Thursday Night Bible Study

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Genesis 26 

"Well, Well, Well, Well, Well!" • 4.29.10 • Thursday Night Bible Study

Intro.

- In Isaac's life thus far, we have seen that much that has been done to him and for him.

- In chapter 22, he foreshadowed the Lord's death and resurrection. In chapter 24, a bride is gathered to him, again a preview of what Christ currently awaits.

- Coming now into chapter 26, we see Isaac on his own.

- Isaac has been shown to be a man of prayer, praying for 19 years for his barren wife Rebekah. He had fought through that trial of his faith.

- As we move into chapter 26, Isaac will face yet another battery of tests that are strangely reminiscent to His Father's experience. Isaac will have to face them personally.

Text

• Genesis 26:1 : "There was a famine in the land, besides the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines, in Gerar." : This is the second of three famines that we will see in Genesis. The first one we saw occurred in chapter 12, when Abraham first came to Canaan.

- Isaac now faces the same dilemma. In chapter 25 he and Rebekah faced the identical problem that Abraham and Sarah had with barreness.

- Now, he and Rebekah must also face the famine.

- Isaac had heard what Abraham did and probably what he should have done. Isaac will show what he has learned by what he does.

- Isaac went south down to the land of the Philistines. Why move at all? Isaac was thinking about all that he had. Herds need to feed and drink, not to mention the needs of his family.

- Philistia was a stones throw from Egypt and was about as close as possible. It was like visiting Stateline on your way to Vegas.

• Genesis 26:2-6 : "Then the Lord appeared to him and said: 'Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I shall tell you. Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father. And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven; I will give to your descendants all these lands; and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.' So Isaac dwelt in Gerar." : The Lord knew Isaac's intentions: He was on his way to Egypt. His first words to Isaac are "Do not go down to Egypt."

- There is no mincing of words. God prohibits him directly.

- He tells Isaac "Live in the land of which I shall tell you! Dwell in this land." Isaac looked around him and all he was able see was dried up land. Why stay here?

- God reminds him that He "will perform the oath which I swore." God is telling Isaac that he can bank on His promises.

- "But God, there is a famine." There's nothing coming back on my investment. I am planting and planting. Sowing and sowing. I am not reaping anything by staying here in this!

- In the end, God has called him to live there. There in Canaan where there was a famine, where there was lack.

- These are hard words for Isaac to hear and hard for us as well. God sometimes says that we need to stay in an unsatisfying marriage, a difficult situation, or a distinct lack of contentment.

- Having the faith to stay is often as great as having the faith to leave! God tells him to stay there and the promise will be His presence.

- Can you ask for anything greater than that? To have God with you in the middle of your struggle, your disappointment?

- His presence in the middle of your suffering is greater than to have success without Him.

- There are two beautiful things that will happen when we obey and stay. First, the experience of suffering and the closeness of God's presence will create a deepened relationship.

- Consider any experience that you face with another person. How much are you bonded together? How close do you feel to that person or group? How much more so Christ!

- The situation because a joy because you enjoy the relationship so much!

- Second, staying allows you to see something miraculous occur, most of the time, changes that you see in yourself!

- "Who knew that I could ever be fulfilled in this situation?" All of a sudden, God's presence allows you see the situation in a new light. God gives this grace when you are where He wants you!

- Before you know it, in spite of the famine circumstances, you cannot wait to be there!

- For Isaac, and for us, we have to remember that there are promises are at stake.

- To Isaac specifically, and all of his people, staying in the land kept him in the promise that was given to his Father. But notice this: Now, that same promise belongs to Isaac!

- God was promising to Isaac, the same powerful promise that He had given to Abraham.

- It was promise of blessing, multiplication, but most importantly, the promise to bless the nations of the earth through the Messianic seed!

- What did Isaac do? He within the borders! Staying based on the circumstances is not attractive. Staying in light of His promises is an entirely different story!

• Genesis 26:7 : "And the men of the place asked about his wife. And he said, 'She is my sister'; for he was afraid to say, 'She is my wife,' because he thought, 'lest the men of the place kill me for Rebekah, because she is beautiful to behold.'" : Notice how God starts to move Isaac. First, there is insecurity. He is in Philistia and the men started to inquire about Rebekah. Like Father, like son, Isaac lies!

- ISAAC, NO! He repeats his Father's sin, almost identically.

- His fear led him to immediately forget his faith! We can all relate to that. We forget that God has promised his provision, but we still panic.

- There are two principles that we have to hang on to here. First, Isaac gave into fear. Fear always deals with what might happen. Faith responds to what does happen.

- Isaac was afraid of what might have happened had he not lied. Frankly, we should be afraid of what might happen if we sin! I should be afraid if I try to make things happen in my flesh!

- A second principle: We must concentrate on whose we are, not who they are! He feared the men of the place. Where was his trust?

• Proverbs 29:25 : "The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe."

- If I remember that God has called me, made promises to me, then I know that He will preserve and protect me.

- Unfortunately, Isaac chose to lie and this led to a long season of deception.

• Genesis 26:8-11 : "Now it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked through a window, and saw, and there was Isaac, showing endearment to Rebekah his wife. Then Abimelech called Isaac and said, 'Quite obviously she is your wife; so how could you say, ‘She is my sister’?' Isaac said to him, 'Because I said, ‘Lest I die on account of her.' And Abimelech said, 'What is this you have done to us? One of the people might soon have lain with your wife, and you would have brought guilt on us.' So Abimelech charged all his people, saying, 'He who touches this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.'" : A long time had passed, perhaps years. Isaac and Rebekah had become more comfortable with their lie. On occasion they stole away for some...you know!

- In the New King James the words are "showing endearment." In the King James it says that they were "sporting." Obviously, this means that they were enjoying a little raquetball...

- The word has a much more sexual connotation, so there was little doubt as to what was going on between them.

- Unfortunately, unbeknownst to them, they were right outside Abimelech's office window!

- Hilarious line: "Quite obviously she is your wife!" Here again, the man of God needs to explain his sinful actions to the Abimelech.

- Isaac's answer was paltry. I thought that I would die because of her. What had God just told him? Just like you and I, Isaac was prone to forget, or not believe.

- This Abimelech protects the family of the promise with a promise. God used his threat to keep Isaac and Rebekah out of further trouble. God has a lot of creative ways to protect His people.

• Genesis 26:12-14 : "Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the Lord blessed him. The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous; for he had possessions of flocks and possessions of herds and a great number of servants. So the Philistines envied him." : Just as Abraham prospered after his last lie, so also does Isaac prosper. The way that this is written gives us an idea of super abundance.

- He prospered, prospered some more and kept prospering until he was over prosperous!

• Genesis 26:13 (The Message) : “The man got richer and richer by the day until he was very wealthy."

- Everything that he had was numerous: Flocks, herds and servants.

- His wealth and blessing led the Philistines that were watching Isaac to envy him.

- They wanted what Isaac had and also wanted him not to have anymore.

• Genesis 26:15-18 : "Now the Philistines had stopped up all the wells which his father’s servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father, and they had filled them with earth. And Abimelech said to Isaac, 'Go away from us, for you are much mightier than we.' Then Isaac departed from there and pitched his tent in the Valley of Gerar, and dwelt there. And Isaac dug again the wells of water which they had dug in the days of Abraham his father, for the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham. He called them by the names which his father had called them." : The Philistines were looking to drive Isaac away by stopping up these wells of water. This was quite a vindictive move on their part.

- Envy and jealousy always move from passive to aggressive. The Philistines went from passive envy to aggressive action in stopping up the wells.

- A maintained well was the same as a claim to property.

- These wells were valuable, but the Philistines were content to keep them from Isaac.

- If we can't have them, then neither can you! Finally, their envy reached a fever pitch and Abimelech says it clearly: Go away from us! You are mightier than we are!

- This time of sojourn is becoming increasingly uncomfortable. There was a general attitude, but now there is a clear strong request that Isaac leave.

- Isaac, instead of aggrevating the situation, departed from them and began to re-dig his Father's wells in Gerar.

• Genesis 26:19-23 : "Also Isaac’s servants dug in the valley, and found a well of running water there. But 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 quarreled with him. Then they dug another well, and they quarreled over that one also. So he called its name Sitnah. And he moved from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it. So he called its name Rehoboth, because he said, 'For now the Lord has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.' Then he went up from there to Beersheba." : This first well that Isaac's servants dug was a well of running water.

- It was off the charts valuable, but the Philistines quickly claimed it as their own. Isaac called it Esek, meaning "contention." Isaac, again not being contentious, moved on.

- The second well that he dug garnered the same result and he named it "strife."

- Finally, at the third well, there was no quarrel. He called it "wide places." God had made room for them, notice the words "for now." This was a tenuous position that Isaac was in, but this well worked for now.

- Notice the digression: Insecurity led to lying. Prosperity/blessing led to envy. Envy led to active contention and strife.

- God is not seen. He has given Isaac his borders and let him make his own decisions. In God's sovereign way, He allowing the personality that he gave Isaac dictate his move.

- When he comes to Reheboth, Isaac is beginning to understand: God wants me back there.

- Isaac is being drawn back north, deeper into the land of Canaan.

- I think that you have all had a sense of this at some time in your life. God allows you your time of wandering, but He also knows how to draw you back!

• Genesis 26:24,25 : "And the Lord appeared to him the same night and said, 'I am the God of your father Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants for My servant Abraham’s sake.' So he built an altar there and called on the name of the Lord, and he pitched his tent there; and there Isaac’s servants dug a well." : That same night that Isaac returned to Beersheba, and God came to him. Notice that the Lord had been silent during that time in Philistia.

- There is no record that God spoke or affirmed any decisions, but you can see God was there.

- He allowed his child to roam, but protected him through the King's edict and led him by his own personality of non-conflict! Finally, Isaac is in the right place and God speaks to him.

- What does he speak? The promises that Abraham was given. God does not give him anything new. He reminds him of the Word that He had given him before he went away.

- God is so faithful. Isaac has spent a long time and a lot of energy off in the land of the Philistines. He comes back after all that time and God's promise is still there!

- Is this license for us to test the Lord? Not at all. But it is a testimony to the faithfulness of God to His own Word and promise.

- This time, Isaac responded. He built a place of worship and called on the name of the Lord. This was a turning point for Isaac. He was desperate for the Lord's presence.

- Notice the order: He came, he worshipped, he pitched his tent there and then he dug.

˚ "The place for God’s people is the place of God’s presence. The place of intimacy, worship, and communion with God is the place to abide. There we should dwell, and there we may be assured of God’s provision for our needs. Material needs are thus considered last, while spiritual needs are primary."

Bob Deffinbaugh

- This was going to be his home. Now, his servants began to dig yet another well. While that is happening, Isaac gets some strange visitors.

• Genesis 26:26-31 : "Then Abimelech came to him from Gerar with Ahuzzath, one of his friends, and Phichol the commander of his army. And Isaac said to them, 'Why have you come to me, since you hate me and have sent me away from you?' But they said, 'We have certainly seen that the Lord is with you. So we said, ‘Let there now be an oath between us, between you and us; and let us make a covenant with you, that you will do us no harm, since we have not touched you, and since we have done nothing to you but good and have sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed of the Lord.’ So he made them a feast, and they ate and drank. Then they arose early in the morning and swore an oath with one another; and Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace." : At this point, the Philistines realize that they had erred. They came to Isaac and initiated a treaty with Isaac. Isaac at first scoffs at their attempt, but soon warms up after hearing their words.

- Notice the words, "You are now the blessed of the Lord." Remember that this same scenario had taken place with Abraham. It was recognized that God was with him in tangible way.

- This pact of non-aggression was important, more for the Philistines than for Isaac. They were afraid of Him and the oath that they swore together brought them peace.

• Genesis 26:32,33 : "It came to pass the same day that Isaac’s servants came and told him about the well which they had dug, and said to him, 'We have found water.' So he called it Shebah. Therefore the name of the city is Beersheba to this day." : After the Philistines had gone, the servants came and reported that they were successful. They had found another well.

- This time, Isaac called it "oath." What was this in reference to? It was the oath that God had made with Isaac, the oath that he was now committed to following.

Conclusion

- God is so gracious and faithful. To the Israelites that were listening to this for the first time, they were hearing how special the promised land was, and that even in a time of famine, God made His man prosper.

- I pray that you might hear the same thing! We have come into the land of promise, the Christian experience. There are plenty of places to go, plenty of places that seem brighter, greener.

- God beckons us to stay, not so that we will see the landscape change, but so that we will see His faithful hand change our perspectives. That's what He wants to do!

Sunday Morning Service

Matthew 3 (click title for audio access...sorry for the excess noise at the beginning...)

"Hello John The Baptist!" • 4.25.10 • Sunday Morning Service

Intro.

- Certainly one who lived in the times that Matthew has been describing would have said that there were strange happenings in the land of Judea.

- There was astronomical phenomena, the unannounced visit and mysterious exit of a large caravan of Persian Magi, and somewhere in Bethlehem, rumor had it that a King was born.

- Matthew resumes his story about 30 years later. The first two chapters set the stage.

- Matthew comes back into the story and introduces us to a stunning character who will serve as Christ's forerunner: John the Baptist.

Text

• Matthew 3:1,2 : "In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!'" : Matthew makes no attempt to familiarize us with John the Baptist. Most of his details come from Luke's gospel.

- From Luke, we gather that he was the son of a priest and a barren woman, as well as the cousin of Jesus! This was no ordinary man!

- John the Baptist was a preacher. The word means to proclaim openly, or to to announce.

- His preaching brought about baptized converts. Preaching and subsequent baptism were so intertwined that he is literally referred to as the Baptizer.

- John chose to preach in the wilderness of Judea! Interestingly, he was not preaching in Jerusalem. He was where Jesus was about to be.

- Note his message: Repent! The word "repent" means to change your mind. Change your thinking! "Change your thinking about your life, actions, God, and heaven!"

˚ "What is repentance? Repentance is that the sinner forsakes his sin, puts it out of his thoughts, and fully resolves in his mind that he will never do it again."

Maimonides

˚ "In the understanding it means knowledge of sin; in the feelings it means pain and grief; and in the will it means a change of mind." Eric Sauer

- "Repent!?" He is telling people to turn from sin and to turn themselves to God. It's no good if they turn from sin and not to God. It must be a 180˚ turn.

- Who is he speaking to? Predominantly a Jewish audience. We'll get to that in a moment.

- There is urgency in the Baptist's voice because the Kingdom of heaven is at hand. It's right on the cusp of being fulfilled. It's as near as can be.

- You might think that repentance is just for those unregenerate people. And there is truth to that. To repent, as John was saying it, was to be converted, to be saved!

- However, it's significant that he speaks this to God's people!

- If Jesus was physically coming today, would you repent? I repent everytime there is an earthquake! Would you change your thinking about everything!?

- If we are honest, there is plenty that Christians need to repent of.

- How about fearfulness? Faithlessness? Anger? Hate? Bitterness? Jealousy? When we consider things that we should have done but did not, then we have a whole new reason to repent.

- The point is not to drudge up new reasons to look down upon ourselves. However, we must maintain a heart that is soft before the Lord and aware of that which offends Him.

• Matthew 1:3 : "For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: 'The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.'" : John was not a random person. He was fulfilling a prophetic role that Isaiah had spoken in Isaiah 40:3. John was Christ's herald, his forerunner.

- Turn over to Luke 1. The angel that announces John's birth also describes John's ministry.

• Luke 1:15-17 : "For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.'"

- He came to prepare a straight path for the Lord. This is a word picture for us.

- Before a King came into an area, a person, called a forerunner, and a team of servants, would go into that area before Him. He would check on the roads in and out of the given area.

- He was responsible for removing obstructions and clearing the route of the King.

- He would check the safety of the road, even filling up potholes so that road would not be bumpy! John fulfilled this role spiritually by preparing the hearts of the people for Jesus!

- He pointed out that the Kingdom was coming and it was going to take residence in the hearts of men, therefore, they needed to repent.

- The same is true right now. God wants a clear path in your life. Today, we do not have John the Baptist, but we do have God's Word and His Spirit.

- Sin clogs the corridor. The more sin, the less God can or will express His life through you.

- When he came, he announced the imminent presence of the King. Today, we announce the imminent return of the King!

- This passage helps us to understand the nature of the Kingdom as John and Jesus understood it. Wherever a King was, there also was His Kingdom in all it's totality.

- The Kingdom of God finds it's total expression in Jesus Christ, who is the King of Kings. John has the privilege of proclaiming the King's presence.

- We do the same as we proclaim Christ our King. We say that He has complete rule in our hearts, in the sphere of our influence.

- We show the world what His Kingdom looks like as we act, live and speak. I pray it's a good representation

• Matthew 3:4-6 : "Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins." : John was dressed like an Old Testament prophet. He wore camel's hair and wore a leather belt.

- John the Baptist looked like Elijah the Prophet as described in II Kings 1.

- Turn over to Malachi 4. The important thing about Elijah was that He was also expected to come before the Messiah. God's people saw this in John the Baptist.

• Malachi 4:5,6 : "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”"

- He came in the spirit and power of Elijah to perform this task of preparation.

- He lived off the land and when I say that he lived off the land, HE LIVED OFF THE LAND! He ate locusts and wild honey. Honey usually makes anything taste pretty good, but LOCUSTS!?

- In Leviticus 11:22, the people of God were given provision in their law to eat locusts, just in case you were wondering!

- John was a throwback to a time when Israel was visited by prophets of God. He represents the last of these prophets.

- At this time, it has been 400 years since an authentic prophetic voice from God has spoken. - When John came on the scene, his appearance brought out the masses. There was a growing hunger and thirst for God to do something significant and authentic.

- These people were genuinely moved and they wanted God to cleanse them as they confessed and were baptized. There was an expectation in the air.

- Sometimes, I feel that expectation is the missing element in our hearts. Do we expect God to do anything in our hearts as we gather?

- For these Judeans, they heard his preaching and responded with confession of their sins.

- Many people talk about revival and how they want that. Real revival begins right here, with confession of our sins, a recognition that our sin has come between us and God.

• Matthew 4:7-12 : "But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, 'Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones." : Like John, the details about the Pharisees and Sadducees are left out.

- These groups had been the heroes of the Jewish people. The Pharisees were the back to the Bible people. They were the conservative sect. The Sadducees were the more liberal group.

- The Pharisees were influential because of their stance on things. The Sadducees were the rich cats with the big pockets and the political influence.

- When they came up, they were the wealthy, aristocratic, "three piece suit wearing" guys.

- To these religious leaders, John yells, "Brood of vipers." Snake children! By the way, this is not the best way to get an offering!

- The Pharisees and Sadducees had become increasingly corrupted. When John sees them coming, he does not pull any punches.

- John uses an interesting picture that would be understood in that culture. It was a common experience to witness, as farmers would burn their fields after harvest time.

- When they did this, snakes and other animals came fleeing out from the flames. This was the same thing spiritually for these Jews.

- It's intersting here that Christ's coming signals both hope, love and joy, but at the same time wrath and judgment! For one team it's awesome. For the other, it's awesome for a different reason!

- John was discerning the reason why they had come to be baptized: They wanted fire insurance! John's message of repentance applies to them as well!

- He says, "Guys, I know you're not used to this but it isn't enough to get wet! You need to have a life that is radically transformed which proves the authenticity of your faith!"

- I love John's approach. Notice these principles:

- First, all are included in his message. He was going after the entire nation, including the religious leaders. John, being a priest's son knew better than most about their corruption.

- Second, he does not offer refuge in their lineage. They were Jewish, but that offered them no safety from what God was going to do.

- Tradition taught the Jews that Abraham sat at the gates of hell, just in case a Jewish person started down that path. "Oh no my son, you belong that way!"

- God can raise a religious person from a rock! That is nothing special! Don't rest in your religion or your background. God does not respect any of that.

• Matthew 4:10-12 : "And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.'" : His message is ripe with figures related to judgment. Notice how each of the following figures ends with fire.

- The first illustration is destruction. Destruction of trees that have borne lousy fruit!

- The ax is laid at the root. Those trees that do not bear good fruit will be cut down. Where will they go? The fire. A tree not fit for food, is fit for fuel!

- The religious leaders had borne fruit, but after their kind. It was not good fruit. John is saying that the King will do away with such "trees."

- The next picutre is of purification in the expectation of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

- John's baptism would be with water and it would be for repentance. This was an outward act, symbolic of an inward reality.

- The person baptized would need to repent again and again. That water would lack the power for transformative change. In a sense, a physical baptism was only outward.

- Jesus, the one mightier than John, would come and His baptism would be with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

- This baptism would be internal, the Holy Spirit would come into a believer's life to give Him power over sin and power to live a life that pleases God.

- What was John saying? He was saying that their external religious show was done!

- Now, God's people would have access to God's power, free from the bounds of reliigion. That fire of God in the believer's life would purify them from their sins, a function of the Holy Spirit.

- Third, we come to the illustration of separation. The winnowing fan or fork was used for separation of the wheat from the chaff.

- The wheat is the kernel, the valuable item. The chaff is what falls off of the wheat. It has no value. Here, John says that the chaff will be burned with unquenchable fire.

- Unquenchable fire will become a synonymous expression with hell later in Matthew.

- Jesus did not come to bring peace. His coming is weeding out the righteous from the unrighteous!

• Matthew 3:13-15 : "Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, 'I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?' But Jesus answered and said to him, 'Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.' Then he allowed Him." : Matthew switches the scene from this confrontation with the religious leaders to the coronation of the King.

- The contrast cannot be more evident. John has spoken prophetically of the destruction of religious systems and leaders that would take advatage of position over God's people.

- Here, Matthew presents John's view of Jesus. Jesus, unlike the religious leaders, has come to submit Himself to baptism. John has just defined his baptism as a "baptism of repentance."

- Why would Jesus need to be baptized? Did He have sins to repent of? John felt the same way, which is why he tried to prevent him.

- Jesus came to be baptized to affirm John's ministry. More importantly, Jesus was baptized as an act of beginning the work of redemption that water baptism would come to symbolize.

- Again, note the contrast: The religious leaders had come to John and he did not respect them. Here, he immediately recognizes Jesus and is a different man.

- Understand that theme. Matthew is presenting us with a credentialed King in chapter 1. In chapter 2, He is a recognized King by the Magi, who come from a far distance to honor Him.

- Here, John the Baptist, a man of God, a prophet, understands and witnesses to the reality of Christ's rule and Kingdom.

- John did not want to comply. The language implies that he kept trying to prevent Jesus. John knew that Jesus did not need to repent and he wanted the baptism that Jesus offered!

- Jesus tells John that His baptism would fulfill all righteousness. What is He referring to? He came to be the representative who would be made sin for us.

- John understood this. He was God's lamb who had come to take the sins of the whole world.

• Matthew 3:16,17 : When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, 'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.'" : John baptized Jesus, but something happened at Christ's baptism that did not happen any other time. Matthew says, "behold." It's his way of saying, "pay attention."

- When Jesus was baptized, heaven made a statement. This was a moment of revelation.

- Right here, you see the trinity in it's full glory, putting to death the concept of modalism, Sabellianism or "oneness" theology.

- That doctrine says that God is one person who shows himself three ways. Here we see three persons at once!

- The Spirit of God, like a dove, the simple but beautiful creature, alighted upon Christ. I have never noticed that word before.

- The idea is that the Spirit, the third person of the trinity, put a spotlight on Jesus. This is, and has always been, the role of the Holy Spirit: To bring attention to Jesus!

- He is ever showing us more about Christ. He is always bringing our attention to Him.

- When we study the scriptures and we see Christ in them, it's the Holy Spirit who is lighting our path toward that revelation.

- Then there was the voice. The voice of God the Father Himself, speaking about His pleasure in the beloved Son, in Jesus Christ.

- It's significant that we hear His voice right now, in this chapter. This is the first of several times that God will say this. Why does He say it here?

- First, this is the beginning of Christ's mission in earnest. He has been on Earth and has grown in wisdom and stature. That work was private. Here, He is publically presenting Himself.

- Second, a likely more affirming is this: Baptism represents an inward confession of consecration. It speaks of death to self and life to God and His ways.

- Jesus in submitting to baptism, submits Himself to the mission that baptism will symbolize.

- The Father is pleased to call Jesus His Son because of His willingness to embrace this call.

Conclusion

- Here at the end of our study, I am blown away at the parallels that strike at our hearts today.

- In that day, there was an expectation of Messiah's coming. Signs and wonders pointed to it, but the hearts of men pointed to it as well.

- Today, we await Messiah's second coming. Earthquakes, wars and rumors of wars, ethnicities fighting against one another, are all signaling His return.

- Couple that with the fact that men are lovers of themselves and not of God and you can feel it can't you? Jesus is coming back!

- His coming then signaled a great time of hope, but a certainty of wrath. Today, we expect to have our hope fulfilled and His righteous wrath against sin to be displayed.

- At that time, the forerunner called for repentance. Today, the Spirit of God calls for repentance! Repentance from sin and conversion, as well as repentance from dead works.

- Then, John announced that there would be a baptism of the Holy Spirit. Today, that promise is available to us.

- Then, Jesus was baptized and the Lord announced His pleasure. That hasn't changed at all today! What pleasure He has in those who would live the life that Christ exemplified.

Thursday Night Bible Study

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Genesis 25 

"Transitions" • 4.22.10 • Thursday Night Bible Study

Intro.

- Genesis 25 is a transition chapter, from the life of Abraham to the life of Isaac. Moses is tying up the loose ends of Abraham's story. The chapter as we have it breaks into four sections.

I. Abraham's History (v.1-11)

II. Ishmael's History (v.12-18)

III. Isaac's Introduction (v.19-23)

IV. Jacob & Esau's Introduction (v.24-34)

Text

I. Abraham's History (v.1-11)

• Genesis 25:1-11 : "Abraham again took a wife, and her name was Keturah. And she bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. Jokshan begot Sheba and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim. And the sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abidah, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah. And Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac. But Abraham gave gifts to the sons of the concubines which Abraham had; and while he was still living he sent them eastward, away from Isaac his son, to the country of the east. This is the sum of the years of Abraham’s life which he lived: one hundred and seventy-five years. Then Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people. And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, the field which Abraham purchased from the sons of Heth. There Abraham was buried, and Sarah his wife. And it came to pass, after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac. And Isaac dwelt at Beer Lahai Roi." : Moses records for us here that Abraham took a wife, Keturah, at about 140ish! I Chronicles 1:32 mentions that Keturah was a concubine. She was likely a concubine before Sarah's death. And they were very active!

- Keturah bore him six children that we sons. You'll remember that daughters were rarely mentioned in genealogies. Who knows how many children that they had over their 30 years.

- The two notable descendants are the Medanites and the Midianites. Medan, the Medo-Persians, are the twin countries of Iraq/Iran. Midian would also become a national enemy of Israel.

- Before Abraham died, he sent the sons of the concubines away, so that the inheritance would be thoroughly clear. Isaac was the sole beneficiary. No other would have legal claim.

- Abraham lived 175 and then was buried with his wife Sarah in the cave that he bought. Moses affirms that he died in a good old age, an old man full of years.

- One commentator mentions that the words "of years" are not found in the original manuscripts. Literally, it would read that Abraham died full. Satisfied. Without any want.

- When you live a life according to God's plan, there is nothing in this life that is good that you will be missing out on! Abraham is gone and then it's said that Isaac was blessed by God.

- Aside from Moses, there is nobody mentioned in the New Testament more times and in the world, there is not a greater influence than Abraham.

II. Ishmael's History (v.12-18)

• Genesis 25:12-18 : "Now this is the genealogy of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s maidservant, bore to Abraham. And these were the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: The firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadar, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These were the sons of Ishmael and these were their names, by their towns and their settlements, twelve princes according to their nations. These were the years of the life of Ishmael: one hundred and thirty-seven years; and he breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people. (They dwelt from Havilah as far as Shur, which is east of Egypt as you go toward Assyria.) He died in the presence of all his brethren. " : Moses gives us Ishmael's genealogy. He had twelve children that are called "princes" according to their nations. They were founders of the Arabic nations.

- This fulfilled what God had spoken to Abraham years earlier when he had to let go of Ishmael. God had specifically said that he'd have 12 princes. Promise kept!

- Additionally, Ishmael lived 137 years and then he died.

- We need to clear a few items about Ishmael. He was not the son of promise, but God loved him and blessed his life. He had a family and enjoyed that during his life.

- Ishmael was a riches to rags and back to riches story in life. Even though he represents the power of the flesh because of Abraham's failure to trust, Ishmael himself was a blessed man.

III. Isaac's Introduction (v.19-34)

• Genesis 25:19-23 : "This is the genealogy of Isaac, Abraham’s son. Abraham begot Isaac. Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah as wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan Aram, the sister of Laban the Syrian. Now Isaac pleaded with the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived. But the children struggled together within her; and she said, 'If all is well, why am I like this?' So she went to inquire of the Lord. And the Lord said to her: 'Two nations are in your womb, Two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people shall be stronger than the other, And the older shall serve the younger.'" : Isaac was 40 years old when he faced the same issue that Abraham faced years earlier.

- With the promise of God that there would be children, I am pretty sure that Isaac and Rebekah believed that having children would be very simple. However, this was not the case.

- After their marriage, the promise of children did not come as easily as expected.

- Rebekah was barren, just like Sarah before her.

- They had tried and tried to conceive but to no avail. Rebekah was unable to conceive.

- I wonder if Isaac wondered: “Was this the right woman?”

- Then I wonder if they started to think about how they would “help” God out?

- All they would have to do was look at their own history and they could see that “helping God out” was destined to fail.

- One cannot really imagine the shame for a regular woman. Today, it's a sad reality. Then it was considered a curse from God. Add to this the confusion knowing what God's promise was!

- Note this critical point: Each of us has to have our own faith. Each must be tested individually. Each will have their own story, their own testimony of God's work in their life.

- We cannot live on the faith of another. If we are going to walk with God, He will be working on us individually. What could Isaac do?

- Isaac, seeing this issue, confronts it head on. He pleaded with the Lord for his wife, on her behalf. He begged the Lord because she was barren.

- A wonderful example for us to note: When confronted with difficult problems, we must meet that with vigilant prayer.

- Moses let's us know that God heard and responded affirmatively. Hold onto that thought, as we'll return to it in a moment.

- Remember that God's plan was to multiply Abraham's descendants. Isaac prayed according to that knowledge. I thank the Lord that Isaac had the faith to pray.

- He had evidence of God's miraculous power when he looked in the mirror! But most admirable, when the pressure came and the fear was the greatest, Isaac did not cave.

- He did not call a concubine. He did not go down to Egypt. He prayed!

- When Rebekah conceived, she noted that her pregnancy was unusual, beyond the normal difficulties of a first pregnancies.

- Moses notes that there were children within her and that they struggled within her. The NIV translates the word "struggled" as "jostled." The spanish translation has it that they wrestled!

˚ "Jewish legends say Jacob and Esau tried to kill each other in the womb. Also, every time Rebekah went near an idol’s altar, Esau would get excited in the womb, and when she would go near a place where the Lord was worshipped, Jacob would get excited." David Guzik

- That sounds like fun! She had conceived, which was an answer to Isaac's prayers. Now, as she experiences this personal difficulty, it's Rebekah that goes into prayer action.

- She went to inquire of the Lord. I want to suggest first that she prayed because he prayed! He plead, she inquired of the Lord.

- The word "inquired" means to seek out. The word means to dedicate oneself to the search.

- Notice also that this seeking was focused. She kept asking the same question. She wanted to know the answer to one question: "If all is well, then why am I like this?"

- I like this sentence, even when not applied to pregnancy. “God, I know that you are with me but why can’t I stop being fearful?” "Why am I often attacked by lust?" etc.

- She kept on asking, seeking and knocking. What happened? The Lord said to her!

- This is wonderful. God spoke. God answered. He answered a specific question specifically, personally! Don't miss that!

- His answer is telling: You have two nations inside there! Well, that would do it!

- His answer explains her situation and gives guidance and vision for their life. And the surprising Word of the Lord was that the older of the children would serve the younger.

- This was contrary to the usual customs of the Ancient near east, which dictated that the first-born be given the power to rule and carry on the family after the patriarch was gone.

- God, before either had come into the world, had decreed that one would be stronger than the other. That struggle within her womb would provide an illustration that would define their lives.

- Rebekah will hold onto this word, as God says clearly that this is what He wants to transpire. However, we'll find that this clear word from the Lord was not enforced in their home.

IV. Jacob & Esau's Introduction (v.24-34)

• Genesis 25:24-28 : "So when her days were fulfilled for her to give birth, indeed there were twins in her womb. And the first came out red. He was like a hairy garment all over; so they called his name Esau. Afterward his brother came out, and his hand took hold of Esau’s heel; so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them. So the boys grew. And Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field; but Jacob was a mild man, dwelling in tents. And Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob." : This section gives us a study in contrasts, as well as a microcosmic view of Esau and Jacob's relationship. First, neither of them ever had their own womb! Sorry!

- Esau was the first to emerge and the details are interesting. He was red haired from top to bottom! He was like a red fur coat! They had to call him Esau.

- Jacob's name was just as appropriate. His first act was to grab at Esau's heel. It was a physical act that marked his life. He was always grabbing at the heels of someone.

- Isaac was 60 years old at the boys birthday. He prayed for 19 years 3 months. We pray for 19 minutes and think that we have exhausted the Lord! Don't give up!

- The boys grew and the contrast continued. Esau was a man of the field; Jacob was a mild man. Unfortunately, this seems to be a very poor translation.

- This word seems to make Jacob almost effeminate. The Hebrew word however has a very different meaning. It’s used 13 times and it is translated “perfect,” “undefiled,” “plain,” “upright.”

- When the same word is used of Job, the same word is translated “blameless.”

- The idea is that he was quiet, happy to be home.

- But verse 28, sums up the disquieting issue that marked their life. Isaac loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob!

- Instead of bringing up their children in the Word of the Lord, each is grooming their favorite. Isaac has likely already decided to bless Esau.

- Who knows why? Perhaps it was just his natural love for Esau. Maybe it was just an acceptance of the societal norm. This will come back to bite them both later.

- These words give us a framework that we will see pop up over the span of their lives.

• Genesis 25:29-34 : "Now Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field, and he was weary. And Esau said to Jacob, 'Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary.' Therefore his name was called Edom. But Jacob said, 'Sell me your birthright as of this day.' And Esau said, 'Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?' Then Jacob said, 'Swear to me as of this day.' So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright." : Esau and Jacob's struggles continue here with a well concocted plan of deception, laid out by Jacob.

- He knew very well what he was doing. Esau was easy to deal with. He was about as one dimensional as you can get.

- He'd go out and do the same thing everyday, and come back in the same way everyday. He'd spent himself entirely out in the field and come in completely famished.

- Jacob calculated his return and got himself in position to be the one that met that impulsive need. His stew was delicious and it was red.

- Jacob set the market value for the day: This stew will cost you your birthright. What was a birthright? It was the blessing that came with being the first born.

- The birthright involved 3 things. First, it dealt with material possessions. The birthright assured a that the wealth of the family be given in double portion.

- Second, the birthright dealt with the spiritual blessing of the family patriarch.

- Third, and most importantly the Messianic line would continue through the owner of the birthright.

- Jacob here is asking for not only the lionshare of the family wealth, but more importantly, the spiritual leadership of the family.

- It was the key to the family treasure box! It was the privilege to lead. Jacob wanted it, knowing that the Lord had promised it to Rebekah.

- No doubt, they had that conversation over and over again, as Jacob perfected her red stew recipe, likely Esau's favorite.

- When the price was set, Esau showed that the value of this long term, far off promise was not worth dying for. After all, he was going to die in that moment. Why hold onto this birthright?

- He held the idea of the birthright in contempt. It meant nothing to him. It was worthless.

- Turn over to Hebrews 12. The writer of Hebrews sheds some more light on the kind of person Esau was.

• Hebrews 12:14-16 “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright.”

- Jacob seized the oppportunity and gave him the bread and stew. Esau was satisfied with that momentary pleasure.

- What is sad is that this is the characteristic of this man who was not worthy of the leadership. He despised spiritual things, willing to waste himself on physical pleasures.

˚ “History shows that men prefer illusions to realities, choose time rather than eternity, and the pleasures of sin for a season rather than the joys of God forever. Men will read trash rather than the Word of God, and adhere to a system of priorities that leaves God out of their lives. Multitudes of men spend more time shaving than on their souls; and multitudes of women give more minutes to their makeup than to the life of the eternal spirit. Men still sell their birthright for a mess of pottage.” Donald Grey Barnhouse

- That being the case, Jacob is also someone who I find hard to admire. He wants spiritual things. He wants to lead. He wants spiritual responsibility. All of this is good and admirable.

- What is difficult is that his ambition for spiritual responsibility is accomplished through ungodly methods. His means are deception and trickery.

- And this is God's choice! He wants Jacob to lead. But God will have to redeem him from his own ambition and mistakes.

Conclusion

- Each of these 4 people represent 4 types of believers.

- To the Isaac believer I would say, “Love the Word of the Lord more than your personal preference.” He was ready to choose Esau, just out of preference.

- Our preferences are should be governed by a desire to first please the Lord, knowing that He will lead to a greater joy than we can bring to pass.

- To the Rebekah believer, I would say, “Let the Word of the Lord play out without manipulation.” God’s timing and will are perfect.

- He prepares the best time and the best way to bring things about. Our manipulation of the situation through deceit or any other natural facility will bring ruin to a good thing.

- To the Esau believer, I would say, “Live for the Word of the Lord instead of the pleasures of this world.”

- The temporary pleasures of this world do not compare with the ever increasing joy that comes from the Lord’s blessings.

- Finally, to the Jacob believer I would say, “Learn that the Word of the Lord can only bring blessing when approached in a godly way.” The God who ordains the ends, ordains the means.

- Jacob got the blessing, the birthright, but he did not enjoy it. When God gives it in His timing, there is blessing. When taken from that context, we can expect struggles.