Introduction

Good morning, family! Today, we gather to explore a story that spans generations, a story of God's unchanging love and faithfulness.

J.I. Packer writes, "Once you become aware that the main business that you are here for is to know God, most of life's problems fall into place of their own accord." Let us keep this in mind as we delve into Genesis 26:1-6:

"Now there was a famine in the land—besides the previous famine in Abraham’s time—and Isaac went to Abimelek king of the Philistines in Gerar. The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, 'Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you. For to you and your descendants I will give all these lands and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham. I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed because Abraham obeyed me and did everything I required of him, keeping my commands, my decrees and my instructions.' So Isaac stayed in Gerar."

God's Promise to Abraham

The story of Abraham begins in Genesis 12, when God calls him to leave his homeland and go to a land that He will show him. This call is accompanied by a series of promises that form the foundation of the covenant between God and Abraham. These promises include the assurance that Abraham will become a great nation, that his descendants will inherit the land of Canaan, and that through his offspring, all nations on earth will be blessed.

The promise to make Abraham's descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky is a recurring motif in the story of Abraham. This promise is first mentioned in Genesis 15, when God reaffirms His covenant with Abraham after he expresses doubt about his ability to have children.

At this point, Abraham and his wife Sarah are already advanced in age, and they have no children. However, God assures Abraham that his descendants will be as numerous as the stars, a powerful image that conveys the idea of innumerable offspring and the vastness of God's blessing.

This promise is reiterated in Genesis 22, after Abraham has demonstrated his faith and obedience by being willing to sacrifice his son Isaac. In this passage, God renews His covenant with Abraham, emphasizing that his descendants will be as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. This repetition of the promise serves to underscore its importance and to remind Abraham and his descendants of God's faithfulness.

The promise of land is another key aspect of God's covenant with Abraham. In Genesis 13, God tells Abraham to look around him and promises to give him and his descendants all the land that he can see. This promise is later expanded in Genesis 15, when God specifies that the land will extend from the river of Egypt to the great river Euphrates. The land of Canaan, which is promised to Abraham and his descendants, is a central theme in the Bible and serves as a symbol of God's blessing and provision.

The third major aspect of God's promise to Abraham is the assurance that through his offspring, all nations on earth will be blessed. This promise is first mentioned in Genesis 12 and is repeated in Genesis 18 and 22. This aspect of the covenant points to the universal scope of God's plan, which extends beyond the nation of Israel to encompass all people. The fulfillment of this promise is ultimately realized in the person of Jesus Christ, who is a descendant of Abraham and through whom salvation is offered to all nations.

The story of Abraham and God's promise to him is an illustration of God's faithfulness and His commitment to fulfilling His promises, even when circumstances seem impossible. Abraham and Sarah were both advanced in age with no children, yet God promised them a multitude of descendants. Despite the apparent impossibility of this promise, Abraham chose to trust in God and to believe that He would fulfill His word. This faith was rewarded, as God miraculously enabled Sarah to conceive and give birth to Isaac, the child of promise.

The fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham is also evident in the lives of his descendants, who become the nation of Israel. Throughout the Old Testament, we see God's faithfulness to His covenant with Abraham, as He guides, protects, and provides for the people of Israel. The story of Isaac, which we are exploring in this sermon, is a prime example of this faithfulness, as God reaffirms His promise to Abraham and assures Isaac that He will be with him and bless him.

As Christians, we are part of the spiritual descendants of Abraham, and we share in the blessings of the covenant that God made with him. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we become heirs to the promises of God and recipients of His grace and provision. This means that we can trust in God's faithfulness, just as Abraham did, and we can rely on His promises to guide and sustain us in our own lives.

Abraham's willingness to trust in God

Abraham's willingness to trust in God and to follow His call, even when it seemed impossible, is a model for us as we seek to live out our faith in our own lives ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO