Jesus in Genesis Part 3

 God appeared again to Abraham and again, this time in Sarah's hearing, promised that Sarah would have a son. Sarah laughed at the idea. In His grace and mercy, God called Sarah out for her unbelief and assured her that He is able to fulfill His promises. 

 The Lord told Abraham what He was going to do with Sodom and the Jordan Valley and why He was going to do it. Abraham interceded on behalf of the people. We see how God views societal sin and what it means to walk in the way of the LORD. 

 In spite of the warning from the angels that Sodom was going to be destroyed because of its wickedness, Lot lingered. In this passage, we talk about the impact of lingering and how we are to avoid lingering. Yet we also see God's grace un saving His people. 

 Immediately prior to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, God gave Abraham the promise that His promise to Abraham would continue through Isaac. We see in Scripture that the promise of Redemption often comes before judgment. 

  Abraham moved to Gerar and told Abimelech that Sarah was his sister. In this, Abraham showed his lack of faith and trust in God and His promises. Yet even in this, God was gracious and kind in His patience and love for Abraham. 

  The promise has finally been fulfilled. After waiting for 25 years for a son, Abraham and Sarah are blessed with the birth of Isaac. Hagar and Ishmael were sent away after God promised Abraham that He would bless Ishmael. We see again, God is the God who hears. 

Abimelech saw that God had blessed Abraham but he also didn't know if Abraham could be trusted so he sought to make a covenant with Abraham. In this, we see that how we act while we proclaim Christ has an impact on how those around us see and understand who God is. 

 The events around Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac give us insight into the Genesis 3:15 Redeemer. A father sacrificing his son, a son willingly laying down his life on a sacrifice in obedience to his father, and God providing a substitutionary sacrifice. In this, we see a glimpse of what the 3:15 would do to undo the curse of sin. 

  Abraham had been in Canaan for over 60 years and had yet to obtain any land. After Sarah died, Abraham needed to get land in which he could bury Sarah. 

 Abraham sends his servant to Haran to get a wife for Isaac. Isaac was not to marry a Canaanite woman and he was not to return to Haran but was to stay in Canaan. God would provide a wife for him. 

 Abraham's servant went to Haran to find a wife for Isaac. As Abraham had promised, God sent His angel ahead of him and the servant's trip was successful. 

 Abraham's other wife, Keturah had 6 sons. In preparing for his death, Abraham sent these sons out of Canaan and although Isaac was his sole heir, Abraham provided for his other sons prior to his death. He had served the LORD in the land of Canaan for 100 years and Abraham died. Isaac, the son of the promise, received the blessing from the LORD.