Tested & Tried

Abraham & Sarah: Tested & Tried

Sabbath School Lesson

July 14, 2007

Teacher: Larry R Evans

Quiz

1. If it is a legal solution to a stressful situation it will be an acceptable solution to God. True or False

2. There are times when a half truth is permissible when it serves a higher good. True or False

3. With God nothing is impossible if you are young and in good health. True or False

4. Admitting our mistakes removes the consequences of the wrong. True or False

5. Faith is often tested at the point of our most cherished possession, relationship and/or value. True or False

6. A review of the faith experiences of the biblical patriarchs and matriarchs is an encouragement to you in your own faith walk. True or False

Introduction

Can truth lie? Think about this:

Half-Truths

Beware of those who use the truth to deceive. When someone tells you something that is true, but leaves out important information that should be included, he can create a false impression.
For example, someone might say, “I just won a hundred dollars on the lottery. It was great. I took that dollar ticket back to the store and turned it in for one hundred dollars!”
This guy’s a winner, right? Maybe, maybe not. We then discover that he bought two hundred tickets, and only one was a winner. He’s really a big loser!
He didn’t say anything that was false, but he deliberately omitted important information. That’s called a half-truth. Half-truths are not technically lies, but they are just as dishonest.
Untrustworthy candidates in political campaigns often use this tactic. Let’s say that during Governor Smith’s last term, her state lost one million jobs and gained three million jobs. Then she seeks another term. One of her opponents runs an ad saying, “During Governor Smith’s term, the state lost one million jobs!” That’s true. However an honest statement would have been, “During Governor Smith’s term, the state had a net gain of two million jobs.”
Advertisers will sometimes use half-truths. It’s against the law to make false claims so they try to mislead you with the truth. An ad might boast, “Nine out of ten doctors recommend Yucky Pills to cure nose pimples.” It fails to mention that they only asked ten doctors and nine of them work for the Yucky Corporation.
This kind of deception happens too often. It’s a sad fact of life: Lies are lies, and sometimes the truth can lie as well.

Reading Comprehension, Vol. 8, No. 1, November 15, 2002http://rhlschool.com

In today’s lesson we will study some life experiences of Abraham and Sarah. They were an amazing couple with an amazing story to tell. Abraham is even included in “Faith’s Hall of Fame” yet we know that Abraham and Sarah were participants in “half truths.” To make matters worse they are included in a group of selected individuals of whom the Bible says, “God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.” (Heb. 11:16). If we stop there we could also be accused of presenting another “half truth.” It is an easy thing to do. There is much more to their experience than a well known couple using half truths. They are indeed examples of faith. We will need to take a look at their redeeming qualities not just their mistakes if we want to see the full truth.

Our lesson raises many questions but it also lays down some basic principles which we can all live by . . . and need to. . . . and it doesn’t matter if you are married or single, young or old, male or female. These principles are timeless truths for all times and all people regardless of gender, marital status or age. Let’s see if we can identify these principles in our study for today.

The Lesson Study

1. If it is a legal solution to a stressful situation it will be an acceptable solution to God. True – False, Maybe (all three)

You are familiar with the story. We are introduced to Abraham’s call in Gen. 12:3. Abram is told by God that he, Abram, would be blessed and God make him into a great nation. At the age of 75 Abram set out for Haran. He was accompanied by Sari, his wife, and Lot, his nephew. Because of a famine they went down to Egypt. Abram was no dummy. He knew Sari was beautiful and would catch the attention of others in this strange land. He knew that in the sight of others he was expendable if it meant getting Sari. Sari who was his wife was also his half sister – same father but different mothers. Realizing the potential danger that he, himself, was in he told Sari to tell others that she was his sister. While that protected Abram it made Sari eligible to become the wife of someone else and in this case it was the Pharaoh who wanted her as part of his harem.

So here we have an interesting paradox. We have a man who showed gigantic faith – enough to leave loved ones and friends behind for a journey into a land that was unknown to him. This giant leap of faith, however, has its counterpart of doubt and denial once they entered Egypt. Abram trusted God to provide a road map to the new land but his faith shriveled when he entered the new land. In fact he was willing to put in harms way his wife in order to protect his own life. In doing so he told a “half truth” by saying that Sari was his sister. Nevertheless, it was true!

So the question is this: If it is a legal solution to a stressful situation will be an acceptable solution to God. Was it acceptable to the Pharaoh?

Another day and another place. With God’s promise of blessing Abram with many descendants clearly before them, it becomes obvious that neither Abram nor Sari are getting any younger. God did make a promise so perhaps they could assist God. What if they followed the legal rules of the land and made Hagar, the maid of Sari, Abram’s wife? It would be a win-win situation! Right? Abram would have a child, the promise would be fulfilled as God promised and a nation under God would result. What could be wrong with that? So once again we raise the question, If it is a legal solution to a stressful situation was will it be an acceptable solution to God.

Note this statement from Patriarchs and Prophets:

“Polygamy had become so widespread that it had ceased to be regarded as a sin, but it was no less a violation of the law of God, and was fatal to the sacredness and peace of the family relation. Abraham’s marriage with Hagar resulted in evil, not only to his own household, but to future generations. (p.145)

It was not acceptable to God. Age was not a factor for God. Do you remember the proverb we’ve shared a number of times in class: God is more interested in changing our thinking than changing our circumstances. I believe, that in part, that is what’s taking place here. Tests of faith came over and over to Abraham. The good news is that God saw in Abraham possibilities that only difficulties could refine – and what a gallery of mind-boggling situations faced Abraham! He was certainly being tested.

2. There are times when a half truth is permissible when it serves a higher good. False

Is it possible for truth to be deceitful? Is it permissible to be deceitful when you have a noble cause? Explain.

When Abram told the truth that Sari was his sister was he being truthful? Deceitful? With influence did his use of “convenient truth” have upon the mission God had in mind for him? Not the following:

The people of God are His representatives upon the earth, and He intends that they shall be lights in the moral darkness of this world. Scattered all over the country, in the towns, cities, and villages, they are God's witnesses, the channels through which He will communicate to an unbelieving world the knowledge of His will and the wonders of His grace. It is His plan that all who are partakers of the great salvation shall be missionaries for Him. The piety of the Christian constitutes the standard by which worldlings judge the gospel. Trials patiently borne, blessings gratefully received, meekness, kindness, mercy, and love, habitually exhibited, are the lights that shine forth in the character before the world, revealing the contrast with the darkness that comes of the selfishness of the natural heart. {PP 134.2}

How we face the hard times that come upon us are a revelation to others just how sincere our profession really is.

“Endurance is not just the ability to bear a hard thing but to turn it into glory.” – Philip Yancey, Disappointment with God, p.173

3. With God nothing is impossible if you are young and in good health. True AND False

True because if you are young and in good health God can still do the impossible through you BUT it is also true if you are older. Keep in mind that when Isaac was born Abraham was over 100 years old and Sarah 90 years old! Even in his time he was a old man and Sarah was far past the child bearing years.

4. Admitting our mistakes removes the consequences of the wrong. False (not normally)

Sarah had approached Abraham with the plan. If you marry Hagar the promise can be fulfilled! As we know Abraham eventually caved in and married Hagar and they had a child named Ishmael. Note the consequence of Sarah’s counsel:

Gen 21:8-10

8 The child grew and was weaned, and on the day Isaac was weaned Abraham held a great feast. 9 But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking, 10 and she said to Abraham, "Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac." (from New International Version)

The consequences of our wrongdoing are not limited to us:

"Visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me." It is inevitable that children should suffer from the consequences of parental wrongdoing, but they are not punished for the parents' guilt, except as they participate in their sins. It is usually the case, however, that children walk in the steps of their parents. By inheritance and example the sons become partakers of the father's sin. Wrong tendencies, perverted appetites, and debased morals, as well as physical disease and degeneracy, are transmitted as a legacy from father to son, to the third and fourth generation. This fearful truth should have a solemn power to restrain men from following a course of sin. {PP 306.3}

5. Faith is often tested at the point of our most cherished possession, relationship and/or value. True or False

Can you even imagine the agony Abraham must have had as he listened to God’s voice instructing him to sacrifice his long-awaited son? I’ll be honest. I don’t know why Abraham thought this was God speaking to him but Scripture over and over again assures us that it was. But note, there was an issue even bigger in God’s plan than seeing how Abraham might respond to yet another test.

“God had called Abraham to be the father of the faithful, and his life was to stand as an example of faith to succeeding generations. But his faith had not been perfect. He had shown distrust of God in concealing the fact that Sarah was his wife, and again in his marriage with Hagar. That he might reach the highest standard, God subjected him to another test, the closest which man was ever called to endure. . . . But God had reserved His last, most trying test for Abraham until the burden of years was heavy upon him, and he longed for rest from anxiety and toil.” (PP 147)

It was to impress Abraham's mind with the reality of the gospel, as well as to test his faith, that God commanded him to slay his son. The agony which he endured during the dark days of that fearful trial was permitted that he might understand from his own experience something of the greatness of the sacrifice made by the infinite God for man's redemption. No other test could have caused Abraham such torture of soul as did the offering of his son. God gave His Son to a death of agony and shame. The angels who witnessed the humiliation and soul anguish of the Son of God were not permitted to interpose, as in the case of Isaac. There was no voice to cry, "It is enough." To save the fallen race, the King of glory yielded up His life. What stronger proof can be given of the infinite compassion and love of God? "He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" Romans 8:32. {PP 154.2}

The sacrifice required of Abraham was not alone for his own good, nor solely for the benefit of succeeding generations; but it was also for the instruction of the sinless intelligences of heaven and of other worlds. The field of the controversy between Christ and Satan--the field on which the plan of redemption is wrought out--is the lesson book of the universe. Because Abraham had shown a lack of faith in God's promises, Satan had accused him before the angels and before God of having failed to comply with the conditions of the covenant, and as unworthy of its blessings. God desired to prove the loyalty of His servant before all heaven, to demonstrate that nothing less than perfect obedience can be accepted, and to open more fully before them the plan of salvation. {PP 154.3}

Heavenly beings were witnesses of the scene as the faith of Abraham and the submission of Isaac were tested. The trial was far more severe than that which had been brought upon Adam. Compliance with the prohibition laid upon our first parents involved no suffering, but the command to Abraham demanded the most agonizing sacrifice. All heaven beheld with wonder and admiration Abraham's unfaltering obedience. All heaven applauded his fidelity. Satan's accusations were shown to be false. God declared to His servant, "Now I know that thou fearest God [notwithstanding Satan's charges], seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from Me." God's covenant, confirmed to Abraham by an oath before the intelligences of other worlds, testified that obedience will be rewarded. . . . and even the angels understood more clearly the wonderful provision that God had made for man's salvation. 1 Peter 1:12. (PP 154-155)

6. A review of the faith experiences of the biblical patriarchs and matriarchs is an encouragement to you in your own faith walk. A Personal Response

The inconsistency in the personal experiences of patriarchs such as Abraham can be discouraging. It can be even more discouraging, when despite their short comings they are applauded and put in Faith’s Hall of Fame! Words like we found in Hebrews 11:16 it is said, “God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.”

What the inconsistencies do not tell is important. Behind the scenes God was working with their character development. He saw behind each trial an opportunity to refine and if allowed a moment when character and faith could be developed more fully. Life is not fair but all that we see, all that any of us experience is only a small part of the picture.

The same author which spoke of Abraham’s faith also spoke of others,

Heb 11:32 I could go on and on, but I've run out of time. There are so many more--Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, the prophets. . . .

Heb 11:33 Through acts of faith, they toppled kingdoms, made justice work, took the promises for themselves. They were protected from lions,

Heb 11:34 fires, and sword thrusts, turned disadvantage to advantage, won battles, routed alien armies.

Heb 11:35 Women received their loved ones back from the dead. There were those who, under torture, refused to give in and go free, preferring something better: resurrection.

Heb 11:36 Others braved abuse and whips, and, yes, chains and dungeons.

Heb 11:37 We have stories of those who were stoned, sawed in two, murdered in cold blood; stories of vagrants wandering the earth in animal skins, homeless, friendless, powerless--

Heb 11:38 the world didn't deserve them!--making their way as best they could on the cruel edges of the world.

Heb 11:39 Not one of these people, even though their lives of faith were exemplary, got their hands on what was promised.

Heb 11:40 God had a better plan for us: that their faith and our faith would come together to make one completed whole, their lives of faith not complete apart from ours.

Conclusion

Heb 11:10 Abraham did it by keeping his eye on an unseen city with real, eternal foundations--the City designed and built by God.

Heb 11:11 By faith, barren Sarah was able to become pregnant, old woman as she was at the time, because she believed the One who made a promise would do what he said.

Heb 11:12 That's how it happened that from one man's dead and shriveled loins there are now people numbering into the millions.

Heb 11:13 Each one of these people of faith died not yet having in hand what was promised, but still believing. How did they do it? They saw it way off in the distance, waved their greeting, and accepted the fact that they were transients in this world.

Heb 11:14 People who live this way make it plain that they are looking for their true home.

Heb 11:15 If they were homesick for the old country, they could have gone back any time they wanted.

Heb 11:16 But they were after a far better country than that--heaven country. You can see why God is so proud of them, and has a City waiting for them.

[Taken from the Message]