25-31<\/p>\n

                    Although Abraham was willing to agree with the covenant between he and Abimelech, all was not well between the two parties.\u00a0 The servants had taken from Abraham a well that he had dug.\u00a0 Abimelech shared that he was unaware of the event.<\/p>\n

                    To confirm the covenant Abraham gave to Abimelech some livestock.\u00a0 Then to validate that he was telling the truth about the well he, set aside seven ewe lambs to give to Abimelech. Abraham then named the place where they made the oath, Beersheba, which can either mean well of oath or well of seven.\u00a0 Either would have been appropriate since he gave the seven lambs as a witness.<\/p>\n

                      \n
                    1. Why would Abraham make an agreement with a man like Abimelech whose servants had taken a well from him?<\/li>\n
                    2. How believable was Abimelech\u2019s denial that he knew of the actions of his servants?<\/li>\n
                    3. How did Abraham show that he was a better man than Abimelech?<\/li>\n
                    4. In what ways was the name of the well appropriate according to either of the meanings?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                      Genesis 21:32-34<\/p>\n

                      Once the covenant was sealed by the actions, primarily on the part of Abraham, Abimelech and his commander returned home. Abraham planted a Tamarisk tree as a sign of the covenant.\u00a0 Then he once again called on the name of the Lord.\u00a0 The writer then indicates that he remained in the Negev of the Philistines for some time.<\/p>\n

                        \n
                      1. Why did Abimelech feel at ease at the thought of returning home?<\/li>\n
                      2. Why did Abraham plant the Tamarisk tree?<\/li>\n
                      3. Why did Abraham remain in the land?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                        You-<\/p>\n

                          \n
                        • Remember that no matter what your age or circumstances it is never too late to serve the Lord.<\/li>\n
                        • Make a list of the things that you believe that you are capable of accomplishing and pray about how God may use them for His glory.<\/li>\n
                        • Always remember that what might seem impossible to you is not so with God.<\/li>\n
                        • Think about the times that your life seemed to have no direction or was a disaster.\u00a0 What did you want God to do during those times?\u00a0 How did He answer your prayers?<\/li>\n
                        • In difficult situations remember that you belong to Christ and are to act accordingly.<\/li>\n
                        • Learn to not take matters into your own hands as Sarah did.\u00a0 All too often it will cause hurt in the lives of many people.<\/li>\n
                        • Know that God loves individuals for whom we may have little regard.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                          We-<\/p>\n

                          God has given us today.\u00a0 What are going to do with it?\u00a0 He has promised to lead a church which is willing to believe in the promises made through His Word.\u00a0 Others may read this but I believe that God has given our church a new opportunity to serve Him.\u00a0 He has breathed new life into the body.\u00a0 We have real reasons to praise Him for what He is doing and wants to do through His bride the church.<\/p>\n

                          Let us seize the day while the window is still open.\u00a0 In our hearts we desire the change that He wants to take place so that we may impact the community around us in a way we have never done before.\u00a0 Lets us remember that each person He brings to us He does so for us to nurture and disciple.\u00a0<\/p>\n

                          Additional Notes<\/p>\n

                          BL- In chapter 21, Isaac, whose name means “laughter,” was born.\u00a0 In vv. 8-9, Sarah grew fearful of Hagar and Ishmael again, so she directed Abraham to cast them out of the camp.\u00a0 God told Abraham to obey Sarah send Hagar away.\u00a0 In the desert, Hagar thought she and Ishmael would die, but the angel of God called to her and her eyes are opened to see a well nearby.\u00a0 Ishmael grows up in the desert under God’s protection and became an archer, thus fulfilling the promise God made to Hagar in chapter 16.\u00a0 Chapter 21 concludes with a treaty made between Abimelech and Abraham, allowing them to coexist peacefully.<\/p>\n

                          UE-Long after the time of child bearing had passed for her, Sarah was finally given a son in her old age.\u00a0 Isaac the child of promise was born to her when she was 90 years old and Abraham was a hundred. (Gen. 21:1-3; Heb. 11:11-12)<\/p>\n

                          UE-The promise made to Abraham concerning a son was fulfilled.\u00a0 To him and Sarah was born the son of laughter, Isaac.\u00a0 Sarah was well past child bearing years.\u00a0 When Isaac was born it has given to us such a beautiful picture of what God can do with a person dead in sin with no hope of new birth apart from His miraculous working in his life.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 (Gen. 21:1-3)<\/p>\n

                          M-Abraham did not send Ishmael and Hagar away unit he was assured that the young man would be protected and blessed by God. (Gen. 21:1-15)<\/p>\n

                          E-After Hagar and Ishmael were forced to leave Abraham\u2019s camp, the Lord appeared to her and reaffirmed the covenant He made with Hagar years before.\u00a0 According to the Lord\u2019s words, Ishmael was to become a great nation.\u00a0 The first sign that this was true, that rather than Ishmael dying as she thought when their water ran out, God opened her eyes and she saw a well from which she was able to fill her pouches for the journey ahead. (Gen. 21:3-9)<\/p>\n

                          DM-We are still reaping the consequences of the birth of Ishmael and then the sending of him and Hagar away.\u00a0 We do not know the influences on his life that occurred after he left the home of Abram which made the prophecies made to him become true.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 (Gen. 21:10-14)<\/p>\n

                          UE-God was specific about the choosing Isaac through whom the lineage would be established and not Ishmael. (Gen. 21:12)<\/p>\n

                          C-Ishmael and Hagar were sent away for the final time after he had mocked Isaac.\u00a0 Even though it grieved him to do so once again Abraham received the promise that Ishmael would become a great nation. (Gen. 21:12-14; Gal. 4:33)<\/p>\n

                          M-This time when Hagar was sent away from Abraham\u2019s camp God did command her to return as He had done previously.\u00a0 It was now time for Ishmael to become a man and make a life for himself.\u00a0 His was not to be the same life or was he to have the same responsibilities as Isaac.\u00a0 He was to learn what would be his place in this world according to the prophecy given to Hagar in chapter 16:11-12 and to Abraham in these verses concerning him. (Gen. 21:13, 18)<\/p>\n

                          C-After Ishmael was separated from Abraham by being sent away Hagar also received the assurance from God that Ishmael would become a great nation.\u00a0\u00a0 (Gen. 21:18)<\/p>\n

                          RT-Abraham evidently dwelled in the land of the Philistines for a period of time.\u00a0 He made a covenant with Abimelech not to harm him in any way. (Gen. 21:22-24)<\/p>\n

                          UE-Even the heathens among whom Abraham lived recognized the hand of God in whom they did not believe was on him prospering him in all he did. (Gen. 21:22)<\/p>\n

                           <\/p>\n

                           <\/p>\n

                           <\/p>\n

                           <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                          Lesson 17 God\u2019s Promises Never Fail Genesis 21 Me- My impatience does not constitute God\u2019s failure on my behalf.\u00a0 Although there have been many times in my life when I have asked God to do something, I have learned a difficult lesson that He may give the desires of my heart but it will be […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-106","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/106","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=106"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/106\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":108,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/106\/revisions\/108"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=106"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=106"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=106"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}