Lesson 19 Part 3
ST. PAUL SCHOOL OF LEADERSHIP
“Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ”
(I Corinthians 11:1)
(With Frank Eiklor and Walter Contreras)
WINNERS AND LOSERS - THE BOOK OF GENESIS
Lesson 19 (Part 3)
INTRODUCTION
We continue our study of God’s dealings with individuals and nations—winners and losers—during Old Testament days as we learn by examples (I Corinthians 10:6,11) how we should live today. We are in the Book of Genesis.
GENERAL TRUTHS FROM GENESIS
|
5:21-24 |
One man noted for walking with God (God removed him early from an evil earth) (See Hebrews 11:5, Jude 14,15) |
|
6:3,6 |
God’s regret and grief in making man |
|
6:5 |
|
|
6:8,9 and 22 |
Second man noted for walking with God—by actively keeping His commandments |
|
7:1 |
Noah’s “righteousness” included obedience/surrender to God (vv 5,7) |
| 8:1 |
God “remembered” the obedient Noah. |
| 8:21,22 |
God was pleased with his obedient servant |
| 9:1-3 |
God blessed the obedient Noah |
| 9:6, 9-17 |
Two “firsts” established—1) death penalty for murder v6; Noahic covenant vv 9-17 |
| 9:25 |
Canaan, Ham’s son, cursed (Ham had other sons), 10:6— Canaan’s offspring wiped out (see vv 15-20) This destroys the racist lie that Ham was cursed, that he represents the black race and that blacks were doomed to slavery |
A WORLD WITH JEWS
Now begins the revealing of God’s Laboratory For Life through the following:
- Law (Torah/Word of God)—the Schoolmaster.
- Land of Israel —the Classroom.
- Children of Israel—the Students.
THE EXAMPLES BEGIN
| 12:1-3 |
Example—God chooses a man to further His process of redeeming the world (Note God’s 7-fold promise to Abraham) |
| 12:1,4 |
Example—True belief equals “obedience.” Belief (15:6) equals active response to God’s offer of love, forgiveness, acceptance and partnership |
| 13:8-7 |
Example of choices—Abraham versus Lot. Abraham rejected material selfishness and left the choice to God |
| 14:14-16 |
Example—Abraham loved and rescued one who used him |
THE REWARD THAT COUNTS
| 14:21-23 |
Example—Abraham sought reward from God, not men |
| 15:1 |
Example—“After these things…”—God rewarded Abraham for obedience:
1) Put God first (12:1-4).
2) Unselfish (13:8,9).
3) Loved and rescued a man of opposite character (14:14-16).
4) Refused personal reward and glory (14:21-23) |
| 15:6 |
Example—Abraham’s “belief” in God did not equal mere mental assent to a supposed fact—but a total response of love and obedience prompted and inspired by God’s offer of love, forgiveness, acceptance and partnership to Abraham |
BEWARE!
| 15:16 |
Amorites an example of God’s patience with nations’ sins—before He destroys them |
| 16:1-5 |
An example of how one on intimate terms with God can grow careless in not seeking the Lord’s voice in EVERY decision |
| 16:9-13 |
Example—God’s offer to Hagar the Egyptian required the obedience of submitting to human authority |
ABRAHAM’S OBEDIENCE
| 17:1 |
Example—God’s requirement for blessing is obedience (vv 2-4 blessing to follow obedience) |
| 17:15-22 |
Example of a patient God—a man given unshakable promises must learn to overcome his own shaky faith. (Sarah also laughed at God’s promise— 18:12-15.) |
| 18:3-5 |
Example—Abraham’s obedience in hospitality (note that hospitality was accepted by those with no need of earth’s “food” v 5) and Abraham’s obedience in maintaining a committed house (v 19) |
| 19:4,5 |
Example—Evil knows no age limit |
...to be continued Jesus said many would come in His name and deceive the hearts of the simple, sinful and proud. Eastern mysticism and meditation is a big thing in the gullible West. And one day a “world leader” will appear on the scene with the persuasion of a god and the heart of a devil. Jesus warns His children to know the Scriptures, live in obedience to the Father’s will, and stay alert to the signs of the times. They laugh no more. Now God’s description of how He will destroy the old earth and create a
new one makes perfect sense. The splitting of the atom turned many skeptics into believers.
After all, look what man himself is capable of doing with the atom and hydrogen bombs. Now
the fear is that nuclear weapons are being placed in the hands of madmen who wish to annihilate
their enemies. God has blessed man with incredible genius. We stand in awe as we watch men and women in a room full of computers and high-tech instruments guiding and landing spacecraft on distant planets. At that moment, we appear invincible. But then a mammoth tornado comes—or a terrifying hurricane—or rains that flood whole regions and never listen to our shouts to “Stop!”—or the shake that removes from under our feet any confidence or pride we carry, and leaves us numb with hardly enough breath to even utter the paralyzing word “EARTHQUAKE!”. And man is helpless in the face of it all! |
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