Significance in God's purpose
Genesis 17:4-8 and vs.15-22
INTRODUCTION
At some stage, we may have asked the question, “What is the point? What is the purpose of life? John Keats (1795–1821) said, “I go among the fields and catch a glimpse of a stoat or a field mouse peeping out of the grass—the creature has a purpose. I go among the buildings of a city and I see people hurrying along—to what? The creature has a purpose.” We are made in God’s image (the creature has a purpose). Jesus came to restore us in God’s image (the creature has a purpose). The Holy Spirit was sent to renew us in God’s image (the creature has a purpose). This brings us to our theme today from Genesis 17:4-8 and vs.15-22: Finding Significance in God’s Purpose. In vs.1-3, we saw how we can be assured, blessed, and committed in El Shaddai. Today, using a similar outline, we are going to see God’s promise affirmed, not only in his person, but also in his purpose. With this in mind, notice first that we can be …
1. ASSURED IN GOD’S PURPOSE
Everything has a purpose. This microphone has a purpose; this shirt has a purpose, as does this button. This lectern has a purpose, as does this piece of paper. We all have a purpose. More important God has a purpose. Without this, life has no meaning at all.
According to Genesis 17, God purpose is to bless his people through the offspring of Abram. In v2 he said, “I will confirm my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.” He says in vs.4-8, “This is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. No longer will you be Abram; your name will be Abraham… I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you… The whole land of Canaan I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.” Ten times he uses the word will. That is purpose! Though we mean well, we cannot always keep our promises. When God promises, however, he does it! Joshua 23:14 says, “Not one of God’s promises has failed. Every one has been fulfilled.”
God’s promise in the covenant is that a great multitude would find salvation through Abram’s offspring. This is God’s purpose for all who believe. Galatians 3:29 says, “If we belong to Christ, then we are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to promise.” Hebrews 10:23 says, “Let us hold on to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” This is how to be assured in God’s purpose and it leads to us being…
2. BLESSED IN GOD’S PURPOSE
Everyone has a purpose and everything we do has a purpose—even sitting in a chair or watching television has a purpose. Working in church has a purpose whether we are on the sound desk, in the music group, teaching children, or leading at the front. There is purpose in history, there is purpose in the world today, and there is purpose in the future. To see this and apply it to our lives is to be blessed in God’s purpose.
God’s purpose can be seen in the names used in this chapter. First, there is a new name for Abram. Verse 5 says, “No longer will you be called Abram (exalted father); your name will be Abraham (father of a multitude), for I have made you a father of many nations.” There is also a change of name for Sarai. Sarai and Sarah both mean princess, but her renaming was significant as it brought her into God’s promise in her own right. Notice the additional ‘ah’ in both their names—linking them to Yahweh. Verse 16 says, “Sarah will be the mother of nations and kings will come from her.”
Then there is the name Isaac in v19, which means he laughs. This is because of Abraham’s reaction in v17 when he fell facedown; laughed and said to himself, “Will a son be born to a man who is a hundred years old?” For Abraham and Sarah to have a child was hard to believe, and this comes out in v18 when Abram suggests that Ishmael (God hears) be the source of blessing. Later Sarah would laugh and the neighbours would smile when Abram announced his new name! In v19, however, the LORD affirms his promise. He says, “Your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him.” It seems as if everyone is smiling, but God would have the last laugh. Isaiah 53:11 says, “He would see the travail of his soul and be deeply satisfied.” Many would share this joy when they came into the blessing of God’s salvation. We are assured and blessed in God’s purpose and this should lead to us being…
3. COMMITTED IN GOD’S PURPOSE
We have our own identity and purpose. We have a body like no one else. We have a unique personality. We have a personal history that is not repeated elsewhere. We have our own mix of gifts and abilities. When we put all this together, we have a unique blend of personal identity and purpose. There is no one else who can do what we can do in the world today. This is God’s purpose to which we are all committed.
Verse 19 says that God would establish his covenant with Isaac as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. This includes all God’s people today. It is important to notice, however, that there is also a purpose for Ishmael and his descendants in v20 (see Genesis 25:13-16). We all need to commit ourselves to him who made us for a purpose. No one is exempt! Having said this, the greater son from Abraham and Sarah would not be Isaac or Ishmael. It would be Jesus Christ. All God promises in the covenant are fulfilled in him. 2 Corinthians 1:20-22 says, “No matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ… God makes us stand firm in him. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts… guaranteeing what is to come.”
In a world where we are just another name on a database, Isaiah 43:1 says, “This is what the LORD says—he who created you and formed you: “I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine.” 1 John 3:1 says, “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” Identifying ourselves as God’s children gives a sense of purpose and significance. If we identify ourselves as sinners when we hear God’s call to be holy, we will struggle. If on the other hand, we identify ourselves as God’s children and our purpose is to glorify God, we will respond positively. 1 Peter 2:9-12 says, “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God (this is identity), that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light (this is purpose). Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God (this is identity). I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul (this is purpose). When we apply God’s word in this way, we find significance in God’s purpose.
Bernard Cartledge