Things Written Aforetime For Our Learning - Gleanings From Genesis

by N.D.W.Miller | Category: For Young Believers | Jul 1936

"And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the Plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt."

The LORD'S dealings with Lot notwithstanding all his persistent self-seeking, and God's gracious answer-" See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also," are among the unnumbered proofs God gives us that, as "the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him."

The end of Lot's career presents a tragic picture sad, painful and solemn; but even here God's mercy shines out amid the darkness of this closing scene. "How unsearchable are His judgements and His ways past tracing out!" Lot's descendants were (and are) carefully preserved, and Israel, in after years, were forbidden by God to dispossess either Moab or Ammon, for the reasons given in Deuteronomy 2. 9-12 and 19-21.

On the other hand, an Ammonite or a Moabite was not permitted to enter into the Assembly of the LORD, for the reasons stated in Deuteronomy 23. 3, 4.

The descendants of Lot were a continual grief to God's elect; and yet, in dark days to come, in the LORD'S inscrutable and sovereign purpose the land of Moab, and the land of the children of Ammon (with Edom), will-so the present writer would suggest, provide "chambers," and "closed doors," to protect "the seed of Abraham" in "the time of Jacob's trouble "-the Great Tribulation (compare Isaiah 26. 20, 21, and Daniel 11. 41).

Coming now to Genesis 20., we see, alas, sad failure on Abraham's part. For the second time he denies his true relationship to Sarah. He said, " She is my sister." This was but " half a truth," and half a truth is not much better than a lie. As in Egypt, so in the land of the Philistines, Abraham's faith failed. His judgement also was at fault. It is a great mistake to judge by appearances-" by the sight of the eyes." The denying of Sarah might have led to most serious consequences had not the LORD interposed. Faith may fail-God never fails.

Abraham's action might well have imperilled even the promised Seed but for God's intervention. Abimelech, the king of Gerar took Sarah, as the LORD knew, in the integrity of his heart, and the innocency of his hands; but it was God who withheld him from sinning (verse 6). Abraham's failure exposed him to the just and pointed rebuke of the king. He stood condemned. And what was the reason for his failure? (his denial of Sarah), the reason is disclosed in Abraham's words, "Because I thought surely the fear of God is not in this place." This was a great mistake. The fear of God was there. The chapter has its lessons for us, reminding us that "the fear of man bringeth a snare; but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe" (Proverbs 29. 25). However, in Abraham's case, God, in His mercy and faithfulness, maintained His servant, telling Abimelech to restore "the man's wife ; for he is a prophet; and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live." Truly, wondrous grace on God's part. In spite of failure and shortcoming "He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, He reproved kings for their sakes; saying, Touch not Mine anointed ones, and do my prophets no harm" (Psalm 105. 14, 15). So "Abraham prayed unto God; and God healed Abimelech."

This concludes our reference to Genesis 20., and brings us to chapter 21., the chief event of which is the birth of Isaac, the son of promise. Three things stand out prominently-Isaac was born contrary to nature. Then, as a babe he was circumcised. And then, at his weaning, he was mocked by the son of Hagar. God's time had come, and "the LORD visited Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as He had spoken." Abraham was now an hundred years old, and his body "as good as dead," and Sarah was ninety, and "past age." But, as she said herself, "God bath made me to laugh," for that is the meaning of Isaac-it means "to laugh." It was a great day when the child of promise-the promised heir-was born. " There is a time to laugh " (Ecclesiastes 3. 4), and this was their time. It is God-glorifying to see these two aged saints rejoicing in the goodness and faithfulness of God." Hath He said, and shall He not do it? Or bath He spoken, and shall He not make it good? " "He is faithful that promised."

Then, according to the Lord's command, Isaac was circumcised when he was eight days old. "And the child grew, and was weaned, and Abraham made a

great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned." "Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should give children suck?" "I fed you with milk," said the Apostle to the Corinthians. Milk is for babes. "As newborn babes long for the spiritual milk which is without guile, that ye may grow thereby unto salvation." This is the Spirit's exhortation to us in Peter's first letter. As the mother's milk is essential for the good of the child, so is God's Word, the spiritual milk, absolutely necessary for the growth of God's child. And there is the weaning time too. "Whom will He teach knowledge?" asks the prophet. "And whom will He make to understand the message? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts? For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, there a little" (Isaiah 28. 9, 10). "For every one that partaketh of milk is without experience of the word of righteousness ... solid food is for full grown men" (Hebrews 5. 14). These, and other scriptures, shew us that there is an abundance of Divine nourishment in God's precious Word to suit every stage of spiritual growth; and there is Divine instruction to furnish unto every good work (see 2 Timothy 3. 15-17).

"And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned. And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had borne unto Abraham, mocking. Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bond woman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac."

For the child the weaning time has its trials. The child must needs be "drawn from the breasts," and this is seldom done without a measure of fretting on the part of the child. Spiritually, as the young Christian grows in Divine things, harder lessons have to be learned, and the increase of knowledge, though it brings its compensating joys, is nevertheless not without its sorrows. But as the mother with her child, so will God do with His child. "As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you." "I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with his mother, my soul is with me like a weaned child," said the Psalmist (Psalm 131.). And, pressing on from the weaning stage, the "Feast" will surely come- "A feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well-refined" (Isaiah 25. 6).

Thus, "sonship," as seen in Isaac, is reached experimentally (compare Romans 8., verses 16 and 14).

N.D.W.Miller | Jul 1936
For Young Believers