May 3, 2015 – Sunday

Start Time:   6:00 AM

End Time:    9:00 AM

Title: The Promises Fulfilled

Scripture: Genesis 21

God’s Message / God’s Promise / God’s Commands:

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1) God's words/promises/plans are not dependent to our ability to believe in them

In this chapter, we see 3 fulfillment of promises:

a) Abimelek - confirmation that Abraham will not deal falsely with them; he also received word of confirmation - an oath was made

Abimelek encountered God in a dream and he believed the Lord and woke up with fear of God.  He returned Sarah to Abraham yet clearly, he wants assurance and evidence of this promise.  His faith in God was not that strong compared to his fear of Him.  He was not sure that God will keep His promise to him so he went to Abraham and made Abraham swear to him that Abraham will not deal falsely with him or his descendants. 

We can say that Abimelek's faith in God was weak...in fact, his obedience to the word of God was driven more by his fears of Him rather than his faith in Him...so he sought for evidence of a treaty to ensure Abraham will not do anything against them.

In a way, Abimelek embodies men who live by the principle of "to see is to believe" - He heard about the truth but he wanted more proof.

Yet, despite of his lack of faith, God remained true to His promise to him to spare him and his whole family from death.

God's words/promises are not dependent on our ability to believe in them.  It will happen as how God said it so, whether we believe it or not!

b) Hagar - God is true to His words to her when the Lord told her to return to Sarah and to name the boy Ishmael, "The Lord hears his misery" (Hagar went back to Sarah, even though, Sarah was mistreating her because the Lord promised that He will hear her son's cries) and when the boy cried in the dessert, the Lord heard it and delivered them.

Hagar had a personal and intimate encounter with God when she was running away from Sarah.  I believe that her faith grew in that encounter that she believed the Lord's words that He will take care of her son, but she needs to return to Sarah who was mistreating her.  Hagar was also the only woman so far that I know of in the Bible, who named God...she called Him, "The God who sees me"  - clearly, her encounter with God was more personal than Abimelek.  She was comforted and assured.

But when she was in the dessert with no water, she has forgotten God's promise!  She gave up and left Ishmael in one place to die.  Hagar's level of faith was also weak...she had this amazing encounter with the Lord that I believe changed her life, yet, when she was in the darkest time of her life, she gave up and lost hope.

Good thing, God's promises and words are not dependent on our ability to believe in them.  Hagar lost hope and gave up but God didn't give up on her and Ishmael!  It was God who came running to her when the Lord heard Ishmael cried!  Hallelujah!  How comforting it is to know that God will find us to fulfill His promise even if we believe it or not!

 

c) Sarah - the promise of a son, Isaac.

Sarah was the wife of the man of faith, Abraham.  Everything God told Abraham, Abraham told Sarah.  Sarah was the closest to the man who is intimate to the Lord.  She was a believer and knows the Lord better than Hagar or Abimelek.  We can say that Sarah has her own encounters with the Lord too. 

But one thing is sure, when God came to visit and told her she will have a child...she laugh!  At that moment, she doubted!  This woman who is the partner of Abraham, known to be the man who started it all in Faith, doubted the word of the Lord!

But thank God His promises are not dependent on our ability to believe in them because God was gracious to Sarah and fulfilled His promise anyway despite of Sarah laughing at what God said He would do to her.  Halleluhah!

Aren't we all glad that His words, His promises and plans are not dependent on our ability to believe in them?  I am!

WHY BELIEVE THEN?  If the fulfillment of God's words/promises/plans are not dependent on us believing in them...why believe at all?  Why have faith?

BECAUSE ONLY BY FAITH OR BY BELIEVING IN THEM, CAN WE RECEIVE IT!

Only when Abimelek believe the Lord's words in His dreams and feared Him, did his life was spared!

Only when Hagar heard the angel of God called upon her and told her that the Lord heard the cry of her son and believe it, did her eyes were opened and saw a well of water that saved hers and her boy's life!

Only when Sarah herself heard the Lord answered her doubts/laugh and believed in His answer, did Sarah bore Isaac!

Nothing and No one can stop the word/promises/plans of the Lord! 

Not Sarah's doubts or her age

Not Hagar's forgetfulness or her losing hope

Not Abimelek's paranoia or fear

Not even our own faith can stop what the Lord says He will do! 

But our faith is the key to receiving them and getting our eyes opened to seeing the truth!