4 OCTOBER
He sees from beginning to end
‘And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?’ Genesis 18:17–18
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Psalm 139:1–18
Leaving what is specially applicable to Abraham, let us inquire what observations we may draw for our own use from the reasons the Lord himself gives, why he would not hide this thing from Abraham. The reasons are two: the one suited to confirm our faith, the other [see 4/4] to animate us in our duty.
The first is, seeing that Abraham.… The Lord had in view all that he had intended to do for and by Abraham from the first. He was present to the Lord’s mind from the time of his calling, yea long before his birth, as the father of many nations, the father of the faithful. And he makes the full and final good he intended for him, an argument for the favour he was about to show him, that is to say, ‘This is not too much for the man whom I delight to honour.’ I believe some of you will easily perceive how this thought may be applied to the comfort of believers in general. When first awakened, they seem at an uncertainty, come to the Lord upon a peradventure, and meet with many a perplexing hour afterwards—but all this while the Lord sees the whole of their course from beginning to end, sees them as they will stand accepted before him in glory. He has given them his Son and appointed them a kingdom. Having designed them to such an end, what shall he withhold from them by the way (Romans 8:32)? [Do you] think you hear the Lord saying, ‘Shall I refuse that person bread, or leave him to sink in trouble, seeing he shall ere long see my face in glory?’ If he suffers you to meet with many trials, it is not for want of care, or power or compassion, because he has chosen you and designed great things for you; he will surely deliver you and you shall glorify him.
FOR MEDITATION: ‘He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?’ (Romans 8:32, NIV).
SERMON SERIES: GENESIS, NO. 38 [3/4], GENESIS 18:17–19
Milo 