God's Perfect Control

Notes
Transcript
Ongoing theme: God is perfectly in control of all man’s scheming. Pr 21:1The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will.”
Genesis 27:1–4 ESV
1 When Isaac was old and his eyes were dim so that he could not see, he called Esau his older son and said to him, “My son”; and he answered, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Behold, I am old; I do not know the day of my death. 3 Now then, take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me, 4 and prepare for me delicious food, such as I love, and bring it to me so that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die.”
Rebekah’s plan
Jacob’s response
Genesis 27:11–13 ESV
11 But Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, “Behold, my brother Esau is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man. 12 Perhaps my father will feel me, and I shall seem to be mocking him and bring a curse upon myself and not a blessing.” 13 His mother said to him, “Let your curse be on me, my son; only obey my voice, and go, bring them to me.”
Each person has their own motive.
Isaac - to restore fortune to his favored son
Rebekah - to preserve the position of her favored son
Esau - to win back what he sold
Jacob - self preservation
The story continues
Rebekah prepares the meal and dresses Jacob
Jacob goes to Isaac and claims to be Esau
Isaac eventually eats and drinks and blesses Jacob
Genesis 27:28–29 ESV
28 May God give you of the dew of heaven and of the fatness of the earth and plenty of grain and wine. 29 Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be everyone who blesses you!”
The blessing affirms what we already read in Genesis 25: “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger.
Jacob leaves and Esau comes in
The deceit is discovered and Esau begs for any blessing
Isaac confirms that Esau shall serve Jacob
Esau’s anger burns against Jacob
Rebekah sends Jacob away for his safety (under the excuse of finding a believing wife)
Do you see that even as four different people struggled for their own way, what God already proclaimed came to pass?
Not one of the four trusted God to carry out what was right. What is it for us to rely on God?
Not inaction, but righteousness.
Proverbs 21:3 ESV
3 To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
Or as Samuel says to King Saul:
1 Samuel 15:22 ESV
22 And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.
So how will we rely on God today?
We trust God is in control.
Charles Spurgeon: “I believe that every particle of dust that dances in the sunbeam does not move an atom more or less than God wishes – that every particle of spray that dashes against the steamboat has its orbit, as well as the sun in the heavens – that the chaff from the hand of the winnower is steered as the stars in their courses. The creeping of an aphid over the rosebud is as much fixed as the march of the devastating pestilence – the fall of . . . leaves from a poplar is as fully ordained as the tumbling of an avalanche.”
Acts 4:27–28 ESV
27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.
Psalm 27:4 ESV
4 One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.
We walk in righteousness.
Psalm 119:9–11 ESV
9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. 10 With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! 11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
Righteousness brings us joy and gives glory to God.
Like the Westminster catechism states: “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.”
1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
We fulfill God’s plan for us.
Romans 12:3–5 ESV
3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
You have specific, tailored gifts God has given you and a specific, tailored ministry/mission God has assigned to you.
Romans 12:6–8 ESV
6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
Prophecy
Service
Teaching
Exhortation
Giving
Leadership
Mercy
What did Isaac/Rebekah/Jacob/Esau do?
They didn’t trust God
They didn’t act with integrity/righteousness
What shall we do?
Trust Him
Walk in righteousness
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