Genesis 15:1-21

Reading: Psalm 42:1-11

Songs: Remember Me

Theme:

INTRODUCTION

A. There is an add on the television that asks questions such as: “Are you tired even when you’ve had enough sleep? "Have you lost interest in your work, family or friends, the things that used to give you pleasure? Do you often have feelings of dread as if something terrible is going to happen? Do you find you can’t concentrate and that you go over and over certain thoughts?” If you can answer "yes" to a number of these questions as the television add stated, Dr. De Rosis says you may be suffering from a "garden variety depression".

B. Depression is one of the most common emotional struggles of our society. One in nine Americans will have a depressive episode at some time during the year. One in twenty suffer from a depression sever enough to require medical intervention. About 17.6 million adult Americans currently suffer from a depressive illness. Twice as many women are treated for depression than men (Depression: How It Happens, How Its Healed, Dr. John Medina, New Harbinger Publications, 1998, pp. 24-25).

C. Depression often afflicts people who are reliable, capable and conscientious as any one else. It can affect any age, race or social class. It is no respecter of persons. One of the insidious realities of depression is that it cuts us off from the world as our feelings and fears become the center of the universe. It may also cut us off from God via the temptation to give up our faithfulness.

D. Depression is so rampant that many of us know of someone who has been depressed or is still battling depressed. Psychologists call depression the common cold of emotional health.

E. What can we do when we unable to face our fear or our problems, when the ugliness of self-pity takes us over, when what we have become has led us into isolation? How do we resist defeat by the darkness of depression? Some of God's mightiest heroes have struggled with periods of what seems to have been dark, desperate depression. Let’s consider a few to learn how they overcame it. It has to do with our:

Discussion

I. REASSURANCE OF GOD’S PRESENCE (15:1).

God’s Presence Assures Us Of Our Safety

A. ... Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield ... (15:1a-c).

1 ¶ After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, ....

1. We read of Abraham, “After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, ... “ (Gen 15:1).

a. After following God into a foreign land that was filled with famine, after a family feud that separated Abraham and Lot, after rescuing Lot and his possessions from four kings that invaded Sodom and had taken the people into captivity, Abram was no doubt mentally, emotionally, and spiritually exhausted, battle fatigued.

(1) In coming back victoriously from the battle in which he brought freedom to the people of Sodom with their possessions, the king of Sodom offered Abram a reward.

(2) He refused stating that what he had and what he would receive would come from God (Gen 14:22-25).

(3) After having continued to listen to the Lord, and after having fought battles on behalf of others, to protect them, Abraham was perhaps wondering who would protect him.

(4) Perhaps he had a nagging voice in his mind that kept telling him that he had made a mistake by living a life of faith rather then having pursued his own way.

(5) Others went through similar struggles as it seemed had Abraham.

(a) Moses struggle with Israel became so great he cried out for death from God (Num 11:1-15).

(b) Elijah seemed to have doubts regarding God’s protecting power when Jezebel threatened his life (1Ki 19:9-10).

b. Living a life of faith can often be a continual skirmish with the devil, the enemy of our souls and can lead to battle fatigue (1Pe 5:8).

c. When people are exhausted, battle fatigued and feeling all alone, negative thoughts (that nobody cares, no one understands) can begin to enter their minds.

d. This despair, if not dealt with in a godly manner, can lead into depression.

e. There are many things which can trigger depressive type feelings and behavior such as:

(1) an emotionally or physically stressful incident, such as:

(a) the death of a loved one

(b) an abortion, miscarriage, or stillbirth.

(2) a move to a new home or job.

(3) the end of a marriage or other close relationship

(4) financial problems

(5) illness

(6) use of certain drugs

(7) a poor diet.

(8) Most of these will fall in four larger categories:

(a) focused on his feelings (which can be are highly unreliable) rather than the facts

i) Jezebel told Elijah she was going to kill him so he fled feeling like his end had come (1Ki 19:1-2).

ii) God doesn’t say to get in touch with your feelings, but rather, to get in touch with the truth.

(b) comparing ourselves to others

i) Elijah compared himself to those who had been before him in life (1Ki 19:4).

ii) Many people, declare things such as, "I wish I could be like so and so. Then everything would be OK."

iii) In comparing ourselves to others there is a tendency to compare our weaknesses to their strengths.

i) Elijah seemed to blame himself for his failure to revive Israel to faithfulness (1Ki 19:10).

ii)

(d) exaggerate the negative

i) Elijah thought he was the only one left (1Ki 19:10).

ii) He thought everyone was against him and no one cared about him.

iii) Have you ever said to yourself, “Everybody in the church is against me! Nobody in the church loves me! Nobody in the church cares about me, If I quit the church no one would be bothered by or even notice my absence. “

f. When we are struggling with battle fatigue, a first step is spiritual.

(1) Only God can renew our strength, clear up our clouded mind and bring focus back to our blurred vision of life.

(2) It was when Abraham needed reassurance, that he hadn’t made a mistake, that even if all others had failed him or deserted him, he was not deserted by God.

(3) He was still present with Abraham.

(4) It was then the Lord told Abraham, “Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward” (Gen 15:1).

2. God told Abraham, “ Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield“(Gen 15:1).

a. fear, Strong’s -

03372 ary YARE’ yaw-ray’ a primitive root; TWOT-907,908; v AV-fear 188, afraid 78, terrible 23, terrible thing 6, dreadful 5, reverence 3, fearful 2, terrible acts 1, misc 8; 314 1) to fear, revere, be afraid 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to fear, be afraid 1a2) to stand in awe of, be awed 1a3) to fear, reverence, honour, respect 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be fearful, be dreadful, be feared 1b2) to cause astonishment and awe, be held in awe 1b3) to inspire reverence or godly fear or awe 1c) (Piel) to make afraid, terrify 2) (TWOT) to shoot, pour

b. shield, Strong’s -

04043 Ngm MAGEN maw-gane’ also (in pl.) fem. hngm m@ginnah meg-in-naw’ from 01598; TWOT-367c; n m AV-shield 48, buckler 9, armed 2, defence 2, rulers 1, scales + 0650 1; 63 1) shield, buckler

c. Abraham was told not to be afraid because his guard, protector and defender was God.

(1) Abraham’s assurance was that he had nothing to fear because God was on watch.

(2) There are many things that we face in life that threatens our safety and cause us to wonder where God is during those times.

(a) As God assured Abraham of safety, the scriptures, assure you and me regarding:

(b) sin (1Jo 1:7-9)

(d) regarding the strength of the devil (1Co 10:13).

d. Whether financial difficulties that threaten your economic safety or that of your household, or physical sickness threatens the safety of your health, or that of a loved one, or problem personal or family a pressing, don’t give up.

(1) Don’t throw your hands into the air and wonder, “What is the use in trying?”

(2) If you let God, he will help you through whatever it is that troubles you (cp. 1Co :23c-d; Psa 3:1-3).

God’s Presence Assures Us Of Our Reward

B. ... I am ... thy exceeding great reward ... (15:1c).

1 ¶ After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am ... thy exceeding great reward.

1. After having continued to listen to the Lord, and after having fought battles on behalf of others, to protect their possession, after having turned down gain from others, Abraham seemed to have been wondering at what living a life of faith had gotten him.

2. If we were be honest with ourselves, when we’re struggling, part of what’s going on in our mind is about, “What’s in it for me? What do I get out of this?”

3. Abraham was told his reward was fellowship with God.

4. Many people get caught up in materialism and forget about seeking God’s presence.

5. However, for those who seek God, their reward they will receive for their faithful service to God is life everlasting with him in Heaven.

Transition:

II. REASSURANCE ABOUT GOD’S PROMISE (Gen 15:2-6).

Speak To God

A. ... what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless ... (Gen 15:2-3).

2 ¶ And Abram <087> said <0559> (8799), Lord <0136> GOD <03069>, what wilt thou give <05414> (8799) me, seeing I go <01980> (8802) childless <06185>, and the steward <01121> <04943> of my house <01004> is this <01931> Eliezer <0461> of Damascus <01834>?

3 And Abram <087> said <0559> (8799), Behold, to me thou hast given <05414> (8804) no <03808> seed <02233>: and, lo, one born <01121> in my house <01004> is mine heir <03423> (8802).

1. When we’re struggling in our faith, the first place to go, as did Abraham, is to God (v 2).

2. Abraham spoke of his struggle to God.

a. Abraham had been waiting but to him, on the surface it seemed that God was doing nothing to bring this promise to pass, particularly in that Abraham and Sarah were running out time via their age.

b. Having talked with God, Abraham listened to the answer.

Listen To God

B. ... the word of the LORD came unto him ... (Gen 15:4-6).

4 And, behold, the word <01697> of the LORD <03068> came unto him, saying <0559> (8800), This shall not be thine heir <03423> (8799); but he that shall come forth <03318> (8799) out of thine own bowels <04578> shall be thine heir <03423> (8799).

5 And he brought him forth <03318> (8686) abroad <02351>, and said <0559> (8799), Look <05027> (8685) now toward heaven <08064>, and tell <05608> (8798) the stars <03556>, if thou be able <03201> (8799) to number <05608> (8800) them: and he said <0559> (8799) unto him, So <03541> shall thy seed <02233> be.

1. Abraham received word from God just as we will if in conjunction with prayer, when we study his word for an answer to our queries about life.

2. It is in God’s word that he reveals all we need to know regarding his promise to us (2Pe 1:3).

3. Some, like Abraham, try to help God with the answer, but when we take matters into our own hands, as God told Abraham, we too will never come up with a solution better then what God has offered.

4. In fact, frequently the solutions people seek, they seek in all the wrong places.

5. What is needed is faith.

Believe God:

C. ... he believed in the LORD ... (15:6).

6 And he believed <0539> (8689) in the LORD <03068>; and he counted <02803> (8799) it to him for righteousness <06666>.

1. Abraham believed God’s answer and God counted it to Abraham “for righteousness.”

2. If in reading God’s word, we believe and respond to it with proper obedience, God will also count it to us for righteousness.

3. Fear and worry is nothing more than misplaced faith and trust.

Transition: Abraham was reassured of God’s promise.

III. REASSURANCE OF GOD’S PURPOSE (15:7-21).

A. ... I am the LORD that brought thee out .... ... (15:7-18).

7 ¶ And he said <0559> (8799) unto him, I am the LORD <03068> that brought thee out <03318> (8689) of Ur <0218> of the Chaldees <03778>, to give <05414> (8800) thee this land <0776> to inherit <03423> (8800) it.

8 And he said <0559> (8799), Lord <0136> GOD <03069>, whereby <04100> shall I know <03045> (8799) that I shall inherit it <03423> (8799)?

1. God reminded Abraham why he was taken out of his home land - to inherit a new and better one.

2. Similarly, God has taken us out of darkness, out of a life of sin and brought us to an inheritance of eternal life.

B. (15:9-21).

9 And he said <0559> (8799) unto him, Take <03947> (8798) me an heifer <05697> of three years old <08027> (8794), and a she goat <05795> of three years old <08027> (8794), and a ram <0352> of three years old <08027> (8794), and a turtledove <08449>, and a young pigeon <01469>.

10 And he took <03947> (8799) unto him all these, and divided <01334> (8762) them in the midst <08432>, and laid <05414> (8799) each <0376> piece <01335> one against <07125> (8800) another <07453>: but the birds <06833> divided <01334> (8804) he not.

11 And when the fowls <05861> came down <03381> (8799) upon the carcases <06297>, Abram <087> drove them away <05380> (8686).

12 ¶ And when the sun <08121> was going down <0935> (8800), a deep sleep <08639> fell <05307> (8804) upon Abram <087>; and, lo, an horror <0367> of great <01419> darkness <02825> fell <05307> (8802) upon him.

13 And he said <0559> (8799) unto Abram <087>, Know <03045> (8799) of a surety <03045> (8800) that thy seed <02233> shall be a stranger <01616> in a land <0776> that is not theirs, and shall serve <05647> (8804) them; and they shall afflict <06031> (8765) them four <0702> hundred <03967> years <08141>;

14 And also that nation <01471>, whom they shall serve <05647> (8799), will I judge <01777> (8802): and afterward <0310> <03651> shall they come out <03318> (8799) with great <01419> substance <07399>.

15 And thou shalt go <0935> (8799) to thy fathers <01> in peace <07965>; thou shalt be buried <06912> (8735) in a good <02896> old age <07872>.

16 But in the fourth <07243> generation <01755> they shall come hither <02008> again <07725> (8799): for the iniquity <05771> of the Amorites <0567> is not yet <02008> full <08003>.

17 ¶ And it came to pass, that, when the sun <08121> went down <0935> (8804), and it was dark <05939>, behold a smoking <06227> furnace <08574>, and a burning <0784> lamp <03940> that passed <05674> (8804) between <0996> those pieces <01506>. {a burning…: Heb. a lamp of fire}

18 In the same <01931> day <03117> the LORD <03068> made <03772> (8804) a covenant <01285> with Abram <087>, saying <0559> (8800), Unto thy seed <02233> have I given <05414> (8804) this land <0776>, from the river <05104> of Egypt <04714> unto the great <01419> river <05104>, the river <05104> Euphrates <06578>:

19 The Kenites <07017>, and the Kenizzites <07074>, and the Kadmonites <06935>,

20 And the Hittites <02850>, and the Perizzites <06522>, and the Rephaims <07497>,

21 And the Amorites <0567>, and the Canaanites <03669>, and the Girgashites <01622>, and the Jebusites <02983>.

1. God entered into a covenant relationship with Abraham.

2. When we obey the gospel of Jesus Christ, we enter into a covenant with God.

Conclusion:

Sources:

??, WHAT TO DO WITH THE BLUES