September 24, 2006
“Failures of the Father (and Mother) of Our Faith”
Genesis 16
I. The New Testament presents both Abram (Abraham) and Sarai (Sarah) in an extremely positive light:
1. Both are members of the Hall of Fame of Faith – Hebrews 11:8-12
2. Abraham is regularly referred to as “father” –
Matthew 3:9; Luke 1:73; 3:8; 16:24; 16:30; John 8:39; 5:3; 7:2; Romans 4:1; 4:12; 4:16 and James 2:21
3. Sarah also is spoken of as model for wives and women – 1 Peter 3:1-6
II. Yet, what kind of model is Sarah (Sarai) here? What kind of Faith does Abraham (Abram) show here?
1. Sarai offers her handmaid to Abram – Genesis 16:1-2
2. Abram accepts this offer – Genesis 16:2-4
3. Hagar conceives and despises Sarai – Genesis 16:4
4. Abram and Sarai seem to fight over this, Hagar is dealt with harshly and runs away – Genesis 16:5-6
5. Hagar has a son, Ishmael, his hand is to be against every man – Genesis 16:11-12 (Ishmael is the father of modern Arabs)
III. We see here a great lack of faith, admitted wrong – Genesis 16:5, what do we learn from this?
1. Faith is not equivalent to sinless perfection – Genesis 16:5
2. Sin makes a mess of things
3. God continues to be gracious, in spite of this sin – Genesis 17:1-6
4. The Covenant sign, “circumcision” which was bloody, pointed forward to the fact that Abraham’s Seed, Christ, would bleed and die for our sins, even for Abraham’s and Sarah’s sins Genesis 17:10-11
IV. Circumcision and the Lord’s Supper have this in common, they both point toward Christ’s death on the cross for our sins!
1. Genesis 16, Circumcision and the Lord’s Supper all have the sin problem in focus
A. Genesis 16 shows us, the best of us are sinners
B. Circumcision looks forward to Christ’s death on the cross – FOR OUR SINS -
C. Our Lord’s Supper looks back on Christ’s death on the cross – FOR OUR SINS –
NKJ Matthew 26:27 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. 28 "For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Great men and women in Scripture were also great sinners –
Abram and Sarah – Genesis 16
David – Psalm 51
Peter – Matthew 26:69-75
Paul -1 Timothy 1:15
The Lord’s Supper is a celebration for sinners saved by grace –
NKJ Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
NKJ Psalm 32:1 A Psalm of David. A Contemplation. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit.
