Multi-generational Living/Working, Ministering & Blessings

Multi-generational living and how we see it tends to depend on when and where were raised. Our economics, past and present are usually also factors . Some have suggested that multi-generational living and working has more of an agrarian connection. While there is no doubt a connection and a pattern, with every general pattern, there will be unavoidable exceptions.

Old order Mennonites sometimes forced to move a segment of their community to an area when a number of farms are available for sale.

Some multi-generational businesses more or less come to the end of the line - tobacco, multi-national canning factories/Heinz - mechanization - no children or no children want to take over the family business - persecution and or war

In some cases, the same is true with local church ministry. While there are no general rules, some patterns or worth noting.

In the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s although we had some churches in Canada that were more or less mono ethnic and minority language based. Those churches tended to fade after the first generation. That is unless there were a steady stream of new immigrants for whom ministry in their own language and culture provided a welcome bridge.

That was much less the case in the USA where skin colour, ethic and language seemed to create a plethora of worship subsets.

BUT a Philippino family came to Ennerdale because they wanted three things - worship with their children and grandchildren - multi-ethnic congregation - be known as Canadians rather than Philippino-Canadians

How we feel about multi-generational/multi-ethnic factors will probably determine whether we focus on the connected strengths or the liabilities. There is seldom a middle ground.

Although we must leave it to others to reassess and reaffirm the pros and cons of multi-generational living and labour, what we see in the word of God seems to affirm the strengths and blessings of multi-generational Gospel ministry in the local church context. Abraham and each successive generation of his descendants illustrate that.

Within multi-generational ministry, BY FAITH every successive generation MUST do certain things. Those steps of faith that they must take are never taken in isolation but alongside of others who have or will soon make a same faith affirmation.

Cherish and affirm their spiritual BIRTHRIGHT - Gen 25:29-34

Birthright - what it is and is not.

Birthright - “Birthright is the concept of things being due to a person upon or by fact of their birth, or due to the order of their birth. These may include rights of citizenship based on the place where the person was born or the citizenship of their parents, and inheritance rights to property owned by parents or others.” (Wikipedia)

Until recent years birthright also involved gender.

In the Biblical context where we are today, at the death of the father, the eldest son (Esau) could expect to enjoy the privileges of a a double share of the inheritance and became the head of the household. BUT that was not necessarily automatic. It had to be claimed and it could be forfeited by grave offenses - Cain & Abel

How we view and both assess & access a birthright speaks volumes.

Events of Gen 25:19-28 set the stage for the drama and events of 25:29-34. But while the preferences and favoritism must be noted., it isn’t the central part of the passage. And while Jacob capitalized on Esau’s values, what unfolded in these few verses is indicative of prior interactions and discussions between Esau and Jacob, to the end that Esau made it abundantly clear that the “birthright” meant very little to him.

Esau valued the now/temporal over the long term/eternal

Let me eat some of that red stew - red pottage (KJV) - for I am famished - most lentile stew is in the brown/yellow/green colour range - but there are also red lentiles

Edom - play on words - Esau - hairy & red - 25:25

Jacob - sell me your birthright now.

Esau - about to die, what use is the birthright to me?

Exaggerated his

Central to the birthright were the covenant promises that God made to Abraham. Each of successive and elaborated/expanded promises were to be funneled through Abraham’s descendants and the the descendants of those descendants.

I will make you a great nation - you will be blessed and a blessing to all families of the earth - Gen 12:2-3

To you and your offspring I will give all this land.

Genesis 13:14–16 ESV

The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted.

Your very own son shall be your heir. And through that son … Abrahamic covenant

Genesis 15:4–6 ESV

And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.

Covenant with Abraham and as the father of multitude of nations - OFFSPRING

Genesis 17:4–8 ESV

“Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you. And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.”

Birth of Isaac (not Ishmael) and through Isaac - Esau and Jacob

BY HIS CHOICE ESAU DECLARED THAT GOD’S PROMISED MOST OF WHICH WERE YET TO BE FULFILLED WERE LESS VALUE THAN A BOWL OF RED LENTIL STEW.

Before we proceed, we need to note that the birthright was more than buy and sell. It was about God’s grace.

Jacob did not receive the birthright because he bought what Esau did not value, nor because with the help of his mother they tricked Isaac, God’s purposes and promises were fulfilled.

God knew and explained to Rebekah that the older would serve the younger.

Genesis 25:23 ESV

And the Lord said to her, “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.”

Later in the word, Hebrews explains that the older served the younger because he despised God’s grace. The Scriptural accounts indicate that in the end Esau was sorry for what he did and with tears wanted to reverse what had been done but could not. Some heart life decisions cannot be reversed and undone. Although Esau was sorry for the results of his decision, it would seem that he was not sorry for his unholy heart.

Hebrews 12:12–17 ESV

Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.

By way of summary:

Birthright whether physical or spiritual is not passed along by birth, it is received by grace through faith.

It is not earned or bought, it is received by grace through faith. Because of this, our spiritual birthright is not guaranteed by our own efforts by God’s grace through faith.

2 . Obey GOD’S voice and WORD - Gen 26:1-5, 23-25

It is not enough that the speaks to you, at some time or other I must hear His voice.

It is not enough that my parents become convinced of God’s will for them and me. There must come a time when my spiritual convictions and decisions are not based on second hand information. Each of us must wrestle with what God want us to do.

And with regard to prayer, as the spiritual well says,

It’s not by brother or my sister. It’s not the preacher or the deacon. It’s not my mother or my father. It’s not the stranger or my neighbour. It’s me. It’s me O Lord standing in the need of prayer.

Genesis 26 records for us 2 instances in Isaac’s early when he needed not general but personal specific direction from the LORD. It should be no surprise to us that every generation tends to face problems to what their parents. Here we see Isaac also facing a famine and some dispute over wells. Abraham who is now dead had faced both of those situations.

God appears and speaks to us individually

At this point in time, Isaac is not a young or middle aged man . In fact he is probably approaching his later years. In the next chapter we read that he blesses his sons and died.

Because of a famine in the land, Isaac:

Went to Gerar - Abimelech - probably son or grandson of the Abimelech with whom Abraham had multiple encounters,

Probably from Negeb or Beer-lahai-roi (God of seeing - 16:13-14 -Hagar/well). Like his father Abraham and others there would be a inclination to head down to Egypt that because of the Nile River was for the most part free from famine.

BUT - the LORD appeared to him and said:

Genesis 26:2–5 ESV

And the Lord appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; dwell in the land of which I shall tell you. Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you and will bless you, for to you and to your offspring I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath that I swore to Abraham your father. I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.”

Central to what the LORD said, was not only direction and a repeating the promises given to his father, but the clear reminder that these promises extend to him because Abraham obeyed His voice, kept His charge, kept His commandments, His statutes and His laws.

There is the obvious implication that Isaac must also obey.

SOME MIGHT SAY THAT SUCH A REMINDER IS REDUNDANT. WHO IF GOD APPEARED AND SPOKE TO THEM IN AUDIBLE VOICE WOULD NOT OBEY?

Jesus answered that in his story of the rich man and Lazarus.

Luke 16:27–31 ESV

And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’ ”

Although the LORD appeared to Isaac and the message was clear and personal, Isaac did not initially obey/personally trust the LORD, with the result that as he settled in Gerar, he did not trust the LORD but told those who asked he said that Rebekah was his sister. This explanation that seemed to be the family go to line, was even more far fetched that when used by his father. Whereas Sarah was in fact Abraham’s 1/2 sister, Rebekah and Isaac where third cousins (his father’s grand niece)

Those who hear God’s word, obey Him

Although Isaac failed to trust the LORD, the LORD protected and blessed him. In fact, it seems that in the minds of some the LORD blessed him to the extent that others became uncomfortable.

Philistines stopped and filled all the wells dug by Abraham’s servants - a serious offense

Abimelech speaking on behalf of all of the Philistines told him to go away - much mightier than them

SO Isaac moved from Gerar to valley of Gerar - 26:17-22

Re-dug wells and gave them the same names as Abraham had, then because of quarreling with the herdsmen of Gerar renamed them - Ezek/contention - Sitnah/enmity

RATHER THAN FIGHT, MOVED ON - new well - no contention - Rehoboth/broad place or room - saying for now the LORD has made room for us and we shall be fruitful in the land. He saw God working out their situation.

From there they went up to Beersheba and the LORD appeared to him that same night and said.

Genesis 26:24 ESV

And the Lord appeared to him the same night and said, “I am the God of Abraham your father. Fear not, for I am with you and will bless you and multiply your offspring for my servant Abraham’s sake.”

Promises affirmed as trusted and obeyed.

SO - Altar, called on the name of the LORD, pitched tent, servant dug a well.

Peace Covenant with Abimelech - We see God has blessed you. Do us no harm.

Genesis 26:26–29 ESV

When Abimelech went to him from Gerar with Ahuzzath his adviser and Phicol the commander of his army, Isaac said to them, “Why have you come to me, seeing that you hate me and have sent me away from you?” They said, “We see plainly that the Lord has been with you. So we said, let there be a sworn pact between us, between you and us, and let us make a covenant with you, that you will do us no harm, just as we have not touched you and have done to you nothing but good and have sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed of the Lord.”

Another well dug - Shibah - oath - there Beersheba - well of oath or seven - repeated and reaffirmed what had happened to Abraham in the same place - 21:25-34 with the previous Abimelech.

Every generation must affirm the same promises. They might used slightly different words but the bottom line is they have also heard God’s voice and obeyed

3. CHALLENGE their next generation - Gen 27:27-29

Every generation has the responsibility to encourage and bless the next generation. We do that well when with the blessing make sure the conditions of God’s blessing are emphasized.

Sadly, the event context of Isaac blessing Jacob involves deception on the part of both Rebekah and Jacob. When Isaac had aged and his eyes were dimmed, he called Esau his oldest son and asked him to hunt for wild game, probably a deer, and prepare the meat and bring it to him. After eating that venison, Isaac promised to bless Esau.

Hearing the conversation between Isaac and Esau, Rebekah devised a plan - goat prepared like venison, Esau’s best clothes and skins from goats on Jacob’s exposed hands and neck.

All of this deception is recorded in Gen 27:1-25

Isaac’s blessing that is expressed as a prayer, is when we review it a reminder and challenge for the one blessed not to assume that the words of blessing from a father are the one who is being blessed’s hope and assurance for the future. Rather hope must rest in the “God who may” and the reminder at the end of God’s words of blessing given to Abraham.

May God give you:

The dew of heaven - due in Palestine during the dry season was essential to fruitfulness

Hosea 14:5 ESV

I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall blossom like the lily; he shall take root like the trees of Lebanon;

Fatness of the land - best part of the land and what it produce

Plenty of grain and wine - abundance

Let people and nations, brother/mother’s son (prejudice) - serve/bow down

Cursed by everyone who curses you and blessed be everyone who blesses you - God’s promise to Abraham

Genesis 12:3 ESV

I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

All of this, plenty, influence, respect and blessing would come only in the context of God’s promise to Abraham with the reminder of what expected - faith not going through some motions.

Genesis 15:4–6 ESV

And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.

4. PERSONALIZE GOD’S PROMISES that set apart our previous generation - Gen 28:3-4, 10-22

Here again, we need to remember our context. While Jacob had been blessed by Isaac, when Esau learned that Isaac had blessed Jacob with the blessing intended for Esau, Esau become very angry - hated Jacob (Gen 27:41) and vowed to kill Jacob after Isaac died - Isaac sent Jacob to Bethuel to find a wife/not from Canaanites.

Extra patriarchal blessing - Gen 28:3-4

It would seem that Isaac now understand that the blessings promised through Abraham and then Isaac will now be extended through Jacob. In the wording of this blessing/prayer we hear Isaac’s prayer that Jacob will understand that God will bless him not because he is the son of Isaac but rather like Abraham and Isaac, Jacob by faith embraces God and his promises.

It is God who blesses you and gives you the blessings promised to Abraham

THIS NEEDS TO BE RECIPROCAL

God’s promises are not inherited, they are appropriated by faith

While that was explained in the wording of the extra blessing, the events of Jacob’s dream pulled back the curtain so that Jacob could see how God intervened in the affairs of life.

Jacob in the course of his journey came a place where sleeping the open, alone, with no shelter, he laid down in a certain place the will later be identified and names.

Note what Jacob saw and heard.

Ladder or flight of step from earth to heaven

Angels of God ascending and descending

The LORD stood above it and said

Genesis 28:13–14 ESV

And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.

I am God of Abraham and Isaac

The land on which you will lie, I will give to you and your offspring. Your offspring will be like the dust of the earth - 13:16 . You shall spread to the west, to the east, to the north and the south - 13:14. In you all families of the earth shall be blessed - 12:3

Surely, the LORD is in this place and I did not know it.

This is God not an ordinary dream. The LORD was in this place.

God was not just with Abraham or his father Isaac and the places where they built altars and called on the LORD. The LORD is also her with me.

Stone, oil, change of place name - Bethel, vow

Genesis 28:20–22 ESV

Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God, and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God’s house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.”

Repeating what the LORD promised in his own words, Jacob affirmed his faith in the LORD

He also covenanted to willingly give 1/10 to you - the LORD

This pillar shall be the LORD’s house - BETHEL - God’s house is where God dwells with us.

THIS RECORD VERIFIES THAT THE PROMISES OF GOD THAT WERE PERSONALIZED WERE RECORDED AS A TESTIMONY AND CHALLENGES FOR SUCCESSIVE GENERATION, FOR EVERY INDIVIDUAL.

As we prayerfully reflect and compare those who have gone before, we and the next generation serving our LORD, the Scriptures illustrate the blessings of faithful multi-generational ministry.

Individual members of ever generation needs to affirm other generations and the spiritual birthright offered to each of us.

Every generation of believers is commanded to make disciples. While it is expected that while we are going, those whom we are discipling will be baptized and taught, if we are not very careful, the means of discipling become ends in themselves.

Our goal is not how much are we going, how many are worshipping, but are obeying what Christ commanded by inclusively making disciples of all nations.

Even as we focus on all nations, by implication the focus being on ALL must include all generations.

That was the NT pattern. We must disciple with a view to succession.

2 Timothy 2:2 ESV

and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.

Paul not only wrote about that but lived that. He took John Mark and others with him.

Timothy was the product of multiple generation spiritual input

2 Timothy 1:5 ESV

I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.

Paul reminded Titus of the same need.

Titus 2:1–11 ESV

But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior. For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,

2. Each of us needs and to continue to hear and obey God’s voice, even as we trust and encourage the next generation to do the same.

This includes every generation with whom I have contact

Those who a bit older, by God’s grace have contact with as many as 5 generations. That is even more important when those are 5 spiritual generations.

We are spiritual bridge builders and as such need to remember how each generation hears and obeys God’s voice.

Hear better when younger.

Hear better when utilize what God has used among peers.

Focus on God’s word

Focus on the word became more focused during the Reformation - Sola Scriptura. With the increased focus on the word of God other foci were articulated.

Sola Scriptura - only Scriptura

Sola Fide - only faith - We are saved by faith alone in Jesus Christ.

Sola Gratia - only grace - We are saved by the grace of God alone.

Solus Christus - only Christ - Jesus Christ alone is our Saviour, Lord and King.

Soli Deo Gloria - only glory - We live for the glory of God alone.

With the renewed focus on the word, there were some shifts.

Preaching and teaching the word became central.

The pulpit was moved to the center and there was only one focal point, the word not an altar

Word translated into everyday language

People were told that they too could understand and apply the word of God

Reading the word and preaching came together

Focus on the word has been renewed in recent decades with an increased emphasis on expository preaching. We open the word, word by word, verse by verse, expecting and allowing it to speak to us.

3. Every generation needs to affirm and add to what sets apart each generation spiritually.

What have we learned from the previous generation of believers?

Living, working and worshipping together allows excellent opportunities to share.

Deuteronomy 6:20 ESV

“When your son asks you in time to come, ‘What is the meaning of the testimonies and the statutes and the rules that the Lord our God has commanded you?’

Worship together

Exodus 12:26 ESV

And when your children say to you, ‘What do you mean by this service?’

Joshua 4:5–7 ESV

And Joshua said to them, “Pass on before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever.”

What will the next generation remember when they think of me?

Every generation will affirm what is important and will do it in slightly different ways. In those different ways, there should common threads, threads that respect and build on what was deemed essential to the previous generation.

In everyday life there will have been discussion in essentials and the importance of together. The longer that we multi-generation the better carry over there will be. We should be prepared to wrestle with truths and acknowledge those truths. When we have made decisions we should explain our “why’s” bases not on preferences and culture but on the word.

John Miller

When we can explain from the word why we walk the way that we do, others will listen, not only because of what we say but also because of the witness of the word and the Holy Spirit.