Face the Nation
I. Introduction
The Bible (Proverbs 25:2) tells us that it is the glory of God to conceal a matter, any matter, from man. For He is man’s creator, and only he knows what is right for man. Only God knows the beginning and the end, and only He will be able to lead those that put their faith in His Son to that end. But, are we ready to let Him do it?
God has been reconciling man to himself since Adam and Eve, and will continue, until He sends His Son to conquer the prince of this world. God is ready to reconcile to Him those here today that don’t know Him. But, are you ready to let Him do it?
Man will live and man will die, he is but a mist or smoke that is here today and gone tomorrow. And, if he or she belongs to the Lord, in the end he or she will be gathered to the Lord. Until Jesus establishes His Kingdom on this earth, nations will continue to rise up in God’s sight and nations will prosper. Nations will follow other gods and, sometimes to the disappointment and the embarrassment of many Christian leaders, they, too, will grow and prosper if God desires that they do so. And, it is the true desire of God for all to come to Him and that He prosper those nations that come to Him. But, are we ready to let Him do it?
The puzzling fact that baffles the mind of the believer is why do men continue to claim that life is getting better when oil is running out, when diseases are getting stronger, and when man cannot even eliminate the cockroach. Mankind is dying, yet the inevitable death of every man and woman is frequently blinded by their own shallow success, their own heartless and selfish desire to make themselves better than the person next to them. Man is searching for the meaning of life in the pursuits of pleasure and learning, when all they have to do is turn to God. All they have to do is turn to God and untold blessings and joy will replace those desires for worldly pleasure and learning. But, are we ready to let Him do it?
Books on every subject have been and will continue to be written and sought after, much more so than the Bible. Even in the study of God the book that is becoming less and less consulted concerning the will and way of God is the Bible. We need to turn to the Word of God to determine the Will of God for the people of God. But, are we ready to read the Word?
Worldly knowledge and learning expands and will continue to expand, but the desire for more knowledge and the pursuit of worldly knowledge can overcome a man and drive him further from God. Worldly teaching based on worldly values only provides mock satisfaction to an already lost and dying world, while further confusing an already bewildered and leaderless society.
This brings to mind the so-called circle of sin found in the Bible. In the Bible we see where the Israelites would come to God, then stray from God; then later they would come to God then stray from God; and the cycle would repeat itself. Why? Well, the number one cause in the Bible for punishment and chastisement? “Every man did what was right in his own eyes!”
Man has known since the beginning of time that God exists, but have, like Cain, and countless others, chosen to follow their own preferred way. They knew that God existed, they knew that God created the world, they knew that God was working in the world, yet, they chose to follow their own hearts, their own preferences, and their own path. Why? Because, they are doing what is right in their own eyes.
Additionally, the speed at which man is traveling along the road to destruction is increasing. Man is rapidly becoming ignorant of God, even in the so-called Christian countries. Beginning with Cain, man began simply ignoring God and His commands because of pride. And, because of pride, man did not feel the need to teach their sons and daughters about God.
Now, time has moved on, and, generally speaking, man is simply ignorant of God. Why? Because, everyone is doing what is right in their own eyes. Ignorance does not mean stupid or dumb, it means unaware and uninformed. We are a society that is unaware and uniformed about God and the blessings that He has for every individual. Yet, the ignorant person today will tell you that the Christian, in fact, is the ignorant one. Today’s society has progressed (or actually regressed) to the point that God is a moot point, an unlikely deity for an informed world! The world will laugh and tells us that Christians are the uninformed, that Christians are the ignorant ones, and that believing in God is passé, old-fashioned or no longer trendy.
King Solomon, in Ecclesiastes, researched the matter of man, his dealings with one another, and God.
Ecclesiastes 1:12-18
12 I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 I devoted myself to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under heaven. What a heavy burden God has laid on men! 14 I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind. 15 What is twisted cannot be straightened; what is lacking cannot be counted. 16 I thought to myself, "Look, I have grown and increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me; I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge." 17 Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind. 18 For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief.
(Ecclesiastes 8:17) then I saw all that God has done. No one can comprehend what goes on under the sun. Despite all his efforts to search it out, man cannot discover its meaning. Even if a wise man claims he knows, he cannot really comprehend it.
(Ecclesiastes 12:13-14) Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.
The hand of God is heavy upon the hearts of every man and every woman. Some, who listen to the Spirit that is within them, interpret it correctly as the comforting hand of the Father, while some turn a deaf ear to the pleading of the Spirit, and call it the heavy hand of oppression and dictatorship and a hindrance to their free will.
The hand of God is heavy upon the minds of every man and every woman. Some, who ponder, or consider, or contemplate the wonder of God’s creation and all that is in it will heed the Spirit that is drawing them and give themselves over to the only God that desires to reconcile this world to Him.
Whether man comes to God, or forsakes Him, that is a matter for God. And, it is for Him alone to decide the judgment of man, and to evaluate the condition of every man’s heart toward Him. It is the matter of the Christian man and woman to simply spread the Word, the good news, the wonderful story of Jesus Christ.
In Genesis 25, we see the forming of many nations. In our Face the Nation message we see:
God Causes Nations to Rise 1-10
God Causes Nations to Prosper 11-18
God Hears Causes Nations Pray 19-28
God Causes Nations to Fall 29-34
II. The Message
God Causes Nations to Rise
1 Abraham took another wife, whose name was Keturah. 2 She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah. 3 Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan; the descendants of Dedan were the Asshurites, the Letushites and the Leummites. 4 The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida and Eldaah. All these were descendants of Keturah. 5 Abraham left everything he owned to Isaac. 6 But while he was still living, he gave gifts to the sons of his concubines and sent them away from his son Isaac to the land of the east. 7 Altogether, Abraham lived a hundred and seventy-five years. 8 Then Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age, an old man and full of years; and he was gathered to his people. 9 His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah near Mamre, in the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite, 10 the field Abraham had bought from the Hittites. There Abraham was buried with his wife Sarah.
God promised Abraham in Genesis 12:2-3:
(Genesis 12:2-3) "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."
It is the business of God to reconcile man to Himself. And, it began with Abraham. In chapter 12 of Genesis, Abraham received the promise that through him a great nation would rise up. Abraham heeded the call and he followed God.
He stepped out of the comfort of his home, Ur of the Chaldeans, and traveled to a land “that God would show him,” all because of God’s promise. That same promise is available to you and I today, just like it was available to Abraham. God has something for you to do, too. He wants you to step out of your comfort zone and begin serving Him fully. Will He make a nation out of you? Doubtful, but He may put you over a nation, or a youth group, or a church, or a company. Are you ready for the development to begin? Abraham was, and he let God work in and through him to rise up a nation for God’s purpose of bringing His Son into this world to redeem this world of its sin.
When we look at Genesis 25 we see the sons of Abraham and we see the beginning of several nations [Arab nations], not just the Jewish nation. These nations all grew from one man, and all flourished either with or without God, but all for God’s purposes.
Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah were all originators of Arab tribes. Some grew to be substantial tribes and nations while some grew then fizzled out because of a later judgment from God.
These sons of Abraham that we mentioned were all responsible for tribes that rose up and substantially grew during Isaac’s time and later became very prominent among the land.
The rise to prominence of these tribes was guaranteed by God to Abraham. But that was all that was promised. Their longevity was not promised. Following their rise to prominence they did not turn to God. Therefore God brought His judgment down upon them in the form of surrounding nations either subjugating them, or wiping them out entirely.
Looking at each these tribes, and following them through history, whether Biblical or secular history, it is quite evident that they were allowed by God to rise up and to grow. But, due to some of them opposing the covenant people, the Israelites, they were wiped out. Now, this was not necessarily done right at the time that they went against the Jews. It may have been a few years later, or even longer, but they were wiped out!
The Jews were exiled to Babylon, then what did the Babylonians do with them? Due to their treatment of the Jews, Babylon later fell to the Medes and Persians. The Israelites were initially treated well by the Egyptians, and the Egyptians grew to become a major world power. But, as they grew, there was one that rose up that did not know Joseph and enslaved the Israelites. The power of Egypt was brought under judgment, but it happened many years later.
The Jews themselves rose up to be a major world people during the Roman days, then hung Jesus on a cross, what has happened to them now? They are lost and wandering around, still looking for the Messiah.
God desires that none fall by the wayside into eternal death but that all should be saved and join Him in the Kingdom of Heaven. It is His desire that all come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Because God wishes to give every opportunity for all to come to know him, usually sudden and hasty destruction or judgment upon any peoples of the world is not carried out.
The Lord allows men to follow their hearts in many things and He allows nations to rise up, much to the disappointment of many people. Some good examples of this are the PLO, the KKK, the Taliban, the Al Qaeda, Communism and other organizations and peoples that are a pain to many people. The Lord allows them to rise up, to grow and to flourish, and for us there is no apparent reason other than quite possibly as a sort of ‘spiritual sandpaper’ to those around them. As a sort of ‘what not to do,’ or maybe as a before and after comparison of what happens to the wicked or the unrighteous.
God will give the increase to where He wants, when He wants, and how He wants.
Only God allows nations to rise, and only God causes godly nations to rise up. And, only God causes nations to prosper!
God Causes Nations to Prosper
11 After Abraham’s death, God blessed his son Isaac, who then lived near Beer Lahai Roi. 12 This is the account of Abraham’s son Ishmael, whom Sarah’s maidservant, Hagar the Egyptian, bore to Abraham. 13 These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, listed in the order of their birth: Nebaioth the firstborn of Ishmael, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 15 Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish and Kedemah.
16 These were the sons of Ishmael, and these are the names of the twelve tribal rulers according to their settlements and camps. 17 Altogether, Ishmael lived a hundred and thirty-seven years. He breathed his last and died, and he was gathered to his people.
18 His descendants settled in the area from Havilah to Shur, near the border of Egypt, as you go toward Asshur. And they lived in hostility toward all their brothers.
It is one thing to rise up as a nation, it is quite another to prosper. Many countries have risen up from the dust, so to speak, flourished for a few centuries, then receded like the tide, and never heard from again. Ishmael was allowed to have 12 sons, and, as God promised Hagar, he became the father of a great nation. However, that nation was constantly at odds with those around them and have since been absorbed by other peoples and other tribes. God caused them to rise up, but they did not allow Him to prosper them, instead, they went in the opposite direction. And, they were a constant bother to those around them, especially the Israelite nation.
Now, let’s turn to Isaac, who, as it says in verse 11, was blessed by God. It doesn’t say that Isaac immediately followed in the footsteps of Abraham, or, that Isaac immediately built an altar to God, or even that Isaac was a Godly man.
Isaac’s blessing was based upon the covenant that was made with his father, Abraham. The nation of Israel was rising up, due to God. The increase of Isaac’s material possessions and popularity was growing due to God. But, also due to God, his prosperity was not. In our later verses we will find out that Rebekah could not have any children. Prosperity, which is largely based on genealogy was not there. The Israelite nation was rising up materially with animals, land, servants, buildings, etc., but, the people, the prosperity, was held back by God.
God will cause prosperity where He wants it, when He wants it, and how He wants, and usually in keeping with obedience and surrender of oneself to Him.
God Hears Nations Pray
19 This is the account of Abraham’s son Isaac. Abraham became the father of Isaac, 20 and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan Aram and sister of Laban the Aramean. 21 Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. The LORD answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. 22 The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, "Why is this happening to me?" So she went to inquire of the LORD. 23 The LORD said to her, "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger." 24 When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. 25 The first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau. 26 After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them. 27 The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was a quiet man, staying among the tents. 28 Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob.
As we mentioned before, God gave increase to Isaac through blessing him. However, the promise of prosperity, which largely depends upon each generation’s dedication to God, was withheld from Abraham’s son. Isaac had to learn and grow in the Lord himself. He had to walk in the footsteps of faithfulness rather than his father’s footsteps. Isaac couldn’t be counted as a man of God based upon what his father Abraham believed. Isaac had to follow God for himself.
That is also the way it has been for generations since Isaac, and, it is very much so today. People become Christians based upon how they respond to God’s offer of salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ. Every man and woman is asked to put their faith in God. It does not matter whether our mothers or fathers were Christians, or, whether or not we grew up in a Christian country. Though these do help point us in the right direction, it is still the individual decision of: Here is Jesus, what are you going to do with Him? That is your relationship. Your relationship with God is just that, YOUR RELATIONSHIP. It is not mine, it’s yours. It’s not your mother’s, or your father’s, or anyone else’s, it’s your relationship. What do you say when you hear the question, what do you think of Jesus?
We all know that Isaac followed the footsteps of faithfulness and did walk in God’s will for his life. We know this by his prayer and commitment to God, and his honoring of the covenant God made with his father Abraham.
Isaac was 40 years old when he got married. And, he was 60 years old when Rebekah gave birth.
Twenty years went by from that first day of marriage, until any children were born. We have to assume that Isaac prayed for children for at least the next 19 years. For almost 20 years, Isaac pleaded with God to give him and his wife a child.
People make up stories about how Isaac must not have been a prominent Bible figure or must not have done very much because of the lack of information in the Bible. But, these stories are not true. The Bible says he prayed, FOR 20 YEARS he prayed, and finally his prayer was answered and Rebekah had twins.
Do you pray? You should. Isaac did!
Do you have the persistence, the stamina and the unrelenting willpower to pray and not give up, even if it’s been 20 years? You should. Isaac did!
Do you go to God in prayer knowing that you will get what you are praying for? You should! Isaac did. He kept at it for 20 years!
Do you go to God with the same kind of determination as Isaac? Do you go to God in prayer while claiming those promises that are found in the Bible as your promises? You should. Isaac did!
Do you go to God with the belief that God will hear you and grant you the desires of your heart? You should. Isaac did!
God causes nations to:
Rise, and to
Prosper.
Especially those that pray. For those that do not pray? Well, eventually, they fall.
God Causes Nations to Fall
29 Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. 30 He said to Jacob, "Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!" (That is why he was also called Edom.) 31 Jacob replied, "First sell me your birthright." 32 "Look, I am about to die," Esau said. "What good is the birthright to me?" 33 But Jacob said, "Swear to me first." So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright.
The birthright of the descendants of mankind has always been a special thing. In the U.S. there are still some states that will give the inheritance to the eldest son, if there is no will or surviving spouse.
In the time of Abraham and Isaac, the birthright consisted of the special privileges that belonged to the firstborn male child in a family. Prominent among those privileges was a double portion of the estate as an inheritance. If a man had two sons, his estate would be divided into three portions, and the older son would receive two. If there were three sons, the estate would be divided into four portions, and the oldest son would receive two. The oldest son also normally received the father’s major blessing. The Hebrew word for blessing is (berakah) and similar to the Hebrew word for both birthright and firstborn (bekorah). The legal continuation of the family line may also have been included among the privileges of the firstborn son.
The rights and privileges, of the firstborn son were so important that it was put into law in Deuteronomy 21:15-17. There, it prohibited a father from playing favorites among his sons by trying to give the birthright to other than the firstborn.
(Deuteronomy 21:15) If a man has two wives, and he loves one but not the other, and both bear him sons but the firstborn is the son of the wife he does not love, 16 when he wills his property to his sons, he must not give the rights of the firstborn to the son of the wife he loves in preference to his actual firstborn, the son of the wife he does not love. 17 He must acknowledge the son of his unloved wife as the firstborn by giving him a double share of all he has. That son is the first sign of his father’s strength. The right of the firstborn belongs to him.
Now, what part does all of that play in God Causes Nations to Fall?
The only birthright that is acceptable is to be called the sons and daughters of God. Only through people that are born again and following God’s will for their lives insures that a nation will not fall.
God gives rise to nations and to people, but [2 Chronicles 7:14 if His people, who are called by His name, will humble themselves and pray and seek His face and turn from their wicked ways, then will He hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.] ((Pronouns changed to express the grammar correctly with the rest of the sentence))
III. Summary
The course of human events when followed without a divine Guide will always end with weeping and gnashing of teeth. God gives rise to men and nations, God prospers men and nations, God hears when men and nations pray, and, for those men and nations that don’t listen to Him, sooner or later, He causes those men and nations to fall.
