3 of Week 2 The Patriarchs

September 12, 2008
 
Day 3 of Week 2
No Longer Sarai
 
Today's Treasure: Genesis 17: 15
"God also said to Abraham, 'As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah.' "
 
Can you imagine God speaking a new name for you as His chosen child to mother a nation? It makes my imagination race with all of the excitement that would dra pe my body in such a moment. Not only did God give her a new name, but He named her "princess"! Isn't that what all women desire to be in the eyes of their father? Imagine, being named a princess by our God Most High! Don't you just love that God not only blessed Abraham as the patriarch of his family, but also his wife. God did not overlook the woman in the family, as so many cultures do. God proves over and over His love and respect for women is just as deep as it is for men. I must wonder if God felt it imperative to change Sarai's name because it was associated with the moon god that she once served. She was now living under covenant with the one true God, and He wanted to claim her as His own!!  
Read Genesis 17: 15 – 27. Recall from our previous lesson God's forthright commandment to Abraham and his descendants concerning the covenant sign of circumcision. How quickly did Abraham obey God according to verse 23?
Everyone in the household of Abraham was circumcised that day
 
Now, describe the blessings specifically spoken over Sarah's life.
She would give birth to a son from her own body, God blessed her as the mother of nations and kings would come from her.
 
What were Abraham's responses to God's direction?
He fell face down
He all laughed at the thought of becoming parents at 100 years old and 90 years old
 
What did God promise He'd do for Ishmael?
God promised to bless him, make him fertile and increase his descendants. Ishmael would20father 12 princes and God would make him a great nation. It is important to note here that Ishmael is considered the father of the Arab nation. He is very important in the Islamic faith. Isaac is considered the father of the Jewish people because he is the heir of Abraham. These people are still at constant odds today. God's word in Genesis holds true today!
 
God made it very clear in scripture that He would bless Ishmael; however, the covenant made between Abraham and God would be fulfilled only through Isaac. Isaac was born to Abraham and Sarah. God spoke the name Isaac to Abraham, and it means "he laughs".
 
 
Name several kinds of emotions we use laughter to express or even mask
Happiness,=2 0excitement, joy, surprise, embarrassment 
 
What do you think was behind Abraham's laughter in Genesis 17: 17?
He laughed at the idea of having a baby at their ages
I am sure the laughter was from shock, surprise, amazement and doubt
 
Beth suggests that Abraham's laughter may have been why God approached him with the news of Sarah rather than going directly to Sarah. We know that it wasn't that God preferred to speak with men because of his conversation with Hagar. We also know that He was not going directly to Sarah to punish her for her mistake because He was still approaching Abraham even though he made his fair share of mistakes. Now that Ishmael was born as an heir to Abraham, Abraham knew that it was not him that had stopped his family from growing all of these years. It was Sarah that was the proble m. Beth suggests that Abraham probably began to view Sarah as the obstacle in God's way of fulfilling His covenant. Therefore, God needed to speak directly to Abraham to make him understand that he was assuming the facts of the situation from a human viewpoint. God wanted Abraham to view Sarah as the princess He would use to fulfill His covenant.
 
Who or what do you tend to believe holds up God's full blessing to you?
This is a very personal question. So, I am going to refrain from answering and leave this one up to you guys!!!
List as many of the "uns" involved as you can.
 
What was to be Sarah's connection to royalty (Genesis 17: 15 – 16)
Kings would come from her 
 
Please write Genesis 17: 15 in the space below
"As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah I will bless her."