Abram’s Fall in Egypt

Abram’s Fall in Egypt (Gen 12:9-10)

V9, Abram continued toward Negev. This is a drier area (lesser rainfall, thus needed wells to be dug), less desirable for raising crops but better for his vocation as a herdsman, perhaps engaging also in merchant activity. 

In verse 10, there was a famine there and Abram went down to Egypt. Famine was not an unusual phenomenon in Canaan. Two other major food shortages also occurred during Isaac's time (26:1) and Joseph's time (41:56). In Israel, the only river that flowed all year round was the Jordan river. Yet, it is completely below sea level which means that irrigation from it was difficult. Thus the growth of crops was heavily reliant on rain. When there was no rain, it means a famine. Egypt was the best location with water supply. 

Did Abram fail here by heading to Egypt?

Still holding on to God's promise, he did not return to Ur, though matter were extremely difficult. Heb 11:15 says, "indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is a heavenly one."

Abram's faith was patient and endured great hardships because they believed God had something better. They had no desire to go back to Ur, but did long for Heaven.

The Lying Half Truth (12:11-16)

In verses 11 to 13, Abram tells Sarai to acknowledge him as his brother. This is because during then, it was a time where man with physical superiority if they fancied a beautiful woman, could just snatch her and kill her husband. At 65, Sarah was still young and attractive, being only half her age (she died at 127). The patriarchs lived long. Abram lived till 175. 

To protect himself, he asked Sarai to identify herself as his sister. This is a lying half true as they shared the same father, but different mothers thus making her his half-sister and not truly his sister.

However, a half truth is still a lie as the Egyptians still took Sarah away to Pharoah. Abram did not tell the more important other half of the truth that she was his wife.

  

Do we tell half truths and neglect the other more important half?

I serve God. But only when its convenient for me.

I offer. But only when I have excess money.

God is love. But God is also a God who judges.

Jesus saves. But His salvation will bear forth repentance and holy living for Him.

Abram's Attempted Self Protection and Failure to Protect his wife (12:17)

The separation of Abram and Sarai was critical enough for the Lord to personally intervene (17). Abram used this ruse to protect himself. (13, "that I may live") apparently without too much thought being given to Sarai. But God's reaction focused upon the protection of Sarai.

Through God's protection, Pharaoh escorted him away with his wife and all that belonged to him. The exit would probably have the servants talking about it amongst themselves with some loss to Abram's integrity and reputation in their eyes which perhaps led to quarrels between Abram and Lot's servants.

Abraham's Faith and Worship

God Reassures Abram in spite of Opposition (Gen 12:6-7)

Gen 12:6-9 tells us of Abram’s journey from out of Haran. He traveled as far as Shechem. It was about 15 miles west of the Jordan and 30 miles north of Jerusalem.

The Canaanites were in the land there which inevitably Abram would have been threatened by their occupation of the land. However God in verse 7 appeared to him to boost his faith and re-assuring him that He will give this land to his offspring. The seeds of divine truth were to be sown there for the benefit of all man kind. It was chosen as the most appropriate land for the coming of divine revelation and salvation for the world. 

The Response of Abram - Confession of Faith and Public Worship (12:7)

In a response of thanksgiving, Abram built an altar to the Lord. Abram made an open confession of his faith and established worship of the true God. This was the first place of worship ever erected in the Promised Land.

Moses was writing approximately 700 years after Abram entered the land. The Canaanites were soon to be opponents of Israel as they entered Canaan. Moses wrote this to encourage both himself, and the Israelites in the Lord.

It is Worth It!

When God calls for our obedience, He does not just leave us alone or as a traveller in the desert fending for himself. He will constantly encourage us, reassuring us the worthiness of reaching the heavenly goal, comfort us when we are down, and reminding us that we have not treaded down the wrong path.

Knowing the Importance of Worship and Thanksgiving (12:8)

In verse 8, he continued towards Bethel and pitched his tent. Again he built an altar and called on the name of the Lord. This is the second time Abram built an altar. He will continue to build two more later in Hebron and Mt. Moriah. Why did Abram build an altar? He knew the important of worship and thanksgiving to God. We might be involved in fellowship, prayer meeting, witnessing, but worship is an important time where we place all our attention on God.

I have seen people smsing, facebooking, using their handphones during worship. Some sleep. Some are too lazy to bring their bibles. Some sit there but are not actually attentive. In other words, being DISTRACTED. Let’s not do that. Jesus tells us to worship in truth and in spirit. What does that mean?

Worship in truth means we worship according to God’s truth. We preach the truth in worship, sing hymns that convict us of God’s truth in worship, the entire atmosphere helps infiltrate God’s truth into our mind, emotional and conviction.

Worship in spirit means we do not just worship in dead truth alone, but yet in truth, and also in a lively manner that involves our total selves to focus on God. It does not mean we jump around like a rock concert. Is that true liveliness? We can be lively, yet mindful of the respectfulness to maintain before our great Lord.

So let us not be distracted during worship. Treat worship as important. Be ready to worship. Actively worship. Live out your worship.

The Faith and Obedience of Abram The Faith and Obedience of Abram

The Faith and Obedience of Abram

In Gen 12:1-5, we see God calling Abram out of the idolatrous land of Haran and to enter the land which God Himself will show and give. His call does not come without direction or purpose. Though the exact when and where is not revealed to Abram, yet God promises to him in verses 2 and 3 that God will bless him

•      into a great nation,
•      his name will be great and be a blessing,
•      and all peoples will be blessed through him.

Heb 11:1 tells that faith is being confident in what we hope for and assured about what we do not see. As I was watching X-Men: United, Night Crawler himself a devout Christian said, “I pity the humans, because they believe only in what they see.”

Heb 11: 8,9 says that by faith, Abram obeyed God’s call even though he did not know where he was going. He made his home in a foreign land as a stranger. He lived in tents. Why could he do all this?

The answer lies in verse 10. Because Abram was looking forward to a city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

That reminds us today that though we can’t see God, but by faith, we obey His words in our lives even though it may costs us a price, like Abram having to leave Haran. But obedience is leaving something for a better thing found in God. We can look forward to a heavenly city and being praised as a good and faithful slave.

The Depravity of Man

The Depravity of Man (Gen 3:8-13)

What are the marks of fallen man?

1. We will hid from God. Just as Adam and Eve heard the sound of God after they sinned, they became afraid and tried to hide, man today hides from God as well. 

How does man hide from God today?

a. By not acknowledging His existence. Man professes, there is no God!

b. By re-defining Him according to man's standards. Man professes, God wants me to succeed, God is happy with my depraved life and doesn't need me to repent or change my life whatsoever according to His Word. 90% of man believe in God. But the God they believe in is their own definition of God. We need to know the God as revealed in the bible.

Are we hiding from God today?

2. We will not repent. We will find excuses and profess that they are not sinners. We will shift the blame. "Eve gave the fruit to me, the serpent deceived me."Man says, "I should indulge in sexual behavior because i am made like an animal." Man says, i do not have sin. I only have an illness of gambling addiction or sexual addiction. 

Are we attempting to repent today?

3. We blame God. Just as Adam blamed God by accusing Him of creating Eve who tempted, we blame God too for evil in the world. We blame God for suffering. We blame Him for almost anything. But we have to remember, He is absolute sovereign, and perfectly good.

Are we still blaming Him today?

On Guard Against the Devil's Deception (1) - Questioning

Be on guard against the deception of the Devil.

Satan will replace the period in God's command with a question mark. Replace a black with grey. Did God really say that you cannot...?

Did God really say that we cannot have other gods or have other priorities occupying more of our time than to Him? Today, many think having several gods is insurance. Many think career, family, should come before God, (not to say they are not important!) Are we deceived?

Did God really say that we have to spare one day away from work for Him? Isn't it alright? I don't have to conscienously plan time for Him?

Did God really say that we have to take care of our parents? Can't we just leave them on their own, leave them in a old folks home?

Did God really say that we cannot hate others? Can't we gossip abt them? 

Did God really say that we cannot see pornography or men's magazines?

Did God really say that we cannot steal intellectual property?

Did God really say that we cannot covet for more riches, assets?

The Devil's deception continues today and at an even more alarming phase. Be on guard against it.

Why did God plant the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden?

Why did God plant the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden? Could not He have just not planted it there and let Adam and Eve eat from any tree? Or why did God forbid Adam/Eve in the first place?

I think its just a simple answer. True obedience. Without a choice, man can never exercise true obedience. With a choice, if man chooses to obey God rather than to give in to temptation, that is true obedience.

Just as we know that a child is truly obedient to his father when he chooses to do his homework on time rather than continue watching tv.

Just as one makes the choice not to click on the link to a pornographic website for fear of committing adultery. Just as one makes the choice not to utter/post senseless idle words for fear of losing a Christian testimony. Just as one makes the choice not to gossip behind the backs of others for fear of spreading false lies.

True obedience comes not in man having no choices to make, true obedience comes in man knowing and being exposed to temptation, yet still chooses the God favoring choice.

Let's learn the example of Jesus.

When Adam and Eve gave into their lusts and temptation and ate the fruit, Jesus though having fasted for 40 days and nights, was hungry, hung on and obeyed the Word of God, "Man shall not live on bread alone."(Matt 4:4)

When Eve were doubting God's perfect goodness and sovereignty that He withheld something good from them, Jesus trusted absolutely upon His Father and did not put Him to the test. (Matt 4:7)

When Eve lusted to be wise, to know good and evil, and to be like God, Jesus refused all splendor, riches and worshiped the Father with a servant's heart. (Matt 4:10)

How can we strive to obey God better?
1. To hold on to the Word of God
2. To trust in God absolutely
3. To worship Him only with a servant's heart.

Learning from Abraham

Abraham's faith is manifested most at three points.

1. When he obeyed the command of God, not knowing where he would go next, but still departed from his home of Ur to the land God promised him.

Would we leave our comfort zone for more service to God, to obey Him? As we examine our lives, how can we stretch our boundaries, our time, our gifts, for better service to God?

2. When he continued to believe in God's promise that God would give them a son even though Abraham and Sarah were already in old age.

Are you praying for something, waiting for God to answer? As long as it's in God's will, persevere on. Don't lose faith.

3. When he obeyed God's command to sacrifice his son Issac whom he had awaited decades for. But Abraham was still willing to do so for he had faith that God would resurrect Issac.

Would we give up something we love and adore for God? What is the one thing we cherish most? Are we willing if asked to, to give it up for God?

Learning points:
1. True Faith is one of obedience to God

2. Don't solve problems with ways contrary to biblical principles. Ishmael whom Abraham bore with Hagar brought about many problems even till today.

3. That whatever it is we experience, be it good for bad, in Christ, God has planned it for our good.

What does it mean to glorify God and enjoy Him?

What does it mean to glorify God and enjoy Him?

We have to answer this question as the Westminster catechism claims this as the chief end of man. The purpose of man’s life. We have already answered the question of where we have come from. That is, the origins of man. Now the next question, what is our purpose in life?

I have come across many abstract answers, but i realized that the answer from the bible is clear and simple. In fact, it fills the entire bible. It would help if we first we answer the question. What’s our relationship with Him?

Romans 8:14-15 “All those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, Abba, Father!”

Galatians 4:6-7 “And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father! So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.”

Our relationship with Him is not just God and follower. It is much more intimate. We, by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, can address God as Abba, Father! Abba denotes a very intimate term, similar to Daddy. The way Jesus recognize His Father, this recognition is placed in our hearts for us to similarly address God as Father. In short, He is our heavenly Father.

Having established that relationship, I think its easy to know how to glorify Him and enjoy Him.
Put in a simpler manner, how do you glorify your earthly father (dad) and enjoy him?

Glorifying God

We glorify our fathers by obeying them. By loving them. By looking up to them. By honoring them, exalting them, being thankful to them for their upbringing, not bringing shame to their name with our own foolish actions, and basically everything we do, we do it in consideration for them.

The same goes for our Heavenly Father to glorify Him. How you glorify your earthly father, you glorify your Heavenly Father. Of course our earthly father might fall short in certain areas. But do we ourselves who have become fathers fall short? Yet we still try to glorify them. What more a perfect, holy, righteous, all loving, all merciful Heavenly Father?

Enjoying God

Next, how do we enjoy God? The same way we enjoy our earthly fathers, only that this joy we enjoy in our Heavenly Fathers far surpasses the joy we have in our earthly fathers in time, space and nature. I love my earthly father. In fact, Ephesians 6:1-3 teaches us to both obey and honor our parents. But above that, we are to love our Heavenly Father more than our earthly father.

We enjoy our earthly father’s presence with us even without materials. He protects us, we know we are safe with him, we have peace. He loves us, provides for us, sacrifices for us.

What more we can enjoy our Heavenly Father’s presence with us, His peace with us through the abolishing of His wrath upon us by the blood of Christ, again His love for us by sending Christ to die for us, His providence for us always giving us our daily bread, His protection for us through His Word, His church, leading us away from evil, from temptation, and His future reward for us.

I hope that the above has helped you in understanding what it means to glorify and enjoy God as the utmost purpose of our lives.

Psalm 86:12-13 “I will praise you with all my heart, Lord my God, and will honor your name forever. For your faithful love for me is great, and you deliver my life from the depths of Sheol.”