Old Testament Personalities #13 - Joseph Part 2 - "Why Forgiveness?"

 This is the last study in this series, “Personalities of the Old Testament.”  We will begin a new series next time.

Last time, we talked about how Joseph endured hardship and was prepared by God for his specific purpose.  God used those things that happened to him to bring him into position to save Israel during the famine at the time.

Genesis 50:19-20 NKJV

Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.

Joseph tells them, “You banished me.  You sold me as a slave.  You did that for your own selfish reasons, and you were evil, but God meant it for good!”  There is one other thing, in this moment.

Their father had died.  They supposed that Joseph hadn’t killed them or banished them because of Jacob.  Jacob was dead now and they were afraid that Joseph would take revenge on them.

Genesis 50:15 NKJV

When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, "Perhaps Joseph will hate us, and may actually repay us for all the evil which we did to him."

So, they came up with a plan:

Genesis 50:16-17 NKJV

So they sent messengers to Joseph, saying, "Before your father died he commanded, saying, 'Thus you shall say to Joseph: "I beg you, please forgive the trespass of your brothers and their sin; for they did evil to you." ' Now, please, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of your father." And Joseph wept when they spoke to him.

They were fearful.  They didn’t know what Joseph’s attitude would be toward them.  They understood the evil that they had put on him:

1)      Sold him into slavery; and out of that

2)      The false accusations of rape

3)      The years in prison

All of that pain and suffering.  Think about it, how would you react to that?  What would be your attitude toward those who caused you that kind of suffering, for so many years?  I met a woman on outreach once, in downtown Taoyuan District that had a lot of cuts on her arm.  She had cut herself many times.  I asked her about it and she said, “It’s to let the pain out.”  She felt that she had suffered and was holding all of this pain, inside.  I said why don’t you forgive the person who hurt you and all of that will go away.  Do you know what she said? She said, “I will NEVER forgive him!” 

That’s the way many of us are.  When we’re hurt or angry we just hold on to it.  Do you know how I know that?  As you’re talking to someone, and the name of the person at whom they’re angry comes up.  How do they react?  You can see in their body language their attitude toward that person.  If they get angry at the mention of at person’s name…they haven’t forgiven.

One last thought on this subject is that this is one of the things that makes it difficult for people who have left the church because they got angry at someone.  Maybe they’re embarrassed about their reaction and getting angry.  In Taiwan, we call it losing face, don’t we?  I can’t face that person again. 

Other times, though, it’s because we cannot forgive.  That’s how Joseph’s brothers think Joseph will be.  Maybe, they know that they might be that way if all that happened to them.  After all, they sold him into slavery, in the first place, because they couldn’t forgive his visions of family leadership. 

Genesis 37:19-20 NKJV

Then they said to one another, "Look, this dreamer is coming! Come therefore, let us now kill him and cast him into some pit; and we shall say, 'Some wild beast has devoured him.' We shall see what will become of his dreams!"

In the Bible there is a parable of a man who owed a great debt but could not pay it.  His master ordered him to prison, but relented and forgave the debt.  It is in Matthew 18:21-34.  He comes upon a man who owes him a small debt and demands payment.  When the man who owes him the small debt says he can’t pay the first man orders him to prison.  The master hears of it and calls the man before him, and look at what he does:

Matthew 18:32-34 NKJV

Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?' And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.

I think the use of the word torturers is interesting here.  Would cutting yourself to, “let the pain out,” seem like torture?  How about ending relationships with everyone in the church because you’re embarrassed at your behavior, would that be torture?  Or ruining your relationship with God?  Look:

Matthew 18:35 NKJV

"So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."

And this:

Matthew 6:14-15 NKJV

"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

One thing I think we need to really understand from this, is that forgiveness is not for the other person, because if that person hurt you intentionally, he probably doesn’t even care if you forgive or not.  They’re not looking for forgiveness.  Possibly, you’ve been hurt by someone who may not even know they hurt you.  Forgiveness of those who’ve hurt us is not really for them it is for us.  We can find relief from the “torturers.”  We can receive forgiveness from God!

There is another aspect here, that I want you to see:

Genesis 50:18 NKJV

Then his brothers also went and fell down before his face, and they said, "Behold, we are your servants."

This is a moment of repentance.  This is how you receive total forgiveness.  Let me clarify what I mean by that for a moment.  If you borrow my car and wreck it, then refuse to repair it.   I’m going to forgive you.  I’m not going to hold a grudge or hate you forever, but do you think I’m going to let you borrow my car again?  So, let’s understand what forgiveness really is. 

When kids are little and they do something mean to someone else what do we do?  We tell them, “Say you’re sorry.”  Sometimes they say, “Sorry.”  Really? What are they sorry for?  Is that repentance?  Nope!  So, repentance isn’t just saying, “I’m sorry.”   Repentance is about real change!

Repentance is a change of heart.  You might say a change of direction in your life.  You were acting one way, heading in one direction and you turn around and head in a different direction.  That’s repentance. 

Acts 2:38 NKJV

Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

This comes after the people that have gathered outside the upper room cry out, “What must we do to be saved?” Repent.  And what is salvation?  It is the forgiveness of sin.

1 John 1:9 NKJV

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

You have to repent to be forgiven.  Jesus wants us to be faithful to forgive, as well. 

Finally, there's this:

Matthew 18:21-22 NKJV

Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

Do you think He meant only 490 times.  “So let’s see that’s ten times I’ve forgiven only 480 to go!”  What He means is, always forgive.  Be faithful to forgive.  Let it go! It’s a release for you. What they do with it is up to them.  If they are truly repentive, you will see it by their life.  You will see the change.  Back to wrecking my car.  If you repent and make it right, and I see the change I will let you borrow my car again…Probably…maybe. 

Let’s look at Joseph’s example again:

Genesis 50:19-21 NKJV

Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones." And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

This is true forgiveness preceded by repentance.  Repentance and forgiveness are powerful things. 

This study that we are just completing here right now has been about what we can learn from Old Testament personalities.  How does Adam speak to You?  Or Cain and Abel? Or Jacob?    I want to hear from you.  This is a personal thing, no one is going to judge you by what affected you.  Let’s take some time to hear from you. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Old Testament Personalities #12 - Joseph Part 1 "The Trouble with Joseph"

 Today, we’re going to talk about Joseph.  I want to start out by talking about the life of Joseph and dwell on the hardships he faced. So, let’s start with this:

Genesis 41:38-44 NKJV

And Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?" Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you." And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt." Then Pharaoh took his signet ring off his hand and put it on Joseph's hand; and he clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. And he had him ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried out before him, "Bow the knee!" So he set him over all the land of Egypt. Pharaoh also said to Joseph, "I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no man may lift his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt."

Now, this doesn’t seem like a hardship, does it?  Becoming the second most powerful man in the kingdom isn’t much of a hardship, but let’s look at the circumstances of his life before this. 

Genesis 37:3-4 NKJV

Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age. Also he made him a tunic of many colors. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him.

At the beginning of his life, his father makes him the favorite son.  He bestows blessing on his life and makes Joseph’s brothers very angry.  This is an example of ENVY.   His brother’s hated him and plotted against him, just like Cain plotted against Abel.  There were some other issues, like Joseph bragging that he had had two dreams that someday he would rule over the family.  That just added to the envy. 

Genesis 37:18 NKJV

Now when they saw him afar off, even before he came near them, they conspired against him to kill him.

They planned to kill him.  Reuben tried to save him, by convincing them not to kill him but to throw him into a pit, but then:

Genesis 37:25-27 NKJV

And they sat down to eat a meal. Then they lifted their eyes and looked, and there was a company of Ishmaelites, coming from Gilead with their camels, bearing spices, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry them down to Egypt. So Judah said to his brothers, "What profit is there if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother and our flesh." And his brothers listened.

If we kill him, there’s no money in it, but if we sell him into slavery, we make money and he’s out of our lives.  They all agreed to this, even Reuben.  His heart wasn’t into saving Joseph like he’d said only that he wouldn’t have to explain it to Jacob.

According to “The Timeline of History” Joseph was seventeen at the time.  He’s sold into slavery in Egypt and separated from his family.  He enters the service of Potiphar.

Genesis 39:1 NKJV

Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there.

Potiphar’s trust in him is so complete that he turns over everything to him. Joseph is in charge of it all. Everything he has is placed under Joseph’s authority. Potiphar believed in him because he saw the hand of God in all that he did.

Genesis 39:2-4 NKJV

The LORD was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD made all he did to prosper in his hand. So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority.

But Potiphar had a wife: She was the only thing that wasn’t turned over to Joseph. Potiphar’s wife saw something also in Joseph. She wanted him and tried to seduce him. But Joseph resisted her charms. He didn’t want to betray Potiphar. He didn’t want to sin against God, and so he fled from her. In other words, he did the right thing. Potiphar’s wife was angry, she was bitter, and she accused Joseph of rape.  He was sent to prison.

Genesis 39:19-20 NKJV

So it was, when his master heard the words which his wife spoke to him, saying, "Your servant did to me after this manner," that his anger was aroused. Then Joseph's master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison.

Sold into slavery by his brothers, falsely accused of rape and sent to prison.  The Bible tells us that God is with him, but look at what has happened in his life so far.  What would you be thinking if you knew God was with you, but all these bad things were happening?  What’s next for Joseph?

Genesis 39:21-22 NKJV

But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing.

In prison, the Bible tells us again that the Lord was with Joseph.  He’s suffering! God is with him and yet he’s suffering!  How many times have we seen that?  Christians losing their jobs, even though they’re in the will of God.  Christians becoming ill, or family members passing away, even though they’re serving God.  God being with us is no guarantee of a trouble-free life.  In fact, many times our serving God, or being in His will is a catalyst to assaults from the devil.

Pain, trouble and turmoil always come from the devil. The devil has no desire to give you a happy life. Unless making you happy and content with your life is the thing that will keep you from the Gospel. He’s only nice to us if it will move us away from the will of God for us. 

The next thing is that Joseph was put in charge of prisoners.  Two of Pharaoh’s servants were put into the prison.  They both had dreams.  Joseph interpreted them correctly.  The first was the King’s butler, and he was restored to service of the king.  Joseph asked him to remember him to Pharaoh.  The other was the King’s baker and he was executed, both  according to Joseph’s interpretation of their dreams.

Genesis 40:21-23 NKJV

Then he restored the chief butler to his butlership again, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh's hand. But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them. Yet the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.

Joseph remained in prison. He was sent to prison because he did the right the thing. Because he refused to sin, he’s being punished. When bad things happen to us, often, we think that God is punishing us for some misdeed. As a pastor I’ve heard that so many times, “I don’t know why God is punishing me.” But here’s Joseph, he’s done the right thing and he’s stuck in prison. God isn’t punishing him. What reason would God have to punish him, he’s been nothing but faithful and righteous.  What we’re seeing here is a strategy of Satan. It’s a strategy designed to wear us down and cause us to doubt God.  Think about this for a moment.  What was Satan’s lie to Eve?

Genesis 3:2-5 NKJV

And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.' " Then the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."

“'You’ll not surely die,' God lied when he said that. God’s a liar. 'He knows that in the moment you eat of it you’ll be like him.' God wants to keep you down. He doesn’t want you to be like him. He doesn’t want you to have wisdom." Eve began to doubt God. That’s what the devil is trying to do to you. “These things you’re going through, that’s God punishing you. He’s not a gracious God.”

 It's now been about thirteen years since Joseph was sold into slavery.  He’s thirty years old now.  That’s a long time to be suffering, isn’t it?  This isn’t the end of the story, though.  The Lord has been with him the whole time, look at what finally happens:

Genesis 41:14-16 NKJV

Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him quickly out of the dungeon; and he shaved, changed his clothing, and came to Pharaoh. And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that you can understand a dream, to interpret it." So Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, "It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace."

Pharaoh has a dream he doesn’t understand.  Finally, the baker remembers Joseph and tells Pharaoh that Joseph can interpret dreams, so he calls Joseph out of prison and tells him the dream.  After that he gives Pharaoh some advice:

Genesis 41:33-36 NKJV

"Now therefore, let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, to collect one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt in the seven plentiful years. And let them gather all the food of those good years that are coming, and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities. Then that food shall be as a reserve for the land for the seven years of famine which shall be in the land of Egypt, that the land may not perish during the famine."

Pharaoh hears the advice and likes it.  Then this happens:

Genesis 41:39-41 NKJV

Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you." And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt."

This slave, this accused rapist, this prisoner is elevated to be the second most powerful man in Egypt – The most powerful nation in the world at that time!

All of this makes me think.  Throughout the Biblical record of Joseph’s life, we kept hearing and the Lord was with Joseph.  When he was hated by his brothers, the Lord was with him.  When he was a slave in Potiphar’s house, the Lord was with him.  When he was in Prison, the Lord was with him.  Even though the Lord was with him, Joseph went through horrendous difficulty, but in the end he becomes the governor of Egypt.

Did you ever think that what we go through is God preparing us for a future that we may not see or understand.  As I’ve said before God is incapable of doing evil.  Only good comes from God.  All of the things that Joseph endured led to the plan of God playing out in his life. It may be just as true that the things you endure may be the things that bring about God’s plan for your life. The devil may mean these things for evil but God means them for good.

Genesis 50:20 NKJV

But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.

Joseph has an understanding of God’s purpose and plan for his life and how God brings it to pass.

Romans 8:28 NKJV

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

All things work together to bring God’s purpose to light in our lives.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Old Testament Personalities #11 - Jacob Part 2 "Usurper No More!'

 Last week we talked about Jacob and how he stole his brother’s birthright and blessing.  Jacob was a liar, cheater and thief.  We wondered how God could use someone like him.  Jacob became one of the patriarchs of the nation of Israel.

So, today I want to take a deeper dive into that.  I want to look at what made Jacob someone that God could use.

The Dream

Genesis 28:11-15  NKJV

So he came to a certain place and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. And he took one of the stones of that place and put it at his head, and he lay down in that place to sleep. Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. And behold, the LORD stood above it and said: "I am the LORD God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants. Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. 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 spoken to you."

In the dream God reiterates His promise to Abraham that his descendants would receive the land of Canaan as their own, and that in their lineage all of the families of the earth would be blessed.  But there is more to this.  Look at Genesis 28:12 again:

Genesis 28:12 NKJV

Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.

This verse describes Jacob's dream of a ladder reaching from earth to heaven, with angels ascending and descending on it. This vision is a picture of the connection between God and mankind, symbolizing divine communication and access to heaven. It reassures Jacob of God's presence and guidance.

It’s God’s way of telling Jacob, that this is coming from me and you can call on me anytime.  Angels are messengers from God.  That’s what an angel is literally. But the messengers are going up and down, symbolizing a two-way communication link.  The ladder in this verse can be a representation of prayer; seeking guidance and direction from God (Angels going up) and receiving it (Angels coming down).   Here’s where this gets really interesting, though.

1 Timothy 2:5 NKJV

For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,

That word mediator means go-between.  Someone who links two people.  For example, If I have an argument with someone and we cannot agree, we might go to a mediator to help us resolve the issue.  In this verse, Paul is telling Timothy that Jesus is the mediator between God and man.  Look at the following verse that ties this together:

John 1:51 NKJV

And He said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."

So, in Jacob’s dream, once again, we see a foreshadowing of Jesus in the Old Testament.

What can we say about this that relates to us as believers:

1)      We can come to God for Guidance and Direction.

Hebrews 4:16 NKJV

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

              God invites us to seek Him for wisdom and guidance, and He will be responsive.

2)       Jesus is that bridge between God and man.  This is why we pray in Jesus’ name.

John 16:26-27 NKJV

In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God.

The Cross is Mediation

Jesus became the mediator through His death on the cross.  He asked for forgiveness for us:

Luk 23:33-34 NKJV

And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." And they divided His garments and cast lots.

When He died that work of mediation was completed.

John 19:30 NKJV

So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

In this mediation all the families of the earth are blessed.  The question in this is that in order for us to receive that blessing we must do two things.  1) Repent, and 2) Confess Jesus as Lord and savior.

One final interesting thought in all of this is this is this:

Genesis 28:16-19 NKJV

Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it." And he 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!" Then Jacob rose early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put at his head, set it up as a pillar, and poured oil on top of it. And he called the name of that place Bethel; but the name of that city had been Luz previously.

In Israel in those days, people would stand up a stone and anoint it with oil to signify that God had moved in that place. It was a reminder for them of the power and blessing of God.  These stones would become a reference point in their lives.

 Genesis 28:20-22 NKJV

Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, so that I come back to my father's house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God. And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God's house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You."

Jacob is making this a reference point in his life.  This moment marks the moment when Jacob stopped being a usurper, liar and cheat.  He from this point on acts honorably and with integrity with his uncle Laban.  Laban cheated him on his promise to give Rachel for seven years of work, by giving him Leah instead.  Then, he required another seven years for Leah. In all of this Jacob acted honorably, no longer a usurper.

Jacob becomes Israel

Next, I want to look at one more aspect of Jacob’s life.

Genesis 32:7-9 NKJV

So Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed; and he divided the people that were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two companies. And he said, "If Esau comes to the one company and attacks it, then the other company which is left will escape." Then Jacob said, "O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, the LORD who said to me, 'Return to your country and to your family, and I will deal well with you':

Genesis 32:10-12 NKJV

I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which You have shown Your servant; for I crossed over this Jordan with my staff, and now I have become two companies. Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, lest he come and attack me and the mother with the children. For You said, 'I will surely treat you well, and make your descendants as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.' "

Jacob has received word that Esau is approaching wth four hundred men.  When Jacob left his father’s house to go to find a wife, he did that in a hurry because he knew that Esau had decided to kill him after his father died.  Now he’s afraid for his family because of Esau’s wrath.  So he cried out to God for what?  Salvation, which literally means to be saved.  Then he sends his family on ahead, and sits alone to wait for Esau to show up.

That night, as he sits alone something happens:

Genesis 32:24-28 NKJV

Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob's hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. And He said, "Let Me go, for the day breaks." But he said, "I will not let You go unless You bless me!" So He said to him, "What is your name?" He said, "Jacob." And He said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed."

The Struggle

We see Jacob wrestling with a “Man”.  But look at what he says later about with whom he wrestled:

Genesis 32:30 NKJV

So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: "For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved."

Jacob recognizes that he has wrestled with God.  Really, it is the “Angel of the Lord” whom we know is Jesus. (A Biblical declaration that Jesus is God.) 

This battle is taking place, and Jacob grabs a hold of the man and will not let Him go until he receives a blessing.  Finally, the man blesses him by changing his name from Jacob to Israel.  Look at the reason why

Genesis 32:28 KJV

And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

His name was changed from Jacob, the usurper; the liar; the thief to Israel, the “Prince of God.”  That is literally what Israel means.  One who prevails or overcomes.  This is a picture of what happens to us in salvation as well.  We are changed, no longer are we what we were, but now have a new name in Jesus:

Revelation 2:17 NKJV

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it." '

So now Israel has become, through these experiences someone that God can use.  Just like us.  We came from backgrounds full of sin, just like Jacob, but we’ve overcome. We’ve been changed.  Our testimony is something that can be used to help others come to Christ.  We can be used by God, just like Jacob (Israel)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Old Testament Personalities #10 - Jacob and Esau "Jacob the Usurper and Profane Esau"

 Today, I want to start looking at Jacob’s life.  He was born when Isaac was sixty years old.  Abraham was one hundred sixty years old. Isaac had a twin brother named Esau.  Esau was considered the oldest because he came out first.  Rebeckah, Isaac’s wife had a difficult time during her pregnancy:

Genesis 25:21-22 NKJV

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

She must have been very uncomfortable, because she went to God and said, “If all is well, why am I like this?”  She’s like us isn’t she?  When things in our lives are difficult and uncomfortable we all say, “Why is it like this God?”  She may be thinking “God, you gave this blessing to me when Isaac cried out to you for me. If this is from You, why is it so hard?”  We think if it came from God, it should be easy, with no difficulty, don’t we?  But it isn’t always like that.  Life sometimes intrudes on the blessings of God in our lives.

Look at God’s reply to Rebeckah:

Genesis 25:23-24 NKJV

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." So when her days were fulfilled for her to give birth, indeed there were twins in her womb.

She gave birth to twin sons, Esau and Jacob.  Esau was born first, followed closely by Jacob, who had actually grabbed ahold of Esau’s heel.

Genesis 25:25-26 NKJV

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.

The name Jacob, literally mean – Heel Grabber.  The implication is that he is a usurper, as if he was attempting to keep Esau from being the first born. 

In Isaac's time, the firstborn son held a privileged position in the family and was entitled to special inheritance rights. This was known as the birthright, which included:

• A double portion of the inheritance: The firstborn received twice as much as the other sons (Deuteronomy 21:17).
• Leadership of the family: He would become the head of the household after his father’s passing.
• Blessing from the father: A special blessing was given, which carried significant spiritual and material implications.

But that inheritance could be lost or transferred.  Look at this interaction between the two brothers:

Genesis 25:29-34 NKJV

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.

So this is one of the ways in which Jacob’s name was a prophecy of who he would become.  Basically, he’s taken advantage of Esau and STOLEN his birthright. This gives you an idea of Jacob’s character during this part of his life.  But I want you to understand that we can change who we are during our lives.  For example, I am not the same person that I was in my twenties.  There has been a change in my personality as well as my character.  I’ve changed as a result of my encounter with Jesus.  Jacob’s character changes for the exact same reason later in his life and we will examine that in another lesson.

Esau and a Bowl of Beans

I want to look, though at this episode with respect to Esau.

Genesis 25:32-34 NKJV

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 had been out hunting, and he returned, and the Bible says he was weary.  We, in the times we live in, use the word weary to mean tired or exhausted.  But the word translated from the Hebrew carries the idea of being faint or weak from hunger.  It implies a great need for rest and nourishment.  This is the state that Esau was in when he returned and saw Jacob had cooked a stew made of Lentils. 

But remember Jacob was a usurper and an opportunist and uses this to manipulate Esau into giving him his birthright, which is his inheritance.  I want you to think about this for a moment.  Basically, his birthright had so little importance in his life that he gave it up for one meal.  He said, “Look, I am about to die, what does this birthright mean to me?”  That’s really another way of saying, “Who cares? It’s not important to me!”  The Bible says he “despised” his birthright.  So, according to the Bible he had disdain for his birthright. You could say he took that birthright for granted.

Each of us, through virtue of our salvation also have a birthright.  We have an inheritance in God:

Romans 8:16-17 NKJV

The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

How many of us take that inheritance for granted.  How many of us are willing to give up the promises because of some trivial thing.  Have you seen people backslide because of some old habit that they can’t break free from? Or maybe because of some hot girl or handsome guy?  Or maybe leave the church to take a job that pays just a little more, but requires that they work during service times?  Is this much different than what Esau did when he sold out his birthright for a bowl of beans?  Not too much.

Here is the really sad part that is a warning for us:

Hebrews 12:16-17 NKJV

lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.

Do we really want to take such a risk with our inheritance.  Are we so willing to throw away the promise of God.  We need to guard our hearts and our thoughts.  What we care about we will do what we must to protect it.  We need to diligently seek God to protect our birthright in Salvation.

Isaac’s Final Blessing

Isaac has become blind and is very old and near death.  It’s become time for him to bless his sons with their inheritance.  He tells Esau go and hunt some game, cook it for me so that I can eat it and bless you. Rebeckah overhears this:

Genesis 27:6-7 NKJV

So Rebekah spoke to Jacob her son, saying, "Indeed I heard your father speak to Esau your brother, saying, 'Bring me game and make savory food for me, that I may eat it and bless you in the presence of the LORD before my death.'

Let’s leave the story for a moment and look at the relationship between all of them:

Genesis 25:28 NKJV

And Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

Isaac had more affection for Esau…and Rebeckah had more affection for Jacob.  In other words, they each had their favorite.  Rebeckah was determined that Jacob would receive the blessing and she gives him some diection:

Genesis 27:9-10 NKJV

Go now to the flock and bring me from there two choice kids of the goats, and I will make savory food from them for your father, such as he loves. Then you shall take it to your father, that he may eat it, and that he may bless you before his death."

She has come up with a plan to deceive Isaac and usurp Esau’s blessing for Jacob. 

Genesis 27:14-17 NKJV

And he went and got them and brought them to his mother, and his mother made savory food, such as his father loved. Then Rebekah took the choice clothes of her elder son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob her younger son. And she put the skins of the kids of the goats on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck. Then she gave the savory food and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.

Remember that Esau was a hairy man and Jacob was not.  So, she put the goat fur on his hands and neck so he would appear to be hairy to his father who was blind.  Then she put Esau’s clothes on him so that he would carry Esau’s smell. Then she cooked the meal and bread and gave it to him.

Jacob received the blessing that was meant for Esau, through this deception:

Genesis 27:22-24 NKJV

So Jacob went near to Isaac his father, and he felt him and said, "The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau." And he did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau's hands; so he blessed him. Then he said, "Are you really my son Esau?" He said, "I am."

Genesis 27:27 NKJV

And he came near and kissed him; and he smelled the smell of his clothing, and blessed him and said: "Surely, the smell of my son Is like the smell of a field Which the LORD has blessed.

Jacob has deceived Isaac and now receives his brother’s blessing:

Genesis 27:28-29 NKJV

Therefore may God give you Of the dew of heaven, Of the fatness of the earth, And plenty of grain and wine. Let peoples serve you, And nations bow down to you. Be master over your brethren, And let your mother's sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, And blessed be those who bless you!"

Jacob now has stolen his brother’s birthright, deceived Isaac, and usurped his brother’s blessing.  He goes on to become one of the great patriarchs of our faith.  How can God use this deceitful, lying, thief to perpetuate the lineage of Jesus and to be the father of the nation of Israel?

I’m going to dive into this next week, and you will see how God can do this.  It is a testament to God’s power to change lives and use those who we would consider to be unusable.

 

 

 

Personalities of the Old Testament #9 - Isaac "A Type of Jesus"

 In Today’s Bible Study, I want to look at Isaac, the son of Abraham.  Isaac is the “Son of the Promise.”  He’s the one that God said:

Romans 9:7 NKJV

nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, "IN ISAAC YOUR SEED SHALL BE CALLED."

It’s through Isaac that all of God’s promises to Abraham would begin:

1)      I will make you a great nation (Gen 12:2)

2)      I will bless you and make your name great (Gen 12:2)

3)      I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you (Gen 12:3)

4)      In you all the families of the earth will be blessed (Gen 12:3)

5)      To your descendant I will give this land (Gen 12:7)

Here, though is what I want to look at.  We already looked at this through Abraham’s faith but now I want to look at it with regard to Isaac.  In Old Testament there are a number of people that are considered to be a “TYPE” of Jesus.  This is a person that foreshadows some aspect of Jesus.  For example:

·       Adam is a type of Christ because both were representatives of humanity, but while Adam brought sin, Jesus brought salvation.

• The Passover Lamb is a type of Christ, as its blood saved Israel from death, just as Jesus’ sacrifice brings eternal life.
• Jonah spending three days in the belly of the fish foreshadows Jesus’ three days in the tomb before His resurrection.

Those things, “which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.” (Col 2:17)

As we look at Isaac, we can see that in one experience in his life, he is a type of Jesus.  That’s what I want to look at today!  So, let’s begin with the story of God’s call and we will work from there:

Genesis 22:2 NKJV

Then He said, "Take now 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."

I want you to see the ways in which Isaac is a type of Jesus so as we go through the story we will break it down.

Only Begotten Son

God told Abraham, "Take now 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." 

Isaac was Abraham’s only son, just like Jesus was the “only begotten Son of God.”

John 3:16 NKJV

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

This is the first way in which Isaac is a type of Jesus.  Both were only begotten sons that were to be sacrificed.  Now look at this:

Genesis 22:3-6 NKJV

So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off. And Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you." So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together.

Carrying the Wood

Abraham gave Isaac the wood for the burnt offering.  Isaac carried it up the mountain to the place where the altar was built.

Jesus carried His cross to Golgotha (Calvary):

John 19:16-17 NKJV

Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified. Then they took Jesus and led Him away. And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha,

So, both Jesus and Isaac carried the methods of their execution upon themselves.

The Promised Son

Abraham was seventy-five years old when God called him out of Haran.  It was then that God promised him descendants:

Genesis 12:1-3NKJV

Now the LORD had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, From your family And from your father's house, To a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."

The inference of this statement is that Abraham’s descendants would become a great nation.  But Abraham was childless and his wife was barren.  So, in a sense God was promising him a son to carry on his lineage.  Then there was this:

Genesis 15:3-4 NKJV

Then Abram said, "Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed, one born in my house is my heir!" And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir."

God tells him, “…but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir."  This is a definite promise of a son.  God is making a promise of a son.

There was another son whom was promised by God.  Here’s God speaking through Isaiah:

Isaiah 9:6-7 NKJV

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Abraham waited twenty-five years for the son of God’s promise.  This prophecy by Isaiah was made approximately seven hundred years before Jesus’ birth.  So Jesus is also a promised Son.

A Sacrificial Offering

Genesis 22:2 NKJV

Then He said, "Take now 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."

God has called Abraham to “offer him there as a burnt offering.” This is a call to offer his son as a sacrifice.  Abraham in his obedience gave his only “begotten” son.  Although Ishmael was his son, also, Isaac was his only legitimate son.

God also gave His Only begotten Son:

John 3:16 NKJV

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Hebrews 9:28 NIV

so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

In the same way that Abraham freely gave his son for a Sacrifice, God also freely gave His Son for a sacrifice. 

Substitutionary Sacrifice

Isaac was spared when God gave a Ram (lamb) as a substitution for Isaac.

Genesis 22:13 NKJV

Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So, Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.

The Ram was killed so that Isaac would be saved.  Look at the following verses about Jesus:

Isaiah 53:5 NIV

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

Hebrews 9:28 NIV

so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

Jesus was sacrificed as a substitute for us.  He was the “Lamb of God.” Offered freely for us.  A substitutionary sacrifice.

Resurrection

Hebrews 11:17-19 NKJV

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, "IN ISAAC YOUR SEED SHALL BE CALLED," concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.

Abraham was tested by God in all of this.  Go was testing his faith.  We discussed that in our last study, as we talked about Abraham’s regained faith. He understood and was confident that God could and would raise Isaac from the dead, in order to fulfill his promises to Abraham.

Luke 24:44-46 NIV

He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms." Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, "This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,

There are a number of prophecies concerning Jesus’ death and resurrection.  His death was the fulfillment of these promises.  In the same way that the lamb offered in stead of Isaac was the fulfillment of promises that God made to Abraham.  I am sure that the prophets spoke as confidently of God’s fulfillment of these promises as Abraham did.

Submitted to Father’s Will

Do you remember that I said last time that Isaac must have had great faith, because he willingly submitted to Abraham tying him up and setting him on the altar.  He didn’t fight, he didn’t run, he just allowed Abraham to prepare him to be the sacrificial lamb.  He submitted to his father’s will in this sacrifice.  This is a powerful example of faith and obedience.  He was willing to submit to death to obey his father.

Jesus, when his time to be betrayed came to pass, He went to Gethsemane to pray.  Three times He went to His knees and said this prayer:

 Luke 22:42 NKJV

saying, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done."

He is submitting to His Father’s will.  He is obedient in the same way that Isaac was obedient. 

So, after looking at this comparison you can see how Isaac is a foreshadowing, a picture, of Jesus in the Old Testament.  They both:

1)      Were the Only Begotten Son

2)      Carried the Method of Their Execution

3)      Were Promised Sons

4)      Were to be a Sacrifice

5)      Substitionary Sacrifice

6)      Resurrected (Isaac Figuratively, Jesus Literally)

7)      Submitted to Their Father’s Will

 

 

Personalities of the Old Testament #8 Abraham Part 3 "Faith Regained"

 This week we’ll continue with our study on Abraham.  Last week we looked at his struggle with faith.  It centered around God’s declaration that he would have a son, through his wife Sarah.

If you remember Abraham was lamenting the fact that he had no children and that Eliezer of Damascus would be his heir:

Genesis 15:2-4 NKJV

But Abram said, "Lord GOD, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?" Then Abram said, "Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed one born in my house is my heir!" And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir."

In fact, look at this Abraham laughed when God told him his ninety-year-old, barren wife would have a child.

Genesis 17:16-17 NKJV

And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her." Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, "Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?"

Sarah also laughed when presented with the news:

Genesis 18:12-13 NKJV

Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, "After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?" And the LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh, saying, 'Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?'

They had even gone to the extent to take Sarah’s maidservant and cause her to conceive a child, because they couldn’t see how God could cause her to have a child.  This is a picture of Abraham’s loss of faith.  This s when the “Father of our Faith” allowed his faith to fail.

Even so, God wasn’t done with Abraham. He set a test for Abraham:

Genesis 22:1-2 NKJV

Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." Then He said, "Take now 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."

God is testing Abraham on his obedience ad faith.  Think about this God has made a promise to Abraham that he would have a son through Sarah.  He promised that Abraham would be the father of a great nation.  He promised that through him all the nations of the world will be blessed.

Now, though, God is telling him to sacrifice that same son; the son of the promise.  It’s through Isaac that all of the promises were to be made true.

Genesis 21:12 NKJV

But God said to Abraham, "Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called.

Isaac’s descendants will inherit the land promised to Abraham.  Isaac’s descendants are the ones through whom Jesus will be born.  They are the ones through whom the world will be blessed. 

Space and Time

This promise was originally made to Abram (Abraham) twenty-five years earlier.  This tells us that God has a longer-range view of events than we do.  We see things only in the present, what’s happening before us at any given moment, but God can see through time.  He can see outcomes. 

This is kind of a difficult concept, but God always was.  He has no beginning and no end.  He is outside of time as we understand it.  Human beings are constrained by space and time, but God is not. That’s why the Bible has statements like:

2 Peter 3:8 NKJV

But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

Twenty-five years may be a long time for us, but it isn’t a long time for God.  We get caught up in the idea that God would respond to us in a time that seems timely to us.  I talked to someone in church one time about tithing.  I told them that God would bless if they would tithe.  After all this has been my experience.  They said “Okay, I’m going to tithe.”  They started tithing, but then gave up.  I asked, “What happened?”  They said, “I tithed for three weeks and there was no blessing!”

A lot of the time, it’s faithfulness over time that sees the blessing.  It isn’t a one and done kind of thing.  When we first got married, we got a word from God through Pastor Glen Cluck.  It turned out to be a prophetic word, but it took at least twenty-five years to come to fruition.  Over all that time we continued to believe and stay faithful. 

Abraham received a long-range prophecy from the mouth of God.  Abraham must have struggled a bit with God’s timeline, just like we do, or he wouldn’t have agreed to impregnating Hagar.  Twenty-five years later Isaac was born.  This is the beginning of the fulfillment of the prophecy.

The Testing of Abraham

Look again at Genesis 22:1-2:

Genesis 22:1-2 NKJV

Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." Then He said, "Take now 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."

So, God tells Abraham, “Here is the child I promised.  This is the one that I said would be the beginning of your lineage.  The one who will inherit all the promises I made to you.  Now take him and sacrifice him on Mount Moriah.”

How would you react to that?  Would you be hugely disappointed?  Would you be obedient to what God is asking.  Think about your children, would you be able to do this thing?  God doesn’t always ask for easy things.   Sometimes, he asks for difficult things.

So, what does Abraham do?

Genesis 22:3 NKJV

So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.

Once again, Abraham responds to God’s call and immediately leaves for Mount Moriah. This was a journey, mount Moriah wasn’t next door it was more than a three-day walk.

Genesis 22:4-5 NKJV

Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off. And Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you."

You guys wait here, and we’ll go and worship!

Genesis 22:6-8 NKJV

So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together. But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, "My father!" And he said, "Here I am, my son." Then he said, "Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" And Abraham said, "My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering." So the two of them went together.

Isaac is beginning to put it together.  Look, here’s the wood, and the fire, but there’s no lamb to burn.  Abraham makes a faith statement here…God will provide.  He’s not just trying to hide it from Isaac.  He’s not just trying to keep from telling Isaac, “you, you’re the lamb!”  He truly believes that God will provide an offering. 

Look at what happens:

Genesis 22:9-10 NKJV

Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.

I think this is an interesting moment, right here.  Abraham is following God’s instruction.  He knows that all the promises that God made to him are tied to Isaac.  He is fully prepared to o through with this.  He’s fully prepared to sacrifice Isaac, I fact he takes the knife to do that.

What makes this so interesting is Isaac’s response during all of this. Abraham is 100+ years old but Isaac is much younger.  He’s not a child, probably a young adult.  I would think he‘s much faster and stronger than Abraham.  He could have resisted.  He could have fought.  He could have run away, but he submitted to what God had called Abraham to do.  We talk about the faith of Abraham but right here is great faith also. 

Abraham knew that all the promises of God rested in Isaac, but he decided that he was going to do what God asked.  Why?  Here is the answer to that question:

Hebrews 11:17-19 NKJV

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, "IN ISAAC YOUR SEED SHALL BE CALLED," concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.

He was convinced that even if he sacrificed Isaac, God would raise him up in order to deliver on his promises.  Can you believe like that in your own life?  What if God called you to sacrifice that thing in your life that’s important to you?  Would you be willing to put it on an altar and sacrifice if God asked you to do that?  Isaac is the most important thing in Abraham’s life and God said, “Give Isaac to me!”

Remember the story of the rich, young ruler.  Jesus asked him to sell his possessions and follow Him.  He couldn’t do it!  His possessions were too important to him.  What do you have in your life that you couldn’t give up if God asked?

Look at how this whole thing ended up:

Genesis 22:10-13 NKJV

And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" So he said, "Here I am." And He said, "Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me." Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.

God did provide the lamb for the sacrifice.  He was testing Abraham, “I know that you fear God…” Do you think God tests our faith?  I believe that He does.  There may be a point where God asks you for something…can you do what Abraham did?

Summary:

Abraham responded immediately to God’s call to offer Isaac.  No hesitation. 

He believed that even if he sacrificed Isaac, that God would raise him up in order to bring about his promises.

Isaac had great faith as well to submit to this.

Abraham also believed in God’s provision.  We sing that chorus Jehovah-jireh; this is where it comes from.  Jehovah-jireh literally translates as the Lord Who Provides.

God tests our faith to strengthen it and reveal its depth.