October 06, 2024

FAITH WORTH FOLLOWING: FOLLOW THE LEADER

October 06, 2024

Pastor Jonathan Falwell

 

Do you recall playing “Follow the Leader” as a child? Now, as adults, we see what a foolish game that could have been, as you had to follow the leader no matter where he/she led. Few of us would do that now! But isn’t that how we got in the mess we’re in today? Every day we follow people with social media platforms, or new ideas. Abraham followed God throughout his life, not trying to please people or situations, but only God. He never tried to second-guess God, thwart His plans, or offer his own ideas. He realized the God he had always known and loved had stayed the same, with His hand always upon him, giving him strength, courage, and a new life. He believed God with all his heart (Gen. 15:6).

 

Focal Passage: Genesis 24:1-15.

The plan for the future:

  • Read Gen. 24:1-5. What were some of the blessings that God had given to Abraham? How did he usually respond?
  • What do you remember about his servant from Chapter 15? What country and family was he referring to in vs. 4?
  • How far would the servant have to travel? What would be his method of travel?
  • Why did the servant think it possible no woman would want to leave her family to travel to Canaan?

Trusting God even when it may seem unlikely:

  • Read Gen. 24:6-9. Why did Abraham not want the servant to take Isaac to Ur? What was Abraham concerned might happen if Isaac went there?
  • Do you recall what the common description of the land in Mesopotamia is known by? Isaac, having been born in Canaan and raised among “enemies,” might find living among family members something he really enjoyed; was that a possibility for concern?
  • Even though it seems he gave his servant an “out” in vs 8, did Abraham doubt God would have prepared a bride for his son? What—in particular—would have made him certain God would bring about a victory?

Knowing the source of our deliverance:

  • Read Gen. 24:10-14. What are some reasons why the phrase “…for all his master’s goods were in his hand” is inserted in vs. 10? About how many days did the trip take?
  • The prayer of the servant is very insightful: what are some conclusions you can draw from it? Was his prayer specific? Have you ever prayed, received a partial answer, and realized you had prayed in a general way?
  • Do you feel this servant had grown to realize Abraham’s God was the true God? Do you think he had probably seen Abraham pray like this hundreds of times?

Seeing the goodness of our God:

  • Read Gen. 24:15. What is the significance of the first three words? How do you usually read this? Read Gen. 1:9. What are the last four words? What do they mean? The same Hebrew word is used—thus, it means it “became.” Does this change the way you read this?                                           
  • Back in verses 11 and 13, where was the servant at this time? Is it likely—in a city—the first person who would come out would be Abraham’s family member? Could the servant’s prayer have been answered any more quickly or more specifically?

ACTION POINTS:

  • If you’re not dead, God is not done with you.
  • Never forget the Bible’s admonition—”Behold, I am the Lord…is there anything too hard for Me? (Jer. 32:17). Trust Him, no matter what.
  • Believe! Doubt is the greatest enemy to victory.

Close: 

Today we have pretty much wrapped up the life of Abraham. It comes as no surprise that many religions or people—especially the Pharisees and Sadducees of Jesus’ day—held him in high regard because of his strong faith. We may know little about his father, Terah, the son of Nahor, allegedly from the line of Shem, Noah’s son, but we know for certain the land of the Chaldees, Ur, was in an idolatrous area. Yet somehow Abraham came to know—and more importantly, to trust—the One true God, known at that time as YAHWEH. Abraham not only trusted Him, but when He spoke to him to leave Ur, Abraham went. When He promised Abraham the land of Canaan, he believed God’s word as truth. His willingness to trust every word God spoke should cause us to question our own obedience. It, like Abraham’s, should be instant, full, and without doubt. Doubt, as Pastor said in today’s sermon, is the greatest enemy of full victory in Jesus Christ. There is only one place where doubt comes from, and that is from the enemy of our souls. Do not let Satan trip you up from wholly trusting God.

 

By Sandy Day

October 06, 2024

 

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