Genesis - Genesis 16:15-16 DailyBibleStudy.Org

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You must be in fellowship prior to your Bible study, so that the spiritual information you receive can become a source, of blessing to your soul and produce spiritual growth.
Daily Bible Study

Genesis 16:15-16

Lesson # Genesis 16:15-16
Study Material - Genesis 16:15-16

You must be in fellowship prior to your Bible study, so that the spiritual information you receive can become a source of blessing to your soul and produce spiritual growth.

Gen. 16:15-16

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

In the course of our lives we are first confronted with the bondage of sin. Its production is not the answer to our problems, but the continuation of them. Abram had a promise from God. He was not willing to wait on God but went off on his own with his 'better' plan. Of course his wife had a hand in it, but most likely it was due to his complaining. She probably got tired of it and handed him her maid just to get him to shut up!! Nevertheless, this set up the contrast between the slave woman and the wife. That is the promise from mans own efforts verses the promise from God.

Gal. 4:23, But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise. Matt. 3:9, and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves,' We have Abraham for our father'; for I say to you, that God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.

Ishmael was born out of the design of man. Isaac, on the other hand, will be born out of the design of God.

Abram named the child Ishmael. He got this name, obviously from hearing the story of Hagar's encounter with the 'Angel of the Lord'. Abram was not present during that exchange. Hagar had to have told him.

Abram was now 86 years old. Nearly half way through his life. He will live to be 175 years old. And he will not receive his promised offspring until he is 100 years old. In our current life terms, I suppose that an average person will live to be around 75 to 80 give or take. So half of that is in the late 30's or early 40's, and a lot of people live into their 40's or even later in life before they finally get their spiritual act together if at all.

A great deal happened in these past eleven years of Abram's life. That is from when he was 75 up until when Ishmael was born. Abram had received direct communications from God. He had his circle of friends and his Bible study with them. He weathered famine and war, hard times and tremendous prosperity. He really lacked for nothing, except a son.

Abram had promises from God, just as you and I have, but he was unwilling to wait on Gods timing. Abram went off on his own and only created disruption, conflict, and discontentment within his own tent. Such is the result of the production of the bondwoman.

Ishmael's life will be one of conflict without rest. This is the life of the unbeliever, and certainly the negative believer. Only those who stick to the promise, which is the content of the scriptures from Genesis to Revelation, will enjoy the blessings of that promise.

So what is the promise we are describing? Salvation, through faith in Christ. Spiritual growth through a consistent study program of Bible doctrine, and consistent residence in fellowship. The ultimate objective is spiritual maturity, which will result in blessings in time certainly, but also, even greater rewards in eternity. The entertainment industry has their Oscar awards, Grammy awards, etc., and with these awards comes prestige and greater wealth with higher fees and so forth, but only one in any given category can be the winner.

In the spiritual life, God can make everyone of us winners, if we merely continue in our daily Bible study program. Our Oscar's and Grammy's are designated as Crowns and certain other rights and privileges which will be given only to those who 'overcome', to those who advance to spiritual maturity. This opportunity is not limited to only the few who have connections, or only the few with human talent, but it is available to all who desire it and pursue it through their daily positive attitude.

You cannot work for it. You cannot deserve it. You merely study, learn, grow, and God does all the rest. When you get uneasy, impatient, and then begin to follow the designs of you own plan, that is when you mess up your own life. But not to worry, God can straighten your messes out too, if you get back with your Bible study. You may have to live with the problems of your own making, but they will all go away sooner or later. Just do not focus on those problems, but look forward in life to the 'promise'. The promise of entering into Gods rest, and then enjoying life as God guides you through it.

If you get stubborn and ignore your spiritual responsibilities, then years will go by before you 'wake up' and discover that you have wasted a lot of your life. Abram has another 14 years before he will get back to where he needs to be. He will still have more ups and downs in his spiritual life, but he will eventually emerge a victor when the time comes to make the ultimate sacrifice of his 'only begotten son', as God teaches him that trusting in God is the only dependable option that any of us really have.

Now is the time to post a prayer.

End Of Lesson

Study to show thyself approved (mature) unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (studying/discerning), the Word of truth.

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