“And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew dialect, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ And I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. - Acts 26:14-15

It had been 20 years since Jacob left Canaan, in part to find a wife but also to escape his brother’s wrath. At the time Esau wanted to kill Jacob for “stealing” his blessing. Rebekah urged her husband Isaac to send Jacob away to Haran primarily because she wanted to protect him from harm. Now, after all this time, Jacob was returning home. Would Esau be waiting for him? Would he still be angry?

They say that “time heals all wounds”. I’m not sure if that’s always true, as some pain never goes completely away. But time can make our hurts feel less tender. In this case, would Esau still be harboring a grudge? Had he forgiven Jacob for the sorrow he’d caused? Had Esau’s pain diminished or was it still fresh? In today’s sermon, we will discover what happened when Jacob and Esau were reunited after their long separation.

I. PREPARING TO MEET (Genesis 32:1-21)

Following his uncle Laban’s departure, Jacob camped near the Jabbok River. The Jabbok is a tributary located east of Canaan that follows into the Jordan River. He named the site Mehamaim because the angels of God met with him there. Apparently Jacob had learned where his brother Esau was living, and decided to take the first step by making an offering of peace. He dispatched messengers to go find Esau in the mountainous region of Seir and to seek his favor. When these messengers returned, they informed Jacob that Esau and 400 of his men were coming to meet him. Jacob feared the worst, and felt terribly afraid and deeply distressed.

Expecting his brother to be bitterly angry and possibly even hostile, Jacob took preemptive action. First, he separated his people and possessions into 2 companies. This would ensure that if one was attacked, the other would escape and survive. Second, Jacob prayed and asked the LORD to protect him and his family from Esau. Third, Jacob sent 3 droves of animals ahead as a gift in hopes of appeasing Esau’s anger. Esau would receive these generous presents 1 at a time in short succession before reaching Jacob’s camp, and perhaps his fury would be quelled.

Jacob had no way of knowing how his reunion with Esau would go. Perhaps everything would be fine, water under the bridge so to speak - but maybe not. That said, the day of their encounter was fast approaching. The Bible teaches us to hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. Though we trust in God for the victory, we should still ready ourselves for the battle (Proverbs 21:31). Jacob wisely took this approach as he prepared to meet his brother Esau.

II. WRESTLING WITH GOD (Genesis 32:22-32)

That night Jacob sent his wives, children, and possessions across the Jabbok River. Facing uncertainty and fear, he wanted some “alone time” on the opposite shore. A mysterious man appeared and wrestled with Jacob all night long. Some commentators believe that this man was an angel of God while others surmise that he was actually God in human form (perhaps a preincarnate appearance of Jesus). As daybreak approached, the divine man had not yet prevailed so he touched Jacob’s hip instantly causing it to become dislocated.

Though he was badly injured, Jacob still refused to let the man go without a blessing. Before he departed, the heavenly man gave Jacob a new name - Israel - because he had striven boldly with God and man. Israel means “one who contends with or struggles with God”. This would prove to be a fitting name for the nation that would arise from Jacob’s posterity as well. So Jacob named the place where he wrestled with the LORD Peniel, which means “face of God”, and it became known as Penuel. That morning as he crossed over the Jabbok to rejoin his family, Jacob walked with a limp that many believe persisted for the rest of his life.

This encounter with God forever changed Jacob’s life. His clash with the LORD that night is similar in some ways to Saul’s experience on the Damascus road. Just as Saul legally fought to oppress and imprison God’s people, so also Jacob physically fought against the LORD. Just as Saul’s name was changed to Paul, so also Jacob’s name became Israel. Just as Paul was left with an impairment that is believed to have resulted from his encounter (ie, poor eyesight), so also Jacob came away with a limp. These physical limitations were certainly burdens to both men, but also served as a constant reminder of God’s transformational power and grace.

III. REUNITING WITH ESAU (Genesis 33:1-20)

Not long thereafter, Jacob looked and saw Esau and his men coming in the distance. Still frightened, Jacob put the maids (Bilhah and Zilpah) and their children in the front, Leah and her children in the middle, and Rachel and Joseph in the back. Then he went on ahead of them all, bowing down 7 times as he approached Esau. To Jacob’s surprise, when they drew near to each other Esau ran to embrace him. It was a warm and joyful reunion. Relieved, Jacob introduced his family to Esau who was delighted to meet them. Esau told Jacob that all of the gifts he’d sent were appreciated but unnecessary, but Jacob insisted that he keep them.

Esau then invited Jacob to follow him to his home in Seir, but Jacob politely declined. He stated that he would come to visit Esau at a later time, but it is uncertain if he ever actually did (the Bible doesn’t say). Esau offered to leave some men with Jacob perhaps as a guard or a guide, and again Jacob kindly declined. So Esau and his men returned southward to the land of Seir, while Jacob and his family journeyed westward toward Succoth. From there he crossed the Jordan River into Canaan and came to the city of Shechem. Jacob purchased some property from the locals, built an altar, and settled there.

Finally Jacob was safely home again in the land of Canaan. His overbearing father-in-law Laban was no longer lording over him and his once estranged brother Esau didn’t want to kill him any more. Things were definitely looking up! God had kept the promises that He’d made many years earlier at Bethel to protect and bless Jacob (Genesis 28:10-22). The LORD’s covenant people would come from the line of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob.  

CONCLUSION

As we wrap-up today’s message, I want to apply Jacob’s experience to our lives in 2 ways.

First, if we are honest, most of us have spent a portion of our lives fighting with God - some more than others. Perhaps we’ve stubbornly doubted or even denied His existence. Maybe we’ve rebelliously refused to follow His commandments or do His will. We’ve foolishly rejected His love, compassion, and forgiveness. Why? Because we lack the humility to admit that He is greater than us and that we need Him. Beloved, we will never outsmart, outdo, or outlast God. And our pride will be our downfall...

Second, many people are afraid to come to the LORD because they expect Him to be angry. They look at the sins they’ve committed in the past and doubt that God could ever love or forgive them. As such, they spend their lives on the run, in a foreign country, and/or without any hope of restoration. But the truth is that God loves sinners, He misses those who have strayed, and He desperately wants to be reunited with them. Lost person, the LORD isn’t mad at you, so come and meet Him today!

“Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” - James 1:12

As today’s message begins, Jacob is still living in Haran and working for his uncle Laban. He is nearing the completion of his second set of 7-years service. He had committed himself to serve this period of time in exchange for Laban’s 2 daughters. Jacob has now been married to both Leah and Rachel for a little more than 5 years. While Rachel is barren, Leah has already given birth to 4 sons - Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah.  

I. JACOB’S CHILDREN (Genesis 30:1-24)

Rachel knew that she was unable to bear children and had become increasingly jealous of her sister Leah. Desperate to have a child she could call her own, Rachel urged Jacob to sleep with her handmaiden Bilhah. Ultimately Bilhah bore Jacob 2 sons - Dan and Naphtali. Seeing this, Leah - who had temporarily stopped bearing - gave her handmaiden Zilpah to Jacob as well. She also bore 2 sons to Jacob - Gad and Asher. Thus, the competing sisters’ handmaidens actually birthed 4 of Jacob’s sons.

Leah had her eldest son Reuben gather some mandrakes from the field. Mandrakes are flowering plants that were used as a fertility drug in ancient times. Apparently, this strategy was effective because Leah became fruitful again and had 2 more sons - Issachar and Zebulun - and a daughter - Dinah. Rachel also partook of the mandrakes and God opened her womb. Rachel was finally able to give birth, and she had a son named Joseph. She longed to bear another.

It seems highly unlikely that all of these children could have been born in just 7 years. Scripture states that Jacob actually lived in Laban’s house for 20 years (Genesis 31:38,41). He stayed with his uncle for 6 additional years after completing his required 14 years of service. It’s also likely that some of these pregnancies overlapped one another. Thus, there was plenty of time for all of these children to be born while Jacob resided in Haran.

At this point Jacob had 11 sons and a daughter. His sons were Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, and Joseph. His daughter was named Dinah.   

II. THE FLOCKS INCREASE (Genesis 30:25-43)

During these same years, as his family was expanding and growing, Jacob was shepherding Laban’s flocks. After his son Joseph was born, Jacob seriously considered returning with his family to Canaan. Not wanting them to go, Laban offered to pay Jacob a generous wage. Jacob agreed to remain in Haran and tend Laban’s flocks on the condition that Laban would give him all of the multi-colored goats and black sheep. Because goats are usually solid in color and sheep are typically white, this seemed to be a good deal and Laban readily agreed.

In the years that followed, Jacob employed a primitive and somewhat mysterious method of selective breeding which caused the flocks to produce more and stronger multi-colored goats and black sheep. This resulted in fewer and weaker solid colored goats and white sheep. Thus, over time Jacob’s animals became stronger and more numerous than Laban’s. The approach that Jacob used, which involved peeled rods from poplar, almond, and plane trees, is still unclear to modern scientists. It was probably sheer superstition. The truth is that Jacob’s prosperity came as the result of God’s blessing - not a rudimentary form of artificial selection.

III. LEAVING FOR CANAAN (Genesis 31:1-21)

As time went by Jacob was becoming wealthier while Laban was becoming poorer. Tensions were increasing between the 2 of them and their servants. Some of them believed that Jacob had stolen Laban’s livestock and riches.One day, the LORD appeared and told Jacob that it was time to return to Canaan. Jacob sent for Leah and Rachel and explained to them how he’d been mistreated by their father for many years. He told them of a dream he’d had about the flocks and of God’s blessing to him through them. After listening to his speech, both sisters agreed to return with Jacob to his homeland.

So Jacob gathered his wives, children, servants, livestock, and all of his many possessions and departed. He did so secretly and abruptly, while his uncle and father-in-law Laban was away shearing his sheep. Unbeknownst to Jacob, Rachel took her father’s household idols with them. They journeyed southward, crossing the Euphrates River, bound for Canaan. 

IV. LABAN PURSUES (Genesis 31:22-42)

Three days later Laban received word that Jacob and his family had left, so he set out in pursuit. After a week of chasing, he overtook them in the hills of Gilead. That night the LORD spoke to Laban in a dream and warned him to treat Jacob well. When they met, Laban asked Jacob why he’d fled so suddenly without giving him a chance to say goodbye. He stated that if he’d known Jacob’s intentions, he would have thrown a nice going away party. Jacob knew this wasn’t true and explained that he’d left secretly because he feared that Laban would have tried to withhold his property and keep his wives had he been given advance notice.

Laban also asked why Jacob had stolen his household idols. Jacob had no idea that they’d been taken, and allowed Laban to search the camp for them. When Laban came into Rachel’s tent, she was sitting on the idols which she’d hidden in a camel’s saddle. She said that she was on her period, so Laban didn’t ask her to move and chose not to look in the saddle. Ultimately Laban’s search came up empty, and Jacob likely thought that he’d been falsely accused of stealing the idols. He was quite upset and contended angrily with Laban.

V. A COVENANT IS MADE (Genesis 31:43-55)

Although Laban still selfishly believed in his heart that Jacob’s wives, children, and flocks rightly belonged to him, he couldn’t shake God’s warning. Laban realized that the LORD was with Jacob, and that the best decision was to leave him be. So the 2 men made a covenant with one another. Jacob promised to lovingly care for and be faithful to Laban’s daughters. Furthermore, they agreed to live at peace and not fight with each other. They set up a heap and pillar, offered a sacrifice, and ate a meal to confirm the covenant. Early the next morning, Laban said his goodbyes and returned to Paddan-Aram empty-handed.

CONCLUSION

When Jacob left Canaan 2 decades earlier, he was single and mostly dependent on his parents. Now he was married, had several children, and owned large flocks of livestock. He was returning home a different man. During his 20 year absence, Jacob had worked hard to acquire his success and reach his goals. Though his boss, Laban, was dishonest and difficult to get along with at times, Jacob had remained dedicated to his service and didn’t quit. As such, God richly blessed Jacob’s efforts and allowed him to prosper.

This story is, in some ways, a metaphor for life. As Christians, we are pilgrims living in a foreign land. We began our journey with nothing. Throughout our lives worldly people will take advantage of us, exploit our efforts, and seek to take what we’ve earned. Still there is hope - God has not forgotten us. By living in faithful obedience to Him, we can find joy and success even in the midst of uncertainty and hardship. Like Jacob, we can make the most of our circumstances. And one day when the LORD calls us home, we can go victoriously having lived a full and fruitful life.

“All the people who were in the court, and the elders, said, ‘We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, both of whom built the house of Israel; and may you achieve wealth in Ephrathah and become famous in Bethlehem.’” - Ruth 4:11

Good morning. Today we are in Genesis 29 which includes the story of Jacob, Rachel, and Leah. The events described in this chapter cover a period of about 14 years, during which Jacob marries and starts his own family. It is a tale that includes attraction, love, and devoted service… not to mention an ironic twist. Open your Bibles and let’s begin.  

I. MEETING RACHEL (v1-12)

After encountering God at Bethel, Jacob continued northward through Canaan and finally crossed into the region of Paddan-Aram. He noticed a well surrounded by 3 flocks of sheep that were lying beside it in the field. Jacob approached the well and found that it was covered by a large stone. These 3 flocks were waiting on others that were coming, but had not yet arrived. When all of the sheep were gathered, the stone would be rolled away from the well’s opening, and they would all drink. Afterwards, the stone would be put back in place so as to protect and preserve the water source.

Jacob asked the shepherds that were already at the well where they were from. They answered, “Haran”. He then followed up by asking if they knew a man named Laban... and they did! The shepherds told him that Rachel, one of Laban’s daughters, would be arriving at the well shortly to water her father’s flocks. Jacob wanted them to go ahead and begin, but they explained that their custom was to wait until everyone had arrived.

About that time, Rachel came with her father’s sheep. Most likely trying to impress her, Jacob immediately and personally rolled the large stone away from the mouth of the well and watered her flocks. He greeted her with a kiss and explained who he was (her cousin) and why he’d come. Jacob cried out to the LORD, with weeping, because God had led him directly to his destination.      

II. SERVING LABAN (v13-20)

Rachel ran home to tell her father about Jacob’s arrival, and Laban excitedly hurried out to meet him. Laban warmly invited Jacob to stay with them in their home, and he readily agreed. Over time, they got to know one another. After a month had passed, Laban asked Jacob to work for him as a shepherd.

Now Laban had 2 daughters - Leah and Rachel. Leah, the older sister, was less attractive than her younger sibling Rachel. Jacob had fallen head-over-heels in love with Rachel, and agreed to serve Laban 7 years in exchange for her hand in marriage. So Jacob remained in Haran, working diligently for his uncle, and - from his perspective - the years passed by quickly.

Can we speak honestly? Men are attracted to beautiful women. To be fair, women are attracted to handsome men. This is a fact, whether we like it or not - physical appearance matters. It isn’t and shouldn’t be the main thing, but it is undeniably something. Physical attraction by itself can’t sustain a healthy marriage, but it can definitely destroy one. Spouses need to be aware of this. They shouldn’t just “let themselves go”, but rather should take reasonable steps to remain physically attractive to one another, as an act of love and a safeguard for their marriage.  

III. TRICKING JACOB (v21-30)

When the day of the long-anticipated marriage finally arrived, Laban held a grand marriage feast. Little did Jacob realize that his uncle had a devious scheme in mind. Many commentators believe that Jacob got excessively drunk during the party, perhaps at Laban’s prompting. When night fell, Laban brought his older daughter Leah to Jacob. Heavily inebriated, Jacob consummated the marriage by sleeping with her - all the while believing her to be Rachel. When he sobered up the next morning, he realized that he’d married the wrong sister!

In dismay, Jacob asked his uncle why he’d given Leah to him as his bride rather than Rachel. Laban explained that it was customary for the older sister to marry prior to the younger. Why hadn’t Laban mentioned this detail earlier? Taking advantage of the situation, Laban agreed to let Jacob marry Rachel also on the condition that he serve him for another 7 years. So after honoring his marriage week with Leah, Jacob then married his beloved Rachel. However, they couldn’t return immediately to Canaan because he’d committed to serve Laban 7 more years. As a wedding gift, Laban had given Leah a handmaiden named Zillpah and Rachel a handmaiden named Bilhah.

There is a principle in the Bible that goes like this… “you reap what you sow”. Some people call it karma. Jacob had a history of taking advantage of others through deception, trickery, and outright lying. He had fooled his brother Esau and his father Isaac on past occasions pertaining to the birthright and blessing. But now the tables had turned. Jacob had been tricked into marrying the wrong woman, and was now obligated to serve his uncle twice as long as he’d originally planned to. As they say, “What goes around comes around.”

IV. DISREGARDING LEAH (v31-35)

It was no secret - Jacob loved Rachel much more than Leah. Seeing this disparity, God made Leah fruitful while Rachel was barren. Thus, Rachel was like Rebekah and Sarah before her. Nevertheless, in the years that followed Leah bore 4 sons to her husband Jacob. With each of the first 3 births - Reuben, Simeon, and Levi - Leah hoped that Jacob’s love for her would increase, but it didn’t. By the time the 4th son was born - Judah - Leah had given up trying to win Jacob’s affection and instead chose to delight in her children.

While Rachel was the love of Jacob’s life, Leah was at least as important and arguably more important to both Jewish and Christian history than her younger sister. Leah’s son Judah would eventually become the father of the Judahites. Centuries later Joshua would give the tribe of Judah a large portion of the Promised Land. The land of Judah would eventually become the southern kingdom of Israel, and later the Roman province of Judea. It’s citizens became known as the Jews. Most significantly, Jesus Christ was born in the ancestral line of Judah. He was therefore a descendant of Leah, not of Rachel. What’s more, as we will see later in this series, Leah was buried with Jacob in the cave of the Patriarchs.

CONCLUSION

As the chapter comes to an end, Jacob is still living in Haran working for his uncle Laban. He had initially been sent there from Beersheba to find a bride among his relatives, to stay temporarily if necessary, and then to return home. But instead he found himself stuck in his mother’s homeland, bound by his own promise, while his aging parents Isaac and Rebekah remained waiting in Canaan.

In closing, I wish to make a parting observation. In the early part of the chapter, Jacob wanted to go ahead and water the flocks already at the well without waiting on the others. He was told that such an act would be a violation of their custom. Later in the chapter, Jacob wanted to marry Laban’s younger daughter Rachel first, but was forbidden from doing so. Again, he was told that this wasn’t customary. Twice Jacob sought to defy conventional methods.

In a similar way, Jesus had a knack for challenging the Jewish customs and traditions of His day. For this reason, some thought of Him as a revolutionary and felt needlessly threatened by His teachings. The religious elites had become so pious and rigid that they mistook their personal procedures and practices for God’s law. Jesus came to break through this legalism, orthodoxy, and religiosity, by showing us God’s unconditional, unfiltered mercy and grace.

“For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.” - 1 Timothy 2:5-6

This morning I’ll be preaching the 16th message of “The Chosen Church” series. When the service is finished today, we’ll be exactly halfway through our extensive study of the Jewish patriarchs. I trust that you have been strengthened and edified by these sermons so far, and I look forward to preaching the later half of this series in the weeks to come.

Last week Isaac and his family were pushed out of the valley of Gerar by the Philistines. They moved to Beersheba, situated along the southern boundary of Canaan. Isaac’s servants dug another water well and they continued with their farming. The events that take place in today’s message happened while they were living in Beersheba. We are going to cover 2 chapters this morning, so buckle up...    

I. DECEPTION (Gen. 27:1-29)

Isaac believed that his death was imminent, so he decided to go ahead and bless his eldest son Esau. The Bible reveals that Isaac didn’t actually die until after Jacob had returned from the land of Paddan-aram (Genesis 35:28-29) several decades later. Perhaps Isaac had become very sick, his eyesight had diminished greatly as a result, and he (and his family for that matter) truly thought that he was going to die. Thus he went forward with the blessing, only to later recover from his grave illness and live for many more years.

Isaac asked Esau to go hunting, to kill some savory game, and to prepare it for them to eat. Following the meal, Issac intended to give the blessing to his firstborn son Esau. Rebekah overheard their conversation and knew she must intervene. God had told her earlier that Jacob was to rule over Esau, not the other way around, and therefore Jacob needed to receive his father’s blessing (Genesis 25:23). So Rebekah devised a plan, and after Esau had left the house she sprung into action.

She quickly prepared a delicious meal, then disguised Jacob as his brother, and sent him in to his father pretending to be Esau. Rebekah dressed Jacob in Esau’s clothes and covered parts of his body with animal skins, hoping to fool her blinded husband Issac. Though Jacob usually gets the blame for this trickery and was responsible for going along with it, this whole episode was his mother Rebekah’s idea. In fact, Jacob was apprehensive and nervous about it because he didn’t want to get caught.

Having received some final instructions from Rebekah about what to say, Jacob tentatively approached his father Isaac posing as Esau. As they spoke, Isaac suspected that he was hearing Jacob’ voice. However, when he touched his skin and smelled his clothes, it seemed to be Esau. Finally Isaac asked directly, “Are you my son, Esau?” and Jacob outright lied by saying, “I am.” They then ate the food that had been prepared, and afterwards Isaac blessed Jacob, believing him to be Esau. 

II. DISAPPOINTMENT (Gen. 27:30-45)

Having received the blessing, Jacob departed just as Esau was returning from his hunt. Esau prepared the game he’d killed and brought it in to his father Isaac. When Esau arrived and began to speak, Isaac realized that he’d been deceived. He explained to Esau that he’d already mistakenly given the blessing to Jacob, and that it couldn’t be revoked. Esau was devastated and begged his father to bless him also. So Issac blessed Esau with a lesser blessing, but it didn’t soothe away Esau’s heartbreak and disappointment.  

Esau was furious. He vowed in his heart to kill Jacob for this treachery. That said, he didn’t want to do it while Isaac was still living. Believing that his father was near death, Esau decided to wait. In the meantime, Rebekah found out about Esau’s murderous plan. She urged Jacob to flee to her brother Laban’s house and stay there temporarily, until Esau’s anger subsided. Rebekah shrewdly approached her husband Issac and asked him to send Jacob away to find a bride from among their relatives, an endeavour which would serve 2 purposes - securing Jacob a proper marriage while also keeping him safe.

Although Rebekah and Jacob both acted deceptively, they were not the only ones at fault. Esau had traded away his birthright for a bowl of stew (Genesis 25:27-34) and was, therefore, not entitled to receive the blessing of the firstborn. The birthright and the blessing went together. Esau knew this to be true, yet conveniently chose not to share it with his father. It was Esau, in fact, who was trying to steal the blessing that he’d foolishly ceded to Jacob. Esau had forfeited his claim to Isaac’s blessing. Yes, Jacob and his mother could have been more transparent and forthcoming with Isaac. Nevertheless, their actions brought about God’s will - Jacob was the son of promise.  

III. DEPARTURE (Gen. 28:1-9)

So Isaac sent Jacob away to Paddan-aram, the home of his maternal grandfather. He was instructed to marry one of his uncle Laban’s daughters. Before he left, Isaac again blessed Jacob. He conferred upon him the promises of the Abrahamic covenant, thereby formally designating him as the chosen son. Though Jacob had deceived him earlier, apparently Isaac now realized that this all had taken place in accordance with God’s plan. This time around he knowingly blessed Jacob, the younger son, without any reservation.   

Esau saw that his father Isaac had sent Jacob away to a distant place to take a wife from among their own relatives. Esau realized that his marriages to pagan Canaanite women were displeasing to his parents (Genesis 26:34-35). So Esau, perhaps trying to mimic his brother, went to his uncle Ishmael’s house and married his daughter Mahalath. Though he sought to emulate his brother Jacob, it was too late. His status in the family was already lost.

IV. DREAM (Gen. 28:10-22)

So Jacob left Beersheba and started northward toward Haran, the city of his mother Rebekah’s family. He stopped at a certain place along the way to spend the night and placed a stone under his head for a pillow. As he slept, Jacob had a dream about a ladder stretching from the earth all the way into Heaven. He saw angels climbing up and down this ladder. Then the LORD spoke to him and extended the 3 major promises of the Abrahamic covenant - to give Jacob and his descendants the land of Canaan, to multiply them innumerably, and to bless the entire world through them. God also pledged to protect and guide Jacob personally.

When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he was completely blown away. According to the Biblical record, this was his first encounter with God. He set the stone up (that he’d used for a pillow) as a monument and poured oil on it. He named the place Bethel, which means “house of God”. Jacob vowed to faithfully follow and serve the LORD if He’d protect Him on his journey and bring him home safely. Jacob shouldn’t have placed conditions on his obedience like this, but he was still young and immature in his faith. Though his words were misguided, who among us has never sought to “make a deal” with God? Perhaps we should give him a break... 

CONCLUSION

As we wrap-up today’s sermon, let me focus our attention on Jacob’s dream about the ladder. Some translations call it a stairway. The image of “Jacob’s Ladder” or a “Stairway to Heaven” has been adopted and used in modern times. Most Bible scholars interpret the ladder metaphorically or symbolically. It represents the bridge or connection between God and man which makes a saving relationship possible. Ultimately this ladder is a picture of Jesus Christ, through whom God demonstrates His love for the world and through whom sinners have access to the Father. Hallelujah!

“And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise.” - Galatians 4:28

Of the 4 major characters we will discuss in this series, Isaac is the least well known. The Bible simply does not dwell on him as much as it does on Abraham, Jacob, and Joseph. There are less chapters in Genesis about Isaac and the various details of his life. That said, today’s message is one of the few that focuses squarely and almost exclusively on Isaac and his family. I am calling it, “Isaac’s Wells”.  

I. ISAAC PROSPERS IN GERAR (v1-17)

Isaac had spent most of his adult life living at Beer-lahai-roi - the well where God had appeared to Hagar many years earlier. However, after Esau and Jacob were grown, a severe famine struck the land. Isaac considered going to Egypt, but the LORD appeared to him and advised him to stay in the region of Canaan. So Isaac and Rebekah moved to a leading city in the land of Philistia named Gerar. This was, in fact, the same place that Isaac’s parents Abraham and Sarah had relocated following the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.

When they came to Gerar, Isaac repeated the misleading behavior of his father. Hoping to protect himself, he told the Philistines that Rebekah was his sister. After this deception had persisted for some time, the king saw Isaac and Rebekah being intimate with one another. He summoned Isaac, told him that he knew they were actually married, and asked Isaac why he was lying about it. Isaac explained that he was afraid for his life. The king was upset and charged his people to leave Rebekah alone.

While living in Gerar, Isaac had tremendous success farming. The LORD blessed him, and he became extremely wealthy. His flocks, herds, and household grew greatly. The Philistines became envious of Isaac’s prosperity. Apparently Isaac was using water from the same wells that his father Abraham had dug a generation earlier. Perhaps as an attempt to sabotage his success, the Philistines stopped them up by filling them with dirt. The king asked Isaac to move away, but he didn’t go very far. Isaac resettled in the Valley of Gerar nearby.

In this passage we read that the king of Gerar was called Abimelech. Could it be he was the same man who reigned during the life of Abraham (Genesis 20)? While it’s remotely possible, it isn’t likely as these 2 events took place at least 80 years apart. During the life of King David centuries later, the Philistine king of Gath is also referred to as Abimelech (Psalm 34). Many scholars believe that “Abimelech” was a title given to many or even all Philistine kings, similar to “Pharaoh” in Egypt, not a proper name.     

II. QUARREL OVER THE WELLS (v18-25)

Isaac and his servants redug the wells that had been stopped up by the Philistines. He called them by the same names that his father Abraham had originally given them. When the local herdsman saw that these wells were once flowing again, they began to complain and grumble. They contended that this water belonged to them - not to Isaac and his servants. Apparently to keep the peace, Isaac let them have the disputed wells which he called Esek and Sitnah (meaning “strife”). He moved on to another location, dug another well that was his alone, and named it Rehoboth (meaning “open spaces”). Finally God had made room for him in the land.

Sometime later Isaac went up to Beersheba, perhaps to seek God at the same place where his father had worshiped decades earlier (Genesis 21:33). The LORD appeared to him that night and restated the covenant promises that He’d first made to Abraham. In so doing, God again revealed that Isaac was the chosen son through whom the Hebrew people would be descended. In response, Isaac built an altar there and called upon the name of the LORD. In the days that followed, he moved from the Valley of Gerar to Beersheba and dug another well.

The Bible specifically mentions 4 occasions upon which Abraham built an altar. These were located near or at Shechem, Bethel, Hebron, and on Mount Moriah. In contrast, the Bible only records one instance of Isaac building an altar - at Beersheba. Altars were used to make sacrifices to the LORD for religious purposes, and were often built to commemorate a special or life-changing encounter with God that took place there.   

III. A COVENANT WITH ABIMELECH (v26-33)

Abimelech the king, along with an advisor and his military commander, came up from Gerar to meet with Isaac at Beersheba. Isaac was somewhat surprised by their visit, seeing that they had asked him to leave their country. The Philistines had seen how Isaac prospered and recognized that God was with him. So they proposed a treaty with Isaac, fearing that he might one day turn against them. Isaac accepted their offer of peace and an agreement was made. They held a feast to celebrate the accord, and then the king and his men returned to their home. A similar treaty had been made between the Philistines and Abraham.

That same day Isaac’s servants informed him that they had discovered water in the new well they’d been digging. This well may have been a restoration of the old one Abraham once dug there. Isaac named it Shiba, which means “oath”, to memorialize his agreement with Abimelech. The well of Shiba was the original well at Beersheba. 

IV. ESAU’S MARRIAGES (v34-35)

It was during this time that Isaac’s eldest son Esau took wives from among the local Hittites. Esau was 40 years old when he married Judith, and then also married Basemath. These marriages brought grief to his parents Isaac and Rebekah because Esau had chosen to marry Canaanite women rather than those from his own country. Like Ishmael before him, Esau’s marriages to pagan wives were clear indicators that he was not the son of promise.

CONCLUSION

Isaac enjoyed tremendous success and prosperity. Those around him could have easily rejoiced in his good fortune and tried to emulate it for themselves. But rather than praising him for his hard work and honoring his great accomplishments, they instead chastised him and sought to destroy his name and estate. They were jealous of Isaac and felt threatened by his achievements, though he never expressed any ill-will toward them. Sadly, human nature often leads people to resent those who are successful rather aspiring to be like them. We’d rather tear others down than build ourselves up.

Water is a basic human need. Places where water is available and plentiful often develop into settlements which eventually become cities. This was especially true in ancient times, when water couldn’t be readily transported or moved long distances. The flowing water wells dug by Abraham, Isaac, and others throughout the arid Negev region of southern Canaan were critical to people living there. They depended on this water to survive. 

In the gospels, we read about an occasion when Jesus came to Jerusalem for the annual Feast of Booths. On the last day of the feast, as He was teaching the crowds, Jesus referred to Himself as a well of living water (John 7:37-39). He invited those who were thirsty to come to Him for a drink. Jesus was using a metaphor to beckon the lost and needy to trust in Him for salvation and to receive the promise of the Holy Spirit to come.

As we wrap up, let me extend this same invitation. Did you know that the greatest human need is the forgiveness of sins? Our eternal destiny hinges on this issue. Only Jesus, the Son of God, has the power to dismiss your sins, pardon your guilt, and give you the hope of eternal life. He is a well of living water. He is a spring of life in a dry, sinful desert. Though death surrounds us, there is a fountain who is the King. Will you drink from Him today?

“See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.” - Hebrews 12:15-16

Most of the details recorded in the book of Genesis are presented in chronological order. This has allowed us to progress through this series sequentially, chapter by chapter, verse by verse, without having to jump back and forth from one passage to the next. However, the various scenes discussed in chapter 25 are not written in the correct order. In today’s message, I will rearrange them so that they can be better understood in the proper alignment.

We have already met Abraham and Isaac. This morning we will be introduced to the last of the “patriarchs”. We will read about the birth of Jacob, and see him grow into early adulthood. For historical perspective, the events described in this chapter occurred around 2,000 BC.

I. ABRAHAM REMARRIES (v1-6)

After Sarah’s death and Isaac’s marriage to Rebekah, Abraham took another wife during the latter years of his life. Her name was Keturah. There is some debate among scholars as to whether she was his wife or his concubine, seeing that she is described as both in differing passages. Nevertheless, she bore him 6 sons. The most notable of these was Midian, whose descendants became known as the Midianites and eventually played a major role in Jewish history. While Abraham’s entire inheritance was left to Isaac, he did give Katurah’s sons gifts while he was still alive. Over time, their offspring settled to the east of Canaan/Israel. 

It is rather common for widows and/or widowers to remarry after the death of their first spouse. While this typically applies to older people, all ages can be impacted. The Bible permits this practice, and even encourages it in some cases (1 Corinthians 7:8-9; 1 Timothy 5:14). The Biblical view on the binding nature of wedding vows is summarized in the traditional phrase “til death do us part.” Therefore it is totally acceptable for the surviving spouse to remarry after the death of their husband or wife.  

II. REBEKAH HAS TWINS (v19-26)

Isaac was 40 years old when he married Rebekah, and she was barren. So he prayed for her and she conceived. That said, her pregnancy was quite difficult and the babies struggled in her womb. Rebekah cried out to the LORD in her pain. He explained that she was carrying the fathers of 2 contentious nations, and that the oldest son would serve the younger.

When the time came, Rebekah gave birth to twin boys. Isaac was 60 years old when they were born. The first son to be delivered was covered with red hair, and they named him Esau. The younger son came forth holding on to his brother’s heel, and they named him Jacob. Their grandfather Abraham was still alive at the time of their birth. Jacob and Esau are the most famous pair of twins in the Bible.    

A generation earlier, Abraham and his wife Sarah waited many years before their first child was born. Sarah was barren, just as Rebekah was. Thus, the births of Esau and Jacob were equally miraculous to that of their father Isaac. This amazing pattern would continue a generation later through Rachel, as we’ll discover later in this series. The LORD is almighty, and is able to make a barren woman into the joyful mother of children (Psalm 113:9).    

III. ABRAHAM DIES (7-11)

Jacob and Esau were only 15 years old when their grandfather Abraham died at the age of 175. He had lived a full, satisfying, and faithful life. His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, which he had purchased almost 40 years earlier from Ephron the Hittite. Abraham was buried there with his wife Sarah. Following his father’s death, God blessed Isaac and he lived in the Negev by Beer-lahai-roi.

It seems somewhat surprising that Ishmael would show up to bury his father Abraham. He and his mother Hagar were last mentioned almost 75 earlier, when Ishmael was just a teenager. Abraham had kicked them out of the house, at Sarah’s urging, and they had eventually settled in the Wilderness of Paran (Genesis 21:9-14). Perhaps Isaac wanted him there and sent word to him concerning their dad’s death. These brothers didn’t seem to have any lingering animosity toward one another.

IV. ISHMAEL’S DESCENDANTS (v12-18)

The Bible does not give many details about Ishmael’s life, but it does say that he had 12 sons. They became the fathers of 12 tribes which over time developed into a great nation, just as God had promised to both Abraham and Hagar. The Ishmaelites were closely associated and intermingled with the Midianites. They lived east of Egypt, in modern day Saudi Arabia. Ishmael, who was in his late 80’s when Abraham died, lived another 50 years before passing away at the age of 137. Therefore he was still alive, though distant and not involved, for the first half of Jacob and Esau’s life.

V. ESAU DESPISES HIS BIRTHRIGHT (v27-34)

Jacob and Esau grew up to become very different from one another as adults. Esau was an outdoorsman and hunter, while Jacob preferred to stay inside and work at home. Because of these traits, their father Issac had a natural affinity for Esau and their mother Rebekah had particular affection for Jacob.

One day Esau came in from the field, where presumably he had been hunting, and was completely famished. Jacob had prepared a delicious red stew while he was gone. When Esau (who is also called Edom) saw and smelled it, he asked Jacob for some. Seizing the moment, Jacob told Esau that he’d give him the stew in exchange for Esau’s birthright. Esau could have easily refused or went and found something else to eat, but instead he foolishly and hastily swore over his birthright for a measly bowl of stew.        

The birthright was traditionally given to the eldest son, though it could be transferred to a younger one. This practice was later defined and limited by the Law of Moses (Deuteronomy 21:15-17). The possessor of the birthright received a double portion of their father’s inheritance - a greater share than his brothers. Not to excuse Jacob’s opportunistic behavior, but the fact that Esau would trade this tremendous honor away for a single meal was unbelievable. Apparently he did not value or appreciate the great privilege he had, and mindlessly let it slip away.

I see this same thing happening throughout America today. People are quick to give up their fundamental rights and God-given blessings (which have great worth) in exchange for temporary pleasures and provisions (of little value). Rather than accepting responsibility for themselves and their families, they’d rather be taken care of. This is foolishness! As long as people are willing to give away their rights and freedoms, power hungry leaders will gladly delight in taking them away. But I digress...

CONCLUSION

In today’s message we’ve touched on a few varied topics such as the remarriage of widows and widowers, the power of God to give childless couples families of their own, and the human tendency to undervalue one’s rights and privileges while overvaluing trivial, temporal things. I will close this morning by citing John 1:12 which tells us that those who trust in Jesus Christ have been given the “right to become children of God.” This includes, among other things, the right to live in freedom from sin and bondage, the right to live without fear or worry, and the right to live victoriously in all circumstances. What will we do with this right? How will we regard it? Will we despise and underappreciate it like Esau did with his birthright, or will we esteem and cherish it like Jacob did?

“He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.” - Proverbs 18:22

My wife and I will be celebrating our 27th wedding anniversary in a few weeks. I still remember many of the details from that special day and will cherish them in my heart forever. There are few things in life that compare with the beauty and wonder of one’s wedding day. As the years go by, I have found that our love continually grows stronger and stronger for both the LORD and for each other. I could have never imagined back then the great depths of love we’d discover together. And I trust that in Christ, we will continue diving deeper and deeper into the bottomless expanse of God’s limitless grace and love for many more years to come.     

In this morning’s message, we will read and discuss the story of an important, historic marriage. I have titled it “Isaac and Rebekah”. This is the 13th sermon of our current series, “The Chosen Church: Getting to Know the Patriarchs”. It is based on Genesis 24.  

I. SEEKING A BRIDE (v1-14)

Abraham, who by now was an old man, called his eldest servant (perhaps Eliezer mentioned in Genesis 15:2) and told him to find a wife for his son Isaac. He was not to select a wife from among the Canaanites, but rather was to return to Abraham’s homeland in Chaldea and choose from the eligible women there. The servant was then to bring her back with him, assuming she was willing to come. However, under no circumstances was Isaac to be taken to Chaldea. Having received these instructions, the servant swore to abide by them.

So the servant gathered supplies for his journey, took 10 camels, and left for Mesopotamia. He approached the city where Abraham’s brother Nahor lived (Genesis 22:20-24). The servant stopped at the water well just outside of the city at evening time and waited for the women to come and draw water. The servant prayed that the LORD would grant him success in finding Isaac’s wife. He planned to choose the young maiden who offered both he and his camels a drink of water.

Abraham’s servant was given a task by his master. He was given clear instructions and knew what needed to be done. He even devised a plan to complete the task successfully. Still, though he was fully competent to do this on his own, he prayed that God would bless his efforts and make him successful (Proverbs 16:3). This is a good practice for Christians to follow. We should seek the Lord’s blessing in everything we do, knowing that He can prosper us and cause us to triumph.

II. REBEKAH IS CHOSEN (v15-61)

As the servant was praying, a beautiful young virgin named Rebekah came from the city to the well with a jar on her shoulder. After she filled her jar with water, he ran to meet her and asked for a drink. Rebekah gave him a drink and then filled the trough for his camels to drink also. The servant was amazed and gave her a few articles of golden jewelry. He asked her who she was and if he might lodge in her father’s house for the night. She answered that her name was Rebekah, the granddaughter of Abraham’s brother Nahor, and invited him to come stay with her family, with their permission of course. Once again, the servant was awed by the LORD’s immediate provision.

Rebekah hurried home to tell them about this man she had met at the well. Her brother Laban listened carefully to Rebekah’s description of all that had happened and saw the golden ring and bracelets she wore. He rushed out to meet the servant and joyfully led him and his camels back to their house. When they entered Laban took good care of both his guests and their animals. As they ate, the servant explained who he was and why he had come. He said that he belonged to Abraham, that he’d come from Canaan to find a bride for Isaac, and that God had shown Rebekah to be one.

The servant asked Rebekah’s father if he would give her to Isaac as a bride. Having heard the servant’s story, both Bethuel and Laban realized that this was God’s plan. They had no choice in the matter but to do His will. So they heartily agreed. The servant responded by giving Rebekah and her family even more precious items of gold, silver, and garments. He wanted to return to Canaan as soon as possible, and intended to leave the next morning. However, Rebekah’s family wished her to stay for another 10 days before departing. To settle the dispute, they asked Rebekah and she agreed to leave immediately. So after receiving a blessing, Rebekah and her maids mounted the camels and left with the servant for Canaan.   

Rebekah’s father and brother recognized that her departure and upcoming marriage was God’s will. As such, their personal opinions on the matter held no weight. Perhaps they were saddened to see her leave, as evidenced by their request that she might stay home for a few more days, but ultimately they had no right to detain her. God’s calling, purposes, and ways take precedence over human relationships, which at times makes for a difficult separation.

III. ISAAC GETS MARRIED (v62-67)

Isaac apparently did not live with his father Abraham, but instead resided somewhere in the Negev desert. He was a thoughtful and introspective man. He had gone to Beer-lahai-roi, the place where God had appeared to Hagar while she was pregnant with Ishmael more than 50 years earlier (Genesis 16:14), most likely to pray and reflect. He must have received word somehow that Abraham had sought out a bride for him, so he went to go see his father.

While staying with his dad (probably in Hebron), Isaac went out in the field one evening to meditate. In the distance, he saw Abraham’s servant and camels coming. From her vantage point, Rebekah likewise saw Isaac from afar and asked who he was. The servant identified him as Abraham’s son - her groom to be. Rebekah climbed down from the camel and covered her face with a veil. When they reached one another, the servant reported to Isaac all that had taken place. In the days that followed, Isaac took Rebekah as his bride. He loved her deeply. Their marriage was a great source of comfort for him, seeing that his mother Sarah had recently died.

Though there are certainly exceptions, as a rule most men need women in their lives. God created it this way. Isaac was blessed to have both Sarah and Rebekah. Boys need good, righteous mothers who will love and nurture them. Men need virtuous, godly wives who will care for and respect them. Perhaps this is why men often end up marrying women who share similar character traits with their own mothers. And in rare cases, they might even have the same name!  (Both my mom and wife are named Janice…)

CONCLUSION

As I have done for the past few weeks, I’d like to end the message today by connecting this Old Testament event in the life of Isaac to the story of Jesus. In the past month we’ve talked about a miraculous birth, a substitutionary sacrifice, a holy burial, and now a glorious marriage. All of these have parallels in some form to the life and work of Christ.

Concerning the marriage specifically (which we discussed this morning), just as Rebekah was chosen to be Isaac’s bride, so also the Church which consists of all New Testament Christians has been chosen to be the Bride of Christ. Like Issac loved Rebekah, Jesus loves the Church and even gave up His life to redeem her. Someday, I believe during the Tribulation period, there will be a great celebration in Heaven called the Marriage Supper of the Lamb to commemorate this union.

“For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands; just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear.” - 1 Peter 3:5-6

A wise sage once said that there are four phases in a person’s life. In phase 1, they are children and their parents take care of them. In phase 2, they become parents and take care of their own children. In phase 3, with their kids now grown and gone, they as adult children take care of their aging parents. Finally in phase 4, having grown old themselves, their adult children take care of them.

With our youngest child only a few years away from his high school graduation, it occurs to me that it won't be too much longer before Janice and I enter phase 3 - caring for our parents. Right now all 4 of them are still living, and relatively healthy to the best of my knowledge. My mom and dad are both in their 70’s while Janice’s dad is in his 80’s and her mom in her 70’s. It’s just a fact of life… if we live long enough, eventually we’ll get old. And while I pray that their passing is still many years away, I know that it will come someday.

In today’s message, will we learn about the death of Isaac’s elderly mother Sarah. If Isaac was in fact a teenager at the time of his offering (as assumed), then some 20-25 years have passed between chapters 22 and 23 with no record of what transpired. It is notable that the Bible dedicates an entire chapter to Sarah’s death and burial. This speaks to her significance as Abraham’s wife and the matriarch of the Hebrew people. Sarah is one of the most prominent women in all of Scripture.

I. SARAH’S DEATH (v1-7)

Sarah was 127 years old when she died. She resided in the city of Hebron at the time of her death. Her husband Abraham came to mourn and weep for her. His desire was to bury her in Canaan, the land that God had promised to him and his descendants. So Abraham asked the local citizens - the sons of Heth - if he might acquire from them a suitable place for her burial. Moved by their great respect for him, the sons of Heth offered to give Abraham “the choicest of [their] graves”. He was humbled by this kind gesture.

Though Abraham was 10 years older than Sarah, she preceded him in death. The original text reads that he “came to” or “went to” Hebron in order to mourn for her - in other words, he wasn’t there when she died. This has been interpreted in different ways. Some Jewish rabbis believe that Abraham and Sarah separated after the offering of Isaac. They speculate that she was so upset by Abraham’s actions that she moved back to Hebron on her own, leaving him behind in Beersheeba. Other scholars have explained the separation by suggesting that the couple had moved back to Hebron together at some point, and Abraham was simply away from home for some reason when Sarah passed away. I tend to agree with this latter point of view.  

The sons of Heth were 1 of the 12 main tribes that populated the land of Canaan. They were the descendants of Heth, the second son of Canaan, the son of Ham, the son of Noah (Genesis 10:1, 6, 15). They were also known as the Hittites. One of the most well known Biblical figures from this family was Uriah, the ill-fated husband of Bathsheba, who lived centuries later during the reign of King David. The sons of Heth held Abraham in high esteem, which suggests to me that he was living among them with Sarah and had been for some time prior to her death.

II. FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS (v8-16)

While Abraham appreciated their offer of a free burial plot, he wanted to purchase a piece of land that would indisputably belong to his family for generations to come. So he approached Ephron, the owner of a nearby field, and asked to buy the cave of Machpelah that was located on the property. Like his fellow countrymen, Ephron initially offered to give the field and cave to Abraham for free. However, Abraham insisted on paying for it. Ephron valued the property at 400 shekels of silver and, in the presence of everyone, Abraham paid the full price for it.

This transaction was conducted publicly before the sons of Heth. Abraham wanted to make sure that there'd be no future debate regarding the rightful ownership of the property. He paid the asking price without negotiation or hesitation. He wanted to make certain that this plot of land, where Sarah was to be buried, belonged perpetually to his family.

According to the Biblical record, this small field was the first piece of property in the Promised Land to officially belong to the Hebrews. Some 5 centuries later, the descendants of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob would take possession of the entire region during the conquest led by Joshua. Nevertheless, God was slowly honoring His covenant promises - first, by giving Abraham a son named Isaac and second, by giving him land in Canaan. 

III. SARAH’S BURIAL (v17-20)

Ephron’s field, including all of its trees and the cave of Machpelah, was deeded over to Abraham. This cave and its surrounding acreage was located in or near Hebron, also called Mamre. Having officially purchased the cave, Abraham proceeded to bury his beloved wife Sarah inside. Her body would lie in Canaan, the land of promise that God had sworn to him.

The cave of Machpelah is commonly known today as “The Cave of the Patriarchs”. After the temple mount, which we discussed in last week’s sermon (on Mount Moriah), it is considered to be the second-most holy site in Israel. Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, and Jacob and Leah were all buried there. We will see this unfold as we continue through our study in Genesis. Today, thousands of pilgrims come to visit this sacred place every year.

CONCLUSION

In closing, I’ve always told my wife not to spend a huge amount of money on my funeral when I die. I’ve joked that she could just bury me in a garbage bag or toss my body overboard at sea.  After all, I won’t be there. When I draw my last breath, I’m going straight to Heaven to dwell with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It doesn’t matter to me what happens with this old broken body of mine, because I know that somebody I’ll have a much better, glorified one.

But would I bury her in a garbage bag? Absolutely not. All joking aside, the funeral process is a difficult, but deep expression of love for the deceased. Furthermore, it helps survivors to accept and grieve their loss. We set up gravestones as monuments that pay tribute to and remember those who've gone on before us. Funerals and burials are important, healing, and good.  

Abraham loved Sarah and therefore wanted her buried in the Promised Land, wanted her body to be laid in a nice tomb, and wanted his family to have permanent access to her grave. These things were important to him and worth paying for. His actions demonstrate the value of conducting a proper funeral and burial for those we love.

While Sarah was laid in a family tomb (or cave) that was owned by her husband, Jesus was buried in a borrowed tomb that belonged to Joseph of Arimathea. In this case, there was no need for His mother Mary to buy it, seeing that Jesus wouldn’t be staying there for long. The Lord only used Joseph’s tomb for a few days, and then returned it in mint condition on Sunday morning when He walked out of the grave alive!

“The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” - John 1:29

This morning we will explore a passage of Scripture that is very familiar to most long-time Christians. For me as a parent, this is one of the most disturbing chapters in the entire Bible. Abraham finds himself caught between his faithful devotion to God and his deeply held love for his young son. What will he do? Let’s find out together...

I. GOD TESTS ABRAHAM (v1-8)

Some years after his birth, while Isaac was still young, the LORD tested Abraham. He told Abraham to take his son to the land of Moriah and to offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains “of which I will tell you.” This command bears some resemblance to God’s original calling to Abram 30 years earlier to leave his home in Haran and go to “the land which I will show you.” In both instances Abraham was being challenged to follow the LORD in faithful obedience without fully knowing what lay ahead.

So Abraham rose up early, split wood for the burnt offering, and set out for Moriah with his son and 2 servants. After 3 days of traveling, they drew near to their destination. Abraham asked his servants to stay with the donkey while he and Isaac went on a bit further (presumably up the mountain that God had shown him) to make their offering. None of them, except for Abraham, knew that Isaac was the sacrifice to be offered. Even still, Abraham expressed confidence that both he and his son would “return”.

Isaac couldn’t have been a small child, because his father put the wood on him. Many respected commentators believe that he was already a teenager or perhaps in his early 20’s at this point. As they walked on together, young Isaac noticed that they had brought items to start a fire but no animal to sacrifice. He asked Abraham where the lamb was for the burnt offering. Though I am sure that he cringed at the question and the horrible thought of sacrificing his own son, Abraham again answered with the assurance that God would provide.

Imagine for a moment how difficult this must have been for Abraham. He had waited for 25 years, all the while learning to trust in the promises of God, until finally Isaac was born. Wrapped up in this special child was the future of Hebrew people and the continuation of the LORD’s covenant. How painful it must have been to think that God would require Isaac as a burnt offering, yet Abraham remained resolute and his faith didn’t waver.

II. A SACRIFICE IS MADE (v9-14)

When they reached the mountain top, Abraham bound his son and laid him on the wood atop the altar he’d constructed. Then Abraham raised up his knife to kill Isaac prior to setting the body aflame. At the last moment, just seconds before the blade came fatally down, the angel of the LORD cried out from heaven telling Abraham to stop. Because he’d been obedient even to the point of almost killing his own beloved son, the LORD was absolutely certain that Abraham’s faith was genuine and that he truly feared God.

Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught in the thicket by its horns. Greatly relieved, he untied his son and placed the ram on the altar instead. He then offered it as the burnt offering in place of Isaac. In recognition of and to memorialize what had happened there, Abraham named the mountain “The LORD Will Provide”. About 1,000 years later on this exact site, Mount Moriah, King Solomon would build the Jewish Temple. This location, in the Old City of Jerusalem, is widely considered to be one of the most holy places in the entire world.

Fortunately, God doesn’t often literally call His followers to sacrifice their relatives. In fact, the LORD is strongly opposed to child sacrifice. Though Abraham didn’t know it at the time, all of this was an elaborate test and God never actually intended for Isaac to be killed. That said, God does call His disciples to love Him even more than their own biological families and to leave them behind, if necessary, for the cause of Christ.   
       
III. THE COVENANT RESTATED (v15-19)

Because he acted in faith, Abraham passed God’s test. The angel of the LORD again spoke to him from heaven and swore to bless Abraham, to multiply his seed, and to give them power over their enemies. He further promised that all of the nations of the earth would be blessed by Abraham’s posterity. With the sacrifice now complete, Abraham and Isaac went back to their servants, and together the 4 of them returned to their home in Beersheba.

When we consider this story from Isaac’s perspective, it takes on a new significance. Abraham was over 110 years old when these events took place. Surely Isaac could have escaped or at least made an attempt to do so once he realized what his father planned to do. But there is no indication that he tried to run, or gave any objection at all, when his father tied him up and prepared to sacrifice him. It is obvious that Isaac trusted and respected his aged father. Furthermore, through this episode Isaac saw and experienced Abraham’s amazing faith and would share in it for the rest of his life.   

IV. ABRAHAM’S NEPHEWS (v20-24)

While living in Beersheba, Abraham received news that his surviving brother Nahor had produced a family of his own. Most likely, Nahor was still living in Ur of the Chaldeans - Abraham’s ancestral homeland. Nahor now had 12 sons - 8 by his wife and 4 by his concubine. Each of them was Abraham’s nephew. While this might seem like a trivial detail, it isn’t. One of Nahor’s sons would grow up to have a daughter named Rebekah, who would eventually become an important part of Isaac’s life.

CONCLUSION

Just as the birth of Isaac pointed in many ways to the birth of Christ, so also the story of Isaac’s offering foreshadows the cross of Calvary. Let me explain…

Abraham represents God the Father. Isaac represents all of the LORD’s children, including you and I. Because of our sin, we are guilty before God and deserving of death. The Father is obligated by His just nature to hold us accountable for our evil deeds and to punish us for our rebellion. As Scripture says, the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Therefore, we as sinners have been placed on the altar of God’s justice and are destined to face His wrath at any moment. The knife is in His hand and, though it grieves Him desperately, He is prepared to strike. The wood is dry and ready to be lit, engulfing us in eternal and unquenchable flames. God’s judgment is imminent.

But wait! There in the thicket of His mercy the LORD has provided a Substitute. The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world has come to take our place. Jesus is the ram who has voluntarily laid down His life on the altar of God that we might live. His shed blood has paid the full price of sin and appeased the terrible wrath of God. By turning to Him in repentance and faith, we as sinners are loosed from the sin that binds us and freed from the sentence of death. His sacrifice is applied to our account, His righteousness reckoned to us.

It’s not too late. If you’ve not yet done so, cry out to Jesus today for the forgiveness of your sins. In Him you will find freedom, hope, and eternal life! He will save everyone who places their faith and trust in Him.

“Whenever a woman is in labor she has pain, because her hour has come; but when she gives birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy that a child has been born into the world.” - John 16:21

Hello everyone! Today’s sermon is the 10th message in our series titled “The Chosen Church: Getting to Know the Patriarchs”. While our focus has been primarily on the life of Abraham up to this point, this morning we will introduce a new character named Isaac. He will eventually take his father’s place as the head of the family, and leader of the Hebrew people. This message is titled “Isaac Is Born”.

I. THE BIRTH OF ISAAC (v1-8)

Finally, after 25 years of waiting, the LORD kept His promise. Sarah became pregnant with Abraham’s child. At the appointed time, about a year after the angels had visited them at their tent near Hebron, the aged couple had a son. He was born in the land of Philistia, where they had recently moved. Abraham named the boy Isaac and circumcised him on the 8th day, in keeping with all that God had commanded him to do.

The name Isaac means “he will laugh” or “to laugh”. Prior to his amazing birth, both his father Abraham and his mother Sarah had laughed at the prospect of having their own child. Now they laughed with joy in celebration of his birth, and others laughed with them. So Sarah nursed the child for several months, and when he was weaned Abraham held a great feast.

One of the most special days of any parent’s life is the day that their child is born. For me personally, I have vivid memories of the birth day of all 3 of my children. They were some of the best days of my life. I can imagine the incredible joy that Abraham and Sarah must have experienced when Isaac was born. He was a miracle child, a baby that they never thought possible. Yet, here he was… the long-awaited, promised son. 

II. SARAH TURNS AGAINST HAGAR (v9-14)

Ishmael would have been around 14 years old when Isaac was born. He was Isaac’s half-brother, the son of Abraham through Hagar the maidservant. Sometime after Issac’s birth, Sarah saw Ishmael mocking or “making fun of” him. She was furious. Sarah had always disliked Hagar and Ishmael and held deep animosity toward them. So she asked Abraham to drive them out of the house.

At first Abraham was deeply distressed by Sarah’s request, but then God instructed him to listen to his wife (which is a wise bit of advice for all husbands). God assured Abraham that his descendants would be named through Isaac, though Ishmael would become a nation as well. So Abraham rose early in the morning and provided Hagar with a few meager supplies - bread and water. Then he sent her and her son away. They departed and wandered about in the wilderness of Beersheba.     

The long-time feud between Sarah and Hagar finally reached its peak. The friction between them was no longer sustainable. Something had to give. There are times when the best thing to do is part ways with one another. Perhaps kicking someone out of the house isn’t the best way to go about it, but it did accomplish the goal. Maybe this is why God went along with it, because He knew it was for the greater good. Nevertheless, you can’t make people like each other or force them to get along...

III. THE LORD PROVIDES (v15-21)

Eventually Hagar ran out of water. Alone with her teenage son in the desert, she felt certain that this was the end. Hagar left Ishmael under a bush, presumably for some limited shade from the heat, and sat several yards away so that she wouldn’t see him die. There she wept bitterly and wailed loudly in distress.

God heard Ishmael crying, and the angel of the LORD spoke to Hagar. He encouraged Hagar and promised her that Ishmael would survive and become the father of a great nation. Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a water well nearby. She filled her waterskin and gave the boy a drink. Though no other details are given, obviously they survived. Ishmael grew up and became an archer. He lived in the wilderness of Paran with an Egyptian wife that his mother took for him.

As He had done previously when she fled from Abraham’s tent during her pregnancy, God again took care of Hagar. He provided for her when the situation was most dire. It is quite clear that the LORD loved Hagar and Ishmael, even though they weren’t the chosen ones. The Hebrews were never the exclusive recipients of God’s compassion and favor. On the contrary, they were to serve as the messengers of His goodness and grace to all the world. 

IV. A COVENANT WITH ABIMELECH (v22-34)

The Philistine king Abimelech, whom Abraham and Sarah had deceived almost a year earlier, had taken notice of the couple. He saw how God’s favor and presence was with Abraham. So Abimelech and his military commander Phicol decided to make a treaty with Abraham to ensure lasting honesty and peace between them. Abraham swore to honor the agreement, but stated that some of Abimelech’s servants had seized a water well from him. The king was apparently unaware that this had happened.

In order to establish the covenant they’d made Abraham gave Abimelech several sheep and oxen. He also gave the king 7 ewe lambs in order to redeem the well that had been taken from him. Abraham named the place Beersheeba, which means “well of the oath” or “well of 7”. After finalizing the agreement, Abimelech and Phicol returned to Gerar. Abraham planted a tree and worshipped the LORD. Beersheba would eventually become the southernmost major city of Israel, but apparently at this time the area was controlled by the Philistines. Abraham and Sarah lived there for many years.        

This will not be the last time we’ll encounter Abimelech and Philcol. Many years later, after his father has died and he has grown into manhood, Isaac will return to the city of Gerer. Once again there will be a dispute over the water wells and a new covenant will be made between these 2 parties. We will discuss this story in detail about a month from now when we get to Genesis 26… just thought I’d give you a heads up.

CONCLUSION

Isaac’s birth was the fulfillment of a promise that God had made many years earlier. It was a miraculous event, seeing that Abraham and Sarah were both very old at the time he was born and that she had been barren all of her life. Yet, after a long and often difficult wait, in the fullness of time, their promised son was born. He would be the one through whom God’s covenant was perpetuated. Does this remind you of anything?

God promised to send His Son, the Messiah, to rescue and redeem Israel. They waited for centuries, suffering through many trials and persecutions. Then, in His perfect timing and in accordance to His divine plan, the LORD kept His word. Jesus was miraculously born of a virgin in the sleepy town of Bethlehem. He would grow up to become the Savior of the world and establish the new covenant in His blood.

Once again we see an example of how the Old Testament points to Jesus and helps us as Christians to have a deeper, fuller understanding of the New Testament and the Gospels...