Are We An Abraham?
Genesis 18:19 - For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
I. Abraham will command his children and his household.
A. The word "command" means to give orders.
1. Genesis 18:19 states that Abraham will command his children and household.
a. He did not turn these duties over to his wife, but did these things himself.
b. There were probably people to help him, but he took direct command of directing his household.
2. Genesis 18:6 – Abraham commanded Sarah to quickly prepare three measures of fine flour, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth.
a. See the attention to detail?
b. It is obvious that Abraham understood what it took to make bread, and how much bread it would take.
II. Called of God to come out of Ur of the Chaldees.
A. Has God spoken to you to come out of this present world?
1. Every child of God has received this command.
2. Are you listening to God enough to hear what he is saying?
B. Your coming out of the world might not be sudden or complete, but are you coming out of the world?
1. The emphasis is not that you are where you want to be, but are you working toward being what you should be.
2. If you do not do any personal Bible study, you are not coming out of the world.
C. Your children will see your lack of dedication to the Word of God and will not pay any attention to the Bible either.
1. Never say you will not tell your children not to sin because you have committed that same sin yourself.
2. The authority is the Word of God, not your experience.
3. If you have sinned, and you see your children starting down that same road of sin, be sure and tell them you have already been down that road, and you regret doing it. Tell them how you have suffered as a result of your sins, and you do not want them to suffer as you have.
4. If you believe you should not warn your children about sins because you have sinned that same sin, you are placing your authority above the Word of God.
5. If you say you will be a hypocrite if you warm them, you are wrong.
6. You are being a hypocrite before God if you do not use your bad experiences to warn others.
D. Abraham went into Egypt when God told him not to go.
1. Genesis 17 explains this story.
2. Genesis 26 tells the story of Isaac, the son of Abraham sinning the same way Abraham did.
3. It would have been much better if Abraham had explained his sin and the result to Isaac, than for Isaac to have to learn the bad consequences of sin for himself.
4. It is always better to learn from the experience of others, and not have to learn from our own experiences.
III. Genesis 14:14 – Abraham had trained servants.
A. Are you training your children?
1. This training comes with effort, with paying attention to detail.
a. Abraham trained his servants because he understood he needed to be prepared when danger comes.
b. It is good to trust God, but it is also good to prepare.
c. Proverbs 21:31 states, The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.
2. Abraham was personally committed to training all of his servants.
B. Are you an example for good to those around you?
C. Are you the real head of your home, or is your wife, or children?
D. Abraham stepped out and helped those around him who got themselves into trouble.
IV. Look at the children of Jacob – all the twelve tribes, but compare their faithfulness in Egypt to their rebellion when they came out of Egypt.
A. Abraham was rich, but the emphasis was not upon the passing wealth of this world.
1. Genesis 13:8 – Abraham was more interested in being a Christian with Lot and the rest of his neighbors than he was in material gain.
2. Abraham was content to pasture his flocks in the desert and trust God to make them fat, rather than have a dispute with Lot.
B. The person who refuses to give tithes and offerings will remain poor in the things of God, although they might gain much material wealth.
1. Genesis 13:17-20 – Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek.
2. I am sure Abraham passed on this faithfulness to his children.
3. What are you passing on to your children concerning material things?
4. Do you spend more time thinking about material wealth and how to take care of your family than you spend wondering about Bible doctrines, and trusting God to take care of you?