Life is a Journey that is Generational
Notes
Transcript
Parenting isn’t for wimps. While you have the responsibility of your own life journey, as a parent, you also have the responsibility of properly preparing and guiding your children into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ while also growing their faith among the forks and turns of their own decisions in their personal life journey.
The sad but also exciting part of this message this morning is that children inherit the struggles but also the blessings of their parents.
Unfortunately, most all children tend to model the faith and failures of their families legacy.
However, we are encouraged and challenged to build our own legacy of a faithful journey by looking not to our family, but to our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Let’s look at our text this morning and see who was Issac looking to for his life journey.
Like Father Like Son:The Legacy of Faith and Failures
Like Father Like Son:The Legacy of Faith and Failures
1 And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar.
2 And the Lord appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of:
3 Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father;
4 And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;
5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
6 And Isaac dwelt in Gerar:
Lets take a little history and geography lesson this morning so we will be able to fully reap the benefits of our text this morning.
After the sacrifice of Issac that we studied last week,
19 So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beer-sheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beer-sheba.
In Chapter 23 - Sarah dies at 127 years of age and Abraham purchases a cave where Sarah was living at the time.
19 And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre: the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan.
Why is Hebron special?
Remember back to Genesis 13 after Lot and Abraham separated.
18 Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the Lord.
Mamre meaning “Fatness,” and Hebron meaning joined together, fellowship, communion.
Remember, Abram was saying, in type, “I’m not interested in the people, pleasures, prosperity, politics, or perversity of Sodom. Instead, I’m going to enjoy the fatness, the richness, the satisfaction which comes from Communion with God.”
Notice that Hebron is 19 miles SSE of Jerusalem where Issac was offered as a sacrifice and 23 miles NE of Beer-sheba where Abraham digs a well
25 And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech’s servants had violently taken away.
28 And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.
29 And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by themselves?
30 And he said, For these seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well.
31 Wherefore he called that place Beer-sheba; because there they sware both of them.
33 And Abraham planted a grove in Beer-sheba, and called there on the name of the Lord, the everlasting God.
34 And Abraham sojourned in the Philistines’ land many days.
In Genesis 24:67
67 And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.
Also, Abraham died at the age of 175 and left everything to Issac
7 And these are the days of the years of Abraham’s life which he lived, an hundred threescore and fifteen years.
8 Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.
9 And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre;
10 The field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth: there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife.
Issac has wandered around like his father and last know residence was
11 And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by the well Lahai-roi.
So, understanding a little about this area and the places of Hebron, Beer-sheba, and the plains of Gerar and all the wells that Abraham had previously dug became a blessing inherited by Issac, his son.
Issac was placed in a great place to succeed and be blessed by God.
However, there are some similar decisions with Abraham that Issac must face.
Facing Your Own Famine with Faith
Facing Your Own Famine with Faith
1 And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar.
God's presence and promises don't shield us from struggles but rather equip us to face them.
Faith Practiced:
Faith Practiced:
1 And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar.
Remember, the first time we read of Gerar and Abimelech was back in chapter 20 after Abraham watched the destruction of Sodom and Gommorah.
1 And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar.
This was a familiar place and a familiar person.
A famine could be any crisis we face, financial famine, emotional, famine, spiritual famine, any crisis that is characterized by fear and human planning.
God promises there will be testing of our faith.
Remember last week, True Faith is not Real Faith Unless Tested.
When faced with a famine, who do you turn?
Isaac goes to Abimelech, king of the Philistines.
Probably to see how they are handling the famine before he flees to the prosperous land of Egypt just like his father Abraham.
However, the Lord comes to him.
Faith Promised:
Faith Promised:
2 And the Lord appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of:
What Abraham should have understood, God didn’t take for granted from Isaac.
Remember, Egypt represents the world and Canaan a place of promise and blessing.
3 Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father;
4 And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;
5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
Note how completely and responsibly Abraham obeyed God:
⇒ Abraham kept the charge of God. A charge has to do with God’s official call or appointment to service. Abraham kept the charge to be the head of God’s people, the father of faith.
⇒ Abraham kept the commandments of God. The word commandment stresses the fact that the command is from God Himself; it is divinely given. Abraham kept the commandment of God to believe God, to separate from Ur (a symbol of the world) and to follow after the promises of God.
⇒ Abraham kept the statutes of God. The word statute refers to the permanence, the unending force of what God says. An example of this would be Abraham’s keeping the statute of circumcision.
⇒ Abraham kept the laws of God. Laws would involve rules of instruction that need to be taught and passed on. They would be rules of righteousness that govern behavior. Abraham followed the rules of God from the depths of his heart and conscience.
Faith Proved:
Faith Proved:
6 And Isaac dwelt in Gerar:
Isaac listened to God. He obeyed.
One moment we have faith but the next we have failure.
18 Pride goeth before destruction, And an haughty spirit before a fall.
6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
Failure of the Father
Failure of the Father
Family Traits Expressed
Family Traits Expressed
7 And the men of the place asked him of his wife; and he said, She is my sister: for he feared to say, She is my wife; lest, said he, the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah; because she was fair to look upon.
8 And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife.
Again, just like Abraham, we see Isaac’s Selfishness, looking to preserve his life while not protecting the life of his wife.
Family Traits Exposed
Family Traits Exposed
Apparently, Isaac’s living quarters were very close in proximity to Abimelech’s palace. Close enough to observed Isaac “sporting” - playing around and caressing Rebekah obviously not in a brotherly and sisterly kind of way.
Look at verse 9
9 And Abimelech called Isaac, and said, Behold, of a surety she is thy wife: and how saidst thou, She is my sister? And Isaac said unto him, Because I said, Lest I die for her.
10 And Abimelech said, What is this thou hast done unto us? one of the people might lightly have lien with thy wife, and thou shouldest have brought guiltiness upon us.
11 And Abimelech charged all his people, saying, He that toucheth this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.
Notice, the Philistines had a greater fear of God when it came to sin then Isaac did.
Their testimony was made public. They were liars.
So, Abimelech, who didn’t want to lose the wealth and trade Isaac brought into the city, made a public proclamation of death if anyone touches either of them.
However, it wasn’t the failure of Isaac that defined him, but rather his faithfulness.
Flourishing Through Faithfulness
Flourishing Through Faithfulness
Provisions Provided
Provisions Provided
12 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the Lord blessed him.
13 And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great:
14 For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him.
Isaac’s crops produced a hundredfold. (12)
Isaac’s personal wealth became very great. (13)
Isaac’s flocks and herds and servants increased greatly. (14)
People do not like the pilgrim to get wealthier than the people.
So, the
Problems Presented - Worldy Problems
Problems Presented - Worldy Problems
14 For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him.
15 For all the wells which his father’s servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth.
16 And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we.
1st comes envy.
The same tactics the Philistines used against Isaac are still being employed against the people of God!
12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
They become jealous when they can’t explain or understand our peace and joy under trials.
They do their best to rob us of the blessings we have as children of God when they see us walking by faith through this world.
They will seek to stop up the wells from which we are drawing through discouragement, intimidation and personal attacks.
Envy produces Enmity.
Enmity leads to Evacuation.
17 And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there.
Just far enough away. Not where God wanted him. Isaac is wanting to put down roots in Gerar, the land of the Philistines.
Problems Presented - Well Problems!
Problems Presented - Well Problems!
18 And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them.
19 And Isaac’s servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water.
20 And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac’s herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek; because they strove with him.
21 And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah.
22 And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the Lord hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.
Why all this fascination with wells?
There are several reasons.
The primary one being the fact that men and animals must have water to survive.
In that country, being semi-desert, water was as valuable as oil is today!
In those days, all waste lands were called “God’s lands”. If any man could live in a desert place, provide for his family and flocks and open a well, then that land was considered to be his land!
In other words, a well was a statement of ownership! To fill in a well was an act of war!
These Philistines hated Isaac so much that they declared war on him by trying to seize his lands and drive him away from that which was his!
Notice the fights he had to undertake.
He had to clean out old wells.
Reclaim the blessings of his father.
The Philistines didn’t want them, they just didn’t want Isaac to have them.
There are some wells that our fathers have opened that we need to redig.
Wells of worship, bible study, commitment to God.
He had to contend for the new wells.
The world has taken away Christianity.
They have attacks our wells.
They have highjacked Christmas and Easter.
They have stolen our day of worship,
We must contend for our wells.
2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
The next generation will need these wells to survive.
Being a pilgrim in this world is one fight after another fight.
Look around at the children in this service this morning.
Look around at the young couples in this service this morning.
We are losing the fight. Remember,
We are fighting for them. We must fight for them. We have a legacy that has been promised that we must protect.
Lastly and quickly notice the victory of the fight.
Privileges Purchased
Privileges Purchased
23 And he went up from thence to Beer-sheba.
Notice this fight brings him right back to Beersheba.
Why Beer-sheba?
Beer-sheba was where Abraham had made a treaty with Philistines and built an altar. Gen 21:31-34.
Beer-sheba was where Abraham moved to after offering Isaac on the altar of sacrifice. Gen 22:19.
Beer-sheba was a place of fellowship between God and Abraham.
Beersheba was a place of prosperity for the Faith of Abraham and will become a special place for Isaac as well.
24 And the Lord appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham’s sake.
25 And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the Lord, and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac’s servants digged a well.
Prospered from God’s Words
Prospered from God’s Words
24 And the Lord appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham’s sake.
There is no greater privilege than that of experiencing the Lord’s presence and hearing the voice of God.
3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
Prospered from God’s Worship
Prospered from God’s Worship
25 And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the Lord, and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac’s servants digged a well.
When we are hearing the Word of God and obeying the word of God we have true Worship.
23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Prospered with God’s World
Prospered with God’s World
25 And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the Lord, and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac’s servants digged a well.
True Worship leads to dwelling in the presence of God.
Isaac pitched his tent there. Right where he called on the name of the Lord.
Our lives should revolve around the Church.
Prospered with God’s Water
Prospered with God’s Water
25 And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the Lord, and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac’s servants digged a well.
When we are obedient, worshipping God, Dwelling with God, the Well willl flow.
14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
Father’s listen: Your faith can overcome your failures. I often wondered what if Abraham would have repented of his failure rather than just recognizing his failure.
Children listen: You have the opportunity to produce your own faith by looking to your heavenly father.
Life is a Journey, it is rough and hard, but there is never a day with Jesus Christ where it isn’t worthwhile. Remember, your journey is a generational journey.
Are you leaving wells and memories for the next generation.
