Jacob and Esau birth Gen 25. 19-26

“Nothing Like A Little Sibling Rivalry”

Sunday a.m. 5/20/07

Genesis 25:19-26

What is the “catch” to trusting God?

I.          Believe God for Great Things, 25:19-21

            A.        Believing God begins in our prayers.

1.         Isaac dwelled at the place where God (el-roi) heard and saw Hagar, “and Isaac dwelt by the well Lahairoi.” 25:11[1]

2.         Notice the different response to the same problem of barrenness;

            Abraham and Sarah panicked and sought a fleshy solution, 16:1-4.

            Isaac and Rebekah prayed about it. 25:21

B.        It was God’s will for Isaac to have children; he was the promised heir and seed of blessing of Abraham, 22:17, 24:7, and 25:11

            C.        But God answers in His time frame not ours;

            Isaac had to wait 20 years before God began to fulfill His promise to him, 25:20 & 26

II.        Trusting God Also Consists of Trusting In His Word, 25:22-23

            A.        Notice that Rebekah immediately turns to the Lord with her problems, 25:22.

            B.        And God answers her with his spoken word, 25:23;

                        1. God still deals with us the same way; through His word the Bible,

                        2. And in prayer when we receive a peace that passes all understanding, Phil. 4:7.

            C.        But God’s word can also be a warning to us.

1.         This struggle is synonymous with the struggles Christians face every day between their Spirit and their flesh, Galatians 5:16-17.

                        2.         We have a tendency to be tempted to trust ourselves instead of God!

III.       BUT Be Careful of What You Believe God For, 25:24-26

            A.        As Promised, there are twins in her womb, 25:24.

            B.        The prophecy is foretold, Esau[2] the hairy one, and Jacob the supplanter.[3]

C.        The hidden spiritual truth here is that the Spirit of God battles within us to trust God and overcome the power of our flesh.

Summary/ conclusion:

            God wants us to trust Him for great things.

            God reveals to us what He wants us to do.

            God always works in accordance with His word.

            Beware of the temptation of the flesh to trust yourself instead of God.

            God’s FULL plan can be different than ours.

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[1] “The well of Him who liveth and seeth me” 16:14.

[2] The root here is attributed to the land of Seir or Edom one of Israel’s major enemies later in her history.

[3]  aqob to usurp the place of, or to force out and succeed; J is added to the full name, it means “God will protect”.