Genesis 15 Study Guide Insights for Small Groups

December 6, 2020 Deep Roots Make Good Fruit Genesis 15 Study Guide Insights for Small Groups

How our Small Groups Should be Like Abraham’s Fighting Men By Warren W. Wiersbe Prayer Requests While believers must not compromise with the unsaved in matters of spiritual walk and ministry, when you see that people are in trouble, you don't ask them ______for a testimony before helping them. Sacrificial service is one way of showing we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Abraham risked his life and fortune to rescue his nephew Lot and others along ______with him. Something God might expect from us when we see one of our Christian brothers or even our non-Christian brothers in difficulty. Our goal as Small Group ______members should be the same, to be prepared to take up the battle when we see it raging in our world against someone who needs help. ______1. They were born in his house (v. 14). Spiritually speaking, this reminds us that "whatever is born of God overcomes the world" (1 John 5:4). Our first birth made us ______children of Adam, and he was a loser, but our second birth makes us children of God, and Jesus Christ is the Victor. He has overcome every enemy (Eph. 1:19-23), and He ______shares His victory with all who will trust Him. 2. They were armed (v. 14). It takes more than zeal and courage to win a war. You must also have effective equipment. The Christian soldier must wear the whole ______armor of God and use the spiritual weapons God has provided (Eph. 6:10-18). Our weapons are spiritual, not fleshly (2 Cor. 10:3-5), and we use them in the power of ______the Holy Spirit. The Word of God and prayer are our two most effective weapons (Acts 6:4), and we must use them by faith. ______3. They were trained (v. 14). No matter how good their equipment is, if the soldiers are not trained, they will be easily defeated. One of the purposes of the ______local church and Small Groups is to train God's people how to use the Bible effectively, how to pray, how to recognize the enemy, and how to follow orders ______as soldiers in the army of Christ. The better you know your Bible, the better you are equipped to fight the battle. If we fail in the battle, it is not the fault of the equipment or the strategy of our Captain. Something is wrong with the soldiers. ______4. They believed in their leader. Abraham and his allies rode 100 miles to make a surprise attack on the four kings, and they won a complete victory. Apparently ______Abraham got his directions from the Lord, so the whole enterprise was a victory of faith. The spiritual application is clear: If God's people expect to defeat their ______enemies, they must trust the Lord and obey His orders. 5. They were united. If God’s people today were united in love, what victories we ______could win. “The trouble with the church,” said a pastor friend, “is that there are too many generals and not enough privates. ______6. They were single minded. Their goal was not personal revenge or private gain, but victory over the enemy so the captives could be freed. A double-minded ______soldier is destined for defeat. “No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer.” (2 Tim. 2:4) ______

December 6, 2020 Deep Roots Make Good Fruit Genesis 15 Study Guide

Big Idea: Going deep roots into God’s Word is the only way to have great faith.

People with faith are also people with feelings, and feelings must not be discredited or ignored. While it is unwise to trust your emotions and bypass your mind, or let your emotions get out of control, it is also unwise to deny and 1 suppress your emotions and become a religious robot. David and others expressed their feelings to God about everything — including what they felt about God, His world, and the people and circumstances in His world. In these first verses of Genesis 15, there is barely a hint about Abraham’s fear. In fact, the only reason we know about it is because God tells him “Do not be afraid.” One who truly fears God, and is Fear may be from the past or the future (Genesis 15:1) obedient to Him, may be in a condition After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, of darkness, and have no light; and he may walk many days and years in that Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” condition. “After this” represents a lot of interesting events in Abraham’s life. And while it Puritan Thomas Goodwin could be just the warfare Abraham was involved in, we humans save up emotions (1600-1679) and feelings and they often come out at unexpected times. You might remember these events — even though we don’t know how much time elapsed between Who among you fears the Lord and them: obeys the word of his servant? Let the • Moving from Haran to Canaan; one who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and • Famine in Canaan and a move to Egypt to support his family; rely on their God. • Distress in Egypt from the Pharaoh; Isaiah 50:10 • Moving again because of large flocks and separation from Lot, his only family; • Lot’s capture and rescue in a daring raid on powerful kings. At times even the most dedicated Chris- These same kinds of things happen to people in today’s world — especially our tian feels “in the dark” and wonders military families. We can easily understand that fear, even though unspoken, why God seems so far away. During the Boxer Rebellion, the China Inland Mis- could easily be present. But God knows our mind and hearts. And He cares about sion suffered greatly, and its founder, J. us. Hudson Taylor, said to a friend, “I can- God said one of the things He said over and over to people: “Do not be afraid.” not read; I cannot think: I cannot even He often added another thought like He did for Isaac, Abraham’s son, “I will be pray; but I can trust.” It was dark times with you.” or later to Joshua, “Be strong and courageous.” Here, for Abraham, He but God eventually gave light.8 said, “I am your shield, your very great reward.” Warren Wiersbe This is an amazing statement. God’s remedy for Abraham’s fear was to remind him who He was. God’s “I AM” was the opposite of for man’s “I am not.” Abraham obviously needed some encouragement, so God promised to shield him from danger and He, Himself, became Abraham’s reward. He wanted Abraham to see Him as the goal, the reward, the true meaning in life. We humans tend to see God’s creation as true meaning — rather than God. We value money, or land, or power and control, or prestige more than God. God was promising Himself to Abraham. He loves with everlasting love (Jer. 31:3). He is compassionate on those who fear Him (Ps. 103:13). He rejoices 1 over us, even with singing (Jer. 32:41; Zeph. 3:17). God always burns with anger against sin and injustice (Ex. 22:24). He is always zealous for His glory and name (Ezek. 5:13). God is always the one to whom everyone owes ultimate love. There- fore, He has always been jealous for the love of all beings. Not because He is needy, but because He longs to see everyone’s desires as properly ordered as His

own.2

God is our shield and our reward, and our protection and our provision. Just like He was for Abraham. Protection and provision are the blessings that the world is seeking and the politicians are promising whenever they run for office. Almighty God is the only One who can offer you protection and provision and keep His promises.

Abraham’s real fear (Genesis 15:2-3) 2But Abram said, Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain child- less and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3And Abram

said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my

heir.”

Apparently Abraham was not so worried about the 4 kings who he had just defeated coming back for retribution as he was about the problem of having no descendants. He was concerned that even though God had a marvelous plan with Humble yourselves, therefore, under a gracious promise, God didn’t seem to be doing much about it. God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you His may have been pleading with God about the emptiness In his life. “What can up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on you give me since I have no children? I’ve been here ten years but there is still no him because he cares for you. evidence of offspring.” 1 Peter 5:6-7 One of the lessons Abraham was to learn (and so must we) was that in the

school of faith, God’s will must be fulfilled in God’s way and in God’s time. What Abraham did not realize was that God was waiting for Abraham (and Sarah) to be So also Abraham “believed God, and it “as good as dead” so that God alone would receive the power and the glory. God was credited to him as righteousness.” promised Abraham that he would have a son from his own body — no adoptions Understand, then, that those who have would be necessary. faith are children of Abraham. It is good to share your concerns with the Lord, even if what you say seems to Galatians 3:6-7 evidence unbelief or impatience in your heart, He can handle it. God is not deaf to your questions or unconcerned about your feelings. He did not rebuke Abraham; If, in fact, Abraham was justified by instead, He gave him the assurances he needed. works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, God assures Abraham (Genesis 15:4-5) and it was credited to him as righteous- Then the Word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son ness.” Romans 4:2-3 who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he Was not our father Abraham considered said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You This past week, Pastor Larry was describing for us what it is like out under the see that his faith and his actions were stars away from the city lights. He said, “You can almost reach out and touch all working together, and his faith was those stars.” He saw the same stars Abraham did when he looked up into the sky made complete by what he did. And the at night. According to astronomers there are 30,000 stars listed, but it is estimat- scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was ed that there are 100 billion more. God promised that his descendants would be credited to him as righteousness,” and like the stars: too many to count. But promises do us no good unless we believe 3 he was called God’s friend. You see that them and act on them. a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. James 2:21-24

2 Abraham’s extraordinary belief (Genesis 15:6) Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

This is an amazing declaration. It is, in fact, quoted three times in the New Testa- ment. Abraham believed God — he “leaned his whole weight upon” God. We are So also Abraham “believed God, and it not saved by making promises to God. We are saved by believing the promises of was credited to him as righteousness.” God. Understand, then, that those who have Some commentators suggest that this is Abraham’s conversion experience. His faith are children of Abraham. faith in what God had told him up to that point is placed on the same level as our Galatians 3:6-7 faith in what God has told us and revealed to us through Christ. In fact, in Gala- tians 3:6-7, we learn that believers in general are children of Abraham. 4 What was Abraham’s greatest need? Righteousness. This is the greatest need of people in our world today, which includes us. Righteousness was credited to Abra- ham’s account without any deposit from him. He didn’t have to obey any rules, perform any rituals, or make any promises. His righteousness came because he believed God — just like ours does.

More questions and assurances (Genesis 15:7-10, 18-21) He also said to him, “I am the Lord, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans Then the Lord said to him, “Know for to give you this land to take possession of it.” But Abram said, Sovereign Lord, certain that for four hundred years your how can I know that I will gain possession of it?” So the Lord said to him, “Bring descendants will be strangers in a coun- me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a try not their own and that they will be 14 young pigeon.” . . . On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram and said, enslaved and mistreated there. But I “To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadi of Egypt to the great river, will punish the nation they serve as the Euphrates— the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions. 15 You, how- Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites.” ever, will go to your ancestors in peace and be buried at a good old age. 16 In God made more assurances to Abraham that He was the same God who had led the fourth generation your descendants him this far and He would continue to lead him. But Abraham had more questions will come back here, for the sin of the and he needed more assurance. So God made a covenant with him through a Amorites has not yet reached its full ritual that was probably common in his day. measure.” Genesis 15:13-16 But in the middle of the ritual, God made a prophecy about Abraham’s descendants that no doubt brought at least interesting thoughts to his mind. Several truths became know to Abraham in God’s announcement. First, his descendants were going to suffer, be enslaved, and mistreated in a foreign country for 400 years. But, that country would be punished for the way they would treat his “kids.” It’s a reminder of God’s promise in Genesis 12:3, “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse.” It’s a promise that many nations have suffered for. Second, they would come out of that suffering as very rich people. Which is exactly what happened (see the book of Exodus). That’s how they made the tabernacle with all the gold, silver, and other precious items in the middle of the wilderness. Third, you are going to die at a “good old age” and be buried here in Canaan before all these things happen. In other words, Abraham, you’re not going to see all these promises come to pass. Fourth, the reason it’s going to take this long is because of God’s mercy and grace. The sin of the Amorites has not gotten to it’s limit yet. From Canaanite liter- ature, we have learned that the worshipers of many of the Canaanite deities par- ticipated in such degraded practices as atrocities in warfare and promiscuity in sexual matters— all in the name of religion. God is merciful, but His longsuffering and forbearance are not granted to people indefinitely. When stubborn disobedi- 5 ence passes the point of not return, God punishes the sinner. 3 Just a question or two. How about our country? Has God given us enough time to repent of our sin? Have we reached the point of no return? My guess is that unless there is revival, first in our lives and then in the others in our country, we will suffer the same fate as the Amorites. What Genesis has depicted has been the conflict between good and evil —

Abraham the pilgrim against the kings of the world. That battle continues to the

present hour in spite of great interest in spiritual matters across the Western world. Like Abraham, we are also pilgrims in a world occupied by the kings of Sod- om and Gomorrah. And like Abraham, we must learn to depend on God alone for And the scripture was fulfilled that the strength to carry on the battle.6 says, “Abraham believed God, and it So where does the strength come from to carry on this battle against evil in our was credited to him as righteousness,” world? It’s getting darker and darker as the“ kings” of the world pursue their evil and he was called God’s friend. plans. But God is giving Abraham the information he needs to be able to wage the James 2:23 battle against evil in his world while at the same time becoming God’s friend.

Becoming strong, courageous and God’s friend (Psalm 1:1-3)

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the

way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the

law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a

tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf

does not wither—whatever they do prospers.

I am reminded of a story about the Biosphere 2 in Tucson, AZ. As they were

planting all the tress and plants and everything else for their experiment in build-

ing a place that could sustain life perhaps even in space, an interesting thing

happened. The trees began falling over. They weren’t dead or even rotting. They

just fell over.

After some research, they decided that because the trees had never had any

wind blow against them, they didn’t develop a good root system that could

sustain the tree. They decided to have fans blow wind at the trees so they would

build a good root system.

Jonathan Cahn has told a story about a teacher and a pupil that illustrates this

truth rather well.

“Teacher,” I said, “what is key to being fruitful in God? What causes some

to become great in the kingdom and not others?”

He got up from the rock, walked over to a small plant that was growing just

a few yards away. Grabbing the bottom of its stem, he slowly and carefully

pulled it out of the soil.

“This,” he said, “this is the secret . . . the part of the plant you don’t see.

The hidden part. Look at it. You don’t see it, yet it’s the most important part.

When you look at a tree, you never see the entire tree. You only see what

grows above the earth. The most important part is unseen, growing down-

ward into the earth. From the roots come the tree’s water, its minerals, and

its nourishment. Without the roots, the tree ceases to exist. And if its roots

are shallow or weak, the tree and its fruits will wither away. A tree’s fruitful-

ness can never exceed its rootfulness.”

“And applying this to our lives . . .”

“In God, your life is like a tree. There are two parts to your existence, the

part that’s visible to the world and the hidden part no one can see. It’s the

visible part of your life that manifests the fruit . . . all your good works, your

acts of love and righteousness. But the hidden part . . . these are your roots.”

“And what exactly are the roots?”

“Your inner life with God, your faith, your devotion, your love, communion, 4 your time with Him in prayer, that which is in your heart. No one can see it, but it’s the most critical part . . . the part by which you receive spiritual life and nourishment. It is this which causes the rest of your life to grow and bear fruit. If your roots are shallow or weak, the fruits of your life in God will

wither away. Your fruitfulness in God will always be directly proportionate to

your rootfulness in God.” “What’s the Hebrew word for root?” I asked. “And does it reveal anything?” “The word is sheresh. And it’s linked to deepness, depth. So if you would become great in God, you must become deep in God. Focus on strengthening your roots. Make it your aim to grow deeper in the hidden and secret places . . . and your life will bear much fruit. And so it is written, ‘The root of the righteous . . . will bear fruit.’” 7 Growing deep roots depends on several things.

First, a person must accept Jesus Christ as personal Savior. Without the Holy

Spirit living within, we will always be “Infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.” (Ephesians 4:14) Second, we must decide to be obedient. Knowing the truth and doing the truth are two very different things. Knowing but not doing. Consider what James said, 17“Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. . . . 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.” (James 2:17, 21-22)

Third, We must delight in God’s Word. This is where we get God’s truth that gives us good spiritual roots so we can withstand the winds and droughts of life. We must: • Hear it — in sermons and as people read it aloud; But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, • Read it — for ourselves to see the truths God wants us to have; peace, forbearance, kindness, good- • Study it — by digging deep into it’s meaning to apply it to our lives; ness, faithfulness, gentleness and self- control. Against such things there is no • Memorize it — especially those verses that are meaningful to us; law. Galatian 5:22-23 • Meditate on it — mull it over in our mind so the Holy Spirit can get all the truth out of the verse to make it an actual part of our life Fourth, the benefits will show up in our life. What are the benefits: But seek first his kingdom and his • “We will be like a tree planted by streams of water.” (Ps 1:3) We don’t plant righteousness, and all these things ourselves there, God does it as our roots go deeper. We find the pure water will be given to you as well. of God’s wisdom that able to face anything that comes our way. Matthew 6:33

• “Which yields its fruit in season.” Our lives are fruitful rather than empty. We discover our gifts and talents and use them for God and He makes our lives fruitful. (Galatians 5:22-23) • “Whose leaf does not wither.” No matter what comes in our life— bounty, nice things, or hard times and suffering— we don’t fall or give up because of the circumstances. We stand tall in our faith because in building deep roots we have become God’s friend and nothing can take that away. 5 • “Whatever he does prospers.” Our family, or job, or relationships all prosper even in hard times, because our roots go deeply into God Himself, and we receive all that we need. (Matthew 6:33)

Your mission or focus today should be on strengthening your roots, going deeper in God’s word, deeper into His presence, into your understanding of God so your faith can become stronger. And from those roots going deep, bear fruit for God and His kingdom.

Resources Used in this Study Think about these . . .

1 Warren W. Wiersbe, The Wiersbe 1. Someone has said, “The faith that conquers fear is faith in the Word, not faith Bible Commentary: Old testament, in feelings.” Do you agree? Why? P. 67. 2 David Bowden, Rewire Your Heart, P. 21. 3 Wiersbe, P. 68. 2. What is the difference between the protection and provision that the world 4 Kenneth O. Gangel and Stephen J. promises and that which God promises? Bramer, Holman Old testament Commentary: Genesis, P. 136. 5 Ibid., P. 137. 3. “God’s will must be fulfilled in God’s way and in God’s time.” Why is this some 6 Ibid., P. 138. 7 times difficult for Christians to accept? Jonathan Cahn, The Book of Myster ies, Day 121. 8 Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Obedient, 4. Why is Genesis 15:6 such an important verse in the Bible? P. 57.

5. What is righteousness and why do we need it so much?

6. How do we get righteousness?

7. What Biblical promises do you find yourself often taking comfort in? Why those?

8. If God says it once, (12:2-3, 7) or even twice (13:14-17), why remind Abraham again?

9. How is faith related to righteousness? Which comes first? Which comes from God? Which is indispensable to a right relationship to God?

10. Where in your life do you need for God to say, “Do not be afraid. I am your shield, your very great reward?”