This week we are covering Genesis 18, 20, & 21 (Sorry for stating the wrong chapter in the podcast recording)
Welcome to episode eight of Abraham’s journey! Friends, things about to get interesting for Abraham and Sarah. A phrase that is meaningful in the Old Testament is Little by Little. This phrase describes how God delivered the Promised Land to the Nation of Israel. It was not big. It was not showy. It was little by little. I love how God works! From the very beginning of the Bible, we see the same concept at work.
God worked… little by little.
God provided… little by little.
God moved… little by little.
God taught… little by little.
The phrase little by little does not indicate small or insignificant because God’s work is always big and profound. The phrase little by little indicates the heart of God to work according to His plan in order to accomplish His purpose. The outcome?
- God is glorified, and the people are encouraged.
- God’s Name is spread as the people display the difference God makes among them.
While God could have spoken, and everything happened in a single moment, God worked little by little, so the faith of the people could grow into the spaces and places God provided. I have always been drawn to the concept of little by little, and thank God He still works and moves using the same principle today!
Let’s pick up Abraham’s story in Genesis 18. Today we are going to cover several chapters of Scripture. I encourage you to read these chapters, so you don’t miss one aspect of God’s work in and through the life of Abraham.
4 Key Points from Genesis 18-21
- Nothing is too hard for the Lord! (Genesis 18:14) Abraham was sitting by the trees at Mamre when the Lord appeared to him. Along with this appearance came three men (angels of the Lord) who showed up and told Abraham that a son was on the way and that Sarah would give birth in one year. Sarah overheard the conversation and laughed. Abraham and Sarah are way beyond childbearing years. The Lord reminds Abraham about His ability in the form of a question. “Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” (Genesis 18:14) What a great reminder for us. In the face of our overwhelming situations that are simply impossible, do we believe there is anything too hard for the Lord?
- Bold prayers move the heart and protect the mind! (Genesis 18:22) During the men’s visit, they revealed to Abraham that Sodom would be destroyed. Lot, Abraham’s nephew, lived near Sodom. Abraham’s heart immediately went to Lot and his family. Abraham boldly asked God to spare the city if righteous people were found. This conversation went back and forth between Abraham and God. Why do you think God shared this news with Abraham? (We discover the reason in Genesis 18:17-19!) Abraham was going to be an influential man, and the destruction of Sodom was a big deal. God was faithfully shaping Abraham’s perspective on the situation before the situation came to pass. God was prompting Abraham to boldly ask for the city based on the number of righteous people. The reality was shocking. Only one righteous person (Lot) was found in Sodom. Through the conversation with Abraham, God was providing Abraham with the right mindset or perspective to later process the information. God was preparing Abraham’s heart AND mind. All of this happened on the landscape of bold and honest (PRAYER) communication with God.
- God never gives up on His people! (Genesis 20) Sodom was destroyed, and Lot was rescued. Time passed, and once again, Abraham pr...
