A Faith That Recognizes The Sovereignty Of God Series

A Faith That Recognizes The Sovereignty of God

Hebrews 11:20

This is one of the interesting stories of faith in this chapter. Isaac was 40 years old when he married Rebekah. He prayed unto the Lord we are told and she conceived 19 years later and the children Esau and Jacob (twins) were born unto them.

Mention: Genesis 25:23 The two boys represented two nations and two manner of people.

Esau: Born red and hairy; The hunter Genesis 25:25, 27; Edomites

Jacob: Born holding on to the heel of Esau; A plain man; Israelites

Genesis 25:23 The elder will serve the younger the LORD said unto Rebekah

Point: I personally believe that two nations are one a people that will despise the things of God and the other who would value the LORD.

See: Genesis 25:27-34 And he sold his birthright unto Jacob Vs.33

Genesis 25:28 Each parent had their favorite it appears here. Isaac loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

Thought: Could this be the key to what happens later. Perhaps the future events are motivated by favoritism.

Maybe Isaac has allowed at this point his personal feelings to come between the will of God as previously spoken that the elder will serve the younger.

Chapter 26 There is a famine and Isaac goes unto Abimelech the king of the Philistines and it would there he would repeat the sin of his father Abraham by having Rebekah to lie and say she was his sister in fear of his life.

See: Genesis 27:1-4 Isaac calls for Esau to bless him

“Isaac was old and his eyes were dim”

While Esau is out hunting some venison Rebekah and Jacob has put a plan into action to deceive Isaac into blessing Jacob instead of Esau.

See: Genesis 27:23-30 We are told that Isaac could not discern that it was Jacob so he blessed him with the birthright.

See: Hebrews 12:16-17 Listen Esau is used as a picture of someone who fails of the grace of God meaning that he failed to benefit from God’s grace because he was more desirous to live for the world and the flesh.

Point: God’s grace does not fail, but we can fail to take advantage of it and come to the end of our life with sorrow as a believer.

Several things noted here:

1. Isaac Was Motivated By His Selfish Feelings

His love for Esau despite knowing God’s will cause him to make the wrong decision

Fact: Too many Christians operate on feelings and not the truth or fact of God’s Word

Mention: Genesis 27:1 He was thinking he was going to die so he’d better bless Esau

Thought: Some estimate Isaac to be about 138 yrs old here and we know he live to be 180 years old ref. Genesis 35:28-29

2. Isaac Trusted In His Senses

He lived by his feelings (vs.4, 9, 25 taste, Vs.21 touch, Vs.22 hearing and smell Vs.27)

Point: The actions of Rebekah and Jacob were inexcusable here and even they would pay a price for their deception of Isaac.

• Rebekah as far as I know never got to see Jacob again after he had to flee for his life

• Jacob would learn that you reap what you sow

Question: Why Hebrews 11:20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning the things to come

3. Isaac Submitted Himself To The Sovereignty Of God

You know as well as I do if Isaac had it his way Esau would have been blessed above Jacob, but I believe he submitted himself to God’s sovereignty

See: Genesis 27:32-33, 37 The will of God was better than his own will

Prov. 19:21 There are many devices in man’s heart, nevertheless the counsel of the LORD that shall stand.