A Survey of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob Monday, September 26, 2011} Faith for the Obedient } Faith for the Ordinary } Faith for the Ornery Monday, September 26, 2011} Genesis 12:1-7, God makes a promise to Abraham Land and Seed. ◦ Gen 12:10:20 – Abraham lies to Pharaoh about Sarah being his “sister” } Genesis 13:14-17, God tells Abraham that Canaan is his } Genesis 15:1-6, Abraham asks God ‘what’s good with a son’ ◦ Genesis 15:7-16 – God reassures Abraham of the Land and Seed. ◦ Genesis 16 – Abraham links up with Hagar = Ishmael (not the child of promise) ◦ Sarah allowed a cultural liberty usurp the Covenantal Language Monday, September 26, 2011} Genesis 15:17-21, God makes an unconditional & unilateral covenant with Abraham (proof: Abe’s knocked out) ◦ Some say Gen. 17:1 makes this the covenant conditional ◦ Genesis 17:9 – God will reaffirm Covenant w/Isaac (as he is identified as the “Child of Promise”) } Genesis 20 – Abraham lies about Sarah to Abimelech ◦ Abraham disobeyed God – yet the Covenant remains intact. } Genesis 22 – God swears by Himself that Abraham’s seed will be blessed (Land, Seed & Monday, September 26, 2011} How did Abraham ‘mature’ in His faith from Genesis 12-22? ◦ Immature Faith – lied about Sarah and Ishmael ◦ Mature Faith – resolved that God would raise Isaac (cf. Gen 22:5 & Heb. 11:17-19) } How do we correct the modern ‘misconception’ of Romans 4:17 in light of what took place in Genesis? ◦ Romans is dealing with the Justification of Abraham, not the prosperity of our ‘claims’ Monday, September 26, 2011} The life of Isaac is crammed between Gen 12-50 that deal with; his father (Abraham), Sons (Jacob & Esau), and Grandkids (12 tribes) } Isaac didn’t show the boldness Abraham, he didn’t wrestle with God like his son and didn’t have a heroic experience in Egypt like his grandson. The life of Isaac gives excitement to all of us ‘ordinary people’. Monday, September 26, 2011} Ordinary people have ordinary trials ◦ “famine in the land” – this famine was in the ‘promise land’. Isaac had to endure this famine even with the pagans. Isaac had plans to go to Egypt and almost ½ way there, the Lord stopped him in Gerar. :3-4 = the Lord confirms his covenant with Isaac. Monday, September 26, 2011} Ordinary people have ordinary terrors ◦ :7 – Isaac lied, said Rebekah was his sister, he was scared Abimelech would kill him= SIN ◦ But the Lord providentially cared for Isaac, because God kept his covenant with Abraham, the line of Abraham had to go forth The king ‘just happened to see Isaac and Rebekah’ flirting (Sexually) The king decreed anyone who messed with Rebekah would be killed Monday, September 26, 2011} Ordinary people have ordinary Tussles ◦ :12-14 = God’s blessing was not dependent on obedience, but God’s sovereignty! ◦ So much blessing that those around him began to get envious and upset. ◦ :15 – the well’s that were apart of his family were plugged by those around him (cause for war/attempt to get him out of the land) ◦ :16 – Isaac asked to leave because of prosperity (Isaac took the low road – didn’t fight) Monday, September 26, 2011} :17-20 – another quarrel of water that the people who didn’t like him wanted for their own. ◦ They didn’t dig the wells, but used the water for years! They didn’t want to let go, even though they didn’t perform the initial labor to dig wells! ◦ :21-25 – the Lord moved Isaac back to where he wanted him, so that Isaac would have room to ‘prosper’. ◦ The Lord prospered Isaac while in the midst of those who opposed him. Monday, September 26, 2011} Ordinary have extraordinary trust in God ◦ :26-28 = Those who opposed Isaac this whole time REPENTED and came to him and said, we now recognize that it is the LORD who is with you! ◦ they made a feast together, and stayed with him for one evening and then went their separate ways in PEACE. ◦ :32-33 = after they left, the Lord confirmed that Isaac is where he wanted him and blessed him with a NEW WELL. Monday, September 26, 2011} How will you demonstrate contentment in ministry if it is not God’s will for you to be numerically successful? } Gleaning from Isaac’s response to those who opposed him, what will you employ in PRIVATE and PUBLIC when you: ◦ Face opposition? ◦ Are forced ‘out’? ◦ Feel attacked every where you go? Monday, September 26, 2011} Genesis 25:19-34, the Birthright Bedlam ◦ Rebekah’s prayer answered but it came with complications that drove her to ask God ‘what’s good’ ◦ “the older will serve the younger” Contradicted the cultural ‘norm’ regarding blessing/birthright God’s election was PURE (Isaac & Ishmael vs. Esau & Jacob) ◦ Truth: Jacob’s future scheming was UNECESSARY to achieve what God had already decreed to be reality! Monday, September 26, 2011} Cultural Implications of a ‘birth right’ ◦ The oldest son held authority of all other siblings ◦ At the Father’s death he would receive a double portion of an inheritance ◦ Provided for his mother until her death and unmarried sisters until they were married ◦ The birthright could be annulled by sinful actions of the firstborn (cf. Gen. 35:22 & 49:3-4-Rueben) ◦ The birthright could be given or transferred to another sibling (cf. 25:29-34). Monday, September 26, 2011} Genesis 25:29-34 & 26:34-36, Esau sold his birthright for some stew and married a Hittite, this grieved both Isaac and Rebekah. } Genesis 27, Isaac blesses Jacob instead of Esau ◦ Rebekah overheard Isaac about to bless Esau, ran and told Jacob her plan for him to be blessed instead ◦ 27:11-13, Jacob didn’t want his father to think of him as a deceiver, yet went along with the plan Monday, September 26, 2011} Truth: Lying to get ahead in ministry, even when its seen as ‘progress’ towards the mark God has set before you is a NO NO! ◦ Jacob never saw his mother again after receiving his birthright ◦ Esau wanted to merk him ◦ His own uncle deceived him and ended up freeloading off of his efforts ◦ Frustrations within his marriages (competition amongst wives) Monday, September 26, 2011} Truth: Burnt bridges over differences in attitudes and opinions should prayerfully one day be rebuilt in humility. ◦ Genesis 31, Laban and Jacob’s beef ends in a Covenant ◦ Genesis 33, after 21 years of beef, reconciliation between finally took place! Jacob operated in fear and often failed to trust God, Israel operated in faith (even though he was scared) and went out to meet Esau. Monday, September 26, 2011} 2 Timothy 4:11 – “Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry” } Mark dipped out and abandoned Paul and Barnabas in Perga (Acts 13:13) and Paul wasn’t feeling his reason. } Acts 15:36-40, Paul told Barnabas, “let’s roll back through all the cities we planted in”. Barabas said, “Bet it up, let’s grab my cuzzo John (Mark)”. They got into a “sharp” disagreement and split up! } Disagreements among believers is not sinful, allowing bitterness to camp in our hearts is! } Barnabas and Paul labored together in Corinth later on (1 Cor. 9:6) Monday, September 26, 2011} Monday, September 26, 2011