Easter Tales

The God of Abraham confirms his character and faithfulness as the promise is passed on to Isaac. He keeps Isaac despite the best efforts of others and himself to

Blessing 1: God’s Redirecting “Don’t go down to Egypt” (1-6)

1. Isaac Sins

first of two sins that his father Abraham committed - leaving the land of promise

Abraham explicit about his servant not taking Isaac out of the promised land, even to find a wife

Isaac

2. God Speaks

3. Isaac Submits

Postive - Will he trust God’s Blessing? - “So Isaac settled in Gerar”

covenant made with Isaac

Blessing 2: God’s Provision “Isaac Fears” (7-14)

For your Holiness

Isaac engages the same sin as his father Abraham in lying about his wife -

Motive: fear and mistrust (God just appeared to him renewing the covenant with him - British ‘how daft’)

Consequences:

abandoning her / exposing her / selfish self-preservation / sin of Adam

Giving opportunity for other sin -> sin begets sin

What’s interesting -> God uses the foreigner to call out Isaac’s sin

Abimelech sees them ‘caressing’ (literally laughing/playing מְצַחֵ֔ק)

God does and will use the world to point out sin

ex: the critiques of Christians being hypocrites is not baseless -

We are judged by God, but he will and does use unrighteous agents in that judgement

As God’s people we should be open to the righteous correction that God brings through any channel

ex: stewarding creation?

For your Protection

Abimelech’s response is not punishment but protection

“death to anyone who harms this man or his wife”

seems to be a recognition of something different about Isaac - he’s blessed

In God’s good pleasure, he uses your status before him in the lives of others for your protection

God provides for the protection of his people

Luke 21:18 - during persecution not a hair on your head will perish (God has them numbered - Matthew 10:22)

Protection is by God’s definition not ours - we don’t tell God how we want to be protected

Bottom line is that God is in control

For your Material Needs

In a foreign land, God’s provision extends to Isaac’s possessions

hundredfold crops / wealth continued to grow / numerous flocks and herds

Deut 8:18 - source: God’s blessing / connected to the covenant

this wealth was gained when they ‘plundered’ Egypt

all possessions gained righteously are provision by God to be used according to his purposes

Grace 3: God’s Direction (15-25)

1. Comes through Discipline

Philistines confront Isaac

World seeks to curse, God directs it to his glory and your good

Hebrews 12:10-11

Hebrews 12:10–11 ESV

10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Jerry Bridges “The Discipline of Grace”

“There is no such thing as pain without purpose in the life of a believer”

2. Results in Dwelling

I will be with you - Psalm 91:15

Psalm 91:15 ESV

15 When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.

Will he trust God’s provision in the face of adversity?

Wells filled in - Isaac fulfills portion of God’s promise by ‘retaking’ land - a descendant takes claim of this land (according to God’s promise to Isaac v. 3 and Abraham when he dug them) and

Application

1. Know your home

there’s only one home for God’s people

If you know the Father through the son, head the Spirit and come home

Why should we linger and heed not his mercies, mercies of ryou and for me?

Psalm 145:18

Psalm 145:18 NIV

18 The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

2. Don’t be a stranger

not strange either

to one another

to God