Sermon Tone Analysis

How many have a Mom that likes to take the perfect picture?

How many had a Mom that liked her family to look like the perfect picture?

In this day of Snapchat and Instagram and Facebook - people like to take pics that make themselves look good or their circumstances look good and post it to give that picture perfect look of their lives.

Sometimes others become depressed when comparing their lives to that perfect picture presentation -

No one has a picture perfect life!

In fact under the surface it may be quite different from what is presented - this the shock when that loving couple divorces or that honor roll student ends up in jail —-

If we were to look at some of the Patriarchs of Israel in the OT we may find those who presented one way, but underneath a lot of other stuff was going on.

All we have to do is examine the wives and mothers of these families to encounter the real picture.

1. Abraham and Sarai - Comfort

Here is this rich dude with a beautiful wife.

The Bible tells us Sarai was unsurpassed with beauty.

So much Abraham feared he would be killed by the pharaoh so she could become his wife.

Today we might equate this couple with say The Donald before politics and Melania - wealthy man with younger beautiful wife - highly successful in business

However, this couple had no kids.

Behind the picture perfect life was a desperate woman desiring to be a Mom.

I know there are woman who have not or cannot have children.

The pain around them is great - today is not a day to enjoy but to avoid!

It is discouraging for them.

I know Sarai had a baby - but she lived 90 years barren!!!

In her own desperation she gave her husband her maid to have a child for her.

This was not a happy woman!

- come to the Lord those heavy laden

So many Scriptures about God removing barrenness and making promises to bless with a child - but what about those who never conceive.

The barren womb is never satisfied...

Comfort comes from the Lord

- comfortsbus so we can Comfort others

2 cor 1:3=

God can bring beauty from our pain

2. Isaac and Rebekah - Mercy

Here is another woman who was barren, but Isaac prayed and she conceived twins!!

A rich heir and his wife and twin sons!

So much to inherit, so much to be blessed with —

Prince William and Kate?

Beautiful couple with kids and position and wealth.

Yet under the surface not all is as it seems!!

These parents had favorites and it showed!!! Isaac with Esau and Rebekah with Jacob.

So bad that the wife used her favorite to deceive the father and still his brother’s inheritance.

Than that Brother had to flee to another country never seeing his parents again.

All was not picture perfect!!!

Families have dysfunctionality!

Issues will always occur in relationships.

There is no perfect mother or father!!!

That does not mean we stop honoring our parents just because they are dysfunctional!

Like 18:20

Luke 18:20

Why does the Bible show so many dysfunctional families?

It is so we would learn how to be gracious to one another and demonstrate mercy through our home life and relationships

All have sinned - none are perfect - we learn how to show mercy toward others

How will we ever learn to forgive if not offended or to show grace if offense is not occurred - yes that happens in families which is where these lessons are first learned and applied

In our less than picture perfect homes may we learn to demonstrate mercy

3. Jacob and His Wives and Concubines - Forgiveness

Genesis tells us marriage is between one man and one woman - yet we see even the Patriarchs do their own thing.

When Jacob was deceived into taking Leah for a wife - he also took Rachel, and both of these women used their concubines to have more children to our do one another

The result was a large integrated family of 12 sons and daughters besides.

This family was far from picture perfect!

It was filled with conflict, competition and hard feelings

It is very demonstrative not of a sister wives scenario - but today’s blended families and the conflicts they contend with.

Jealousy, offenses, competition!

More favoritism

Needless to say this becoming a “Great Nation” had some issues - brothers selling their brothers into slavery, murdering a village of men because one had raped a sister, even a father sleeping with his daughter in law of a deceased son thinking she was a prostitute.

Who says the Bible is boring???

It all comes down to this -

He need for forgiveness —

Yes we mentioned being merciful already - mercy is about showing the grace we have received, bearing with patience others faults and flaws

Forgiveness is a deliberate act of granting pardon!!

Choosing to come back into right relationship even after one has been wronged.

We see this throughout the first generation of Israel!

Learning to recognize when we have done wrong and repent.

He reality is all relationships with have wrongs committed - not just bearing mercy for the overall differences and dysfunctionality, but choosing to forgive for deliberate acts of malice or offense!

Jacob’s children were downright mean to each other as were his wives!

When competition and jealousy plays into a family - feelings will be hurt and intentional offenses will be made.

This is why we must forgive and repent.

- perhaps the greatest offense in this warped family.

Repented and forgiven!

- perhaps the greatest offense in this warped family.

Repented and forgiven!

- God offers forgiveness so we may learn to fear Him

- God offers forgiveness so we may learn to fear Him

Conclusion

Your family is not alone.

Mom’s you are not the only Mom with a less than perfect clan, and you are.

It the only Mom who has messed up either!

The family was intended to be a place of mercy and forgiveness and for those without thread own - there is Comfort.

Rob Rocca

720-899-8122