Hearing God

Most people struggle with hearing God for themselves, so this podcast will equip you with tools and practical examples so you can confidently hear God.

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Hearing God

Did Abraham get it wrong in hearing God?

October 20, 2024 • Gary & Jane Berry • Season 2 • Episode 62

Was Abraham mentally unstable? Did he really hear God tell him to kill his son? What if God asked us to do something bizarre? How would we respond? There were also other occasions when Abraham made some questionable choices. It's probably not that much different to us at times. Perhaps that's part of the tension of living by faith. Join us as we unpack the story of Abraham in the Bible and the significant times he heard God. This episode also looks at the principle of returning to the last time you heard God if God appears silent.

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Episode Description:

Episode Notes:

Background to Abraham:

· We read about him in Genesis, chapters 11- 25. He is called the Father of Nations.

· In Genesis 11:27 – 32, we see where Abram's father Terah took Abraham, his wife Sarah, and his nephew Lot from Ur of the Chaldeans (South Bank to the Euphrates River in Iraq) to go to Canaan (modern-day Israel). After about 1,000 miles, they stopped in Haran (thought to be in Turkey) and settled there.

· In Genesis 12, after Terah died, God called Abraham to continue to Canaan to fulfil that which his father hadn't done. God said to Abraham that he would make him a great nation and would bless him.

· On the way to Canaan, they stopped in Egypt for a while, and since he was afraid that the Pharaoh would kill him because Sarah was so beautiful, he told Sarah to pretend to be his sister. Pharoah took Sarah as his wife, but God inflicted diseases upon Pharoah and his household – until it came out that Sarah was in fact, Abraham's wife. Pharoah said, take her back and go. Leave.

· Abraham then went back to where he had last heard God near Bethel. (Great principle!!)

· Abraham and Lot had too many animals to live together, and the servants were fighting, so they separated. Lot chose the choice land of the plain that looked fertile but was next to an evil people.

· This was when God said to Abraham, I will give you all this land you can see and make your offspring like the dust of the earth ie too numerous to count. (13:16).

· Genesis 15 – look up to the sky – I will give you children as numerous as the stars.

· Genesis 16 – Sarah is frustrated with not having any children and sick and tired of waiting. So she takes matters into her own hands, giving her maid Hagar to Abraham to have sex and get pregnant.

· Hagar gives birth to Ishmael.

· Genesis 17 – the Lord appeared to Abraham when he was 99. And talked with him. Changed his name from Abram to Abraham. Name changes are usually related to times of covenant or promise regarding the future.

· Also told him that within 12 months, Sarah would have a child.

· Genesis 18 – The Lord appeared to Abraham as 3 men standing before him at the entrance to his tent on a hot day. A vision. I wonder if he thought he had heat stroke. They reinforced the fact that within 12 months, Sarah would have a child. Abraham walked with these 3 men as they were leaving, and they all looked down towards Sodom and Gomorrah. Two men (angels) turned towards Sodom, but the Lord stayed and chatted with Abraham, telling him he would destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham said, if there are 50 righteous people in the city, will you spare it? Yes, said the Lord. Abraham then bargained the Lord down – what about 45, 40, 30, 20 and finally 10 righteous people? Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed in chapter 19.

· Chapter 20, Abraham once again pretended Sarah was his sister for King Abimelek.

· Chapter 21, Isaac is born, and due to jealousy between Sarah and Hagar, Hagar and Ishmael are sent away to die.

· Chapter 22 God said to Abraham, take your son, your only son Isaac and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there on the mountain. Early the next morning, Abraham got up, loaded his donkey and went with Isaac and 2 servants. After 3 days of travelling, he told his servants to wait there and took Isaac further, saying that they would soon return to the servants. Isaac saw the wood, the fire, and the knife, but there was no meat, so he asked where the lamb was for the burnt offering. Abraham said God will provide. He built an altar, bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. He raised his hand with the knife to kill Isaac when the angel of the Lord called out to him to stop, now that he knew Abraham feared the Lord. Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught in a thicket, which they sacrificed instead.

· Genesis 23 Sarah died.

· Genesis 25 Abraham died.

· Throughout Genesis 12-22, we read numerous times how Abraham heard God through God speaking audibly to him and God appearing in both visions and in person to Abraham. Abraham dialogued with God. He wrestled with God.

First Principle: God has a specific call for you.

· God has a call for each of us. He has gifted us and created us for great things. He has a plan for us. Jeremiah 29:11

· God had a call on Abraham's life.

· Generational call – finish that which our ancestors didn't e.g. go to Canaan/Israel.

Second Principle: Practice and build credibility with hearing God's voice.

· Did Abraham really hear God's voice when he believed God said to take his son and sacrifice him on an altar? What if it wasn't God? What if Abraham was mentally unstable?

· God is not into child sacrifice, murdering kids, or anything like that. Incompatible with God's nature and character.

· So Abraham believes God told him to do that, and for once in his life, he immediately obeys and sets out the next morning before Sarah is awake. Obviously, he was being secretive. Obviously, he hadn't told Sarah, or I reckon they would have been up half the night debating if he should do it. Instead, he sneaks away extremely early the next morning, meaning he doesn't have to face Sarah. I mean, imagine if God hadn't provided a ram as the sacrifice. Imagine if Abraham had had to slaughter Isaac. Imagine coming back to Sarah and the response. I mean, did he consider all this stuff beforehand? Was he having some sort of mental breakdown? Or had he developed such intimacy over the years, especially those times when he hadn't been obedient that he knew that he knew that he knew the voice of God.

· Abraham does say in chapter 22 verse 5, we will return to you. Meaning him and his son would return to the servant. There was a lot of symbolism in that chapter of Abraham believing God would provide the lamb for the sacrifice.

· Our context informs our decisions. Remember how Abraham argued with God over the number of righteous people in Sodom and Gomorrah and convinced God to reduce the number of 50 to 10? I find it extremely interesting that Abraham doesn't argue with God over such a significant issue as being asked to kill your son. Perhaps it was because Abraham was surrounded by people worshipping other gods who needed sacrifices to appease him – not a good argument though, as he was in charge of the area he lived in.

· God's voice always leads to healing, life, restoration, hope, and justice.

· What if we were asked to do something so bizarre by God? Would you do it if your spouse believed it wasn't right? If others said don't do it?

· Tension of living by faith. Trusting in God. Not knowing the end result. Was God bringing Abraham into a deeper level of trust?

· Importance of knowing the nature and character of God. Build history and trust. Abraham had already journeyed with God for over 40 years – built credibility, trust, relational knowledge and not just blind faith. Intimacy with God.

· John 10:3-4 the sheep know the shepherd's voice. God's voice becomes more real than logical reasoning.

· Hebrews 11:8-19 "By faith Abraham trusted God" By faith 4 times "By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice.

· Are we called to trust God blindly?

· Is it okay to ask God to confirm what He has said to you? Does that mean you don't have faith?

· I think of the Apostles in the New Testament. They did some crazy stuff and went places everyone said don't go as you will be killed. They went anyway.

· What about the Moravians in the 18th Century? They packed their coffins when they went overseas as missionaries as they knew they wouldn't return home.

· Deuteronomy 30:11-20 telling the Israelites to choose life, not death, with their decisions.

Third Principle: Clean up your mess

· Sarah and Hagar mishap – took shortcut. Yes, it was Sarah who said take my servant, but Abraham willingly had sex with her.

· Twice, Abraham tried to pass his wife off as his sister. Surely, he would have learnt after the first time. Both times thinking only of himself.

· Obviously, Abraham had a lot of character issues.

· Imagine the lack of credibility and trust with Sarah after setting off to sacrifice Isaac.

· Traumatising Isaac. Can you imagine lying on the altar, tied up with a crazy dad holding a knife over you to kill you? Scar you for life. Interestingly, his son Isaac was quite weak and passive and had everyone pandering to him over the years. I wonder how that traumatic event affected his life and character.

· Also, if you are having trouble hearing God, go back to the last time you heard God. What's changed since then? Is there something you haven't obeyed God in?

Summary:

1. God has a specific call for you.

2. Practice and build credibility with hearing God's voice.

3. Clean up your mess.

Prophetic activation:

Turn your heart and thoughts to Father God and ask Him –

· "Father God, is there something I need to repent of, or someone I need to 'clean up my mess' with and ask forgiveness? If so, can You please bring it to my mind now?"

Time Stamps:

[0:51] – Gary & Jane share briefly how they have heard God this week.

[4:38] – Background to the story of Abraham.

[13:16] - First Principle: God has a specific call for you.

[17:13] – Second Principle: Practice and build credibility with hearing God's voice.

[25:07] – Third Principle: Clean up your mess.

[28:27] – Recap the principles.

[28:47] – Prophetic activation.

[29:53] – Gary & Jane both share a prophetic word for a listener.

[31:52] – Gary prays for you.

Resources / Links Mentioned:

· Episode 21 (Hearing God when God is silent): https://garyandjane.co/episode-21-hearing-god-when-god-is-silent/