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Genesis 32:1-12

I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO GIVES ME STRENGTH

“[1] Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. [2] And when Jacob saw them he said, “This is God’s camp!” So he called the name of that place Mahanaim.”

Let’s pause here really, really quickly. There’s an interesting contrast here when it comes to the life of Jacob.

If you remember back to Genesis 28, we will see Jacob fleeing the land of his fathers. He was running from Esau. And while in the wilderness, with nothing in his pockets, God met him in a dream. In this dream, he saw heaven open and angels ascending and descending. When he woke up, he declared, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.”

Fast-forward 20 years, and Jacob is back in the wilderness returning home. He’s returning to the land he once left. And as he’s returning, uncertainty lays before him. And as uncertainty lays before him, God reminds him of that very same truth— “This is God’s camp!”

On both journeys, to and from, Jacob has had a supernatural encounter with God. At the beginning of his exile, God reminded him, “I am with you.” At the end of his exile, God reminded him, “I am with you.”

Everything about Jacob’s life has changed in these 20 years. Jacob, himself, has changed. But, God hasn’t. God is with Jacob now, just like he was then. When he had nothing in his pockets, God was there to take care of him. And when his bank accounts were full, God was there to take care of him.

This trajectory of Jacob’s life reminds me of Paul’s words in Philippians 4:11-13, “[11] Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned, in whatever situation I am, to be content. [12] I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. [13] I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

Paul is saying, “If I am in the wilderness like Jacob with nothing in my pockets, I know that God is with me. And if I’m returning home with great wealth, I know that God is with me. I can do both through Christ who gives me strength.”

Church, you will change, and your circumstances will change. But, God will never change. God is always faithful to his people. Even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we will fear no evil for you are with me.

ANGELS UNAWARES

Now, this encounter is pretty fascinating. It’s as if God has allowed Jacob to peek behind the curtain of a hidden spiritual world that is always present. The angels of God met him, and when he saw them he said, ‘This is God’s camp!”

We learned back in Ephesians 6 that there is a spiritual battle taking place each and every day, and we don’t wrestle against flesh and blood. There are spiritual beings working behind the scenes in ways that we can’t see. But, here God allows Jacob to see these angels. They met him.

There’s a verse in Hebrews 13, that has caught my attention over the years. It says, “Let brothers love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” This verse seems to imply that there may be times in our lives when we, like Jacob, have a physical encounter with an angel, where we entertain angels unawares. I’m unsure how, but the Bible consistently teaches us that God uses angels to carry out his purposes and to care for his people!

PEACE SEEKING

Let’s continue reading.

“[3] And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother in the land of Seir, the country of Edom, [4] instructing them, “Thus you shall say to my lord Esau: Thus says your servant Jacob, ‘I have sojourned with Laban and stayed until now. [5] I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, male servants, and female servants. I have sent to tell my lord, in order that I may find favor in your sight.’”

So, it seems that Jacob is getting ahead of the curve here. He knows he can’t avoid Esau forever. So, instead of waiting for an unexpected encounter, he sends messengers ahead of him with a message of peace.

Jacob is seeking peace. And in the same way that Jacob sought peace, we should seek peace. Perhaps there is lingering conflict in your life with someone. Instead of avoiding it, maybe it would serve us well to address it?

God calls us to live in harmony with one another. Are you pursuing harmony? God calls us to seek to live peaceably with all. Are you seeking peace?

HUMILITY FLOWS FROM A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

Look at the language Jacob uses here— “My lord Esau,” “your servant Jacob,” “I have sent to tell my lord, in order that I may find favor in your sight.”

Now, we don’t know everything going on in Jacob’s heart at this point in time. Scripture doesn’t tell us his motives here. So, we have to be careful not to assume we know why he’s saying what he’s saying here. Instead, all we can really assess is the words spoken by Jacob here. And as we study his words, we see that the one who once deceived and manipulated Esau is now sending a message of peace and humility to Esau. The man who once grasped for position is no longer insisting on his position. The man who once exalted himself in now lowering himself. The one who once deceived and stole is about to offer gifts. The longer Jacob has walked with God, the more seemingly humble he has become. One of the clearest marks of walking with God is growing in humility.

As we see demonstrated in the life of Jesus, Jacob is becoming more and more like his God. Jesus, the king of kings, willfully chose to take on the role of a servant. The one who deserved to be served chose to serve.

Philippians 2:3 says, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death of a cross.”

So, church, I think Jacob’s words here remind us of the simple truth that humility is a byproduct of walking with God. The longer you walk with God, the more of a servant you become. The longer you walk with God, the more you will begin to consider others more significant than yourself. Even if you begin to grow in a position or power, the title servant will always be a badge you wear proudly.

So, practically speaking. Has walking with Jesus made you more humble? Are you quicker to serve or be served? Are you a pursuer of peace or a hoarder of conflict?

If you are a servant of Christ, you are also a servant of others.

PLANNING AND PRAYING

So, Jacob sends a message of peace out to Esau. In it are words of humility. Jacob wants Esau to know he’s returning and that he’s been blessed by God. He’s been with their uncle Laban and he now has oxen, donkeys, flocks, and male and female servants.

Fingers crossed. Maybe Esau will have a change of heart and be excited to hear from him.

Listen, I remember sending texts to Kayla when we were dating and being so anxious waiting to hear a response. I can imagine the wait for a response must have been crippling for Jacob during this time. How is Esau going to respond? Is he still mad? Has he moved on?

Well, when the messengers return, they return with a message that is less than favorable. As we see in verse 6, “And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, ‘We came to your brother Esau, and he is coming to meet you, and there are four hundred men with him.’”

This is terrifying news for Jacob. 400 men likely communicates to Jacob war. It signifies to Jacob that Esau is coming to cash in on his old desire to kill Jacob.

So, Jacob’s mind is racing. His knees are weak and his palms are sweaty. He’s rocking on the floor in a feedle position with his head between his legs, breathing into a brown paper sack. He’s terrified! Anxious. Fearful. Greatly afraid and distressed. And, as his anxiety is at an all time high, he makes a plan— “Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed. He divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two camps, thinking, ‘If Esau comes to the one camp and attacks it, then the camp that is left will escape.”

So, in true Jacob fashion, he begins to strategize and figure out a plan of what to do if things go south whenever Esau arrives. He divides everyone and everything he has into two camps. And his motive in doing so is so that if one camp gets attacked, the other camp can flee.

Now, I don’t think the point of this passage is to criticize Jacob’s actions here. There’s wisdom is planning.

I’m not sure if his plan would actually work, if I’m honest. But, I think Jacob’s plan here reveals to us what he believes Esau’s motives are. He’s convinced that Esau is coming to do harm. Therefore, he’s seeking to soften the blow of the impending doom.

But, as we continue to read, we see something beautiful taking place. We see for the first time in Scripture Jacob pray to the LORD.

Jacob doesn’t stop with his plans. As he’s planning, he’s praying. His fear has driven him to the feet of the LORD. Here he cries out to the LORD with a cry of humble desperation! The schemer humbly cries out to God for help.

Look at verse 9.

“[9] And Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O LORD who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your kindred, that I may do you good,’ [10] I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant, for with only my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps. [11] Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him, that he may come and attack me, the mothers with the children. [12] But you said, ‘I will surely do you good, and make your offspring as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’”

Notice the first thing Jacob does. He remembers who God is! Jacob revers the name of God, reminding himself of the generational faithfulness of God over the years— “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac…”

The God he is praying to is the God who was faithful to his father and father’s father. This is the God who called Abraham. This is the God who provided for Isaac. This is the God who has been faithful from one generation to the next.

It’s as if Jacob is preaching to his own heart before he ever makes a request known. This is one of the many beauties of prayer! It reorients our hearts back towards God! As we pray to God, we are reminded of who God is! He is the one who has been faithful to all generations!

The second thing we see is Jacob reminding himself (and God) of what God has called him to do. He remembers what God has said— “O LORD who said to me, ‘Return to your country and and to your kindred, that I may do you good…’”

So, as Jacob is facing the grave danger before him, he is reminding himself why he is facing the danger before him. He’s approaching danger specifically because he obeyed God. If he had stayed with Laban, Esau wouldn’t be on the horizon. Had he not followed the LORD, he wouldn’t be facing four hundred men. So, he’s crying out to the God who has led him to the danger he’s about to be facing.

Church, obedience to God is always worth it! But, obedience may not always be easy! There may be nights where you are crying out to the LORD in prayer, asking him to help you as you hobble through difficulties that are a direct result of your obedience to him. Sometimes following God is what leads us into hardships.

But if God leads you into the storm, you can rest knowing He has not abandoned you in the storm. The God who called you is the God who walks with you. The God who leads you is the God who sustains you. The God who sent you is the God who will never leave you.

When obedience becomes costly, take heart. The presence of hardship is not evidence of God’s absence, nor is it a sign to turn around. Stand firm in your obedience and cry out to the God who is with you! He invites you to cry out to him! The God who is with you is the God who loves you… And the God who loves you is the God who has promised to work all things together for our good and his glory.

So, in the face of apparent danger, Jacob is crying out to God, reminding him of the promises he’s given him. But, then he bows down before the throne of God with a posture of humility. He confesses who he is before a holy God!

He says, “I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant, for with only my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps.” So, he’s bowing before God in humility. He’s rightly saying how he doesn’t deserve even the smallest glimpse of loving faithfulness by God.

There are no truer words than these spoken by Jacob here. Every child… every goat… every cow… every camel… was a gift undeserved. Jacob knows he doesn’t deserve even an ounce of love or faithfulness from God.

Church, this is arguably one of the greatest marks of spiritual maturity. The longer you walk with God, the smaller your view of self should become. The longer you walk with God, the less impressed you become with yourself and the more amazed you become with his grace. The longer you walk with God, the more you become convinced that you are unworthy, but God is. You are unfaithful, but God is faithful.

The beauty of the gospel is that God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. All who bow in humility before God crying out to him in humility, he will answer. All who humble themselves before the LORD will be exalted by the LORD!

So, Jacob has developed a right view of himself, which has driven him to God, not away from him. He’s crying out to him for help!

Notice the two things Jacob uses to describe God: “Steadfast love” and “faithfulness.” He’s learned that God’s love will never run out! God will never stop loving his people! And he will never break a promise! He will never abandon those who belong to him. So, the longer you walk with God, the clearer these two truths about God should become. The longer you walk with God, the smaller your view of self should become and the bigger your view of God should become.

You are unworthy, but God is worthy. You are unfaithful, but God is faithful. He is steadfast in love and faithfulness.

Jacob then humbly brings his request before the LORD, “Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him, that he may come and attack me, the mothers with the children. But you said, ‘I will surely do you good, and make your offspring as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’”

So, he’s pinning his request up against the promises of God. He’s honestly telling the LORD his fears while reminding the LORD of the promises he’s given him. What a beautiful thing to be able to pour out your fears to the LORD. But, notice how Jacob ends his prayer— “But you said…”

He’s taking his fears before God, yes. But, he’s also taking God’s promises before God and laying them at his feet— “God, I’m fearful and uncertain. But, I’m certainly trusting the promises you’ve given.”

So, listen. If God says something will happen, it will happen.

If he says blessing is on the horizon, blessing is on the horizon. If he says persecution will come, persecution will come. If he promises forgiveness of sins, sins will be forgiven. If he promises to meet our needs, our needs will be met. If he promises to complete the good work he has begun in us, he will complete the good work he’s begun in us. If he promises to work together all things for the good of those who love Him and who are called according to his purpose, he will work all things together for good! If he promises to display his power through our weakness, he will display his power through our weakness. If Jesus has promised to go and prepare a place for us, he is preparing a place for us. If he promises to bring us to a place where there will be no more tears, pain, or crying, he will bring us to this place. If he promises to return again, he will return again. If he promises to judge all of humanity, he will judge all of humanity. What God says he will do, he will do! So, as we bring our requests before the LORD, may we lean heavy upon the promises God has given us in his word.

Genesis 31

Genesis 31:20–32

[20] And Jacob tricked Laban the Aramean, by not telling him that he intended to flee. [21] He fled with all that he had and arose and crossed the Euphrates, and set his face toward the hill country of Gilead.

[22] When it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob had fled, [23] he took his kinsmen with him and pursued him for seven days and followed close after him into the hill country of Gilead. [24] But God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream by night and said to him, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.”

I want you to first notice that Laban doesn’t pursue Jacob alone. He gathers his kinsmen and sets out after Jacob. That’s a small, but important detail that tells us this wasn’t simply a family disagreement. Laban viewed this as a serious conflict. The text never explicitly says violence in coming. But I think it carries that tension.

A kinsmen would have been a clan members or a relative of Laban. So, these would have been men who stood with Laban. And these men would have been gathered for the purpose of protecting Laban, or to help Laban enforce his will, or to serve as an eye witness for a dispute.

So, Laban has gathered his kinsmen, and they’re determined to catch up to Jacob and overtake Jacob. But, as they are in hot pursuit, notice that God intervenes. Before Laban reaches Jacob, God reaches Laban. In the shadows of the night, God is actively working on Jacob’s behalf.

Remember what God said back in verse 3, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you.”

So, we’re seeing (once again) God’s faithfulness playing out here! If God says he will do something, he will do it! If he tells Jacob he will be with Jacob, then he will be with Jacob! If God ever makes a promise to his people, you can bank on that promise coming to fruition!

God is by definition faithful! God is always working to carry out his promises, even when we can’t see him working. As Jacob is fleeing, he’s helpless. And as Laban is pursuing, God steps in and intervenes.

In the cool of the night, God warned Laban, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.”

I love this! When everyone is asleep, God is awake. When everyone in inactive, God is active.

Listen to what the Psalmist says in Psalm 121:3-4, “He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber or sleep.”

Church, please understand and rest in this the fact that God never sleeps! When you lay your head on your pillow at night, God is keeping you! While Jacob sleeps in his tent, God is keeping him. Before Laban reached Jacob, God reached Laban.

[25] And Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country, and Laban with his kinsmen pitched tents in the hill country of Gilead. [26] And Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done, that you have tricked me and driven away my daughters like captives of the sword? [27] Why did you flee secretly and trick me, and did not tell me, so that I might have sent you away with mirth and songs, with tambourine and lyre? [28] And why did you not permit me to kiss my sons and my daughters farewell? Now you have done foolishly. [29] It is in my power to do you harm. But the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.’ [30] And now you have gone away because you longed greatly for your father’s house, but why did you steal my gods?”

Notice the irony of Laban’s words here! It’s as if Laban has no clue that he’s been treating Jacob so badly. He acts as though he would have gladly thrown a farewell celebration with songs, tambourines, and lyres. He’s presenting himself as a loving father who simply wanted one last embrace with his daughters and grandchildren.

But that's not entirely true, is it?

It’s as if Laban has forgotten that Jacob had previously come to him requesting his permission to return home. It’s as if Laban has forgotten that he didn’t allow Jacob to leave. It’s as if he has overlooked the fact that he had consistently deceived Jacob. It’s as if he has overlooked the fact that he has changed Jacob’s wages over and over over the past few years.

The deceiver is claiming to be deceived. The trickster is claiming to be tricked. The manipulator is claiming to be manipulated. The culprit is claiming to be the victim.

But, Laban’s accusations aren’t rooted in truth; they’re built on a distortion of truth. Laban has fabricated the truth in order to pull on the heart strings of those around him. Leah and Rachel weren’t dragged away as prisoners of war. They willingly chose to leave with Jacob because they themselves had concluded that their father had treated them unjustly.

Laban is doing what we’re often tempted to do! He’s seeking to minimize his own failures by magnifying the failures of someone else. He’s painting himself as the innocent victim while quietly ignoring the ways he’s sinned against others. Laban isn't simply telling a different version of events. He's constructing a narrative that makes him appear righteous while portraying Jacob as the villain. And if we're honest, our hearts can be tempted to do the very same thing. Pride forces us to approach everything in a manner that makes us look better than we actually are.

In what ways can you be tempted to portray yourself better than you actually are?

Now, the longer Laban talks, the more his heart’s desires are revealed. More than Laban was upset that he didn’t get to hug his grandchildren goodbye, he was upset that his gods were gone. He’s upset with the fact that his gods are missing.

So…

[31] Jacob answered and said to Laban, “Because I was afraid, for I thought that you would take your daughters from me by force. [32] Anyone with whom you find your gods shall not live. In the presence of our kinsmen point out what I have that is yours, and take it.” Now Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them.

Jacob is honest with Laban, revealing the state of his heart. He fled because he was afraid that Laban would take his daughters from him by force. And I don’t know if this fear is irrational or not. In fact, it seems warranted. Just think about everything Laban has done up until this point in time. He’s consistently deceived Jacob, manipulated Jacob, exploited Jacob.

So, it’s not hard to understand why Jacob expected the worst. After all, God himself came to Laban in a dream and gave him direct instructions not to do anything to him. Therefore, God’s intervention suggests Jacob’s fear is rational.

But, I also want you to see Jacob’s innocence here! Laban believes all of the evidence points to Jacob stealing his gods, but the truth is that Jacob hasn’t touched them. Jacob is essentially saying, “Search everything I have. If I have anything that belongs to you, take it. If I have your idols, kill me.”

Those are bold words, words that are rooted in innocence! In Jacob’s mind, he has nothing to hide! The once deceiver has nothing to hide because he hasn’t touched anything!

But, then Moses allows us the peak behind the curtain of a truth that even Jacob didn’t know. “Now Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them.”

Genesis 31:33–55

[33] So Laban went into Jacob’s tent and into Leah’s tent and into the tent of the two female servants, but he did not find them. And he went out of Leah’s tent and entered Rachel’s. [34] Now Rachel had taken the household gods and put them in the camel’s saddle and sat on them. Laban felt all about the tent, but did not find them. [35] And she said to her father, “Let not my lord be angry that I cannot rise before you, for the way of women is upon me.” So he searched but did not find the household gods.

Now, as a man who is really good at making anything awkward. Let’s get awkward for a moment.

The “way of the women” is a reference to Rachel’s menstrual cycle. And during this time of the month, throughout the Old Testament, women would have been seen as unclean.

Now, just to be clear! In the Old Testament law, you would find both a moral cleanness and a ceremonial cleanness. It’s important to distinguish between the two. Moral cleanliness had to do with sin and guilt before God; ceremonial uncleanness had to do with ritual purity. Unlike moral cleanness, being ceremonially unclean didn’t mean you had sinned. It simply meant that you were temporarily unable to participate in Israel’s worship until they had been ceremonially cleansed according to God’s law.

Well, later in the law, we see that a person could become ceremonially unclean by touching a dead body (Numbers 19:11), through certain skin diseases (Leviticus 13–14), after an emission of semen (Leviticus 15:16–18), through childbirth (Leviticus 12), or during a woman’s menstrual cycle (Leviticus 15:19–24). According to the law, anyone or anything that touched a woman on her menstrual cycle would be deemed unclean.

Now, obviously the law hadn’t been given in Genesis 31. So, Rachel and Laban weren’t thinking in terms of ceremonial uncleanness as Israel would have later on. But, there would have certainly been a cultural understanding that she was unclean and that she shouldn’t be disturbed (as we see by Laban’s response).

Now, there are differing opinions here regarding whether or not Rachel was telling the truth. It could be one of two things here. It could be that Rachel is lying to Laban. It could be that she knew that if she said it was her period then Laban would have left her alone, and thus he wouldn’t be able to find Laban’s hidden gods. Or, it could also be that she’s telling the truth, and that she is cleverly using this time of the month to her advantage.

In the end, though, I’m not sure if that’s Moses’ primary concern here. And I’m not sure if there’s anything in the text that specifically alludes to one over the other. But, regardless of which is true, I think Moses is intentionally seeking to contrast Laban’s god’s with Jacob’s God.

This small detail is intended to make a mockery of Laban’s gods! Laban’s gods could be stolen; Jacob’s couldn’t. Laban’s gods could be hidden; Jacob’s God appeared to his enemies in the hidden part of the night. Laban’s gods were helplessly concealed beneath a camel’s saddle; Jacob’s God sat on the throne, and he was speaking, warning, protecting, and accomplishing his will without anyone frustrating his purposes! While Laban’s gods became more and more defiled by every drop of Rachel’s blood, Jacob’s God sat on his holy throne. Laban’s gods were small, Jacob’s God is big! Laban’s gods was helpless, Jacob’s God is the divine helper. Laban’s gods are defiled, Jacob’s God is holy.

So, Laban doesn’t press Rachel. He believers her, and he doesn’t make her get up. Therefore, he doesn’t find the missing gods. This leads to Jacob becoming livid!

Look at verse 36.

[36] Then Jacob became angry and berated Laban. Jacob said to Laban, “What is my offense? What is my sin, that you have hotly pursued me? [37] For you have felt through all my goods; what have you found of all your household goods? Set it here before my kinsmen and your kinsmen, that they may decide between us two. [38] These twenty years I have been with you. Your ewes and your female goats have not miscarried, and I have not eaten the rams of your flocks. [39] What was torn by wild beasts I did not bring to you. I bore the loss of it myself. From my hand you required it, whether stolen by day or stolen by night. [40] There I was: by day the heat consumed me, and the cold by night, and my sleep fled from my eyes. [41] These twenty years I have been in your house. I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock, and you have changed my wages ten times. [42] If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been on my side, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God saw my affliction and the labor of my hands and rebuked you last night.”

So, we’re able to catch a glimpse behind the scenes of what life was like for Jacob over these years. He’s been working hard and honestly. And as he’s been working hard and honestly, he’s been taken advantage of by Laban. Yet, despite being taken advantage of, he’s quietly kept his head down and worked! He’s been dependent upon the LORD’s provision over the years. If it hadn’t been for the LORD taking care of Jacob over these years, Laban would have certainly sent him away empty handed.

So, Jacob here is publicly highlighting his own innocence along with the hypocrisy of Laban. Laban has portrayed himself to be a man of innocence, but that’s the farthest thing from the truth! And now all of Laban’s wrongdoings have been brought to light, along with Jacob’s innocence and God’s faithfulness.

[43] Then Laban answered and said to Jacob, “The daughters are my daughters, the children are my children, the flocks are my flocks, and all that you see is mine. But what can I do this day for these my daughters or for their children whom they have borne? [44] Come now, let us make a covenant, you and I. And let it be a witness between you and me.”

Like, what a statement of arrogance from Laban here! Laban is speaking as though Jacob’s wives, Jacob’s children, and even the flocks that God had graciously and fairly given to Jacob belong to him. The arrogance and delusion of Laban is profound! He’s self-centered and delusional, consumed with only his own interest. Pride has thwarted the way he views all of life, and he’s begun to believe that everything belongs to him. He’s begun to believe that the whole world revolves around him.

Church, pride clouds our judgment. Like with Laban it distorts our reality. It convinces us that we’re right, even when we’re wrong. It blinds us to the pain we’ve caused others. Pride forces us to think through life simply through the lens of ourselves, and no one else.

But, for the sake of peace, Jacob is willing to negotiate with Laban here and enter into a covenant with him.

[45] So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar. [46] And Jacob said to his kinsmen, “Gather stones.” And they took stones and made a heap, and they ate there by the heap. [47] Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed. [48] Laban said, “This heap is a witness between you and me today.” Therefore he named it Galeed, [49] and Mizpah, for he said, “The LORD watch between you and me, when we are out of one another’s sight. [50] If you oppress my daughters, or if you take wives besides my daughters, although no one is with us, see, God is witness between you and me.”

Again, the irony of Laban’s words are thick here because his standard of morality is all over the place. The man who seemingly has no sense of morality all of a sudden has become a guardian of moral purity. The man who has taken advantage of his daughters his entire life is now warning Jacob not to mistreat his daughters. The man who duped Jacob into marrying multiple of his daughters is now preventing Jacob from marrying other women.

Now, none of these things are a bad thing, of course! It’s just ironic that these commands are coming from Laban. He condemns in others what he’s willing to tolerate in his own life! You can’t marry any other women besides the four women who I have allowed you to marry!

That’s what hypocrisy does! Hypocrisy is a willingness to move the goal post for others and not ourselves. It’s you saying “doing as I say and not as I do.”

[51] Then Laban said to Jacob, “See this heap and the pillar, which I have set between you and me. [52] This heap is a witness, and the pillar is a witness, that I will not pass over this heap to you, and you will not pass over this heap and this pillar to me, to do harm. [53] The God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.” So Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac, [54] and Jacob offered a sacrifice in the hill country and called his kinsmen to eat bread. They ate bread and spent the night in the hill country.

[55] Early in the morning Laban arose and kissed his grandchildren and his daughters and blessed them. Then Laban departed and returned home.

As we bring this to a close, I want us to land the plane on the gospel. As we see here in Genesis 31, conflict was present between Jacob and Laban. Hostility existed between these two men. But, out of this hostility, a covenant of peace was made. And in connection with that covenant, a sacrifice was offered. And after that sacrifice, they sat down together and shared a meal, a meal centered around bread.

Church, this small moment in the story points to a greater reality. Like with Laban and Jacob, there was conflict between us (sinful man) and God (a holy God).

Whether we want to admit it or not, we all have a little bit of Laban in us. We are all a little hypocritical, egotistical, and self-centered sinners. But, God pursued us. And God made a way for us to have peace with him.

Listen to Paul’s words in Ephesians 2!

“God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ… …and he raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus… We were once separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world…[13] But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. [14] For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility [15] by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, [16] and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. [17] And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. [18] For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. [19] So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God…”

So, church, as we work through the book of Genesis, I hope we are able to see how God is a God of peace. And I hope we see how the peace he brought Jacob and Laban was a small shadow to the greater peace he brought us today.

Jacob and Laban’s peace lasted their lifetime. But, the peace Christ purchased lasts for eternity. Jacob offered a sacrifice, and then they shared bread together. Jesus became the once for all sacrifice for sin! And because he became that sacrifice, we are invited to his table! We don’t simply have a ceasefire with God. We have peace with God, fellowship with God, a seat at his table.

Genesis 30:25-43

“[25] As soon as Rachel had borne Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, “Send me away, that I may go to my own home and country. [26] Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, that I may go, for you know the service that I have given you.”

So, it seems that Jacob is now seeing that his time in Paddam-aram is coming to a close. Now that the woman he loves has conceived and bore a son, Jacob is ready to head home. His family has grown, and he has accomplished the work that he was commissioned to do. So, he’s ready to go home.

Now, as I studied this passage, I found myself asking, “Why does Jacob essentially ask for permission to leave?” After all, there was never any evidence of Abraham asking to leave any places he inhabited. So, why doesn’t Jacob just gather his family and go?

Well, it’s important to remember that Jacob arrived in Paddam-aram with nothing. He possessed no wealth, no livestock, and no means of providing for himself. To secure the wives he now has, Jacob had entered into a contract with Laban. He had entered into a binding agreement to serve Laban for fourteen years in exchange for marrying his daughters.

So, we don’t known the time frame here. But, it’s likely that those fourteen years have now passed. Therefore, Jacob is coming to Laban with humility saying, “I’ve fulfilled my end of the agreement. My contract is up; it’s been up. I’ve done what I promised to do. May I now return home?”

I think this is a small sign of growth within the heart of Jacob. It’s a small but significant glimpse into God’s sanctifying work in Jacobs life! He’s beginning to look more like the recipient of God’s covenant promise and less like the deceiver he once was! Up to this point, Jacob has repeatedly tried to secure blessing through manipulation and cleverness. But here, even after years of being deceived and taken advantage of by Laban, he doesn’t resort to deceit. He doesn’t sneak away. He doesn’t seek revenge. Instead, he seeks to leave honorably by showing respect to Laban as the head of the household. He’s selflessly honoring the commitment he had made.

Church, we are called to act similarly. We should be a people whose word can be trusted. We should be a people that honors our commitments, even when it’s difficult. We should be a people who respect the authority that has been placed over us. We should be a people who honor those we work for. And we should seek to honor those we work for by how we work and how we leave work.

I’ve always said that you can learn a lot about a person in how they finish their job. How you work when you put your two weeks notice in matters! Godly men and women start their work well and they finish well. Our character should shine just as bright when we’re leaving a job as it was when we began a job.

Jacob is honoring Laban by first requesting his blessing to leave and return home. And in response to this request to return home, Laban says, “If I have found favor in your sight, I have learned by divination that the LORD has blessed me because of you. [28] Name your wages, and I will give it.”

So, Laban has just very candidly acknowledged the fact that he’s been blessed specifically because of Jacob. What a remarkable confession!

Now the phrase “learned by divination” is an interesting one, isn’t it?

Some scholars argue that the verb for divination has broadened in meaning and simply refers to learning by observation or experience. That’s a possibility, sure. But, I don’t think it’s a likely possibility. I think the context of Genesis points to a more straight forward reading, which would be that Laban is practicing divination.

Divination is the attempt to gain secret knowledge, predict the future, or influence events using supernatural means apart from God. It’s a demonic practice. In fact, this same Hebrew root appears later in Deuteronomy 18, where Moses warns Israel, “[9] ‘When you come into the land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations. [10] There shall not be found among you anyone who… practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens…[12] for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD. And because of these abominations the LORD your God is driving them out before you.’” So, it seems that Laban had continued to embrace the pagan practices of the surrounding nations. Rather than seeking the LORD himself (that he’s witnessed and watched work), Laban had been seeking hidden knowledge regarding the future through supernatural means.

As Laban sought clarity on the state of his life and the blessing he’s endured, he’s come to the clear conclusion that his blessing is directly tied to Jacob… which is directly tied to Jacob’s God— “The LORD has blessed me because of you.” And because of this blessing, Laban had no desire to let Jacob go. He wanted to keep him close in order to keep God’s blessing close, which led him to say, “Name your wages, and I will give it.”

Friends, can we link this to the gospel for a moment?

In the same way that Laban’s blessing was directly tied to Jacob, the promised son of Abraham… we are blessed by our proximity to Jesus, the Promised Son of Abraham. Every spiritual blessing we enjoy is tied to Jesus Christ! If you remove Jacob, Laban loses his blessing. If you remove Jesus, we lose our blessing! As we’ve carefully paralleled over the past few months, Jesus is the Promised Son of Abraham, the promised serpent crusher, the promised one in whom all the nations shall be blessed through. And just as Laban’s blessing was bound up with his relationship to Jacob, every blessing we receive is bound up with our union with Christ. Our forgiveness is because of Christ. Our adoption is because of Christ. Our righteousness is because of Christ. Our hope is because of Christ. Our eternal inheritance is because of Christ. None of these blessings rest upon our merit; they rests upon the works of another! In the same way that Laban was blessed because of the works of Jacob, we are blessed because of the finished work of Christ! We are blessed because of our proximity to Jesus! He is in us and we are in him! Thus, we are clothed in the righteousness of Christ!

Now, with that being said, I think there should also be another practical application for us here! Just as Jacob’s presence was a blessing to Laban, Christians should be a blessing wherever God places them! In the workforce, especially, those around us should be blessed by being close to us. Proximity to Christians should be a blessing to non-Christians. Our communities and neighborhoods and occupations should flourish because followers of Jesus are present! We should strive to be a blessing to those around us by how we work. Whether someone believes the gospel or not, they ought to recognized that Christians make work better for them! Our lives should make those around us thankful that God has placed us among them!

Is that true for you? Are those around you better because of you? Are you a blessing or a curse to those around you?

So, Laban has come to the right conclusion that he is blessed because of Jacob’s God. So, he obviously wants him to stay. But, in verse 29, Jacob responds, “You yourself know how I have served you, and how your livestock has fared with me. [30] For you had little before I came, and it has increased abundantly, and the LORD has blessed you wherever I turned. But now when shall I provide for my own household also?”

Can we pause here for just a moment and highlight something practical?

For years, Jacob has labored faithfully, and, in doing so, all of the fruit of his labor has deepened the pockets of someone else. He has watched Laban’s flocks multiply. He has watched Laban’s wealth increase.

Humanly speaking, it would have been easy for Jacob to become bitter. Humanly speaking, it would have been really easy to think, “Why should I keep working so hard when someone else is receiving the benefit?”

Yet, Jacob kept working.

Church, it’s ok to work hard, even when your hard labor is building up someone else’s wealth.

Now, the temptation of our hearts is to grow frustrated when we see the fruits of our labor go into the pockets of another. But, I want to remind us today that it’s ok. It’s ok for others to be blessed by your hard work.

Don’t resist hard work simply because you won’t receive the full fruit of it. Sometimes God calls us to work hard, not merely for our own prosperity, but so that our faithfulness might be a blessing to someone else.

Perhaps one day the LORD will open up a door for you to own your own business. Perhaps he will open up a door for you to lead the company. Perhaps he will open up a door for you to enjoy the full fruit of your labor.

But, what if that day never comes? Are you ok with God’s provision, even if it’s not as much as you would like? Is Christ enough for you? Are you content to work with excellence, even if God called you to spend your life helping someone else flourish? Would you be ok if God called you to a life of service, to a life of building up the wealth of another over the wealth of your own?

After studying this passage this week, I’ve begun to feel a deeper desire in my spirit for this to be true of me. As a barber, my hope is that the barbers around me are blessed because of my presence in the shop… …that my customers are blessed because they’ve sat in my chair… …and that the business I work for is blessed because I’m an employee of it.

Part of a being a light in a dark place isn’t simply found in my proclamation of the gospel. It’s also found in me living out of the gospel. We obviously open our mouths and share with others the hope of the gospel! But, we also adorn the gospel we preach with the gospel we live!

May those we work with say, “I’m thankful that person works here!”

So, Jacob has worked hard over the years, and the LORD has blessed Laban wherever Jacob turns. He and Laban both know this to be true. But, Jacob presses Laban and says, “But now when shall I provide for my own household also?”

So, Jacob is saying, “I’ve honored my contract. I’ve built your wealth, when can I build mine? I’ve taken care of your family, when can I take care of my own?”

Jacob is ready to move on. He’s ready to return home, back to the land of promise.

In response, Laban says, “What shall I give you?”

Jacob responds, “You shall not give me anything. If you will do this for me, I will again pasture your flock and keep it: let me pass through all your flock today, removing from it every speckled and spotted sheep and every black lamb, and the spotted and speckled among the goats, and they shall be my wages. So my honesty will answer for me later, when you come to look into my wages with you. Every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats and black among the lambs, if found with me, shall be counted stolen.”

Jacob is essentially saying, “Give me the undesirables. You take the best; I’ll take the worst.”

Jacob’s words here parallel Abraham’s words to Lot back when he said, “You go left and I’ll go right, or you go right and I’ll go left.”

Notice what Jacob says, “My honesty will answer for me later.”

This isn’t the Jacob we’re used to seeing! Contrary to who Jacob was before, his words are now selfless, humble, honest, and rooted in faith. The man who once grasped for blessing is now willing to trust God for it. The selfish deceiver is now selflessly and honestly working.

Laban agrees. In verse 34, he says, “Good! Let it be as you have said.”

But, then we see Laban try to take matters into his own hands. Laban quickly makes plans to take advantage of Jacob. So, where Jacob has been sanctified over the years, Laban hasn’t. Jacob was once a deceiver, but now he’s seeking to live honestly. But, not Laban!

Church, this is what walking with God does! If you begin to walk with God, I promise you God will not let you stay the same. He will transform you. He will sanctify you! The longer you walk with Christ, the more you will look like Christ. You will become like the God you worship. If you worship a false God, falsehood will begin to come out. If we worship dead idols, dead works will follow.

But, if you worship the God who is abounding in steadfast love and love will begin to come out. If you worship the God who cannot lie, truth will begin to come out.

Jacob and Laban are beginning to reveal, by the fruit of their lives, whom they truly serve.

So, look at what Laban does next— “[35] But that day Laban removed the male goats that were striped and spotted, and all the female goats that were speckled and spotted, every one that had white on it, and every lamb that was black, and put them in the charge of his sons. [36] And he set a distance of three days’ journey between himself and Jacob, and Jacob pastured the rest of Laban’s flock.”

Do we see what he’s doing here? He’s removing the very means by which Jacob would be paid!

Imagine working at a fruit stand and agreeing to be paid from the lemonade sales, only to have your employer throw away every lemon before the stand even opens. That’s what Laban has done!

If it were me, I would have been livid. And maybe Jacob was. We don’t know. But, there’s no proof in the text of Jacob responding in anger. Instead, he gets to work.

“[37] Then Jacob took fresh sticks of poplar and almond and plane trees, and peeled white streaks in them, exposing the white of the sticks. [38] He set the sticks that he had peeled in front of the flocks in the troughs, that is, the watering places, where the flocks came to drink. And since they bred when they came to drink, [39] the flocks bred in front of the sticks and so the flocks brought forth striped, speckled, and spotted. [40] And Jacob separated the lambs and set the faces of the flocks toward the striped and all the black in the flock of Laban. He put his own droves apart and did not put them with Laban’s flock. [41] Whenever the stronger of the flock were breeding, Jacob would lay the sticks in the troughs before the eyes of the flock, that they might breed among the sticks, [42] but for the feebler of the flock he would not lay them there. So the feebler would be Laban’s, and the stronger Jacob’s. [43] Thus the man increased greatly and had large flocks, female servants and male servants, and camels and donkeys.”

Now, depending on who you read or who you listen to, there are differing opinions surrounding Jacob’s actions here. Some would say that his actions are deceptive. Some would say he’s adopted a type of pagan superstitions. Some would say that he’s acting in faith.

I think the truth is probably somewhere in the middle here. In the next chapter, we find Jacob explaining to his wives what’s been happening. He says, “You know that I have served your father will all my strength, yet your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times. But God did not permit him to harm me. If he said, ‘The spotted shall be your wages,’ then all the flock bore spotted; and if he said, ‘The striped shall be your wages,’ then all the flock bore striped. Thus God has taken away the livestock of your father and given them to me. In the blessing season of the flock I lifted up my eyes and saw in a dream that the goats that mater with the flock were striped, spotted, and mottled. Then the angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob,’ and I said, ‘Here I am!’ And he said, ‘Lift up your eyes and see, all the goats that mate with the flock are striped, spotted, and mottled, for I have seen all that Laban is doing to you. I am the God of Bethel, where You anointed a pillar and made a vow to me.’”

Jacob is allowing his wives to peek behind the curtain of what the LORD has been doing in and through him. He’s telling his wives that God told him what was going to happen before it happened. So, I don’t think Jacob is trusting in peeled branches here. Instead, I think he’s walking in faith. He’s trust the God who’s spoken to him! He’s heard God’s words, and he believed God’s word. And as he believed God’s word, he sought to walk in obedience to God in the best way he knew how.

Yes, Jacob used the ordinary knowledge and practices available to him at this time as a shepherd. But he understood that it was God alone who worked! He understood that God was working supernaturally through ordinary means.

Church, God is faithful. He will always be faithful. Here he is working faithfully behind the scenes to carry out his divine plan in and through Jacob. Jacob didn’t deserve God’s blessing. Neither do we. God blesses His people because He is gracious and faithful. Jesus came so that everyone who trusts in Him can receive God’s greatest blessing, which is forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

Genesis 30:1-24

“When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she envied her sister. She said to Jacob, “Give me children, or I shall die!”

This is the second time we’ve seen envy pop up in the book of Genesis. First, we saw it in the hearts of the Philistines whenever they became envious of Isaac’s harvest being blessed by God during the famine. And now we see it in the heart of Rachel as she’s grown envious of her sister being able to have children.

We talked about this a few weeks ago, but that word envy in the Septuagint is the same word used in Galatians 5, which describes envy as a work of the flesh—

“[19] Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, [20] idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, [21] envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. [22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. [24] And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. [25] If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. [26] Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”

Envy (phthonos) is the act of desiring what other people have. It’s you being unhappy about someone else’s blessings instead of being thankful for our own. It’s you not being content with where the Lord has you or with what the Lord has given you. It’s ultimately you shaking your fist at God, saying, “I want what they have.”

At the heart of envy is you grieving over someone else’s blessing because it isn’t your blessing. Envy is rooted in discontentment with God’s providence. Envy is a quiet accusation that God isn’t good!

This is exactly where Rachel is at this moment in time! Instead of rejoicing over the fact that Leah’s womb has been opened, she’s angry that hers has been closed. She desperately wanted what her sister had, children.

Church, envy is a dangerous thing. It’s a weed that will choke out every flower of gratitude in our heart. It is a poison that will destroy our joy. It often lurks behind the curtains of our hearts, hiding in the shadows of the bright light of God’s blessing. When we see God’s blessing on someone else, our flesh quietly whispers, “Why not me?”

There are countless ways this temptation appears in our life. We can envy another person’s paycheck, marriage, family, home, influence, gifts, opportunities, or success.

But, in our attempt to draw application, I don’t want to wander too far from the text this morning.

Scripture tells us that children are a blessing from the Lord. And by God’s grace, Harbor Community Church is filled with little blessings—forty-nine of them to be exact.

For many women, the desire to be a mother runs deep in their veins. It’s a beautiful, God-given longing. But every God-given desire can become a place of temptation when it goes unfulfilled.

If the Lord has not yet given you children… or if your family looks different than you hoped… it can become very easy to look across the room at another family and begin walking the same path Rachel walked.

Church, please guard your heart.

May the LORD continue to bless our church! May he graciously fill this room with more children in the future! But, as He blesses others, may we understand that our greatest battle may not be against barrenness, disappointment, or waiting. It may be against envy.

So, don’t let envy take root in our hearts. Don’t water that weed. Don’t feed that monster. Don’t drink that poison. Crucify it! Nail it to the cross! Ask the Spirit to replace envy with thankfulness, comparison with contentment, and resentment with genuine rejoicing in the blessings God gives to others.

So, with a heart full of envy, Rachel says to Jacob, “Give me children, or I shall die!”

At first glance, that sounds a little dramatic. It almost sounds like me saying, “If I don’t eat soon, I’m going to die,” after skipping breakfast and it’s only 11:30am.

But, I don’t think Rachel is being completely dramatic here.

Yes, her seemingly dramatic words here are rooted in a heart full of envy. Therefore, they can’t be completely rational. But, culturally, her words could have some legitimacy here.

In our day and age, if a woman’s husband dies without children, there are often other means of provision (family, employment, insurance, savings, and community support). But in Rachel’s time, things were very different. For her, a widow without children was incredibly vulnerable. If Jacob were to die, she would have had no son to care for her, protect her, or provide for her in her old age. Therefore, when Rachel says, “Give me children, or I shall die,” she’s not simply exaggerating. She’s expressing what she believes to be the difference between life and death.

It seems likely that Rachel understood children to be a sense of security. For her, children were what she believed would sustain her long after her husband was gone.

Now, this may be a bit of a stretch. But does Rachel’s way of thinking here ever reflect our way of thinking? Do we ever look to something other than God to give us only what God can give?

To Rachel, a child was the source of her joy, it was the source of her identity, it was the protector of her life. So, is there ever anything in your life that you look to, instead of God, as the source of your joy, the source of your identity, or the protector of your life?

Perhaps your job? Perhaps your marriage? Perhaps it’s your children? Perhaps it’s your financial security? Perhaps your health?

Do you ever begin to think, “If only I had this, then I’d finally be okay!”

In doing so, we’re asking something other than God to be God. We’re elevating the creation above the creator. We’re worshipping the gift over the giver.

Do you ever look to something other than God to give you only what God can give? May we be careful to never develop the idea that anything other than God can sustain our lives. Only God can do what God can do!

Rachel says to Jacob, “Give me children, or I shall die!”

In response, Jacob grows frustrated. His anger was kindled against Rachel, and he said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?”

Although Jacob’s words here seem to have a little bit of bite to them, it seems like Jacob is learning. Jacob is beginning to recognize a truth that he hasn’t always acknowledged. He’s learning that God is the author of life. God is the one who fills the womb. Children are not simply a product of human effort; they are gifts from the LORD.

Now, despite Jacob’s proper theology, his actions were once again flawed.

The proper response would have probably went something like, “Baby Girl, I know your heart is breaking. I know this burden feels unbearable. But you and I both know that only God can give life. I remember hearing how my father prayed for my mother when she was barren, and the Lord heard his prayer and opened her womb. So let’s do what my father did. Let’s go to the Lord together. Let’s pour out our hearts before Him and ask Him to be gracious to us.”

Wouldn’t that have been a dope response? Wouldn’t that seem to be the most Godly? Yet, there’s no proof of Jacob praying for Rachel. Instead, he speaks truth with no tenderness. He redirects Rachel’s frustration toward God, but there’s no proof that he sought to lead her to God. There’s no prayer, no comfort, no invitation to seek the LORD together. Instead, he leaves her to figure out her next steps without God.

Men! May we not follow Jacob’s example here. May we lead our families to God, not away from him. May we pray for our wives, not scold our wives. May we be men who have a high view of God and may our high view of God be demonstrated in and through how we pray for (and with) our wives.

Church, good theology should always produce Godly compassion. A healthy view of God’s sovereignty ought to lead to us running to the sovereign God!

Now, Jacob’s response leaves Rachel feeling empty. In response to Jacob’s furious response, Rachel takes matters into her own hands. She says to Jacob, “Here is my servant Bilhah; go in to her, so that she may give birth on my behalf, that even I may have children through her.” So she gave him her servant Bilhah as a wife, and Jacob went in to her. And Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son.

Does this sound familiar?

Just as Sarah gave Hagar to Abraham, Rachel now gives Bilhah to Jacob.

Patience is not a virtue for Rachel. Rather than wait on God, Rachel seeks to take matters into her own hands.

This led to Rachel saying, “God has judged me, and has also heard my voice and given me a son.” Therefore she called his name Dan.

Dan sounds like the Hebrew word for “judged,” which is why she’s named him this. In other words, Rachel is saying that God has finally ruled in her favor.

Following this in verse 7, we see that Rachel’s servant Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. Then Rachel said, “With mighty wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister and have prevailed.” So she called his name Naphtali.”

Naphtali sounds like the Hebrew word for “wrestling,” which is why she named him this.

Notice Rachel doesn’t celebrate the gift; she celebrates the victory. She’s living in competition with her sister. Her focus isn’t on God’s blessing; it’s on beating Leah. Rachel isn’t simply seeking to find security in a child; she’s allowed envy to rule her heart as she’s fighting for the attention of her husband over her sister. A child has simply become a point on a scoreboard.

Parents, be careful to not use your child as a means to compete with your peers.

Following this in verse 9, Leah saw that she had ceased bearing children, so she took her servant Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as a wife. Then Leah’s servant Zilpah bore Jacob a son. And Leah said, “Good fortune has come!” so she called his name Gad.

Gad sounds like the Hebrew word for “good fortune,” which is why she named him this.

Then Leah’s servant Zilpah bore Jacob a second son. And Leah said, “Happy am I! For women have called me happy.” So she called his name Asher, which sounds like the Hebrew word for “happy.”

What another tragic moment we have here. Rachel is chasing victory over her sister, while Leah is chasing validation from her husband. Leah believes this child will provide her with the happiness she longs for.

This family is a mess! It’s full of competition and rivalry. It’s almost as if these women are racing to prove who is more loved, more blessed, and more valuable.

So, at this point in the story, if you’re keeping score, Leah is up 6-2 against Rachel. Rachel may have the heart of Jacob. But, Leah has the lead in babies born. But, then the scene shifts in verse 14. And it’s in verse 14 that things start to get weird[er] for us!

In verse 14, during the wheat harvest, Leah’s oldest son, Reuben, goes out into the fields and finds some mandrakes. He brings them home to his mother. Rachel sees this, which leads her to say to Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.”

Now, you might be asking (like I did), “What in the world is a mandrake?”

Well, a mandrake was a plant that many people in the ancient world believed to possess special powers related to fertility, love, and conception. In other words, people believed mandrakes could help barren women become pregnant.

Now, just to be clear, Scripture does not endorse this mentality. In fact, I think Genesis 30 is showing us the lack of power Mandrakes possess when it comes to conception. I think Genesis 30 is showing us the unfortunate reality that Rachel is looking everywhere but to God when it comes to her barrenness.

She’s hoping that creation can accomplish what only the creator can accomplish. Maybe if she can get her hands on these plants, she will finally be able to conceive a child of her own.

This leads to Leah saying, “Is it a small matter that you have taken away my husband? Would you take away my son’s mandrakes also?”

Leah’s words here reveal Leah’s heart. Rachel envies Leah because Leah has the kids and she doesn’t. And Leah envies Rachel because Rachel has her husband’s affection and she doesn’t. Rachel has taken away her husband.

Now, I think Leah’s words are a bit ironic here. The irony here, to me, is that Leah is willing to overlook the fact that she’s guilty of the very thing she’s accusing Rachel of here. Although Leah wasn’t the mastermind of deceiving Jacob into marrying her, she was certainly an accomplice. She played a vital role in deceiving Jacob into marrying her whenever Jacob thought he was marrying Rachel. So, Leah is overlooking the log in her eye as she’s addressing the log in Rachel’s eye.

Friends, we’re often guilty of the very sins we’re most disgusted by. Yet, we’re really good at spotting the speck in someone else’s eye while remaining blind to the log in our own eye. The sins that frustrate us most in others are often the very sins we’re guilty of ourselves.

This leads Rachel to say to Leah, “Then he may lie with you tonight in exchange for your son’s mandrakes.”

What a mess! Rachel and Leah are negotiating who gets to sleep with their husband at night. In exchange for her son’s mandrakes, Leah gets to sleep with Jacob when he comes home from work. So, when Jacob came home from the field that evening, Leah went out to meet him and said,

“You must come in to me, for I have hired you with my son’s mandrakes.”

So he laid with her that night.

This breaks my heart for Leah. Can you imagine having to say this to your husband? “I have hired you.” The woman who longs to be loved by her husband has to hire her husband. So, God listened to Leah, and she conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son. And Leah said, “God has given me my wages because I gave my servant to my husband.” So she called his name Issachar, which sounds like the Hebrew word for “wages” or “hire.” So, Leah believes God has rewarded her or repaid her for the bargain she made with Rachel.

And Leah conceived again and bore Jacob a sixth son. Then Leah said, “God has endowed me with a good endowment; now my husband will honor me, because I have borne him six sons.” So she called his name Zebulun, which sounds like the Hebrew word for honor.

So, even after six sons, Leah is still holding out for hope while desperately longing for the one thing she doesn’t have, which is Jacob’s love.

Afterward she bore a daughter and called her name Dinah. Remember this name because she will become important later in Genesis!

But, then the story shifts back to Rachel. God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb. She conceived and bore a son and said, “God has taken away my reproach.” And she called his name Joseph, saying, “May the LORD add to me another son!”

What a moment! After all the striving, after all the bargaining, after all the manipulation… God remembered Rachel! When the schemes wore out, after the mandrakes left her system, God opened her womb.

Friends, Genesis 30 reminds us that God can do what no one else can do, even when we look to anything and everything other than God to provide what only he can provide! The stories of Genesis hide none of the blemishes of God’s people. They are a broken and flawed people that God has chosen to bless despite their flaws. And, through this broken and flawed people, the Messiah has come. And he has lived the life we could not live, and he has died the death that we should have died. As we watch God continually pour out grace and mercy on this undeserving family, we’re reminded that our relationship with Him has always rested on grace, not works.

Genesis 29

Genesis 28

“[1] Then Isaac called Jacob and blessed him and directed him, “You must not take a wife from the Canaanite women. [2] Arise, go to Paddan-aram to the house of Bethuel your mother’s father, and take as your wife from there one of the daughters of Laban your mother’s brother. [3] God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, that you may become a company of peoples. [4] May he give the blessing of Abraham to you and to your offspring with you, that you may take possession of the land of your sojournings that God gave to Abraham!” [5] Thus Isaac sent Jacob away. And he went to Paddan-aram, to Laban, the son of Bethuel the Aramean, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob’s and Esau’s mother.”

So, after Jacob deceived Isaac and received the blessing that was intended for Esau, Isaac calls Jacob to himself. But instead of rebuking him… instead of disowning him… Isaac blesses him and gives him direction for what comes next— “Then Isaac called Jacob and blessed him and directed him.”

What a remarkable display of grace, right?

There is nothing in Jacob at this point that deserves kindness, yet kindness is what he receives! He is a deceiver. He is a manipulator. Yet, instead of scolding him, Isaac blesses him and sends him on his way.

Friends, isn’t that how God treats us? Like Jacob, we come before him with nothing to offer but our sin. And yet, he chooses to meet us with grace and blessing rather than condemnation and shame.

As Isaac sends Jacob away, he gives him specific instructions on where to go and who not to marry— “You must not take a wife from the Canaanite women. [2] Arise, go to Paddan-aram to the house of Bethuel your mother’s father, and take as your wife from there one of the daughters of Laban your mother’s brother.”

I want to pause here for just a quick moment.

Some, over the years, might be tempted to point to Isaac’s words here to Jacob and seek to make the argument that the Bible speaks against multiracial marriages. Unfortunately, some have used passages like this throughout history to justify segregation or oppose interracial marriage.

That is a misuse of Scripture.

The heart of this command is not to prohibit marriages between different ethnicities. The heart of this command is to guard God’s people from idolatry and preserve covenant faithfulness. The concern with the Canaanites was not Ethnic; it was spiritual.

Later in Deuteronomy 7:3-4, we see God tell his people, “You shall not intermarry with them, for they would turn away your sons from following me, to serve other gods.”

So, the modern-day application is not a warning against interracial marriage. Interracial marriages can be a beautiful expressions of God’s diverse creation and should be celebrated. Instead, the modern-day parallel should be a believer entering into marriage with an unbeliever.

In 2 Corinthians 6:14, Paul writes, “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers.” This verse doesn’t directly speak to marriage, but it obviously applies to marriage. The yoke imagery comes from two oxen being joined together under the same yoke. If they are pulling in the same direction, the work is easier. If they are pulling in opposite directions, their work becomes difficult and conflicted.

Marriage works the same way. When two people are pursuing Christ together, they are moving in the same direction. But when one is following Jesus and the other is not, the relationship carries a spiritual tension that God never intended for marriage. So, it’s not wise to intentionally yoke yourself with someone who isn’t pulling in the same direction.

Now, in 1 Corinthians 7, Paul also addresses the topic of a believer who is already married to nonbeliever. He does not tell them to seek divorce. Instead, he encourages them to remain faithful in the marriage and trust God, knowing that their witness may be used by the Lord to draw their spouse to Christ. But when Paul speaks about a believer who is free to marry, he gives a simple instruction: “She is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.” In other words, marry whoever you want, as long as they belong to Jesus!

Friends, I’ve seen this play out far too much over the years. A believer falls in love with a non-believer, and they’re convinced that they can change them. In the beginning, there is optimism. There’s hope. The unbeliever is willing to attend church. They ask a few questions. They seem open to spiritual things. But then marriage comes. The questions stop. The interest fades. Church becomes optional. And before long, the strain of this relationship pulls them away from Jesus.

Church, the implications here are significant! Marriage is hard enough with two believers! So, choose your spouse carefully. Yoke yourself to someone who is chasing after Jesus, too! Both the Old Testament and New Testament prohibit marriages that threaten covenant faithfulness.

Following this, Isaac speaks another blessing over Jacob, this time with a true intention to bless Jacob— “[3] God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, that you may become a company of peoples. [4] May he give the blessing of Abraham to you and to your offspring with you, that you may take possession of the land of your sojournings that God gave to Abraham!”

The blessing here is intentionally linking the blessing God has spoken over Abraham and Isaac to Jacob. Following this, Jacob is sent away by Isaac— “[5] Thus Isaac sent Jacob away. And he went to Paddan-aram, to Laban, the son of Bethuel the Aramean, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob’s and Esau’s mother.”

Isaac sent Jacob away empty handed. Nothing but a blessing to his name at this point in time.

Following this, Esau marries an Ishmaelite— “[6] Now Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Paddan-aram to take a wife from there, and that as he blessed him he directed him, “You must not take a wife from the Canaanite women,” [7] and that Jacob had obeyed his father and his mother and gone to Paddan-aram. [8] So when Esau saw that the Canaanite women did not please Isaac his father, [9] Esau went to Ishmael and took as his wife, besides the wives he had, Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, the sister of Nebaioth.”

So, Esau has realized his actions of marrying Canaanite wives were grievous to his father, which has led to him seeking to find another wife, one his father might approve of. I think there’s a bit of irony here where Jacob is naturally moving toward the covenant family while Esau is moving away from it. And I think his actions demonstrate to us to danger of recognizing a problem, seeking to make external adjustments, while still missing what God was truly after. True faith isn’t simply changing our behavior in order to gain favor; it is trust God’s grace and valuing what God values. God wants heart change, not behavior modification. God is ultimately a father to fear and obey, not a genie to use for our own gain.

After this, Jacob left Beersheba and went toward Haran. On the way, he stops at a “certain place and stayed there that night, because the sun had set.” I think the details here are intentionally vague. This isn’t a famous city or a sacred mountain; it’s simply “a certain place” that he stayed “because the sun had set.”

With nothing but the clothes on his back, he takes a stone, places it under his head, and lies down to sleep. And as he sleeps, God appears to the most unlikely man in the most unlikely place.

Verse 12 says, “[12] And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! [13] And behold, the LORD stood above it and said, “I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. [14] Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed. [15] Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

There’s so much richness packed into this one dream. But, before we unpack the words Jacob hears, I want to unpack what’s Jacob sees.

When many of us hear the word “ladder,” we picture the kind of ladder leaning against the side of a house. But that is probably not the image here. The picture is more likely a grand stairway stretching from earth to heaven. The word ladder here is intended to show us how heaven and earth are connected together through this ladder/stairway. Here on this stairway, the angels of God are ascending and descending; they are coming up and down, moving freely between God and man. This was intended to demonstrate to Jacob the reality that God wasn’t distant; he’s connected and involved.

As Jacob (the deceiver) was sent off alone with no riches… as he’s fleeing from his brother… as he’s laying in this random place with his head laid on this random rock… God shows up to teach him, show him, save him. God is revealing himself to Jacob for the first time in order to teach him deep and practical truths about himself! It’s as if God is saying, “Jacob, you’ve been relying on your own efforts of deception your whole life. It’s time you see that I am involved and working, even here. It’s time you begin to learn that you can trust me!”

Some argue that this could be the point of conversion for Jacob. I think I agree! At the very least, this is the first personal encounter with God that Jacob ever has! The scales are beginning to fall off his eyes here. God has revealed himself to Jacob, and Jacob is now beginning to see who God is!

Here in this dream, we find a ladder that reaches the top of heaven and God is standing above it.

Now, if you notice in your Bible, there is probably a footnote next to the phrase “above it” that says “or ‘beside him.’” The Hebrew phrase here is difficult to translate, which is why you have this footnote.

If it means above it, then that would signify God’s transcendence and sovereignty. He is in heaven above all things, sovereignly reigning and ruling over all things!

If it means beside him, then that would signify God’s immanence. The sovereign God has come down and is close to his people.

Both are applications of God are true of God.

And whichever is true, what we do not see being true is Jacob climbing up this ladder himself. There is no indication of Jacob ascending toward God. Instead, this dream is the great reversal of the Tower of Babel.

In Genesis 11, we see humanity trying to build a tower in order to get to God, and in Genesis 28 we see God coming to man. In Genesis 11, sinners failed to reach heaven. In Genesis 28, heaven came to a sinner. At Babel, mankind tried to ascend and was scattered. At Bethel, God descended and blesses.

God is the one who bridges the gap! God is the one who pursues! God is the one who establishes a connection! God is the one who comes down! Our relationship and union with God is not manufactured by man; it is established by the infinite grace and mercy of God. God is the one who built the stairs, not man. And as we will see in a moment, this is a foreshadow of Christ. Jesus is the staircase! In Christ, heaven came down!

So, in this dream, Jacob sees the infinite, sovereign, and personal God drawing near to him. And as he draws near, he speaks! And what’s remarkable is that God doesn’t speak a new message to Jacob! He doesn’t give Jacob a new promise! No, he gives Jacob the same promise he’s given to his father, Isaac, and he gives Jacob the same promise he's given to Isaac’s father, Abraham. In other words, God plan hasn’t changed. God’s promise hasn’t dwindled. The covenant is still binding. God’s faithfulness is to all generations! The God of Abraham is the God of Isaac; and the God of Isaac is now revealing himself to be the God of Jacob!

Notice these similarities!

First, God promises Jacob the land— “The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring.” Likewise, he told Isaac, “To you and to your offspring I will give all these lands (Gen 26:3).” Similarly, he said this to Abraham three different times (Gen 12:7, 13:15, 15:18-21).

Second, God promises to Jacob numerous descendants— “Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth.” Likewise he says to Isaac’s “I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven (Gen 26:4).” Similarly, he says to Abraham multiple times that his descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth, the stars of the sky, and the sand on the seashore (Gen 13:16, 15:5, 22:17).

Third, he promises worldwide blessing through his offspring— “In you and your offspring shall all these families of the earth be blessed.”

Likewise he says to Isaac, “In your offspring all these families of nations of the earth shall be blessed (Gen 26:4).” Similarly, he says in Genesis 12:3 to Abraham, “In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed (Gen 12:3).”

Fourth, we see that God promises his presence with him— “Behold, I am with you and will keep you where you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” Likewise, he said to Isaac, “I am the God of Abraham your father. Fear not, for I am with you (Gen. 26:24).” Similarly, he says to Abraham, “Am I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.”

Do not miss the beauty (and even scandal) of this promise! God doesn’t make this promise to Jacob after years of obedience from Jacob! God makes this promise to Jacob right on the cusp of Jacob’s deception! Theirs is nothing worthy in Jacob at this point in time. Yet, God vows to be with Jacob, just as he promised to be with Isaac, just as he promised to be with Abraham. As Jacob is asleep on a rock with nothing in his pockets, the God of heaven comes down and says, “I am with you!”

Oh the grace and mercy of God’s willingness to commune with sinners. The land is great, the descendants are cool, the blessing is awesome, but God’s presence is astounding! The greatest gift of the covenant has always been the presence of God!

Jacob then wakes us from his dream and says, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it!” In other words, “My understand of God was small! His ways are not my ways, and his thoughts are not my thoughts! He is not distant; he is close!”

And Jacob was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”

In our context, we often use the word “awesome” to mean “cool!” But, that’s not what Jacob is saying! Jacob isn’t saying, “This place is really cool!” He’s fearfully saying, “This place is overwhelmingly awe-inspiring! It’s dreadful! It’s fearsome!”

This random place is the house of God, the gate of heaven!

That’s what I love about the song, “Awesome God!” It captures the awe-inspiring nature of God!

There’s thunder in his footsteps, and lightning in his fists

(Our God is an awesome God!).

Our God is an awesome God.

He reigns from heaven above

with wisdom, power, and love.

Our God is an awesome God!

So early in the morning Jacob took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it. This is the first mentioning of anyone anointing anything with oil in Scripture! It’s an act of worship. It’s Jacob setting this place apart as a place to be remembered! He called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of the city was Luz at the first.

Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God, and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God’s house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.”

So, keep in mind, Jacob has nothing at this point in time. And he has just encountered God in a dream! God has come to him and promised him great things! And Jacob responds in worship! But, as he worships, his words seem a little worrisome. It seems like Jacob is getting it, but also doesn’t get it. It seems like he’s thinking transactionally— “If the LORD does X for me, I will do Y for him.”

“If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God, and this stone, which I havee set up for a pillar, shall be God’s house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.”

Jacob has had a genuine encounter with God here, and this moment signifies a real turning point in his life! He’s really in awe of the awesome God who appeared to him. Perhaps his faith is real, but still immature. Perhaps his theology of God is growing, but not formed. The deceiver has just met the living God, and now he’s beginning the lifelong process of being formed by God.

Church, please do not miss the comfort that should be found here.

As important as theology is, God didn’t wait for Jacob to develop a perfect theology before he blessed him. Instead, God met him in his weakness and received his small and imperfect faith. And over time God will shape him into the man he was intended to be!

The same is true of us.

In our brokenness, God has chose us, called us, and revealed himself to us. And we then respond in faith and worship. And over the years, God will patiently grow us through his faithfulness.

Young Christian, Please understand the importance of right doctrine. We want to know truth! But, please do not be crushed by the pressure of feeling like you have to say the right thing all the time. There is grace for flawed theology. And, over time, God will correct the flawed theology of his people!

God doesn’t simply save sinners; he faithfully grows and sanctifies them until he completes the work that he began in them!

Now, as we close, I want to draw our attention to a New Testament parallel between Jesus and this encounter.

In John 1, we see Jesus say to Nathanael, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit.”

This was an illusion back to Jacob here. Jacob was a deceiver, as we saw in last week’s passage, and his name will later change to Israel. But, Jesus is saying, “Behold, an Israelite indeed (a descendant of Jacob), in whom there is no deceit.” So, he saying that Nathanael was honest, unlike Jacob.

Why he said this? We’re unsure. But, we are sure that this response caught Nathanael’s attention. To which he responds, “How do you know me?” And Jesus responds, “before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”

Again this shook Nathanael, which led to him saying, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”

Now, we don’t know what Nathaniel was doing at this point of time. But, we do know that Jesus’ response caught Nathaniels attention. It could have been that he was resting or studying, it could have been that he was praying, or it could have been that he was meditating on Jacob’s ladder here.

I tend to lean toward the latter. I think Nathanael was under the fig tree wrestling over the encounter between Jacob and God here in Genesis 28. I think he was praying over this passage.

And then look at how Jesus responds, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

Do we see what Jesus is doing? He’s taking the imagery of Jacob’s dream and applying it to Himself. Jacob saw a stairway connecting heaven and earth. Jesus says, “I am that stairway.” Jacob saw angels ascending and descending between God and man. Jesus says, “That connection is now found in Me.” Jesus is saying that he is the place where heaven touches earth. In Genesis 28, God came down to a weary sinner sleeping in the wilderness with nothing in his pockets. In Jesus, God has come down to us in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the true and better ladder between heaven and earth. He is the one in whom sinners gain access to the Father. We do not climb our way to God. We do not build towers to heaven. We do not earn our way into His presence. God has come down to us. The heavens have opened, and the Son of God has stepped into our world. And through His life, death, and resurrection, He has made a way for sinful people to be reconciled to a holy God. Jacob looked up and saw a stairway, and we look to Christ and see its fulfillment. In Jesus, the distance between heaven and earth has been bridged forever.

Genesis 27

Genesis 27 is a chapter full of mess.

In this chapter, we will see Isaac go against God’s word. we will see Rebekah and Jacob deceive Isaac. We will see Esau, a man driven by his fleshly desires, consumed with hatred.

At every turn, this family seems marked by dysfunction. It’s a mess! Yet in the middle of all that dysfunction, we will see God remain faithful!

And that’s the big picture truth I want us to see today as we work through this passage… that God is faithful, even when we’re not! Our mess cannot thwart God’s good plan. Issac’s family is dysfunctional, but God is faithful. Isaac’s family may be a mess, but God’s plan isn’t!

And that should be immensely encouraging for us today!

You, like Isaac, may have made foolish choices. You, like Rebekah, may struggle to trust God and instead try to control every outcome. You, like Esau, may be quick to give in to the desires of the flesh. You, like Jacob, may have a history of deception and manipulation.

But there is hope for you! Your failures do not have to be the end of your story! The same God who remained faithful to this deeply flawed family is still faithful to his people today.

Now, before we dive into this messy passage, it is important to remember that just because the Bible describes something, it does not necessarily prescribe it. Descriptive is not the same thing as prescriptive. So, Genesis 27 is not an endorsement of lying, it’s not an endorsement of unbelief, and it’s not an endorsement of sin.

Although the Bible is honestly recording these events, it’s not celebrating these events! Instead, Genesis 27 intentionally shows us the mess of this family in order to direct our attention past this family. It shows us the failure of Isaac… the scheming of Rebekah… the deception of Jacob… and the bitterness of Esau in order to leave us longing for someone greater! The mess points us beyond Isaac, beyond Jacob, and beyond Esau to the greater offspring of Eve who was promised in the garden… Jesus!

Back in Genesis 25, we saw Esau’s willingness to give in to the desires of his flesh when he sold his birthright for a bowl of stew. Then, at the end of Genesis 26, we see that he married two Hittite women— “When Esau was forty years old, he took Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite to be his wife, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and they made life bitter for Isaac and Rebekah.”

At this point in redemptive history, there does not appear to be a specific command from God forbidding Abraham's descendants from marrying Hittite women. However, the text clearly presents these marriages in a negative light. Moses intentionally tells us that Esau's wives "made life bitter" for Isaac and Rebekah. Therefore, this is not portrayed as a wise or godly decision, but as one that brought grief and strain into the family. It’s something that leads to life being bitter for Isaac and Rebekah.

I think this detail is intended to reveal something about Esau's character. Esau is a skillful hunter and outdoorsman, but also as a man driven by immediate appetites and physical desires.He was willing to trade a priceless birthright for a temporary meal. And here, we see a similar pattern. Esau appears unconcerned with the covenant priorities of his family and more concerned with pursuing what he wants in the moment. As a result, his choices create heartache not only for himself, but for those around him.

Together, these details paint a picture of a man who consistently values immediate gratification over God's promises and purposes. He is someone who acts outside of God’s covenant priorities, which has caused a lot of strain on the rest of his family.

Now, one more thing before we begin, I think it’s important to understand the difference between a birthright and a blessing. In Genesis 25, we see Esau trade his birthright for a bowl of soup. In Genesis 27, we see Jacob steal Esau’s blessing. These two things are similar, yet different. They’re related, yet distinct. I want you to think about a birthright as a legal inheritance. It was the legal privilege of the firstborn son. It included special rights and responsibilities within the family.

For example, Deuteronomy 21:17 tells us that the firstborn received a double portion of the inheritance. But, in addition to this, the birthright also carried with it a position of leadership and authority within the family after the father’s death. A blessing, on the other hand, was a formal pronouncement spoken by the father over a child. It was a prayerful declaration concerning the son’s future, inheritance, and standing before God. In Genesis 27, Isaac’s blessing includes promises of prosperity, fruitfulness, authority over nations and family members, and God’s favor and protection. This was more than a father’s wishes for his son; it was understood to be a prophetic deflation that would come to pass.

Think about it like this: The birthright was the rights of the firstborn, and the blessing was the fathers declaration over the future of the heir. The birthright was the position; the blessing was the pronouncement that confirmed and bestowed its benefits. In other words, the birthright concerned what belonged to the firstborn son by right, while the blessing declared how those privileges and promises would unfold under God’s providence.

Let’s dive in.

“[1] When Isaac was old and his eyes were dim so that he could not see, he called Esau his older son and said to him, “My son”; and he answered, “Here I am.” [2] He said, “Behold, I am old; I do not know the day of my death. [3] Now then, take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me, [4] and prepare for me delicious food, such as I love, and bring it to me so that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die.”

Listen, at first glance, this may not seem like a big deal. It may seem like nothing more than a father preparing to pass on his blessing before his death. But, when we read these verses in light of what’s already happened back in chapter 25, then we realize these verses take on a different tone. Given the context of what’s going on here, it seems that Isaac is working in secret.

Back in Genesis 25, we see Isaac pray to the LORD regarding his barren wife. The LORD granted his prayer, and Rebekah conceived.

Then, the children struggled in her womb, which led to her praying, “Why is this happening to me?”

The LORD responded, “Two nations are in your womb, and the two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger.”

So, before these children had ever breathed their first breath, God had declared his purpose for them! Before either child had done anything good or bad, God had chosen the younger over the older! His plan was to choose the second born, not the first born. Jacob, not Esau, would be the heir of the covenant promise!

Now, Scripture doesn’t explicitly tell us that Isaac heard this revelation firsthand. We don’t know if Isaac was present at this moment in time. But, it seems difficult to imagine that Rebekah kept such a monumental promise to herself! It seems likely that, at some point after this, Rebekah would have told her husband what the LORD had told her. It seems difficult to imagine that Rebekah would have kept such a monumental promise to herself. Therefore, I think that it’s safe to assume Isaac was aware of what God said to his wife regarding their sons.

The most natural reading is that Isaac knew what God has said about Esau serving Jacob. And that’s what makes this moment troubling. Isaac is acting in direct contradiction to the promise God had spoken. And as he does so, he does so in secret. He doesn’t gather the family together. He doesn’t call Jacob and Esau to his bedside. Instead, he quietly summons Esau into the privacy of his tent.

Throughout the rest of Scripture, covenant blessings are typically done in public, not private. Jacob blessed his sons together before his death (Gen 49), Jacob blessed Ephriam and Manasseh in the presence of their father, Joseph blessed his family (Gen 48), and Moses blessed the tribes of Israel publicly before his death (Deut 33). Yet, Isaac is seeking to bless Esau— the son he loves— in the privacy of his tent. So, I think Isaac here has allowed the love of his firstborn son to cloud his judgment. Rather than aligning his desires with God’s revealed will, he’s trying to secretly bend God’s will to his will.

Church, is this not how sin often works? We rarely march boldly into sin. Instead, we often silently and privately drift into disobedience.

Sin loves secrecy. It prefers a closed door. If you find yourself preferring to be alone in something, there’s a chance that that something is wrong. So, Isaac is seeking to bless Esau in private, and, as he does so, he gives Esau a specific command to go hunt, kill, and prepare a meal for him so that he may bless him before he dies.

And as he has this conversation with Esau, Rebekah was close by and listening. She overhears Isaac’s instructions to Esau, and she immediately takes action.

She crafted a plan of her own.

When Esau went to the field to hunt, she went to Jacob and said, “I heard your father speak to your brother Esau, and he plans to bless him.” So, my son, obey my voice as I command you. Go to the flock and bring me two good young goats, so that I may prepare from them delicious food for your father, such as he loves. And you shall bring it to your father to eat, so that he may bless you before he dies.”

On the one hand, I think Rebekah is operating out of faith in God’s promise to bless Jacob over Esau. She’s acting in light of God’s promise. She remembers God’s word spoken long before his sons were ever born! And she’s seemingly clinging to those words! But, in an attempt to assist God’s plan, she’s crafted a plan to deceive. Instead of trusting God to fulfill his word, she tries to secure God’s promise through human manipulation.

Her actions were in direct contradiction to the pattern of faith demonstrated elsewhere in Scripture.

Think of Abraham, for example. When God told him to sacrifice Isaac, Abraham obeyed. He didn’t obey because he understood how God would keep His promise, but because he trusted that God would keep it. Even if Isaac died, Abraham believed God could still bring life out of death. Likewise, Rebekah is clinging to a promise regarding her son. Yet, instead of trusting God and obeying God through a life of honesty, she sought to help God’s promise through dishonesty.

She believed God’s promise, but not God’s process.

Church, good motives never warrant sinful actions. A right goal never excuses a wrong path. Your intentions matter, but so do your actions!

God does not need our manipulation and scheming in order to accomplish His will. He is never helped by our disobedience. Zeal without obedience is still rebellion. And sincerity without submission is still sin.

In response to Rebekah’s plan, Jacob says, “Behold, my brother Esau is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man. Perhaps my father will feel me, and I shall seem to be mocking him and bring a curse upon myself and not a blessing.”

Jacob, sir, I hate to break it to you, but you are seeking to mock him. In your attempt to deceive your father, you are mocking your father. But, notice what Jacob is more concerned with here. He’s not concerned about lying. He’s worried about getting caught in the lie. More than he’s worried about his actual character, he’s worried about his reputation. He’s more concerned about how he would seem to be perceived by his father than how he was actually treating his father.

Friends, Jacob’s words here can potentially expose a dangerous reality in our own hearts. Are there ever times in your own life where you’re more concerned with your reputation than your character? Are you ever willing to walk in darkness as long as no one sees? Are you ever willing to do wrong as long as that wrong isn’t revealed?

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. When our greatest concern is honoring God, we become less concerned with managing our appearance. When your greatest concern is honoring the LORD, you realize there’s no need to put on a mask! The one who fears God does not merely ask, "What will others think of me?" He asks, "What does God see in me?"

Rebekah responds to Isaac’s concern by saying, “Let your curse be on me, my son; only obey my voice, and go, bring them to me.”

“[14] So he went and took them and brought them to his mother, and his mother prepared delicious food, such as his father loved. [15] Then Rebekah took the best garments of Esau her older son, which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob her younger son. [16] And the skins of the young goats she put on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck. [17] And she put the delicious food and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.”

The plan has been set in place, now it’s time to execute.

“[18] So he went in to his father and said, “My father.” And he said, “Here I am. Who are you, my son?” [19] Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn. I have done as you told me; now sit up and eat of my game, that your soul may bless me.” [20] But Isaac said to his son, “How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?” He answered, “Because the LORD your God granted me success.”

Yikes at the audacity of such a statement “Because the LORD your God granted me success.”

Jacob isn’t simply seeking to deceive his father; He has invoked the name of God to support his blessing. He has wrapped his lie in spiritual language. Rather than submitting to God, he is using God for his own gain. Friends, not all statements claimed to be from God are actually from God. There are some who will claim to be from God whose sole intent is to deceive. There are some who will attach God’s name to their own desires, their own agendas, and their own words. This is why we have to have discernment. Please do not believe something simply because someone says, “God told me.” Every word spoken should be tested by the Word of God.

“[21] Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come near, that I may feel you, my son, to know whether you are really my son Esau or not.” [22] So Jacob went near to Isaac his father, who felt him and said, “The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” [23] And he did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau’s hands. So he blessed him. [24] He said, “Are you really my son Esau?” He answered, “I am.” [25] Then he said, “Bring it near to me, that I may eat of my son’s game and bless you.” So he brought it near to him, and he ate; and he brought him wine, and he drank.

[26] Then his father Isaac said to him, “Come near and kiss me, my son.” [27] So he came near and kissed him. And Isaac smelled the smell of his garments and blessed him and said,

    “See, the smell of my son

        is as the smell of a field that the LORD has blessed!

    [28] May God give you of the dew of heaven

        and of the fatness of the earth

        and plenty of grain and wine.

    [29] Let peoples serve you,

        and nations bow down to you.

    Be lord over your brothers,

        and may your mother’s sons bow down to you.

    Cursed be everyone who curses you,

        and blessed be everyone who blesses you!”

So, Jacob has appealed to all of Isaac’s senses. And he has successfully deceived him. Which leads to Isaac speaking a blessing of prosperity and power over Jacob.

Following this, we see Esau actually walk into the tent as soon as his imposter leaves. Isaac realizes he’s been duped, and he becomes furious! Esau pleads to Isaac that he would bless him, as well! But, there’s a finality to the words spoken. There’s no eraser that can erase the blessing spoken. Isaac will surely be blessed. As Isaac says in verse 35, “Your brother came deceitfully, and he has taken away your blessing.”

Now, Isaac does speak a word over Esau. But, it’s not a good one.

[39] Then Isaac his father answered and said to him:

    “Behold, away from the fatness of the earth shall your dwelling be,

        and away from the dew of heaven on high.

    [40] By your sword you shall live,

        and you shall serve your brother;

    but when you grow restless

        you shall break his yoke from your neck.”

This leads to Esau becoming furious. And, in his fury, he resolves to kill Jacob. Once his father dies, he will kill his brother. Rebekah catches wind about Esau’s plan to kill Jacob, so she calls Jacob back to herself so she can conceive a plan to save him. She tells him to flee to her brother Laban for a while until Esau’s fury turns away from him.

And that’s where we will leave the story today. But, before we close, let’s land the plane on the gospel.

First, I want you to be able to see and understand that Jacob received this blessing on the basis of grace, not works.

This is obvious, right? But, in no way, shape, or form did Jacob deserve the blessing spoken over him. He was the second born son, who was a manipulative deceiver. Yet, before he ever stepped foot on this planet, God had planned for him to be the blessed son of promise. This blessing rested on the shoulders of God’s gracious purpose, not Jacob’s worthiness. In Romans 9, Paul points to this instance and says, “Though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue… she was told, ‘The older will serve the younger.’”

So, the blessing given to Jacob was a blessing that rested on the shoulders of God’s gracious choosing.

Friends, like Jacob, we are the unworthy son. Jacob’s story is our story. We are the undeserving son. We are the scandalous sinner. We are the ones who have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and who have no claim upon his blessing!

And yet, in Christ, God has lavished upon us every spiritual blessing. In Christ, we have received a blessing that is completely and totally rooted in grace, not works (Eph 2:8-9). In Christ, we are forgiven and clean. In Christ, we are holy and blameless. In Christ, we are adopted sons. In Christ, we are justified saints. In Christ, we are a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a city on a hill. Because of Christ (and Christ alone), we have been given an eternal inheritance that will be ours one day!

Like Jacob, we have received a blessing that we shouldn’t have received. But, unlike Jacob, our blessing doesn’t involved deception; it involves truth! Jacob approached his father disguised as someone he was not. We come to God with no disguise at all! We are completely seen, and completely loved.

The bible tells us that, in Christ, we stand holy and blameless and above reproach before God. And we stand holy and blameless and above reproach before God because we are clothed in the righteousness of Christ. In the same way that Jacob stood in the identity of his brother before his earthly father… we stand before our Heavenly Father in the identity of our Elder brother, Jesus!

Isaiah 61:10 says,

    “[10] I will greatly rejoice in the LORD;

        my soul shall exult in my God,

    for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;

        he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,

    as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress,

        and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”

Likewise Galatians 3:27 says, “[27] For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”

So, in the same way that Jacob was blessed when he wore the clothes of Esau, we are blessed because we have been clothed in the garments of salvation. In putting on Christ, we have been covered in the robe of righteousness!

So, when God looks at us, he doesn’t see a wretched sinner; he sees his righteous son, Jesus! And this blessing that is spoken over us in Christ is irrevocable. It’s etched in stone. We are “sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory!”

So, in the same way that the blessing that was spoken over Jacob could not be undone, the blessing God spoke over us cannot be undone. A blessing given in grace will be kept by grace! We are safe and secure in Christ! Jesus is consistently called the firstborn in the Bible, and he’s not the firstborn because he was the first born. Before the foundation of the world, Jesus was there! Jesus is called the firstborn because he is the one who possesses all authority and inheritance rights. So, in the same way that Jacob received the blessing that “technically” belonged to Esau, we can receive an even greater blessing that technically belongs to Jesus.

Like Jacob, we have no natural claim to God’s inheritance…. But through union with the firstborn Son, Jesus, we are heirs according to promise! This blessing we receive is not because of our position, merit, or worthiness; it is because God has graciously granted to us what rightfully belongs to his Son.

Genesis 27 teaches us that God’s blessing has always come by grace… not by human privilege, social status, or natural right. In other words, your good works don’t save you. Your parents faith don’t save you. Your social status or skin color don’t save you. You are saved by grace through faith.

Genesis 26 pt.2

“[12] And Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold. The LORD blessed him, [13] and the man became rich, and gained more and more until he became very wealthy. [14] He had possessions of flocks and herds and many servants, so that the Philistines envied him. [15] (Now the Philistines had stopped and filled with earth all the wells that his father’s servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father.) [16] And Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us, for you are much mightier than we.”

So, Isaac was blessed by God. In the midst of a famine, Isaac reaped a bountiful harvest. When everyone else reaped a little, Isaac reaped a hundredfold. This reminds us that God can do what no one else can do. With God all things are possible. The laws of agriculture don’t control God. God controls agriculture. No rain? No problem. God blessed Isaac’s work in the midst of famine. This led to the Philistines envying him.

I want to press pause and zoom in on this word envy for a moment. That word envy in the Septuagint is the same word used in Galatians 5, which describes envy as a work of the flesh.

“[16] But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. [17] For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. [18] But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. [19] Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, [20] idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, [21] envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. [22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. [24] And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.[25] If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. [26] Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”

So, Paul is saying that Christians must walk by the Spirit, not by the flesh. The desires of the Spirit are against the desires of the flesh, and the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit. And then he says they’re clear for us to see; they’re evident! They should be clearly recognizable for us! One of the works of the flesh is envy.

Envy (phthonos) would be the act of desiring what other people have. It’s you being unhappy about someone else’s blessings instead of being thankful for our own. It’s you not being content with where the Lord has you. And it’s you not being content with what the Lord has given you. It’s ultimately you shaking your fist at God, saying, “I want what they have.”

The Philistines were looking at how God was blessing Isaac and they had begun to become envious of him. Envy is a dangerous thing. It’s a weed that chokes out all of life. It’s poison to the soul.

Church, I felt in my spirit this week a need to remind us that with God’s blessing comes the temptation to become envious. Jealousy often lurks behind the curtains of our hearts. Envy hides in the shadows of the bright light of God’s blessing. I hope and pray that we are a blessed church, a people who are blessed by God. But, please see and understand that the natural response of our flesh is to grow envious of how God’s blessed others.

Have you ever found that to be true in your own heart? I know I have.

I think back to when I was a young Christian in college. My best friend was the man. He was outgoing, funny, and an incredible communicator. The moment he walked into a room, everyone’s attention shifted toward him. People loved being around him. And honestly, I often felt like I lived in his shadow.

As I watched people flock to him and not to me, I found envy quietly creeping into my heart. I found myself developing the heart of the Philistines. There were seasons when it genuinely felt like there was a war raging within me between the flesh and the Spirit. But in those moments, the Holy Spirit graciously reminded me of the words of John the Baptist: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” The Lord began teaching me that my life was not about my glory, but about the glory of Jesus.

He taught me that I wasn’t called to be my friend, and my friend was not called to be me. How God blessed him was not how God had blessed me! God had uniquely gifted both of us for His own purposes and His own glory. God’s blessing on another man’s life doesn’t mean God’s blessing doesn’t rest on your life! God revealing a great plan for another man’s life doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a great plan for you!

In going back to verse 4, the intention of God blessing Isaac was for all the nations to be blessed through him! Yet, the Philistines were unable to see this… They were blinded by envy. And they responded to the blessing of God on Isaac’s life with opposition. In their envy, they stopped up and filled in his wells.

Now, ironically, these wells were likely major sources of water for the entire region. So, in trying to stop Isaac’s flourishing, they were ultimately harming themselves. In their bitterness toward God’s blessing on Isaac, they sabotaged a source of life that could have benefited everyone around them.

Church, sin clouds our judgment and leads us to do irrational things. Sin literally leads to death. Envy is a weed that chokes out all of life. It’s poison to the soul. Left unchecked, it will consume your joy and destroy you. It will lead to you filling in the very wells that could bring you life.

So, do not water the weed of envy in your heart! Do not feed that monster! Do not drink that poison! Crucify it! Nail it to the cross!

Now, I want you to also see and understand that the world will not always celebrate God’s blessing on your life. Rather than celebrate you, the world might actively seek to destroy you. Rather than rejoice with you, some may grow to resent you. Rather than encourage you, they may oppose you. The longer you walk with God and experience the blessings of God, the more the world will grow to hate you.

Jesus himself says in John 15:18-20, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you… if they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.” 2 Timothy 3:12 says, “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” 1 John 3:13 says, “Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you.” Jesus says in Matthew 5:10-12, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake for theirs in the kingdom of God…Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Then Jesus says in Matthew 10:22, “You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”

So, church, God in his word consistently warns us that envy will, at times, be present in the hearts of those around us. The world will, at times, hate us because of our allegiance to Jesus. Do not be surprised by this. God may bless you tremendously, and that blessing may lead to hardship. Don’t be surprised when it does.

Now, as a result of the Philistines opposition against Isaac, Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us, for you are much mightier than we.”

What a statement. You with God are greater than we. You with God are mightier than this nation. So leave.

“[17] So Isaac departed from there and encamped in the Valley of Gerar and settled there. [18] And Isaac dug again the wells of water that had been dug in the days of Abraham his father, which the Philistines had stopped after the death of Abraham. And he gave them the names that his father had given them. [19] But when Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and found there a well of spring water, [20] the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac’s herdsmen, saying, “The water is ours.” So he called the name of the well Esek, because they contended with him. [21] Then they dug another well, and they quarreled over that also, so he called its name Sitnah. [22] And he moved from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it. So he called its name Rehoboth, saying, “For now the LORD has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.”

So, even when he was sent out by Abimelech, he stayed as close to the land God had told him to stay— “So Isaac departed from there and encamped in the Valley of Gerar and settled there.”

Even in the face of opposition, Isaac sought to walk in obedience to God. This is a subtle reminder of the truth that opposition is never an excuse for disobedience. When hardship arises, we’re tempted to question whether or not obedience is really worth it. But, hardship never warrants disobedience.

Perhaps God calls you, through his Word, to a particular path of obedience. For a time, things go well, and you experience the blessing that comes from walking with him. Then, out of nowhere, opposition arises directly because of your obedience. The temptation in that moment is to think that obedience isn’t worth it. But, Isaac’s example reminds us that even when obedience brings difficultly, obedience is always worth it because God is always faithful and he is always worthy of our worship through obedience.

Notice that, instead of retaliating against the Philistines for what they had destroyed, Isaac quietly restored what had been lost. He’s seeking to live peaceable in a land that does not belong to him. While in the Valley of Gerar, he reopened the wells that the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham’s death. And as he reopened the wells, he gave them the same names his father had given them. But, even after he left Gerar in an attempt to live in peace, the Philistines still sought to live in contention with him.

Look at verse 19, “When Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and found there a well of spring water, the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac’s herdsmen, saying, “The water is ours.”

This led to Isaac calling the well, Esek, “because they contended with him.” Esek in Hebrew mean contention. So, this name served as a reminder of the reality that opposition comes even when we might be walking in God’s blessing. It’s a reminder that contention might come with blessing. Opposition might come from obedience.

But, I love Isaac’s response! In response, he has his people dig out another well. He doesn’t fight, he moves on and trusts the LORD. Yet, once again, the people of the land quarreled over this new well. So, he called it, Sitnah, which means enmity or hostility, which highlights the persistent opposition Isaac faced while in the valley of Gerar. So, while Isaac is seeking to live peaceable with his neighbors, his neighbors are seeking to continue in hostility. They are determined to oppose him!

This leads to Isaac moving to a new place and digging another well… a well that no one quarreled over. He named this well “Rehoboth,” (which means “broad places” or “room”), and he declared, “For now the LORD has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.”

Church, please do not the intentionality in Isaac’s words. Isaac doesn’t say, “I have acquired space.” He doesn’t say, “We have succeeded in securing land.” He doesn’t say, I have found space.” No, he says, “Now the LORD has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.”

So, who has made room for Isaac and his family? The LORD!

And what will he do now? Be obedient to the LORD in what he called him to do, which is “be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.”

Isaac didn’t seize the promised blessing through force; he received it through patient trust in God’s faithfulness to keep his promise. God made space when there was no space before. He opened what was closed and enlarged what was restricted. Isaac understood that God would be faithful to keep his promise. He understood that God would provide, and he didn’t have to obtain anything by force.

In a lot of ways, Isaac’s life foreshadows Jesus’ life and teachings. Jesus, himself, in the sermon on the mount tells us to turn the other cheek. He says, “If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”

Well, here we see Isaac embodying Jesus’ teaching, consistently turning the other cheek and seeking to live peaceably with all! Well after well was taken from him, yet he trusted the LORD and chose peace. Rather than retaliating against those who wronged him, Isaac repeatedly chose to avoid conflict. Isaac displayed a quiet strength through restraint and trust in God whenever he was wrong.

Like Isaac, we are to strive to “live peaceably with all.”

Isaac’s example also reminds us of the central reality of the christian faith. We have never been able to secure our future through human effort or force, but only through God’s provision. Everything we possess in Christ has come by the gracious provision of God. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” The kingdom of God is not inherited by those who grasp and strive for it, but by those who trust in the one who gives it freely, Jesus. As Jesus says, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”

Let’s keep reading.

“[23] From there he went up to Beersheba. [24] And the LORD appeared to him the same night and said, “I am the God of Abraham your father. Fear not, for I am with you and will bless you and multiply your offspring for my servant Abraham’s sake.” [25] So he built an altar there and called upon the name of the LORD and pitched his tent there. And there Isaac’s servants dug a well.”

What a moment this must have been for Isaac! God has commanded Isaac to stay, and he does. God promises to bless Isaac, and he does. But, then opposition comes. And Isaac remains faithful. And so does God! At the right time God acts on his behalf! And God revisits the promise he’s made to Abraham (and now Isaac). And as a response to this revisiting of his promise, Isaac worships!

Friends, do you notice how God consistently revisits the promise he’s already made to Abraham (and now to Isaac)? I want to remind you that he’s not doing this for his sake; he’s doing it for Isaac’s sake. We are forgetful people, and we need to be reminded of simple yet important truths.

Oh, what a grace it is to be reminded of truths we already know! Part of my job is to remind you of central promises, central truths, that God has made to us in Christ! Forget not the gospel, my friends!

As a response to God revisiting Isaac (and revisiting the promise he has given to Isaac and his father), Isaac makes an altar and worships him. Isaac worships, then pitches a tent, then digs a well. His life is God-centered.

This progression reminds us that worship is not disconnected from daily life (or even daily survival); instead, it’s what anchors it. The beauty of the Christian faith is that we get to take worship into work!

Let’s continue reading, “[26] When Abimelech went to him from Gerar with Ahuzzath his adviser and Phicol the commander of his army, [27] Isaac said to them, “Why have you come to me, seeing that you hate me and have sent me away from you?” [28] They said, “We see plainly that the LORD has been with you. So we said, let there be a sworn pact between us, between you and us, and let us make a covenant with you, [29] that you will do us no harm, just as we have not touched you and have done to you nothing but good and have sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed of the LORD.” [30] So he made them a feast, and they ate and drank. [31] In the morning they rose early and exchanged oaths. And Isaac sent them on their way, and they departed from him in peace. [32] That same day Isaac’s servants came and told him about the well that they had dug and said to him, “We have found water.” [33] He called it Shibah; therefore the name of the city is Beersheba to this day.”

Church, God can turn former conflict into unexpected peace. After all, we see this at the cross. Romans 5:10 tells us that while we were enemies, Christ died for us, reconciling us to God by the death of his Son.

So, perhaps you’re striving to live at peace with those around you, and conflict continues to resurface. Let this be of encouragement to you this morning! Do not overlook the impact a life of walking with God can have on those around you.

Lastly, do not miss what Isaac does when Abimelech comes to him. He doesn’t strike him. He doesn’t take revenge. He welcomes them into his home. He prepares a feast. And enters with them a covenant of peace.

Church, there is an offspring of Isaac who entered into this world born of a virgin…who was beaten and stricken…who was cast out of the city and nailed to a cross…and who rose again from the grave. And this offspring is the promised Messiah in whom all the nations will be blessed. And he invites us to the table today. He has prepared a feast for us. And he has established a covenant of peace with those who do not deserve it.

So, come to him all who are weary and heavy laden… and you will find rest!

Genesis 26:1-12

At the start of chapter 26, we see that a famine sets in the land, just like the one at the start of Abraham’s life of following after God— “Now there was a famine in the land, besides the former famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Gerar to Abimelech king of the Philistines.” At the end of Genesis 25, Isaac had settled at Beer-lahai-roi. But because of the famine, he journeyed to Gerar, the very region where his father Abraham had once lived for years. In fact, Gerar was the place where Abraham was dwelling when Isaac was born.

As you work through Genesis, you’ll begin to notice just how often famines appear. There was a famine during the time of Abraham, a famine now with Isaac, and a famine during the life of Joseph. So, God wants us to see and understand that nothing, and I mean nothing, falls outside of God’s control. God has always been in the business of using hardships like famine and loss to build the faith and trust of his people. Only God can use famine and drought to water the souls of his people.

Now, if you’re reading Genesis closely, the name Abimelech should catch your attention. Abimelech was the name of the king who ruled while Abraham was in Gerar. So, the obvious question has to be asked, “Is this the same Abimelech that was ruling while Abraham was king?” The answer here isn’t specifically answered in the text. But, I think we can speculate.

It’s likely that this moment occurred somewhere between 80-100 years after Abraham’s encounter with Abimlech in Gerar. We say that because: Abraham interacts with Abimlelech in Gerar before Isaac was born. Isaac was then born when Abraham was 100 in Genesis 21. Then, in Genesis 25, we see that Isaac was 60 years old when Jacob and Esau were born. And then at the end of Genesis 26, we see Jacob and Esau are grown enough to marry at age 40.

So, it seems likely that Isaac’s time in Gerar was decades after his father Abraham’s. This means that it’s most likely that an entire generation has passed since Abraham’s early encounter with Abimelech. …which means that this would be a different Abimelech.

Most scholars highlight how the name “Abimelech” means father-king (Abba-melech) or “my father is king.” Therefore, many would say that this was a royal title rather than a personal name, similar to the name Pharaoh in Egypt. So, it seems likely that the Abimlech Isaac will encounter in Gerar is the son of the Abimelech Abraham encountered in Gerar.

As we see in verses 2-5, the LORD appeared him him and said, “[2] And the LORD appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; dwell in the land of which I shall tell you. [3] Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you and will bless you, for to you and to your offspring I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath that I swore to Abraham your father. [4] I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, [5] because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.”

Egypt would have been a place of refuge, a place of plenty during a time of lack. So, the temptation to go to Egypt, like his father Abraham did, would have been strong. But, God gives Isaac a specific command not to go down to Egypt.

So, the first thing I found myself asking, “Why not go to Egypt?” There’s something in us that wants to know why. When a parent says, “Don’t go do ____,” our knee jerk response as a child was, “Why?” So, why not Egypt?

Well, it could be that God knew something we didn’t know. It could have been that there were temptations lurking in Egypt that we didn’t know or see. It could have been that it wasn’t time for God’s people to go there. Or, it could have been that God was ready to show to Isaac his faithfulness, the same faithfulness he had showed his father, Abraham.

This is what I believe God was doing. I believe he’s saying, “Don’t go to the land of ease and comfort like your dad did. Stay here in this land of empty, and I will be with you and bless you.”

I love what’s taking place here. Right next to the command to stay sits the promise of blessing. God doesn’t simply call Isaac to remain in Gerar; He promises him that his presence and favor will remain with him.

And the beauty here is found in the fact that God is giving to Isaac the same promise he gave to Abraham. The very promises once spoken over Abraham are now spoken directly to Isaac.

Like, let that sink in! All of Isaac’s life, he’s probably heard of these promises given to his father. He’s heard the stories. He’s heard of the covenant. He’s heard of the blessing. He’s heard of the faithfulness of God toward his father. Now he’s hearing these promises for himself!

This is the first encounter Isaac has had with God recorded in Genesis. We’ve seen him pray to God, and God answer his prayers. But, now we see God speaking directly to him, just like he did with Abraham!

What had once been an inherited testimony is now becoming a personal encounter!

As I sat pondering this reality, I found myself praying the same would be true for my own children and for the generation behind us here at Harbor. May they not only hear about the faithfulness of God through our stories, but may they encounter it for themselves. May they be given the opportunity to see and experience for themselves the faithfulness of God. May their faith grow and become their own. May their testimony evolve from, “I’ve seen what God has done for my dad/mom,” to “I’ve seen what God has done for me!”

This is a transitional moment for Isaac, a moment where the promise of God becomes his own. His father’s inheritance has become his own living hope.

Look what happens next— “So Isaac settled in Gerar.” Isaac did what God told him to do. He obeyed.

When God told Isaac to “sojourn in this land, and i will be with you and bless you,” Isaac did just that. When God said stay, he stayed. He put his packed bags down and began to dwell in the land God had told him to dwell.

This is a tremendous display of faith by Isaac. He knew that he was safest with God, therefore he did what God told him to do! He held onto God’s promises and followed him by staying.

Friends, faith without works is dead. Our life and our actions should demonstrate someone who trusts God. Isaac demonstrated his faith in God by obeying God. Belief and obedience should always go hand in hand.

Instead of going to Egypt, Isaac settled in Gerar, just as God had told him to do. And when he settles in Gerar, he has men who approach him asking about his wife, which strikes fear in his heart.

Look at verse 7, “[7] When the men of the place asked him about his wife, he said, “She is my sister,” for he feared to say, “My wife,” thinking, “lest the men of the place should kill me because of Rebekah,” because she was attractive in appearance.”

Does this sound familiar? It should.

This scene feels almost like a replay of Abraham’s story. It’s almost a verbatim encounter from when Abraham was in Egypt and Gerar.

Back in Genesis 12, right after God called Abraham to leave his homeland with the promise that he would become a great nation through whom all the families of the earth would be blessed, a famine struck the land. Abraham went down to Egypt, and there, out of fear, he told everyone that Sarah was his sister because he thought they might kill him on account of her beauty.

Then again in Genesis 20, Abraham sojourned in Gerar and said of Sarah, “She is my sister.” Abimelech took Sarah into his household to be his wife, but the LORD intervened, appearing to Abimelech in a dream and preserving Sarah before restoring her to Abraham.

And now Isaac is walking down the same worn path as his father before him. He’s doing the very thing his father did.

Like Abraham, he feared what man might do to him because of the beauty of his wife. And out of that fear, he reached for the same faulty refuge his father once did. The fear of man led him to find safety in the shadows of a lie, just like his dad.

I want to camp out here for a moment.

I’ve always been a little squirmy toward the concept of generational curses. It was a phrase that was never clearly defined for me, and it was a concept that seemed a little too mystical or vague to me.

But, I do want to highlight what I think is taking place here, which is the fact that there can be recurring sinful patterns in people’s lives that are passed from parents to children.

Sinful patterns can echo through generations. The saying, “The apple didn’t fall far from the tree,” has some truth to it! There are ways of thinking and acting that parents can model, and children can follow.

Now, to be clear, guilt is not automatically inherited. You will not be held responsible for the life your parents live. Every person stands responsible before God for his or her own sin.

But, the Bible does teach us that the consequences of sin and the patterns of sin can be passed down from one generation to the next.

And that’s exactly what we see here with Isaac. In Gerar, Isaac follows in his fathers footsteps. Under pressure, he walked the same road his father once walked.

And I guarantee you Abraham didn’t teach Isaac this practice. I guarantee you that Abraham didn’t sit Isaac down and say, “Here’s how you lie about your wife when you’re afraid.”

And yet, when pressure was applied, Isaac sinned as his father sinned. When fear tightened its grip of Isaac’s heart, he instinctively reached for the same sinful refuge as his father had done before.

So, I want you to see and understand that sin always leaves a wake behind it. It has ripple effects across generations.

You will likely be tempted to sin in ways your parents have sinned. And you will likely sin as you parents have sinned.

Can I press a little further here and say this: Be careful with your heart towards your parents, especially your parents sins who have become public.

I know I’m wading into dangerous waters here. So I want to be careful.

But, I just want to remind us that we are guilty sinners, too, just like our parents. We have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, just like our mom and dad.

Sometimes when we search our hearts, we begin to discover that we have the same sinful patterns in our hearts that our parents do.

But, with that being said, please do not let fear rule your life here. Do not hear this and lose heart because here’s the beauty of the gospel:

2 Corinthians 5:17 says that we have become a new creation in Christ. “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; the new has come.”

This means that, in Christ, those patterns can be broken. Sinful patterns don’t have to become permanent chains. Because Christ is in you, cycles can be broken. Sin can be put to death. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, you can put sin to death… and, by God’s grace, you can walk in holiness in ways that you never could before…

Isaac sinned as his father sinned. And we have sinned as our earthly father has sinned. But, we are now adopted sons and daughters of the most high God. So, now we can begin to walk in righteousness and holiness… as our Heavenly Father has walked.

Now, I do want to camp out of the issue at hard here for a moment. Isaac feared man, and because he feared man, he lied. Fear became the doorway through which sin entered.

The fear of man is a dangerous poison that can rot away Christian faithfulness. It’s like salt water on a non stainless steel screw. It quietly corrodes faithfulness and slowly pulls our hearts away from trusting God.

Proverbs 29:25 says, “The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe.”

If I’m honest, this is something my heart feels often. More often than I would like to admit, I find fear crouching at the door of my heart.

In our day and age, I think we disguise fear with the word anxiety. And obviously anxiety is real and it’s complex. But, I think that the more layers you pull back on anxiety, the more you will begin to find fear underneath it all. The fear of rejection, the fear of failure, the fear of losing control, the fear of disappointing people, the fear of being hurt, the fear of dying.

A few years ago when we started Harbor, I found myself being ruled by fear.

I desperately wanted Harbor to grow numerically. And that desire for numerical growth led me to fear those who threatened that growth.

Harbor is far from a perfect church, I will be the first to admit that. But, early on when the pandemic hit, there was a lot of transition that took place here at Harbor. We had families move simply to be closer to home, and we had families leave because Harbor just wasn’t what they were expecting. And I can remember many nights laying my head on the pillow feeling like we were moving backwards as a church, feeling like I was failing as a pastor.

During that season, there was one family in particular who was very vocal about their frustrations. They struggled with our vision, our leadership, our outreach. It felt like every phone call centered on another disappointment or another thing we were doing wrong. And eventually this family left, which really hurt. And others left with them, which hurt just as bad.

But, out of this season, I began to realize how I was allowing the fear of man to rule how I pastored. Instead of primarily asking, “What does the Lord think about this decision?” I found myself subconsciously asking, “What will this family think about this decision?” Without realizing it, I was stepping right into the snare Proverbs warns about. I was laying a snare for myself.

The fear of man makes a terrible god. It demands constant approval, and it never gives any rest. It drives us into unhealthy places, and it distorts how we love and serve others. It leads us to do awful things.

For me, practically speaking as a pastor, the fear of man leads me to isolation. It forces me to withdraw from people. When I’m afraid of being hurt by people, I pull away from people. And pulling away from people will lead to me experiencing the very thing I’m afraid of. My fear of not being a good pastor leads me to not being a good pastor, the very thing I’m afraid of. The fear of man forces me to not shepherd God’s flock well because it pushes me away from God’s flock. So, a verse I have to cling to often is Hebrews 13:6, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid; what can man do to me?”

At the end of the day, freedom from the fear of man is not found in becoming tougher or less emotional. Freedom from the fear of man is found in seeing God more clearly. The bigger God becomes in our eyes, the smaller man becomes. And when we truly believe that the Lord is our helper, we are finally free to obey him without being enslaved to the opinions or actions of others.

Following this, Abimelech saw Isaac laughing with Rebekah his wife. This isn’t just a “ha-ha, hee-hee” encounter. This is a flirtatious encounter between lovers. Abimelech approaches Isaac and says (v.9), “[9] So Abimelech called Isaac and said, “Behold, she is your wife. How then could you say, ‘She is my sister’?” Isaac said to him, “Because I thought, ‘Lest I die because of her.’” [10] Abimelech said, “What is this you have done to us? One of the people might easily have lain with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us.” [11] So Abimelech warned all the people, saying, “Whoever touches this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.”

So, like with his father, Abimelech addresses the lie at hand. It is ok to address sin! It is good to not allow lies to continue. But, what Abimelech does next is profound! Rather than punish Isaac for lying, he speaks a blessing of protection over Isaac and Rebekah.

And as you see in verse 12, the LORD blessed Issac. Isaac sowed in the land of famine and reaped in the same year a hundredfold.

In a normal year without a famine, a hundredfold harvest would have been viewed as extraordinary. For context, a tenfold return could be considered good. But, in a time where conditions were viewed as terrible for farming, Isaac had an abundant harvest. And Isaac’s harvest wasn’t a result of Isaac’s skill. It was a result of God’s blessing— “The LORD blessed him, and the man became rich and gained more and more until he became very wealthy.”

There are two final take aways I want us to pull from this:

First, I want us to remember God’s faithfulness.

If God says he will do something, he will do it. His faithfulness endures to every generation. God has promised Abraham he would do something… and he has now promised Isaac he was going to do that something… and, thus, he will do that something.

Second, I want us to see that man’s stupidity will not thwart God’s good plan. Isaac was dumb, and he lied, just like Abraham was dumb and lied… But, Isaac’s lie didn’t dismantle God’s good will. Isaac’s dumb decision didn’t throw off God’s good plan of redemption. Perhaps you feel like you can relate to Isaac. Perhaps you feel like the tension present in verses 6-7 are a synopsis of your life. One moment you’re walking in faith, the next moment you’re walking in fear. If that’s true of you, please know that you’re not alone. But, please see here that your stupidity doesn’t have to be the end of the story for you. God can still do great things in and through your lowest moments!

Genesis 25

Grateful for opportunity to preach

Goal with sermon today---preach God’s word

Share verses about God’s word

Luke 24:29 “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the

Scriptures the things concerning himself.” The Bible is all about Jesus.

○

2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for

correction, and for training in righteousness,

” The Bible is God-breathed.

○

Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword,

piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts

and intentions of the heart.

” The Bible is alive and very powerful.

○

Isaiah 40:8 “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.

” The

Bible outlasts everyone and everything. It is a firm foundation.

Pray

●

●

●

Genesis 3:15 Promise as our windshield as we drive through this text.

Another windshield, Genesis 15 covenant created by God.

And, of course, Jesus’ statement in Luke’s Gospel that the Bible is about Him. He is the fulfillment.

This is another part of the windshield.

Genesis 25:1-34

Abraham's Death and His Descendants

1 Abraham took another wife, whose name was Keturah. 2 She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian,

Ishbak, and Shuah. 3 Jokshan fathered Sheba and Dedan. The sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and

Leummim. 4 The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of

Keturah.

●

v. 1-4 One of the first things to notice is that Abraham takes another wife. Her name is Keturah. In 1

Chronicles 1:32, we find that the author mentions Keturah, describing her as Abraham’s “concubine”

. We

also see here in this chapter (verse 6) that Abraham had concubines. We know the name of one (Hagar). So

the other is Keturah (these two are all we know of). For reminder's sake, a concubine was a sort of

lower-status wife that was usually a slave. Why is it worth the time to mention this? Well, it is important for

us to note that Abraham (and many others in the Old Testament) were wrapped up in the cultural practices

of the day. The Holman Bible Dictionary sums up what we need to hear very well,

“Although the taking of

concubines was not explicitly prohibited, monogamous marriage was set forth as the biblical pattern (Gen.

2:24; Mark 10:6-9). In every case in Scripture where concubines were taken, bad results, such as family

disharmony or jealousy, followed in the wake.

” It is important for us to remember, as Bible readers and

studiers, that some things in the Bible are described and some things are prescribed. Not everything

described should be prescribed to our lives. The Bible does not promote and encourage the taking of

multiple wives (or concubines), but rather it promotes and encourages one man and one woman for life

(great example of this being the qualification for eldership in the church---

“husband of one wife” 1 Tim.

3:2. Elder behavior sets the tone for the church and serves as an example for church members to follow.

The implication is that the members will imitate “one man. one woman.

” marriages.)

Application for verses 1-4:1. AS CHRISTIANS, WE ARE CALLED TO STAND OUT, NOT BLEND IN. Salt and light stand out. You

know when food has salt in it and you know when it doesn

’t. You know when a light turns on and you know

when it goes out. This is what we are called to be as Christ followers.

“You are the salt of the earth, but if

salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be

thrown out and trampled under people's feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be

hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the

house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give

glory to your Father who is in heaven.

” Matthew 5:13-16 / It seems like Abraham had a cultural blind spot.

If we surveyed our lives, our hearts, would we find some blind spots too? Would we find some areas where

we have gone with the current of culture, leaving God’

s word in the dust? A great prayer to pray along with

the Psalmist is:

“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be

any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

” Psalm 139:23-24

a. OUR STANDARD IS GOD’S WORD, NOT CULTURE. Isaiah 40:8 “The grass withers, the

flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.

” The Bible outlasts everyone and

everything. It is a firm foundation, whereas culture shifts and changes based on the whims of

fallen humans like ourselves.

b. LOVE JESUS. CHANGE CULTURE. The more we love Jesus the more we will love the culture

around us. And the more we love the culture the more we will want the culture to love Jesus. Want

not to blend in? Want to leave a lasting impact for generations to come? Want to be a city on a

hill? Draw near to Jesus.

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

” (James 4:8)

5 Abraham gave all he had to Isaac. 6 But to the sons of his concubines Abraham gave gifts, and while he was

still living he sent them away from his son Isaac, eastward to the east country.

●

v. 5-6 Abraham gives all he has to Isaac. This is inheritance-type language. If that is the case, then this

seems to be an act of faith on the part of Abraham. Why is this? Because Isaac is the child God promised to

build into the great nation that would bless the nations (the families of the earth). / Abraham is still

generous to the rest of his family (he gives them gifts). This seems to be a little glimpse and perhaps

mini-fulfillment of Genesis 12:3, the nationS being blessed by THE nation. / Abraham sends the rest of his

non-Isaac family eastward (the same direction Adam and Eve are driven after their fall in the Garden),

away from Isaac, the son of the promise. Again, this may be an act of faith---a desire to do things God’s

way and in God’s order---the promised great nation will be realized through Isaac and then all others

can/will be blessed and partake in the promise in/through the great nation.

7 These are the days of the years of Abraham's life, 175 years. 8 Abraham breathed his last and died in a good

old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people. 9 Isaac and Ishmael his sons buried him in

the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, east of Mamre, 10 the field that

Abraham purchased from the Hittites. There Abraham was buried, with Sarah his wife. 11 After the death of

Abraham, God blessed Isaac his son. And Isaac settled at Beer-lahai-roi.

●

v. 7-10 Abraham dies at 175 years old and is “gathered to his people”

. First off, this appears to be a rather

clear pointer to life beyond the grave. You do not get “gathered to your people” if there is no afterlife. /

Secondly, chronologically, Abraham actually does get to see Isaac’s children. The math (not my favorite

thing to do) is that Abraham was 100 when Isaac was born (Gn. 21:5). Isaac was 60 when his twins (sneak

peak) arrived, meaning Abraham was 160 years old when they arrived. Abraham dies at 175, meaning he

saw the twins grow up for around 15 years. / Thirdly, and most importantly, Abraham did not get to see a

total fulfillment to what God had promised to him. He would become a great nation that would bless

nations. His family line would transform the world. And yet, here Abraham is…dead. Hebrews 11:8-16 is a

beautiful place to turn for further insight (let’s turn there).

“8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an

inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he went to live in theland of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the

same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and

builder is God. 11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the

age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as

good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the

innumerable grains of sand by the seashore. 13 These all died in faith, not having received the

things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that

they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they

are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out,

they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a

heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a

city.

” Hebrews 11:8-16

Abraham would die only owning the burial plot for Sarah. Abraham’s body (his feet) wouldn’t walk on

very much OWNED promised land, not yet at least. But there will be a day when his resurrected body,

rejoined to his soul, will. God’s mission for Abraham was done and so he was “gathered to his people”

. His

soul went on to be with God, which is why God refers to Himself as

“the God of Abraham, and the God of

Isaac, and the God of Jacob…not the God of the dead, but of the living.

” (Matt. 22:32) Abraham’s body,

laid dead in the land of promise, will one day come alive to walk, not just the land of promise, but the

whole renewed, fully-inherited earth. Brothers and sisters, it is the same with us. It is the same with us.

●

v. 11 God continues on with His plan. He is faithful to what He told Abraham He would do. He blessed

Isaac and his sons and their families, onward all the way to Jesus.

Application for verses 7-11:

2. HOPING TOWARD OUR TRUE HOME ENCOURGES PRESENT FAITHFULNESS. In life, or in

death, our true home is with the LORD. God’

s timing is not our timing. Keep hoping. His promises WILL be

kept. We quote Revelation 22:20-21 every week. We ought to really hope Jesus comes back during our

lifetime (and live that hope out daily). But it’

s possible that we, like Abraham, could leave our bodies before

the culmination of all things. And ya know what? That’

s okay, because to be absent from the body is to be at

home with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:8). In an Ask Pastor John podcast episode titled “10 Seconds After You Die

”

,

John Piper talks about the priorities of the believer in Christ (in this order---1) Jesus to come back, to stay

in our body and see everything restored, including us, 2) Depart (body dead) and be with the Lord now.

Absent from the body, home with God, 3) Stay in current condition, press on, be faithful to what He has

called us to.) Whatever happens and whenever it happens, our hope is the same and God’

s promises will

come to pass. We, like Abraham, can look forward in hope of the full arrival of all that God has promised.

And I think that this hope, the more we meditate on it daily, the more faithful and focused we will be in daily

life. Our guaranteed future home energizes our faithfulness in the present.

3. ALL OF LIFE IS ULTIMATELY ABOUT GOD, NOT US. Notice how the show goes on without

Abraham. The author of Genesis moves on with the narration after the death of, yes, even

‘Father

Abraham

’

. Remember that the Bible, and all of life, is about Jesus. We tend to think others are always

evaluating us and thinking about us. This is partly true, but mostly untrue. People are not always thinking

about you, why? Because they are thinking about themselves. Part of our fallenness is that we are bent

inward. It is important for us to remember that, as Christians, our lives have been made new. We are now a

Christ-centered, others-focused people. Our lives and our work matters but only insomuch that we do it for

the Lord. C.T. Studd refocuses us on what/Who ultimately matters,

“Only one life,

‘twill soon be past, only

what’

s done for Christ will last.

”

12 These are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's servant, bore to

Abraham. 13 These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, named in the order of their birth: Nebaioth, the

firstborn of Ishmael; and Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 15 Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish,and Kedemah. 16 These are the sons of Ishmael and these are their names, by their villages and by their

encampments, twelve princes according to their tribes. 17 (These are the years of the life of Ishmael: 137 years.

He breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people.) 18 They settled from Havilah to Shur, which is

opposite Egypt in the direction of Assyria. He settled[a] over against all his kinsmen.

●

v. 12-18 Here we see the family tree of Ishmael, who dies at 137 years and is also “gathered to his people”

.

What is the purpose of this family tree of Ishmael being included? I believe one reason is to highlight, yet

again, the profound, but simple, truth, that God keeps His word. He told Hagar in Genesis 21:18-20,

“Up!

Lift up the boy, and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make him into a great nation.

” 19 Then God

opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy

a drink. 20 And God was with the boy, and he grew up.

” God kept His word to Hagar. Ishmael was taken

care of by the LORD.

The Birth of Esau and Jacob

19 These are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham fathered Isaac, 20 and Isaac was forty years old

when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean,

to be his wife.

●

v. 19-20 The author of Genesis now begins going into the family tree of Isaac (something that, really, the

entire rest of the Bible is about---the lineage of Jesus). Isaac is 40 years old when he marries Rebekah.

Supposedly, according to an entry in the Moody Bible Commentary, 40 years old would have been rather

late in life in comparison with others (even with the longer lifespans) for beginning your marriage. So,

there was a decent season of waiting for Isaac before he found his bride, before God’s promise moved

forward. This sounds familiar. Think of how long Abraham and Sarah waited for Isaac’s arrival.

Application for verses 19-20:

4. WAITING IS OFTEN PART OF GOD’S PLAN FOR HIS PEOPLE. WE CAN TRUST HIM. Have you

had to wait to see one of God’

s promises come to pass? Reality is, we have all had to wait (and all of us are

waiting right now…waiting for Jesus to return ultimately). Here are several encouraging verses, as we

wait:

“Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!” Ps. 27:14

“Wait for the LORD and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on

when the wicked are cut off.

” Ps. 37:34

“For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.

” Ps. 62:5

“I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;

” Ps. 130:5

Issac, in moments of doubt, could look back on what God had spoken and on what He had already done.

The same is true for us.

21(a) And Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren.

●

v. 21(a) This sounds familiar too doesn’t it? Genesis 11:30,

“Now Sarai was barren; she had no child.

” We

know how this goes don’t we? Abraham and Sarah doubt God’s way (they doubt His promise) and decide

to try to make God’s promise happen for Him (enter Hagar onto the scene). Abraham and Sarah, after a

serious lapse, end up seeing God deliver on His promise as Sarah gives birth to baby Issac (no doubt a

humbling experience after not trusting God). There is some speculation here…but I wonder if young Isaac

learned from his mom and dad what TO do and what NOT to do. Had Abraham and Sarah instructed young

Isaac and taught him what to do when at a crossroads? Remember, at this point, Issac bears the mark on his

body (circumcision) that communicates GOD. WILL. DO. IT. It seems that Isaac learned from his parents’

mistake. Instead of doubting God and sinfully trying to go around Him, He goes TO God instead. He brings

the concerns to God. God made the promise. He’s been faithful. He’ll make a way. This seems to be an

early example of discipleship and successful parenting.Application for verse 21(a):

5. OUR FAULTS CAN BE GREAT LESSONS FOR THOSE UNDER OUR CARE. There seems to be a

good word for parents (and for anyone caring for anyone) here. Our parental hearts (or discipler hearts)

should desire the absolute best for our kids or those under our care. We should show them our faults and

God’

s faithfulness to us despite our faults, in hope that our faults will not be their faults. As we work out

our salvation with fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12) we, though secure in Jesus and destined for heaven, will

mess up, make mistakes, and stumble as we journey to Zion. We do not need to be afraid of our kids, our

friends, our families, our coworkers, our neighbors, hearing of our weaknesses. If the Christian life is all

about repenting and believing the Good News of Jesus, it is a good thing when those under our care see our

repentance and belief in the Good News of Jesus. This, of course, requires a sort of humble, trusting,

death-to-self that only our Father can give---

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming

down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

” James 1:17

a. I want to share some beautiful lyrics from a guy named Benjamin William Hastings. The song is

called “A Father

’

s Blessing

”

:

Listen up, kid, I love you to bits

And I wish life would learn to be slow

But there'll soon come a day, and God, I hope I'm well-aged

When I tell you it's my turn to go

And death's cruel, I'll admit, but mourn for me quick

And look after those kids of your own

And just make different mistakes than your ma and I made

And make our ceiling look like your floor

[Chorus]

So may the road rise up to meet you

May we be intentional with our children, teaching them to trust the LORD. The things we have faced in the

past and are facing now will be the things our children face tomorrow. Let’

s be good guides for them.

21(b) And the Lord granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived.

●

v. 21(b) This is beautiful. God invites His people to participate in the unfolding of His plan. God promised

the family of Abraham that they would become a great nation. This great nation is brought about (yes, by

the totally in-control, sovereign LORD) but also simultaneously through the prayers of His people. What

would have happened if Isaac would have never prayed to the LORD? That is an impossible question to

answer. God’s plan was for the barrenness, for the prayer, and for the answer to the prayer---Rebekah’s

pregnancy. This is a good time to say with Paul,

“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of

God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!” Romans 11:33 Also, assuming

that Isaac began praying for Rebekah around age 40 (when they married), he did not see an answer until 20

years later!

Application for verses 21(b):

6. WE GET TO WORK FOR GOD AND WITH GOD. God has ordained that His plan unfolds through the

good works of His people. This is wild! Will the nations be discipled? Yes! Will everyone who is going to

believe the Good News hear it and believe? Yes! But here

’

s the deal…God calls us to be the means through

which this occurs.

“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” (Rom. 10:15)

Practically speaking, your neighbor is not a Christian---you share the Good News of Jesus with them---they

believe/give their hearts to the LORD---was it always God’

s plan for them to come to know Him? Yes! He

chose them before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4) Even still, you were one of the instruments used to

get them there. AMAZING! We get to participate in God’

s kingdom-building work! For every single one of

His people, He has good works that He has prepared for us to walk in (Eph. 2:10) What if you beginpraying (or keep praying) for that coworker, student, friend, enemy, neighbor, family member? What might

happen? Brothers and sisters, this is what we have been saved to do. We have been saved to participate

with God in the building of His kingdom.

7. ENDURE IN PRAYER. Pressing on in prayer is hard when we see no answers. We need to continue

seeking the LORD in prayer, knowing the Judge of all the earth will do what is right (Gn. 18:25), according

to His perfect will. Our job is to keep seeking Him, trusting that He is always at work, even if we cannot

clearly see just yet. When we pray sometimes the answer occurs almost immediately. Other times God

begins making it clear to us that our intentions behind the prayer are impure and He sanctifies us, altering

the heart posture of our prayers. Still other times, He calls us to wait, and wait, and wait, which teaches us

to trust Him.

22 The children struggled together within her, and she said,

“If it is thus, why is this happening to me?”[b] So

she went to inquire of the Lord.

●

v. 22 The presence of struggle here is a reminder of the Genesis 3 fall and consequence of the

multiplication of pain in childbearing (Gn. 3:16). We also see Rebekah asking a question we have likely all

asked at times,

“Why is this happening to me?” Rebekah makes the right move here, though. She brings

her concerns/fears/questions to the LORD. May we do the same.

Application for verse 22:

8. GOD CAN HANDLE OUR QUESTIONS, DOUBTS, CONCERNS, AND FEARS. Jesus teaches us to

call God our Father. We are His children. In Jesus, we have access to Him. When questions, doubts,

concerns, and fears arrive this week, may we escort them one by one to the LORD.

“Humble yourselves,

therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your

anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

” (1 Peter 5:6-7)

23 And the Lord said to her,

“Two nations are in your womb,

and two peoples from within you[c] shall be divided;

the one shall be stronger than the other,

the older shall serve the younger.

”

24 When her days to give birth were completed, behold, there were twins in her womb. 25 The first came out red,

all his body like a hairy cloak, so they called his name Esau. 26 Afterward his brother came out with his hand

holding Esau's heel, so his name was called Jacob.[d] Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.

27 When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling

in tents. 28 Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

●

v. 23-28 The LORD discloses His plan to Rebekah. God tells her that two nations are in her womb and that

these nations will be divided---that one will be stronger than the other---and also that the older child will

serve the younger (a total reverse of the norm). There is SO much here. Hearing of the division produces

sorrow in our heart. The division in the womb hits close to home---be it division in our families, divisions

at work, divisions in our nation---division is a consequence of the fall away from God that first began in the

Garden. This division is tragic. Shalom---a word meaning peace, wholeness---peace with God and

others---is broken because of our sin nature and cut-offness from God. But remember, in Jesus, the dividing

walls of hostility fall down (Eph. 2:14). We will see later in Genesis a sort of partial reconciliation between

Esau and Jacob. Yes, these nations will be divided but an encouraging reminder is that these (and all)

nations who trust in Jesus, surrendering to Him, will be brought back to shalom with God and one another.

There will be no more division on the renewed earth.●

v. 23-28 Another thing to take note of here…God’s attributes are put on display in that we see His

omnipotence (all-powerfulness), His omniscience (all-knowingness), and His omnipresent

(ever-presentness). He is completely sovereign over all things. He tells Rebekah the future, which

highlights His control over the future. How can He do this? Because He is God. He is the One who is high

and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, the one whose name is Holy. (Is.57:15) Will the babies in the womb

grow up, make decisions, love God, reject God? Yes. Is God completely in control of it all? Yes. Both are

equally true. God is sovereign. Man is responsible.

○

J.I Packer, on this topic of God’s Sovereignty/Man’s Responsibility, says,

“We shall not oppose

them to each other. Nor shall we qualify, or modify, or water down, either of them in terms of the

other, for this is not what the Bible does either. What the Bible does is to assert both truths side by

side in the strongest most unambiguous terms as two ultimate facts; this, therefore, is the position

we must take in our thinking. C.H. Spurgeon was once asked if he could reconcile these two truths

to each other.

‘I wouldn

’t try,

’ he replied;

‘I never reconcile friends

’

. Friends? – yes, friends. This

is the point that we have to grasp. In the Bible, divine sovereignty and human responsibility are

not enemies. They are not uneasy neighbours; they are not in an endless cold war with each other.

They are friends, and they work together.

”

○

A great place for further study on this topic is the book of Romans, specifically Romans 9.

●

v. 23-28 Another important point is that Esau came out of the womb first, so he was the firstborn. This will

come into play at the close of the chapter here in a few minutes.

Application for verse 23-28:

9. IN JESUS, DIVIDING WALLS FALL. WE ARE PEACEMAKERS. Just thinking on the topic of division

and how there will be none of it in Heaven and on the renewed earth…I want to encourage us to pursue

peace with one another. In Jesus, we are one. May the division-ridden world look in on Harbor Community

Church, see a peace that surpasses understanding, and ask how they can know that sort of peace. And then

may we take them by the hand and escort them to the Prince of Peace, Jesus.

10. GOD IS GOD, WE ARE NOT. MAY HIS GREATNESS CAUSE OUR KNEES TO BEND. When we

encounter a tough to understand, mind-bending truth about God as we read our Bibles, our natural instinct

is to apply our tainted, young, human logic and try to figure it out and declare what God can and cannot

do. But who are we to do this? When we catch glimpses of His glory in the Bible and in daily life, our

instinct needs to be worship, leaning the full weight of our trust into the arms of our loving God, our Savior,

who says in Isaiah 55:8-9,

“

...my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares

the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my

thoughts than your thoughts.

”

Esau Sells His Birthright

29 Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted. 30 And Esau said to

Jacob,

“Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!” (Therefore his name was called Edom.[e]) 31

Jacob said,

“Sell me your birthright now.

” 32 Esau said,

“I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?”

33 Jacob said,

“Swear to me now.

” So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau

bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

●

v. 29-30 The scene is set with Jacob cooking stew and Esau coming in from an undisclosed amount of time

in the field. He comes in from the field “exhausted”

. The word “exhausted” is

ʿāyēp ̄ (aw-yafe'). It is used in

the Bible to describe weariness, faintness, and exhaustion. Three times it is used to refer to thirst. So Esau

is in a weakened state. We’ve all been there haven’t we? A weakened state. You know as well as I do…we

do not think very clearly in a weakened state. Esau was the firstborn and therefore the possessor of the

birthright. What all is involved in birthright-possessing? Well, the birthright fell to the firstborn son and

involved receiving double of what the father had to offer inheritance-wise. It also carried with it a great dealof responsibility and authority, as the firstborn assumed the role of head of the family. One Bible Dictionary

notes that “he (firstborn)…generally received the blessing, which placed him in close and favored

covenant-relationship with Yahweh.

” (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia). So land, possessions,

headship, authority, responsibility, and special covenant-relationship with the LORD on the one hand. And

stew on the other. The difference is laughable, is it not? Birthright, stew…birthright, stew…birthright,

stew…

“Give me the stew”

, Esau says. But remember, he was weak. He was in a sort of compromised

state. He was exhausted. He felt, in the moment, he was about to die. And so the trade was made. Jacob has

Esau sign with a swear that the birthright would be his (Jacob’s). Hebrews 12:15-17 certainly comments on

Esau’s actions in a negative way,

“15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no

“

root of bitterness

”

springs up

and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; 16 that no one is sexually immoral or unholy

like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. 17 For you know that afterward, when he

desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought

it with tears.

” Hebrews 12:15-17

Commenting on Esau’s indifference toward his firstborn status, the ESV Study Bible states:

“He (Esau)

does not grasp the significance of all that God has promised to fulfill through the unique line descended

from Abraham, of which he is the natural heir.

” What did Esau miss out on? What did he trade for

temporary satisfaction? The opportunity to be in the lineage of the Messiah, Jesus, the Savior of the world.

The stew, in probably 5-10 minutes, would be no more…whereas participation in the arrival of Jesus would

have come with eternal joys. This is a tragic trade.

Application for verses 29-34:

11. IN OUR EXHAUSTION, MAY WE RUN TO JESUS, NOT OUR OWN IDEAS. Esau

’

s exhaustion is not

unlike the exhaustion, the fatigue, the faintness we feel at times throughout the week. In the presence of

bright lights, stained glass, fellow believers, and open Bibles we laugh at Esau

’

s trade.

“Stew?”

we think to

ourselves…

”Really?” But in the weak times…the times when our guard is down and our minds are not as

sober, compromise becomes a real threat doesn

’t it? Laziness, lust, pride, greed, bitterness, hate…they all

come calling in moments of physical and spiritual exhaustion. Esau made a tragic trade, but we do not

have to. Press on, brothers and sisters. No burst of anger, neglect of responsibility, lustful pleasure, prideful

disposition is EVER worth it. In moments of weakness, we ought to fix our eyes on Jesus, submit ourselves

to God, resisting the devil, knowing that he will flee from us. We ought to draw near to God, knowing he

will draw near to us. May our hands be clean and hearts pure. May we not be double-minded. (James

4:7-8)

In conclusion…GOSPEL

Jesus, the Messiah/Savior from the line of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, is called “the image of the invisible God, the

firstborn of all creation.

”(Col. 1:15) Being fully God, of course, there was never a time when Jesus, the eternal Son

of God, was not in existence. HE IS GOD. He is called the firstborn to communicate that He has supremacy over all

creation…the Father has given all things to the Son (John 3:35). The world and everything in it are His (Ps. 24:1)

And guess what the Bible says about us, church? “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are

children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him

in order that we may also be glorified with him.

” (Rom. 8:16-17) Church, we have

“

an inheritance that is

imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven

” for us. (1 Peter 1:4) Let me remind you, if you have trusted

in Jesus, every single one of your past, present, and future sins against God have been dealt with in FULL. The

firstborn of all creation took our punishment on that cross, where He uttered the words “It is finished”

. What was

finished? Everything necessary for you and I to be made right with our Father in heaven. When we trusted in Him,

we were born again and left the “in Adam” status behind, receiving a forever, a FOREVER “in Christ” status. When

Jesus rose from the dead, you and I rose too. We are forever joined to Him. He represents us before the Father and

on judgment day, we get to hear “Well done!” because we are “in Him”

. Church, in Him we have a foreverinheritance. We are co-heirs with Jesus. We WILL live on the renewed, sin-free earth as coheirs with the LORD.

Maybe you are discouraged or even frightened this morning, fearful that you will trade away or lose all that you

have in Christ…making an Esau-like trade. Maybe you have made some mistakes this past week…or maybe even

fallen into some repetitive sins. Brothers and sisters, look to Jesus. He is our hope and guarantee of Heaven, not

ourselves. As one well-known pastor once said,

“If you could lose your salvation, you would.

” But we didn’t save

ourselves and so we cannot unsave ourselves. Our being attached to Jesus by faith ensures our arrival Home. And, in

Christ, we will be Home one day, count on it.

If you are here today and feel far from God…you know the bad things you’ve done, the bad things that have been

done to you…you feel the weight of your sin and the darkness of this world covers you…I encourage you to come

speak to someone around you about Jesus. He is the Answer. The curse on our world is reversed in Him. And He can

make You new, new forever.

Pray

Genesis 24

Two weeks age, we looked at Genesis 22. During that time, we didn’t spend time unpacking Genesis 22:20–24. So before we move into chapter 24, I want to briefly circle back and summarize what’s happening in those verses.

In looking at these verses, we will begin to see what’s taking place behind the scenes of the story that’s been highlighted for the past 10+ chapters.

Immediately after God spares Isaac’s life, He reaffirms the blessing He has already spoken over Abraham—“By myself I have sworn, declares the LORD… I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore… and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”

Once again, God is promising to make Abraham into a great nation through whom all the nations of the earth will be blessed. Then, right after this reaffirmation, the narrative shifts. As the scene shifts, we’re given the genealogy of Abraham’s brother, Nahor. In this genealogy, we read that Milcah bore children to Nahor, and among that line comes Bethuel, the father of Rebekah.

At first glance, this might feel like a random insertion in the story of Abraham, Sarah, and Isaac. But it’s not. What God is doing here, through the pen of Moses, is quietly showing His faithfulness behind the scenes. While He has been building Abraham’s family line, He has also been building Nahor’s. And it is through Nahor’s line that Isaac’s future wife, Rebekah, will come.

So these closing verses of chapter 22 act as a bridge. They’re connecting what has just happened with what is about to happen. This small section is a subtle shift in the story that gives us a glimpse behind the curtain. It teaches us that God is sovereignly preparing the next link in the chain that will ultimately lead to the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ. Right on the cusp of a moment where God’s faithfulness might be called into question, we see his loving faithfulness of full display. And in Genesis 24, we will see these two family lines collide. Isaac and Rebekah will become husband and wife.

In Genesis 24, God will continue to be faithful in carrying out his promises given to Abraham and Isaac. But, what I love about this story is how God carries out this promise. God carries out this promise through the obedience of an old servant in whom we don’t even know his name. In a book where names are important, we don’t have this man’s name. It was an old servant of Abraham’s that God used to displayed his covenantal love to Abraham, which led to the world being blessed through Abraham.

So, the main truth I want us to be reminded of today is this: God can do extraordinary things through ordinary people doing ordinary things. God’s grand story of redemption has been consistently carried out by ordinary people faithfully walking in obedience to Him in ordinary life. Which I hope encourages us to serve God where he has us. In a world that wants to be bright and vibrant, I want us to know that beige is an ok color to be. God uses those in the shadows just as much as he uses those in the limelight. Like a Mozart recital, each of us are a single key, helping produce God’s beautiful song of redemption.

So, as we dive into this passage, we see that Abraham is getting up in years (if he wasn’t already)— “Now Abraham was old, well advanced in years. And the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.”

Sarah has recently passed away, he has just recently purchased some land in order to bury her in the land God had promised. Yet, despite the pain of the death of his wife, God has been so, so good to Abraham. So, once again, we’re reminded of God’s faithfulness to Abraham.

But, once again, we’re also introduced to a tension in this story. As we will realize in just a moment, Issac is a bachelor at the age of 40 (Gen 25:20). Therefore, as a reader, we’re (once again) left beginning to question and wonder if God’s promise to Abraham will ring true or not.

How can Abraham have many descendants if his one descendent is single and doesn’t have any children? Will God’s promise ring true? Or will it fall flat and end with Isaac?

Well, at the start of Genesis 24, Abraham approaches one of his servants. And in verses 1-2, we see that this servant was (1) old and (2) in charge of everything.

So, this was a seasoned gentleman that Abraham trusted dearly.

And can we pause here for a moment?

Sometimes we look at age as a prerequisite for effectiveness in God’s kingdom. In other words, we look down on the young.

But, sometimes we do the opposite. We look down on the elderly and view youthfulness as a prerequisite for effectiveness in God’s kingdom.

But, I want us to understand that the Bible pushes back against both of those ways of thinking. The Bible teaches us that if there’s breath still in your lunges, you can be used by God! To Timothy, the young aspiring pastor who must have felt discouraged over his age, Paul wrote, “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” To the oldest servant, Abraham entrusted and sent him out on the long journey of finding a wife for his son.

So, the beauty of the church is that you have men and women from all forms of life, from all different ages, coming together to use their talents and gifts to serve and build each other up.

In verse 3, Abraham says to this man, “Put your hand under my thigh, [3] that I may make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell, [4] but will go to my country and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son Isaac.”

The hand under the thigh thing is weird, I know. But the principle behind it isn’t weird. We make oaths all the time. And we validate our oaths by raising our hand, placing our right hand over our heart, or placing our hand on a Bible. Well, in this particular culture, oaths were made by placing a hand under the thigh of another. It was likely symbolic of submission to authority. It was a proclamation of one’s willingness to carry out the request made by the other. So, Abraham was saying to his servant, “Promise me you’ll do what I’m telling you to do. Go find my son a wife.”

But, he gives a stipulation. She cannot be a Canaanite woman. She must be from Abraham’s homeland. God had made it clear to Abraham in Genesis 15:14-16 that the Canaanites (the nations) were under God’s judgment and curse because of their own wickedness. Therefore, Abraham was sending his servant back to his homeland to find a wife for his son.

In response to this command, the servant asked Abraham, “What if she doesn’t want to come back with me? Should I come back and get Isaac and take him to her?”

And Abraham says, “See to it that you do not take my son back there. [7] The LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from the land of my kindred, and who spoke to me and swore to me, ‘To your offspring I will give this land,’ he will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there. [8] But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free from this oath of mine; only you must not take my son back there.”

So, Abraham’s response here was rooted in God’s promises. God called and led Abraham and his descendants to this land. Therefore, in this land they will stay. They are not returning to the land that God led them out of. They were going to stay in the land God had led them to. They would stay in the land God had promised them. And, in looking at Abraham’s response, we can see that he was confident that God was going to provide a wife for his son.

Over the years, Abraham has learned that God has been and always will be faithful. What God promises, God will do. Therefore, he’s confident that the LORD will provide a wife for his son— “He will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there.”

So, “the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master and swore to him concerning this matter.” He then packs up and heads to Mesopotamia to the city of Nahor with some of his master’s camels and gifts.

This would have been no short journey, either. It would have been more than 400 miles (think about going from Mobile to Nashville by camel). This would have been a taxing journey that had taken weeks to make. And when he makes it, he takes his camels to the well outside the city during the time that “women would go out to draw water.”

Culturally at this time, women would go out to the well at the cooler parts of the day to draw water for their families. So, this man was smart. He was killing two birds with one stone. He was getting gas (water for his camels), while also looking for the perfect match for Isaac. With profound wisdom, he went to where all the shawties would be.

And as he’s at the well, he begins to pray. He says, “O LORD, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham. Behold, I am standing by the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. Let the young woman to whom I shall say, “Please let down your jar that I may drink,” and who shall say, “Drink, and I will water your camels”— let her be the one whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I shall know that you have shown steadfast love to my master.”

What a moment of faith displayed by this servant here. He’s watched God be faithful to his master time after time after time again. Therefore, he begins to humbly pray a specific prayer at this moment and time, asking God to send the right woman to him.

Then look what happens next in verses 15-16.

Before he had finished speaking, an attractive young lady named Rebekah walked out with a jar on her shoulder. The woman we were randomly introduced to in chapter 22 has just arrived on the scene right after Abraham’s servant prayed— “Rebekah, who was born to Bethuel, the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, came out with her water jar on her shoulder.”

And then, in verse 17, the servant ran to meet her and said, “Please give me a little water to drink from your jar.”

And she said, “Drink, my Lord.”

And she quickly let down her jar upon her hand and gave him a drink.”

And when she finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will draw water for your camels also until they have finished drinking.”

This made the servant’s eyebrows raise, leading him to silently gaze at her in hopes of discerning whether or not the Lord had blessed his journey (v.21).

He’s likely thinking, “You’ve got to be kidding me! This is awesome. Has God answered my prayer?”

So, after his camels finished drinking, the servant took a gold ring and two bracelets and placed them on her arm, saying, “Whose daughter are you? And is there room in your father’s house for me to stay the night?”

Rebekah tells him who she was, and says, “Yes, we have room.”

The servant bows his head and worships the LORD, saying, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his steadfast love and his faithfulness toward my master. As for me, the LORD has led me in the way to the house of my master’s kinsmen.”

Can we please not lose sight of the fact that God isn’t simply faithful to his promises; He is also gracious enough to answer the specific prayers of his people! The servant is first hand watching and experiencing God’s steadfast love and faithfulness being displayed to Abraham. The servant could boldly bless the LORD because he’s personally experienced His steadfast love. The lowly servant has been led by the LORD to the house of his master’s kinsmen.

Well, fast forward a bit.

Rebekah returns to her home.

Her brother sees the gifts and hears about the servant, and he runs back to the servant and invites him to come back to their place.

They try to feed him.

But he won’t eat until he can share what he wants to share with them.

They’re like, “Ok, cool. Go ahead and share.”

So, he introduces himself.

“Hello, I’m Abraham’s servant. And Abraham is incredibly blessed by God. And Abraham sent me back to his family to find a wife for his son. And when I got here, I didn’t really know what I was doing. So, I just started praying. And I prayed specifically for a woman to bring me and my camels water. And the next thing you know, before I finished speaking in my heart, Rebekah comes walking down with water. And Rebekah ended up giving me and my camels water. I asked Rebekah who she was. She told me. And, when she told me, I knew that God had answered my prayer. So, I worshipped the Lord because of his faithfulness. So, are you going to show steadfast love and faithfulness to my master or not? Will you give Rebekah to be Isaac’s wife or not? (Paraphrased).”

Rebekah’s family gives him their blessing to take her with him to be Isaac’s wife.

And the servant once again worships the LORD. He gives the family gifts. They spend the night, wake up the next morning, and prepare to head back home. But, the family wants to keep Rebekah for 10 days.

We don’t know why they wanted to delay her departure. It could be to delay a difficult goodbye. It could be to prepare for a difficult journey. It could be due to a customary wedding period. It could be due to hesitation or second thoughts. We don’t know why they wanted to delay. But, we know the servant wasn’t willing to wait— “Do not delay me, since the LORD has prospered my way (v.56).”

They’re like, “Ok, let me ask her.”

So, they ask her.

And Rebekah is like, “Yeah, I’ll go.”

So, her family blesses her and sends her off— “Our sister, may you become thousands of ten thousands, and may your offspring possess the gate of those who hate him!”

We understand the first portion of this blessing— “May you become thousands of ten thousands.” He’s saying may her offspring multiply greatly, which is an echo of the promise God has been promising over the years! Isaac and Rebekah’s descendants will outnumber the stars, leading to them becoming a great nation!

But, the second half of this blessing is a little strange— “may your offspring possess the gate of those who hate him!” The gate represented authority, leadership, power, and control. It’s the place where leaders met, business was conducted, and elders judged cases. So, possessing the gate of those who hate him means: May your offspring conquer and rule over them! They’re essentially saying, “May God bless you and make you far more fruitful and powerful than anything we could imagine!”

Can I pause here for a brief moment and say this?

When you look at this story in light of Abraham’s life, I think you’ll begin to see that God doesn’t work at one set speed. Sometimes, in the instance of the life of Abraham, God works slow. For the majority of Abraham’s life, Abraham waited on the promises of God to ring true. But, sometimes, in the example of the servant, God works fast. The LORD answered the servant’s prayer before he even finished praying.

So, no matter what situation of life we find ourselves in, we must know that whether slow or fast, God is always working. Whether we can see it or not, God is never idle. God will never forsake his steadfast love and faithfulness to his people. When we open up our Bible’s and begin to read it, we will find that God invites ordinary people into a relationship with himself. In steadfast love, God hears and answers the prayers of the “masters.” And, in steadfast love, He hears and answers the prayers of the “servants.” God is with those who hold a position of prominence, and he’s with those who hold a position of obscurity. God is with his people in the limelight, and he’s with his people in the shadows. God is with his people in the mighty battles, and he’s with his people in the everyday journeys.

So, Christian brothers and sisters, no matter who you are, no matter where you find yourself, I want you to know that there is no meaningless person, there is no meaningless position, and there is no meaningless moment in the life of a Christian. Fast forward to the end of the chapter, and you see that Rebekah returned with the servant to Canaan. The servant told Isaac everything he had done, and Rebekah became Isaac’s wife. And verse 67 says that “Isaac was comforted” by her “after his mother’s death.”

Wives, never underestimate the power you have to comfort your husband. Husbands, never underestimate the power your wife has to comfort you. God has uniquely gifted the wife as the weaker vessel in ways that no one else has been gifted. She is able to provide a comfort that no one else can provide. As Proverbs 31:10-12 says, “An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.”

But, on a practical level, God used Abraham’s servant to serve his neighbor well. The fruit of his obedience ended up comforting Isaac in his suffering. For this reason alone, we could tab this mission as a success. But, when you zoom out and look at this particular moment in light of redemptive history, you will realize that this servant did much more than play matchmaker. When you marry this story with the rest of the New Testament, you will see that this servant got to play a vital role in the redemption of the world.

If you were to look at Matthew 1, you would find the genealogy of Jesus. This genealogy starts with “Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers…” and it ends with “Jacob, the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.” So, because of God’s steadfast love displayed through Abraham’s servant, Abraham’s geology didn’t end with Isaac. Because of God’s steadfast love displayed through Abraham’s servant, Jesus was eventually born of a virgin, crucified on a cross, and resurrected from the grave for ours sins.

Yet, nowhere in the New Testament do we find this man mentioned. But, the absence of his name is not equivalent to a lack of importance. In the shadows of the Old Testament, we find the faithfulness of a servant being used as a catalyst for the advancement of the gospel.

Church, listen to me.

You may never find yourself in the limelight. Instead, you may live your entire life in the shadows like Abraham’s servant. You may never own the camels and gold rings like Abraham. Instead, you may have to work for the one who does, like Abraham’s servant. But, faithfulness in God’s kingdom isn’t limited to the limelight. God can and will use ordinary people doing ordinary things as an instrument to advance God’s steadfast love for the world. So, my hope and prayer for us as a church is that we will be overwhelmed with a deep desire to walk a simple and faithful life for the Lord. Faithful, daily obedience with no recognition doesn’t scratch the itch of pride. But, it can certainly stir up joy. As we labor in the shadow, we may never see the complete fruit of our labor in this life. And that’s ok.

Genesis 23

SARAH DIED

“[1] Sarah lived 127 years; these were the years of the life of Sarah. [2] And Sarah died at Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.”

Verses 1–2 are some of the most sobering verses in all of Genesis. Here, we see that Sarah died at the age of 127. The woman whose story we’ve followed closely over the past eleven chapters has now breathed her last. Her story has come to a close. The woman who received the promise of life has now tasted the bitter reality of death. And here in these two verses is the sobering reminder that we will all eventually have similar words penned about us. Just as Sarah died, we will die. Our story will come to a close.

Death is an unwelcome intruder. It’s a tragic reality that wedges itself into the song of all of our lives. So, here’s the truth we all have to face: one day, life on this earth will end for all of us. Eventually, we’ll be reduced to words on a page, pictures in an album, or videos on a feed. No matter how extravagant your life might be, “And ______ died” will one day be words that conclude the small paragraph used to describe your life. One day, our story will come to an end and the earth will go on without us.

Is this a reality we’ve all come to terms with? Have we wrestled with the reality that one day we will breathe our last breath?

Well, the beauty of the gospel is that it addresses this unfortunate reality. The gospel interjects life into death, hope into hopelessness, and peace into chaos. All who look to the finished work of the cross as their hope will one day pass from death into life. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.

ABRAHAM MOURNED

Sarah passed away at Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. Hebron is a place we’ve encountered several times already in Genesis. We’ll come back to this in a moment, but it’s the very place the Lord promised to give Abraham in Genesis 13, and it’s where Abraham and Sarah spent a large portion of their lives sojourning together. And it’s in this very place that Abraham goes to mourn and weep for Sarah.

Before we get into the theological implications of this, let’s consider the practical side. This detail matters because it reminds us that death is painful, and it’s okay to feel that pain. It’s okay to mourn, and it’s okay to weep. It’s okay to not be okay in the face of loss. No cut heals instantly, and death cuts so deeply into our hearts that it takes time to heal. In fact, we should love so fervently that it hurts deeply when we lose those we love.

The Bible gives us permission to mourn. It gives us permission to weep. Abraham mourned and wept. David mourned and wept. Even Jesus mourned and wept. So yes, it’s right for us to weep and mourn as well.

At the same time, Scripture consistently presents mourning as something meant to be shared. Abraham went into the city to mourn for Sarah. The grief he felt wasn’t hidden among the trees of the desert; it was expressed publicly among the people. Grief is intended to be shared, not internalized. We are called to weep with those who weep.

ABRAHAM’S ACTION IN MOURNING

But notice what happens next once Abraham is among the people. After Abraham mourned and wept, he rose up and said to the Hittites, “I am a sojourner and foreigner among you; give me property among you for a burying place, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.”

Here in this verse is an important detail for us as we consider the topic of grief. As real and necessary as grief is, it’s not meant to be paralyzing. Life, in some senses, continues even as we begin to heal, and mourning doesn’t have to be debilitating.

Mourning can coexist with movement. Responsibilities can still be carried out through tears. Progress can still be made as we process the hurt we are feeling. We can continue forward in life even as we grieve the loss of those we love.

As Abraham mourned the loss of the woman he loved, he also took action in securing a permanent place of burial for her. He honored her not only with his tears, but with his actions. Before the Hittites, the inhabitants of Hebron, Abraham humbly requested a piece of land where he could lay her to rest. Even in his grief, we see Abraham continuing to move forward in faith.

As we see in verse 5, “[5] The Hittites answered Abraham, [6] ‘Hear us, my lord; you are a prince of God among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs. None of us will withhold from you his tomb to hinder you from burying your dead.’”

I love the phrase “prince of God among us.” It’s a title of honor, one of deep respect. At the heart of this phrase is an acknowledgement that Abraham’s life has made an impression on the people around him. Over the years, he has been seen as a man who has walked with God. He’s a respectable man amongst the people of this area! We should long to have a similar reputation. We should strive to be men and women who walk so closely with God that our neighbors and co-workers say something similar about us! A life of proximity to God will be noticed by others.

In response to this request from the “prince of God,” the Hittites make a generous offer. They say, “Bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs. None of us will withhold from you his tomb to hinder you from burying your dead.” This is such a generous offer. But, as generous as it is, it’s not what Abraham is after. He doesn’t want to use a tomb; He wants to own the land of the tomb.

I heard a pastor give a helpful illustration to communicate the tension here. It would be like going to someone to ask if you could purchase a portion of their property, and they respond, “Hey, you can park here anytime!” That’s a kind and generous offer. But it still misses the point. You’re not asking for temporary access; you’re seeking something permanent. Abraham isn’t looking for a favor; He’s seeking a possession. He’s seeking a transaction.

So, Abraham responds in verse 7, “Abraham rose and bowed to the Hittites, the people of the land. And he said to them, ‘If you are willing that I should bury my dead out of my sight, hear me and entreat for me Ephron the son of Zohar, that he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he owns; it is at the end of his field. For the full price let him give it to me in your presence as property for a burying place.’”

I think I find myself resonating with what Abraham is doing here. Being part of a church plant that meets in a space that isn’t our own, I find myself dreaming a lot. I’ll drive around the city or scroll through listings, noticing different properties and thinking, “That could be a great long-term home for us.” I’ll start asking questions, Who owns it? What would it cost? Could we ever afford it? And usually, it doesn’t take long before I realize it’s out of our price range, and I move on. But that process of dreaming, observing, and noticing has to be what Abraham has done over the years. Notice how specific Abraham is here. He doesn’t ask for a piece of land in general; he asks for a particular man, Ephron, and he asks for a particular place, the cave of Machpelah. The wording here teaches us that Abraham has thought about this beforehand. This isn’t a spontaneous purchase. Over these years, Abraham and Sarah have sojourned in this land of promise, and he has paid close attention. He has a particular piece of property in mind for his wife’s burial. He want’s the cave of Machpelah that is owned by Ephron.

FAITH IN THE MIDST OF GRIEF

The first and obvious question we need to ask is, “Why this cave?” In other words, “Why is Abraham so persistent on this particular location?” Well, to understand that, we have to remember what Canaan represents. Canaan was the land of promise. It’s the place God had sworn to give to Abraham and his descendants.

Back in Genesis 13:14-18, we saw God make the specific promise that this land would one day belong to him— “[14] The LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, [15] for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. [16] I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted. [17] Arise, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you.” [18] So Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the LORD.”

So, here in this land God had made a promise to Abraham that this land would belong to him and his offspring. And it’s here in this land that Abraham had built an altar and worshipped him!

But! Up until this point, Abraham still does not possess this land. He’s still a sojourner in it. As his wife breathed her last breath, the promise of the land remained unfulfilled. So, although God had been faithful to give them the child of promise, they had not received the land of promise. They were still only sojourners, individuals who moved throughout the land without any legal claim.

That’s what makes Abraham’s actions here are so significant. His actions are an act of faith, a demonstration of trust in God’s faithfulness to carry out his promises. Just as he acted in faith towards God’s willingness to carry out his promise of a child… … he is acting in faith towards God’s willingness to carry out his promise to deliver to him the land of promise. He is not simply looking for a place to bury his wife; he is intentionally seeking to bury his wife in the land that will one day belong to him and his descendants.

He is seeking to bury his wife in the promised land where he dwelt with God and worshipped him in faith. Even in grief, Abraham is living as though God’s promises are still true and will be fulfilled.

Following this request, Ephron answered Abraham,

“My lord, listen to me: a piece of land is worth four hundred shekels of silver, what is that between you and me? Bury your dead.”

Now, chances are most of us aren’t regularly using shekels to buy anything these days. So it might be helpful to slow down in order to understand what’s happening here.

A shekel of silver in the ancient world was not a coin but a unit of weight (roughly 11 grams of silver). That means 400 shekels would have been around 9 to 10 pounds of silver. Many would agree that this would have been a significant amount of wealth during this time.

Comparatively speaking, Joseph was sold into slavery for 20 shekels in Genesis 37:28. King David bought a major threshing floor for 50 shekels of silver in 2 Samuel 24:24. Jacob bought land near Shechem for 100 shekels in Genesis 33:18-19. So, I think it’s safe to say that the price of 400 shekels is pretty high.

In fact, many commentators note that what we see here likely reflects a common Ancient Near Eastern bargaining pattern. A seller would begin with a polite and generous offer (“bury your dead”) followed by an inflated price that initiates the negotiation process (“a piece of land is worth 400 shekels of silver”). There is a generous language on the surface that often functions as the opening move in a transaction where the real goal is profit. We do similar things on facebook marketplace where we list something way higher than what we will actually accept in hopes of being able to negotiate a desirable price.

Then in verse 16, we see that “Abraham listened to Ephron, and Abraham weighed out for Ephron the silver that he had named in the hearing of the Hittites, four hundred shekels of silver, according to the weights current among the merchants.”

What’s taking place here is profoundly beautiful. Instead of accept the free offer, Abraham sought to pay. Instead of renegotiating, he paid the inflated asking price. Notice the phrase “in the hearing of the Hittites.” This is intended to show us that this is a legal transaction performed in front of a courtroom-like setting. And as everyone is expecting Abraham to make a counter offer, he paid the initial asking price. He didn’t accept the free offer, nor did he make a counter offer. He was willing to make a “bad business decision” in front of the hearing in order to secure the tomb for his wife.

Church, I think there’s a lot to learn from Abraham’s example here when it comes to business.

First, it reminds us of the simple truth that faith and economics are not enemies. Abraham secured part of the land that God had promised through honest and legal transactions. Business is not less spiritual than other church activities. In fact, how we do business can be an act of worship and a display of trust in Jesus. Abraham is displaying his faith in God through a business transaction. Through this transaction, he is saying, “I believe God’s promise that this land will belong to my descendants. Therefore, I am securing this tomb for my wife and descendants.”

Second, it shows us how we should carry out our business. Abraham acted humbly, bowing before the people of the land. He also acted with integrity, paying a fair price for the land. Notice how Abraham didn’t manipulate his audience. It could have been easy to leverage his grief into a cheaper price; but he didn’t! Instead, he acted with transparency and fairness. If someone would have gotten the short end of the stick, it would have been him!

If Abraham acted humbly, we should act humbly. If Abraham acted with integrity, we should act in integrity. If Abraham conducted his business with fairness, we should conduct our business with fairness.

I think Abraham possessed a good deal of wisdom here. He understood that nothing was free, and he refused the superficial/hollow offer that outwardly appeared generous. He wasn’t trying to take advantage of anyone; he was trying to fairly and legally secure a part of the land of promise in order to bury his wife. Abraham’s actions teach us how to approach business through a lens of faith.

Abraham acted as a man who knew God’s promises were real, even when they weren’t visible. And we ought to do the same. Similar to Abraham, we hold onto the promise that we have been “born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is waiting for us that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for us, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

Therefore, like Abraham, we can conduct business fairly through a lens of faith knowing that God’s work will continue here on this earth even after we’re gone and we have an inheritance coming. So, we don’t have to invest in trivial things; we can invest our time and resources into things for God’s kingdom because we know that something greater is to come.

Listen, I don’t know what y’all’s plans are this week with small group. But, I think this could be a great discussion question for your groups. It would serve us well to wrestle with Abraham’s example of business here and ask, “what does his example teach us how to carry out business as a Christian?”

Then in verse 17, we see that the field then belonged to Abraham— “So the field of Ephron in Machpelah, which was to the east of Mamre, the field with the cave that was in it and all the trees that were in the field, throughout its whole area, was made over to Abraham as a possession in the presence of the Hittites, before all who went in at the gate of his city. After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah east of Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. The field and the cave that is in it were made over to Abraham as property for a burying place by the Hittites.”

The land was secured. It was made a possession of Abraham in the presence of the Hittites. It was now his legal property. Abraham was able to bury his wife on his land in his cave, the very place he built an altar and worshipped the LORD in faith.

This is such a beautiful act of faith by Abraham. He is seeking to secure part of the land of promise through fair business transactions… because he knew that is where his family would be. He knew God would be faithful to fulfill what he had promised.

As you continue to read throughout the book of Genesis, you will later see that Abraham was also buried here (Gen 25:9), along with Isaac (Gen 35:29), and Jacob (Ge 49:49-33, 50:13), and Leah (Gen 49:31).

Over the years, Abraham has learned that God will be faithful to keep his promises. Have we learned that simple truth, as well? If so, we will begin to display that faith through our actions.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. How does the reality of death (“And ______ died”) shape the way we view our own lives? How does the gospel interject hope into the reality of death?

2. What stands out to you about Abraham’s response of mourning and weeping? What can we learn from Abraham continuing to take action in the midst of grief?

3. How does Genesis 13:14–18 help us understand Abraham’s actions in Genesis 23? What does it look like to act in faith when God’s promises are not yet visible?

4. How might Abraham’s actions teach us how to conduct business in a Christ honoring way?

Genesis 22

A TEST

“After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”

Let’s first draw our attention to the word test here.

Some may scoff at the idea of God demanding Abraham to sacrifice his son on the altar. But, before we get to the command, Moses wants us to first see the motive. God’s intention was never to take the life of Isaac here; it was always to test Isaac’s father.

When we hear the word “test,” our initial thought is probably school. A test in school is intended to examine the quality of one’s knowledge or strength. Although a test can certainly strengthen one’s understanding, it’s not intended to create knowledge or strength; a test is intended to reveal or refine a knowledge that’s already there. Likewise, God isn’t seeking to produce a faith within Abraham here; he’s seeking to reveal the quality of his faith that is already there.

By drawing Abraham’s faith into the light, God is seeking to strengthen and refine it through obedience. Like an expert teacher, God is saying to Abraham, “You’ve been following me for years, Abraham. Show me what you’ve learned.”

The New Testament picks up on this same idea, especially in the book of James— “[2] Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, [3] for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. [4] And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing… “[12] Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” — James 1:2-4,12

This teaches us that, like with Abraham, God will seek to test and refine us through trials. Depending on what’s inside us, fire can either destroy or purify us. Those whose faith resides in Christ, trails will make us more and more like Christ, producing steadfastness, making us perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

So, with the intention of testing Abraham, God says to him, “Abraham!” And Abraham responded, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” 

Now, let’s make sure we understand where we are in the story of the Bible. At this point, the Levitical Law has not yet been given. So we need to be careful not to read later categories back into this moment. Instead, in Abraham’s time, a burnt offering signified total surrender and complete worship. Unlike other sacrifices, the animal would be slaughtered and completely consumed by fire. Nothing would be held back. It was an act of worship marked by full devotion, costly obedience, and deep trust in God. So feel the weight of what God is asking Abraham to do here. He is commanding him to offer up the son whom he loves. He’s asking him to lay upon the altar the very son of promise.

This test of God is pressing on the deepest question of Abraham’s heart: What does he love most? What does he trust most?

Up to this point, whenever hardship has come, Abraham’s instinct has often been to rely on himself. When hardship comes, his natural reflex has been to trust in himself. When faced with the threat of death, he shrinks back in fear. When famine strikes, he runs to Egypt. When the Egyptians seem scary, he lies. When the promise seems delayed, he takes matters into his own hands with Hagar. And when there seems to be no fear of God in Gerar, he lies again.

But now, God brings Abraham to a decisive moment— “Who do you love? And who do you trust? Have you learned to trust me, the God you love?” Will Abraham trust God, not just in hardship, but when the very promise of God seems to be in jeopardy? Will he be willing to lay down the son he loves, believing that God will still be faithful?

Church, these two questions are important for us to answer, as well. Who/what do you love most? And are you willing to obey God, no matter what that might mean for you?

Romans 12 says to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Are you willing to do this day after day?

Let’s see what Abraham does as a response to God’s command— “3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. 5 Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” 6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together.”

There are a few of details here worth slowing down to notice.

PROMPT OBEDIENCE

First, this is the third chapter in a row where we see someone “rise early in the morning” to do what God has said. This reminds us that faith doesn’t delay. When we encounter a command from God, we “rise early in the morning to do it.” Early that morning, Abraham prepared himself for obedience. The command was given, and without hesitation, he set out on the path toward obedience.

THREE DAYS

Second, notice the distance of the journey— “On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar.” This wasn’t an immediate one day journey. For three days, Abraham walked with this command hanging over him. For three days, he carried the weight of what God had asked, moving step by step toward the place where his son would be offered. For three days, he was operating out of the reality of the death of his son.

Feel the tension of that. Every mile walked is a step closer to what seems unthinkable. Every night he laid his head down to sleep next to his son, his son seemed to be as good as dead. I cannot fathom the struggle Abraham must have felt during this these three days.

In addition to feeling the tension of this, I hope we also see the faint echos of the gospel here. In verse 2, the sentence of death was spoken over Isaac— “Offer him there as a burnt offering.” And for three days, Abraham walked in the shadow of that sentence. In a very real sense, Isaac was as good as dead to him.

But, on the third day, everything changed. On the third day, God provided a substitute. On the third day, death was defeated.

Does that sound familiar? In the same way, the Father would one day offer his beloved Son, Jesus. Jesus Christ would be laid upon the altar of the cross. And for three days, he would lay in the tomb, seemingly swallowed up by death. But, on the third day, death would be defeated as he rose again.

What Abraham experienced was a faint shadow of what Christ would one day accomplish on the cross.

TWO MEN

Third, notice how many men are on this journey with Abraham and Isaac— “So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac.”

This is a small detail. But, one worth noticing. Abraham does not walk this road alone.

I think this detail shows us that this story is true. For a testimony to stand in court, multiple witnesses needed to be present. Therefore, these two men were mentioned to support the actuality of this story.

I think it also shows us the beauty of community. Obedience is difficult. But, obedience doesn’t have to be lonely. The beauty of the Christian faith is that we can bring others with us as we follow Jesus. Two men accompanied Abraham as he moved toward the place of sacrifice.

But, also notice the subtle parallel to the cross here. I don’t want to stretch things too much here. But, notice the similarities to when the Father gives up his beloved Son, Jesus. John 19:17-18 says, “So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called the place of a skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them (Jn.19:17-18).” So, in the same way that Isaac moved toward the altar between two young men, Jesus was nailed to the cross between two men, one on either side. What Isaac experienced in shadow, Jesus experienced in reality. What Isaac experienced in part, Jesus experienced in full. As God’s grand story of redemption unfolded, Jesus, the beloved Son, was led to the place of sacrifice, surrounded by others. And he was nailed to the cross between two men.

GONE TO WORSHIP

Fourth, I want you to notice what Abraham said they were going to do— “Then Abraham said to his young men, ‘Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.”

There are two parts of his statement that are worth highlighting. First, what they were going to do on the mountain: “worship.” Second, who would return from the mountain: “[I and the boy will] come again to you.”

Although worship has happened before this point, this is the first time this word ‘worship’ is mentioned in the Bible. So, this helps us define what worship truly is.

If Abraham was going onto the mountain with his son to worship, then that teaches us that worship isn’t simply a feeling or a song. Worship is trust expressed through surrender. It’s a declaration, through action, that God is worthy of our obedience, even when his commands seem difficult to understand. Worship is more than singing; it is trusting and obeying God through our actions.

Notice how rooted in faith Abraham’s worship is here– “I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.’”

Although Abraham isn’t sure how God will be faithful; he is sure that God will be faithful. The only thing Abraham is certain of at this point is that God cannot lie. He is sure that the LORD will be faithful and sure to keep his promise.

Remember, again and again, God has spoken that a son will come through Sarah. Over and over God has said that Issac will be the one in whom a nation will be born. Time and time again, God has promised that through Isaac, all the families of the earth will be blessed. From Genesis 12, to 15, to 17, to 18, to 21… God has consistently confirmed that Isaac will be the child of promise.

So, as Abraham approaches this mountain, he’s willing to obey because he knows God will be faithful to his promise. The man who is about to walk up the mountain to sacrifice his son is prepared to walk back down the mountain with his son.

He’s unsure about how this will happen. But, he knows that it will happen!

The book of Hebrews tells us that, “He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.”

In other words, Abraham reasoned that even if Isaac died, God’s promise couldn’t fail. Somehow, the God who gave Abraham a child in his old age would keep his child in his old age. At the very least, God would raise him back from the dead. God would keep His word: “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.”

God’s promises prompted costly worship within the life of Abraham. So, for us, the more we immerse ourselves in God’s word, clinging to his promises, the more we will begin to worship him in our lives. We’re able to worship God best in our lives when we know God’s promises most in our hearts.

SILENT OBEDIENCE

Fourth, I want you to notice who carries the wood up the mountain in verse 6— “And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together.”

This detail gives us a glimpse into Isaac’s strength and stage of life. While the text does not tell us his exact age, the fact that he is able to carry the wood suggests that he is no longer a small child. He appears to be a young man, perhaps a young teen or even a young man in his twenties. Either way, he’s old enough and strong enough to bear the weight of the offering up the mountain.

And I want you to notice that Isaac goes willingly with his father. Outside of his question about the lamb, there is no resistance recorded. He silently walks in submission, carrying the wood for the sacrifice.

Again, this is a subtle foreshadow toward Jesus on the cross. The prophet Isaiah says this about the suffering servant, “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.”

The apostle John connects the dots further to Jesus by saying that he went willingly, “bearing his own cross, to the place called the place of a skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha (Jn.19:17).”

So, in the same way that Isaac carried the wood up the mountain in silence and submission, Jesus silently and willingly carried his cross all the way to completion. Issac carrying the wood up the mountain was a shadow to Jesus carrying his cross up the mountain. He walked in perfect obedience as the true lamb of God who came to take away the sins of the world.

Let’s continue to read.

“[9] When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. [10] Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. [11] But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” [12] He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” [13] And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. [14] So Abraham called the name of that place, “The LORD will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided.”

Notice the heart of the test here is revealed in the words, “For now I know that you fear God.” The test was to determine whether or not Abraham feared God above all things. The man who once feared man has learned to now fear God. The man who once feared death has now learned to fear the one who possesses power over death. “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”

Notice also what’s different in how God describes Issac here in verse 12 with how he described him in verse 2. “…you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me (v.12).” “Take your son, your only son Issac, whom you love (v.2).”

The difference here is love. Abraham doesn’t love Issac any less at this point in time. But, it’s been made known that Abraham loves God more. This test has revealed that Abraham’s ultimate allegiance is to the Lord. He fears and loves God most. He loves the giver of the gift more than he loves the gift itself. He loves the one who made the promise more than the promise itself. No matter how precious the gift is, it could never take the place of his love for God.

Church, what has your heart?

Jesus himself says In Luke 14:26, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.”

So, do you love God so much that your love for family looks like hate? Are you willing to leave your father and mother to follow after Jesus? Do you love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength? And love your neighbor as yourself? Who has your heart today? Who has your allegiance?

Here we find a turning point in the story. God provided a substitute. He provided a ram caught in the thicket. Isaac didn’t die because another was given in his place. On this mountain, the LORD provided. And, like with Isaac, the ram serves as a shadow of Jesus. What the ram accomplished in part, Jesus accomplished in full. Like the ram, Jesus died in our place on the cross. He took what we deserved so that we can receive what we don’t deserve, forgiveness and life.

Isaiah 53:5-6 says, “But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed… and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

2 Corinthians 5:21 likewise says, “For our sake he made him to be sin who know no sin…”

1 Peter 3:18 says, “Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous…”

So, yes, Jesus died for our benefit. But, he didn’t simply die for our benefit; he died in our place. In the same way that the ram died in the place of Isaac, Jesus died in our place. And in the same way that the ram was secured by his horns being caught in the thorns, Jesus was crowned with thorns. Jesus is the greater ram offered in our place. He is the once for all sacrifice for sin.

[15] And the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven [16] and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, [17] I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, [18] and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.” [19] So Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beersheba. And Abraham lived at Beersheba.

[20] Now after these things it was told to Abraham, “Behold, Milcah also has borne children to your brother Nahor: [21] Uz his firstborn, Buz his brother, Kemuel the father of Aram, [22] Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel.” [23] (Bethuel fathered Rebekah.) These eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham’s brother. [24] Moreover, his concubine, whose name was Reumah, bore Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and Maacah.”

Genesis 21

GOD IS FAITHFUL

“1 The Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did to Sarah as he had promised. 2 And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him. 3 Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore him, Isaac. 4 And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. 5 Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. 6 And Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh over me.” 7 And she said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”

So, we’ve finally arrived at the moment we’ve all been waiting for— “The Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did to Sarah as he had promised.” But, as I was reading these verses, I found myself asking, “Is that it?” We’ve spent the past ten chapters building up to this particular moment in the story. We’ve seen promises. We’ve seen doubts. We’ve seen setbacks. We’ve seen waiting. And then the birth itself is told in just a couple verses.

It almost feels anti-climatic, which led me to ask the question, “Why?”

And I don’t think the brevity of this moment minimizes the moment. Instead, I think it clarifies it.

Let me explain.

As miraculously as Isaac’s birth is, it’s not the final climax of the story. It’s a crucial moment in history. But, it’s not the crucial moment in history! Isaac is the child of promise; but he’s just the beginning of the line. He’s simply a small link in the great chain of God’s grand story of redemption. Generation after generation, the story will continue to move forward until one day the promised blessing will reach the world. It will be the offspring of the offspring of the offspring of the offspring of the offspring that the global blessing will be found!

When you read the language used here in these verses, you’ll notice that the focus isn’t on the drama of the birth; instead, the focus is on the faithfulness of God.

Notice the repetition of the passage: “…as he said…as he had promised…at the time of which God had spoken to him...”

The point is unmistakably clear here: God did exactly what he said he would do, exactly when he said he would do it.

At one hundred years old, Abraham holds a son in his arms. And Sarah, who once laughed in disbelief, now laughs in joy saying, “God has made laughter for me!” This is a joyful declaration of God’s faithfulness! God is faithful to his word. He will keep every promise he makes. If he says he will do something, he will do it. And he will do it at just the right time!

Now, let’s think about this from the perspective of the original audience. Through Moses, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, this was written to a people wandering through the wilderness. It was written to a people who were holding onto promises they had not yet seen fulfilled. So, as they were wandering through the wilderness in hopes of making it to the land promised to them, I’m sure these words were water to their soul. I’m sure these words were water to their soul because they were reminded that God would be faithful to do what he said he will do. If God was faithful over decades of waiting for Abraham and Sarah, then he would be faithful for them, as well.

God will always do what he says he will do. If was faithful to give Sarah a child, he would be faithful to lead his people into the promised land of Canaan. And if he was faithful to lead his people into the promised land of Canaan, he will be faithful to keep his promises to us now. God will be faithful to complete to work that he has begun in us. He will be faithful to forgive us of our sins. He will be faithful to never leave us nor forsake us. He will be faithful to work all things together for our good and his glory. He will be faithful to take us home to him one day where he will wipe away every tear from our eyes.

MOCKING IN CELEBRATION

Let’s continue reading. And as we continue to read, we will find that a moment of celebration quickly turns into a moment of contention.

“8 And the child grew and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.”

Let’s pause here for a moment. This is a moment of joyous celebration! The long awaited son is growing and thriving. And he’s moving into a new stage of life.

The name Isaac means “he laughs.” So, every mention of his name is a reminder to us as readers that God has turned years of barrenness and doubt into joy and laughter. And here Abraham is throwing a feast to celebrate!

It’s most likely that Isaac is 2-3 years old here. During this time, weaning marked a significant milestone in a child’s life because it marked a time when the child is coming out of a fragile period in his early years of dependence. Isaac is growing stronger and more independent, which is worth celebrating!

But, in the midst of this celebration, something happens— “But Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, laughing.”

At first glance, you are probably thinking, “What’s the big deal about someone laughing at the child of laughter? After all, doesn’t Sarah herself say, ‘Everyone who hears will laugh over me?’”

Well, given the context, I think it’s safe to conclude that the laughing here is not a good laughing. This word for laughing is different than what was used a few verses earlier. It’s a laughter that is rooted in mocking and scoffing, and it can also be used at times to communicate an inappropriate sexual play. So, Ishmael, who was likely somewhere between 16-17 years old at this time, is mocking Isaac. He’s turning joy into hostility.

Now, side note: We know Ishmael was between 16-17 years old because in Genesis 16:16, Abraham was 86 years old whenever Ishmael was born. Fourteen years later, Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born (Gen. 21:5), which means Isaac would have been 14 when Isaac was born. Then, this feast took place once Isaac was weaned, which would have been around 2-3 years later. So, that would mean Ishmael was likely around 16-17 years old at this point in time

So, Ishmael isn’t a young boy teasing a baby; he’s a teenager mocking a toddler. At a moment of celebration for Isaac, Ishmael is mocking and ridiculing Isaac.

This, in my opinion doesn’t justify Sarah’s actions, but it helps her actions seem more understandable. In fact, Paul, in Galatians 4:29, describes Ishmael’s actions as persecution. This wasn’t a light teasing; it was active opposition.

PROMPT OBEDIENCE

This leads to Sarah saying to Abraham, “Cast out this slave woman with her son, for the son of this slave woman shall not be heir with my son Isaac.”

This language here is harsh and stern. Notice she doesn’t use either Hagar’s or Ishmael’s name. She speaks in general term with severe implications— “Get them out of here!”

And her words were displeasing to Abraham— “The thing was very displeasing to Abraham on account of his son.”

Of course it was! That’s his boy! His son! His first born! No father in his right mind should be ok with that type of request! No matter what Ishmael did, Abraham still loved him as his son! In fact, if we go back to Genesis 17, we seen Abraham’s continual display of love towards his son, Ishmael!

Therefore, this request by Sarah was evil and grievous is his eyes. It was emotionally painful to swallow the idea of having to send out his boy.

But, God says to Abraham, “Be not displeased because of the boy and because of your slave woman. Whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for through Isaac shall your offspring be named. And I will make a nation of the son of the slave woman also, because he is your offspring.”

So, God tells Abraham to do what Sarah told him to do. Let them go. And as God is telling him to do this, he does two things: He reaffirms his promise through Isaac and he reassures Abraham about Ishmael’s future. Isaac is going to be the one in which my promise through you will be carried out. But, do not worry about Ishmael! I will take care of him. And I will make him into a great nation! Although Ishmael will not be the one the covenant is carried out through, he will not be abandoned.

So, the next verse (v.14) says that “Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, along with the child, and sent her away. And she departed and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.”

Early that next morning, Abraham obeyed. When obedience was hard, he didn’t tarry. When obedience was costly, he responded immediately.

Friends, I believe with my whole heart that God is a personal God. He’s not distant, but close. And one of the most beautiful aspects of the Christian faith is that God cares about how we live. He’s not indifferent toward our lives. So, the deeper you grow in your walk with him, he will begin to lead you in your day to day life. Just like he did with Abimelech, God will confront what’s wrong in our lives and convict us of sin. Just like he did with Abraham, he will lead us in our day to day lives, calling us to obedience. And, just like with Abimelech and Abraham, we are to walk in prompt obedience to him. A life with God is not passive; it’s responsive. We wan to study God’s word closely, meditate on it daily, pray it regularly, and obey it continually.

May we learn to listen when he speaks, turn when he convicts, and follow where he leads.

GOD’S WORKING IN THE WILDERNESS

So, that morning, Abraham sent the son that he loved dearly away with bread and water. Notice what was not provided. There was no livestock. No servants. No long term supplies. No wealth. There is minimal provision or protection offered by Abraham here.

I think that detail is worth taking note of.

Hagar and Ishmael don’t have much to survive off of in the wilderness. They have just enough for the moment. If they were going to make it, they needed God to act on their behalf.

And that’s exactly what God does.

Look at verses 15-18,

“15 When the water in the skin was gone, she put the child under one of the bushes. 16 Then she went and sat down opposite him a good way off, about the distance of a bowshot, for she said, “Let me not look on the death of the child.” And as she sat opposite him, she lifted up her voice and wept. 17 And God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. 18 Up! Lift up the boy, and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make him into a great nation.” 19 Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink. 20 And God was with the boy, and he grew up. He lived in the wilderness and became an expert with the bow. 21 He lived in the wilderness of Paran, and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt.”

There are a few things worth highlighting here.

First, notice whose voice the LORD heard. Not Hagar’s, but Ishmael’s. As Hagar lifted her voice and wept, God heard the voice of the boy. I found that interesting. It implies that beneath the sound of Hagar’s weeping was the cry of Ishmael. God heard the quiet and desperate voice of the boy.

Some say this could have been the conversion moment for Ishmael where he goes from mocking the LORD’s chosen one to crying out to the LORD. The one who once mocked is now pleading. The one who once laughed in pride is now crying out in need.

I think this moment reminds us of the truth that God will always oppose the proud but give grace to the humble. He hears the quiet cry of the brokenhearted, and he draws near to them.

You are never too far gone to cry out to the LORD with a broken heart!

And friends, sometimes, in his infinite mercy, God might send us into the wilderness for this very purpose! Not to destroy us, but to strip us. Not to abandon us, but to awaken us. In the dry and desperate place of the wilderness, we learn to lift our eyes and cry out to the LORD.

Better is the man who finds God in the wilderness than the man who enjoys comfort, ease, and prosperity apart from him.

Second, notice that God promised Hagar, once again, that he would make him into a great nation. This is similar language to what God had already told Hagar in Genesis 16:10, “I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for multitude.”

Four times in Genesis do we see God’s promise to make Ishmael into a great nation, twice with Hagar and twice with Abraham. This promise wasn’t repeated because God needed to be reminder; it was repeated because Abraham and Hagar needed to be reminded. We are forgetful people. Thus, we need to be reminded of God’s promises time and time and time again.

Third, notice what Hagar finds when God appears to her— “Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water.”

The verse doesn’t say that God made a well; it says God opened her eyes to see what was there all along. God had gone before here and prepared a well for her. But, in her despair, in her exhaustion, in her wandering, she couldn’t see it! It was as if Hagar was blind to what was in front of her the whole time. But, God has always been in the business of giving sight to the blind. He’s always been in the business of making visible what was once invisible.

Isn’t this our story, too? Doesn’t sin blind us? Doesn’t it cloud our vision and keep us from seeing what is true and life-giving? But, when God calls us, scales fall off our eyes and we’re able to see in ways we could never see before! Scales fall off and light breaks in!

As we often sing with loud voices, “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I’m found. Was blind, but now I see.”

And what do we see? We see Jesus standing in the wilderness inviting us to come and drink! We see his words spoken to the Samaritan woman at the well, “Whoever drinks of the water that I give, will never be thirsty again.” We see his words spoken to the crowd, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me… ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

Do you find your soul dry today? Do you find yourself longing and yearning today?

Come to Jesus, and you will never be thirsty again! Come to Jesus, the true well of eternal life in the wilderness!

CONTENTION AND PROVISION

As we continue to read, we’re introduced to another well. And this well becomes the source of contention between Abraham and Abimelech.

“22 At that time Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army said to Abraham, “God is with you in all that you do. 23 Now therefore swear to me here by God that you will not deal falsely with me or with my descendants or with my posterity, but as I have dealt kindly with you, so you will deal with me and with the land where you have sojourned.” 24 And Abraham said, “I will swear.”

25 When Abraham reproved Abimelech about a well of water that Abimelech’s servants had seized, 26 Abimelech said, “I do not know who has done this thing; you did not tell me, and I have not heard of it until today.” 27 So Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and the two men made a covenant. 28 Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock apart. 29 And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs that you have set apart?” 30 He said, “These seven ewe lambs you will take from my hand, that this may be a witness for me that I dug this well.” 31 Therefore that place was called Beersheba, because there both of them swore an oath. 32 So they made a covenant at Beersheba. Then Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army rose up and returned to the land of the Philistines. 33 Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba and called there on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God. 34 And Abraham sojourned many days in the land of the Philistines.”

Feel the weight of what’s going on here.

Here is Abimelech, a man who has seen Abraham and all his flaws up close. A man who has been on the receiving end of Abraham’s deception. If anyone had reason to discredit or doubt Abraham, it would have been Abimelech. And, yet, he looked at Abraham and said, “God is with you! And I want to be on the same team as you!”

What a moment.

This is one of the greatest honors and compliments anyone could ever receive, being seen as one who walks with God. I think, deep down, that’s something many of us long for! But, if some of us are honest, maybe we keep our distance from God because of our failures? Maybe we think, “I’m not worthy to be someone who walks with God?”

But, let Abraham’s life be of encouragement to you. Abraham’s life teaches us that God’s presence doesn’t rest on our performances. Like with Abraham, there is grace for us!

Abraham was a liar who had a dysfunctional marriage at times. Yet, God remained faithful to him! Abraham, despite his messy flaws, was blessed by God so much that kings wanted to be aligned with him… not because Abraham was impressive, but because God was with him. The nearness of God is not reserved for the flawless. It is given to those who belong to him on the merits of grace. So don’t let your awareness of your weakness drive you away. Let it draw you closer to the God who remains faithful, even when we are not.

Then, we see Abraham address Abimelech is a bold manner regarding a well that was taken by Abimelech’s servants. The man who once walked in fear in Gerar is walking in boldness with a heart willing to address conflict.

A well provides life and security. Therefore, this is no small matter, which is why Abraham addresses Abimelech. The well that rightfully belonged to Abraham was taken by Abimelech’s servants. And when he addresses Abimelech, Abimelech assures him he didn’t know about his servant’s actions. So, once again, Abimelech seems to be walking in an integrity of heart. But, even if the king was unaware, the injustice was real. And what was wrong still needed to be made right.

But notice how Abraham handles it. He doesn’t retaliate, nor does he take it back by force. Instead, he humbly pursues peace. He selflessly gives Abimelech seven lambs in order to create a mutual agreement showing he did in fact dig the well. These lambs served as a public treaty between the two where the foreign king recognized Abraham’s claim. They were a witness, a tangible testimony that the well was his.

Now, as we close, let me direct our attention to the difference between Hagar and Abraham’s securing of a well. Both received a well. Both are sustained through divine provision. But, not in the same way.

Hagar, wandering in the wilderness, received water through divine provision alone. With no strength left, God opened her eyes, and there is a well in the desert! Abraham, on the other hand, secures a well through recognized standing in the land. But, not because of his greatness, but because it was evident that God was with him!

Two different situations; two different paths. But, the same source: God!

This reminds us that God will always take care of his people. Sometimes he provides through miraculous means, other times he provides through relationships, wisdom, effort, and opportunity. But, at the end of the day, it is always God who provides.

So whether you find yourself in the wilderness like Hagar, or established like Abraham, you can rest in this: God sees us. He’s with us. And he will take care of us.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. We see Isaac’s birth addressed in a brief manner, which reminds us of the truth that he’s not the climax of the story. How does seeing your life as part of God’s bigger redemptive story change the way you view your current circumstances (both joys and struggles)?

2. Abraham obeys God quickly, even when it’s emotionally painful. What tends to slow down or hinder your obedience to God, and what would “prompt obedience” look like in a real situation you’re facing right now?

3. Hagar experiences God through desperate provision, while Abraham experiences Him through established blessing, yet both are sustained by God. Do you currently relate more to Hagar (in the wilderness) or Abraham (in stability), and how does this passage shape your understanding of God’s presence in that season?

Genesis 20

NEW PLACE, SAME SIN

“From there Abraham journeyed toward the territory of the Negeb and lived between Kadesh and Shur; and he sojourned in Gerar. 2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.”

To sojourn means to temporarily live in a place that is not your home. It’s to live under someone else’s authority with limited rights and security. So, this is a reminder that Abraham is in a land that God has promised him, but a land that he does not yet possess.

The land of Negeb is a place that he’s been in before. And it seems to consistently be a place associated with scarcity and famine. Therefore, it’s a place of instability and dependence on God.

Unlike Negeb, this is the first time Gerar is mentioned in the Bible. We’re not exactly sure of the exact reason why Abraham journeyed here. But he did. It’s most likely the day to day demands of being a nomadic herdsman in a land not his own that he is here.

What we then see happen in verse 2 is Abraham tell those in Gerar that Sarah is his sister, which leads to the king taking her to be his wife.

Now, if you’re thinking, “Wait, did this not already happen?” the answer would be, “Yes!” You’re not having deja vu. This would be the second time that Abraham went into a neighboring country and told them that his wife is his sister, which leads to the king taking her to be his wife.

As the old saying goes, “Old habits die hard.” It seems that Abraham didn’t fully learn from his earlier mistakes. When pressure was applied, his old reflex returned. His sinful instinct to deceive rose right back to the surface.

I think Abraham’s actions remind us of the simple but sobering truth: no one is exempt from sin. No one graduates from Sin Struggle University.

Surely, after feeling the sting of his failure in Egypt, Abraham spent years pursuing honesty. Surely he felt the bitter realization of what happens when truth is hidden in the shadows of a lie. Surely he resolved, “Never again.” And, yet, when he entered an unfamiliar place and felt that familiar feeling of fear, he reached for the familiar refuge of deception.

Friends, we wade into some seriously dangerous waters whenever we begin to think we’ve mastered sin. If father Abraham was not beyond falling, neither are we. If father Abraham wasn’t exempt from sin, you’re not exempt from sinning. You never outgrow the need to seriously wage war against your flesh. Every second of every day is a battle to remain faithful to Jesus.

I think we also wade into equally dangerous waters when we think that someone is exempt from sinning simply because of their status. Titles don’t sanctify the hearts, and positions don’t purify the soul. Pastor… priest… principal… president… none who hold these title are immune to sin. All remain vulnerable to the same subtle and persistent pull toward sin.

So, oh what a dangerous place to be whenever we are willing to overlook someone’s sin simply because of the title next to their name.

Titles don’t remove us from temptation, but neither does age.

Let’s do the math.

In Genesis 17, Abraham is 99 years old. In Genesis 21, he will be 100. So, that means, if my calculations are correct, Abraham is old.

Yet, even as he’s grows in faith over the years, fear still at times shows its ugly head.

Abraham believes God. This much is clear. But, at this moment, he is still struggling to trust God. His faith is real, but he’s not perfect. So, a long life and spiritual maturity does not make us immune to old sins. Old habits die hard.

But, there can be a subtle temptation to think that with enough time, enough years, enough experience, we will somehow outgrow sin, that one day we’ll arrive at a place where the battle quiets down, where vigilance is no longer necessary. But, Abraham’s life seeks to correct that illusion. Abraham’s life teaches us that no one is exempt from sin. Even in maturity, our flesh can still whisper. Even after decades of walking with God, we can fall back into the same sin we struggled with whenever we first became Christians.

You will never arrive at a place where you get to coast in your walk with Jesus. After all, Jesus, himself, said, “If anyone were to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” This command applies to seven year olds, seventeen year olds, and seventy year olds. As long as there’s breath in our lunges, there is a cross to bear. As long as there is life in our bodies, there is a flesh to deny. Daily we are to follow after Jesus with our cross on our back. Not once a week, not a few times a year, not early on in our youth… daily! Every single day, we nail our flesh to the cross again and again and again.

GOD ACTS ON BEHALF OF ABRAHAM

Now, let’s begin to look at what happens next.

“3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.” 4 Now Abimelech had not approached her. So he said, “Lord, will you kill an innocent people? 5 Did he not himself say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this.” 6 Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I did not let you touch her. 7 Now then, return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, so that he will pray for you, and you shall live. But if you do not return her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.”

What a profound exchange here!

Abimelech takes Sarah to be his wife.

***And can we just pause for a moment and highlight how Sarah still has kings chasing her as a 90 year old woman??? As Proverbs says, “Charm is deceitful and beauty is fleeting,” except, apparently, if you’re Sarah!

Then, before Abimelech ever touches her, the LORD appears to him in a dream and says, “You’re a dead man because you’ve taken a woman to be your wife who belongs to another man.”

Abimelech is like, “Woah, woah, woah! Lord, will you kill me even though I’m innocent? I haven’t slept with her yet and I didn’t even know she was married! She herself said, ‘He is my brother!’ You know my heart, and you can see that I am innocent here!”

In other words, “God, you know me, and you know my heart. I didn’t act in rebellion; I acted in ignorance.”

God responds, “I know that you are innocent, which is why I’ve kept you from sinning against me at this moment in time. I didn’t let you touch her. So, return her to her husband. He’s a prophet and he will pray for you so that you will live. But, please know that if you do not return, then you and all of your family will die.”

So, Abimelech’s innocence was real, and it was protected. God offered him a way out of judgment.

There’s a couple things worth highlighting here.

First, I want us to see the omniscient and omnipotent nature of God here. God is omniscient, which means God is all-knowing. He is omnipotent, which means he is all-powerful. And he is omnipresent, which means he is all-present.

In verse 6, God said, “Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning against me.”

So, God was able to see what no one else could see. He looked beyond Abimelech’s actions and deep into his heart and motives.

Let us never forget that God knows all things. There is no hidden corner of the heart, no concealed motive, no private thought that escapes the gaze of the all-seeing, all-powerful, all-present God of the universe. God doesn’t just see what you do; He sees why you do what you do. This is why David prays, “May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to you, O God!”

Second, I want us to see that God has a moral standard. In the midst of a world that seeks to redefine what is right and wrong, we have to remember that it is God who gets to determine what is right. God is the fixed standard of righteousness— he is righteous— and he cares about how we live. And, in this passage, we’re able to catch a glimpse into that standard, especially in regard to marriage. God here holds Abraham’s marriage in high regard. In a world that holds loosely the defining measures for marriage, God holds them tight. God did not permit Abimelech to take Sarah as his own. Why? Because she already belonged to another! Marriage, in the eyes of God, matters! It’s sacred! It’s binding!

Third, I also want us to see the grace and mercy of God here.

On the one hand, God could have brought immediate judgment to Abimelech, and he would have been just in doing so. Yet, he graciously provides a way for Abimelech to escape the coming judgment— “Return the woman and you will live!”

Fourth we see the faithfulness of God here!

Abraham has blown it! Yet, God remains faithful to the covenant he has made with him! When Abraham wasn’t faithful, God was. He’s actively working to save and preserve Sarah and Abraham so that they might be able to receive the promise he’s made to them.

God’s promises are not dependent upon Abraham’s perfection! The work that God has begun with Abraham, he would bring to completion for Abraham! He is working hard to ensure Abraham and Sarah receive the promise he has given them! And this faithfulness is rooted in grace!

Church, the same is true for us! You, like Abraham, will blow it! But, like with Abraham, there is grace on the table for you! The work God has begun in us, he will bring to competition! And if God promises to do something, he will be faithful to do it. Nothing will ever hinder him from carrying out his promises. Our plans may falter, and our faith may waver. But our God will never fail!

THE RIGHT RESPONSE FROM A PAGAN KING

Let’s continue reading.

“8 So Abimelech rose early in the morning and called all his servants and told them all these things. And the men were very much afraid. 9 Then Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, “What have you done to us? And how have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and my kingdom a great sin? You have done to me things that ought not to be done.” 10 And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What did you see, that you did this thing?” 11 Abraham said, “I did it because I thought, ‘There is no fear of God at all in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’ 12 Besides, she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father though not the daughter of my mother, and she became my wife. 13 And when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, I said to her, ‘This is the kindness you must do me: at every place to which we come, say of me, “He is my brother.” 

Notice first the immediate response of Abimelech. He took God’s word seriously, and he responded immediately. There is no rationalizing with him, no hesitation. He goes immediately. As soon as we woke up, he rose early in the morning and responded with obedience. He went and told all of his servants about the conversation he had with the LORD, and the men were very much afraid (take a mental note on the fact that they were afraid).

Following this, he calls Abraham, and is like, “Dude! What in the world!? What have I done to you to make you do this to me? How have I sinned against you to cause you to do this to me?”

Notice here that Abimelech’s acknowledgement of wrong doing. He acknowledged how what he had done was wrong. But he also wants Abraham to know that his actions were wrong, and he is to blame. So, he is asking him, “Why?”— “What did you see, that you did this thing?”

To which Abraham responded, “I did it because I thought, ‘There is no fear of God at all in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’”

I want us to pause here and notice the irony.

Abraham is saying that there was no fear of God amongst the people. But, judging by Abimelech’s response and his people’s response, there was a fear of God among the people. But, the irony here is that Abraham is guilty of the very thing that he was accusing the people of. The man who feared God least in Abraham’s mind is the very one who responds with immediate obedience, and the man who was supposed to be a prophet of God was using his words to deceive his neighbor. The prophet deceived while the pagan king acted with integrity.

Friends listen. The unfortunate reality of the sinful heart is that we are often guilty of the very sins we are most disgusted by in others. We condemn in others what we quietly tolerate in ourselves. And that’s what we see with Abraham. Abraham judged Gerar to be a people that didn’t fear God when in reality the fear of God was distant from him at this point and time.

And here’s the uncomfortable reality of this passage. It’s possible, at times, for those outside the church to act more morally upright than those within the church. And, although God will always preserve his promise and remain faithful, shame on us if this is ever true of us. Shame on us if the world displays a greater reverence for righteousness than the people of God. May we be a people who are quick to examine our own hearts, may we be slow to assume the worst in others, and may we be a people who are committed to live in such a way that displays God’s good character!

Following this, Abraham seeks to justify his actions with semantics.

He essentially says, “Well, actually, I didn’t really lie because technically Sarah is my half sister. We share the same father, just not the same mother. And whenever God called us to follow him, clinging to the promise of God to be made into a great nation, I made her tell everyone in a new place that she is my brother.”

So, again, Abraham felt safer hiding behind a half truth than full obedience. He began to believe that darkness is safer than the light. When hardship came, he allowed fear to rule his heart. When hardship came, faith took the backseat and fear took the wheel.

Friends, fear is a dangerous thing that leads us to do some foolish things. And I think Abraham’s example teaches us that we can either walk by fear or faith. You can’t do both. You can either walk through life gripped by fear or you can walk through life grounded in faith. Faith is rooted in trust and confidence in God’s ability to do what he said he will do. But fear is rooted in a trust in our own works over God’s.

Over and over and over again we hear the phrase “do not fear” in Scripture, and this command not to fear is always tied to the reality that God is with you.

• “Fear not… for I am with you.” — Genesis 26:24

• “I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” — Psalm 23:4

• “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.” — Isaiah 41:13

• “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear.” — Hebrews 13:6

If the consistent command is there, it’s there for a reason. The command “do not fear” is consistent because the struggle not to fear is constant. If God continually tells his people “do not fear,” it’s because he knows how often we will be tempted to fear.

We will all feel what Abraham felt. And, out of that fear, we will all be tempted to sin. We will all be tempted to sin like Abraham sinned when we feel what Abraham felt. But, we don’t have to give in to fear because we are not alone! God is with us always, until the end of the age!

Following this, Abimelech does something that I found to be shocking! Instead of cursing, he blesses Abraham and Sarah— “14 Then Abimelech took sheep and oxen, and male servants and female servants, and gave them to Abraham, and returned Sarah his wife to him. 15 And Abimelech said, “Behold, my land is before you; dwell where it pleases you.” 16 To Sarah he said, “Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is a sign of your innocence in the eyes of all who are with you, and before everyone you are vindicated.”

This passage is full of irony where the pagan king is acting more morally upright than God’s chosen instrument of blessing. Where Abraham was called by God to be a blessing to the nations, he is instead deceiving the nations… all while the nations are the ones blessing him. And as Abimelech is blessing Abraham and Sarah, I love the subtle sarcasm he uses in verse 16, “To Sarah he said, ‘Behold, I have give your brother a thousand pieces of silver.” As he’s seeking to restore her innocence, he’s subtly reminding her of her husband/brothers deception.

Then, in verses 17-18, we see the prophet pray for Abimlech and God do exactly as he said he would— “Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, and also healed his wife and female slaves so that they bore children. For the LORD had closed all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.”

God was faithful and gracious to carry out his covenant, even when Abraham sought to sabotage it!

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. What stands out to you most about Abraham’s actions in this passage? What surprises you about how he responds in a familiar situation?

2. Why do you think Abraham fell back into the same sin he committed earlier? What does this reveal about human nature?

3. In what situations are you most tempted to act out of fear rather than faith?

4. How can titles, positions, or spiritual maturity create a false sense of security in our walk with God?

5. What does this story teach us about God’s faithfulness—even when His people are unfaithful?

6. If Abraham—a man of great faith—was still vulnerable to sin, how should that shape the way you approach your walk with Jesus this week?

Easter Sunday (John 11)