Well. it's complicated

Today we continue our series “23andme” where we do a deep dive study into the genealogy and family history of Jesus. The objective of this series is simple: we seek to highlight the very human stories leading up to the advent of the messiah in the world. The stories that make up the history of Jesus are very similar to the stories that make up our history. Therefore, as we continue this series the humanity of Jesus will become more clear. This series will make Jesus more relatable. The story we’ll be examining today will be one of complication. The title of Today’s message is “Well, it’s complicated.” If each of us conducted a 23andme study of our family history, at some point our family histories would become extremely complicated at some point. Each family’s history is likely loaded with family drama at some point. The subject of this family drama usually deals with differences of opinion on people's role and title within the family unit. The family history of Jesus was complicated, and it didn’t take long for it to become complicated either.

The second name in the genealogy of Jesus is Isaac. Matthew 1:2

Matthew 1:2 ESV

Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,

There are going to be A LOT of complications surrounding Isaac. Because Isaacs place as the sole heir of Abraham is not without controversy. Why? Because Isaac isn’t the only son, there is another whom many feel has a better claim as Abrahams sole heir. This complication has been a subject of drama and spirited debate ever since. We find this story in Genesis 17:15-27

Genesis 17:15–27 ESV

And God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. I will bless her, and moreover, I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall become nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.” Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, “Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” And Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before you!” God said, “No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him. As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I have blessed him and will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He shall father twelve princes, and I will make him into a great nation. But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this time next year.” When he had finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham. Then Abraham took Ishmael his son and all those born in his house or bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s house, and he circumcised the flesh of their foreskins that very day, as God had said to him. Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. That very day Abraham and his son Ishmael were circumcised. And all the men of his house, those born in the house and those bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.

In Genesis 15 Abraham expresses concern to God that he doesn’t have an heir. Eleazar of Damascus is currently Abraham's heir because he was childless. God reassures Abraham by informing him that not only will he have an heir, but his descendants will be greater than the stars. This would no doubt provide Abraham with reassurance. God approaches Abraham in Genesis 17, and informs him that he’s about to have an heir named Isaac. You’d think Abraham would be joyful and grateful, Instead Abraham pushes back on God.

At first the push back is lighthearted, Abraham laughs at the idea. Abraham says “I’m 100 years old, and my wife is 90. Are you telling me that WE are going to have a baby together after all these years?

It should be noted that Abraham lived to be 175 years old. Meaning that a 100 year old Abraham was closer to a man in his mid to late 50’s as opposed to a frail old man.

Regardless, many will still find the idea of a married couple in their late 50’s becoming parents of a newborn is still humorous for many.

Abraham probably laughed at the idea of all the work Abraham and Sarah would have to do in order to parent a newborn. Abraham knew this because he had experience raising a son. Afterall, he already had Ishmael.

Abrahams push-back would become a little more serious. Abraham says to God “Oh that Ishamel may live before you.” Basically Abraham says “You know I already have a son right?” Why not just make HIM my heir instead? I don’t think Abraham would be against the idea of having another son. However, why not just make the eldest son his heir? Why was Abraham pushing back on God?

One reason is that Abraham is genuinely curious and worried about Ishmaels well-being. He wants to make sure that no harm will come his way.

However the biggest reason is that Abraham saw trouble on the horizon. Abraham saw that awkward time coming. Abraham knew his family was going to see some drama and complications. Why? It all has to do with the situation around Ishmael.

In Genesis 16 Abraham and Sarah get this idea in their head that God isn’t moving fast enough. They don’t have any kids, and they are both getting older. So Abraham and Sarah decided that a servant named Hagar will become the mother for Abraham’s children. Which is exactly what happened, Abraham and Hagar have a child together, and they name him Ishmael. Abraham and Sarah tried to force God's plan into faster action than what God intended. However, just because Abraham had a son already in Ishmael. This doesn’t mean that God was just going to say. Ok, well I guess we can do it your way if you want to” God still has a plan, and his plan will not be deterred by us. Abraham and Sarah are about to learn this very shortly. Because, as we know, in Genesis 17 God tells Abraham and Sarah. The time has come, you will soon give birth to your sole heir Isaac.

You can see why Abraham might have seen complication and drama on the horizon when God tells him about the coming birth of Isaac. This doesn’t go unnoticed by God. He gives Abraham reassurance by telling him that Ishmael is going to be fine. However Isaac will be the son who becomes his sole heir.

Isaac would be born, and become Abraham’s sole heir. Ishmael on the other hand would be kicked out of his home by Sarah. Why? Because every time she looked at Ishmael, she was reminded that he was born not of her and Abraham, but Hagar and Abraham. Sarah was filled with Jealousy, and she kicked him out. With no action of their own, Isaac and Ishmael were pitted against each other right off the bat.

Perhaps the greatest shame is the strain this places on both Isaac and Ishmael. As brothers they were amicable, and seemed to have a good relationship. When Abraham died in Genesis 25, it was Isaac and Ishmael who buried him together. However in the generations that followed, the descendants of the 2 brothers would fight against each other, and kill one another in every generation that followed.

Today this rift and divide is very familiar. The religions that view Isaac as Abraham's sole heir are Christianity and Judaism. The religion that views Ishmael as Abraham's sole heir is Islam. The 2 groups have been fighting ever since.

We will never be able to force God’s plan into action. Trying to do so will only result in drama and complication for everyone else. The core of the message is this. God will always forgive us of our sins, but he will never be accommodating to them. Many of us understand this. We know what it means for our sins to be taken, but their complications in our lives remain. They constantly impact both our lives, as well as our families. What do we do when the mistakes we make leave complications for everyone else? In this case we look back to the lineage of Jesus. Even though Abraham and Sarah made things really complicated by trying to force God's hand. God still used their lives to pave the way for Jesus. God can still use our lives to bring about good, despite any complications in our lives. So submit yourselves to God, so that he may use us for good. Let us say Thy kingdom come, thy will be done.