'Abraham and Sarah, Study in Prayers of the Bible, Sun/Wed Series,, Post 3B, April 15, 2018

Continuing here in 'Sanctuary' this month, from Wednesday, April 4, 2018, Sunday, April 8, 2018, let us continue with our focus on 'Prayers in the Morning', 'Praises in the Evening'.  Enjoy every opportunity to be 'focused' when in the presence of the Lord.  Amen. Amen.  

So, let's see how people prayed in the past, and how the Good Lord heard and answered their prayers.  Why?  Simply because God does not change.  What we see, what is revealed to us in the Bible, is what can  happen for each of us.  God wants us to 'know' that 'He is', and, that 'He is there to hear', and 'to answer our prayers'.
​[Psalm 110:4; Malachi 3:6; 1 Corinthians 10:6; Hebrews 1:12]   audio-bible.com/bible/bible.htlm 

Pray - To talk with God, and, to listen to God talk to us.  Be prepared 'to hear and to obey'.  [James 1:19-25]

POST 1, JONAH, APRIL 4, 2018, POST 2, 'Eve'. APRIL 8, 2018. Continuing today, Wednesday, April 11, 2018, Sunday, April 15, 2018, and Wednesday, April 18, 2018 POSTS 3A-B-C, let us look over a few posts at Abraham and Sarah, and God's promise to them about a 'son', even in their old age,  Then, we will also check out God's answered prayer to another older couple, Elisabeth and Zachariah.  For you see, God has definitive plans for each child born, and, nothing is impossible with God. [Genesis 18:14]  Amen. Amen.  ​

Continuing as you have had the time to read Genesis 1-22, we shall continue as we get to Genesis Chapter 16.  We see Abram and Sarai taking the 'matter' of 'producing' the 'promised child' by 'the customs of the times'.  Sarai believed that the LORD had 'restrained' her from having children and offered Abram her Egyptian maid as a 'surrogate' so that she could then adopt the child as her own, and as the 'promised heir from Abram's own body'.  Such were the traditions at the time. And, Abram, at the age of 86 years of age,  'heeded the voice of Sarai'. [Sounds like Adam, doesn't it?]  I will let you read how 'things went down' from there, found at Genesis 16:3-15, the conception and birth of ISMAEL'.  In a nutshell, so went the 'harmony' in the home of Abram and Sarah. BUT GOD WAITED. MAN'S 'MISTAKES' DO NOT THWART THE PLANS OF THE ALMIGHTY.  BUT, THE BIRTH OF THE 'PROMISED CHILD' WAS 'DELAYED FOR THIRTEEN YEARS.  By the age of 13 years, Ismael was 'considered' - a 'man' in those times, as well as today in some cultures.  We can all, at anytime, take what is God's plan to produce through us, our own ways.  But, as with Abram and Sarai, this can cause either delays in God's plan, or, we can miss God's plan, altogether.  Remember, He is the One who opens the door, and no one can close it, but, closes the door, and no one can open it. [Revelation 3:7] 

In Chapter 17, after another 12 years had passed, the LORD appeared to Abram when he was 100 years of age and Sarai was around 90 years of age. God renews the covenant and promises that Sarai/Sarah will have a child of Abram/Abraham, in a year, and Ismael will be recognized, but, the promise will come to pass through the child God named - Isaac.  Their names were changed from Abram to Abraham and from Sarai to Sarah because they would be the 'father of many nations' and the 'mother of many nations', respectively.

Isaac is born of Sarah, as the LORD had said, notwithstanding some 'unbelief' and 'laughter' on both their parts. Hagar and Ishmael departs, as recorded at Genesis 18, 21.  Then, Abraham's faith was tested in Chapter 22.  When the LORD called upon Abraham to sacrifice his one and only son, Abraham, in faith, prepared to kill Issac, being stopped at the last minute by 'the Angel of the Lord'.  God provided a ram instead.  God saw that Abraham would put Him first, and that Abraham believed and trusted that even if Isaac were killed, God would in some manner raise him, that Abraham would have seed through which the promise would be performed. 

​A SIDE NOTE.  This is a 'pre-view' of how God the Father would send Jesus, God the Son, to die for the sins of humanity in due season. Additionally, God will try our faith. [Job 23:10; Psalms 7:9; 26:2;139:23; Jeremiah 20:12; Hebrews 12] 

These two people, 'lived by faith', from the time they left the land of Ur, through all their roving, to the end of their lives.  They were constantly 'in communion with' and 'obedient to' the LORD. Everything Abraham did was 'worship', ever 'in service to the LORD'.  Though he slipped at times, for he was human, he always re-grouped, repented, and continued in 'faith in the LORD'.  He was prepared by the circumstances he went through in his life and loved God so, that he was prepared to 'sacrifice' as God said, 'Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.' [This was similar to the first call to Abram recorded at Genesis 12:1-3.  There was no mistaking that it was God.] 

He and Sarah had mutual respect and committed love for each other. When Hagar showed disrespect to Sarah, Abraham left the matter in Sarah's hands, as she was her servant.  He would not allow the 'concubine' to usurp his 'wife'.  He communicated with her, and she voiced her opinions, which he considered.  When she told him to send away Hagar and Ismael, that Ismael would not share the inheritance, this was in accordance with the Lord's plans.  It seemed harsh, but, neither Eliezar, the slave; nor Ismael, the surrogate's child; were the intended 'seed' of Abraham the LORD was planning for - the Jewish People, through whom He would send His One and Only Begotten Son, Jesus the Christ, the 'Promised Seed of the Woman'. [Genesis 3:15 ;Matthew 1:1-17; Galatians 4:21-31]

Again, the Good Lord's plans cannot be thwarted by the 'works' of man in his flesh. And the 'works of the flesh' can never please God.  God chose Abraham and over the events in his life, prepared Abraham to be a godly man, to pass on the faith to Isaac, and Isaac to Jacob and the Patriarchs down to David and on, for the sake of the genealogy of - Jesus Christ.  God was working His Purpose.

And, it all started when an 'unknown' 'idolater', pagan man, of Ur of the Chaldeans 'heard' and answered the call of the One True God, leaving all the pagan gods behind.  And, his life was never the same!

How about you?  Your children?  God has plans for you, for them.  Have you carefully considered this 'truth'?   May the eyes of your understanding be opened. Amen. Amen. [2 Timothy 2:7]

One final post in this series will post on April 18, 2018, 'What it means in the 21st Century for You, For Me?' Then, we will do a post or two looking at another couple thinking that they were over the years of 'child-bearing' by nature,  Zechariah and Elisabeth.  Let me hear from you if you have any questions.  Thank you for continuing to stop by my 'house in Jesus Christ.  Amen. Amen. 
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