ABRAHAM: ONE NOMAD’S AMAZING JOURNEY OF FAITH A Classic Series When the Faithful Fail Genesis 12:7 – 20

LET’S BEGIN HERE What courage it must have taken for a 75-year-old man to pull up his tent pegs and strike out by faith, not knowing where he was going. What a model of faith! But while we’re right to admire Abram’s faith, we must not forget that he was still fully human. When we look more closely at Abram up there on his pedestal, we begin to see his cracks and imperfections. We realize this icon of faith had feet of clay. When a famine hit, rather than standing firm in faith and trusting his God to sustain him and his wife, he fled to Egypt. All of us can learn lessons from faithful Abram’s temporary failure and tragic slump into deceit and disobedience.

LET’S DIG DEEPER

Quotable When “great ideas” come from our sinful nature, they are “wrong ideas.” — Charles R. Swindoll

1. A Reality We Dare Not Forget The good and godly are still human and imperfect. Those who forget this reality can become disillusioned and disappointed when those we admire fail to live up to our unrealistic expectations.

2. An Example of That Reality Abraham’s failure to trust and obey God by running to Egypt for protection reminds us that the good and godly are still human and imperfect. • The Divine Test: A Severe Famine (Genesis 12:10)

• The Human Reaction: A Quick Escape (12:10 – 11)

insightforliving.ca Original outline copyright © 2012 and Message Mate copyright © 2014 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights are reserved worldwide. Duplication of copyrighted material for commercial use is strictly prohibited. Committed to Excellence in Communicating Biblical Truth and Its Application

MM04

ABRAHAM: ONE NOMAD’S AMAZING JOURNEY OF FAITH A Classic Series When the Faithful Fail Genesis 12:7 – 20

• The Complicated Consequences: A Carnal Mess (Genesis 12:11–17)

• The Ultimate Outcome: A Personal Offense (12:18–20)

DOORWAY TO HISTORY Famines in the Biblical World Chances are, most of us have never experienced a real famine. And even though many meteorologists today speak about “severe drought conditions” that kill crops and send cattle to the butcher, the worst effects most of us personally experience are lawn-watering restrictions and higher-priced vegetables in the supermarket! Real famines do occur in various parts of the world today, but in the ancient world without modern-day dams, reservoirs, and water treatment systems, droughts and famines were always just a few rainless weeks away.

Famines in ancient Canaan came as a result of drought due to a lack of rainfall, destruction of crops due to diseases or locusts, or starvation due to a military siege.1 In Abram’s day, drought was the likely culprit for the famine in Canaan. The land was particularly susceptible to droughts that could reduce greenery to crumbs, riverbeds to cracked earth, and lakes to mud puddles. Wells dried up, dust storms stirred up, and frequently people gave up. In response, nomadic peoples wandered from place to place in search of better sources of water. The pagan Canaanites deified the rivers, the winds, and the rains, believing the people were destined to be victims of these fickle and unfriendly “gods,” but Abram, a servant of the one, true God, should have known that God alone was in control of these things. Abram’s God could (and still can!) turn on the rain as easily as we turn on the faucet.

insightforliving.ca Original outline copyright © 2012 and Message Mate copyright © 2014 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights are reserved worldwide. Duplication of copyrighted material for commercial use is strictly prohibited. Committed to Excellence in Communicating Biblical Truth and Its Application

MM04

ABRAHAM: ONE NOMAD’S AMAZING JOURNEY OF FAITH A Classic Series When the Faithful Fail Genesis 12:7 – 20

LET’S LIVE IT We can learn five practical lessons from the causes and effects of Abraham’s failure. 1. There are famines in every life.

2. There is a lie in every carnal escape.

3. There is a weakness in every Abraham.

4. There is a Sarai in every compromise.

5. There is a Pharaoh in every Egypt.

If this message has uncovered an area in your life in which you are “fleeing to Egypt” rather than trusting and obeying God, begin right now to reverse your slippery slope. Write a paragraph committing to take the path of faithfulness rather than the path of faithlessness. Be specific about the steps you will take and offer this commitment in prayer to God.

ENDNOTE

1. G. F. Hasel, “Famine,” in The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. 2, E – J, rev. ed., ed. Geoffrey W. Bromiley and others (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1987), 281.

insightforliving.ca Original outline copyright © 2012 and Message Mate copyright © 2014 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights are reserved worldwide. Duplication of copyrighted material for commercial use is strictly prohibited. Committed to Excellence in Communicating Biblical Truth and Its Application

MM04

ABRAHAM: ONE NOMAD’S AMAZING JOURNEY OF FAITH A Classic Series When the Faithful Fail Genesis 12:7 – 20

Tools for Digging Deeper

Abraham: One Nomad’s Amazing Journey of Faith

Abraham: One Nomad’s Amazing Journey of Faith

Abraham: One Nomad’s Amazing Journey of Faith

by Charles R. Swindoll and Insight for Living Ministries Message series + Bible companion

by Insight for Living Ministries paperback Bible companion

by Charles R. Swindoll hardcover book

For related resources, please call USA 1-800-772-8888 • AUSTRALIA 1300 467 444 • CANADA 1-800-663-7639 • UK 0800 787 9364

insightforliving.ca Original outline copyright © 2012 and Message Mate copyright © 2014 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights are reserved worldwide. Duplication of copyrighted material for commercial use is strictly prohibited. Committed to Excellence in Communicating Biblical Truth and Its Application

MM04

Quotable - Insight for Living Canada

Duplication of copyrighted material for commercial use is strictly prohibited. .... trusting and obeying God, begin right now to reverse your slippery slope. Write a ...

738KB Sizes 1 Downloads 62 Views

Recommend Documents

Quotable - Insight for Living Canada
If you don't have different versions handy, there are plenty of Web sites that can help you. ... James 5:7–12. Genesis 50:20 ... While cyberbullying and social media revenge are popular responses to mistreatment, a Christian stands out as ...

Quotable - Insight for Living Canada
find a description of that and other resources on the last page of this study. ... Who did James address in verse 13? ... In James 5:14, what does it mean for the elders to anoint and pray “in the name of the Lord”? ... have promised to Your chil

Quotable - Insight for Living Canada
in carrying out your desire of pursuing the treasures on your own. .... Make certain you have your own copy of the Scriptures in a translation you can understand.

Quotable - Insight for Living Canada
God's people, the Hebrews, enjoyed a rich history of song-making and worship, ... Make your way through the psalm, and this time make some notes about any major .... Write out your own prayerful response to what you have discovered about God from ...

Quotable - Insight for Living Canada
follow the action as it unfolded, with three strangers arriving without warning. Unexpected Visit ... In the following space, write down where the action took place, when, and what happened. STUDY ... Before God could spark life in Sarah's womb, He h

Quotable - Insight for Living Canada
Swindoll's Living Insights New Testament Commentary: James, 1 & 2 Peter. You'll find a description of ... Committed to Excellence in Communicating Biblical Truth and Its Application www.insight.org | www.insightworld.org. MM07. 2. MESSAGE MATE. JAMES

Quotable - Insight for Living Canada
Duplication of copyrighted material for commercial use is strictly prohibited. Committed to Excellence in Communicating Biblical Truth and Its Application. S01.

Quotable - Insight for Living Canada
If you don't have different versions handy, there are plenty of Web sites .... My children and grandchildren. You own everything, Lord. Keep my heart humble and ...

Quotable - Insight for Living Canada
A Brief Review. Before we examine this ... LET'S LIVE IT. So where are we in these ... What about your beliefs and deeds informs your answer? ENDNOTES. 1.

Quotable - Insight for Living Canada
Committed to Excellence in Communicating Biblical Truth and Its Application. LET'S BEGIN HERE ... we turn our spirituality into a public performance. When that ...

Quotable - Insight for Living Canada
by blessing Jesus (12:3); and Philip and Andrew, by leading seekers to Him (12:20–22). What do these wor- shipers teach you? STUDY. FOLLOWING CHRIST .

Quotable - Insight for Living Canada
into heaven, is ... May your ways be known throughout the earth, ... Jesus' statement “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth” in your own words.

Quotable - Insight for Living Canada
had spit on Him, beat Him, and mocked Him the Friday night before! As we study Matthew 27:62–28:15, we will ponder the guards' response to .... Father, thank You for making known to me the good news of Your Son's resurrection. He is risen indeed, a

Quotable - Insight for Living Canada
Knowing our Lord's love for sinners, His look most likely conveyed empathy, not shame; grace, not guilt; compassion, not displeasure. What do you see in Jesus' eyes when you sin? In the space below, reflect on this question, and if it's a negative me

Quotable - Insight for Living Canada
righteousness “will go before” us, protecting us in our Christian walk, and the glory of God will protect us from enemies that sneak ... softcover Bible Companion.

Quotable - Insight for Living Canada
with your own ... This makes judgment one of the most difficult topics to address ... Jesus commanded us not to judge others and instead focus on our own ...

Quotable - Insight for Living Canada
Charles R. Swindoll. LET'S BEGIN HERE. It has been said that the secret to a happy life is learning how to avoid pain. We certainly live in a day in which this ...

Quotable - Insight for Living Canada
That is the major theme resonating through James' letter — results! ... And nowhere is that theme more ... Make certain you have a Bible dictionary and a.

Quotable - Insight for Living Canada
instructing and disciplining us, so we might live skillfully (wisely). If discipline and ... truth in our lives. This is the smart way to live; anything less is just stupid.

Quotable - Insight for Living Canada
Committed to Excellence in Communicating Biblical Truth and Its Application. S03 ... of Jesus. What would you say is the main theme of the gospel of John?

Quotable - Insight for Living Canada
As Christians, we must focus on making a lasting impact for good — influencing ... blend in to such a degree that no one feels the need to bother with ...

Quotable - Insight for Living Canada
Committed to Excellence in Communicating Biblical Truth and Its Application ... With this primary theme woven throughout, it's no surprise that our Lord began ...

Quotable - Insight for Living Canada
That is the major theme resonating through James' letter — results! ... Swindoll's Living Insights New Testament Commentary: James, 1 & 2 Peter. You'll.

Quotable - Insight for Living Canada
6 days ago - Moses, gave food “from heaven” [Exodus 16:4]) and draw their focus back to Himself ( John 6:33)?. Declaration. Jesus tried to shift .... Hardcover book. Following Christ . . . The Man of God: A Study of John 6–14 by Charles R. Swin