Abraham: HOW TO ENJOY THE REST AREAS OF LIFE

HOW TO ENJOY THE REST AREAS OF LIFE

Date August 24, 2014

Scripture Reference Genesis 21:33-34

from the series Abraham

 

Scripture Reading

Let us rise to our feet and together and read

Genesis 21:33-34

 

³³ And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the Lord, the everlasting God.

³⁴ And Abraham sojourned in the Philistines' land many days.

This is the word of the Lord. 

Thanks be to God. 

May the sweet Holy Spirit add blessings to our text this morning.... Amen! 

You may be seated in God's Presence. 

Introduction

There are times in life that are simply difficult to tolerate! There are battles to fight, valleys to cross, long nights of the soul to endure and storms that must be weathered. All you have to do is read the story of Job, or just live in this world for any length of time and you will know what I am saying is true. These times are not sent because the Lord wishes to cause us trouble. He is in the business of conforming His people into His image, Rom. 8:29, 2 Cor. 4:17. The trials of life are the tools that shape us into His likeness. Therefore, even though they are difficult, they are a blessing in disguise.

Despite how we feel sometimes, life isn't all bad. We would all have to admit that there are times when the Lord inserts times of peace into our lives. He allows us to pass by some "still waters" and He causes us the "lie down in green pastures." I thank God for those times in my life and I know you do too! Just as surely as the troubles of life are sent into our lives to grow, mature and strengthen us, the rest periods of life are sent for their purpose as well.

Sermon

This chapter is all about a rest area in the journey of Abraham's life. (Ill. The ups and downs that lead to this point.) I would like to point a few uses for these rest areas of life. When the times of rest come, knowing how to use them properly allows us to extract from them all the blessing that God wants us to get. I want to preach for a few minutes on How To Use The Rest Areas Of Life.

I. V. 33 FOR INHABITING THE BEST PLACES

A. The middle part of this passage has to do with a transaction between Abraham and Abimelech, v. 22-31.

This transaction saw seven sheep change hands. These seven sheep we a testimony that the well belonged to Abraham. The well became known as "Beersheba", which means "The well of the seven-fold oath." Well were of vast importance to men like Abraham. They needed them to ensure the lives of their flocks, herds and families. It was by this well of sweet water that Abraham settled down and enjoyed this rest area of life.

B. When the fur is flying in your life, it is harder to concentrate on your walk with the Lord.

But, we should take advantage of the calm times of life to enhance our relationship with Him. If we can learn to love Him during the lulls of life, then we won't have to work nearly as hard to find Him during the storms!

C. What I am advocating is a life that zeros in on God through prayer, worship and the study of His Word.

A life that doesn't wait until everything falls apart to confess its sins and seek His face. But, a life that is lived in a place of closeness day by day, even when things are good. A life that finds a place of consistent growth in the things of the Lord is a life that He can use for His glory!

(Ill. A good example of this truth is the life of Job. He called on the Lord when things went wrong, Job 1:20-22. He was able to do it quickly because he had spent time in the Lord's presence when things were going well, Job 1:1, 5, 8.)

D. If we can ever learn to settle down in the best places of His blessings during the good, restful times of life, we will not be so easily blown off course when the adverse winds of trials and afflictions begin to blow against us!

I.  FOR INHABITING THE BEST PLACES

II. V. 22-32 FOR INSULATING YOURSELF WITH HIS PROMISES

A. These verses tell of the covenant made between Abraham and Abimelech concerning their mutual interests.

Abimelech was concerned about his safety, Abraham was concerned about his well. At the end of this summit, Abraham could dwell with safety within the borders of Abimelech's land because he had the promises of this covenant, v. 23.

B. Use the rest areas of life as times to meditate on the great promises of the Lord!

Let these truths feed your soul. Then, when the troublesome times do come, you will find that you are steadied by His Word and by His great promises.

 I.  FOR INHABITING THE BEST PLACES

II. FOR INSULATING YOURSELF WITH HIS PROMISES

III. V. 33 FOR INVOLVING YOURSELF WITH HIS WORSHIP

A. Abraham used this calm period of life to call on the name of the Lord.

He used this time to deepen his relationship with God. This certainly equipped him for the battles that still lay ahead.

B. Why is it that so many people wait until the bottom falls out to call on the Lord?

The best time to worship Him is all the time! It says far more about your character when you are consistent in worship than it does for you to wait until you are in trouble to call on Him. (Ill. Many people treat Him like He was a spare tire! Pull Him out when life goes flat, put Him away again when the crisis has passed.)

C. Don't wait until some calamity comes to run to Him, be in the business of seeking His face day by day.

Then, when trials do come, you are already close to Him. That is why church, Bible reading and prayer are so vitally important.

I.  FOR INHABITING THE BEST PLACES

II. FOR INSULATING YOURSELF WITH HIS PROMISES

III. FOR INVOLVING YOURSELF WITH HIS WORSHIP

IV. V. 33 FOR INVESTING IN THE FUTURE

A. This verse tells us that Abraham planted a "grove".

This simply means that he planted a tree. He is making an investment for the future. At his age, he might never cool himself under its shade, but Isaac will, and his grandchildren will. He is looking beyond himself to those who will follow and is making a difference for them while he can.

(Ill. Why did he plant a tamarisk and not some other tree? Let’s look at the significance.The tamarisk tree is what we would call a salt cedar in America. It is of the same family and has the same leaf and color of bark. The tree itself can get much bigger in the Middle East, while ours are more bushy looking. We saw several that were real big trees. It is an extremely slow-growing tree and has to be cared for in order to do well. Very few grow in wilderness settings; they are usually around communities where families plant them on their property.

To a Bedouin or a Jew, you don’t plant a tamarisk for yourself, you plant it for the generations to come. From the Abraham story, they took the idea that I am planting this tree to say, “for generations to come, my family is going to be here”. “This shade is for the generations to come, I’ll never get to use it.”

How much of what we do in life is done for just ourselves? Our comfort, our profit, our satisfaction? Do we do anything to bless or to plant a seed for the generations that are to come? Is there anything that you are currently involved in that will outlive you? A thought, do something this week that will benefit people long after you are gone. The desert speaks…

From a google search I learned that the tamarisk tree is able to grow in deserts because it sends its roots down deep and can live in saline places where other plants can’t grow. It secretes salt and water. It has little value and tends to crowd out other vegetation. It sends out huge numbers of seeds.

The cross also was a tree planted to make peace in a desert-like environment (a sinful world of death). The cross itself is an ugly object of scorn, ridicule and death. The perfect priest of God (Jesus) was killed on it as a peace offering. It represents death (Saul’s bones were buried there). Yet it collects and brings forth living water and the “salt of the earth” in the desert. Its seeds spread forth like the gospel and will eventually crowd out competitors (other ways to God and false religions).)

(Note: why the word tamarisk is not mentioned in KJV ? From the Strong’s entry for ‘eshel (#815), the word can also be used to signify a grove or tree: “From a root of uncertain signification; a tamarisk tree; by extension, a grove of any kind — grove, tree.” It appears the KJV interpreted ‘eshel in Gen 21:33 as “grove” and simply as “tree” in the other mentions. It’s worth noting the New King James Version updated the interpretation to tamarisk – supposedly “due to the similarity of ‘eshel to the Arabic ‘athl, ‘the tamarisk.’“)

B. Use the rest areas of life as times to make an investment in the future of the Lord's kingdom work.

Is there a young person you can mentor? Is there a life you can impact for the glory of God? Is there someone's life that you can be a blessing to for the glory of the Lord? (Ill. This is what the Lord intends His people to be doing - Titus 2:2-5.)

C. There will come a time when your life will be wracked by the winds of adversity.

When those times time, your focus will be so inward that you will not be able to make a difference for others. The time to reach out is when things are going smoothly. Sadly, too many believers live their lives for self, with no concern for anyone else.

I.  FOR INHABITING THE BEST PLACES

II. FOR INSULATING YOURSELF WITH HIS PROMISES

III. FOR INVOLVING YOURSELF WITH HIS WORSHIP

IV. V. 33 FOR INVESTING IN THE FUTURE

V. V. 1-8 FOR INVENTORYING HIS BLESSINGS

A. As those peaceful days unfolded for Abraham, he was able to spend the time listening to the laughter of Isaac and Sarah.

He was able to contemplate all that the Lord had done for him and how God had blessed his life. It was a time for him to inventory the blessings of the Lord.

B. Being thankful for the blessings of the Lord in the days when life is good is a great way to prepare for those times when it is less than pleasant!

Living in the constant awareness of the Lord's goodness and blessings in your life is a hedge against doubt, fear and uncertainty when the hard days of trials come. (Note: God would have us to be a thankful people, 1 Thes. 5:18; Phil. 4:6.)

C. Friends, don't take the easy days of life for granted!

They will not last forever, but while they are here, use them as times to rejoice in the blessings of the Lord and to prepare for the days that are coming when it may seem that the blessings are few and far in between!

Invitation and Final Challenge

At this point in his life, Abraham was well aware of all that he had already been through. He knew what the storm felt like! He knew how dark the valley could be and he knew how long the night could last. But, he did not know what lay just ahead! If he had been able to see the future, he might not have ever chosen to face it. God in His wisdom, used this rest area time in Abraham's life to prepare him for the trial that was just ahead.

You know, you and I cannot see tomorrow either! We do not know what is ahead. I am just glad that God, in His wisdom, plans a few rest areas along the way for us to enjoy. He gives us the times of refreshment and peace to help us to recover from our past battles and to prepare ourselves for the trials that lie ahead.

Friends, are you using the rest areas of life to their full advantage? If you are in one of life's lulls, thank God for, and ask Him to help you to use it for His glory. If you are in the storm this morning, why not come before Him and thank Him for the battle you are fighting and thank Him that somewhere out there, there is a rest area with your name on it!