1 The LORD appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. 2 Abraham looked

11The LORD appeared to Abraham near the great The LORD appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. 22Abraham looked up and saw three men standing Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.to the ground. 33He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by. lord, do not pass your servant by. 44Let a little Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. feet and rest under this tree. 55Let me get you Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant.” your servant.” “ “Very well,” they answered, “do as you say.” Very well,” they answered, “do as you say.” 66So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. “Quick,” he said, “get three seahs of fine flour and “Quick,” he said, “get three seahs of fine flour and knead it and bake some bread.”knead it and bake some bread.” 77Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calftender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. prepare it. 88He then brought some curds and milk He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them.before them. While they ate, he stood near them While they ate, he stood near them under a tree. under a tree.

Click here to Click here to start. After start. After

song, continue.song, continue.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dp7BOiT0L5o

99“Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him. “Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him. “ “There, in the tent,” he said. There, in the tent,” he said. 1010Then the LORD said, “I will surely return to you Then the LORD said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.”have a son.” Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. tent, which was behind him. 1111Abraham and Sarah Abraham and Sarah were already old and well advanced in years, and were already old and well advanced in years, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. Sarah was past the age of childbearing. 1212So Sarah So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?” pleasure?” 1313Then the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Then the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ now that I am old?’ 1414Is anything too hard for the Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son.”next year and Sarah will have a son.” 1515Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.” not laugh.” But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.”But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.”

Trusting God is Trusting God is not necessarily not necessarily

easy, but easy, but delivers in the delivers in the

endend


Genesis 12:1-3Genesis 12:1-3

The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.household and go to the land I will show you.

22“I will make you into a great nation“I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you;and I will bless you;

I will make your name great, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.and you will be a blessing.

33I will bless those who bless you, I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will and whoever curses you I will

curse;curse; and all peoples on earth and all peoples on earth

will be blessed through you.”will be blessed through you.”

““Trust me”Trust me”

Genesis 15:1-6Genesis 15:1-6 After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision:a vision:

““Do not be afraid, Abram. Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield,I am your shield, your very great reward.” your very great reward.”

22But Abram said, “O Sovereign LORD, what can you But Abram said, “O Sovereign LORD, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” 33And And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.” servant in my household will be my heir.” 44Then the word of the LORD came to him: “This Then the word of the LORD came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir.” your own body will be your heir.” 55He took him He took him outside and said, “Look up at the heavens and count outside and said, “Look up at the heavens and count the stars —if indeed you can count them.” Then he the stars —if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 66Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.him as righteousness.




I do not understand I do not understand how you are going to how you are going to

bless me like you bless me like you promised.promised.







This does not indicate who the This does not indicate who the mother would be. mother would be.

Although the “star” illustration is Although the “star” illustration is great, it is a little vague without great, it is a little vague without

hindsight.hindsight.




Why the “veiling”? Why doesn’t God Why the “veiling”? Why doesn’t God just give all of the details at the start?just give all of the details at the start?

1.1.Avoids “determinism”. Allows reigned Avoids “determinism”. Allows reigned freewillfreewill2.2.Develops trust in God’s character rather Develops trust in God’s character rather than just his power. (Relationship versus than just his power. (Relationship versus “vending machine”)“vending machine”)3.3.We would seek to modify the plan.We would seek to modify the plan.




Why the “veiling”? Why doesn’t God Why the “veiling”? Why doesn’t God just give all of the details at the start?just give all of the details at the start?

Other examples of veiling:Other examples of veiling:The entire Messiah planThe entire Messiah planDavid’s rise to the throneDavid’s rise to the thronePaul’s lifePaul’s lifeRevelationRevelation




We need to learn to We need to learn to trust in the character trust in the character of God and not just of God and not just

request his request his immediate immediate

intervention.intervention.

99“Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him. “Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him. “ “There, in the tent,” he said. There, in the tent,” he said. 1010Then the LORD said, “I will surely return to you Then the LORD said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will Sarah your wife will have a son.”have a son.” Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. tent, which was behind him. 1111Abraham and Sarah Abraham and Sarah were already old and well advanced in years, and were already old and well advanced in years, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. Sarah was past the age of childbearing. 1212So Sarah So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?” pleasure?”

What God does can totally violate natural What God does can totally violate natural law.law.

(“It doesn’t make sense!”)(“It doesn’t make sense!”)The response: “So?” Isaiah 55:8-9)The response: “So?” Isaiah 55:8-9)


Isaiah 55:8-9Isaiah 55:8-9““For my thoughts are not your thoughts, For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways,”neither are your ways my ways,” declares declares the LORD. the LORD. 99“As the heavens are higher than the earth,“As the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.and my thoughts than your thoughts.


Luke 1:34-37Luke 1:34-37 How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you,you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.”with God.”


Given: God is infinite in power, ability and Given: God is infinite in power, ability and wisdom.wisdom. A little manipulation of biology is a A little manipulation of biology is a problem?problem? Of course this is impossible. That is the Of course this is impossible. That is the cool part.cool part.

99“Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him. “Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him. “ “There, in the tent,” he said. There, in the tent,” he said. 1010Then the LORD said, “I will surely return to you Then the LORD said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.”have a son.” Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. tent, which was behind him. 1111Abraham and Sarah Abraham and Sarah were already old and well advanced in years, and were already old and well advanced in years, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. Sarah was past the age of childbearing. 1212So Sarah So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?” pleasure?” 1313Then the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Then the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ now that I am old?’ 1414Is anything too hard for the Is anything too hard for the LORD? LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son.”next year and Sarah will have a son.” 1515Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.” not laugh.” But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.”But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.”

This waiting had gone on for 24 years . . .

How long was Israel in Egypt?How long did God wait for Israel and Judah to repent?How long did God’s plan to bring Jesus take?How long have we been waiting for Jesus to return?



Galatians 4:4 ~ “But when the time had fully come, God sent his son . . .



God has his timetable and we need to accept this,trusting that he knows what he is doing.The master fisherman knows when to set the line.The master baker (grandma) knows exactly when the pie is done just right.


Genesis 17:18Genesis 17:18And Abraham said to God, “If And Abraham said to God, “If only Ishmael might live under only Ishmael might live under your blessing!”your blessing!”


I Samuel 24 & 26I Samuel 24 & 26In the cave and at the camp, David In the cave and at the camp, David would not take matters into his would not take matters into his own hands.own hands.


Israel told to go to Canaan.Israel told to go to Canaan.Israel told to wander (after refusing Israel told to wander (after refusing Canaan)Canaan)Israel told to surrender to Israel told to surrender to Nebuchadnezzar.Nebuchadnezzar.People called to serve God through People called to serve God through ChristChristI just want to do it my way!I just want to do it my way!


Israel told to go to Canaan.Israel told to go to Canaan.Israel told to wander (after refusing Israel told to wander (after refusing Canaan)Canaan)Israel told to surrender to Israel told to surrender to Nebuchadnezzar.Nebuchadnezzar.People called to serve God through People called to serve God through ChristChristI just want to do it my way!I just want to do it my way!

99“Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him. “Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him. “ “There, in the tent,” he said. There, in the tent,” he said. 1010Then the LORD said, “I will surely return to you Then the LORD said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.”have a son.” Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. tent, which was behind him. 1111Abraham and Sarah Abraham and Sarah were already old and well advanced in years, and were already old and well advanced in years, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. Sarah was past the age of childbearing. 1212So Sarah So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?” pleasure?” 1313Then the LORD said to Abraham,Then the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ now that I am old?’ 1414Is anything too hard for the Is anything too hard for the LORD? LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son.”next year and Sarah will have a son.” 1515Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.” not laugh.” But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.”But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.”

√We operate under God’s We operate under God’s sovereignty. sovereignty. He does not operate under He does not operate under ours.ours.


√We operate under God’s We operate under God’s sovereignty. sovereignty. He does not operate under He does not operate under ours.ours.

(That would be unparalleled (That would be unparalleled disaster!)disaster!)


√We operate under God’s We operate under God’s sovereignty. sovereignty. He does not operate under He does not operate under ours.ours.√We need to learn to trust in We need to learn to trust in God, God, not is his power at our not is his power at our request.request.


√We operate under God’s We operate under God’s sovereignty. sovereignty. He does not operate under He does not operate under ours.ours.√We need to learn to trust in We need to learn to trust in God, God, not is his power at our not is his power at our request.request.√We need to trust his timing.We need to trust his timing.√Keep the End in view.Keep the End in view.


√We operate under God’s We operate under God’s sovereignty. sovereignty. He does not operate under He does not operate under ours.ours.√We need to learn to trust in We need to learn to trust in God, God, not is his power at our not is his power at our request.request.√We need to trust his timing.We need to trust his timing.√Keep the End in view.Keep the End in view.√We need to know enough, not We need to know enough, not all.all. Too much yields tinkering. Too much yields tinkering.


Isaiah 64:4-5Isaiah 64:4-5Since ancient times no one has heard, Since ancient times no one has heard,

no ear has perceived, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God no eye has seen any God

besides you,besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.for him. You come to the help of those You come to the help of those

who gladly do right,who gladly do right, who remember your ways. who remember your ways.

Click here to Click here to finish.finish.

Documents

1 The LORD appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. 2 Abraham looked