Sunday Sermons

As we are nearing the end of the story of Abraham, this week we read of the death of Sarah, his wife. The journey of Abraham and Sarah began back in chapter 12, and since then we’ve seen quite the drama unfold as God is working in them and through them to fulfill His promises. Now as we come to the end, we find that even in death, God’s promises are still being fulfilled. For the first time, Abraham, who’s been a wandering nomad with no land to his name, purchases a plot of land in Hebron to bury his wife. In Sarah’s death, Abraham takes possession of a small piece of the promised land. But this is only the beginning. God will demonstrate again through the offspring of Abraham that death is not the end of promise, but the way to promise.

In the passage this week, God puts Abraham’s faith to the test. Everything we’ve seen Abraham go through, all his failures and successes, have finally brought him to this point. His son Isaac, the child of promise, has been born. And in a dramatic twist, God tells Abraham to take the son that he loves up to the mountain and sacrifice him. It’s a horrifying request, one that none of us could imagine hearing from God, let alone obeying. But Abraham, in perfect faith, responds to God with the simple phrase, “Here I am,” and does what God asks of him. While this might seem surprising, if we consider everything that Abraham has been through with God in the last ten chapters, we understand that Abraham has complete faith that God will provide the sacrifice. God is always faithful to provide for his people. And nowhere is that made more clear to us than in the atoning sacrifice of the provisional Lamb of God, his only begotten son, Jesus.

This week in the story of Abraham, the Lord makes good on His promise, and Sarah has a son, Isaac. It’s the fulfillment of a promise that first began back in chapter 12, when God said He would make Abraham into a great nation. That promise was then clarified in chapter 15, when God promised Abraham that his very own son would be his heir and would lead to innumerable offspring. Finally, in chapter 17, God specifies that it would be through a son born to Sarah that His “everlasting covenant” would be established. And now, as she’s approaching 100 years old, the promise is fulfilled and a son is born. The promise that was once doubted as impossible, God has made good on. But this chapter also shows God making good on his promise to Ishmael, Abraham’s son through Hagar. And it shows God making good on his promise to bless the nations, as Abraham enters a friendly covenant with Abimelech. The seed of God’s everlasting promise has begun to grow, but only in Christ will that promise find it’s ultimate fulfillment.

In our passage this week, after witnessing the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham and Sarah leave their home by the oaks of Mamre to journey south, sojourning in Gerar. Afraid for his life, Abraham once again puts Sarah's life at risk by calling her a sister. As a result Abimelech, the king of Gerar, takes Sarah as a wife. However, God is not about to let the parentage of the promised son, Isaac, be jeopardized. So God powerfully intervenes to stop Abimelech and protect Sarah. Yet the response we see from the king and his people is completely unexpected, as they repent in fear of God. And while Abraham has yet again broken the covenant of faith with God, God has in turn blessed Abraham through his failure. This is the same God that would one day nail our failure to the cross, demonstrating the guarantee of His grace to the people of His promise.

The passage this week is a big one as we read the story of God’s judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah. God comes to visit Abraham in the form of a man along with two angels. They are on their way to the cities of the valley, Sodom and Gomorrah, to “see whether [the people] have done altogether according to the outcry that has come.” God has seen the injustice of the world. He knows the abuse and wickedness of the hearts of men. And so He plans to bring destruction upon them. But Abraham has a question? What if there are fifty righteous in the city? What if there are ten? Will God still destroy them? He is the righteous Judge of all the earth. How far does the mercy of God go? Consider these questions as you read and study the passage this week. Does God’s mercy extend to you?

This week in the story of Abraham, thirteen years have passed since the misstep with Hagar in chapter 16. While it seemed like Abram had yet again put the covenant and God's plan in jeopardy, here God makes clear He is not about to let human unfaithfulness derail His plan to bless the world through Abram. In fact, God makes a point not just to renew His covenant, but to expand it. He renames him Abraham and calls him to walk in faith and participate in the everlasting covenant through the new sign of circumcision. Why would God expand the promise? He is teaching Abraham that He is God Almighty. The bigger God reveals Himself to be through His promises, the bigger Abraham's faith will become. Which is true for us as well. The bigger our God, the bigger our faith.

What is the distance between us and God? This is the question on the mind of the writer of this psalm, as they ask in verse 5, “Who is like the Lord our God?” Imagine the whole universe, every star and planet, every atom and molecule. God reigns over it all and sees it all from His throne above the heavens. There is no one like our God. He is beyond comparison. And yet He is not distant. He is not without compassion. As the psalmist says, He cares for the poor and needy. He blesses the childless with children and a home. Our great God is also a good God. Therefore let us praise His name “from this time forth and forevermore!”

This week in the life of Abraham we read a story that, while discouraging as far as human faith is concerned, it is in fact greatly encouraging regarding God’s faithfulness. Still without an heir, Abram’s wife, Sarai, tells her husband to take her servant Hagar as a wife, that she might bear him an heir through whom God’s promise might be fulfilled. How often is this the case that we take matters into our own hands rather than trust God and His ways? While this sinful error results in broken relationships and rejection, God sees it all and has compassion on Hagar. And now through this story we are able to see the loving character of God.

In our passage for this week, Abram (who has not yet been named Abraham) has an intimate encounter with God Most High. In a conversation with God, Abram asks about the fulfillment of the promises God had made to give him lots of offspring and land. Up until this point he didn’t have any children, and he didn’t own any land. Would God come through and fulfill these promises? Abram doesn’t seem too sure. But rather than hide his doubt, he was honest with God, and spoke with him as a friend. As you read this chapter, reflect on how you deal with your doubts when it comes to God’s promises. How do you approach God with your questions about the future? How has God responded? And let’s remember that “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).

In our passage for this week, Abram makes a daring rescue of his nephew Lot, who was taken captive after a great battle between many kings. Upon his victorious return, Abram is met by another king, one of peace and righteousness, named Melchizedek, who we are told is “priest of God Most High”. This mysterious priestly king then confers on Abram a blessing, which serves as a reminder of God’s power to save. Abram receives this blessing and makes clear his allegiance to God. As you read and study this passage, consider for yourself how your life demonstrates your allegiance. When the world offers you the chance to be the king of your own life, do you accept that gift? Or do you humble yourself before the God who promises so much more?