TGP (Unit 3|Session 1) - Two Peoples Will Come From You

Introduction:

Q. What is something you hope to inherit one day?

Q. How would you feel if this was given to someone else instead?

Q. What d you hope to pass on to your children or family members?

Inheritance = big deal

Passed on = hurt

Today’s lesson

Main Point: Jealousy and pride lead us to make selfish decisions.

Jealousy leads to sin

Read Genesis 25:21-26.

V.21

“… because she was childless”

Q. What does this remind you of?

Just like Abraham and Sarah

Married at 40

Now = 20 years later

Isaac succeeds where his father failed

“The Lord was receptive to his prayer...”

Ever happened to you?

V. 22

“Children” = plural

“Struggled”

“so she went to inquire of the Lord.”

An appropriate response

V. 23

Two nations

“The older shall serve the younger”

Upside down

Birthright/inheritance foretold

V. 24

“… there were indeed twins...”

First explicit mention

V. 25

Esau = hairy/rough

V.26

“… grasping Esau’s heel...”

A confirmation of what God had already told Rebekah

Jacob (more on name later)

Abraham = 60

Q. How does inheritance usually work? Should it be equal among children? Explain.

Birthright = firstborn male

Birthright privileges:

Head of household

Inheritance of father’s estate

Double portion of everything passed down

Somewhat true in today’s culture, too

But usually more even (will)

Unfair inheritance = jealousy

Q. The name Jacob means “he grasps the heel” or “he deceives.” What does this show you Jacob might do?

Names = important (character)

Jacob’s name foresaw his deception

Q. What did verse 23 say would happen? Could this lead to any issues? Explain.

God not playing by the rules

Younger shall rule older

Tests the limits/leads to separation

Sin leads us to deceive others

Read Genesis 25:27-34; 27:1-19

V. 27:

Esau = hunter

Jacob = homebody

Plays sports vs. stays home and plays video games

V.28

Q. Does this sound like a healthy family to you?

Family dysfunction

V.29

Exhaustion = vulnerability

V.30

“Red stuff” = Edom (red)

V.31

A big ask

Jacob taking God’s will into his own hands

V.32-33

God said this would happen

But reasoning was impulsive

V. 34

“Esau despised his birthright.”

Something thought-provoking about this

27:6-8

“Listen” = 2x

Rebekah taking God’s will into her own hands

V. 10

“… bless you”

Jacob should have gotten this anyways

But he obtains it deceitfully

V. 18

“Who are you, my son?”

He knows its one of them

He just doesn’t know which

V. 19

“… so that you may bless me”

This is why Jacob is here

Q. Who was most at fault in this story? Why?

Isaac ignoring prophecy

Rebekah “playing God”

Esau’s carelessness

Jacob blindly following his mother

“The ends justify the means.”

All at fault

Didn’t trust God

Taking matters into our own hands

Q. When have you been like Jacob-willing to Justify sin and deception to get what you want instead of letting God work?

Jealousy, pride, doubt = sin roots

Bragging

Exaggerating

But we can trust God

Q. What does this story show us about the type of people God chooses to use?

God isn’t depending on us

But He chooses to use us

Isaac’s family = living proof

God redeems

Christ Connection:

Isaac and his family proved themselves to be sinners by their selfish and self-centered actions. This is the natural way of humanity. But God was sovereignly orchestrating events and redeeming this family’s sin to fulfill His promise to Abraham. God would still make Abraham into a great nation through Isaac and Jacob, which would ultimately lead to Jesus, who fulfilled humanity’s need for salvation from sin

Wrap-Up:

How can you practice faith instead of taking matters into your own hands?

Difficult to trust

Comparing to unbelievers

Trying to do what it feels like God isn’t

Settling (relationships, future plans, etc)

The Bottom Line: When we release control and stop manipulating situations, we experience God’s faithfulness and witness His perfect sovereignty.