Jacob and Esau
Genesis 25:24-34 Twins born. Birthright sold.
Eating/drinking/sinning.
Isaac had a taste for game – V28 – and therefore he loved Esau-Rebekah loved Jacob.
Adam’s sin was eating the forbidden fruit. Genesis 3
Noah drunk and sinned (uncovered himself) Genesis 9
Lot drunk Genesis 19
1 Corinthians 8 We have liberty to eat meat, but not to eat it if it causes our brother to stumble.
Esau gave up something very precious for something that smelled good, but was very temporal.
Edith Schaeffer, "What Is My Mess of Pottage?" Christianity Today (March 14, 1975), p. 50.
"How often do we put the question to ourselves, 'What is my mess of pottage?' Are we in danger of being tempted to give up something very precious in order to indulge a sudden strong desire? The desire may involve greedy eating and drinking, lusting after money or material things, letting loose our anger in abandonment of reason, cursing God in despair or disappointment without even thinking of the trap Satan may be setting for us, or giving in to a sweeping sexual desire without waiting for the right framework. The mess of pottage that is dangerous to you and to me is any temptation to gratify the 'feelings' of the immediate moment in a way that shows we 'despise' the promises of the living God for our future."
Genesis 27:1-29 Jacob gets Isaac’s blessing.
An oral blessing was as legally binding as a written will in the ancient Near East.
Given that the Lord had told Rebekah that Jacob would receive the God’s blessing (25:23) do you think she was just trying to help God out? Is this the same thing that Sara did with Hagar?
Isaac intended to give the blessing to Esau. What does this say about his relationship to God?
How is God’s sovereignty shown in this passage?
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Genesis 25
Genesis 25 – Isaac – Jacob and Esau
Recap of Abraham’s Story
Abram first mentioned at birth in 11:26 (his father was Terah)
12:1 God tells Abraham to Go forth and I will make you a great nation. I will bless those that bless you and curse those that curse you. In you all the families of the earth will be blessed.
Wife as sister in Egypt – Got richer
Came back and separated from Lot
Sarai plotted to let Abraham have a child by Hagar (Ishmael was born)
God revealed that His promise would be fulfilled by Sara
Abraham learned about intercession (for Lot)
Sodom is destroyed
Wife as sister in Gerar
Isaac born
Hagar and Ishmael sent away
Isaac nearly killed as an offering
Sarah’s death
Eleazar sent to get a bride for Isaac
Abraham marries and has 6 more sons
Abraham dies – all goes to Isaac.
25:5-9 – Abraham’s funeral
As we reflect back over the last several weeks in studying Abraham, what have we learned about our heavenly Father?
Has God shown you something new or reinforced something you already knew during this study?
• God can sometimes allow tests or trials into our lives to perfect our faith. Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac.
• God is able to send judgment on a city that is evil.
• God wants to include man in His plans.
• God invites us to pray.
• God is sovereign.
V19-26 –(before reading this) The Generations of Isaac.
The book of Genesis is divided into 10 sections of “Generations”.
The phrase "the generations of" (toledot in Hebrew, from yalad meaning "to bear, to generate") occurs ten times (really eleven times since 36:9 repeats 36:1), and in each case it introduces a new section of the book. A new toledot begins with 25:19. Its theme is "the acquisition of the blessing and its development and protection by the Lord."
We see that Isaac was 40 when he married – and Rebekah was barren for 20 years.
Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife and the Lord answered him and Rebekah conceived.
Does this situation remind you of anything? (Abraham and Sarah).
Do you think God was waiting on Isaac to intercede before allowing Rebekah to conceive?
Did Rebekah’s barrenness endanger God’s plan?
Rebekah had a problem pregnancy, which drove her to inquire of the Lord.
Is there something about being pregnant that makes a woman turn to the Lord, or was it the normal response of someone in a difficult situation?
V23 – God determined that Jacob would be the one who would be the one through whom God would fulfill his promise, but he was born second. This was contrary to normal cultural practice.
What does this tell us about God? Could he have caused Jacob to be born first?
Recap of Abraham’s Story
Abram first mentioned at birth in 11:26 (his father was Terah)
12:1 God tells Abraham to Go forth and I will make you a great nation. I will bless those that bless you and curse those that curse you. In you all the families of the earth will be blessed.
Wife as sister in Egypt – Got richer
Came back and separated from Lot
Sarai plotted to let Abraham have a child by Hagar (Ishmael was born)
God revealed that His promise would be fulfilled by Sara
Abraham learned about intercession (for Lot)
Sodom is destroyed
Wife as sister in Gerar
Isaac born
Hagar and Ishmael sent away
Isaac nearly killed as an offering
Sarah’s death
Eleazar sent to get a bride for Isaac
Abraham marries and has 6 more sons
Abraham dies – all goes to Isaac.
25:5-9 – Abraham’s funeral
As we reflect back over the last several weeks in studying Abraham, what have we learned about our heavenly Father?
Has God shown you something new or reinforced something you already knew during this study?
• God can sometimes allow tests or trials into our lives to perfect our faith. Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac.
• God is able to send judgment on a city that is evil.
• God wants to include man in His plans.
• God invites us to pray.
• God is sovereign.
V19-26 –(before reading this) The Generations of Isaac.
The book of Genesis is divided into 10 sections of “Generations”.
The phrase "the generations of" (toledot in Hebrew, from yalad meaning "to bear, to generate") occurs ten times (really eleven times since 36:9 repeats 36:1), and in each case it introduces a new section of the book. A new toledot begins with 25:19. Its theme is "the acquisition of the blessing and its development and protection by the Lord."
We see that Isaac was 40 when he married – and Rebekah was barren for 20 years.
Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife and the Lord answered him and Rebekah conceived.
Does this situation remind you of anything? (Abraham and Sarah).
Do you think God was waiting on Isaac to intercede before allowing Rebekah to conceive?
Did Rebekah’s barrenness endanger God’s plan?
Rebekah had a problem pregnancy, which drove her to inquire of the Lord.
Is there something about being pregnant that makes a woman turn to the Lord, or was it the normal response of someone in a difficult situation?
V23 – God determined that Jacob would be the one who would be the one through whom God would fulfill his promise, but he was born second. This was contrary to normal cultural practice.
What does this tell us about God? Could he have caused Jacob to be born first?
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Genesis 23
Abraham lives out his faith. Facts – V1-16
Sarah died at age 127. (she is the only woman who’s age is recorded upon her death).
She is also the only woman whose name God changed in the Bible.
Abraham’s choice of burying Sarah in Canaan demonstrated that he saw Canaan as him homeland, not Mesopotamia (his original homeland).
Hittite law specified that when a landowner sold only part of his property
to someone else the original owner had to continue to pay all taxes on the
land. However if he sold the entire tract the new owner was responsible to
pay the taxes (cf. 1 Chron. 21:24)
The piece of property was not cheap for Abraham; 400 shekels would be more than a hundred pounds of silver. At $36.70/oz = $58,720.00. David paid only one-eighth that amount—50 shekels of silver—for the temple site from Araunah. 2 Sam. 24:24
V 17-20.
How can we tell that this purchase was official?
The purchase was official.
There were witnesses, paperwork, and it was done at the gate.
Application
Abraham demonstrated his faith in God with this action. He showed that he believed that Canaan was the long term homeland for him and his descendants. He went to great lengths to buy the land and document that it was his indeed.
Abraham demonstrated his faith at one of the most difficult times in his life, just after Sarah’s death.
Similarly Jeremiah purchased property in the Promised Land on the eve of the Babylonian captivity to
express his belief that God would bring the Israelites back there eventually (Jer. 32:6-15).
Abraham lived like he believed God’s promise. Genesis 17:8 “I will give to you and to your descendants after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”
Here are some promises that God has given us in scripture.
How can we demonstrate our faith in God, given these promises?
Matthew 11:28-29
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Isaiah 40:29-31
He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.
Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion.
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
Philippians 4:19
And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:37-39
No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
John 14:27
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.
Romans 10:9
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Sarah died at age 127. (she is the only woman who’s age is recorded upon her death).
She is also the only woman whose name God changed in the Bible.
Abraham’s choice of burying Sarah in Canaan demonstrated that he saw Canaan as him homeland, not Mesopotamia (his original homeland).
Hittite law specified that when a landowner sold only part of his property
to someone else the original owner had to continue to pay all taxes on the
land. However if he sold the entire tract the new owner was responsible to
pay the taxes (cf. 1 Chron. 21:24)
The piece of property was not cheap for Abraham; 400 shekels would be more than a hundred pounds of silver. At $36.70/oz = $58,720.00. David paid only one-eighth that amount—50 shekels of silver—for the temple site from Araunah. 2 Sam. 24:24
V 17-20.
How can we tell that this purchase was official?
The purchase was official.
There were witnesses, paperwork, and it was done at the gate.
Application
Abraham demonstrated his faith in God with this action. He showed that he believed that Canaan was the long term homeland for him and his descendants. He went to great lengths to buy the land and document that it was his indeed.
Abraham demonstrated his faith at one of the most difficult times in his life, just after Sarah’s death.
Similarly Jeremiah purchased property in the Promised Land on the eve of the Babylonian captivity to
express his belief that God would bring the Israelites back there eventually (Jer. 32:6-15).
Abraham lived like he believed God’s promise. Genesis 17:8 “I will give to you and to your descendants after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”
Here are some promises that God has given us in scripture.
How can we demonstrate our faith in God, given these promises?
Matthew 11:28-29
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Isaiah 40:29-31
He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.
Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion.
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
Philippians 4:19
And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:37-39
No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
John 14:27
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.
Romans 10:9
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
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