Day 4 of Week 3 The Patriarchs

September 19, 2008
 
Day Four of Week Three
The Eternal God
 
Today's Treasure: Genesis 21: 33
"Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called upon the name of the LORD, the Eternal God."
 
This was, by far, my favorite study of this week! I love being reminded constantly of how much God loves me. O ften I picture myself worshipping God because I stand in awe of who He is, and He is worthy of all of my praise and worship. It is difficult for me to imagine that God loves me even more than I am capable of loving Him because I am so small in the scheme of things.
 
Today's lesson discusses conversation and commitment between Abimelech and Abraham.  
What history have Abimelech and Abraham shared?
Abimelech too Sarah into his house when he thought (was told) that Sarah was Abraham's sister
 
What happened as a result of Abraham's intercession? (Genesis 20: 17 – 18)
God instructed Abraham to intercede for Abimelech, and his household was restored due to Abraham's prayer. God healed Abimelech, his wife and children so they could conceive again. God had sealed their ability to conceive while Sarah was in Abimelech's house to protect His promise of Isaac.
 
Read Genesis 20: 13 and explain its context.
Abraham asked Sarah to show her love for him by telling others he was her brother instead of her husband. He asked her to do this so he would not be killed because his wife was so beautiful and the kings wanted her for themselves.
 
The Hebrew word for this type of love is hesed. It is viewed in the concept of the marriage covenant in this verse. In Genesis 21: 23, it is viewed in the context of an oath and covenant. It is a covenant kindness and loyal love.
What phrase is repeated throughout Psalm 136?
His love endures forever
 
Beth points out that God used the idea of a covenant oath to relate to Abraham because that was a concept that humans understood during this time and culture. Oaths and loyalty were very important in this culture. So, God used a concept familiar to man to express His love. He made covenant with Abraham because He knew Abraham would understand the importance of His love for him through this. God has also expressed hesed to us through the covenant relationship we entered by the blood of Jesus Christ. "The sovereign Most High has pledged His loyal love to us." Now we have been studying for weeks how serious this covenant is to God and the lengths He went to in order to keep His promises. So, this is not something to be taken lightly by any of us!!! Can you even digest a concept that huge? It really takes my breath away !!!
In your own words, explain 2 Timothy 2: 13.
"If we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself."
In my words, even when we don't have faith in God, He remains faithful to us because of the covenant He has made with His creation. He will not be untrue to His promises due to our unfaithfulness.
 
Abimelech's request to Abraham reminds us that God's presence and blessing over our lives give us not only security but also responsibility. Abimelech said to Abraham, "Since God is with you, I request the following of you."
Has someone who doesn't know Christ requested something of you because God seems to be with you? Share an example.
Prayer has been requested of me because others seem to think I have a "direct connection" that they do not have.< style="mso-spacerun: yes"> If I could only make them realize that they have the same connection. I have just made the choice to honor mine and keep it sacred. God desires relationship with each one of us. My prayers are no more important to Him that the atheist who swears he doesn't believe. God is standing there waiting to receive and answer their prayers, just as He is mine!!!
 
If Abraham and Abimelech were to deal rightly and truthfully with one another, all the issues at hand needed to be on the table. What matter did Abraham bring up to Abimelech?
Abimelech's servants had seized the well that Abraham dug
 
It is important to note how important a well was in this culture. Water was everything to people living in this region, and having/not having a well could mean the difference between life and death.
 
What did Abraham give Abimelech in Genesis 21: 28, 30 and why?
Abraham gave him seven ewe lambs as witness that he (Abraham) dug the well.
The number 7 symbolizes completion or perfection in Hebrew.
 
What did Abraham do after Abimelech departed? (Genesis 21: 33)
He planted a tamarisk tree and called upon the name of the LORD, The Eternal God.
 
Have you noticed the role that trees seem to play in Abraham's life? Sue Owensby and I struggle with what in the world all of these trees seem to mean. Sue is much more committed to research than I am. So, I am sure she is delighted to k now that even Beth has come up dry while trying to find the specific meaning behind all of these trees mentioned in Scripture. Beth just decided to assume Abraham is a tree man because the trees provided shade and provision in a harsh landscape.
Read Isaiah 65: 22. What comparison does God make to a tree?
"As the days of a tree, so will be the days of God's people."
Trees live for many, many, many, many (you get the idea) years. So, God is pointing out that His people will endure forever.
 
Read Ecclesiastes 3: 11
"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end."
This verse makes references to time and eternity. What does it say to each?
Time: Everything is beautiful in it time
Eternity: God has set eternity in the hearts of men
Both: We cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end
 
Beth believes this is why few people long for the end of our lives. We have eternity set in our hearts; therefore, we have a resistance to the end of earthly life. We are created to long for eternity with God, but we cannot fathom it within our earthly minds/bodies. I cannot explain this as well as Beth. So, I am going to use her words.
"All references to time in God's Word pertain to created things and, most pointedly, life on Earth. We know that the Trinity have always existed and will always exist. They are olam, eternal. Out of their glorious fellowship they desired to create humans to share in holy relationship. According to His master plan, our eternal God created this thing called time and placed us – indeed all of creation – within it. Here is the intriguing part: though God set us in "time", He set eternity in our hearts. In other words, our bodies are subject to time, but something in our hearts resists the temporal and longs for eternity. Every time we think, surely there is more to life than this; we hear the hint of eternity in our hearts. Every time we learn the cancer has returned and we're willing to go through another treatment, our drive to hang on to life is the hint of eternity in our hearts. Every time our love outlasts our loved one's life, we hear eternity's murmur. Everything in us that cries out in resistance to an end comes from the innate sense that we were meant to be without one. Haven't we all notic ed that something seems wrong and painful about "endings"? We resist them furiously because a longing for "always" is set in our hearts."
 
Surely you have heard hints of eternity from your own heart at one time or another. Share an example.
My answer would certainly be as I fight this battle for my life. I am not ready for it to end because I want to share in the lives of my husband, children, mom and dad, sisters, brother and friends. I long to remain here to share in their love!!!