Participants: Shakeela Yasuf
Series Code: DOA
Program Code: DOA000003
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00:39 As-Salaam-Alaikum,
00:41 to our Muslim brother and sisters, 00:43 shalom to our Hebrew cousins, 00:45 peace be upon you our Christian friends. 00:48 Welcome to "The Descendants of Abraham." 00:51 We are happy that you have decided to join us again today. 00:55 On today's program we are going to look at Abraham's failure, 01:00 once again to remain true to his God. 01:05 Our Muslim brothers and sisters 01:08 believe that the son of promise was Ishmael, 01:13 and our Hebrew cousins believe 01:15 that the son of promise was Isaac. 01:19 Who was the promise son of Abraham? 01:24 We know that Abraham had other sons too, 01:28 but they did not play a prominent role 01:31 in the word of God. 01:33 The sons of Abraham that were propelled 01:37 to centre stage of this world's religions 01:41 are Ishmael and Isaac. 01:45 There has been conflict 01:46 between these descendants for thousands of years 01:50 and it continues into the 21st century. 01:55 Which of these descendants, 01:57 which of these are sons of Abraham? 02:01 And which one is worshiping the true God of Abraham. 02:07 The world we know is rapidly coming to an end 02:11 and each one of us individually must search 02:15 for the true God of Abraham. 02:17 Even if it means we have to surrender 02:20 our long held beliefs and traditions. 02:26 Abraham was asked by God to leave his country 02:30 and his relatives to choose God over family and tradition. 02:37 Even though he was obedient to the call of God, 02:40 his journey was not easy, he faced famine in Canaan, 02:46 death in Egypt 02:48 and now we will see the test of man's faith 02:52 in his Creator God starting to unfold. 02:57 When Abraham returned to Canaan 02:59 from Egypt after the famine was over, 03:02 he and his nephew Lot decided to split up. 03:07 There was trouble 03:08 between their herdsmen and their possessions. 03:12 They were too great for them to dwell in the same land. 03:15 There was not enough pastor for the animals to grace on, 03:21 Abraham asked Lot to choose where he wanted to settle. 03:27 Lot showed the selfishness of his nature, 03:30 his selfish heart. 03:33 Let's take a look at what the Holy Scripture say. 03:38 The benevolent and godly spirit of Abraham 03:41 is revealed in his life. 03:44 We can see the interaction between Abraham and Lot, 03:49 Let's go once again to the Book of Beginnings, 03:53 Genesis 13:8. 03:58 "So Abram said to Lot, 04:00 "Please let there be no strife between you and me, 04:04 and between my herdsmen 04:06 and your herdsmen for we are brethren." 04:11 Abraham was reminding this nephew 04:13 that there were not related only by blood 04:16 but as worshipers of the true God. 04:20 God considers all his children one family 04:23 but Lot on the other hand revealed a selfish spirit. 04:29 We read in the same book 04:31 Genesis 13:10-13 04:37 "And Lot lifted his eyes 04:39 and saw all the plain of Jordan, 04:42 that it was well watered everywhere 04:45 before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah 04:48 like the garden of the Lord, 04:50 like the land of Egypt as you go towards Zoar. 04:55 Then Lot chose for himself 04:58 all the plain of Jordan and Lot journeyed east. 05:02 And they separated from each other. 05:05 Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, 05:08 and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain 05:11 and pitched his tent even as far as Sodom. 05:15 But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked 05:18 and sinful against the Lord." 05:22 Lot chose the plain of Jordan in which to settle. 05:27 Lot thought he had chosen the better part of the land 05:31 but this was not the case. 05:33 Most of us know the terrible consequences of Lot's choice, 05:37 which was made through selfishness 05:40 and ingradtitude toward his uncle Abraham. 05:44 It was through Abraham that Lot acquired his riches. 05:48 But he seemed to have forgotten that. 05:52 After Lot departed, God spoke to Abraham. 05:56 Here is what he said. 05:57 Again in Genesis 13:14-17. " 06:03 13:14-17. 06:07 And the Lord said to Abram, 06:09 after Lot had separated from him, 06:11 "Lift your eyes now and look from the place 06:15 where you are northward, southward, eastward, 06:18 and westward for all the land 06:20 which you see I give to you and your descendants forever." 06:25 And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth, 06:29 then your descendants also could be numbered. 06:32 Arise and walk in the land, through its length and its width 06:38 for I give it to you." 06:41 Abraham was not a young man. 06:43 He was 75 years of age when he left Haran. 06:48 He had questions that needed answers 06:51 and Abraham took these questions directly to his God. 06:57 In Genesis 15:1-4 07:01 we read, "After these things 07:04 the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, 07:08 "Do not be afraid, Abram. 07:10 I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward." 07:15 But Abram said, "Lord God, what will You give me, 07:18 seeing I go childless, 07:20 and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?" 07:25 Look, you have given me no offspring 07:28 indeed one born in my house is my heir. 07:31 And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, 07:35 "This one shall not be your heir, 07:37 but one who will come from your own body 07:40 shall be your heir." 07:43 This conversation between Abraham and God 07:46 shows us a Creator that is so patient with us. 07:51 He knows that we have troubles 07:53 seeing beyond the natural world 07:56 into his super natural works. 08:00 He will allow us to search and question 08:03 and he will always guide us to his truth. 08:08 Abraham's God is a God of love 08:12 forgiveness compassion and mercy. 08:17 He is always available to us. 08:21 He invites us to reason with him 08:23 to tell him what troubles are hearts. 08:28 He is active and present in each of our lives. 08:32 He is not an unknown or distant God 08:36 and he wants you to allow him to get close to you. 08:41 Even when we make a mess of our lives, 08:44 God stands with us patiently 08:47 training and guiding as our father. 08:52 Let's see what happens next. 08:54 Let's go 08:56 to the Book of Genesis 16:1, 2 and 4. 09:03 Here is what it says. 09:05 "Now Sarah, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. 09:09 And she had an Egyptian maidservant 09:12 whose name was Hagar. 09:15 So Sarai said to Abram, 09:17 "See now, the Lord has restrained me 09:19 from bearing children. 09:21 Please, go in to my maid, 09:23 perhaps I shall obtain children by her." 09:26 And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai. 09:31 So he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. 09:34 And when she saw that she had conceived 09:37 her mistress became despised in her eyes." 09:42 We see here what happens 09:43 when we try to help God with his plans. 09:47 Sarai became impatient in waiting on the promise of God 09:52 and decided to take things into her own hands. 09:56 She caused her husband to sin against God. 10:00 Sarah was Abraham's lawful wife 10:04 and he sinned by taking another woman 10:06 to bare the child that God promised. 10:11 Abraham was not without blame here. 10:14 He never questioned God's promise of a son 10:19 but he did not wait upon the Lord. 10:22 God has his time and his ways 10:26 to delay that Abraham and Sarah were experiencing 10:30 which was about 10 years was a test from God, 10:34 testing Abraham's faith in the power of God. 10:38 This test Abraham failed. 10:42 Polygamy was considered 10:45 an acceptable lifestyle at that time 10:48 but it was never acceptable in the side of God. 10:52 He is a holy God. 10:53 He does not accept what man sees is right. 10:58 This was a violation of God's law 11:01 and the consequences of disobedience 11:04 are still with us today. 11:07 By heeding Sarah's wishes to marry Hagar, 11:12 Abraham invited evil into his house. 11:15 By this act it had reached into his decedents of today. 11:23 Abraham brought some of his cultural traditions 11:26 with him when he left his homeland. 11:29 God chose Abraham because He knew he was trainable. 11:33 God was giving him insight to his character flaws 11:36 and lack of faith and patience. 11:40 Now that Hagar who had no choice in the matter 11:45 became pregnant with Abraham's child, 11:48 jealousy and hate rate 11:49 between Sarah and Hagar was also conceived. 11:54 We read in Genesis 16:5. 11:59 "Then Sarai said to Abram, "My wrong be upon you! 12:04 I gave my maid into your embrace, 12:07 and when she saw that she had conceived, 12:10 I became despised in her eyes. 12:13 The Lord judge between you and me." 12:19 Sarah was the one that insisted that Abraham marry Hagar 12:25 but now she held him responsible 12:27 for the problems that plagued their home. 12:31 Hagar became proud and boastful 12:33 that she was now carrying the son of Abraham, 12:36 the promised one and she treated Sarah with contempt. 12:42 Abraham tried to bring peace back into the home 12:46 but it was in vain. 12:48 Sarah wanted Abraham to send Hagar away 12:53 but he would not do that, 12:55 Hagar was the mother of his child 12:57 and he hoped to see the son of promise. 13:00 But remember that Hagar was Sarah's maidservant, 13:04 he left her in Sarah's control. 13:07 Here is what he said in Genesis 16:6, 13:11 we read, "So Abram said to Sarah, 13:15 "Indeed your maid is in your hand, 13:17 do to her as you please. 13:19 And when Sarai dealt harshly with her, 13:22 she fled from her presence." 13:26 Hagar and Sarah could not repair the damage 13:29 that had been done between them. 13:32 Hagar holding on to her pride 13:34 and anger toward her mistress ran off into the desert 13:38 and it was there that an angel of the Lord appeared to her. 13:44 Again in the Book of Genesis 16:7, 8 13:48 we read, "Now an Angel of the Lord found her 13:52 by a spring of water in the wilderness, 13:55 by the spring on the way to Shur. 13:58 And He said, "Hagar, Sarai's maid, 14:01 where have you come from, and where are you going?" 14:05 And she said, "I am fleeing 14:07 from the presence of my mistress Sarai." 14:11 Notice here how the Angel of the Lord 14:14 addressed Hagar as Sarah's maid. 14:19 This was to remind Hagar of her position 14:21 and her duty with this stern reminder, 14:25 God also gave comfort to this hurting and lonely woman. 14:31 Let's take a look at the conversation 14:33 that took place between the Angel of the Lord and Hagar. 14:37 Again in Genesis 16:9, 10, 11, 14:42 we read" The Angel of the Lord said to her, 14:47 "Return to your mistress, 14:48 and submit yourself under her hand. 14:51 Then the Angel of the Lord said to her, 14:53 "I will multiply your descendants exceedingly, 14:57 so that they shall not be counted for multitude. 15:00 Behold, you are with child, and you shall bear a son. 15:05 You shall call his name Ishmael, God shall hear, 15:09 because the Lord has heard your affliction." 15:14 Hagar returned to her mistress Sarah 15:18 and gave birth to a son name Ishmael, 15:22 Abraham was 86 years old 15:26 when Hagar gave birth to Ishmael. 15:30 Thirteen years later at 99 years of age 15:34 the Lord again appeared to Abraham. 15:38 God at this time changes Abram and Sarah's name 15:43 and explains to Abram, 15:45 why their names are being changed. 15:47 Let's look at Genesis 17:1-5, 15:54 "When Abram was 99 years old, 15:56 the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, 15:59 "I am Almighty God walk before Me 16:02 and be blameless. 16:04 No longer shall your name be called Abram, 16:08 but your name shall be Abraham 16:10 for I have made you a father of many nations. 16:15 And in verses 15 and 16 we read, 16:19 "Then God said to Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife, 16:24 you shall not call her name Sarai, 16:27 but Sarah shall be her name. 16:30 And I will bless her and also give you a son by her, 16:34 then I will bless her, 16:36 and she shall be a mother of nations 16:39 kings of peoples shall be from her." 16:44 At that time Ishmael was a young boy 16:47 about 13 years of age. 16:50 His father Abraham loved him so much, 16:54 the natural thing for this father 16:56 is to believe that Ishmael was a promise son. 17:01 But the Creator God had this to say. 17:04 In Genesis 17:18, 19, 17:08 here is what God said "Then Abraham said to God, 17:13 "Oh, that Ishmael might live before You! 17:17 Then God said, 17:18 "No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, 17:22 and you shall call his name Isaac 17:25 I will establish my covenant with him. 17:31 Anytime that we the created beings 17:36 speak with our Creator God, it is a prayer. 17:41 We see that Abraham prayed 17:44 that Ishmael might be the promised son, 17:47 but that was not God's plan, 17:50 that was man's interference with God's plan. 17:55 However we worship a merciful God 18:00 who tells us to call him father Abba. 18:05 When we disobey him 18:06 and take things into our own hands, 18:09 we can not expect him to change his plans for us. 18:14 We must acknowledge our disobedience 18:16 and ask for His forgiveness. 18:20 Our father Abba will always forgive us. 18:25 Here is God's response to Abraham's prayer. 18:30 In Genesis 17:20, 18:33 we read," And as for Ishmael, 18:37 I have heard you. 18:38 Behold, I have blessed him, 18:40 I will make him fruitful, I will multiply him exceedingly. 18:45 He shall beget twelve princes, 18:48 and I will make him a great nation." 18:52 History tells us that this promise of God was fulfilled. 18:57 Ishmael did indeed have 12 sons. 19:00 The record of their names are found 19:02 in the Bible in the Book of Genesis. 19:06 Genesis 25:13-16. 19:11 Here is what it says, 19:13 "And these were the names of the sons of Ishmael, 19:16 by their names, according to their generations. 19:19 The firstborn of Ishmael is Nebajoth then Kedar, 19:24 Adbeel, Mibsam, Mishma, Dumah, 19:28 Massa, Hadar, Tema, Jetu, 19:32 Naphish, and Kedemah. 19:34 These were the sons of Ishmael 19:36 and these were their names, 19:38 by their towns and their settlements, 19:41 twelve princes according to their nations." 19:46 Abraham loved Ishmael 19:49 and wanted him to be the son of promise 19:52 but God said this cannot be. 19:55 Abraham accepted the will of God. 19:58 He knew that his faith failed him 20:01 and he will experience deep anguish 20:04 when he was asked to make a difficult decision 20:07 regarding his beloved son Ishmael. 20:11 We can take heart 20:12 that when things do not go according to our plans, 20:16 it is a blessing. 20:18 The blessing is that God is working things out 20:21 in our lives according to His plans. 20:25 We should be encouraged by Abraham, 20:28 the father of faith who was patiently trained by God 20:32 so that his faith may be strengthened. 20:38 When you get to the Descendants of Abraham, 20:40 you can be sure that you're lighting the way for all 20:43 in search of the Creator God 20:46 and His message of love and forgiveness to all nations. 20:49 Thank you for your support and for your prayers. 20:52 All contributions are tax deductible. 20:55 Please visit us online today at www.descendantsofabraham.org 21:00 or write to us at the address you see listed on your screen. 21:04 All correspondence will be kept confidential. 24:13 Let us pray. 24:16 Abba, father in heaven, 24:19 I pray for my brothers and sisters 24:22 that are searching for the true God, 24:24 the God of Abraham. 24:27 I pray that they will seek You 24:30 and find You as you have promised. 24:34 Father many are in darkness trapped by traditions 24:39 and lies that they have been told about You. 24:43 Please reveal Yourself to them. 24:47 Show them that You have a higher purpose for their life. 24:52 Let them experience Your infinite love 24:56 and Your forgiveness for their sins. 25:00 I pray that they will come 25:03 and taste and see 25:06 that the Lord is good. Amen. 25:13 God kept His promise to Abraham 25:17 and God keeps His promises to us, His children. 25:23 He has proven His love for you 25:27 and He will never let you down. 25:30 He is faithful, He is loyal, He is trustworthy. 25:37 My brothers and sisters, 25:39 the God of Abraham is our God. 25:44 Abraham is a created being just like you and me. 25:50 He sinned against the Creator God 25:54 just like you and me. 25:57 He made many mistakes in his life, 26:01 but he knew that his Father Abba God in heaven 26:07 is a merciful and forgiving Father. 26:13 Abraham's life story shows us that we will sin 26:18 but we have a God who is very personal 26:22 who invites us to approach Him 26:25 and approach His throne in heaven, 26:29 the throne of grace and approach it boldly, 26:33 not to be afraid, not be be shy, boldly. 26:40 Our God who wants us to call Him Abba. 26:44 Father does not want us to be afraid of Him. 26:48 He loves us so much 26:50 and wants us to be reconciled to Him 26:54 Satan has come between us and our heavenly Father. 26:59 He is the one that puts lies and fear into our hearts 27:05 but all we have to do is surrender our life to God. 27:10 And he will be our refuge. 27:14 We hope that you will join us again 27:17 as we continue to explore the struggles of Abraham, 27:21 the one called a friend of God. 27:27 Please don't forget to visit our website 27:30 at www.descendantsofabraham.org, 27:37 www.descendantsofabraham.org, 27:44 and email us at info@descendantsofabraham.org. 27:51 All email will be kept confidential. |
Revised 2014-12-17