God Will Always Be Your God
Today’s Bible Study January 5, 2012
“I will always be your God and the God of your descendants after you”(Genesis 17:7).
In your journals, you can make notes regarding the lesson below.
To Find (look for):
What does Ishmael mean?
What name does Hagar use to refer to the Lord?
To Mind (key point): Abram believed (literally believed in) the Lord and He credited it to him as righteousness. This foundational truth is repeated three times in the New Testament (Rom. 4:3; Gal. 3:6; James 2:23) to show that righteousness is imparted to us in return for faith.
In the legal custom of that day a barren woman could give her maid to her husband as a wife, and the child born of that union was regarded as the first wife’s child. If the husband said to the slave-wife’s son, “You are my son,” then he was the adopted son and heir. So Sarai’s suggestion was unobjectionable according to the customs of that time.
To Bind (apply to our lives): While customary, Sarah’s actions were not in line with God’s plan. She did not wait on God’s timing. Much of the unrest we see today in the Middle East can be traced back to her decision to move ahead of God’s plan. God promises us that He will be faithful and always be our God. The question for us is, “Can we be a people of faith capable of waiting on His timing?”
Share With The GroupHave there been occasions when you, like Abraham, have waited a very long time to see God fulfill his promise or answer a prayer? Post a comment today to share what you learned during that time of waiting.
Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-). The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures (Ge 16:1–6). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.