Sermons on Genesis 31:1-1:48:

Lying To Abimelech (Genesis 20)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 26, 2024

Is God merciful to our human weaknesses? What about the weaknesses of great leaders of our faith? Let's look at Genesis 20.

Is a half-truth still a lie if the intent is to deceive? Do even God’s leading servants occasionally sin out of weakness? Is God merciful to our weaknesses? Let’s examine Genesis 20. Did Abraham lie again about his wife as he had previously done in Egypt? Abraham moved south to the Negev and ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Making Peace (Genesis 21)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 27, 2024

Does making peace sometimes mean separation? Is making peace a good thing? Let's look at Genesis 21.

Is laughter sometimes an expression of joy? Is making peace a good thing? Is separation sometimes the best course of action for peace? Is a formal covenant of peace a good thing? Let’s look at Genesis 21. Did Sarah bear a son named Laughter in her old age? Did she laugh again, with joy? The Lord ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Sarah Dies (Genesis 23)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jun 30, 2024

Such honor for a departed wife! Such honor and respect between parties in the Middle East! Let's look at Genesis 23.

Abraham and Sarah had their ups and downs. She encouraged him to have a baby by their housekeeper. They suffered greatly because of it. Abraham deceived two kings and was tested probably more than many of us could handle in offering his son. Yet in the end, their marriage survived. They had an ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

A Wife For Isaac (Genesis 24)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 3, 2024

How did it happen that the Lord provided a distant believing wife for Isaac, rather than a neighboring pagan wife? Let's look at Genesis 24.

How would we find a marriage partner? Would we choose a pagan or unbeliever who is close by or seek a fellow believer even if they come from far away? Would we follow a believing parent’s advice or ignore their wisdom and make our own choice? Do we trust that God can also provide for us? Let’s ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Sad Polygamy (Genesis 29)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 8, 2024

Were the patriarchs and matriarchs of our common faith filled with great imperfections and a great faith? Are we in the Church still so very imperfect, but also filled with a great faith? Let's look at Genesis 29.

Were God’s patriarchs and matriarchs very imperfect? Yet, were they also people of great faith? Is the same true of many church members today? After he left home to escape his brother’s threats, how did Jacob meet Rachel? Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the children of the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Polygamous Life (Genesis 30)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 9, 2024

Can God show mercy upon very imperfect servants? Does Jacob's life reveal that polygamy simply does not work? Was God's design from the beginning of one man and one woman simply the best? Let's look at Genesis 30.

Does Jacob’s life reveal why polygamy does not work? Did Leah suffer because of this selfish lifestyle? Did competition between wives make family harmony difficult? Did God bless Jacob despite his personal failings? Did God know what He was doing when He designed marriage to be between one man and ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Escaping A Cheat (Genesis 31)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 11, 2024

Life is full of injustices. How do we escape a cheat? Let's look at Genesis 31.

Injustices are many in this world, yet if we try to find justice in our own power, we may make matters even worse. Is it best to wait on the Lord? Let’s look at Genesis 31. Did Laban’s attitude towards Jacob worsen? Did God protect Jacob? What did Jacob say to Rachel and Leah? Now Jacob used to ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Wrestling With God (Genesis 32)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 12, 2024

Do we wrestle with God in prayer or do we give up? Let's look at Genesis 32.

Jacob’s name meant a heel catcher, someone who gets ahead by slowing someone else down. God had prophesied to Rebekah that the older would serve the younger, but Jacob took the inheritance and the blessing by tricking his brother. Was his suffering under a wage-cheating father-in-law a good lesson ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Revenge Or Justice? (Genesis 34)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 15, 2024

Do we seek justice or revenge? Let's look at a case study in Genesis 34.

Do we want true justice or is our motive really revenge for wrongful acts? Should we fight every wrong in the world or sometimes wait on God for justice? Let’s look at justice and revenge in Genesis 34. What did Shechem do to Dinah? Did he want to marry her afterwards? Dinah, the daughter of ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Repenting Of Idols (Genesis 35)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 16, 2024

What kind of idols do we need to repent of? Let's look at Genesis 35.

God is merciful. Families do not repent of past sins all at once. It often takes time. What sins of our families do we still need to grow past? Let’s look at an example in Genesis 35. Did God tell Jacob to leave the area? Did the family finally repent of having idols? Were even their earrings ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Sold Into Slavery (Genesis 37)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 18, 2024

What must it have been like for Joseph, sold into slavery by his own brothers? Do we trust God that He has a plan for those who love Him? Let's look at Genesis 37.

What was it like for Joseph being sold by his brothers into Egyptian slavery? How do we handle terrible loss? Do we have the faith to wait on God, who has wonderful plans, for those who love Him? Let’s look at Genesis 37. Does Joseph get along with his older brothers? Have we ever experienced ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Joseph In Trouble (Genesis 39)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 21, 2024

When faithful believers are in deep trouble will God intervene to help? Let's look at Genesis 39.

Sometimes in life people sell us out because they hate us, we are falsely accused and land in trouble. Do we trust in God, who even in the worst of times, can make our lives prosper, help us and be good to us? In the midst of slavery, did God look after Joseph? Now Joseph had been taken down to ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Difficult Reunion (Genesis 42)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 24, 2024

The Bible does not require that we trust those who once abused us, but can we forgive? Let's look at Genesis 42.

Can past abuse make a family reunion difficult? God does not require that we trust those who once hurt us, but can we forgive? Let’s look at Genesis 42. What were Joseph’s brothers forced to do because of the famine? When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why are ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Brothers Return (Genesis 43)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 26, 2024

Can youthful egos be turned to humility? Can God finally bless us when they do? Let's look at Genesis 43.

Does the reality of life often turn youthful bragging and lack of wisdom into humility? Does God sometimes bring wonderful surprise blessings after many years of trial and testing? Let’s look at Genesis 43. Why did Joseph’s brothers eventually need to return to Egypt? Now the famine was severe in ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Genesis Chapter Twenty-Three Series

Contributed by Tom Shepard on Mar 29, 2023

These are thoughts on Genesis Chapter Twenty-Three. In his work, "What does every Bible chapter say..." John Hunt gives an overview of each chapter of the Bible. It is my intention to do the same thing here.

GENESIS CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE OVERVIEW Overall what is happening in this chapter is that Sarah dies and Abraham purchases a burial plot for her. Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge (2010) – Genesis 23 Overview: The age and death of Sarah; Genesis 23:1 The purchase of the field and cave of ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 23:1-20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational