January 19, 2023

God's promises to Abraham

Genesis 16–17

Tanerica Moton
Thursday's Devo

January 19, 2023

Thursday's Devo

January 19, 2023

Thursday's Devo

January 19, 2023

Thursday's Devo

January 19, 2023

Big Idea

God's promises will not be broken. No matter how long they might take, He is trustworthy and has proven Himself to be since the beginning of time.

Key Verse | Genesis 17:5

No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.

Genesis 16–17

Sarai and Hagar

1 Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. She had a female Egyptian servant whose name was Hagar. 2 And Sarai said to Abram, “Behold now, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children 1 16:2 Hebrew be built up, which sounds like the Hebrew for children by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. 3 So, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her servant, and gave her to Abram her husband as a wife. 4 And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress. 2 16:4 Hebrew her mistress was dishonorable in her eyes; similarly in verse 5 5 And Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be on you! I gave my servant to your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked on me with contempt. May the LORD judge between you and me!” 6 But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your servant is in your power; do to her as you please.” Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her.

7 The angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur. 8 And he said, “Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?” She said, “I am fleeing from my mistress Sarai.” 9 The angel of the LORD said to her, “Return to your mistress and submit to her.” 10 The angel of the LORD also said to her, “I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for multitude.” 11 And the angel of the LORD said to her,

“Behold, you are pregnant
    and shall bear a son.
You shall call his name Ishmael, 3 16:11 Ishmael means God hears
    because the LORD has listened to your affliction.
12  He shall be a wild donkey of a man,
    his hand against everyone
    and everyone's hand against him,
and he shall dwell over against all his kinsmen.”

13 So she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, “You are a God of seeing,” 4 16:13 Or You are a God who sees me for she said, “Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.” 5 16:13 Hebrew Have I really seen him here who sees me? or Would I have looked here for the one who sees me? 14 Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; 6 16:14 Beer-lahai-roi means the well of the Living One who sees me it lies between Kadesh and Bered.

15 And Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. 16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.

Abraham and the Covenant of Circumcision

1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; 7 17:1 Hebrew El Shaddai walk before me, and be blameless, 2 that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.” 3 Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him, 4 “Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. 5 No longer shall your name be called Abram, 8 17:5 Abram means exalted father but your name shall be Abraham, 9 17:5 Abraham means father of a multitude for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you. 7 And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. 8 And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.”

9 And God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations. 10 This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring, 13 both he who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money, shall surely be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant. 14 Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”

Isaac's Birth Promised

15 And God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah 10 17:15 Sarai and Sarah mean princess shall be her name. 16 I will bless her, and moreover, I will give 11 17:16 Hebrew have given you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall become nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.” 17 Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, “Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” 18 And Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before you!” 19 God said, “No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. 12 17:19 Isaac means he laughs I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him. 20 As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I have blessed him and will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He shall father twelve princes, and I will make him into a great nation. 21 But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this time next year.”

22 When he had finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham. 23 Then Abraham took Ishmael his son and all those born in his house or bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham's house, and he circumcised the flesh of their foreskins that very day, as God had said to him. 24 Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 25 And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 26 That very day Abraham and his son Ishmael were circumcised. 27 And all the men of his house, those born in the house and those bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.

Footnotes

[1] 16:2 Hebrew be built up, which sounds like the Hebrew for children
[2] 16:4 Hebrew her mistress was dishonorable in her eyes; similarly in verse 5
[3] 16:11 Ishmael means God hears
[4] 16:13 Or You are a God who sees me
[5] 16:13 Hebrew Have I really seen him here who sees me? or Would I have looked here for the one who sees me?
[6] 16:14 Beer-lahai-roi means the well of the Living One who sees me
[7] 17:1 Hebrew El Shaddai
[8] 17:5 Abram means exalted father
[9] 17:5 Abraham means father of a multitude
[10] 17:15 Sarai and Sarah mean princess
[11] 17:16 Hebrew have given
[12] 17:19 Isaac means he laughs

"In the face of infertility, where can we find encouragement?"

Listen Now

Dive Deeper | Genesis 16–17

I grew up in a very unstable environment. The words of many adults around me didn't ever equate to their actions. That led me to believe that the world was gray. But God is different. He is not a human. He is good. And he has proven that to me with answered prayers and biblical counsel from my community.

The way God leans into Hagar's pain is so heartwarming. Reading Genesis 16:13 makes me feel seen and validated by God, even at my lowest points. Hagar called God, "Him who looks after me." Having frequently felt lost, unprotected, and alone, I have seen God use this story time and time again to remind me that He is a promise keeper. Even in the midst of your suffering, God will not leave you or forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6 reminds us: "Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you."

God is here. He sees and loves us. He is working out His plan and putting the pieces in motion. Today, we can see the fulfillment of the promise He made to Abraham centuries ago. This is just one example of God being worthy of our trust. Genesis is the very beginning of God putting His plans into motion. His ultimate plan is for people to be restored to relationship with Him and to spend forever with Him. Even now, God is working for the good of those who put their trust in Him.

This month's memory verse

We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

– John 1:45b

Discussion Questions

1. How can you develop patience when waiting on God's promises?

2. As we saw in the passage, oftentimes we try to solve our problems in our own way. Normally, our way is not the best solution, and sometimes things can even backfire. Can you think of times when you took your problems, challenges, or difficulties into your own hands? How did that work out for you? Did it affect other people or things?

3. Where can you see God changing things in your life? How has He moved in your life this past week, month, or year?

4. What did you learn about Abraham that is a good example for us to follow?

Respond to Today's Passage

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HS

Hugh Stephenson

As a small boy I was under the foolish notion that if I closed my eyes so that I couldn’t see my mom…then she could not see me. Therefore, I would not get in trouble for what I just did. Even more foolishly, I thought if I hid under the small table, I shared with my three sisters that God could not see me and I would not get in trouble. Even after I understood how wrong I was I still had this consistent desire to hide from trouble. I was not interested in getting in trouble less, just hiding from it when the consequences came around. I had plenty of examples of good behavior, but the ratio was way too one-sided. When I went off to college, I was happy because I was three hours away from home. Freedom to drink and party as I pleased.
HS

Hugh Stephenson

Consistently, I sought short cuts to being obedient. Cliff’s Notes versus reading the book. Using someone else’s notes for a class test. Half-truths and manipulations in relationships. This “world view” eventually came home to roost. In this chapter I note the strong contrast of Abram’s behavior with the prior chapter. Then…he knew, believed, and trusted God and was His man. Now, it’s just about the opposite. Even so, my main attention is on Hagar. In men’s abortion recovery, (2016 @ age 56), we studied this passage. I read it over and over. Many times. Together, Amy and I had gone through one abortion and three miscarriages. Then had three problematic pregnancies, (all went full term). Why was God drawing me deeper and deeper into Hagar’s story? The name Hagar gave God brought my epiphany, (perhaps the only time in scripture a person gave God a name).
HS

Hugh Stephenson

Then Ishmael’s name; “God hears”. “God Sees. God hears”. My life was stacked with sins. I talked myself into believing I was hiding, more or less successfully so. Yet God sees Hagar. And God hears, “…listened to your affliction.” I can’t imagine anyone lower in rank in that culture than Hagar. A slave girl from Egypt. Pregnant. Cast out. In the desert. It’s the end for her and her unborn child. Yet…God sees her and sends His angel to her for direction, encouragement, prophecy, and a promise. What a turn of events! This verse brought a huge epiphany to me in vastly expanding my understanding of the goodness and kindness of God. He hears me and sees me. Joshua 1:9, Isaiah 41:10, Proverbs 15:3, Zephaniah 3:17, Psalm 33:18, 2 Chronicles 16:9, https://www.gotquestions.org/names-of-God.html https://www.gotquestions.org/Beer-Lahai-Roi.html
AB

Alan Beam

16:2, Abram and Sarai get impatient. They want the blessings that God has promised, but they want to do it their own way in their own time. And to make it worse, they've brought an innocent slave girl into things, presumably sexually assaulting her as the means to achieve their desired blessings. God doesn't just want me to believe that He will keep His promises, He wants me to trust Him in how He is going to keep them, too. Things go poorly, and people get hurt, when I try to take things into my own hands rather than fully trusting in God. 16:13, El-Roi. The God who sees. Sometimes the trials I go through are the consequences of someone else's sin. But God sees me where I am, and He has a plan for me even then. Injustice is not an excuse to not trust in God. He wants my faith, trust, and obedience no matter what. He sees me and He loves me. Compassionate and gracious. 17:5, 10, God renews His covenant with Abram, renaming him Abraham and commanding him and his descendants to be circumcised. God wants His people to be holy, to be set apart and notably different than those around them. I should behave in such a way that the world looks at me and wonders why I act that way. They should know that I'm a follower of Christ by my love, and they might see my good deeds and glorify God. It's not circumcision that is special, it's the faith and obedience, and the setting apart from the world.
CL

Chris Landry

Hi Tanerica! I, too, as from Bossier Parish. On the other end though in south Bossier. Welcome to Dallas/Watermark and all God’s goodness found in community. Reading and re-reading this passage the story of Hagar jumped out to me too. Maybe because Hagar isn’t in the Storybook Bible I read with my boys’ for their Bible reading. All that to say, I too had compassion instantly when she was sent away as an expectant mother….all because Sarai got jealous and cast her away with contempt. It wasn’t even Hagar’s fault, she was simply following orders. BUT GOD shows up and “sees her”. How refreshing in the midst of any loneliness or heartache or pain!? He will always see us. Always. There’s a lot more to this story as it plays out, but my takeaway is this: - Don’t take plans into my own hands. It can be hurtful to others and shows complete lack of trust/belief in God’s goodness AND timing. (Proverbs 3:5-6, Psalm 27:14) - See others. Be with them in their pain. This is a very weak link for me. I struggle with control (see point above) and I want others to logic their way out of their feelings. It’s not good. It’s not godly. Paul encourages me to weep when others weep. Rejoice when others rejoice. (Romans 12:15) This epitomizes “compassion”. (Compassion literally means “to suffer together.” Among emotion researchers, it is defined as the feeling that arises when you are confronted with another's suffering and feel motivated to relieve that suffering.) God sees Hagar. God is with her. God encouraged her and desires to help her. I want to be more like that.
MS

Michael Scaman

Nanes important. Ishmael - God hears and was the name given by Hagar for her child who will have 12 princes. (Ironically Joseph's brothers will sell Joseph to a band of Ishmaelite's.) Abram renamed Abraham, not just father but father of nations. He will be father of not only Ishmael but also Isaac. In fact after Sarah dies and Issac marries Abraham remarries and has 6 more sons making 8 sons and an unknown number of daughters. (God reveals things slowly sometimes and God does not tell Abraham his great grandchildren will lead to 12 tribes as Ishmael's children lead to 12 children. ) Abraham is now 99 and was promised a child around 76. Abraham will live to 175 and he could look at Isaac and say 'when I was about your age God promised me a child) God will do far more than Abraham dreamed.
MS

Michael Scaman

Hagar said God hears (the name given to Ishmael) and he is the God who sees (she called God) . "To the outcast on her knees you are the God who really sees" Time for a song from Michael Card. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mY_oUmzpLJk God made the ear and the eye. He knows how to hear and see, A talk from the late Dr Menton of Answers in Genesis on the Seeing eye and the hearing ear .https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxj2WdeVruc
MS

Michael Sisson

Re: Gen 16:1 Jewish tradition says Abraham acquired Hagar, a daughter of Pharaoh (Gen 12:16), before his departure from Egypt (Gen 12:10-20). Re: 16:3 Hagar became “a wife” to Abram, but even the angel in Gen 16:8 will remind Hagar she remains “Sarai’s maidservant.” Re: Gen 16:4-5 (NASB) He went in to Hagar, and she conceived; and when she saw that she had conceived, >>>her mistress was despised in her sight.<<< And Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done me be upon you. I gave my maid into your arms, but when she saw that she had conceived, >>>I was despised in her sight.<<< May the LORD judge between you and me.” Where’s Jesus in Genesis 16? Hagar had to have known of G-d ‘s promise to Abram (Gen 15:4), though she could not have known G-d would eventually bring Isaac (and ultimately Messiah Yeshua [Christ Jesus]) through Sarai. Moreover, as Hagar despised Sarai, so too Hagar’s son, Ishmael, would later despise Isaac (Gen 21:9). Still, these are just two links in a chain of examples throughout scripture of the far off, approaching Messiah (Num 24:17a) and His progenitors being opposed, baselessly hated (Heb = “sinas chinam”), and generally mistreated. It is a small foretaste of why Isa 49:7 will refer to Him as the “Despised One.” Re: Gen 17:1 Thirteen years have passed since the previous chapter (Gen 17:25). Re: Gen 17:11 Because he’s the first to receive G-d’s commandment of circumcision, Abraham is considered the first Jew. Even Paul acknowledges circumcision remains a commandment for Jews to this day (1Cor 7:17-20).
SB

Sue Bohlin

Bless you, Tanerica! Hagar is the only person in the Bible who names God. AND she's a woman, AND she's an Egyptian slave! I just love it when God turns things upside down, and here the Holy Spirit has Moses record this small but important naming event. Lots of people think the Bible is full of misogynism toward women (and while sin causes fear and disrespect of women, it's not God's position or HIs heart toward us), but I love this little story that gives us a glimpse into the Lord's compassion for His beloved female creations.
SB

Sue Bohlin

One of the benefits of reading the entire Bible is getting to see how many of the puzzle pieces fit together, even if the connections are thousands of years apart. The covenant of physical circumcision we read about today, connects with Paul's revelation of the point of circumcision in the New Testament: circumcision of the body is a symbol of God's desire that we yield our most sensitive, personal, private inward parts to Him to be circumcised in the heart. Both men and women. And there it is again: it’s always, always about the heart.
AL

Amy Lowther

1. If you think of what led to the promises, key words in the promises, and yourself in the mix of the promises, patience can develop. 2. Yes, I have lived a situation where I took things into my own hands. It did not work out as well as it later did when I left it in God’s hands. It didn’t affect others as much as it affected me. 3. I can see God changing my life because I have more energy, better health, and I sleep better. Recently, God presented me a new year, 2023. 4. When the Lord spoke to Abraham, Abraham listened to the Lord and was humble while he did it.
KH

Kathy Hempel Cox

Such a sweet and tender moment when Hagar says, "You are the God who sees me," for she said, "I have not seen the One who sees me." Beautiful reminder of the God who sees me in my every circumstance. So grateful you have seen the One who sees you in answered prayers and through your community!