“Superstition Ain’t The Way”

, ,

Origins

“Superstition Ain’t The Way”

(Genesis 30:14-21)

 

INTRODUCTION

There are all kinds of wives tales or folk wisdom concerning what a couple needs to do or eat while they are trying to conceive a child in order to guarantee that it will be a boy or girl.

 

Babycenter.com lists some of the folk wisdom about this.

 

If you want a boy…

  • Eat more meat – the redder the better

  • Stick with salty snacks, such as pretzels and chips

  • Dads-to-be: ​​ stock up on soda, especially cola drinks

 

If you want a girl…

  • Both partners should eat lots of fish and veggies

  • Give in to your chocolate craving, or just sweets in general

 

Women should sleep to the left of their husbands

 

Mark your calendars: ​​ more boys are conceived on odd days of the month and more girls are conceived on even days of the month.

 

Hairline of your last child: ​​ if the hairline at the base of the neck of your last child is a ducktail, your next baby will be a girl. ​​ If it is straight across, it will be a boy.

 

There are many more wives’ tales and folk wisdom surrounding how to help determine the sex of your next baby.

 

[https://www.babycenter.com/getting-pregnant/how-to-get-pregnant/choosing-your-babys-sex-the-folk-wisdom_7061].

 

BODY

  • ME

    • Three boys

        • We have three boys and no girls

        • I wish I could remember if we ate more red meat

        • I have always loved snacking on pretzels

        • I do not drink very much soda, and if I do drink soda, it is not normally the cola kind, because it has caffeine

        • I do not remember if our boys were conceived on an odd day of the month

        • I don’t remember what our two oldest boys hairlines looked like, but our youngest has a ducktail, so perhaps if we had tried for one more child, we might have gotten a girl

    • Faith in God

        • I do not subscribe to the wives’ tales or folk wisdom about the gender of a baby

        • In fact, with our first two children we did not find out their sex until after they were born

        • I liked the surprise factor

        • We did find out the sex of our third child before his birth

        • We trusted the Lord to provide the children that were best for us

        • He knew that my brother, and our only other male cousin with the last name Johns, would only have daughters

        • There is no pressure, but our three boys are the last Johns’ in our line

        • Of our three grandchildren, we have one grandson now, who will carry on the family name

        • We are hopeful for more grandchildren in the future – whether boys or girls (if you are listening boys, hint, hint!)

 

  • WE

    • Rhetorical question

        • How many of us have heard of some of these wives’ tales or folk wisdom?

        • How many of us have tried one or more of them when we were conceiving children?

        • How did it work out?

    • Faith in God

        • How many of us waited until our children were born to find out whether they were a boy or a girl?

        • How many of us are grateful that God knew how many children we could handle and what gender they were?

 

Rachel and Leah continue to compete with each other and are now turning to “love apples” to help with their infertility issues. ​​ They have tried human schemes by giving their maidservants to Jacob as additional wives and now they are trying superstition and legend concerning the properties of the fruit and root of a certain plant. ​​ What we will see in this message and the next one is that God is in control of the timing of when couples have children. ​​ We can try all kinds of things, from human schemes, bargaining and manipulation, to wives’ tales, and much more, but . . .

 

BIG IDEA – Faith in God supersedes everything.

 

Let’s pray

  • GOD (Genesis 30:14-21)

    • Time stamp (v. 14a)

        • The wheat harvest would have been around March or April

        • Laban was not only a shepherd, but also a farmer – he was diversified in what he did for a living

    • Bagged (v. 14b-c)

        • Reuben

          • If you recall, Reuben is Jacob’s firstborn son

          • He is probably between seven to nine years old

          • We are not told if he is working in the fields with the other farmers at this point

          • Perhaps he was just hanging out with the farmers and looking around for something to do

          • He obviously knew what a mandrake was and my guess is that he knew something of the plants importance and value, which is why he brings it back to his mother (Leah)

        • Mandrakes

          • It is likely that Reuben brought the entire plant(s) back with him, because the fruit and the root were both used

          • “The plant exhibits long, dark green leaves in a rosette pattern; from the center of the leaves are flower stalks that each produce a ‘purple, bluish, or greenish-white flower.’ ​​ During the spring the plant produces a yellow-red fruit, likened to a plum in size and shape . . . Especially interesting are its dark roots that resemble the lower torso of a human form, which probably contributed to the mysteries surrounding its magical, sensual powers.” ​​ [Mathews, The New American Commentary, Volume 1B, Genesis 11:27-50:26, 486]

          • The mandrake was believed to be an aphrodisiac that caused sexual desire and encouraged conception [Goldingay, Baker Commentary on the Old Testament, Pentateuch, Genesis, 474]

          • Depending on the culture, the fruit from the mandrake was given a different nickname: ​​ the Greeks called them “love apples,” while the Arabs called them the “devil’s apple.” ​​ [Mathews, 486]

          • Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, beauty, and sex was called ‘Lady of the Mandrake.’” [Waltke, Genesis: A Commentary, 412]

          • There was definitely legend and superstition surrounding this plant and its fruit

          • It was believed that it promoted fertility and both Leah and Rachel were currently dealing with infertility

          • They both realized that having their maid servants act as surrogates was not fulfilling and did not bring true happiness

        • Rachel’s request

          • It seems as though Rachel is coming to Leah in humility and with kindness when she asks for some of Reuben’s mandrakes

          • Rachel is probably aware of the medicinal properties of the root and the fruit and was willing to try anything to reverse the curse of infertility

        • Leah’s response to Rachel’s request shows the continued tension between the sisters

    • Bitter (v. 15a)

        • Leah lashes out by accusing Rachel of taking away her husband

          • It is not that Leah has lost Jacob as her husband, but she realizes that Jacob’s affections are focused primarily on Rachel

          • There seems to be a sense in the text that Jacob is not fulfilling his husbandly duty of sexual intimacy with Leah at this point

          • It is not certain whether Jacob stopped being intimate with Leah because she stopped having children or that Leah stopped having children because Jacob had stopped being intimate with her [Goldingay, 474]

        • Leah wants to know if Rachel is going to take away her sons mandrakes, like she took away her husband

          • If Leah is dealing with infertility, she is hoping that her sons mandrakes will somehow, magically, restore her fertility

          • If Rachel takes her son’s mandrakes, what will that leave for her

          • If Leah is dealing with bitterness about being loved less, then she does not want her sister to stop being infertile

        • Application

          • PRINCIPLE #1 – Turmoil is the result of not depending on the Lord.

            • The turmoil that we see between Leah and Rachel is the result of not having what they want and not depending on the Lord to provide it

            • As was mentioned several weeks ago, Leah wanted the affections of Jacob and Rachel wanted children from Jacob

            • The same is true of us – turmoil is a result of not depending on the Lord

            • When we try to use superstition to accomplish something in our lives, it inevitably results in turmoil

            • When we try to do anything without depending on the Lord for His wisdom, guidance, and help, chaos can ensue, because we will probably approach the situation from a human perspective instead of a godly perspective

            • Think of a time when you tried to resolve an issue without first consulting and depending on the Lord for help

              • I may be different from the rest of you, but when I have tried to resolve an issue or conflict without praying about it first, I usually do or say the wrong thing or act in a way that creates turmoil instead of peace and reconciliation

              • My humanness gets in the way and I fail

              • My assumption is that the same thing has happened to you all too

              • Are you currently dealing with a family situation that is volatile?

              • Perhaps there is a situation at work that is causing you frustration

              • Maybe relationships at school are difficult and chaotic

              • Remember to turn to the Lord, first, and depend on Him for His help, guidance, and wisdom

          • #1 – My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Depend on the Lord for His wisdom, guidance, and help with a current tumultuous situation.

        • Both women wanted the mandrakes for their “magical” properties in helping to deal with infertility

        • Faith in God supersedes everything, including superstition

    • Bargain (v. 15b-16)

        • Rachel’s offer

          • Rachel offers a night of intimacy with Jacob, to Leah, in exchange for her sons’ mandrakes

          • “Apparently Rachel, as Jacob’s favorite wife, had the questionable privilege of deciding which of Jacob’s wives or concubines would sleep with him on any given night.” ​​ [Youngblood cited by Waltke, 413]

          • The Hebrew word for “sleep” that Rachel uses seems to support the idea that she somehow controls Jacob’s sexual activities

          • “Like the English expression ‘sleep with,’ šākab (shak-have) as a euphemism for having sex applies to irregular sexual liaisons rather than regular relations between husbands and wives (19:32-35; 26:10; 34:2, 7; 35:22; 39:7-14). ​​ So Rachel’s use of this verb is neatly snide.” ​​ [Goldingay, 474]

          • The tension is thick

        • Leah’s desperation

          • Leah goes out to meet Jacob when he returns from the fields

            • There seems to be an urgency, a desperation to be the first to greet Jacob

            • We are not told why Leah goes out to meet Jacob

              • We can only speculate that perhaps she did not trust Rachel to follow through on the deal that was struck

              • Maybe it had been awhile since she had been intimate with Jacob and wanted to make sure it happened

              • We know that she was desperate to be loved by Jacob the same way that Jacob loved Rachel

            • When she meets Jacob, she informs him of the deal that has been struck – she has hired Jacob for the night with her sons mandrakes

          • Jacob does not object

            • Scripture says he slept with Leah that night

            • “First he was hired by Laban, and now he is hired by a woman who has already borne him four children. ​​ He raises no questions about Leah’s arrangement with Rachel.” ​​ [Hamilton, The New International Commentary on the Old Testament, The Book of Genesis, Chapters 18-50, 275]

            • I do not know about you, but I am finding myself wanting Jacob to stand up and be the spiritual leader of his household

            • I want him to be fair and equitable with his wives and to try to meet their needs a little bit

            • And yet, I realize that Jacob is human and fallible and struggles with the same things that men struggle with today – we are no different

            • Men, I want to challenge you to be fair and equitable with your wife and try to meet her needs

            • It should be a little easier for us, because we only have one wife instead of four

          • Leah should have been seeking the Lord through prayer about her desperation to be loved by Jacob instead of bargaining with Rachel to able to spend time alone with him

            • The same is true for us also

              • In our desperation, we should be seeking the Lord through prayer instead of bargaining with others

              • He knows what is best for us

              • He knows the best time for us to receive what He desires for us

            • Faith in God supersedes everything, including bargaining to get something we want

        • Results

          • Rachel is going to be disappointed with the outcome of the bargain between her and Leah

          • PRINCIPLE #2 – Manipulation and bargaining do not always provide favorable results.

            • Rachel does not immediately become pregnant after obtaining the mandrakes and probably using them

            • Leah is going to conceive three more times and provide Jacob with two additional sons and a daughter

            • Perhaps you have experienced this truth in your own life

              • You bargained for something only to realize that the other person receive far more benefit from the bargain than you did

              • How did that make you feel?

              • Have you made bargains with God that you felt did not work out the way you had hoped?

              • Did that affect how you viewed God and felt about Him?

              • Just recently I was in a group where one of the people was sharing about their experience with terminally ill individuals as their hospital chaplain

                • Two interesting things they experienced, shocked me

                • When they went to talk with individuals who had claimed to be atheists, they admitted that there was a God and they wanted to know more about Him – their illness drove them to the Lord

                • When they talked with individuals who had claimed the name of Christ for most of their lives, they questioned God about why He was allowing this terminal illness to happen to them, especially since they had served Him all of their lives

                • The Christians had made some kind of bargain with God that sounded something like this, “If I follow You, God, then I can trust that You will never allow anything hard to come into my life.”

                • God and Jesus have never promised that in Scripture

                • In fact, we are to expect hatred and persecution from the world, and potentially illness or hardships that God allows to remain in our lives to keep us humble

                • The Apostle Paul asked three times that the thorn in his flesh would be removed

                • This was the Lord’s response, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” ​​ (2 Corinthians 12:9)

                • Faith in God supersedes everything, including bargaining

              • Application

                • Are you currently angry with God, because the bargain you made with Him did not work out the way you wanted?

                  • Was the bargain you made with God according to the promises in His Word, the Bible?

                  • If they were not, then God cannot and will not go against those promises and His own word

                  • I want to encourage you to confess those feelings of anger and hurt to the Lord today

                  • #2 – My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Confess my feelings of anger and hurt to the Lord.

                • Are you contemplating making a bargain with God about something you want?

                  • First, is it according to the promises found in His Word?

                  • Second, does it show faith in God that supersedes everything else?

                  • Third, are you willing to trust in God’s grace to be sufficient for you and for His power to be made perfect in your weakness?

                  • #3 – My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Trust God by faith that His grace is sufficient for me, even in my weakness.

          • Rachel’s bargaining and manipulating seem to back fire on her

        • In the remaining verses, we see that Leah begins having children again

    • Babies (vv. 17-21)

        • God listened

          • These words should be noted and not glossed over too quickly

          • We are not told if Leah gave Rachel all of the mandrakes or kept some for herself

          • The mandrakes did not affect Leah’s fertility at all

          • It was God who determined when Leah would begin having children again and not some “magical” fruit or root

          • PRINCIPLE #3 – God is ultimately in control of everything.

            • God was in control of when Leah would conceive again

            • God was in control of when Rachel would conceive for the first time

            • God is in control of the circumstances of our lives and He knows when certain things will happen for us according to His purposes

              • Proverbs 16:9, In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.

              • Proverbs 19:21, Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

              • 1 Chronicles 29:11-12, Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. ​​ Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. ​​ Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. ​​ In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.

              • Job 42:2, “I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted.”

              • Psalm 135:5-7, I know that the Lord is great, that our Lord is greater than all gods. ​​ The Lord does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths. ​​ He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth; he sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from his storehouses.

            • This is an important principle and truth that we must understand as followers of Jesus Christ

            • God is in control of everything and we need to have faith in that fact

            • Faith in God supersedes everything.

          • Leah recognizes that God is in control

        • Three more children for Leah

          • Issachar

            • Leah conceives and gives birth to her fifth son

            • She believes that God has rewarded her for giving Zilpah to Jacob as his fourth wife

            • Issachar’s name can mean, “my wage” or “he rewards”

          • Zebulun

            • Leah conceives again and gives birth to her sixth son

            • She considers him a precious gift from God and hopes that Jacob will now treat her with honor

            • Zebulun’s name can mean “honor,” “dwelling,” or “endowment”

          • Dinah

            • We do not know the time frame of when Dinah was born, but it was after Issachar and Zebulun

            • She is probably mentioned here because of the role that she plays in Genesis 34

            • Her name means “judgment”

 

  • YOU

    • Do you need to depend on the Lord for a tumultuous situation in your life?

    • Do you need to confess your feelings of anger and hurt toward God?

    • Do you need to trust God by faith that His grace is sufficient for you?

    • Do you need to embrace the truth that God is in control of everything?

 

  • WE

    • We can depend on the Lord for any situation that we may be experiencing at church

    • We can trust God by faith that His grace is sufficient for us

    • We can acknowledge that God is in control of everything here at church

 

Faith in God supersedes everything!

 

We do not need to trust in wives’ tales, folk wisdom, or superstitions.

 

CONCLUSION

Superstition

 

Very superstitious, writing's on the wall,
Very superstitious, ladders bout' to fall,
Thirteen month old baby, broke the lookin' glass
Seven years of bad luck, the good things in your past

 

When you believe in things that you don't understand,
Then you suffer, superstition ain’t the way

Hey

 

Very superstitious, wash your face and hands,
Rid me of the problem, do all that you can,
Keep me in a daydream, keep me goin' strong,
You don't wanna save me, sad is the soul

 

When you believe in things that you don't understand,
Then you suffer, superstition ain't the way,
Yeh, yeh

 

Very superstitious, nothin' more to say,
Very superstitious, the devil's on his way,
Thirteen month old baby, broke the lookin' glass,
Seven years of bad luck, good things in your past

 

When you believe in things that you don't understand,
Then you suffer, superstition ain't the way,
No, no, no

 

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Stevie Wonder / Douglas Davis / Chris Howard / Kareem Davis

Superstition lyrics © Black Bull Music, Stone Agate Music, Sawandi Music, Jobete Music Co., Inc., Jobete Music Co Inc.

 

[https://www.musixmatch.com/lyrics/22/47009574].

12

 

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The Baby Race

,

Origins

The Baby Race

(Genesis 30:9-13)

 

INTRODUCTION

The Space Race was between the United States and the Soviet Union. ​​ It began with the Cold War, but quickly focused on space exploration. ​​ The Soviet Union struck first by launching Sputnik, the world’s first artificial satellite and the first man-made object to be placed into the Earth’s orbit, on October 4, 1957. ​​ In 1958, the United States launched its own satellite, Explorer I. ​​ In 1959, the Soviets launched the space probe, Luna 2 that hit the moon. ​​ April 1961 had the Soviet Union taking another giant leap in space travel; by sending Yuri Gagarin into orbit around the earth, (he was the first person to accomplish that). ​​ Alan Shepard was the first American in space (though not in orbit), which happened on May 5, 1961. ​​ In February of 1962, John Glenn became the first American to orbit Earth. ​​ The lunar landing program began at the end of 1962, but did not see success until July 20, 1969 when Neil Armstrong was the first person to walk on the moon.

 

By landing on the moon, the United States, in effect, “won” the space race.

 

[https://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/space-race].

 

BODY

  • ME

    • Uncle race

        • This is not actually a competition in our family, but it is mentioned from time-to-time

        • Our middle son, is only an uncle once

        • Our oldest son, is an uncle twice

        • But, our youngest son is an uncle three times

        • Some people may try to make this a competition

    • Aunt/Uncle race

        • I am an uncle twice

        • My brother is an uncle three times

        • My sister is an aunt five times

 

  • WE

    • How about in your family?

        • Are there any healthy competitions going on?

        • Who is “winning”?

    • How about at work or in your friend group?

 

Last week we saw that Rachel’s maidservant Bilhah had two sons. ​​ Rachel named the second son, Naphtali, which meant “struggle.” ​​ Rachel then claimed victory in the struggle with her sister, Leah. ​​ What we will see today is that the baby race has not stopped. ​​ In fact, it seems to be heating up. ​​ Leah follows her sister’s example without consulting God. ​​ Human schemes seem to be playing a larger role in the narrative than God. ​​ Perhaps Rachel, Leah, and Jacob should have been involving God instead of relying on themselves and their maidservants. ​​ We will learn today that . . .

 

BIG IDEA – Involving God in our plans is important.

 

Let’s pray

 

  • GOD (Genesis 30:9-13)

    • Leah’s plight (v. 9a)

        • Leah saw that she stopped having children

        • Perhaps she understood a little bit about how Rachel felt at not being able to conceive children, but probably not

        • Instead of being content with four sons at this point, Leah continues the baby race by following her sister, Rachel’s, example

        • She wanted to make sure she had a commanding lead in this “contest”

    • Leah’s plan (vv. 9b-13)

        • Jacob’s fourth wife

          • Leah should have involved God in her plans

          • Leah took her maidservant, Zilpah, and gave her to Jacob as his fourth wife

          • Two important principles we see here

            • PRINCIPLE #1 – Just because something is socially acceptable does not make it wise or right.

              • It was mentioned last week that in the ancient Near East it was not uncommon for a woman, struggling with infertility, to offer her maidservant to her husband, so that the children born to the maidservant would be considered the children of the husband and wife

              • Jacob is silent when Rachel and now Leah offer their maidservants to him as wives

                • He does not object

                • He certainly could have refused to give in to the socially acceptable practice and trusted God for His timing and plan

                • However, he doesn’t

              • How about us?

                • Is there something we are participating in or believing as followers of Christ, because they are socially acceptable in our culture?

                  • You would be surprised how many Christians accept things that God’s Word say are wrong, just because the court system in our country has ruled that it is acceptable and/or right

                  • Abortion, same sex marriage, use of marijuana, etc.

                • Are there things we have embraced as followers of Christ, because other people, including Christians, are doing them?

                  • Abuse of alcohol

                  • Use of marijuana, either illegally or with a doctor’s card

                  • Having sex before marriage

                  • Living together before marriage

                  • Gossip

                  • Foul language and coarse joking

                  • Looking at pornography

                • We can refuse to participate in, believe, and embrace what we know God says is wrong

                • We can choose, instead, to pursue holiness, righteousness, and purity

                • We can choose to wait on God’s timing and His plan for us

              • #1 – My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Refuse to give in to what is socially acceptable and pursue holiness, righteousness, and purity instead.

              • Involving God in our plans is important.

              • This is so important, because others are watching what we are doing and determining what they should do as a result

            • PRINCIPLE #2 – Our actions/example may lead others astray.

              • This is what happened with Rachel and Leah

                • Leah saw what Rachel did in reaction to her infertility

                • So, Leah did the same thing when faced with not having any more children – she followed her sister’s example

              • When we participate in, believe, and embrace what our culture says is socially acceptable, we run the risk of leading other people astray

              • This happens with social issues, but it can also happen with spiritual issues

                • It happens all the time when someone takes just one verse from the Bible and uses it out of context to justify what they believe

                • Others try to make God in their own image, so they can continue to do what they want without feeling guilty

                • Still others try to reinterpret Scripture to have it say something that it does not say, so they can feel better about themselves or believe that God is accepting of their belief and/or actions

              • #2 – My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Evaluate my actions to make sure they are in alignment with God’s Word, so that I am not leading anyone astray.

              • Rachel should have evaluated her actions to see what kind of impact they would have

            • Rachel, Leah, and Jacob should have refused to embrace what was socially acceptable in their culture and trusted God to fulfill His plan for them

            • Involving God in our plans is important.

          • Instead, Leah followed Rachel’s example and gave Zilpah to Jacob, which resulted in two additional sons for Leah

        • Zilpah’s children

          • Gad

            • Zilpah’s first son had Leah feeling fortunate, which is why she exclaimed, “What good fortune!”

            • Leah named him Gad, which can mean “good fortune” or “a troop”

            • “Does she attribute the birth to Fortune/Luck, not God? ​​ She is not represented as in prayer or praise, unlike the case of her own children (29:31-35; 30:14-20).” ​​ [Waltke, Genesis: A Commentary, 412]

            • “Elsewhere in the Middle East, Gad is the name of a deity who brings good luck, but in the First Testament it is simply a term for luck (except in Isa. 65:11).” ​​ [Goldingay, Baker Commentary on the Old Testament, Pentateuch, Genesis, 474]

            • It is fascinating that Leah names her first four sons in a way that recognizes that the Lord saw her, heard her, and blessed her

            • With Gad it seems to be different – it is almost as though she is embracing the pagan beliefs of the nations around her

            • It is not definite that this is what she is doing, because the text does not really tell us that

            • Leah now has five sons, but it does not stop there

          • Asher

            • Zilpah bore Jacob a second son

            • Leah is really happy to have six sons

            • In fact she believes that the women in her community will call her happy

            • Asher’s name means “women will call me happy”

            • Waltke says, “Essentially, Leah is saying, ‘I am to be envied.’” ​​ [Waltke, 412]

            • “That Leah refers to the ‘women’ (‘daughters’) indicates the community setting in which the prestige of children accrued for a woman. ​​ The women of Bethlehem present just such a benediction for Naomi at the birth of Obed (Ruth 4:14-15).” ​​ [Mathews, The New American Commentary, Volume 1B, Genesis 11:27-50:26, 485-86]

            • Ruth 4:14-15, The women said to Naomi: ​​ “Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a kinsman-redeemer. ​​ May he become famous throughout Israel! ​​ He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. ​​ For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.”

            • Leah’s naming of Asher brings to mind Mary’s song of praise in Luke 1:46-55

              • Luke 1:48b, From now on all generations will call me blessed

              • “The major difference between the two is that Leah speaks of the ‘women’ (LXX A ‘all the women,’ pásai hai gynaíkes), while Mary speaks of ‘all generations’ (pásai hai geneaí).” ​​ [Hamilton, The New International Commentary on the Old Testament, The Book of Genesis, Chapter 18-50, 273]

              • Leah is talking about the women who are in her immediate community, while Mary is talking about women throughout history

 

  • YOU

    • Have you involved God in your plans?

    • Do you need to refuse to give in to what is socially acceptable and pursue holiness, righteousness, and purity?

    • Are there some actions that you need to evaluate to make sure they are in alignment with God’s Word, so that you do not lead other people astray?

 

  • WE

    • Are there spiritual issues that we need to evaluate as a body of believers to ensure that they align with God’s Word, so we are not leading others astray?

 

CONCLUSION

“In the late eighties and early nineties, there were several hundred studies about happiness published each year; by 2014, there were over 10,000 per year. It was an exciting shift for psychology, one that the public immediately responded to. Major media outlets clamored to cover the new research. Soon, entrepreneurs began monetizing it, founding start-ups and programming apps to help ordinary people implement the field's findings. They were followed by a deluge of celebrities, personal coaches, and motivational speakers, all eager to share the gospel of happiness. According to Psychology Today, in 2000, the number of books published about happiness was a modest fifty. In 2008, that number had skyrocketed to 4,000. Of course, people have always been interested in the pursuit of happiness, but all that attention has made an impact: since the mid-2000s, the interest in happiness, as measured by Google searches, has tripled. ‘The shortcut to anything you want in your life,’ writes author Rhonda Byrne in her bestselling 2006 book The Secret, ‘is to BE and FEEL happy now!’

 

And yet, there is a major problem with the happiness frenzy: it has failed to deliver on its promise. Though the happiness industry continues to grow, as a society, we're more miserable than ever. Indeed, social scientists have uncovered a sad irony—chasing happiness actually makes people unhappy.”

 

Source: Emily Esfahani Smith, The Power Of Meaning (Crown, 2017), pages 9-10.

 

[https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2017/march/6030617.html].

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Sister Struggle

, ,

Origins

Sister Struggle

(Genesis 30:1-8)

 

INTRODUCTION

“Like many parents of grown children, Sadhana and Sanjeev Prasad of India are frustrated at the lack of grandchildren in the picture. But, the Prasad’s resorted to a desperate tactic to force their son’s hand. They are suing him.

 

The couple's legal representative said, ‘They raised him, educated him, made him capable, made him a pilot -- which was expensive.’ The Prasad’s filed a suit against their son and daughter-in-law, seeking damages in the amount of 50 million Indian rupees, or about $643,000 in US dollars. ‘They see people in their neighborhood playing with their grandchildren and feel like they should also have one. They said they didn't marry (their son and daughter-in-law) off so that they can live alone. So, they said, in the next year, either give us a grandchild or give us compensation.’

 

According to CNN, such lawsuits are rare, but they highlight the strong familial traditions in India, where carrying on the family line is of utmost importance. Lawsuits like this reflect the inevitable conflicts that arise from generational shifts in perspective that include a stronger focus on work and career over raising a family.”

 

Source: Esha Mitra & Jessie Yeung, “Indian Couple Sue Only Son for Not Giving Them Grandchildren,” CNN (3-17-22).

 

[https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2022/august/couple-sues-only-son-for-failing-to-procreate.html].

 

This couple was jealous of those around them who already had grandchildren. ​​ They wanted to experience the joy of playing with their own grandchildren. ​​ They were not content to wait on God’s providential timing, but rather used the court system to get what they wanted.

 

BODY

  • ME

    • Discontentment/Jealousy

        • It is so easy to want what others have, especially when it comes to our siblings

        • I know that it has happened in my own family with my brother and sister

        • I’m not going to give any specifics, but I can tell you that each one of us has wanted what the other sibling(s) have had or have

        • It is so easy to think that the grass is greener on the other side

        • Most of the time we are not aware of some of the hardships that go along with having a particular thing and if we knew the hardships that come along with it, we would probably not want it

    • Dependence on God

        • This is an area where Judy and I continue to grow

        • We have seen significant growth over the many years of our marriage

        • In the early years, we depended on God to provide for our monthly bills and to put food on the table

        • When we started having children, we had to depend on God to guide and direct us in raising them

        • As older adults, we are depending on God to provide wisdom in counseling our children as they go out on their own, have children, change jobs, return to school, start their own businesses, etc.

        • There were times over the years where we tried to depend on human schemes in order to provide for our needs, but inevitably we returned to God for help and dependence

 

  • WE

    • All of us have a time in our lives when we were discontent and probably jealous of a sibling, friend, neighbor, fellow student, or coworker – it is part of our human condition to want what others have.

    • Every one of us can probably remember a time that we used a human scheme instead of depending on God

 

Last week, Pastor Marc shared with us that Leah had four sons by Jacob, because God had opened her womb. ​​ Rachel’s womb remained shut at this point and it caused her to become jealous of Leah. ​​ In her jealousy, she blamed Jacob and then devised a plan that would enable her to have children by her maidservant. ​​ She was not willing to wait on God’s providential timing, but tried to take control of the situation. ​​ This human scheme would not provide the contentment that she was hoping for. ​​ She need to depend on God and seek Him instead of trying to work it out on her own. ​​ She needed to learn to . . .

 

BIG IDEA – “Never replace dependence on God with human schemes.” ​​ [Gangel & Bramer]

 

The same is true for us.

 

Let’s pray

 

  • GOD (Genesis 30:1-8)

    • Sadness (vv. 1-2)

        • Rachel became jealous of Leah, because Leah was having children and Rachel was not

          • Rachel’s jealousy stemmed from the pressures of her culture

          • “In a society that considered children, especially sons, symbols of wealth and power, jealousy loomed as the inevitable result of Rachel’s dilemma.” ​​ [Gangel & Bramer, Holman Old Testament Commentary, Genesis, 248-49]

        • Neither sister is content with what God has given them

          • “One wife has children but no love, the other has love but no children, and ‘they are competing with each other, one for love and the other for children.’” ​​ [Goldingay, Baker Commentary on the Old Testament, Pentateuch, 472]

          • For Rachel, love was not enough when Leah was bearing sons for Jacob

          • For Leah, children were not enough when Jacob clearly loved Rachel more than her

          • PRINCIPLE #1 – Contentment comes when we treasure what God has given us.

            • Where are you at today?

              • Are you dealing with discontentment?

              • Is there something that someone else has that you wish you had?

              • Is jealousy gaining a foothold in your life?

              • What does Scripture have to say about jealousy and envy?

                • James 3:16, For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

                • James 4:1-3, What causes fights and quarrels among you? ​​ Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? ​​ You want something but don’t get it. ​​ You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. ​​ You quarrel and fight. ​​ You do not have, because you do not ask God. ​​ When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

                • Proverbs 14:30, A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.

                • Proverbs 27:4, Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?

                • 1 Corinthians 3:1-3, Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly – mere infants in Christ. ​​ I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. ​​ Indeed, you are still not ready. ​​ You are still worldly. ​​ For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? ​​ Are you not acting like mere men?

                • Paul tells the Galatians that one of the works of the flesh is jealousy and if we do any of the works of the flesh that we will not inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21)

              • #1 – My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Confess my jealousy to the Lord and ask Him to forgive me.

              • #2 – My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Treasure what the Lord has given me and thank Him.

            • We can experience contentment when we depend on God instead of other human beings

            • Rachel was depending on Jacob instead of the Lord to provide only what the Lord could provide

          • So, Rachel confronts Jacob while she is sad and hurting from the jealousy she is experiencing

        • Immediate gratification

          • Rachel is demanding that Jacob give her children or she’ll die

            • Obviously she will not die if she doesn’t have children, but this is the extent of her sadness, pain, and social disgrace

            • We have the privilege of knowing the whole story, from start to finish

              • The Lord will open Rachel’s womb and she will have two sons

              • Just a side note – Rachel will die after giving birth to her second child, Benjamin

              • Rachel does not have the foreknowledge that she will eventually have her own children with Jacob

              • She is impatient with God’s timing and takes her anger and frustration out on Jacob

                • There are two principles here that we do not want to miss

                • PRINCIPLE #2 – God’s providential timing is best.

                  • When we are hurting and upset, it is nearly impossible to see that God’s providential timing is best

                  • That is why we have to have close friends or family members that we can trust to point us back to the truths of who God is and what He has promised to do

                  • We need accountability partners that will remind us to never replace dependence on God with human schemes and to wait patiently for God’s perfect timing

                  • Do you have those kind of people in your life? ​​ (if you do that is great, hold on to them)

                  • If you do not, who can you trust to be that person(s) for you?

                  • Do you need to trust in God’s providential timing for something that you have been impatiently waiting on?

                • PRINCIPLE #3 – Misplaced anger can hurt relationships.

                  • “. . . instead of praying, either directly or through her husband, as Rebekah had done, to Jehovah, who had promised His favour to Jacob (28:13ff), she [Rachel] said to Jacob, in passionate displeasure, ‘Get me children, or I shall die;’ to which he angrily replied, ‘Am I in God’s stead (i.e., equal to God, or God), who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?’ i.e., Can I, a powerless man, give thee what the Almighty God has withheld? [Keil & Delitzsch, Commentary on the Old Testament, Volume 1, The Pentateuch, 184]

                  • We see that both Rachel and Jacob speak without thinking and allow misplaced anger to hurt each other

                  • Rachel was actually angry with God, because she knew who had the power to give and take life – she knew that Jacob did not have that power

                  • Jacob speaks impulsively when verbally attacked by Rachel

                  • “. . . what Rachel needed wasn’t a lecture on theology or gynecology. ​​ She needed the kind understanding of her husband and the encouragement that only his love could provide.” ​​ [Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, Pentateuch, 128]

                  • Is there something that you are angry with God about, but you have taken it out on a love one? (it’s not too late to go to that person, apologize, and ask for forgiveness)

                  • #3 – My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Apologize and seek forgiveness for taking out my anger on a loved one.

                  • Have you been verbally attacked for something you do not have any control over?

                  • How did you react? ​​ (verbally attack back or provide understanding and encouragement with love)

                  • It’s not too late to go back to that person and provide loving encouragement and understanding

                  • #4 – My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Provide understanding and encouragement with love to someone who has verbally attacked me.

                  • It is important that we work to restore relationships that been damaged by misplaced anger

          • In her desire for immediate gratification and to best her sister, Rachel hatches a plan to ensure that she will have children

        • She offers her maidservant, Bilhah, to Jacob as a third wife and surrogate mother for her children

    • Surrogate (vv. 3-8)

        • “Never replace dependence on God with human schemes.”

        • Rachel’s plan

          • In the ancient Near East it was not uncommon for a wife who was experiencing infertility to offer her maidservant to her husband, so that the children born to the maidservant would be counted as the children of the husband and wife

          • We will see this played out as Rachel is the one who names the two sons born to Bilhah

          • In essence, Jacob and Rachel have adopted them

          • Two things that set Rachel apart from Sarah

            • There does not seem to be tension between the Rachel and Bilhah after she gives birth, while there was certainly tension between Sarah and Hagar

            • Rachel accepts the two boys as hers, while Sarah does not accept Ishmael

          • Jacob sleeps with Bilhah and she becomes pregnant

        • Bilhah’s babies

          • Dan

            • Rachel’s reaction to the first child born to Bilhah is recognition that God has vindicated her and has listened to her plea

            • It seems as though Rachel has been praying for a child, but perhaps this only happened after she gave Bilhah to Jacob as a third wife

            • Dan’s name comes from how Rachel felt after his birth

            • Dan literally means, “God has vindicated me.”

            • “In such context, the verb dîn signifies justice for an individual who finds herself in a heretofore hopeless and helpless state.” ​​ [Hamilton, The New International Commentary on the Old Testament, The Book of Genesis, Chapters 18-50, 271]

            • Rachel is equally excited about birth of a second son to Bilhah

          • Naphtali

            • Bilhah conceived again and birth another son for Jacob

            • Rachel obviously perceived that she and Leah were in a competition, but again they were competing for two different things – Rachel was competing for children and Leah was competing for love

            • It is fascinating that Rachel would declare that she had won the struggle between her and Leah after having only two adopted sons

            • Perhaps this is an indication that the narrative is not in chronological order

              • Last week we learned about the four sons that Leah had

              • It is probable that Leah had two sons and then Bilhah had two sons, before Leah had two more sons

              • Maybe that is why Rachel is claiming victory at this point

              • The chronological time frame is not spelled out specifically in the text

            • Rachel names this second son Naphtali, which means “my struggle”

          • It appears as though Bilhah stops having children after Dan and Naphtali – no other children are recorded for her in Scripture

 

  • YOU

    • Are you jealous about something right now – take time to confess that to the Lord and seek His forgiveness

    • Are you treasuring what the Lord has given you and have you thanked Him for those things?

    • Do you need to apologize and seek forgiveness for taking out your anger and frustration on someone else?

    • Do you need to provide loving encouragement and understanding to someone who is sad, hurting, and struggling?

 

  • WE

    • Is there jealousy in the church that needs to be addressed and dealt with?

    • What are things we need to treasure that God has given to us as a body of believers?

    • How can we as a church provide loving encouragement and understanding to those in our community who are experiencing sadness, hurt, and struggles?

 

CONCLUSION

“Research studies indicate that up to 45 percent of adult siblings have relationships marked by rivalry or distance. A story from the Wall Street Journal featured Al Golden, 85, who still chokes up when he talks about his twin brother, Elliott, who died three years ago. The brothers shared a room growing up in Brooklyn, N.Y., graduated from the same college and then married within a month of each other in 1947.

 

Yet Mr. Golden still remembers how their father often compared their grades, asking one or the other, ‘How come you got a B and your brother got an A?’ Elliott Golden became a lawyer and eventually a state Supreme Court judge. Al Golden went into the mirror business then sold life insurance. He says he always envied his brother's status and secretly took pleasure in knowing he was a better fisherman and owned a big boat. Once, Elliott asked him, ‘I am a lawyer. How come you make more money than me?’ Mr. Golden says. ‘He meant: ‘How come you are making more than me when you are not as successful?’ But it made me feel good.’

 

One day, Elliott accused him of not doing enough to take care of their ailing mother. After the conversation, Al didn't speak to his brother for more than a year. ‘It might have been the build-up of jealousies over the years,’ he says. His brother repeatedly reached out to him, as did his nieces and nephews, but Mr. Golden ignored them.

 

Then one day Al received an email from his brother telling a story about two men who had a stream dividing their properties. One man hired a carpenter to build a fence along the stream, but the carpenter built a bridge by mistake. Mr. Golden thought about the email then wrote back, ‘I'd like to walk over the bridge.’ ‘I missed him,’ Mr. Golden says now. ‘I never had the chance to miss him before.’”

 

Source: Elizabeth Bernstein, "Sibling Rivalry Grows Up," Wall Street Journal (3-20-12).”

 

[https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2014/november/3110314.html].

8

 

/by

Love Is Blind

, ,

Origins

Love Is Blind

(Genesis 29:14b-30)

 

INTRODUCTION

“The story is told of the cruel and tyrannical Baron Rascas and his beautiful and kind wife, the Lady of Rascas. ​​ When the baron was summoned to the Crusades by his king, he was concerned that his wife would turn to another (either because of his death or his long absence) that he commanded his wizard Malagan, to make her ugly just after his departure and then for the wizard to join him in the crusade so the spell could not be undone. ​​ It was done as the king commanded, with the result that the good lady had the face of a horse. ​​ Despite her condition, she managed the lands of the baron well during his absence, and the people grew to love her with no thought to her appearance.

 

After seven years, the baron returned without Malagan and was repulsed by his wife’s ugliness. ​​ Without Malagan there was no way to reverse the spell, and his wife was utterly rejected by the baron, who, if it were possible, had become even more insufferable since the wars. ​​ Word was sent far and wide offering a reward to any wizard or magician who could reverse the spell. ​​ Many tried; none succeeded. ​​ One day a poor beggar arrived at the gates and, after gaining admission to the baron’s presence, identified himself as Malagan. ​​ He recounted before the entire court how the baron abandoned him when he had been wounded and left him for dead. ​​ Years of slavery followed, and he lost most of his skills before he was finally able to regain his freedom. ​​ He had now returned to remedy the situation.

 

When the Lady of Rascas was called into the king’s presence, the wizard’s words proved not to transform the lady to her earlier beauty, but instead, transformed the baron a similar horse-face appearance. ​​ It was only in this condition that the baron finally learned to love and cherish his wife and become the kind and caring lord he should have been from the start. ​​ The moral of the story has two parts to it: ​​ (1) ‘Out of evil came good, out of ugliness, beauty’; (2) ‘he who turns to evil will, at the end, find it turned against him.’”

 

[Walton, The NIV Application Commentary, Genesis, 595-96].

 

BODY

  • ME

    • Love is blind

        • In talking with couples prior to marriage I always find it interesting some of the statements they make or how they view the person they are in love with

          • There was one couple that I knew where the man filled out a reference form for the lady and he scored her a perfect 10 on everything (the employer already knew that there was room for improvement, but the boyfriend did not see it that way)

          • Another young man said that he would be fine with letting the young lady always getting her way after marriage

        • This just proves that love can blind us to reality and make us say things that we will probably not follow through with

    • We reap what we sow

        • Once the honeymoon was over, the young man probably realized that his, now wife, was not a perfect 10 in all areas – there were adjustments that had to take place, and some recognition of reality, in order for the couple to remain married (they are still married today, 24 years and going)

        • The same thing happened with the second young man – reality sank in and in order for the marriage to work, there had to be give and take on both sides and not one person always getting their own way (this marriage is also still going strong)

 

  • WE

    • Most of us can probably say that we have been blinded by love at one time in our lives

    • If we have not been blinded by love, we can probably admit that we have reaped what we have sown (whether positive or negative)

 

We will see today that Jacob was blinded by love, which caused him to miss that fact that Laban deceived him. ​​ Jacob had used deception with his father and brother and now he was getting a taste of his own medicine. ​​ In everything that took place in this narrative, we cannot miss the fact that God is in control and His sovereign plan will be fulfilled. ​​ We can all agree to today, that . . .

 

BIG IDEA – We reap what we sow.

 

Let’s pray

 

  • GOD (Genesis 29:14b-30)

    • Wages (vv. 14b-20)

        • Timestamp (v. 14b)

          • The second half of verse 14 gives us a timeframe

          • One month after Jacob arrived in Haran/Paddan Aram, Laban pulls him aside to talk about wages

        • Negotiations (vv. 15-20)

          • This would have been a little bit unusual in the Ancient Near East, since family members were not usually paid

          • They were taken care of, as a family member, by the head of the household, therefore, there was no need for them to take a wage

          • “His initial question is rhetorical, meaning Jacob should not be utilized without compensation lest he be a slave. ​​ Yet he cannot establish the standard of payment for Jacob since he is not merely a hired worker either.” ​​ [Mathews, The New American Commentary, Volume 1B, Genesis 11:27-50:26, 466-67]

            • Jacob is not a slave – slaves did not receive any wages

            • Jacob is not a hired hand – hired hands were given a specific wage

            • Laban should have realized that Jacob was not going to remain in Haran permanently, but would be returning to Canaan after he found a wife

            • So, perhaps the offer of wages was to prepare Jacob for his future

            • If Jacob is going to marry one of his daughters, then he would want Jacob to be well-established

            • Jacob came to Laban with nothing, which means he would not have the ability to pay a bride price

            • Maybe Laban was offering a wage to Jacob, so he could begin to save for a dowry

            • None of this is directly expressed in this passage of Scripture, so we are left to speculate concerning why Laban is offering to pay Jacob, as a family member

            • From Jacob’s response, we realize that he understands that he does not have anything to give for a bride price

          • Laban’s two daughters (vv. 16-18a)

            • The narrator gives us some information about Laban’s daughters, before sharing Jacob’s offer about wages

              • Leah

                • Her name means, “cow” or “weary”

                • She was the older of the two

                • She had weak eyes

                  • This does not mean that she had poor eyesight

                  • The Hebrew word can also mean “soft,” “delicate,” or “tender”

                  • Leah probably did not have bright eyes that sparkled with fire in them

                  • Women with bright, sparkling, and fiery eyes were considered to be beautiful in the Oriental culture [Keil & Delitzsch, Commentary on the Old Testament, Volume 1, The Pentateuch, 183; Waltke, Genesis: A Commentary, 405]

                  • We have to remember that in the culture of the day, women were covered from head to toe with only their eyes and cheeks exposed

                  • So, their eyes told a lot about them

                  • I imagine that Leah was perhaps more reserved and contemplative, which her eyes revealed about her

                  • Jacob obviously did not find that attractive

              • Rachel

                • Her name means, “ewe” (it is fascinating that Rachel is a shepherdess, taking care of her father’s sheep)

                • She was the younger of the two

                • She was lovely in form, and beautiful

                  • I am not sure how the narrator knew that Rachel had a beautiful figure (shape of her body), since she would have been covered head to toe

                  • Other translations say that Rachel also had a beautiful or lovely face, which probably meant that she had bright, fiery, sparkling eyes

                  • One other translation says she has a beautiful countenance, which would have been apparent through the bright, fiery, sparkling eyes

                  • She was probably outgoing, energetic, and fiery in her personality

              • “Apparently both of Laban’s daughters served as walking commercials for his business operation.” ​​ [Gangel & Bramer, Holman Old Testament Commentary, Genesis, 246]

            • Jacob was in love with Rachel (love at first sight?)

          • Jacob’s offer (v. 18b)

            • Jacob offers to work for Laban for seven years in return for Rachel’s hand in marriage

            • This would have been a generous bride price

              • “In texts from Nuzi the typical bride price was thirty to forty shekels. ​​ Since a shepherd’s annual wage was ten shekels a year, Jacob is in effect paying a premium by working seven years, but he is in no position to negotiate.” ​​ [Walton, 586]

              • With the way the housing market is right now, there are individuals who are making higher offers in an effort to try to guarantee that they will get the house – in fact, cash offers are being accepted over all other offers

              • Jacob wants to make sure that he will be able to marry Rachel, so he offers more than the usual bride price

            • Laban is agreeable to the terms

          • Laban’s response

            • Laban tells Jacob that it is better for him to give her to him than to some other man

              • The cultural practice of endogamy is at play here again – marrying within the family instead of outside the family

              • Perhaps Laban saw the character and work ethic of Jacob in that first month and realized that he would be a good spouse for his daughter

            • Laban encourages Jacob to stay with him

          • Love is blind

            • Jacob served seven years to get Rachel

            • The seven years only seemed like a few days to Jacob, because of his love for Rachel

            • Judy and I got engaged between our Sophomore and Junior year of college and then got married a year later between our Junior and Senior year of college

              • I don’t remember everything that happened in that year, because it seemed to go by so fast with full-time school and wedding preparations

              • I’m sure Judy felt the same way

            • Love has a way of blinding us to everything that happens between certain events

            • Jacob experienced that with the seven years of service just flying by

        • Application

          • We reap what we sow

            • We see Jacob maturing in his character as he patiently waits to marry Rachel

            • He was sowing patience and reaping God’s blessing of time passing quickly

            • This was not the case when it came to Jacob’s birthright and Isaac’s blessing

            • God used human sinful circumstances to accomplish His plan and purpose concerning Jacob being the covenant carrier, even though it may come sooner than later

            • While Jacob was impatient, waiting for God to fulfill His promise, we now see that he is sowing patience when it comes to finding a wife

            • PRINCIPLE #1 – Patience is a virtue.

              • Have you ever tried to run ahead of God and His timing?

                • Maybe it was with a relationship, or a financial decision, a job change, or career path

                • How did it work out for you?

                • In hindsight, did you wish that you had waited on God’s timing and His plan?

              • Is there a situation, currently, where you are struggling to be patient?

              • #1 – My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Patiently wait on God’s timing and plan for the situation I am currently involved in.

              • We can trust God to accomplish His plan and purpose in our lives at just the right time – wait on Him, spend time in prayer and reading His Word, and seek the counsel of other believers

          • Jacob was reaped what he had sown – patience – the seven years seemed like a few days

        • The wages were set and the Jacob had faithful fulfilled his obligation of the bride price

        • It was time to celebrate and consummate his marriage

    • Weddings (vv. 21-30)

        • Jacob asks for his wife, so he could consummate his marriage – he had patiently waited and now it was time

        • Laban’s deception

          • Laban prepared a feast and brought all of the people together

          • The wedding feast would last one week, as we will see in verse 27

          • Jacob is expecting to receive Rachel as his wife and perhaps Rachel is with him during the feast, but something happens after dark

          • Laban took Leah and gave her to Jacob as his wife

          • Jacob consummated his marriage with Leah by laying with her (they were intimate with each other)

          • How did Laban get away with this deception?

            • Love is blind!

              • Jacob’s patience had reached it limit and he was ready to consummate his marriage with Rachel

              • Perhaps in his eagerness, he was not very attentive to whom was in bed with him

            • There are all kinds of other ideas and speculations

              • It is very likely that wine was part of the feast and potentially Jacob may have had a little too much to drink, which could have clouded his mind

              • The bridal attire would have covered the women’s bodies completely and the bridal veil would have covered all but Leah’s eyes

              • Culturally, the veil may have been worn even during the sexual act

              • The tent where Jacob and Leah would have spent the night would have been dark or dimly lit

              • Laban may have had Leah wear some of Rachel’s clothes, which would recall what Jacob doing the same thing with Esau’s clothing at the prompting of his mother

            • Scripture does not tell us how the deception was carried out, it just tells us that it happened

          • The narrator gives us a side note about Laban giving his servant girl, Zilpah to Leah as her maidservant

          • Morning wakeup call

            • The morning light and a clear head revealed that Jacob had married Leah instead of Rachel

            • Jacob confronted Laban about his deception – “I thought the deal was to work for you for seven years and then I would marry Rachel, why did you give Leah to me?”

            • We reap what we sow

              • While Jacob was maturing and developing as the covenant carrier, he was experiencing a taste of his own medicine

              • He had sown deception with his father and brother and was now reaping deception

              • “The nemesis is made all the more pungent by the fact that Jacob is caught in the same device he himself had once used. ​​ He pretended to be Esau in front of Isaac. ​​ Leah pretends to be Rachel next to Jacob. ​​ While Jacob’s ruse was pretending to be his older brother, Leah’s ruse is pretending to be her younger sister. ​​ Jacob is deceived as he deceived his father.” ​​ [Hamilton, The New International Commentary on the Old Testament, The Book of Genesis, Chapters 18-50, 262]

              • Numbers 32:23, “But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the Lord; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out.”

              • Galatians 6:7-8, Do not be deceived: ​​ God cannot be mocked. ​​ A man reaps what he sows. ​​ The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

              • This is true for us also, when we do things that please our sinful nature, there will be consequences for those behaviors

              • When we do things that please the Lord, we will experience eternal life

            • God knew what He was doing, through Laban’s deception

            • PRINCIPLE #2 – God is sovereign and will accomplish His plan.

              • What is so significant about Jacob marrying Leah instead of Rachel?

              • Leah’s fourth child with Jacob is Judah

              • Read Matthew 1:1-16

              • Do you see the significance of Leah as Jacob’s wife?

              • It is through the line of Leah and Jacob that Jesus is born

              • We may not understand all that God is doing through His sovereign will, but we can trust Him to accomplish His perfect plan and purpose for us

              • Are you struggling to understand what God is doing in your life right now?

              • Do you need to trust in His sovereign will?

              • #2 – My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Trust in God’s sovereign will for my life, even when I do not understand.

            • Laban already had his defense planned, because he knew that Jacob would uncover his ruse

          • Laban’s defense

            • Laban explains the custom of his people

              • They do not give the younger daughter in marriage before the older daughter

              • This custom was not something that was taken lightly, because it could threaten the very core of their society [Hamilton, 263]

              • Did Laban have this planned the whole time and just waited for seven years to spring the trap?

              • Probably not

              • Perhaps he thought that during the seven year service period, Leah would get married to someone else and when that did not happen, he saw a way to make sure that Leah would get married [Gangel & Bramer, 246]

              • While that might have been Laban’s thought process, God’s sovereignty superseded his plans

            • Laban used the custom of his people to defend his deceptive actions, but he also had a proposal for Jacob

          • Laban’s proposal

            • “If you work for me for another seven years, I will give you Rachel as a second wife in a week”

            • Laban required Jacob to finish the bridal week with Leah before he would give Rachel to him

          • Jacob agrees to the proposal

            • Jacob honored his marriage to Leah, even though he entered it unaware

              • “Once Jacob engages in sexual relations with the virgin Leah, the action is irrevocable, requiring Jacob to fulfill his honorable duty to the woman (cf. Exod 22:16; Deut 22:28-29).” ​​ [Mathews, 469]

              • Through this we see the developing character of Jacob

              • He accepts responsibility for Leah, because he recognizes that marriage is sacred and sexual union is sacred and binding

              • PRINCIPLE #3 – Marriage and sexual union are sacred!

                • Jacob certainly recognized this and acted accordingly

                • Our culture today, including some within the church, have cheapened sexual union and marriage

                • More often than not, those who are getting married, have already been sexually active prior to marriage and potentially they have cohabited with each other prior to marriage

                • Christianity Today did research on whether divorce rates are lower for religious people vs. nonreligious people

                  • “Without controls for age at marriage or an indicator for premarital cohabitation, women with a religious upbringing do have slightly lower likelihoods of divorce . . . the annual divorce rate among married women with a nonreligious upbringing is around 5 percent. ​​ For religious women, it’s around 4.5 percent.” ​​ [https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2021/december-web-only/marriage-divorce-cohabitation-religious-americans-study.html]

                  • When premarital cohabitation is included the rates are still about the same for religious and nonreligious, yet more couples who cohabitate before marriage get divorced than those who do not

                • What does the Bible have to say about sex before marriage and sex within marriage?

                  • Galatians 5:19, The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: ​​ sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;

                  • Ephesians 5:3, But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.

                  • 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5, It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: ​​ that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God;

                  • 1 Corinthians 7:2, But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.

                  • Hebrews 13:4, Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.

                • The Bible is clear that marriage and sexual union are sacred, especially among followers of Jesus Christ

                • We need to return to the standard of the Bible

                • So, I would be remiss if I did not exhort those, who are practicing sexual immorality, to abstain from it until you are married

                • This will take a lot of self-control, but that is what Paul challenged the Thessalonian believers to do – control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable

                • Accountability will be the key – you have to have another person, of the same sex, holding you accountable

                • It is doable, it is possible, because of the Holy Spirit that lives within every believer, but it will not be easy

            • After Jacob honored his commitment to Leah, Laban allowed Jacob to marry Rachel as well

            • Again we see the narrators note about Rachel’s maidservant, Bilhah, who had been Laban’s servant girl

            • Jacob kept the marriage bed sacred by waiting to marry Rachel until after the bridal week with Leah

              • Perhaps this particular situation with Jacob and his two sister-wives is what brought about the law found in Leviticus 18:18, “Do not take your wife’s sister as a rival wife and have sexual relations with her while your wife is living.”

              • As we will see in the weeks ahead, having two sisters for wives was going to cause some problems

              • Abraham understood the difficulties of having two wives

              • Multiple wives is not what God designed for marriage

              • His design for marriage was one man and one woman for a lifetime

            • We see this unfortunate note at the end of this section that Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah (notice that it does not say that Jacob did not love Leah)

        • Jacob honors his agreement with Laban by working another seven years for him (again we see Jacob’s character developing and growing)

 

  • YOU

    • Is there a situation in your life, right now, that you need to patiently wait for God’s timing and plan to accomplish?

    • Do you need to trust in God’s sovereign plan for your life, even if you do not understand?

 

  • WE

    • As a body of believers, is there something that we need to patiently wait on God for?

    • Is there something we need to trust God’s sovereign plan to accomplish?

 

CONCLUSION

“There's a new reality dating show on Netflix called, ‘Love is Blind,’ that tries to test whether relationships can be successful based on emotional connection rather than physical appearance. Couples are placed in separate rooms for a series of ‘dates’ where they get to know each other without being able to see each other until the big moment when they're ready to get engaged. Then the engaged couples get a month to spend time face-to-face before a marriage ceremony that proves whether a blind beginning can guarantee true love.

 

The show’s creator explains the popularity of the show in a time where social media and dating apps make so much of outward appearance: ‘Everyone wants to be loved for who they are on the inside. It doesn’t matter where you live, what you look like, how old you are, what your background is, which class you know, or social structure you feel like you’re a part of, everyone wants to be loved for who they are.’

 

But is blind love the way to love someone as they truly are? The British writer G.K. Chesterton once wrote, ‘Love is not blind; that is the last thing that it is. Love is bound; and the more it is bound the less it is blind.’ Chesterton argued that real love depends on commitment. The way to love someone as they truly are is to vow to love them no matter what comes, and the more one is committed to the vows of marriage, the less blind they are to the real person who desires to be loved.

 

Source: “Love is Blind” Netflix (February, 2020); Meredith Woerner, “How Netflix’s New Reality Series ‘Love Is Blind’ Works,” Variety (2-14-20); G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy (NuVision Publications, 2007), p. 57.

 

[https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2021/february/love-is-blind-no-love-is-bound.html].

11

 

/by

Transformed Trek

, , ,

Origins

Transformed Trek

(Genesis 28:10-22)

 

INTRODUCTION

“As [one researcher has] described it, our brain blinds our mind to the unusual. For instance, in one study, researchers put a clown on a unicycle in the path of pedestrians. The researchers asked people who walked passed the clown if they had noticed anything unusual. Everybody saw him unless they had been on their cell phone. Three out of every four people who had been using their phone did not see the clown. They looked back in astonishment, unable to believe they had missed him. They had looked straight at him but had not registered his presence. The unicycling clown crossed their paths but not their minds.”

 

Source: Kevin Ashton, How to Fly a Horse (Doubleday, 2015), page 97.

 

[https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2015/september/8091415.html].

 

BODY

  • ME

    • Walking our dog

        • I had a similar situation recently when walking our dog, Red

        • We were at the top of the orchard by the cornfield and I was looking at my cell phone, when I heard loud hoof steps

        • I looked up just in time to see the tail end of a deer

        • I couldn’t tell how big it was and I never saw the head to know whether it was buck or a doe

        • When Red and I made it back down to the garden, Judy told me that a large, trophy buck had come running down out of the orchard, crossed the bridge, saw her in the garden, turned right and ran along the creek, crossed Peach Glen/Idaville Road, and went into the woods

        • I’m fairly certain that was the deer that Red and I saw the tail end of

        • Had I not been looking at my cell phone, I may have seen that buck for myself

    • Other times I’ve missed seeing things

        • That is not the first time I have missed seeing something because of looking at my cell phone

        • Judy points stuff out to me from time-to-time, but I’ve missed it because of looking at something on my cell phone

 

  • WE

    • Cell phones – how many of us have missed seeing certain things because of looking at our cell phones?

    • Other distractions – cell phones are the only thing that distracts us from seeing things (it can happen when we are driving, it can happen while reading the newspaper or a magazine, it can happen while focusing on a conversation with another person, or having our back turned when something happens)

    • We can be distracted in our spiritual journey by the busyness of life (health issues, family dynamics, financial concerns, school, fears, anxiety, depression, addictions, etc.) and miss that God is present with us in all of those situations

 

Jacob is on the run from his brother and on a mission to find a wife when God transforms his trek. ​​ The Lord appears to him in a dream and promises him several things. ​​ Jacob then worships the Lord and makes a vow to the Lord. ​​ The author of Genesis wants us to understand today that . . .

 

BIG IDEA – God’s presence transforms our life’s journey.

 

Let’s pray

 

  • GOD (Genesis 28:10-22)

    • Introduction (v. 10)

        • There is no need to restate who Jacob is supposed to go to in Paddan Aram/Haran, since Isaac had just mentioned it at the beginning of this chapter

        • The original hearer would have listened to the entire book of Genesis at one setting and not broken into multiple messages like we are doing, so just mentioning that Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Haran, is enough

        • It tells us what we need to know – Jacob was obedient to the command that Isaac had given him

        • This section of Scripture gives us more detail about Jacob’s journey

        • It expands what the author says in Genesis 28:5, Then Isaac sent Jacob on his way, and he went to Paddan Aram, to Laban son of Bethuel the Aramean, the brother of Rebekah, who was the mother of Jacob and Esau

        • This verse makes it sound like Jacob left and arrived, with no details about the journey in between

        • Interesting enough, the only narrative about his journey is this section about the dream he has in a certain place (he names it Bethel)

    • Dream (vv. 11-15)

        • Jacob had traveled a couple of days from Beersheba (about 60 miles) when he came to a certain place

          • At this point, Jacob is not aware of the significance of the place where he stops for the night

          • It is just a random place that he chose because the sun was going down

          • It was not a random place for the sovereign Lord

          • Jacob will understand that after his dream

        • The sun was setting, so he decided to stop for the night and sleep there

        • He took a stone and used it as a pillow

          • The literal translation is that Jacob “put it at his head-place”

          • Most translations say that he put it under his head

          • Other translations say that he put it near his head

          • “Our text’s description, however, may indicate simply that ‘the stones of the place’ were positioned nearby the head (cf. 1 Sam 19:13, 16; 26:7, 11, 16; 1 Kgs 19:6). ​​ This appears to be the interpretation of the LXX (pros kephalās autou, ‘on the side of’ or ‘at his head’), which renders the Hebrew consistently at each Old Testament passage, including 28:11, 18. ​​ If this is the proper interpretation, the stones provided a makeshift enclosure for his head.” ​​ [Mathews, The New American Commentary, Volume 1B, Genesis 11:27-50:26, 449]

          • If the stones were “at his head” he could use them for protection in the middle of the night or to keep critters from crawling around his head while he slept

          • Whether the stone(s) were used for a pillow or protection is not what is most important

        • The dream

          • Stairway

            • Scholars are torn about what Jacob saw in his dream

              • Some say it was a ladder and others say it was a stairway like one would find on the side of a ziggurat

              • Because the Hebrew word is so unique, it is hard to translate with certainty

              • In our finite human minds, we more readily choose the image of a stairway, because we cannot fathom angels ascending and descending on a ladder at the same time

              • We can wrap our minds around a stairway that would be wide enough to accommodate two-way traffic

            • The stairway was resting on the earth

              • The literal translation of the Hebrew is, “placed toward the earth” [Waltke, Genesis: A Commentary, 390]

              • The literal translation helps us to understand that the stairway originated in heaven and not on earth

              • “[T]he impression is made that the narrator wishes to express that the communication between heaven and earth is established by an initiative from on high, on [the] part of God. ​​ The contact between heaven and earth exists by the grace of God.” ​​ [Houtman cited by Waltke, 390]

            • “Jesus is now the nexus between God and humankind.” [Hamilton, The New International Commentary on the Old Testament, The Book of Genesis, Chapters 18-50, 250]

              • Jesus referenced this dream sequence in when talking to Nathanael in John, chapter 1

              • Read John 1:47-51

              • Jesus is now the “ladder” between heaven and earth

                • 1 Timothy 2:5, For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus

                • Ephesians 2:18, For through him [Jesus] we both have access to the Father by one Spirit

                • Gospel

                  • Romans 3:23; 6:23

                  • Romans 5:8

                  • Read John 3:16-18

                • #1 – My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Believe in Jesus and receive God’s eternal life.

              • This is great news for us today

            • During Jacob’s dream the stairway was in use by the angels of God

          • Angels

            • We know that angels are God’s messengers

            • Those descending were probably taking messages from God to his created beings

            • The angels ascending were reporting back to God

            • “The angels upon it carry up the wants of men to God, and bring down the assistance and protection of God to men.” ​​ [Keil & Delitzsch, Commentary on the Old Testament, Volume 1, The Pentateuch, 180]

            • The Lord is a part of this dream also

          • The promise

            • The Lord’s position

              • There is discussion amongst scholars as to where the Lord is standing

              • Some believe that He is standing at the top of the stairway, which is conceivable, as He would be directing the angels who are coming and going

              • Others believe that He is beside Jacob at the bottom of the stairway, and they reference the fact that the author uses the word “said” instead of “called” and that Jacob then mentions that the Lord is in this place

              • Once again the location of the Lord is secondary to the message/promise from the Lord

            • “The same God who had cared for his father and grandfather pledged to care for him and to give him the very land on which he was lying.” ​​ [Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, Pentateuch, 124]

            • Five-fold promise

              • Property (v. 13b)

                • The Lord promised to give Jacob and his descendants the land that he was lying on

                • This is the Promised Land

              • Progeny (v. 14)

                • Jacob’s descendants will be like the dust of the earth

                • This is just another way of restating the promise given to Abraham in Genesis 22:17 (stars in the sky, sand on the seashore)

                • He was going to have many descendants

                • They were going to spread out in all directions throughout the Promised Land

                • Everyone on earth will be blessed through Jacob and his offspring

                • “This is the same promise given to Abraham. ​​ When Abraham received the promise, he was married but childless; Jacob has not yet even found a bride.” ​​ [Waltke, 391]

              • Presence (v. 15a, d)

                • The Lord says He is with Jacob

                  • This would have been encouraging for Jacob, especially since he had been deceptive with his father and brother

                  • Perhaps Jacob wondered if God was with him, because of his sin

                  • We may be wondering the same thing today, “Is God with us, because of our sin?”

                  • PRINCIPLE #1 – God is always with His people.

                  • The problem is that our unconfessed sin separates us from the Lord

                  • Isaiah 59:2, But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.

                  • 1 John 1:9, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

                  • Hebrews 13:5b-6, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”  ​​​​ So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. ​​ What can man do to me?”

                  • Whatever you are going through today – financial, physical, relational, emotional, or spiritual – the Lord is with you!

                  • #2 – My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Claim the promise that God is always with me and will never turn His back on me.

                • The Lord promises not to leave Jacob until He has done what He has promised

                  • Jacob could have confidence that the Lord would provide property, progeny, protection and preservation, because the Lord always keeps His promises

                  • We can have the same confidence, today, that Jacob had

                  • PRINCIPLE #2 – God always keeps His promises.

                  • 2 Peter 3:8-9, But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: ​​ With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. ​​ The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. ​​ He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

                  • The Lord provides promises to His people throughout Scripture

                  • We can have confidence that He will keep those promises to us

                  • #3 – My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Trust that the Lord will keep His promises to me.

                • The Lord not only promised His presence with Jacob, but also His protection

              • Protection (v. 15b)

                • The Lord’s protection would be with Jacob wherever he went

                • This promise did not have geographical boundaries

                • The Lord was not going to protection Jacob only in the Promised Land

                • His protection would extend to Haran (Mesopotamia)

                • The Lord’s protection does not have geographical boundaries for us either – He is with us wherever we go

                  • Joshua 1:9, Have I not commanded you? ​​ Be strong and courageous. ​​ Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

                  • Matthew 28:20, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. ​​ And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

                • We can claim the promise of God’s protection, because He is with us wherever we go

              • Preservation (v. 15c)

                • God promised to bring Jacob back to the Promised Land

                • Since He had promised to give Jacob the land where he was lying down, it only makes sense that the Lord would bring him back to the land

                • Jacob had to go away to mature and develop in his faith

                • Once that process was complete, the Lord would bring him back to the Promised Land

              • “Lest Jacob harbor any remaining doubt about his father’s words issued earlier in this chapter, he now had direct confirmation from on high.” ​​ [Gangel & Bramer, Holman Old Testament Commentary, Genesis, 235]

        • All of this took place while Jacob was dreaming, but he is about to wake up

    • Devotion (vv. 16-19)

        • Jacob’s realization

          • Jacob’s first thought after waking up was that the Lord was in this place, but he was not aware of it

            • “Not that the omnipresence of God was unknown to him; but that Jehovah in His condescending mercy should be near to him even here, far away from his father’s house and from the places consecrated to His worship, – it was this which he did not know or imagine.” ​​ [Keil & Delitzsch, 181]

            • “An atheist and a Christian were engaged in an intense public debate. ​​ On the blackboard behind the podium, the atheist printed in large capital letters, ‘GOD IS NO WHERE.’ ​​ When the Christian rose to offer his rebuttal, he rubbed out the W at the beginning of where and added that letter to the preceding word no. ​​ Then the statement read, ‘GOD IS NOW HERE.’”

              Vernon Grounds, Radical Commitment. ​​ Christianity Today, Vol. 30, no. 7.
              [https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/1996/june/163.html]

            • Jacob realized that the Lord was present everywhere

            • PRINCIPLE #3 – God is omnipresent!

              • This is one of God’s many attributes

              • This attribute is still true of Him today

              • He is present with us, no matter where we are

              • He is with us at home, at work, at school, on vacation, on a mission trip, on a business trip, at the grocery store, at the gas station, at a restaurant, etc.

              • This is a truth that should bring us great peace

            • The Lord’s presence brought fear to Jacob

          • Jacob was afraid

            • Perhaps Jacob was afraid, because he realized the sin of deception was known by the Lord

            • The presence of the holy Lord made Jacob acutely aware of his sinfulness

            • Jacob recognized that he was in God’s house, the gate of heaven – it was an awesome place!

            • Have you ever experienced the presence of God in His creation and thought to yourself, “This is such an awesome place!”

            • When you are struggling with something, you may return to that place to find solace, peace, and comfort

            • It is a place where you can slow down and focus on the Lord and His presence with you

            • It’s a place where God’s presence transforms your life’s journey

          • The only appropriate response for Jacob, when he realizes God’s presence, is worship

        • Jacob’s worship

          • We are not told if Jacob went back to sleep after waking up ​​ from the dream, but we know that early the next morning he made a memorial to commemorate what he had experienced

          • He took the pillow and made it into a pillar

          • He consecrated it by pouring oil on it

          • Then he named the place Bethel, which means “house of God”

          • PRINCIPLE #4 – God is pleased when we create ways to remember His presence with us and His promises to us.

            • What “pillars” have you set up to remember to worship the Lord for His presence with you and/or promises to you?

            • These are not idols to worship, but rather things that remind us of what God has done for us, so we can worship Him

            • Perhaps a decoration that you purchase reminds you of what the Lord has done for you (picture, sculpture, another object, etc.)

            • I want to encourage you to consider ways in which you can be reminded of God’s goodness to you and His presence with you

            • Those items can help to focus you when times get difficult, because they are reminders of a faithful God who is always with you and promises to provide and protect you

        • Jacob worshiped the Lord, but he also made a declaration to the Lord in the form of a vow

    • Declaration (vv. 20-22)

        • The vow that Jacob makes is not a bargain with God

          • “Jacob was asking no more than the fulfillment of God’s self-imposed obligations delivered in the dream sequence (v. 15).” ​​ [Mathews, 454]

          • “Jacob is throwing himself on God’s mercy, not calculating whether to accept God.” ​​ [Hamilton, 248]

          • The “if . . . then” statement can also be translated, “since”

          • When translated as “since,” the statement moves from sounding like a bargain with God to an affirmation of faith in God [Wiersbe, 124]

            • Jacob is affirming that God will:

              • Be with him

              • Protect him

              • Provide for him

              • Preserve him (bring him back to the Promised Land)

            • Jacob knows that the Lord is able to do all of things

          • [Read vv. 20-21 with “since” replacing “if” and removing “then”]

        • Jacob’s promises to God

          • The Lord will be his God

          • He will build a shrine of worship

            • The stone pillar is where Jacob will establish a place of worship to the Lord, when he returns

            • We know that Bethel was established as a place of worship

          • He will tithe a tenth of his holdings

            • Jacob’s wealth would eventually be in flocks and herds, which he will offer as sacrifices to the Lord at Bethel

            • This is a voluntary tithe to the Lord and not something that was forced upon him

            • A tenth of our income as a tithe to the Lord is a great principle and starting point, but it is not taught in the New Testament

              • “The principle now is: ​​ ‘Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously’ (2 Cor. 9:6; cf. Gal. 6:9). ​​ Christians are to do so eagerly, generously, and cheerfully, the amount depending on one’s level of prosperity . . . Our practice should reflect the abundant generosity called for in the New Testament. ​​ But all too often, Christians tithe in order not to give too much and pastors teach tithing to assure that people give enough!” ​​ [Waltke, 397-98]

              • Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

            • PRINCIPLE #5 – God’s desire is that we honor Him through our giving.

              • Jacob was willing to voluntarily commit a tenth of his holdings as a tithe, because He knew that the Lord would keep His promises to him

              • His tithe was a recognition of his gratitude to the Lord for the promise of property, progeny, presence, protection, and preservation

              • I have one simple question for every one today – does your giving to the Lord show your gratitude to Him for his promise of property, progeny, presence, protection, and preservation?

              • Each individual has to answer that question for themselves

              • #4 – My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Give to the Lord in such a way that it shows my gratitude for all that He has done for me.

          • God’s presence with Jacob transformed his life’s journey

        • God’s presence transforms our life’s journey.

 

  • YOU

    • Are you ready to believe in Jesus and receive God’s eternal life?

    • Do you need to claim the promise of God’s presence with you today?

    • Do you need to trust that the Lord will keep His promises to you?

    • Does your giving reflect a heart of gratitude for all that the Lord has done for you?

 

  • WE

    • We can claim the promise of God’s presence with us as a body of believers

    • We need to trust that God will keep His promises to us

    • Our giving as a church should reflect our gratitude to the Lord for all He has done for us

 

CONCLUSION

“Spiritual experiences are not a matter of finding God, nor are they a matter of waiting till God fairly screams, ‘Look, here I am!’ Spiritual experiences surround us. We fall over them dozens of times a day. We can't avoid them if we try. A spiritual experience is simply a matter of recognizing and acknowledging our relationship to God in whatever is going on in our lives at the moment. God is involved in all we do and does not pop in and out of our lives. We live surrounded by God. We live and breathe God just as we live and breathe air. To know that either air or God is present, we need only to pause and reflect for an instant to see that we are immersed in them.”

 

Source: Fr. Gerald Weber in U.S. Catholic (March 1992). Christianity Today, Vol. 36, no. 8.

 

[https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/1998/june/5229.html].

11

 

/by

No Compromise

, ,

Origins

No Compromise

(Genesis 27:46-28:9)

 

INTRODUCTION

“In the first season of the popular TV show 24, Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) is a federal agent charged with protecting a presidential candidate from an assassination plot. He was given that responsibility because in the uncertain world of espionage he possesses that rare character trait of integrity.

 

In the show’s first episode, Jack’s integrity is already put to the test. Because he turned in other federal agents for bribery, some of his own comrades have turned against him. In particular, Jack’s immediate boss has come down hard on him and tried to persuade Jack not to be so honest in his job. Jack has an explosive confrontation with his boss and will not budge on this point. Just after the confrontation, Jack bristles with intensity as he explains his actions to his closest partner.

 

‘You can look the other way once, and it’s no big deal, except it makes it easier for you to compromise the next time. And pretty soon, that’s all you’re doing, compromising, because that’s how you think things are done. You know those guys I blew the whistle on? You think they were the bad guys? They weren’t the bad guys. They were just like you and me, except they compromised once.’”

 

Elapsed Time: 00:31:45 to 00:32:30; Season 1, Disc 1, Episode 1

Content: Rated TV-14

 

Source: 24 (Fox Entertainment, 2001); created by Joel Surnow and Robert Cochran.

 

[https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2005/july/24howcompromisestarts.html].

 

BODY

  • ME

    • Staying home with our children

        • When Judy and I were dating, we talked about a lot of things concerning our future

        • One of the things we talked about was children

          • How many children

          • What kind of education we wanted them to have

          • We both agreed that we wanted Judy to stay home with our children for a certain period of time

          • This was something that we did not want to compromise on

          • So, when Judy was expecting our first child we starting putting all of her income into savings and lived off my income to prepare for that transition

    • Teaching at the Children’s Ministry Institute for Child Evangelism Fellowship

        • I had the great privilege of teaching several courses at the Children’s Ministry Institute, including raising personal and ministry finances

        • Each of the students had to create a personal budget

          • There were certain things we encouraged them to consider in their personal budgets

          • One of the exercises with that process was to list everything out and then begin to prioritize each budget item

          • We also had them determine what items were non-negotiable (Christian schooling for their children; a newer vehicle especially for single women; actual steak or tube steaks)

          • Based on what was non-negotiable, they had to make adjustments to the other budget items that were negotiable

        • There were certain things that each individual or couple had determined were items they could not compromise on

 

  • WE

    • Every one of us has probably been in similar situations where we have had to determine what we are willing to compromise on and what we are unwilling to compromise on

    • We have all had to make decisions about what is negotiable and non-negotiable when it comes to finances, our children, and many other items

 

As we saw in Genesis 24, Abraham made it clear to his servant chief servant that he was not willing to compromise on a wife for Isaac. ​​ She had to come from his own people in Haran. ​​ We will see today that Isaac and Rebekah are feeling the same way about Jacob and his future wife. ​​ They had experienced grief through Esau’s choice of two Hittite wives (Gen. 26:34-35). ​​ Esau had compromised his standards, but Isaac and Rebekah did not want that to happen with Jacob. ​​ The author of Genesis wants us to understand today that . . .

 

BIG IDEA – Compromise kills faith.

 

Let’s pray

 

  • GOD (Genesis 27:46-28:9)

    • Concern (v. 27:46)

        • We already know how Isaac and Rebekah felt about Esau marrying two Hittite women

          • Genesis 26:34-35, When Esau was forty years old, he married Judith daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and also Basemath daughter of Elon the Hittite. ​​ They were a source of grief to Isaac and Rebekah.

          • Potentially the grief that Isaac and Rebekah felt over the two Hittite wives was based on women’s religious beliefs and practices

        • Disgust

          • “The word for dismay or disgust (qûṣ) is rare, and on one significant occurrence it describes Yahweh’s attitude to Canaanite religious practices (Lev. 20:23). ​​ This suggests that Rebekah feels a religious revulsion, which the story’s listeners are encouraged to share.” ​​ [Goldingay, Baker Commentary on the Old Testament, Pentateuch, Genesis, 440]

          • Leviticus 20:23, You must not live according to the customs of the nations I am going to drive out before you. ​​ Because they did all these things, I abhorred them.

            • “These things” included sacrificing their children to Molech, turning to mediums and spiritists, cursing of parents, committing adultery, sleeping with family members and/or in-laws, men sleeping with men and women sleeping with women (homosexuality), marrying both a mother and daughter at the same time, and sexual relations with an animal

            • These are consider detestable to the Lord

            • “The detestable acts listed here were very common in the pagan nations of Canaan; their religions were rampant with sex goddesses, temple prostitution, and other gross sins. ​​ The Canaanites’ immoral religious practices reflected a decadent culture that tended to corrupt whoever came in contact with it.” ​​ [NIV Life Application Bible, footnote for Leviticus 20:10-21]

            • Compromise kills faith.

          • So, it is probable that Rebekah is disgusted by the immoral religious practices of Esau’s two Hittite wives

        • Life not worth living

          • She is convinced that life would not be worth living if Jacob married a Hittite woman

          • This is why she is petitioning Isaac and expressing her concern to him

          • She knows that he shares her feelings about Esau’s two wives

          • This is her way of “helping” Isaac to do what she wants, in order to spare Jacob’s life

        • So, Isaac called for Jacob

    • Command (vv. 28:1-5)

        • We’re told that Isaac called for Jacob and blessed him and gave him a command

          • The command is explained first and then the blessing

          • Imagine what may have been going through Jacob’s mind as he is summoned to his father’s tent – was his father going to scold him for being deceptive?

        • Command (vv. 1-2)

          • Don’t marry

            • Isaac explains to Jacob that he is not to marry a Canaanite woman

            • Canaanites was a broad term for the various nations that lived in the Promised Land at this time

            • The Hittites were one of those nations

          • Marry

            • Go to Paddan Aram ​​ (Northwest Mesopotamia)

            • When you get there go to your grandfather’s house, Bethuel

            • You will find your uncle Laban and his family there

            • Take one of his daughter’s as your wife

          • Isaac immediately transitions from the command to the blessing

        • Blessing (vv. 3-4)

          • We see that Isaac does not even mention the deception of Jacob

          • “Not only did Isaac speak kindly to his son, but also he gave him an extra blessing as he left to go on his journey to Haran.” ​​ [Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, Pentateuch, 123]

          • Two-fold blessing

            • Descendants

              • Isaac asks that El-Shaddai would make Jacob fruitful, so that he would have a large number of descendants

              • “The rhyming combination of “be fruitful” (pārâ) and “increase” (rābâ) reflects creation’s blessing (1:22, 28; 8:17; 9:1, 7) and the divine intention for the Abraham family (17:6, 20), finding its partial achievement in the populous community of Israel (Exod 1:7; Lev 26:9).” ​​ [Mathews, The New American Commentary, Volume 1B, Genesis 11:27-50:26, 440]

              • Isaac’s blessing was that Jacob’s descendants would become a community of peoples

              • Waltke explains that this is a fresh expression of the promise given to Abraham in Genesis 17:6, I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you [Waltke, Genesis: A Commentary, 383]

              • God will fulfill His promise to Abraham through Jacob

              • Isaac’s blessing then turns to the promise given to Abraham about the Promised Land

            • Land

              • Isaac was asking El-Shaddai to give Jacob and his descendants the blessing given to Abraham

              • The blessing is that they would take possession of the land where they were currently living

              • Isaac recognized again that they were living in the Promised Land as aliens

          • Isaac sends Jacob on his way

        • Obedience (v. 5)

          • We see that Jacob obeys his father and goes to Paddan Aram

          • He goes directly to Laban, his uncle, and brother of Rebekah, his mother

          • Application

            • PRINCIPLE #1 – God is pleased when we obey.

              • God is sovereign and knows what is best for us

              • He knew that it was best for Jacob to return to Paddan Aram to avoid being killed by Esau and to avoid marrying a Hittite woman who could potentially corrupt him into detestable religious worship and practices

              • God was pleased that Jacob obeyed his father, so that the covenant carrier line would remain pure

              • God is pleased when we obey

                • Obeying our parents

                  • Jacob was an adult when his father commanded him not to marry a Canaanite woman and to go to Paddan Aram to find a wife

                  • Jacob obeyed his father, even as an adult

                  • Exodus 20:12, “Honor your father and mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”

                  • Deuteronomy 5:16, “Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”

                  • Ephesians 6:2, “Honor your father and mother” – which is the first commandment with a promise – “that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”

                  • Honoring our father and mother is a lifelong commandment from the Lord

                  • When we are still living at home, as children under the care and guidance of our parents, we are to obey them, as long as what they are asking us to do does not break God’s Word or the laws of the land

                  • As children, obedience to our parents is important

                  • Ephesians 6:1, Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right

                  • Notice that our obedience is, in the Lord

                  • We obey our parents, because it pleases the Lord

                  • #1 – My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Honor my father and mother. ​​ (how can you do that today, this week, this month, etc.?)

                  • #2 – My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Obey my parents, in the Lord, so that God will be pleased. ​​ (children, how can you do that today, this week, this month?)

                • Obeying God

                  • God is pleased when we obey Him

                  • Isaac’s obedience benefited him in two ways: ​​ it saved his physical and spiritual life

                  • “Jacob flees from two threats in his flight to Paddan Aram: ​​ persecution and accommodation. ​​ The physical threat from his brother may have seemed most obviously harmful, but the threat of accommodating the Canaanite lifestyle was just as grave a danger. ​​ Accommodation is as great a threat as persecution to the community of faith.” ​​ [Waltke, 385]

                  • Too often, we as followers of Christ are in the world and of the world, instead of being in the world, but not of the world

                  • John 17:14-16, I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. ​​ My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. ​​ They are not of the world, even as I am not of it

                  • What does it look like to not be of this world?

                  • Romans 12:2, Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. ​​ Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will

                  • Ephesians 4:22-24, You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness

                  • 1 Thessalonians 4:1, Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. ​​ Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more (Paul goes on the tell them to be sanctified)

                  • We are fine with dating someone who is not a follower of Christ (we believe we can save them)

                  • We allow ourselves to indulge in the same things that the world does and think that it will not affect us (foul language, becoming drunk, using marijuana, being intimate before marriage, looking at pornography, lying, gossiping, cheating, stealing, etc.)

                  • Indulging in the things of the world shows that we are still conforming to the pattern of this world – we have not been transformed

                  • #3 – My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Ask the Lord to protect me from the evil one and to help me be transformed, so I can please Him.

            • God is pleased when we obey Him

          • Jacob pleased the Lord by obeying his father’s command

        • Isaac and Rebekah knew the danger of allowing Jacob to marry a Canaanite woman, so they sent him to Paddan Aram

        • Esau heard about Isaac calling for Jacob and blessing him

    • Compromise (vv. 28:6-9)

        • Esau was informed about the meeting between Isaac and Jacob

          • He was told about the blessing for Jacob’s descendants to be numerous and that God would give Jacob the Promised Land

          • He was also told about the command not to marry a Canaanite woman, but to get a wife from his uncle Laban’s family

          • He also heard that Jacob had been obedient to his father and mother and had gone to Paddan Aram

        • Esau’s realization

          • We are not told why Esau did not realize it sooner, but he realized it now

          • His parents were not pleased with the two Canaanite women he had married

        • Esau’s solution

          • He went to Ishmael’s family and married his daughter Mahalath (makh-al-ath’/mac-hail-ath’)

          • We are not told why her sister Nebaioth (neb-aw-yoth’/nev-a-ah’/nev-aw-yoth’) is mentioned

          • Esau obviously thought that marrying a woman within the line of Abraham would help to appease his parents

          • Esau is once again proving why he is unfit to be the covenant carrier

            • His decision to marry Mahalath is based on pleasing his parents instead of pleasing God (spiritual or religious interests)

            • “. . . Ishmael had been separated from the house of Abraham and family of promise by the appointment of God;” ​​ [Keil & Delitzsch, Commentary on the Old Testament, Volume 1, The Pentateuch, 180]

            • “Esau has no idea of spiritual realities. ​​ All that he is concerned about is to please his parents, and if possible to win back the blessing. ​​ This again shows the real character of the man and the utter absence of any spiritual reality actuating his life. ​​ Esau is one of those who, as it has been truly and accurately said, tries to do what God’s people do in the vain hope that somehow or other it will pleasing to God.” ​​ [Griffith Thomas cited by Gangel & Bramer, Holman Old Testament Commentary, Genesis, 234]

          • Esau continued to compromise instead of pursuing the things of God

          • Compromise kills faith

        • Application

          • The same is true for us when we compromise

          • PRINCIPLE #2 – God’s desire is for us to pursue spiritual things.

            • He does not want us to compromise our faith in order to please human beings

            • His desire is that we seek dating relationships with those who are followers of Jesus Christ

            • His desire is that we pursue a transformed and renewed mind and attitudes

            • His desire is that we stop indulging in the things of this world and seek purity and righteousness through His Son

            • #4 – My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Pursue spiritual things instead of the things of this world.

 

  • YOU

    • How can you honor your father and mother today?

    • Do you need to return to obeying your parents in the Lord?

    • Do you need God’s protection and help to be transformed, so you can please Him?

    • What worldly things do you need to sacrifice in order to pursue spiritual things?

 

  • WE

    • We need to lift each other up in prayer and hold each other accountable to a transformed life that is pleasing to God

    • We need to spur one another on to love and good deeds – spiritual things (Hebrews 10:24)

 

CONCLUSION

“Joseph Stowell tells of a conversation he had with a pastor in the former Soviet Union.

 

‘Stalin's reign was the worst time,’ said the pastor. ‘I had two KGB agents come to me and say, ‘We'll take care of you. You stay the pastor of that church, but once a week give us a report on every one of these Christians. Work for us.’

 

‘I can't do that to God, and I can't do that to this flock,’ he replied.

 

So they sent him to a prison camp in Siberia. He endured the forced labor and the cold for ten years. But he did find other Christians in the camp, and God used these believers to fulfill his purposes.

 

‘I was a carpenter building towns for Stalin,’ said the pastor. ‘We'd go out in sixty-mile radiuses, and there we would fellowship together. Today there are hundreds of churches in Siberia as a result of these small prisoner fellowship groups.’

 

When men refuse to compromise, they may lose much, but through them God will fulfill his higher eternal purpose.”

 

Source: Joseph Stowell, president of Moody Bible Institute. Men of Integrity, Vol. 1, no. 1.

 

[https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/1999/january/5578.html].

10

 

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Sin Separates

, , ,

Origins

Sin Separates

(Genesis 27:30-45)

 

INTRODUCTION

“The cashier had already rung up Keri Wooster's items when she realized she didn't have her wallet. She dashed to her car and returned empty-handed to face the line of fidgeting customers she had kept waiting, a cell phone pressed to her ear. ‘Jordan, did you take my wallet out of my purse?’ she asked in parental exasperation, as she made her way back to the checkout counter. ‘I'm holding up this line! You need to put things back where you find them.’

 

Wooster, who has no children, was not actually talking to a Jordan or indeed to anyone at all. But her monologue served its purpose, earning her sympathetic looks from the frustrated crowd at her local Wal-Mart.

 

Call Wooster a cellphony. She is a part of a growing number of people who are using their cell phones to carry on fake conversations to deceive or manipulate those around them. Some cellphonies use their cell phones to avoid contact with annoying coworkers or supervisors. Some pretend to be finishing a call when they arrive late for a meeting. The fake phone call has a technique all its own. Inexperienced cellphonies risk exposure with their limited repertoire of ‘uh-huhs.’ Sophisticated simulators achieve authenticity by re-enacting their side of an actual dialogue. Or they call voice-activated phone trees, so it sounds as if someone is talking on the other end.”

 

Source: Amy Harmon, "Cellphonies Know How to Fake It," Dallas Morning News (4-25-05).

 

[https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2005/may/15933.html].

 

BODY

  • ME

    • Credit card fraud

    • Amazon account deception

        • Personally – text message

        • Parent’s-in-law

 

  • WE

    • Have you experienced fraud?

    • Have you experienced deception?

    • How did it make you feel?

 

Esau returns from hunting and prepares the meal his father asked him to prepare, only to find out that his father has already eaten and given his blessing to a deceiver. ​​ Both Isaac and Esau experienced heartache when the deception was revealed. ​​ This sin of deception caused heartache for everyone involved and was going to separate the whole family. ​​ This is true for us also. ​​ We will learn today that . . .

 

BIG IDEA – Our deceptions cause heartache.

 

Let’s pray

 

  • GOD (Genesis 27:30-45)

    • Revealed (vv. 30-40)

        • Almost caught (v. 30)

          • We are not told how long it took Esau to successfully catch some wild game

          • We are also not told how long it took Rebekah to prepare the kind of tasty food that Isaac liked

          • What we are told is that Jacob was almost caught in his deception

          • Jacob had scarcely left his father’s presence when Esau arrived back from the hunt

            • How would Jacob explain the goatskins covering his hands and neck?

            • What would Jacob say to Esau concerning the reason he was wearing his best clothes?

          • It was a close call, but somehow Jacob eluded Esau’s attention when he returned

          • How many of us can relate to Jacob’s stress at this point?

            • He had already questioned his mother about tricking his father

            • He did not want to be cursed by his father instead of blessed

            • When we do something wrong or deceptive, we are hyper aware of our surroundings and who may be watching (with cameras on cell phones today, it is inevitable that someone is watching)

            • We do not want to get caught and exposed for doing something wrong or being deceptive

            • While we are acting deceptively, we experience a great deal of stress

            • Perhaps every one of us can recall a time when we almost got caught – when we experienced a close call

          • Jacob almost got caught, but fortunately Esau was focusing on completing the task that his father had given him

        • Completed task (v. 31)

          • Esau brought the wild game back and immediately began to prepare it, just the way his father liked

          • He then took it to his father and had him sit up, so he could eat some of his game and then bless Esau

          • Isaac was confused at this point, because he had just ate and had blessed, whom he thought was Esau

        • Confusion (v. 32)

          • So, when Esau brings a second meal, Isaac asks him who he is

          • If you remember, Isaac had asked Jacob to come near to him so he could touch him

            • He was confused with the first meal, because Jacob felt hairy, like Esau

            • Isaac could tell the difference between their voices, but the body hair made Esau distinct

            • Isaac knew that the voice sounded like Jacob’s, but he could not deny the hairy hands – what he was feeling

          • Esau responds to his father’s inquiry by telling him, “I am your son, your firstborn, Esau.”

        • Heartache (vv. 33-34)

          • Isaac

            • “Isaac trembled a great trembling exceedingly.” ​​ [Mathews, The New American Commentary, Volume 1B, Genesis 11:27-50:26, 434]

              • He wanted to know who had hunted game and brought it to him, if it was not Esau

                • Perhaps Isaac was trembling violently out of anger that he had been deceived and his plan had failed

                • Maybe Isaac was trembling violently out of fear, knowing that he had tried to overrule God’s plan

              • What had been planned in secret was now being revealed

              • Our deceptions cause heartache.

            • Isaac’s plan was unraveling and he knew it

              • Several things were mentioned last week: ​​ [Baldwin, The Bible Speaks Today, The Message of Genesis 12-50, 114]

                • Isaac only invited Esau to the blessing ceremony and not Jacob

                • Isaac also tried to keep the legal transaction a secret instead of including the required witnesses

                • Isaac discounted the prophecy given to Rebekah that Jacob would be the chosen covenant carrier

                • Isaac also marginalized the fact that Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of red stew – Esau did not value his birthright

              • “At last the old man realized that the Heavenly Hunter had caught up with him to rebuke his coddling favoritism of the rebellious older son in spite of God’s promise to Rebekah, Esau’s denial of the birthright, and the agony of the Hittite wives.” ​​ [Gangel & Bramer, Holman Old Testament Commentary, Genesis, 230]

              • Isaac had tried to force his will on the matter, but God had already established and communicated His plan

            • Isaac explained to Esau that he had eaten the food right before he had come in and had blessed the imposter

              • Because the blessing was a legal transaction it would not be revoked

              • The blessing would stand, because it had been done in the presence of the Lord (Genesis 27:7)

              • The Lord did not reveal Jacob’s deception to Isaac, because it was His plan for Jacob to receive the blessing

            • Next we see Esau’s reaction to the fact that the blessing would stand

          • Esau

            • We see Esau’s heartache as he burst out with a loud and bitter cry

            • It can be literally translated as, “he cried a great and exceedingly bitter cry.” ​​ [Mathews, 434]

            • What had Esau so upset?

              • Hebrews 12:16-17, See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. ​​ Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. ​​ He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears.

              • “Esau’s tears were not tears of repentance for being an ungodly man; they were tears of regret because he had lost the covenant blessing. ​​ Esau wanted the blessing but he didn’t want to be the kind of man whom God could bless! ​​ We may forget our decisions, but our decisions don’t forget us.” ​​ [Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, Pentateuch, 123]

              • Our deceptions cause heartache.

              • This is true of us also

                • I read a post this week that said we cry out to God to heal our land, but we don’t want to humble ourselves, pray, seek God’s face, and turn from our wicked ways (2 Chronicles 7:14)

                • We say we want to grow in our faith, but we aren’t willing to sacrifice other things in order to spend time studying God’s Word and praying

                • We say we want to see revival and the revitalization of the church, but we are unwilling to fall on our faces before the Lord in personal revival, we are unwilling to join in prayer efforts that can bring about revival and instead we justify the reasons why we can’t join in those prayer efforts, or why we can’t invite others to church or other special services

                • If we really want God to heal our land, to help us grow in our faith, and to revive individuals, and revitalize churches, then we have to be willing to do what He asks us to do in order to see that accomplished

                • We have to stop playing the “religious” game and genuinely pursue a transformed life

                • I want to invite everyone to sacrifice everything else to join us for two important times of prayer – Wednesday evenings at 7:00 pm and Saturday mornings at 8:00 am

                • I want to challenge you to sign up to attend the Worship and Prayer night for the “God Loves You” Tour with Franklin Graham on August 16, 2022, 6:30 pm

                • I also want to challenge you to sign up for the “God Loves You” Tour on September 25, 2022, 4:00 pm and invite someone to join you

              • So, Esau was upset because he regretted losing the covenant blessing

            • He pleaded with his father to bless him too

          • Isaac was not able to do that, because the blessing had been accomplished

        • Accomplished blessing (vv. 35-38)

          • Isaac’s acknowledgement

            • Isaac acknowledged that Jacob received the blessing through deception, but again the blessing would stand, because it was God’s plan

            • PRINCIPLE #1 – God’s plans will ultimately succeed.

              • God is all-knowing, all-powerful, sovereign, and eternal

              • He knows what is best for us individually and corporately

              • When we try to forge ahead with our plans instead of His, He will use any means necessary to get us back on track

              • “God may use human sin to affect his purposes . . .” ​​ [Waltke, Genesis: A Commentary, 381]

              • 1 Corinthians 2:6-8, We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. ​​ No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. ​​ None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

              • Application

                • Are you fighting against God’s plan right now?

                • Perhaps it’s something individually

                • It may be something corporately, as a church, that you are fighting against

                • It may involve a personal preference that God may be asking you to give up

                • It may be an attitude of the heart that God wants to transform in you

                • Are you willing to let go and let God accomplish His plan and purpose in the situation?

                • #1 – My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Stop fighting against God’s plan and join Him in what He wants to accomplish individually and/or corporately.

            • Jacob had received the blessing through deception, which is why Esau says that he was living up to his name

          • Esau’s lament

            • The meaning of Jacob’s name

              • Literally “he grasps the heel”

              • Figuratively, “he deceives” (“You Jacobed me once, but never again.”)

              • After Will Smith slapped Chris Rock, some people use his name as a verb – “You got Will Smithed!”

            • Esau states that Jacob deceived him two times – once to get his birthright and once to get his blessing

            • Jacob definitely manipulated Esau to get his birthright by withholding food until Esau swore to give it to him

            • The text doesn’t seem to indicate that Jacob deceived Esau in order to get it (we said that Jacob didn’t value his birthright enough to sacrifice food to keep it)

            • It appears that Esau knew full-well what he was doing when he sold his birthright

          • Esau’s questions

            • “Haven’t you reserved any blessing for me?”

              • Esau was basically asking if Isaac had given all the blessing to Jacob

              • Isaac’s response reveals that he had given all the blessing to Jacob – there was none left

                • Isaac gave Jacob all authority as the head of the family – he would be the lord and everyone else would serve him

                • Isaac also gave all the blessing of resources to Jacob – both the field and vine would sustain him

              • Isaac asks Esau what he could possibly do for him

              • Esau wanted to clarify one more thing, so he asks another question

            • “Do you have only one blessing, my father?”

              • He pleaded again with Isaac to bless him too

              • Then he wept aloud again

          • What Isaac says next, in answering Esau’s second question, is not a blessing, but rather an anti-blessing

        • Anti-blessing (vv. 39-40)

          • His place of dwelling will be harsh

            • Jacob will experience heaven’s dew and the earth’s richness

            • Esau’s dwelling will be away from the earth’s richness and the dew of heaven

            • Esau’s territory was on the border of the desert, which made farming impossible [Baldwin, 115]

            • “This is generally the condition of the mountainous country of Edom, which, although not without its fertile slopes and valleys, especially in the eastern portion, is thoroughly waste and barren in the western; so that Seetzen says it consists of ‘the most desolate and barren mountains probably in the world.’” ​​ [Keil & Delitzsch, Commentary on the Old Testament, Volume 1, The Pentateuch, 178]

          • His daily living will be tumultuous

            • The Edomites remained at odds with the Israelites throughout history

            • Scholars are divided over when Esau’s descendants threw Jacob’s yoke off of their necks

              • Some say it happened during the reign of Jehoram (2 Kings 8:20-22)

              • Others say during the reign of Ahaz (2 Kings 16:6)

              • Still others believe it was later through Antipater and Herod when they created an Idumaean dynasty over Judea that lasted until the Jewish state was completely dissolved [Keil & Delitzsch, 179]

              • One scholar believes that it is when the “anti-christ rises to power and sets up his image in the temple in Jerusalem (Matthew 24:15).” ​​ [Courson, Jon Courson’s Application Commentary, Old Testament, Volume 1: Genesis-Job, 134]

              • Whenever it happened or will happen, we can trust that it did or will

        • None of this sits well with Esau, so he plans to kill Jacob

    • Retreat (vv. 41-45)

        • Esau’s grudge

          • It’s not hard to believe that Esau held a grudge against Jacob

            • When we are expecting something to happen a particular way and then it does not happen that way it is easy to hold a grudge

            • Story of a changed will

              • There was a husband and wife who had their wills done exactly the same

              • Both wills stated that when they passed away the farm and all the equipment would go to the only son in the family

              • The husband passed away around 25 years before the wife and during that time, the wife changed her will to say that the farm and all the equipment would be sold at an auction and the proceeds divided equally among her children

              • If there were any items the children wanted, they would have to purchase it at the auction

              • The only son was not happy with the change his mother had made in the will, so he asked the lawyer if they could return to his father’s will

              • The lawyer told him that if he contested his mother’s will, then the farm and all the equipment would be given to the State

              • Long story, short, the change in his mother’s will created feelings of anger and frustration and probably a grudge, because he believed that he would receive everything

          • Esau’s plan

            • He thought to himself, “I will wait until after the days of mourning are completed for my father’s death and then I will take revenge on my brother Jacob”

            • He would kill Jacob

            • Perhaps he thought that by killing Jacob, he would then assume the position of head of the family and by default receive everything that was given to Jacob in the blessing

          • PRINCIPLE #2 – There are consequences for deception/sin.

            • The consequence for Jacob was a death threat

            • The consequence for Esau was living with a grudge and hatred toward his brother

            • The stress of both of those things would have taken a toll on their bodies, physically

          • PRINCIPLE #3 – Deception divides families.

            • Death would permanently divide Jacob and Esau, without hope of reconciliation

          • Esau must have told someone in the family about his plan, because they told Rebekah

        • Rebekah’s plan

          • When she heard that Esau was planning to kill Jacob, she sent for Jacob

          • She told Jacob about Esau’s plan and then urged him to flee to Haran and stay with her brother Laban until Esau was no longer angry

          • She would send for Jacob when Esau had settled down

          • We know that a while turned into 20 plus years

          • In fact, Rebekah never sent for Jacob and she never saw Jacob again, because she died before he returned

          • PRINCIPLE #2 – There are consequences for deception/sin.

            • The consequence for Rebekah’s deception was that she never saw Jacob again

          • PRINCIPLE #3 – Deception divides families.

            • Rebekah probably had a strained relationship with her husband Isaac when he found out the part she played in the deception

            • Rebekah was separated from her favored son, Jacob, for the rest of her life

        • Rebekah’s concern

          • She did not want to lose both sons in one day

          • “She probably has in mind that after Esau killed Jacob, he would be killed by an avenger of blood or by judicial decree demanding his execution for taking an innocent life (cf. Gen. 4:14; 2 Sam. 7:14). ​​ Ironically, she suffers even more than she anticipates, at least socially if not physically. ​​ Her relationship (if any) with Esau must have been irrevocably damaged, and she never sends for Jacob from his exile in Paddan Aram. ​​ Finally, she even loses a memorial in Scripture (Gen. 35:8). ​​ Though Rebekah parries Esau’s violent resolve, nevertheless, she must taste the bitter consequences of her deception.” ​​ [Waltke, 381-82]

        • Application

          • Consequences for deception/sin

            • Perhaps you are experiencing the consequences of deception/sin in your life

              • Maybe a family member refuses to talk with you

              • A friend may not return your calls or text messages

              • It takes time to restore trust once it is broken, but don’t give up

              • Keep doing what is right and being open and honest with those family members and friends

            • #2 – My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Accept and embrace the consequences of my deception.

          • Deception divides families

            • Restoration is possible, but it takes humility on our part

              • We have to acknowledge our deception and sin

              • Then, we have to go to those individuals we have deceived and confess our sin and seek their forgiveness

            • #3 – My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Strive to be honest in every relationship and seek forgiveness from those I have deceived.

          • God can restore what is lost and broken, when we humble ourselves before Him

          • Here are some words of wisdom from Gangel & Bramer [pg. 232]

            • “Our past failures do not negate God’s future blessing.”

            • “Sinfulness does not mean hopelessness.”

            • “Our failures do not destroy God’s promises.”

            • “We must trust God for what we do not see even when we see a mess.”

            • “Faith looks forward, not backward.”

 

 

  • YOU

    • Are you trying to accomplish your own plans instead of God’s plan?

    • What consequences of deception do you need to accept and embrace?

    • Whom do you need to seek forgiveness from?

 

  • WE

    • What plan(s) does God want us to join Him in for Idaville Church?

    • What consequences of deception do we need to accept and embrace?

    • Whom do we need to seek forgiveness from?

 

CONCLUSION

Perhaps Esau was feeling what many young people feel today, as highlighted in this closing illustration. ​​ We know that Esau felt heartache at not being blessed by his father. ​​ Perhaps he felt grief, pain, loneliness, and rejection.

 

“In the BBC reality show Monastery, a group of five men from diverse backgrounds voluntarily join a Benedictine monastery for a span of forty days. The five men don't have to assent to Christian beliefs, but they do have to respect and follow the monks' communal requirements— a strict rhythm of meals, silence, prayer times, and so on.

 

One of the stories focused on a man named Tony, a producer of soft-core pornography. After some time in the monastery, Tony felt torn: he wanted to keep his job, but he didn't want to lose the peace he was experiencing in the monastery. With two days left at the monastery, he shared his concerns with Brother Francis:

 

Tony: No, I am not going to give up my job. I am not going to sit in church all day and read the Bible, I need to live. I need to keep my lifestyle. So I'm just a little bit worried. Part of me wants to keep the whole thing alive and carry it through. And I know the minute I get out, it will fade.

 

Brother Francis: I want to give you something that I think will help with what you've just described …. Vocation is about discovering who you really are and maybe what you should really be doing. And that is what we are trying to do here—discover who we really are. I want to give you this stone, this white stone. We have our Christian name, our family name. But we also have another name, and it's called our "white stone name." [Revelation 2:17] says, "Your new name is written on a white stone in heaven." I think our vocation is to find out what that name is, to find our white stone name.

 

After handing Tony the stone, Brother Francis places his hand on his head and speaks a word of blessing over him. Immediately after that exchange, the camera scans to a shot of Tony, outside in the dark, huddled on a bench, deeply affected by Brother Francis' fatherly words of hope and blessing.

 

Author John Sower comments on this scene from The Monastery:

 

I believe Brother Francis … speaks to the heart of the fatherless generation. These are the sons and daughters who don't know their true name. They are searching for who they really are. In their search, they bring this question of identity to anyone who will listen …. They are willing to look anywhere to find it.

 

Earlier in his book, John Sower had already described our crisis of fatherlessness:

 

We are a generation seriously searching for Dad. Fatherlessness has become the new cultural norm. This story is being written into the lives of my generation. A story that can be heard in our songs, seen in our movies, read in our blogs. A story of grief and pain, of loneliness and rejection. A story that desperately needs to be heard.”

 

Source: John Sower, Fatherless Generation (Zondervan, 2010), pp. 116-117, 12-13

 

[https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2011/june/2061311.html].

12

 

/by

Jumping on the Bandwagon

, ,

Origins

Jumping on the Bandwagon

(Genesis 26:26-35)

 

INTRODUCTION

“Jumping on the Bandwagon,” the Cambridge Dictionary defines the phrase as, “to join an activity that has become popular or to change your opinion to one that has become very popular so that you can share in its success.” ​​ 

 

[https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/jump-on-the-bandwagon].

 

This concept is used heavily in sports, especially with super, hardcore fans. ​​ They will blame current converts to a particular sports team as “jumping on the bandwagon.” ​​ These current fans want to share in the success of a winning team.

 

Of course, other fans are willing to go down with the ship. ​​ They will never abandon their team no matter how long it has been since they had a winning season.

 

BODY

  • ME

    • Loyal – not a band wagoner

        • I have been a Baltimore Orioles fan and a Washington Redskins fan since growing up here in southcentral Pennsylvania

        • Even though I spent the last two years of high school in Alabama and did not return to Pennsylvania until I was 40 years old, I have never stopped being a fan of those two sports teams

    • Following a particular player

        • Over the years, I have followed certain players no matter what team they have played for

        • A couple of players have shown such great character and have stood up for their faith in Jesus Christ that I have followed the teams they have played for

          • Kurt Warner is one of those players – I watched the St. Louis Rams play, because Kurt Warner was their quarterback, and when he was traded to the Arizona Cardinals, I watched them play

          • Albert Pujols is another player that I have followed from team-to-team – he played for the St. Louis Cardinals, then the Los Angeles Angels, and is back with the St. Louis Cardinals

        • Had Tim Tebow played longer in the NFL, I would have followed him no matter what team he played for

        • You could say that I am on the Warner, Pujols, Tebow bandwagons

 

  • WE

    • Loyalty

        • All of us are probably loyal to something or someone

        • Some of us are loyal to a certain brand or team

          • John Deere, CAT, Massey-Ferguson, etc. (tractors)

          • Ford, Chevy, Dodge, etc. (trucks)

          • Apple or Android (phones)

          • Mac or PC (computers)

          • Marvel or DC (comics)

          • Star Wars or Star Trek (futuristic space fantasy)

          • Penguins/Pirates/Steelers or Flyers/Phillies/Eagles (PA sports teams)

          • Mary Kay, Estee Lauder, L’Oréal, Maybelline, Revlon, Covergirl, Clinique, etc. (makeup)

          • Gucci, Chanel, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Vera Bradley, etc. (handbags)

        • Most of us remain loyal, but there are times that we may choose to “jump on the bandwagon”

    • Bandwagons

        • Sports

        • Brands

        • Social issues

        • Political

        • Spiritual (teaching or pastor)

 

We will see today that Abimelech, after sending Isaac away, realizes that God is blessing him. ​​ Abimelech, and his two companions, track Isaac down in order to make a treaty with him. ​​ They wanted to be included in what God was doing for Isaac. ​​ They wanted to “jump on the bandwagon” of God’s blessing. ​​ What the author wants us to understand from this section of Scripture is that . . .

 

BIG IDEA – God’s blessing on us can draw others to Him.

 

Let’s pray

 

  • GOD (Genesis 26:26-35)

    • Request (vv. 26-31)

        • Meanwhile

          • We have to look back at what Pastor Marc shared last week to understand the context

          • Isaac had moved approximately three times and his servants had dug at least three wells and reopened other wells that Abraham had dug

          • Isaac had been in conflict with the people of Gerar during that time (they kept claiming ownership of the wells his servants had dug)

          • After digging the Rehoboth well, he went up from the Valley of Gerar to Beersheba

          • The Lord appeared to him and confirmed the promise he had made to Abraham

          • Three things happened there:

            • Isaac built an altar and worshiped the Lord

            • Isaac pitched his tent and began to live there

            • Isaac’s servants dug a well

          • After all this had taken place, we see Abimelech coming for a visit

        • The visit

          • Abimelech traveled about 20 miles from Gerar to Beersheba to see Isaac

          • He brought two people with him

            • Ahuzzath (akh-ooz-zath’)

              • His name means “possession”

              • He was Abimelech’s “companion, confidential friend”

            • Phicol (pee-kole’/pee-hole’)

              • His name means “strong”

              • He was the chief captain of the army of the Philistines in Gerar

            • So, Abimelech has brought is main civilian officer and his main military officer with him [Hamilton, The New International Commentary on the Old Testament, The Book of Genesis, ,Chapters 18-50, 206]

          • Isaac’s question

            • Why have you come to me?

            • Their visit confuses Isaac, because of how he was sent away

              • The NIV translates it as they were hostile to him

              • Most other Bible translations, translate the Hebrew as hate/hated

              • We know that Abimelech sent Isaac away because he had become too powerful for them

              • We also know that every time he moved and dug wells, that the people of Gerar mistreated him by claiming ownership of the wells that his servants had dug

              • Isaac obviously interpreted their actions as hating him or being hostile towards him

              • As we will see with Abimelech’s response, he did not interpret it the same way

            • Abimelech’s response shows that God’s blessing on us can draw others to Him.

          • Abimelech’s response

            • Abimelech and his people wanted to share in the success that Isaac was experiencing through God’s blessing

            • They also wanted to make sure they were not in opposition with Isaac and his God

            • They clearly recognized that the Lord was with Isaac

              • Last week we saw that Isaac planted crops and in the same year those crops produced a hundredfold (that was clearly the hand of God blessing Isaac)

              • We also saw last week that every time Isaac’s servants dug a well, they found water (those statistics are staggering) and on one occasion they found a well of fresh/flowing water

              • God’s promise to bless Isaac was being fulfilled

              • PRINCIPLE #1 – God is glorified when others recognize His blessing in our lives.

                • Abimelech recognized that the Lord was the One who had blessed Isaac

                  • It was God’s supernatural power at work that caught Abimelech’s attention

                  • It was not anything that Isaac did in his own strength

                • Do our family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors recognize the blessing of God in our lives?

                  • It may or may not be supernatural

                  • Are we sharing with those individuals what God is doing in our lives and how He has provided for us?

                • God’s blessing on us can draw others to Him

                  • I have purposefully used the word “can,” because God’s blessing on us does not always draw others to Him

                  • Some people will not acknowledge or recognize that God is the One who is blessing us, because if they acknowledged that, they would have to acknowledge that He exists and they are unwilling to do that

                  • Abimelech was drawn to Isaac because of God’s blessing on him

                  • We are not told that Abimelech believed in God and began to follow Him

                  • I am reminded of Luke’s narrative about Simon the Sorcerer, who was drawn to Philip, Peter, and John because of the God’s blessing on them that was manifested through great signs and miracles and the receiving of the Holy Spirit

                  • Read Acts 8:9-24

                  • Hopefully, Simon’s response was a genuine act of repentance and he became a true disciple of Jesus Christ with a heart that was right before God

                • #1 – My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Share with my family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors how God has blessed me.

              • Because God had blessed Isaac and he had become very powerful, Abimelech and his people wanted to be sure they were on his side – they wanted to be included in Isaac’s success

            • They were asking for a peace treaty between Isaac’s people and Abimelech’s people

              • Even though Abimelech was the king of the Philistines in Gerar, he was humbly coming to Isaac to ask for a peace treaty

              • “He [Abimelech] is presenting his case from a position not of strength but of vulnerability.” ​​ [Hamilton, 207]

                • Abimelech was seeking a sworn agreement a treaty that would protect them from any harm

                • Abimelech reminds Isaac that he had given orders to his people not to molest Isaac or Rebekah

                • He also tells Isaac that they always treated him well and sent him away in peace

                • Notice that Abimelech did not interpret what happened between his herdsman and Isaac’s herdsman as being hostile or hateful

                • Pastor Marc mentioned last week, that it appears as though Isaac moved away from the disputed wells, without a fight, until he dug a well and no one tried to claim ownership of it

                • Perhaps Abimelech took Isaac’s actions as leaving in peace, even though there were disputes over the wells

                • It is amazing how two people can look at the same situation and interpret it differently

                  • This just goes to show us how important open communication is

                  • Without communicating clearly, we always run the risk of misinterpreting the intentions or actions of others

                  • The Lord used this passage this week to remind me that there was a situation that I probably misinterpreted, because of the lack of clear communication

                  • The other party probably misinterpreted my actions also, but we never came together and talked it out

                  • The Holy Spirit prompted me about this situation quite a few months ago while walking the dog in the orchard, and as a result I sent cards in the mail apologizing for my failure in the situation

                  • Perhaps the Holy Spirit is prompting you about a situation where you have misinterpreted the intentions, actions, or communication from another person

                  • As I think about our theme this year of loving one another, maybe you need to contact that person and open up the lines of communication, so that any misunderstanding can be resolved

                  • #2 – My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Be obedient to the Holy Spirit’s prompting about resolving a situation I have misinterpreted.

          • Abimelech has asked for a sworn agreement, a peace treaty with Isaac, but how will Isaac respond?

        • Sealing the deal

          • Isaac prepared a feast for them

          • “Typical of ancient treaties, a shared meal by the two participants, even between superior and inferior parties, confirmed a pact (v. 30; cp. 31:46, 54; Exod 24:11; Deut 26:17). ​​ Isaac provided the covenant meal as the host, exhibiting his good will (e.g., 18:5; 19:3; 24:31, 54) and also perhaps his superiority (cp. 2 Sam 3:20).” ​​ [Mathews, The New American Commentary, Volume 1B, Genesis 11:27-50:26, 414]

          • The next morning they swear an oath to each other

            • The peace treaty is done!

            • PRINCIPLE #2 – God is able to make our enemies live at peace with us, when our ways are pleasing to Him.

              • Proverbs 16:7, When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.

              • Isaac was experiencing the blessing of the Lord, because his ways were pleasing to the Lord

              • When the Lord confirmed that the Abrahamic covenant was extended to Isaac (Gen. 26:3-6) if he obeyed the Lord, Isaac did just that

              • While it is not stated directly, my guess is that Isaac kept the Lord’s requirements, His commands, decrees, and laws, just like his father, Abraham, had done

              • He was living a life pleasing to the Lord, which resulted in Abimelech and he living in peace with each other

              • Application

                • Are you currently in conflict with someone?

                • Do you want to live at peace with that person?

                • Have you done some soul searching to make sure you are living a life pleasing to the Lord?

                • Is there an area that you need to sacrifice before the Lord?

                • #3 – My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Examine my life to make sure it is pleasing to the Lord, so I can live at peace with my enemies.

                • When we live a life that pleasing to the Lord we will experience His blessing in our lives, which can draw others to Him.

            • Isaac peacefully sends them on their way

              • Isaac treats them the opposite of how he was treated

              • “Abimelech ‘drove’ Isaac from Gerar; Isaac, ‘sends’ Abimelech back to Gerar in peace.” ​​ [Hamilton, 208]

        • Something extraordinary happens the same day that the oath is sworn

    • Reward (vv. 32-33)

        • We saw in Genesis 26:25 that Isaac had built an altar, pitched his tent, and his servants dug a well

        • Their labor was not in vain, because they found water

        • God had blessed Isaac once again

        • Isaac named the well Shibah (shib-aw’/shiv-ah’)

          • The name of the well means “an oath”

          • Isaac was obviously connecting the peace treaty with Abimelech and the finding of water by naming the well Shibah

          • “The passage implies that the new well was not a coincidence but a signal of the Lord’s blessing. ​​ The man could now rest comfortably in the land, knowing that his neighbors had been pacified and that provisions abounded.” ​​ [Mathews, 414]

        • Beersheba (be-ayr’ sheh’-bah/beh-air’ sheh-vah)

          • We were told in Genesis 26:23 that Isaac had gone up to Beersheba

          • The name of the town closest to the well of Shibah was Beersheba

        • Verse 33 concludes the narrative about Isaac and Abimelech, but the next two verses are a transition from this narrative to the narrative about Jacob getting Isaac’s blessing

    • Reject (vv. 34-35)

        • Esau’s heart

          • When Esau was 40 years old he married two Hittite women

            • Judith (yeh-ho-deeth’/yeah-who-deeth’) [“Jewess”/”praised”], daughter of Beeri (be-ay-ree’/bay-a-ree’) [“my well”]

            • Basemath (bos-math’) [“spice”], daughter of Elon (ay-lone’) [”terebinth or mighty”]

          • We see that Esau’s heart was with the world instead of with God [Keil & Delitzsch, Commentary on the Old Testament, Volume 1, The Pentateuch, 175]

          • Esau had not jumped on the bandwagon of God’s blessing through his grandfather and father

          • He was his own man, determined to make his own way

          • “Sarna has suggested that the placement of these two verses here reinforces the unworthiness of Esau to be his father’s heir. ​​ Esau’s errors are threefold. ​​ He has contracted the marriage himself, thus bypassing his parents; he married exogamously (marrying outside the tribe, family, clan, or other social unit) rather than endogamously (marrying within a specific group as required by custom or law); he has gone against the honor of his clan group by intermarrying with the native women.” ​​ [Hamilton, 210]

          • Esau was rejecting everything he had been taught growing up

          • Others were not drawn to the Lord through Esau’s life, because he was not living a life pleasing to the Lord – he was not receiving the Lord’s blessing

        • Isaac and Rebekah’s heartache

          • It is presumed that the source of grief that Isaac and Rebekah were experiencing was related to the fact that the two women were Hittites and part of the Canaanite people [Goldingay, Baker Commentary on the Old Testament, Genesis, 435]

          • These women were from a pagan culture, which means that they were probably not following the Lord, but were wrapped up in idol worship

          • Abraham made his chief servant swear an oath not to get a wife for Isaac from the Canaanites, but from his own people (Gen. 24:2-5)

          • Deuteronomy 7:1-4, When the Lord your God brings you into the land you are entering to possess and drives out before you many nations – the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you – and when the Lord your God has delivered them over to you and you have defeated them, then you must destroy them totally. ​​ Make no treaty with them, and show them no mercy. ​​ Do not intermarry with them. ​​ Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, for they will turn your sons away from following me to serve other gods, and the Lord’s anger will burn against you and will quickly destroy you.

        • All of this prepares us for the narrative found in Genesis 27 and the beginning of 28

 

  • YOU

    • Do others recognize God’s blessing in your life?

    • Is the Holy Spirit prompting you to resolve a situation that you may have misinterpreted?

    • Is your life pleasing to the Lord?

 

  • WE

    • We need to make sure that we are recognizing God’s blessing in the life of our church

    • Perhaps we have misinterpreted a situation at church and need to open up a conversation with leadership

    • Is the corporate life at Idaville Church pleasing to the Lord?

 

CONCLUSION

I want to encourage us today to “jump on the bandwagon” of God’s blessing by living a life that is pleasing to Him.

10

 

/by

Overcoming Temptation

, , ,

Origins

Overcoming Temptation

(Genesis 26:1-11)

 

INTRODUCTION

“How does temptation come? ​​ Sometimes with lots of warning and time to think, and we may succumb or resist after much deliberation. ​​ At other times, temptation presents itself in the span of a few moments, and we react, making a quick decision to follow or flee from wrong desires.

 

Sudden temptation was what one man experienced when he walked into a suburban Chicago Walgreens in June of 2011. ​​ According to the Chicago Tribune, a security video shows that he walked up to an ATM in the store, set his drink on the floor, and did his banking. ​​ He then leaned over and picked up his drink, and did a double-take at what he saw on the floor. ​​ There was a bag with a Chase bank logo on it filled with cash and checks. According to the Tribune, the security video shows that ‘he pauses for a moment, his eyes riveted to the floor. ​​ Then he takes long look around, picks something up and slips out the door.’

 

The man got in his car with the money and drove away. ​​ The bag contained over $17,000. ​​ By the time he had driven to his home suburb some 45 minutes away, he had time to weigh his decision further, and realizing he had probably been captured on video he decided to turn in the money to the bank, according to the Tribune. ​​ Unfortunately, he also decided to lie about where he found the money. ​​ He walked into a Chase bank in Rolling Meadows and said that he had found the money in a Rolling Meadows mall.

 

The story hit the newspapers. ​​ Writer Burt Constable says that the man was featured in newspapers around the world, gave interviews to radio and TV stations, was hailed as a hero on websites, received a gift basket and small gifts from strangers, was the object of romantic inquiries, was repeatedly asked about a reward, and even drew high praise from a nun for being so honest.

 

The Rolling Meadows police weren’t so sure. ​​ It didn’t take long to learn where the money had actually come from, and the FBI was brought in to aid in the investigation. ​​ A few weeks later, the police confronted the man with the truth, and he confessed to what had happened. ​​ He was fined $500 for filing a false police report. ​​ Far worse, no doubt, was the embarrassment he suffered as the real story also hit the newspapers.

 

After the truth came out, he admitted in an interview, ‘I did have that thought in my mind (upon finding the money): ​​ Yes, I could do a lot with that. ​​ I considered that to be the human reaction to seeing a large sum of money in front of me.’”

 

Source: ​​ “Video Doesn’t Lie,” Chicago Tribune (7-1-11); Burt Constable, “Arlington Hts. man hailed for honesty charge with lying to cops,” Daily Herald (6-30-11).

 

[https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2011/august/5080111.html].

BODY

  • ME

    • Testing of our faith

        • Seth was 2 years old when we found a bump on his belly

        • We didn’t know what it was, but it continued to grow over the next year

        • We finally got a second opinion from a surgeon, who recommended that it be removed

        • At 3 years old he had surgery to remove the bump

        • We did not know if the bump was cancer or not

        • It turned out to be a mass of tissue that was probably his twin

        • We had to trust in the Lord during that time

        • We were tempted to give in to fear instead of trusting the Lord

 

  • WE

    • All of us have probably had our faith tested

    • All of us have experienced temptation in our lives

 

The narrator focuses on Isaac in Genesis 26. ​​ In the first eleven verses, we see that Isaac is tempted in two ways – to run and to lie. ​​ How will he react to the temptations that come his way? ​​ Will he continue in the faith his father had? ​​ Will he be obedient to the commands, decrees, and laws that the Lord had given to his father? ​​ From this section of Scripture, we will learn that . . .

 

BIG IDEA – “True faith is always tested.” ​​ [Wiersbe]

 

Let’s pray

 

  • GOD (Genesis 26:1-11)

    • Temptation to run (vv. 1-6)

        • Setting (v. 1)

          • The narrator tells us that Isaac experienced a famine in Canaan during his lifetime

          • It was not the same famine that Abraham experienced (Gen. 12:10-20)

          • Isaac goes to Abimelech, king of the Philistines in Gerar

            • Abimelech

              • This is the not the same Abimelech that Abraham encountered in Genesis 20

              • Because of the lapse in time, this Abimelech would have been the son or grandson of that Abimelech

              • The name Abimelech was perhaps a dynasty/throne name – similar to Pharaoh in Egypt

            • Gerar

              • The last time we are given a location of Isaac and Rebekah it is in Genesis 25:11 – he is living in Beer Lahai Roi

              • Quite a bit of time has passed since that reference and Isaac and Rebekah would have been nomadic – traveling around

              • From wherever Isaac and Rebekah were living when the famine hit, they traveled to Gerar to see Abimelech

              • If they were living in Beer Lahai Roi when the famine hit, perhaps they thought that heading 75 miles northeast would make a difference

              • They may have found that the famine was also affecting Gerar

          • We do know from this next section that Isaac was thinking about going down to Egypt to escape the famine, but God had other plans for him

        • Command (v. 2)

          • The Lord realized the intentions of Isaac’s heart, so He intervened, by appearing to Isaac and giving him a command

          • The Lord does not want Isaac to go to Egypt – He wants him to remain in the Promised Land, even in the middle of a famine

          • “The safest place in the world is in the will of God, for the will of God will never lead us where His grace can’t provide for us.” ​​ [Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, Pentateuch, 117]

            • We will see this fulfilled later in Genesis 26

            • God blesses and provides for Isaac when he was obedient to the Lord’s command

            • Have you experienced that in your own life?

              • We may not always understand the will of God for our lives

                • We may be tempted to run when we lose our job or the company we work for folds

                • We may be tempted to move our retirement to other investments when the stock market drops

                • We may be tempted to run when the political climate is not to our liking

                • We may be tempted to run when things at church get difficult

              • The Lord tells us to hold on, to stay where He is telling us to stay – within His will

              • He promises that His grace is sufficient for us, His strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Cor. 12:8-10)

                • The Apostle Paul understood this when he asked the Lord three times to remove the “thorn in his flesh”

                • The Lord’s grace was sufficient for him

                • The Lord provided for Paul through the difficulty that was experiencing

              • He will do the same for you

                • True faith is always tested

                • Will you give in to the temptation to run when things get difficult, or will you trust in the grace of the Lord to provide for you in the middle of the difficulty you are experiencing

                • #1 – My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Trust in the Lord’s all sufficient grace and remain in His will, instead of giving in to the temptation to run.

          • With the command to remain in the Promised Land, the Lord also gives Isaac a promise

        • Promise (vv. 3-5)

          • Presence

            • This is the first time in the narratives about the patriarchs where God says, ​​ I will be with you [Hamilton, The New International Commentary on the Old Testament, The Book of Genesis, Chapters 18-50, 193]

            • What an incredible promise for Isaac

            • We are given the same promise that God will never leave us or forsake us, so we can say with confidence that the Lord is our helper (Hebrews 13:5-6)

            • He will help us through our times of temptation

            • 1 Corinthians 10:11-13, These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. ​​ So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! ​​ No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. ​​ And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. ​​ But when ​​ you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

          • Blessing

            • Isaac would experience the blessing of God immediately

            • We see this in Genesis 26:12-15

              • Isaac’s crops produced a hundredfold

              • He became very rich and wealthy

              • He had many flocks and herds

              • He had many servants

              • The Philistine’s became jealous of him

            • The Lord not only promised His blessing, but also land

          • Promised Land

            • The Lord again promised that Isaac and his descendants would inherit all of the lands

            • This promise would be fulfilled in the future

            • The Lord also promised to confirm and fulfill the Abrahamic oath through Isaac

          • Confirmation of Abrahamic oath

            • Innumerable descendants – stars in the sky

            • Promised Land – all these lands

            • All nations on earth will be blessed

              • This will happen through Isaac’s descendants

              • It is a continual, ongoing promise that the Lord fulfills, generation after generation

              • “Regarding the doctrine of election, Christopher Wright notes that election isn’t just for our individual benefit and salvation. ​​ According to the biblical story, election means that ‘the elect’ become agents of blessings to others.

                Wright uses the following story:

                It is as if a group of trapped cave explorers choose one of their number to squeeze through a narrow flooded passage to get out to the surface and call for help. ​​ The point of the choice is not so that she alone gets saved, but that she is able to bring help and equipment to ensure the rest get rescued. ​​ ‘Election’ in such a case is an instrumental choice of one for the sake of many.”

                Source: ​​ Christopher J. H. Wright, The Mission of God’s People (Zondervan, 2010), p. 72.

                [https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2012/september/1092412.html]

              • PRINCIPLE #1 – Others will be blessed by our godly lives.

                • When we live a godly life, others will see Jesus in us

                  • They will see that following Jesus means something different that following the patterns of this world

                  • It shows them that we live by Biblical standards

                  • It shows them that we are shaped by the Word of God

                  • It shows them that we are transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit living within us

                  • Our actions, speech, behavior, and attitudes are governed by the Lord

                  • Jesus is our Lord and Master, so we follow His example

                • Are others blessed by how we live our lives?

                • #2 – My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Live a godly life, so that others will be blessed.

              • The same is true within the body of Christ – the church

                • Our sole purpose in attending church is not to be served, but to serve others

                • That is the attitude with which we should be coming

                • That would transform our volunteerism

                • It would create an environment where people will leave our services feeling blessed, encouraged, welcomed, loved, and so much more

                • What is your purpose in attending church?

                • Are there any changes that you need to make?

            • The oath continued to Isaac, because of Abraham’s obedience

          • Abraham’s obedience

            • The Lord had tested Abraham’s faith through three avenues

              • Commands

                • The most general of the three

                • “It concerns demand that incur obligation.” ​​ [Walton, The NIV Application Commentary, Genesis, 552]

                • Two examples [Walton, 553]

                  • Lot being told to flee Sodom

                  • Abraham being told to sacrifice Isaac

              • Decrees/Regulations

                • “…usually concerns regulations.” ​​ [Walton, 552]

                • An example would be the ordinance of circumcision

              • Laws/Instructions

                • “…used for the entire Mosaic legislation and for the Pentateuch, Torah.” ​​ [Walton, 552]

                • Example – circumcision should be done on the eighth day

            • True faith is always tested and we see that Abraham had passed the test

            • PRINCIPLE #2 – Obedience to God’s commands, decrees, and laws brings God’s blessing.

              • Isaac would experience God’s blessing when he was obedient to the God’s commands, decrees, and laws

              • The same is true for us today

                • We may not understand why God is not answering our prayers

                • We may not understand why God is not allowing the church to grow

                • We may not understand why God is not blessing our business, our relationships, our schooling, our children, our investments, our finances, etc.

                • We may not understand why God is not doing the miraculous or supernatural in our nation or church

                • It all comes down to whether or not we are being obedient to His commands, decrees, and laws

                • We want God’s blessing without having to follow His requirements

                • We sometimes feel like they are too restrictive

                • We soften our standards and beliefs to be more accepting

                • We do not exhibit the same faith that the 1st Century believers did and then we wonder why we do not experience the miraculous and supernatural

                • We will experience God’s blessing when we are obedient to His requirements

              • #3 – My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Commit to obeying God’s commands, decrees, and laws, so I can experience His blessing.

          • Isaac experienced the blessing of the Lord, because he was obedient

        • Obedience (v. 6)

          • Isaac stayed in Gerar

          • He did not travel down to Egypt, but obeyed the Lord’s command

        • Isaac overcame the temptation to run, by being obedient to the Lord’s command

        • His faith was tested and found to be true

        • Isaac was human, so he did not always overcome temptation

    • Temptation to lie (vv. 7-11)

        • True faith is always tested, as Isaac experienced when tempted to lie, out of fear, instead of trusting the Lord by faith

        • The lie

          • The men of Gerar asked Isaac about his wife Rebekah

          • He told them that she was his sister, because he was afraid that he would be killed since Rebekah was beautiful

          • This lie seemed legitimate to the men of Gerar

            • We can assume that this narrative either took place prior to Jacob and Esau’s birth or after they were grown and out on their own

            • If the boys had been with them, the lie would not have worked

            • It would have been evident that Isaac and Rebekah were husband and wife

          • This lie worked for a long time

        • The truth

          • The truth was not revealed until a long time had passed

            • The reason the lie worked for a long time is because Rebekah was not taken into the kings harem like Sarah had been on both occasions

              • Pharaoh and his family all experienced serious diseases

              • God warned Abimelech in a dream

            • There was not any divine revelation when it came to Rebekah

            • “That Isaac was at Gerar a long time demonstrates that the danger to Rebekah was more imagined than real.” ​​ [Hamilton, 195]

          • Abimelech looked out his window one day and saw Isaac caressing Rebekah

            • Play on words

              • Isaac’s name means “he laughs”

              • The Hebrew word for “caressing” can mean “to laugh, mock, play”

              • “Here the problem is that Isaac is Isaac-ing with Rebekah: ​​ the euphemism implies that they are having fun or amusing themselves in a way that suggests that they are more lovers than siblings.” ​​ [Goldingay, Baker Commentary on the Old Testament, Pentateuch, Genesis, 422-23]

              • We are not given the exact details of what physical contact took place between Isaac and Rebekah, but Abimelech knew they were more than brother and sister

              • So, Abimelech summons Isaac to confront him

            • Confrontation

              • Abimelech makes a statement and then asks a question

              • She is really your wife!

                • I am certain that Abimelech shared with Isaac what he saw

                • Otherwise, Isaac could have denied Abimelech’s claim

              • Why did you say, ‘She is my sister’?

                • Isaac expresses his fear to Abimelech

                • He tells Abimelech the truth

          • Abimelech explains the risk that Isaac took in giving in to the temptation to lie

        • The risk

          • One of the men of Gerar could have slept with Rebekah and brought guilt upon the Philistines

          • Adultery seemed to be have been a very heinous offense in the Philistine culture

          • “Isaac has missed the fact that in attempting to spare his own life he was risking the lives of everybody else.” ​​ [Hamilton, 196-97]

          • When Isaac comes clean we see the outcome, which was not what he expected

        • The outcome

          • Abimelech gave orders to all the people

          • If anyone molests/touches Isaac or Rebekah they will pay with their lives

            • To touch Isaac meant to physically hurt him

            • To touch Rebekah meant to sexually abuse her

          • Abimelech provides protection for Isaac and Rebekah

        • PRINCIPLE #3 – God is pleased when we tell the truth.

          • Isaac should have been concerned with pleasing the Lord instead of protecting his own life

          • He should have been truthful with Abimelech and trusted the Lord by faith

            • “Truth is the foundation of all knowledge and the cement of all societies.” ​​ [English poet John Dryden cited by Wiersbe, 118]

            • “Truth is always strong, no matter how weak it looks; and falsehood is always weak, no matter how strong it looks.” ​​ [Phillips Brooks cited by Wiersbe, 118]

          • Application

            • Past

              • Was there a time in the past when you gave in to the temptation to lie, because of fear?

              • When the truth finally became known, were your fears realized or were they found to be exaggerated?

              • Did the lie created drama that would not have been there had you told the truth?

            • Present

              • Are you currently being tempted to lie about a particular situation?

              • Is fear of self-preservation the driving force behind the temptation to lie?

              • What does the Bible say about lying

                • Psalm 101:7, No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house; no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence.

                • Proverbs 6:16-19, There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: ​​ haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.

                • Proverbs 12:22, The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful.

                • Proverbs 14:5, A truthful witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours our lies.

                • Colossians 3:9-10, Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

                • Ephesians 4:25, Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.

              • You and I should be concerned about pleasing the Lord instead of protecting our own lives and reputations

            • #4 – My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Trust the Lord by faith and tell the truth, so that He will be pleased and glorified.

 

  • YOU

    • Do you need to trust in the Lord’s grace and remain in His will instead of giving in to the temptation to run?

    • Are you living a godly life, so that others will be blessed?

    • Are you ready to obey God’s command, decrees, and laws, so you can experience His blessing?

    • Do you need to trust the Lord by faith and tell the truth?

 

  • WE

    • As a body of believers, there are times when we need to overcome the temptation to run and trust in the Lord’s grace to remain in His will

    • Obeying God’s commands, decrees, and laws will show others that we are living a godly life – through that we will experience blessing for ourselves and for those in our community

    • We must always tell the truth as a body of believers

 

CONCLUSION

“Recently my wife and I went fly-fishing for the first time. ​​ Our guides told us that ‘to catch a fish you have to think like a fish.’ ​​ They said that to a fish life is about the maximum gratification of appetite at the minimum expenditure of energy. ​​ To a fish, life is ‘see a fly, want a fly, eat a fly.’ ​​ A rainbow trout never really reflects on where his life is headed. ​​ A girl carp rarely says to a boy carp, I don’t feel you’re a s committed to our relationship as I am. ​​ I wonder, do you love me for me or just for my body? ​​ The fish are just a collection of appetites. ​​ A fish is a stomach, a mouth, and a pair of eyes.

 

While we were on the water, I was struck by how dumb the fish are. ​​ Hey, swallow this. ​​ It’s not the real thing; it’s just a lure. ​​ You’ll think it will feed you, but it won’t. ​​ It’ll trap you. ​​ If you were to look closely, fish, you would see the hook. ​​ You’d know once you were hooked that it’s just a matter of time before the enemy reels you in.

 

You’d think fish would wise up and notice the hook or see the line. ​​ You’d think fish would look around at all their fish friends who go for a lure and fly off into space and never return. ​​ But they don’t. ​​ It is ironic. ​​ We say fish swim together in a school, but they never learn.

 

Aren’t you glad we’re smarter?”

 

Source: ​​ John Ortberg, The Me I Want to Be, (Zondervan, 2010), pp. 137-38.

[https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2012/january/7011612.html].

13

 

/by

The Bartered Birthright

, ,

Origins

The Bartered Birthright

(Genesis 25:27-34)

 

INTRODUCTION

“In 2012, a 19-year-old man from Washington state named Dakoda Garren was charged with stealing a rare coin collection worth at least $100,000. After Garren had completed some part-time work for a woman living north of Portland, the woman reported that her family coin collection was missing. Her collection included a variety of rare and valuable coins, including Liberty Head quarters, Morgan dollars, and other coins dating back to the early 1800s.

 

Initially, Garren denied any involvement, claiming that the police didn't have any evidence against him. But then he started spending the coins at face value, apparently unaware of the coins' worth. He and his girlfriend paid for movie tickets using quarters worth between $5 and $68. Later on the same day, they bought some local pizza with rare coins, including a Liberty quarter that may be worth up to $18,500.

 

The news article reported, ‘Garren has been charged with first-degree theft and is being held in jail on $40,000 bond. Which, technically, is an amount he could easily afford if the valuable coin collection were actually his.’”

 

Source: Eric Pfeiffer, "Man allegedly steals $100 coin collection, then spends at face value on pizza and a movie,' Yahoo! News (9-21-12).

 

[https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2012/october/7100812.html].

 

BODY

  • ME

    • Bank

        • I worked for a bank in Florida after graduating from college

        • From time-to-time people would bring in money to deposit, not realizing what they had

        • When that would happen, we would ask the Manager or Assistant Manager if we would swap out the bill or coin with a current bill or coin and keep the unique one

        • I have a 1935 Silver Certificate one-dollar bill (it’s not worth much, but it’s unique)

        • I also have a 19xx ten-dollar bill that is in rough shape (again, not very valuable, but unique)

    • Original Nintendo

        • When I was in college, I bought an original Nintendo Entertainment System from twin brothers with all of the games they had

        • Over the years, I purchased other games for it, especially from Blockbuster Video

        • When Nintendo started advertising their new system, the Wii, they shared that you would be able to download all of favorite games from their other consoles, including the original NES system

        • With the potential of having all of my NES games available on the Wii, I sold my console at our garage sale in Missouri before moving to California

        • When Wade bought the Wii, we realized that Nintendo may have oversold the ability to download ALL of our favorite games from the previous consoles

        • Two games

          • Thunder & Lightning

            • I probably bought it for $5-10

            • Complete Price (used cartridge, box, and instructions) - $79.88

            • New Price (new cartridge, box, and instructions) - $320

          • Pinball Quest

            • I probably bought it for $5-10

            • Complete Price - $38

            • New Price - $291.03

 

  • WE

    • Perhaps all of us have had or have something that we do not realize is valuable

    • Antiques Roadshow [show image]

        • All we have to do is watch Antiques Roadshow

        • It is always fascinating to see what, seems like something insignificant, is of great value

    • Gold & Silver Pawn Shop [show image]

        • Have you ever watched Pawn Stars

        • It is equally fascinating when someone comes into their store thinking that something is really valuable, only to realize that it is not, because it is not genuine or original

    • How many of us have something that we know is really valuable? (do not raise your hand or acknowledge that today, keep it a secret)

 

Pastor Marc began the eighth toledot (the account of…) last week. ​​ It is the account of Isaac. ​​ We saw the conception and birth of Esau and Jacob. ​​ We do not know exactly how much time passed between verses 26 and 27, but some scholars believe it has been around 20 years. ​​ Esau and Jacob are young men at this point. ​​ We already know that God has chosen Jacob to carry on the Abrahamic covenant. ​​ As we will learn today, neither Esau nor Jacob deserved to carry on the covenant, but God’s sovereign work continues whether or not we deserve it. ​​ Through this narrative, we will learn that . . .

 

BIG IDEA – God uses us in spite of our weaknesses.

 

Let’s pray

 

  • GOD (Genesis 25:27-34)

    • Occupation (vv. 27-28)

        • Esau

          • Skillful hunter, man of the open country

            • This occupation was not highly regarded by the biblical writers

            • It was not against Jewish law to eat wild game, but the occupation of “hunter” was not consider favorable

            • In Genesis 10:9 Nimrod, the son of Cush, was a mighty hunter

            • In Genesis 27:40, Esau will be “described as one who lives by the sword.” ​​ [Waltke, Genesis: A Commentary, 362]

          • Man of the open country

            • Esau enjoyed roaming around, instead of being tied down by the more traditional occupation of the day

            • Perhaps he was a restless man

          • While Esau and Jacob were twins, it sounds like they were very different, which was what the Lord had said to Rebekah while she was pregnant with them (Genesis 25:23)

          • Even after their birth, there were marked differences in their appearance (Esau was red and hairy; we assume that Jacob was not, since Esau’s appearance was noted by the author)

        • Jacob

          • Quiet man

            • “This is better translated ‘civilized’ or ‘fine.’ ​​ The basic idea of the Hebrew root (tmm) is ‘to be complete, finished, perfect.’ … it probably denotes Jacob as being ‘well-cultured,’ ‘civilized.’” ​​ [Waltke, 362]

            • It can also be translated “wholesome” and normally, within the Old Testament, it has the meaning of innocence or moral integrity (i.e. “blameless”). ​​ This meaning is found in Job 1:1, 8; 2:3; 9:20-22 [Hamilton, The New International Commentary on the Old Testament, The Book of Genesis, Chapters 18-50, 181]

            • “The word translated ‘quiet’ is elsewhere used as an attribute for someone with high moral character (Job in Job 1:8). ​​ It is most often parallel to the adjective yašar, ‘upright.’” ​​ [Walton, The NIV Application Commentary, Genesis, 549-50]

            • It may be hard for us to see this meaning being true as the narrative continues and we see the cunning way in which Jacob obtains the birthright and eventually the blessing of Isaac

            • But, we will see that God does a transformational work in Jacob’s life as he continues to grow and mature into God’s covenant carrier

            • God uses us in spite of our weaknesses.

          • Staying among the tents

            • Jacob has the more traditional occupation of animal husbandry (shepherd or farmer)

            • Staying among the tents simply means that he is probably working with his father’s flocks and herds

          • Esau and Jacob took very different occupational paths, which may have played a role in their parent’s preferences

        • Parent’s preference

          • IMPORTANT NOTE: ​​ While it appears that Isaac and Rebekah have their favorites, the word “love” here represents a personal preference and not a lack of genuine love for both sons. ​​ Isaac and Rebekah love both of their sons, but they each have a personal preference for a different son

          • Isaac

            • We are kind of given a reason why Isaac preferred Esau

            • Isaac had a taste for wild game

            • This probably did not mean that he hated beef, mutton, or goat

            • Perhaps he liked to mix it up sometimes

            • How many of us can connect with Isaac?

              • I like a good steak

              • I enjoy chicken, turkey, ham, and seafood

              • But I am also adventurous when it comes to trying new things

              • I like venison, bison, elk, and other exotic meats

              • I’ve tried shark, frog legs, octopus, bear, snake, alligator, turtle, and probably some other animals too

              • I have said that I will try anything, once

            • So, Isaac prefers Esau, while Rebekah prefers Jacob

          • Rebekah

            • We are not given a reason why Rebekah prefers Jacob over Esau

            • Perhaps her preference for Jacob is because of the revelation she received from the Lord concerning both boys and how Esau would serve Jacob

          • “Isaac’s love is based on natural senses, Rebekah’s on divine choice and enduring qualities (see 27:1-46).” ​​ [Waltke, 363]

        • The two son’s occupation helps us understand what is happening in the second part of this passage

    • Oath (vv. 29-34)

        • Setting (vv. 29-30)

          • “Once” encompasses a broad range, so we do not have any idea when this took place (my guess is that it was while Jacob and Esau were still young men)

          • Jacob was cooking some stew

          • Esau had been out hunting in the open country

            • He obviously had not caught any wild game

            • If he had he probably would have prepared it himself

            • In Genesis 27:31 we see that Esau prepared the wild game he had caught for his father, Isaac, in preparation for receiving the blessing

            • Both Jacob and Esau knew how to cook

          • Esau was really hungry after hunting in the open country

            • Quick, let me have…!

              • Esau is perhaps feeling weak and/or sick from hunger and needs nourishment

              • I have felt that way recently, while helping one of our sons with a project – we did not want to stop to eat, but at one point I had to stop and eat, because I was not feeling well

              • “‘Quick, let me have…’ translates the root lāʿaṭ (law-at’), a hapax legomenon (word or phrase that appears only once), meaning something like to devour, that is, ‘gulp down’ (NAB, NJPS).” [Mathews, The New American Commentary, Volume 1B, Genesis 11:27-50:26, 392]

            • Red stew

              • Esau is not really aware of what Jacob has been cooking

              • In the Hebrew, Esau is actually saying, “Quick, let me gulp down some of that red stuff, this red stuff.”

              • Only later do we find out what the contents of the “red stuff” are

              • Esau is famished and in that state, he is impulsive

            • We have the parenthetical note about why Esau is also called Edom

              • Edom means red

              • We know that when Esau was born, he was identified in two ways, 1) red and 2) hairy all over

              • Now he is begging for some of that red stuff

          • Esau asked Jacob for some of the red stew he had prepared and Jacob sees an opportunity to get something he wants, that is of value to him

        • Selling (vv. 31-32)

          • Jacob takes advantage of Esau’s extreme hunger by asking him to sell his birthright, before he will give him any of the red stew

          • Birthright

            • What is the significance of the birthright?

            • It obviously included a double portion of the father’s inheritance/estate

            • For Esau that would mean two-thirds of Isaac’s estate

            • For the patriarchs, the birthright not only included material possessions, but also the covenant blessing of Jehovah

            • Jacob understood that the birthright included material possessions and leadership responsibilities both physically and spiritually

            • He was willing to accept those responsibilities

            • Jacob’s desire to have the birthright was not necessarily wrong, but the way in which he sought to obtain the birthright was wrong

            • We do not know if Jacob knew about the divine revelation given to his mother prior to his birth, that the older twin would serve the younger twin

            • If he knew about this, he could have waited patiently on the Lord’s timing for it to be fulfilled

          • Esau did not see the value of the birthright

            • He was more interested in satisfying his hunger than thinking about the spiritual value of the birthright

            • “There is proof enough that he knew he was giving away, along with the birthright, blessings which, because they were not of a material but of a spiritual nature, had no particular value in his estimation, in the words he made use of: ​​ ‘Behold I am going to die (to meet death), and what is the birthright to me?’ ​​ The only thing of value to him was the sensual enjoyment of the present; the spiritual blessings of the future his carnal mind was unable to estimate.” ​​ [Keil & Delitzsch, Commentary on the Old Testament, Volume 1, The Pentateuch, 173]

            • Hebrews 12:14-17, Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. ​​ See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. ​​ See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. ​​ Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. ​​ He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears.

          • PRINCIPLE #1 – “Humans are tempted to get their material and spiritual priorities out of order.” ​​ (Gangel & Bramer)

            • Esau definitely put his material priority of hunger ahead of the spiritual priority of his birthright

            • We have all probably given in to the temptation to get our material/physical/social priorities ahead of our spiritual priorities

              • It is simple to do

              • We wake up thinking about everything we have to get done today and neglect to spend time with the Lord

              • We work a full day and feel exhausted at the end of the day, so we decide to skip Wednesday evening church

              • We either work really hard on projects around the house on Saturday or we spend all day recreating and sleep through our alarm on Sunday morning or decide Saturday night that we will skip church

              • We save for a new car, computer, game console, cell phone, appliances, vacation, etc., but we neglect to give to the Lord, through tithes and offerings (we don’t trust God to supply our needs)

              • We try to work out a problem in our own strength, without going to God first, in prayer

              • Our desire to be in a relationship is so strong that we neglect to ask the Lord to guide and direct us to the right person (we can become so desperate that we start looking in the wrong places and eventually compromise our standards and beliefs)

              • Matthew 6:33, But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

            • #1 – My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Seek God’s kingdom first (spiritual priorities) instead of the things of this world (material priorities).

          • Jacob manipulates Esau to get his birthright

          • Esau does not care about his birthright, but Jacob wants to make the transaction official and binding

        • Swearing (v. 33)

          • Jacob presses Esau to make it official by swearing an oath

          • Esau did just that – he swore on oath that the birthright of the firstborn was now Jacob’s

          • With the transaction complete, we see the fulfillment of Genesis 25:23, The Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.”

          • Jacob now releases the stew for Esau to eat

        • Serving (v. 34a)

          • Esau receives bread and lentil stew in exchange for his birthright

          • I can just imagine Jacob handing over the bread and stew with a smile of satisfaction on his face

        • Separating (v. 34b)

          • Esau finished his meal and then promptly gets up and leaves

          • The final note from the author tells us that Esau despised his birthright

            • He holds his birthright in contempt

            • Esau treated his birthright with irreverence and rejection [Waltke, 364]

            • Esau did not show the Lord the proper respect He deserved for allowing him to be born first [Walton, 551]

          • “By this incident the author implies that Esau’s decision regarding his religious heritage disqualifies him to succeed his father.” ​​ [Mathews, 395]

    • Application

        • PRINCIPLE #2 – God uses us in spite of our weaknesses.

          • “Jacob is distinguished from Esau by his faith in the promises and blessings of God. ​​ He wrongly schemes against his brother because he correctly believes that the birthright in the line of Abraham and Isaac holds tremendous blessing and promise. ​​ Despite all of his weaknesses, Jacob lives within the vision of faith.” ​​ [Waltke, 365]

          • This is true for us also

            • I know my weaknesses and so does the Lord and Satan

            • Satan tempts me in my areas of weakness

            • The Lord uses me in spite of my weaknesses

            • The same is true for every one of us (Satan tempts us and the Lord uses us in spite of our weaknesses)

            • Too often we forget this principle

              • When we fail and give in to temptation we feel like God cannot or will not use us

              • We allow this lie from Satan to keep us from serving the Lord – to do what the Lord has called us to do

            • Forgiveness

              • 1 John 1:9, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness

              • The Lord provides forgiveness through confession, so we can continue to be useful for Him

            • #2 – My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Recognize that God can still use me in spite of my weaknesses, when I confess my sins to Him.

          • God is sovereign, so He will accomplish His plans and purposes for us

        • PRINCIPLE #3 – God’s sovereignty outweighs our failures and flaws.

          • Biblical background

            • Romans 9:11-12, Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: ​​ not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger,” ​​ Just as it is written: ​​ “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

            • Malachi 1:2-3, “I have loved you,” says the Lord. ​​ “But you ask, ‘How have you loved us?’ ​​ “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” the Lord says. ​​ “Yet I have loved Jacob, but Esau I have hated, and I have turned his mountains into a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals.”

            • God had chosen Jacob to be the covenant carrier prior to his birth

              • He already knew that Jacob would manipulate and take advantage of Esau in order to get his birthright

              • He already knew that Rebekah and Jacob would conspire together so that Jacob would also get Isaac’s blessing

              • He already knew how Jacob would deceive Laban in order to grow his own herds

              • He already knew that Esau would hold in contempt his birthright and not value it

              • While it seems like neither Jacob nor Esau were worthy or deserved to be the covenant carrier, God’s sovereignty outweighed Jacobs failures and flaws

              • God knew that Jacob would eventually mature in his faith and be able to handle the spiritual responsibilities of the covenant carrier

          • God’s sovereignty works the same way in our lives

            • We may look at ourselves and think, “I’m not deserving of God’s new covenant through Jesus Christ”

              • We would be right in thinking that, because none of us are worthy of salvation, apart from the grace and mercy of God

              • In His sovereignty, God knew we would need a Savior

              • So, He sent Jesus from heaven to earth to take our punishment for sin

              • He showed us His great love through sending His Son

            • Wayward child

              • Maybe you are going through the heartache of a wayward child right now

              • In the midst of that, it is hard to see how God’s sovereignty is at work, but it is

              • We may know the things they are doing and that they feel like they do not deserve God’s forgiveness or love

              • Hold on to hope, because God’s sovereignty far outweighs their failures and flaws

              • God is able to restore and transform what we think is lost

              • He can use that wayward child to bring others to Jesus for His glory

              • He can take a deceiving, lying person and transform them into an honest, truth-telling follower of Jesus

            • #3 – My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Trust in the sovereignty of God for myself and my family.

 

  • YOU

    • Do you need to realign your spiritual and material priorities?

    • Do you need to recognize that God can still use you in spite of your weaknesses? ​​ (confess those weaknesses to Him today)

    • Do you need to trust in the sovereignty of God for yourself or a family member?

 

  • WE

    • As a body of believers we need to help hold each other accountable to these next steps

    • We need to share with one another how we need to be held accountable

 

CONCLUSION

“Twins”

(Jeanne Steig)

 

Esau said, “I’m feeling faint.”

“Aw,” said Jacob, “no you ain’t.”

“Papa’s blessing,” Esau cried,

“Is mine by rights. ​​ But I’ll have died

Of hunger first. ​​ For pity’s sake—

My birthright for your lentils, Jake.”

“Your birthright?” Jacob murmured. ​​ “Sold!

Dig in, before the stuff gets cold.”

 

[Steig cited by Walton, The NIV Application Commentary, Genesis, 551]

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