Genesis 12-25

Is it just me or was Abraham's life a Jerry Springer episode? I mean, honestly, if you read Genesis 12-25 and don't see it being a Springer episode, I think you are missing the point.

How is it a Springer episode?

1. Abraham moves to a new place and tells his wife, Sarah, to claim they are brother and sister, so that she can be taken to marry the king. TWICE!!! Not only once does Abraham not trust God, but Abraham tries to save his own life twice by giving his wife away. (Come to find out Sarah is his half-sister...) (I haven't gotten there yet, but his son does the exact same thing with Abimilech in the next chapter)

2. Abraham and Hagar. Seriously, what was Sarah thinking? "Here, sleep with my servant to get her pregnant. That will make me happy." Umm... nope. The whole surrogate mother thing doesn't work when the surrogate mother wants to keep the baby and the other mother is frustrated about not being able to have kids.

3. Circumcision... need I say more.

4. The angels showing up in Sodom and EVERY man in the city wants to have sex with them. And that isn't even the worst part. Lot says "no, don't have sex with them... but I have two daughters that you can do whatever you want with..." Great parenting.

5. Lot's great parenting skills come back to haunt him in the cave, when his daughters get him drunk and sleep with him. Now he is the father of his own grandchildren. Tell me that isn't straight out of Jerry Springer.

6. Abraham's servant finds Isaac a wife by looking for the woman who is willing to water his camels. While I understand the idea of the servant's heart, I just thought the whole processing of selecting a suitable wife wasn't about watering my animals.

7. Sarah dies and Abraham gets another wife and has 6 kids between the ages of 136-175. Talk about a crazy old man...

Hopefully, you realize I am joking about this whole thing. I just kept thinking this the whole time. If you take God out of the story, then it's a Jerry Springer episode.

I was looking for a main verse to wrap up Abraham's life and I think that Genesis 12:2-4 is probably the best ones. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.

I think that it is appropriate that Abraham's life verses are God's promises to him and all of the Hebrew people to follow. If you look throughout history, each of these promises were fulfilled by God. And only a few were fulfilled to Abraham himself.

That is why Hebrews 11:39-40 says, These were all commended for their faith yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

This is becoming one of my favorite verses. If you read the Bible at all, you see God making all of theses promises. And most of the time, the promises are fulfilled in future generations.

This is something that I think Americans really struggle with. We are an instant satisfaction society. We want our stuff now. We don't like to wait.

Guess what... God has all the time in world. He isn't bound by our day planner.

Abraham spent the first 100 years of his life only having 1 child. And that child wasn't the one that God was going to bless. I don't think I am willing to spend 100 days waiting for something. Or even 100 minutes.

Abraham's life reminds me that time is something God doesn't worry about. God created time. He is never in a hurry. When I am rushed, I am not being like God.

And that isn't even the hardest thing that Abraham had to do. A few years after Isaac is finally born, God says "Sacrifice him." Umm... really? Sacrifice this son that you promised me for 100 years?

I think God was asking Abraham the same question that He asks all of us. Are you... Am I willing to give up EVERYTHING for God?

All of us know the right answer to say. All of are willing to die for Christ. Just ask us and we know the right answer.

But really, are we willing to sacrifice for God? Are we willing to give up our time, money, comforts for God? Am I willing to give up my family for God? Am I willing to give up my TV for God? Am I willing to give up my cell phone for God? Am I willing to give up ____________ for God?