(To download an MP3 file of this sermon, click on the title above. To listen online, click on the play button of the audio player here.)
This is a message that was given on Father's Day using comments about Abraham in Genesis 18:19. The sermon uses the four facts stated about Abraham in this verse to encourage present day fathers in their awesome role.
Written Excerpts:
Romans 4:11 (NLT) Circumcision was a sign that Abraham already had faith and that God had already accepted him and declared him to be righteous—even before he was circumcised. So Abraham is the spiritual father of those who have faith but have not been circumcised….
Introduction:
In the month of May we have a day that we celebrate as Mother’s Day.
And, in the month of June there is a day that we celebrate as Father’s Day.
Those are days that have been declared as times to give special attention and
affection to those important people in our lives we call our parents.
As I often say on both Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, I recognize the
fact that this day does not bring happy memories for some people. It might be
grief over the death of your father, the horrible memories of an abusive
father, or any number of other causes for sadness when the word father comes
up. I truly feel sadness for everyone who has those feelings to cope with
today.
I too feel a sense of sorrow and sadness because both my father and my
wife’s father have died, but my sadness is mixed with many, many pleasant and
fond memories of my dad. He loved Jesus and he cared deeply for his family. He
was a great role model in many ways.
In the Scripture that was read earlier in the service, there is a verse
that gives a brief description of Abraham and his influence with his family. I want to use this passage to point out some key qualities in Abraham’s
role as a father in order to provide insights for fathers today.
Genesis 18:19 (NKJV) 19 For I have known him, in order that he may command his children
and his household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do
righteousness and justice, that the LORD may bring to Abraham what He has
spoken to him."
Perhaps you have noticed the title I chose for today’s message. I was
really tempted to have us sing the kid’s chorus by the same title! “Father Abraham
had many sons. Many sons had father Abraham…”
This verse reveals four different facts about Abraham and his role as a
father. Before we get into those four points, lets briefly talk about the
context of this verse.
In the earlier verses of the chapter we read about an encounter between
the Lord, a couple of “angels” and Abraham & Sarah. Abraham extends hospitality that would have been normal for the
culture. During their visit, the Lord reveals that Sarah is going to have a
child at the age of 90. A little later in the chapter, the verse 18 says that God does not want
to hide from Abraham the coming judgment He is going to bring against Sodom and
Gomorrah. The reason for this desire to inform is due to the fact that Abraham is
going to be a man of great influence for coming generations. It is also implied by these comments and by the overall context that
God wants to give Abraham an opportunity to intercede on behalf of Lot and the
people of those cities.
Okay, let’s now turn our attention to the four truths that are revealed
in this passage.
1.
He
was intimately known by His God.
v. 19a – (KJV)I know him; (NKJV)I have known him.
The word know is the most common Hebrew word that is usually
translated “know” in the OT. It carries a wide range of meanings, describing man’s
knowledge of people & things; learning; simple acquaintance with something
or someone; or the most intimate kind of knowledge including sexual relations.
Because of the word “that” (in order that), which follows the word
“know,” some Hebrew scholars translate it differently than simply with the word
“know(n).”
For example, the NIV reads, “I have chosen him.” The NLT reads, “I have
singled him out.” Then, one OT commentary (K&D), renders it like this:
“acknowledged him, (i.e. chosen him in anticipative love).”
The intended meaning of this phrase seems to be that God intimately
knows Abraham (just like He knows everyone), and He affirms that Abraham will
be the kind of person He can bless and use in a mighty way.
When the context is taken into consideration, it seems that God is not
only saying I know how Abraham will lead his family, and how he will be a
blessing to the whole world, but I also know he will intercede for the people
that are facing judgment.
Obviously, God knows me, and He knows you. What would God’s evaluation
of us be? How would God describe our influence on our families and on our
world?
2.
He
was a leader for his household.
v. 19b – “he will command his children after him…”
“command” – used in various OT passages to describe the instruction of
a father to his sons, a farmer to his laborers, or a king to his servants.
The word is used not only in the sense of authority (i.e. “demand”),
but in the sense of teaching and instructing. When used at times of God, it included the idea of providing the
knowledge, wisdom and means of accomplishing what He commands.
“after him” – probably a reference not only to his children, but to all
his descendants.
God knows Abraham IN ORDER
THAT he will provide the right
kind of leadership for his posterity. He will inform them of what is expected,
and then he will provide guidance and instruction on how to accomplish it.
Father Abraham was a leader of his family. What about us?
3.
He
provided holy objectives for his descendants.
v. 19c – “they shall keep the way of the Lord to do justice and
judgment…”
God declares that Abraham is the kind of leader for his family who will
teach them and point them in the way of the Lord. Abraham will use his influence and his authority to lead his family and
his descendants to follow God’s will for them.
What does the way of the Lord include? Justice and Judgment or, righteousness and justice.
“Justice” (KJV) – a word that is translated 15 times as “justice” but
it is translated 128 times as “righteousness.” It is a word that includes the idea of conforming to a right
moral/ethical standard. It is founded in the moral character of God.
“Judgment” (KJV) – This is a word that has a much broader meaning
originally than what is generally given to it today. While we tend to think of
judgment primarily in the sense of judicial government (courts, rulings), the
Hebrew word included much more. It is a word that would include the judicial, as well as the executive
and legislative aspects of government. So, it not only speaks about judging the
rightness/wrongness of a matter, but also about promoting the right through
laws, and enforcing the right by its sovereign authority.
God is proclaiming His knowledge of Abraham as a man who will influence
and lead his household and following generations to keep the way of the Lord by
personally living lives of moral integrity as well as promoting a society that
upholds God’s view of right and wrong.
Adam Clarke – “… not only to preserve the truth in their creed, but to
maintain it in their practice.”
Yes, Abraham would have needed to teach his children how to care for
the animals, grow and harvest crops, fight against enemies, etc. But God is
saying that he would also be a man who would teach his household the ways of
righteousness and justice.
Fathers have a serious responsibility to lead their families to follow
God’s will and God’s way. We can teach our kids everything they need to know to
survive and thrive in the world, but we also need to teach them to follow
Jesus. Men, our first responsibility for discipling other people in the faith
lies with our families.
4.
He
would reap the promises from God.
v. 19d – “that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which He has spoken
of him.”
Genesis 18:18 (NKJV) 18 since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and
all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
Verse 18 summarizes what God had spoken about Abraham in previous
chapters of Genesis. God called him out of his former country and away from his
ancestors to become a distinct people who follow the ways of the Lord. As Abraham obeyed and continued to follow the Lord, he was shown in
greater and greater detail what all God had planned for him and his
descendants. He would not only receive all the blessings that God had promised, but
he would be a channel of blessing to the whole world.
In addition to these prophecies and predictions in the OT, we find in
the NT that the spiritual benefits of Abraham’s faith are available to all of
us.
Romans 4:11 (NLT) Circumcision was a sign that Abraham already had faith and that God had
already accepted him and declared him to be righteous—even before he was
circumcised. So Abraham is the spiritual father of those who have faith but
have not been circumcised….
Genesis 15:6 (KJV) 6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
Cornerstone Biblical Commentary – In 15:6 righteousness was imparted to
him because of his faith. “Righteous” then became a description of those who
were members of the covenant by faith and who were seeking to please the Lord.
Paul reminds his readers that Abraham was counted righteous because of
his faith before he ever received the sign of the covenant – circumcision. To the Jews, the sign was most important, but Paul wants them to see
that faith preceded the sign, so faith is the most important. And, if faith is most important, then it is possible for those who were
considered outsiders to become “insiders” if they possess the same kind of
faith in God.
Just like Abraham would reap all the promised blessings from God, so we
too will reap the promises God has made to those who believe. Fathers, we can follow Abraham’s example by leading and influencing our
families in the way of the Lord, but everyone can follow his example of faith
and become “children of Abraham” by virtue of our faith in Jesus Christ.
Father Abraham does have many sons! I am one of them and so are you, so
let’s just praise the Lord!
Closing song: Faith of our Fathers
No comments:
Post a Comment