Sermon Tone Analysis

24:1-21

The servant was sent on a mission.

He was ‘to get a wife for... Isaac’ (4).

When Christ entered Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1-11), He was on a mission.

He had come for His Bride, the Church (Ephesians 5:25; Revelation 21:2-3).

The servant was not to ‘get a wife... from... the Canaanites’ (3).

The Church is to be made ‘holy,... a radiant Church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless’ (Ephesians 5:26-27).

The servant carried out his mission carefully and prayerfully (12-14).

Jesus was careful to fulfil the words of the prophet - entering Jerusalem 'on a donkey' (Matthew 21:2-7).

In His journey to the Cross, Jesus was concerned with this one thing - ‘to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work’ (John 4:34).

The servant prayed, and the answer was given (15-16).

Not my will but Thine, Lord!

24:22-49

The detailed account of Isaac's marriage highlights the guidance of God.

He directs the life of His people.

This is our testimony - ‘the Lord... has led me on the right road’ (48).

The great lessons of this story are stated in verse 27 - (a) the ‘steadfast love’ of the Lord; (b) the ‘faithfulness’ of God; (c) the guidance of God - ‘the Lord has led me’; (d) worshipping the Lord - ‘Blessed be the Lord...’.

We are to seek God’s guidance, rejoicing in His love and trusting in His faithfulness.

Looking to Christ, who went to the Cross for us, we are to say, with Him, ‘I have come to do Thy will, O God’, ‘I will praise Thee’, ‘I will put my trust in Him’, ‘Here am I, and the children God has given Me’ (Hebrews 10:7; 2:12-13).

To those who do His will, praising Him and trusting Him, God will give much blessing - ‘an overflowing blessing’ (Malachi 3:10).

24:50-67

In verse 60, we read of the blessing of God upon Rebekah - ‘Our sister, may you increase to thousands upon thousands; may your offspring possess the gates of their enemies’.

This refers to the long-term fulfilment of God’s promise to Abraham.

Through the death of Christ, the Lamb of God, ‘a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation,’ will sing the song of salvation, ‘Salvation belongs to our God ...and to the Lamb’ (Revelation 7: 9-10).

This is what we must pray for in our own community.

In homes where Christ has not been honoured, there will be transformation.

The Lord’s messengers will be received - ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ - and the Lord’s Name will be praised - ‘Hosanna in the highest!’ (Matthew 21:9).

Such blessing will be given to those who spend time with God (63; Joshua 1:8).

25:1-18

What will we leave behind us?

What will we pass on to the next generation?

In this passage of many names, there is a challenging contrast between the influence of Abraham and Ishmael on the next generation.

In verse 11, we read, ‘After Abraham’s death, God blessed his son Isaac’.

In verse 18, we find that ‘Ishmael’s descendants lived in hostility toward all their brothers’.

In Isaiah 52:13-53:12, there is a great prophecy concerning the death of Christ.

We read of His suffering, as He becomes ‘an offering for sin’.

We learn also of His glorious future - ‘He will see His offspring and prolong His days’ (53:10).

Unlike Abraham (175 years) and Ishmael (137 years), Jesus did not live a long life on earth (33 years), yet ‘He shall see the fruit of the travail of His soul and be satisfied’ - ‘many’ will be ‘accounted righteous’ (11).

25:19-34

Esau was a fool.

He chose his own way rather than the Lord’s way.

Jacob was a ‘heel’!

‘Born with his hand holding on to Esau’s heel..., he was named Jacob (Heel)’ (26).

A crafty twister, a manipulating cheat, there was nothing about him that merited God’s blessing.

He was not superior to Esau.

Like Esau, Jacob was a sinner.

Esau was not inferior to Jacob.

Both were guilty before God.

Why, then - in God’s purpose - does ‘the elder’ (Esau) ‘serve the younger’ (Jacob) (23)?

The answer is grace, the ‘amazing grace’ of God.

Grace lifted Jacob.

The glory belongs to God.

Grace could have lifted Esau.

By grace Jacob valued the birthright (God’s blessing).

His way of seeking God’s blessing was devious.

Nevertheless, he was seeking for God - and God, in His grace, found him and made him a new man (32:28).

‘Wonderful grace of Jesus, Greater than all my sin!’

26:1-35

‘History repeats itself’.

Sin has a ‘like father, like son’ quality about it - Isaac is like Abraham (7; 12:13, 20:2, 12-13), Jacob is like Isaac (7; 25:31,27:19).

Grace repeats itself.

God is faithful.

He gives forgiveness and victory over temptation (1 John 1:9; 1 Corinthians 10:13).

He cannot deny Himself (2 Timothy 2:13).

Deceived by ‘the father of lies’ (the devil), ‘man’ denies the truth (John 8:44).

‘Let God be true, and every man a liar’ (Romans 3:4).

In verses 19-22, there’s ‘the story of the three wells’ - ‘Dispute’, ‘Opposition’, ‘Room’.

Things went from bad to worse, then there was progress.

There is room for both, when there is no more quarrelling.

Isaac worshipped God, and was recognised as God’s man (25,28).

We are to be recognised as God’s people, but remember - verse 34 - even the Lord’s people can make mistakes!