The Names of God lesson 3

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The Names of God

Lesson 3

Text: Genesis 22:1-14

Genesis 16:5-16

Intro: Tonight we are going into our third study of the names of God found in the word of God. We have said from the beginning that no one name can fully cover the enormous character of who God is, But as we build on each of them, we get to know more and more about Him. Tonight we are going to look at two different names of God located in the same area of the bible, but given by two very different people, the first one is:

  1. Jehovah Jireh,

    1. The Background,

      1. The Promise of an Heir,

        1. We do not need to cover a lot of the background tonight, seeing we did a lot of history last week. If you need that, you can find it on our web-sight,

        2. but last week we ended with Abram getting his name changed to Abraham, and Sarai to Sarah,

          • But even tho they would have their name changed, the situation of not having a child was not resolved yet.

          • However, God did affirm that Abraham would have a child, and that that child of promise would be from Sarah

        3. Life went on, and Abraham and Sarah continued to live and do their work.

        4. It was during this phase in life that Abraham would get a visit form the Lord, and some disturbing news,

          • Chapter 18 reveals that Abraham looked up and saw three men by him,

            • he asked them to stay and dine with him a while,

            • once again, it was during this time, the Lord revealed to Abraham and Sarah they would have a child, this news made Sarah laugh.

        5. After a meal, the Lord and the two others left, but before they went, the Lord asked shall He hid what He is about to do?

          • He was preparing to God to Sodom and Gomorrah and destroy them,

          • But, Abraham asked the Lord to spare the cities, for the sake of 50, 45, 40, 30, 20

            • So they went their way, Took Lot from the city and destroyed it.

      2. God’s Promise fulfilled,

        1. After Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham went back to the south to Gerar located east of the dead sea, and toward the border of Israel.

        2. It was here he once again asked Sarah to pretend to be his sister,

          • Once again Sarah was taken by Abimelech to be his wife,

          • and once again the Lord came in a dream to him, and warned him what he had done, and what was about to happen if he didn’t let Sarah go.

        3. At the end of ch.20 we see that the house of Abimelech was unable to have children because of the promise God made Sarah,

          • Abraham prayed for God to heal his house, and let them have children.

          • The very next verses record how Sarah conceived and had a child,

            • I think it is worth mentioning that He prayed for his neighbor, and then God ministered to him in the same area????

        4. After these things, God put Abraham to the test,

      3. God Sees and Provides

        1. the text,

          • Vs.2 take thy “only” son,

            • this word is point out there is a difference between Ishmael, and Isaac,

            • it carries the meaning Your beloved, or one that cannot be replaced,

        2. take him and sacrifice him,

          • so they made their journey to the place where they were going to make sacrifice, and they took wood, but no offering.

          • Isaac may have been a little concerned at this point.

            • Notice vs.6 He made Issac to carry the wood, while he carried the fire and a knife, (joke: perhaps he was wanting to tire our Issac before they got there so he wouldn’t put up much of a fight.)

        3. incidentally this all took place on Mt. Morriah, in the area of Jerusalem, where the temple mount was.

        4. So as Abraham drew his knife, ready to offer Isaac, the Lord stopped him,

        5. Both Seeing the faithfulness of His servant, and Providing the Sacrifice

    2. Abraham called the name of the place, Vs.14 Jehovah Jireh, (Meaning)

      1. God Sees, and or God Provides,

        1. First it is still using the Jehovah the Eternal, Un-Changing, Self-existent one.

          • The proper name of God

        2. But then he uses Jireh,

          • this carries both meanings mentioned earlier, to see,

            • letting Abraham know God sees, not only our actions, but also our intentions

            • He knew Abraham was willing to give his all, going back to the “Only” son the one that is irreplaceable,

          • But it also means that God provides,

            • Abraham already pointed to this when he told Issac in Vs. 8 that God would provide Himself a lamb.

    3. Application,

      1. We should be aware that God sees us,

        1. God saw Abraham when he left his house, and when they had walked three days, and then when he left the others camped out, even to the point to where he was drew back the knife.

          • Sarah could have been fooled by his intentions when he left the house,

            • by the way, what do you think was going on with Sarah during this time?

          • The men with him may have been fooled when he spent three days traveling,

          • Issac could have been fooled even to the very end,

          • But, God knew the heart of Abraham,

            • why did God allow Abraham to go so far?

              • I don’t know, maybe to get to where Jerusalem would be, perhaps to make an impression on Abraham, or even top imprint a lasting image on Isaac’s mind.

          • But God saw the entire time.

            • Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

        2. So, we know He sees us, our problems, troubles, and He sees the solutions.

      2. We should depend on God as our Provider,

        1. there are a lot of great spiritual implications here, but for our application, is God our provider,

          • or at least do we reconsign Him as that?

        2. Who else would we depend on? The treasures of Sodom? Our own ability? Or trust in the creator of heaven and earth, possessor of everything the all powerful all seeing God?

  2. El-Roi, Genesis 16:5-16

    1. Background,

      1. Hagar,

        1. This all took place during the life of Abram/ Abraham while he was waiting for the Lord to preform His promise.

        2. As time went on, and the promise of a son was fading in the mind of Sari, she decided it was time to give up on God and provide a solution on her own.

          • vs.1-5 records the event how Sarai saw she didn’t have a child, and gave Hagar to Abram

          • Abram went into her, and she conceived a child,

        3. Like most of our bad decisions, Sarai started to regret it instantly,

          • Vs.4 tells us Sarai despised her because of it,

          • And when she let Abram know, then he told her, do as it pleases you.

          • Because of this Sarai treated Hagar very bad,

            • so much so, that Hagar ran away.

      2. Hagar Runs Away,

        1. Because of the way Sarai treated her, she ran off.

          • Went into the desert, and an angel found her by a water well,

        2. Hagar going to Shur,

          • Let’s look at a little HEBREW,

            • Hagar means flight, (actually the word is not of Hebrew origins, she was Egyptian)

            • Shur, the place she was going, Wall,

              • in a way Hagar was running and had her back against a wall.

            • The Angel “Found” her,

              • the word here for found, is associated with something that is lost, or misplaced.

            • We may take a harsh approach on this event, but we must emphasis with Hagar how she must have felt she was lost, misplaced, and running into a wall.

      3. God’s Promise to Hagar,

        1. The angel revealed to Hagar that:

          • She would have a son, his name will be Ishmael (God will hear)

          • your seed will be multiplied,

          • Ishmael will be a wild man (Running)

          • He will be against every man,

          • their hands will be against him,

          • he shall dwell in the presence of his brothers,

            • these are the attributes of Islamic people.

        2. In chapter 21, we see more of Ishmael,

          • on the day Isaac was to be weened, usually at the age of 3,

          • keep in mind that Ishmael was about 15 years older than Isaac,

            • so when Isaac was 3, and 18 year old boy was mocking him.

          • Here it is again that Hagar takes the boy and departs,

            • this time with the blessing of Abram,

        3. it is here that we have a continuation of the blessing of Ishmael,

          • God promises Hagar that the Lord will make him a great nation,

            • Vs.13&18 “And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed… 18 Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation. ”

        4. Back to Ch.16 tho,

          • After the angel comes to Hagar, promises her the boy will become a man and a great nation, she returns to Sarai,

          • and she calls the name of the Lord..

    2. El-Roi

      1. Meaning,

        1. El, we really haven’t said a great deal about the Prefix El,

          • El, means strength,or Mighty,

          • the Hebrew language was originally a pictogram type communication,

            • they drew pictures to paint a idea,

          • for the word EL, that is Aleph Lamed, would have been drawn with a picture of an OX, and a staff, to signify control,

          • so OX (strength) Staff (control)… GOD,

        2. Roi, Sight, See, look at,

          • you see me, or looking at me,

            • Swahili, Saw-Yoo-Bone-no “I see you”

          • it is her way of acknowledging that God sees her,

    3. Application:

      1. God Sees us,

        1. in the time of distress and turmoil, God sees us,

        2. in the time of strength and success, God sees us,

        3. In time of struggle, and stumbling God sees us,

        4. How different would we act toward trials if we understood God sees us?

        5. How different would we act in success if we knew God sees us,

      2. We need to live every day under the understanding that GOD SEES US,

        1. Everywhere we go,

        2. Everything thing we do,

        3. Everything we engage in,

        4. and even Everything we think,

          • God sees,

1- strong/ power 6- secure/ hook 11- open/ allow 16- watch/ know 21- press/ eat

2- house/ tent 7- food/ nourish 12- control/ yoke 17- mouth/ blow 22-mark/

3- foot/ walk 8- wall/ divide 13- water/ flow 18- wait/ snare monument

4- entrance/ door 9- basket/ contain 14- sprout/ heir 19- circle/ time

5- look/ reveal 10- arm/ work 15- grab/ protect 20- first/ top

Use two numbers to describe who God is: such as 20 & 16 He is First, and Knows, what two numbers are yours? ___ ___.