Some Key Words (10/21/00-10/22/00)

Word (logos [3056]):

intelligence, the speaking of intelligent words, a saying, a rumor, a proverb, God's Word - the Law or the Gospel, speech, the faculty of reason; a spoken word embodying a concept or idea, what has been said or prophesied, the act of, ability to, or style of speech, doctrine, narration, subject of discussion, reason, answer; something said, a topic of discourse, reasoning, the Divine Expression (Christ)

Failed (ekpipto [1601]):

to fall out of, fall down from, fall off, to lose something, to perish, to fall from a position, to fall powerless to the ground; to drop away, be driven off course, to lose, become inefficient

Abraham (Abraam [11]):

Father of a multitude

Promise (epaggelia [1860]):

to declare upon, a legal summons or promise, used of God's promises, the thing promised, the gift given, not a secured pledge, a promise made and fulfilled; an announcement, a promise given, a promised good or blessing; a pledge, a divine assurance of good

Sarah (Sarrha [4564]):

princess

Isaac (Isaak [2464]):

to laugh

Rebekah (Rhebekka [4479]):

ensnarer

Purpose (prothesis [4286]):

to set before, set forth, an exposition, purpose, resolve, design, to openly display, a thought, the show bread - as set before God, a predetermination, intent, design of God, design of man; a setting forth of a thing, placing it in view, a purpose; a proposal, exposed before God

Choice (ekloge [1589]):

election; the act of picking out or choosing, the acts of God's free will, the thing or person chosen; divine selection

Calls (kaleo [2564]):

to call or invite, the divine invitation to partake of the blessings of redemption, to be called by name, a calling, an effectual call, appointed; to call aloud, to call by name, to give a name to, to be called by a name or title;

Jacob (Iakob [2384]):

heel catcher, supplanter

Loved (agapao [25]):

to find one's joy in, to be contented with due to common interests, to befriend; to welcome, entertain, to be fond of, love dearly, to be well pleased or contented with; to love in a social or moral sense

Esau (Esau [2269]):

hairy

Hated (miseo [3404]):

to pursue with hatred, detest; to persecute

 

Paraphrase: (10/18/00)

6 Don't think that God's word has failed in Israel's case. Israel is more than a physical line of descent from the fathers. 7 God's people are not so simply because they derive from Abraham, but because they came through Isaac, as well. 8 The issue is that the line of descent must accord with the line of promise, flesh alone doesn't count. 9 For God declared the line by a promise that at the chosen time, Sarah would have a Son. 10 God's promise again chose the lineage of His people in the case of Rebekah and Isaac, in their twin sons, 11 for before they were born, before their works had opportunity to give cause for one's selection over the other, in a way that insisted on God's purpose and choice being the only cause - showing that works are not the issue, but only God's will, 12 Rebekah was told that the firstborn twin would serve his younger brother. 13 Why? By His word, it was because He loved Jacob, but hated Esau.

Key Verse: (10/18/00)

9:8 - God’s choice is in accord with His promise, not with fleshly lineage.

People Mentioned: (10/18/00-10/21/00)

Abraham

Declared the father of many nations by God (Ge 17:5). He pleaded for Ishmael - the child of his own efforts - to be his heritage, but God said otherwise (Ge 17:18-19). The Lord visited Abraham, and did not conceal His plans from him (Ge 18:17-18). He blessed Abimelech after having deceived him. (Ge 20). In due time, God caused the promised son to be born (Ge 21). He bargained with Abimelech, and dwelt in the land of the Philistines (Ge 21). He was tested by God (Ge 22). Because Abraham believed God, God declared him righteous, showing that righteousness comes by faith (Gal 3:6-7). In Abraham, the tithe was instituted (Heb 7:1-9).

Sarah

Declared mother of nations by God (Ge 17:15). Sarah laughed when she heard God's promise (Ge 18:9-15). Abraham passed her off as his sister, and so she was taken to Abimelech's house for a time (Ge 20:2-18). Sarah bore Isaac, whom God had named (Ge 21:1-3). She lived 127 years, dying in Hebron (Ge 23:1-2). Her ability to conceive was a result of faith, as she was too old to bare children naturally (Heb 11:11). Sarah modeled obedience (1Pe 3:6).

Isaac

God established His covenant with Isaac (Ge 17:21). He was chosen the heir in spite of the earlier birth of Ishmael by Abraham's slave (Ge 21:10), so much so that Abraham was told to cause Ishmael to depart his camp (Ge 21:12). He was lain on the altar as a sacrifice by God's command, but God provided the true sacrifice (Ge 22:1-9). Isaac married Rebekah (Ge 24:63-67). He received from Abraham all that Abraham had, except that he previously sent some of his possessions off with the children of his concubines (Ge 25:5-6). God blessed Isaac (Ge 25:11). Isaac was 40 when he married (Ge 25:20), and sixty when Jacob and Esau were born (Ge 25:26). Isaac loved Esau, but Rebekah [and God] loved Jacob (Ge 25:28). Isaac went to Abimelech's lands because of the famine in his own land, just as Abraham before him (Ge 26:1). He tried to pass his wife off as his sister, just as Abraham before him. (Ge 26:6-11). God prospered Isaac so much in Abimelech's land that he had to be deported (Ge 26:12-17), but they later exchanged oaths of peace (Ge 26:31). Esau brought him grief by his behavior (Ge 26:35). He was tricked into blessing Jacob when he thought he was blessing Esau (Ge 27:1-39). Isaac feared God (Ge 31:42). [Abraham's God, but Isaac's fear.] Isaac lived to be 180 (Ge 35:28). Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob determined the line of God's promise (Too may to note - Ex, Nu, Dt). God gave both Jacob and Esau to Isaac (Jos 24:4). With Abraham, a covenant, with Isaac, an oath (1Ch 16:16, Ps 105:9). Jesus promises that many from other lands will sit with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in heaven (Mt 8:11). We, too, are children of promise like Isaac (Gal 4:28). Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were fellow heirs to the promises of God (Heb 11:9). Isaac was offered up by faith (Heb 11:17), and his blessings upon Jacob and Esau were by faith (Heb 11:20). In the offering of Isaac, Abraham's justification was shown (Jas 2:21).

Rebekah

Born to the son of Abraham's brother (Ge 22:23). Was shown by God to be the proper bride for Isaac (Ge 24:15-61). She loved Jacob more than Esau (Ge 25:28), and so helped Jacob steal Esau's blessing (Ge 27:5-17), and protected him from Esau's plotted revenge (Ge 27:42).

Jacob

Born to Isaac when Isaac was sixty (Ge 25:26), he was a peaceful man (Ge 25:27). He conned Esau out of his birthright for a bowl of stew (Ge 25:29-34). Then he stole Esau's blessing by tricking Isaac (Ge 27:6-30). Saw the angels moving in Bethel as he slept (Ge 28:10-20). He worked for Laban to obtain Rachel, whom he loved, but Laban tricked him into taking his older daughter Leah (Ge 29:1-30). After the birth of Joseph, Jacob tricked Laban out of much of his flock of sheep and departed (Ge 30:25-31:52). Jacob swore by the God of Abraham and the fear of Isaac that he would bring no further harm to Laban (Ge 31:53). He returned to face his brother (Ge 32:1-20). He wrestled with God (Ge 32:24-30), and his name was changed to Israel (Ge 35:10). He arrived in Egypt as head of a clan of seventy sons and grandsons, along with their wives (Ge 46:26), and he blessed Pharaoh (Ge 47:10). He blessed each of his sons prophetically (Ge 49:1-27). The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is the standard reference to God (Ex, Lev, Nu, Dt).

Esau

Born along with Jacob, being the firstborn. Sold his birthright for food. Lost his blessing. Married into the Canaanites, and into the family of Ishmael, against his father's wishes. Inherited the land of Sier. His line was destroyed (Jer 49:8-10, Ob 6-21), because God hated Esau (Mal 1:3). He became the example of an immoral and godless person (Heb 12:16).

 

Some Parallel Verses (10/22/00)

9:6

Nu 23:19 - God does not lie, He will do what He has said. Jn 1:47 - Nathanael was declared a true Israelite. Ro 2:28-29 - To be a Jew is not an outward matter of the flesh, but an inward matter of the heart. Gal 6:16 - God's Israel consists of those who live in accord with His rule.

9:7

Jn 8:33 - The Jews couldn't understand why they would need to be free, as they were sons of Abraham, and never enslaved. Jn 8:39 - Jesus told them to show Abraham as their father by behaving as he did. Gal 4:23 - Ishmael was born into slavery, but Isaac was born into promise. Ge 21:12 - Abraham was to accede to Sarah's wishes for Ishmael, because the promise was to come through Isaac. Heb 11:18 - Abraham was told his descendants would come through Isaac.

9:8

Ro 8:14 - God's children are led by His Spirit. Ro 4:13 - The promise to Abraham came by faith and not the Law. Ro 4:16 - Because the promise is by faith in God, it is assured to be fulfilled to all who share Abraham's faith in God. Gal 3:29 - We who belong to Christ are sons of Abraham, and heirs of his promise. Gal 4:28 - We are children of promise like Isaac. Heb 11:11 - Sarah had faith in God's promise, and so received ability to conceive by faith.

9:9

Ge 18:10 - Sarah heard the promise that she would conceive a year hence.

9:10

Ge 25:21 - Rebekah was barren, but her husband's prayer brought the blessing that allowed her to conceive.

9:11

Ro 4:17 - God declared His purpose to Abraham, in telling him he would father nations. Ro 8:28 - God works all things to the good of His workers.

9:12

Ge 25:23 - God declared to Rebekah that she carried two nations, and that her younger son would rule the older.

9:13

Mal 1:2-3 - God declared His love to us in declaring that He loved Jacob, yet he hated Esau.

 

New Thoughts (10/23/00-10/24/00)

Here's an interesting thing: When Jacob speaks of God, it is the God of Abraham - the one, true, Supreme God (elohim [OT 430]). But, it is the fear of Isaac - an object feared, and the cause of alarm (pachad [OT 6342]). Yet, it is never the fear of Jacob. Of the three patriarchs, only Isaac is spoken of as holding God as an object to be feared. What a sad thing. Here was Isaac, the first child of promise, the inheritor of all that Abraham had had by God's hand, except for the intimate relationship that Abraham had with God. He even inherited Abraham's mistakes, and repeated many of them. Imagine how Abimelech must have felt when Abraham's son comes with the same deception that Abraham had come with! It seems that Isaac received the things, but failed to receive the understanding of those things. Notice, though, that the fear did not get passed on, but rather the faith of Abraham passed to Jacob. For Jacob, it was never to be the God who is feared, but rather the intimately known God Supreme. Abraham's record is clear. He was declared righteous by God, and he accomplished mighty works as he walked with his God. Jacob saw God work mighty things in his life, taken from drought and loss to the richness of Egypt by God's design. He was able to bless his children with words of knowledge. But for Isaac, it was fear. Perhaps it was the result of being lain on the altar in his youth. Whatever the reason, he seems to have failed to develop the intimacy with God that would enable him to overcome his own weaknesses, and to understand God's hand in his life. He seems to have locked on to the wrong things, choosing Esau in spite of God's word to the contrary, worried about the son of slavery, when the son of promise was before him. In the end, he couldn't even bless his own children as he desired, but the blessing had to come in spite of him. God is holy. He is awesome beyond description, and in that respect He is to be feared - held in reverential awe. But, He is love and He is to be loved. This cannot be, except we allow Him to come into that place of intimacy with us. If I won't share my deepest self, my most guarded thoughts and longings with Him; if I won't listen to Him as He tries to share His deepest longings with me; then I'll be left with only the fear of Him, for I won't understand His actions, only that they are His actions. Lord, I don't want to be afraid of what You are doing. You have said that I am no longer a servant, but am now a friend, because I know Your plans and purposes. Yet, so often, I know I don't understand, because I haven't heard You. I've busied myself to the point of spiritual deafness. Teach me, oh God, to stop and await Your explanations. Help me, Lord, to move from the servant to the son. I don't ever want to cease being useful to Your kingdom, but I want to move into a deeper intimacy with You. I want to know my Daddy better.

10/24/00
What powerful keys are shown to us in the lives of Sarah and Rebekah! In Hebrews 11:11, we are told that Sarah was unable to conceive in the natural, but by faith she was able. In Genesis 25:23, we see Rebekah barren until her husband's prayers ascend to heaven. I see in this that it is imperative that I, as head of my household, take up the responsibility God has given me. That responsibility includes as a primary task, my prayers for my family - especially my wife. In our case, it's not barrenness that plagues us, but chronic physical ailment. Faith alone will not prevail, for faith without works is dead. Prayer alone will not prevail, for prayer without faith is mere incantation. The right holy man will not prevail, for then faith is in the man and not in God. But faith in God alone, united with the joined prayers of a husband and wife! What a potent combination! God, how often have I failed in this one regard? How often have I neglected my role in this household, and allowed my family to go into their day unguarded? Forgive me, oh Father, for my laxness in this task. I pray even now, Lord, that You would move upon the flesh of my wife. I pray that You would bring to her body a wholeness she hasn't known for many years. I pray that You would restore her according to Your promise. I don't ask that You send the 'right person', although I would not restrict You from using an intermediary as You desire. I simply ask that You, Lord, would bring her sufferings to a close as You remember her faithful heart. I pray, too, for my daughter, for she deals with a lot as her parents struggle with their own trials. Her burdens are much too large for one her age. I pray that You would strengthen her to bear up under these present trials, and I pray that You would help us as her parents to ease the load. I fear that we indeed drive her to frustration, against the admonishing of Your word, and I pray that You would bring the change in us that would allow her to flourish in Your love.

Finally, a question: In Romans 9:13 we are told that God loved Jacob - befriended the one he was well pleased and contented with; but He hated Esau - pursuing the one he detested with hatred and persecution. How improper it seems to us today that God, who is love - whose very essence is love - would so treat anybody as He treated Esau! How hard for us to accept that God might not save everybody. It's so unloving! So there's this ringing question: How can the God of love hate? The tale of Esau and his descendants the Edomites is terrible. Indeed, God pursued them with hatred. Look through the prophets, and hear of the destruction that came upon them. How can this be? I quite honestly don't have any answers to this. The best I can manage is to recognize that His ways are not my ways, and His thoughts are far and away above my own. God, I pray that as this study continues, You would provide me with some understanding of this. Your word promises that the Holy Spirit within us will lead us into all truth, and this is part of that truth. This is one of those objections that crop up when we bring You to man's attention. It's one of those seeming contradictions that I simply don't have a handle on. Would You, Lord, by the ways of Your own choosing, bring understanding to me that I might know how to answer myself, and others who raise the question?