Intro:
1. One wrote, "Life on planet earth has its ups and downs; its pleasures and pains. This is illustrated clearly in Gen. 21. Sarah giving birth to Isaac was a tremendous high; but then, a cloud settled over the household, as Sarah watched Ishmael mock her son. As a result she insisted that he be removed. Abraham took much joy from Ishamel; thus experienced much grief at Sarah's request."
2. Life is full of ups and downs - and I have learned that when we are Down, we think that we will never be up again; and when were Up, we think we will never again be down. Truth is both the Pessimist, who thinks life is all gloom and doom is just as wrong as the Optimist, who thinks life is just one thrill after another.
"A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance;" Ecclesiastes 3:4
3. The Ups and Downs of Life.
Trans: Gen. 21
I. FIRST, WE HAVE THE UP OF FULFILLED PROPHECY. 21:1-
A. God's promises often require our Patience. 1
And the LORD visited Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah as He had spoken - they had waited some 25 years for this promise to be fulfilled.
"12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. 13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, 14 saying, "Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you." 15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise." Hebrews 6:12-15
"35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:" Hebrews 10:35-36
Abraham has now reached the Century mark! He is 100 years old and Sarah is 90.
A common sight in America's Southwest desert is the century plant. It's unique. The century plant (Agave Americana) thrives in rocky, mountainous, desert sites. It has dramatic, splayed leaves that grow up to a foot wide. The plant can reach twelve feet in diameter. But what makes the century plant unusual, as its name suggests, is its long reproduction cycle. For twenty or thirty years (no, not a literal one hundred years), the six-foot-tall plant stands the same height and puts out no flowers. Then one year, without warning, a new bud sprouts. The bud, which resembles a tree-trunk-size asparagus spear, shoots into the sky at a fantastic rate of seven inches per day and reaches an eventual height of twenty to forty feet. Then it crowns itself with several clumps of yellowish blossoms that last up to three weeks.
This century old man was been at a stand still for 25 years - the wam! He is bearing the fruit that God had promised him...
B. The Promise required God's Power. 2
For Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him - this required supernatural power.
God promises the lost man He can be saved - but only God's power can save him...
God has promises the believer that he will be transformed into the image of Christ - but only God's Spirit can do that...
God promised a rapture, but we cannot make ourselves meet Him in the clouds....
Trans:"20 No unbelief or distrust made him waver (doubtingly question) concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God, 21 Fully satisfied and assured that God was able and mighty to keep His word and to do what He had promised." Romans 4:20-21 (AMP)
We don't have to try an figure out how can is going to keep His promises - we need to just trust Him! What would have happened had Moses tried to figure out what was needed to accomplish God’s command? Moses led the people of Israel into the desert…They had to be fed, and feeding 3–1/2 million people required a lot of food.
According to the U. S. Army’s Quartermaster General, Moses needed 1500 tons of food a day, filling two freight trains, each a mile long. Just for cooking this took 4000 tons of firewood and a few more freight trains, each a mile long and this is only for one day (not to mention for keeping warm, and if anyone tells you it doesn’t get cold in the desert don’t believe them!). They were for forty YEARS in transit!!!
Let’s not forget about water, shall we? If they only had enough to drink and wash a few dishes (no bathing?!), it took 11,000,000 gallons EACH DAY--enough to fill a train of tanker cars 1800 miles long. Think about this; every time they camped at the end of the day, a camp ground the size of Rhode Island was required, or 750 square miles. Do you think that Moses sat down and figured out the logistics of what God told him to do before he set out from Egypt? No, he had faith in God ability to take care of everything. Let us have courage, we have the very same God!
C. God's Providence. 2b
...at the set time of which God had spoken to him - who set time? God's! God has a time-table and it usually is slower then ours.
Somebody said, "He may be slow, but He's alway on time!"
Bottom-line - we must adjust our cadance and calander to God providential time frame.
Butler, "God always moves at a deliberate pace. He never rushes around in a panic. His pace is according to His "set" time. This means He is always on time, does things at the right time, the best time."
D. God's Precepts are follow obediently. 3-4
1. The Calling of his name. 3
And Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him--whom Sarah bore to him--Isaac - this is what God had told Abraham to name the baby. Gen. 17:9
2. The Circumcision of Isaac. 4
Then Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him - He had told them to circumcise their children. Gen. 17
Trans: Life is so incrediably simple - just obey God!
John Galbraith, tells a true story about Ken Galbraith's family housekeeper, Emily Wilson. It has been a tiring day and he told Emily to hold all phone calls while he took a nap. Shortly after, President Lyndon Johnson called from the White House. He said, "Get me Ken Galbraith. This is Lyndon Johnson." She said, "He is sleeping, Mr. President. He said not to distrub him." He said, "Well wake him up. I want to talk to him." Emily said, "No, Mr President. I work for him, not you." He said, "When I called the President back he could scarcely control his pleasure. He said, "Tell that woman I want her here in the White House."
God is pleased when we understand who we work for - who we obey supremely over all.
E. God's Plan ultimately Produces ecstasy. 5-7
5 Now Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. 6 And Sarah said, "God has made me laugh, and all who hear will laugh with me." 7 She also said, "Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? For I have borne him a son in his old age." - they are delighted!
Trans: They are Up! Riding high! When God's prophet word is fulfilled all believers will be ecstaic! When we caught up in the air, transformed into a glorified by; no more sin nature; no more down days; intimate uninterrupted fellowship with God; in a new Jerusalem we will be jumping up and down with sheer joy.
Reminds me of old Ebenezer Scrooge. Remember that old tightwad who was visited by three soul-shaking visitors. The result is he is changed! He bounds out of the house laughing, jumping, and shouting! He cries out: "I don't know what to do, I am as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a schoolboy, I am a giddy as a drunken man!"
Dickens comments, "Really, for a man who had been out of practice for so many years it was a splendid laugh, a most illustrious laugh, the father of a long line of laughts.
II. FINALLY, THE DOWN, FULL-FLEDGED PROBLEMS. 21:8-34
A. Difficulty with Ishamael. 8-13
1. The Feast. 8
So the child grew and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the same day that Isaac was weaned - mothers usually nursed childred for 3 years and then was turned over to the father for trainning.
2. The Friction. 9
And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, scoffing - Ishmael is about 15 years old, and he was mocking Isaac.
Paul uses this as an illustration of how the lost persecute the saved. "28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. 29 But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now." Galatians 4:28-29
Ishmael had been the center of attentions for years and he was no doubt jealous of Isaac taking center stage. Probably felt toward Isaac, Joseph's brother's felt toward him.
3. The Fierce response. 10
10 Therefore she said to Abraham, "Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, namely with Isaac. - it is a strong word. It is used of Adam and Eve being expelled out of the garden; of Cain being thrown out to be a fugative after killing Abel;
4. The Frustration of Abraham. 11
And the matter was very displeasing in Abraham's sight because of his son - have to keep in mind that Abraham had been training his son for some 15 years. They had no doubt grown very close. This is one of those Down days for Abraham...
It would amount to a death in the family.
5. The Final authority speak to Abraham. 12-13
12 But God said to Abraham, "Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called. 13 Yet I will also make a nation of the son of the bondwoman, because he is your seed." - Abraham is responding emotionally instead of Biblically.
The focus is on the promised-seed in which the Messiah would come! He is more important in the plan of God than any other person.
Peter made the same mistake when the Messiah did show up - He responded emotionally instead of Biblically, which focused on God's Plan for the Messiah to be crucified.
"21 From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. 22 Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!" 23 But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men." Matthew 16:21-23
Trans: This still was a down day for Abraham! He loved Ishmael and was grieved by his departure.
B. Difficulty with Hagar. 14-21
1. Her Flight. 14
14 So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water; and putting it on her shoulder, he gave it and the boy to Hagar, and sent her away. Then she departed and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba - Abraham's heart went out to her, he knew what it was like "going not knowing where you are going."
Hagar didn't even have a clue where to go or what to do...
Trans:I have had that experience on several occassion. While I was still in High School, I left home. I had no idea where to go or what to do; Years later, when I got out of the Military, it was the same thing - I had no clue what I was going to do or where I was going to go.
2. Her Plight. 15-16
15 And the water in the skin was used up, and she placed the boy under one of the shrubs. 16 Then she went and sat down across from him at a distance of about a bowshot; for she said to herself, "Let me not see the death of the boy." So she sat opposite him, and lifted her voice and wept - I would say this was a down day for Abraham and Hagar, not to mention Ishmael.
Think of it: (1) She lost her Purpose - her purpose was to be a faithful servant in Abraham's house; (2) She lost all her Provisions - she doesnt have enough food and water to meet their basic needs; (3) She thought she was about to lose her Prized possession - her only son; She had lost everything - she is down, and she doesnt believe that she will ever be up again...
We cannot help but think of Job, he also lost everything that was dear to him.
Don Moen was awakened in the middle of the night. His mother-in-law called to tell him that his wife's sister and her husband and their sons were in a car accident - their 8 yrs old boy Jeremy was killed instantly and the others seriously injured. He was grieved and felt so helpless - but through gave him the song "God Will make a Way." "God will make a way when there seems to be no way. He works in ways we cannot see. He will make a way for me.He will be my guide; hold me closely to his side. With love and strength for each new day, he will make a way."
3. Her Insight. 17-19
a. It came from God's Word. 17-18
- the sad things is that she had ALREADY had a word from God on this!
Here is what God had already said:
"10 Then the Angel of the LORD said to her, "I will multiply your descendants exceedingly, so that they shall not be counted for multitude." 11 And the Angel of the LORD said to her: "Behold, you are with child, And you shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, Because the LORD has heard your affliction. 12 He shall be a wild man; His hand shall be against every man, And every man's hand against him. And he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren." Genesis 16:10-12
That promise has not yet been fulfilled therefore Ishmael cannot yet die!
If we would just believe God our problems would be over. Take Jacob, he had heard about God's promise to his son Joseph, about him destined to be a great man; any yet when his brother tell him Joseph is dead - he believed them instead of God!
"34 Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth on his waist, and mourned for his son many days. 35 And all his sons and all his daughters arose to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted, and he said, "For I shall go down into the grave to my son in mourning." Thus his father wept for him." Genesis 37:34-35
But Joseph was alive and well - what was Jacob's real problem. He refused to believe God! Is that not our problem also? Rom. 8:28-29 should be sufficient!
Samuel Clark, "A fixed, constant attention to the promises [of God], and a firm belief of them, would prevent anxiety about the concerns of this life. It would keep the mind quiet and composed in every change, and keep up our sinking spirits under the severe troubles of life. Christians deprive themselves of their most solid comforts by their unbelief and forgetfulness of God's promises. For there is no extremity so great, but there are promises suitable to it, and abundantly sufficient for our relief in it."
b. It also came from God's Spirit. 19
Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water, and gave the lad a drink - we not only need the Word of God, we also need the Spirit of God to open our eyes to see God's provisions and promises.
"16 Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven." Matthew 16:16-17
Our prayer should be, "Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from Your law." Psalm 119:18
Spurgeon, "The prayer implies a conscious darkness, a dimness of spiritual vision, a powerlessness to remove that defect, and a full assurance that God can remove it. It shows also that the writer knew that there were vast treasures in the word which he had not yet fully seen, marvels which he had not yet beheld, mysteries which he had scarcely believed. The Scriptures teem with marvels; the Bible is wonder land; it not only relates miracles, but it is itself a world of wonders. Yet what are these to closed eyes? God Himself must reveal revelation to each heart. Scripture needs opening...What perfect precepts, what precious promises, what priceless privileges are neglected by us because we wander among them like blind men among the beauties of nature, and they are to us as a landscape shrouded in darkness!"
4. Her Delight. 20-21
20 So God was with the lad; and he grew and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer. 21 He dwelt in the Wilderness of Paran; and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt - everything worked out great! It always ultimately does for the believer!
Joseph got out of that pit and ended up in the pinnacle in Egypt;
Job was restored and blessed with twice as much when all was said and done;
Live is filled with Ups and Downs - but remember the final situation for the believer will always be on an Up note!
Like when the love sick boy takes the flower - She loves me, she loves me not; she loves me; she loves me not - it always ends up with "he loves me" for the believer!
C. Difficulty with Abimelech. 22-34
1. Abraham's Testimony. 22
And it came to pass at that time that Abimelech and Phichol, the commander of his army, spoke to Abraham, saying, "God is with you in all that you do
2. Abraham's Treaty with Abimelech. 23-24
23 Now therefore, swear to me by God that you will not deal falsely with me, with my offspring, or with my posterity; but that according to the kindness that I have done to you, you will do to me and to the land in which you have dwelt." 24 And Abraham said, "I will swear."
3. Abimelech's servants Treachery. 25-26
25 Then Abraham rebuked Abimelech because of a well of water which Abimelech's servants had seized. 26 And Abimelech said, "I do not know who has done this thing; you did not tell me, nor had I heard of it until today - this is the first Abimelech heard of this.
4. Another Treaty. 27-30
27 So Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and the two of them made a covenant. 28 And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves. 29 Then Abimelech asked Abraham, "What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs which you have set by themselves?" 30 And he said, "You will take these seven ewe lambs from my hand, that they may be my witness that I have dug this well."
5. The Territory. 31-32
31 Therefore he called that place Beersheba, because the two of them swore an oath there. 32 Thus they made a covenant at Beersheba. So Abimelech rose with Phichol, the commander of his army, and they returned to the land of the Philistines
6. The Tranquility. 33-34
33 Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there called on the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God. 34 And Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines many days
Con:
1. The point is that life is full of both Ups and Downs...
2. Years ago the Redskins hired George Allen to coach the team, the hope was that he could turn the team around. They had a great preseason that year and began the season with a string of victories. They were Up...Then they began to lose and everybody blamed the coach and the quarterback Sonny Jurgen. After one defeat he was interviewed. He was asked: "Sonny, don't all of these off-the-wall remarks we write disturb you? Doesn't it make you want to quit when people are throwing things at you from the stands, and you receive hate mail? He gave a big toothless grin and said, "No, not really. I don't want to quit. I've been in this game long enough to know, that every quarterback, spends his time either in the Penthouse or in the outhouse."
If you walk with God long enough you will learn that truth - somedays are diamons and somedays are stones; Sometimes your Up and sometimes your Down - but never forget, the last frame with be a diamon day, a time of being eternally Up!
Johnny Palmer Jr
strugglingThruScriptures.ning.com
