Two Peoples Will Come From You

Gospel Project Winter  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented
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Introduction PAGE 13

Genesis 26:1–11 NLT
1 A severe famine now struck the land, as had happened before in Abraham’s time. So Isaac moved to Gerar, where Abimelech, king of the Philistines, lived. 2 The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt, but do as I tell you. 3 Live here as a foreigner in this land, and I will be with you and bless you. I hereby confirm that I will give all these lands to you and your descendants, just as I solemnly promised Abraham, your father. 4 I will cause your descendants to become as numerous as the stars of the sky, and I will give them all these lands. And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed. 5 I will do this because Abraham listened to me and obeyed all my requirements, commands, decrees, and instructions.” 6 So Isaac stayed in Gerar. 7 When the men who lived there asked Isaac about his wife, Rebekah, he said, “She is my sister.” He was afraid to say, “She is my wife.” He thought, “They will kill me to get her, because she is so beautiful.” 8 But some time later, Abimelech, king of the Philistines, looked out his window and saw Isaac caressing Rebekah. 9 Immediately, Abimelech called for Isaac and exclaimed, “She is obviously your wife! Why did you say, ‘She is my sister’?” “Because I was afraid someone would kill me to get her from me,” Isaac replied. 10 “How could you do this to us?” Abimelech exclaimed. “One of my people might easily have taken your wife and slept with her, and you would have made us guilty of great sin.” 11 Then Abimelech issued a public proclamation: “Anyone who touches this man or his wife will be put to death!”
Sunday we examined the birth of Enoch and Jacob, and then looked over the deceitful plan that Jacob and his mother planned to steal the birth right of Enoch.
When we examined this, we know that God revealed Jacob would inherit the blessings from his father, Isaac.
So Isaac disguised himself as his brother Enoch, and tricked Isaac into giving him the blessing. Because of this sin and trickery, Jacob would spend his days running from his brother Enoch.
This is an example of what happens when we fail to trust God, and instead try and take matters into our own hands.
How many of you, have cried out to God, and instead of patiently waiting, you decided to try and fix the problem yourself?
It is common for us to focus so much on ourselves, and our own interests, that we don’t even consider others. We decide to take matters into our own hands, and either hurt others or ourselves in our selfishness.
So let’s examine this passage a little further…
Genesis 26:1–2 NLT
1 A severe famine now struck the land, as had happened before in Abraham’s time. So Isaac moved to Gerar, where Abimelech, king of the Philistines, lived. 2 The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt, but do as I tell you.
Pretty straightforward stuff. God tells Isaac not to go to Egypt.
Remember when we discussed Abraham and Isaac? We talked about how when God told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, he didn’t know why God told him to. But he knew that God had a plan.
If God leads you somewhere, or does something, He has a plan. We may not see it, but if we learn to be content with where we are, and trust in God, all will work out.
But its when we take matters into our own hands, or blame God for the things happening and decide to not trust him that we end up worse than where we are.
All Isaac has to do, is listen to God, and not do anything he shouldn’t do. (Foreshadowing)
Genesis 26:3–6 NLT
3 Live here as a foreigner in this land, and I will be with you and bless you. I hereby confirm that I will give all these lands to you and your descendants, just as I solemnly promised Abraham, your father. 4 I will cause your descendants to become as numerous as the stars of the sky, and I will give them all these lands. And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed. 5 I will do this because Abraham listened to me and obeyed all my requirements, commands, decrees, and instructions.” 6 So Isaac stayed in Gerar.
So the LORD tells Isaac to stay in Gerar, and that God would give these lands to him, just as the Lord promised to Abraham.
He reiterates His promise, reminding Isaac that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars of the sky, and that He will give them land, and that through his descendants, all the nations of the earth will be blessed.
We looked at that statement two weeks ago. What does it mean that all the nations would be blessed?
Then in verse 5, God tells Isaac why He is doing this. Abraham upheld the Lords commandments. He obeyed God. Does this mean Abraham obeyed God with everything, and never messed up? No. Abraham lied about his wife being his sister twice to avoid being killed.
Once again, instead of trusting God, knowing that God had him there for a reason, Abraham lied to keep himself alive.
But we all stumble. Does that mean God can’t use us?
Verse 6 says Isaac stayed in Gerar. All he has to do is not mess anything up. How hard could that be?
Genesis 26:7–8 NLT
7 When the men who lived there asked Isaac about his wife, Rebekah, he said, “She is my sister.” He was afraid to say, “She is my wife.” He thought, “They will kill me to get her, because she is so beautiful.” 8 But some time later, Abimelech, king of the Philistines, looked out his window and saw Isaac caressing Rebekah.
Welp. That was fast. Isaac did the same mistake as his father Abraham. He lied about being married to his wife, in fear that he would be killed.
Isaac sinned. When we sin, we are acting out of a selfish attitude and mindset that assumes our action will lead us to more happiness than if we were to obey God.
Isaac, fearing death lied. But this wasn’t just a lie, this was basically looking at God and saying: Yeah, God. You brought me here, told me to stay here, and are supplying for me. But its a good thing I am a quick thinker and saved myself from being killed. You must not have seen that one coming, God.
But then, Isaac was caught in his lie. The king saw him embracing Rebekah.
Genesis 26:9–11 NLT
9 Immediately, Abimelech called for Isaac and exclaimed, “She is obviously your wife! Why did you say, ‘She is my sister’?” “Because I was afraid someone would kill me to get her from me,” Isaac replied. 10 “How could you do this to us?” Abimelech exclaimed. “One of my people might easily have taken your wife and slept with her, and you would have made us guilty of great sin.” 11 Then Abimelech issued a public proclamation: “Anyone who touches this man or his wife will be put to death!”
There are two types of fear. A healthy fear, and a unhealthy fear.
Isaac displayed an unhealthy fear. Instead of trusting God, knowing he had a plan, knowing he had him here for a reason, and knowing that never did God mention him being harmed, he still took matters into his own hand and lied.
But God, used a Pagan King, to point our the sin of his people. The king displayed a healthy fear. What if one of his men had sexual relations with Rebekah, thinking her not be married, and then God judged that nation because of it?
It happened earlier to Abraham. He lied to the King, said his wife was instead his sister, the king married her, and God judged the nation.
Healthy fear leads us to trust God. Unhealthy fear leads us to trust in ourselves.
OTHERS BEFORE US—
Sin, ultimately puts us first, and others last. We sin, oftentimes as a result of self interest, or selfishness. Isaac put himself first, lying in order to save himself.
The Bible teaches that we are to put others before ourselves.
Romans 12:18 NLT
18 Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.
We should we all we can to be at peace with everyone. Sometimes its difficult, but we’re called to love one another.
Galatians 5:14 NLT
14 For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Every single law can be summed up with “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
How can that be? Let me explain.
If you love your neighbor as yourself: You wont lie to them.
You wont murder them.
You wont covet their belongings.
You wont commit adultery with them.
The list continues.
Philippians 2:3 NLT
3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.
Once again, put others first, be humble, and think of others better than you.
SALVATION—
There is one sign, that shows that you love others more than yourself.
John 15:13 NLT
13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
Romans 5:8 NLT
8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
Jesus, while we were still sinners died for us. He shows us that he loves us, to the point that he was willing to die for us. He put us, before Him.
And now, if we repent of our sins, and trust in Him, we will be saved.
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