Isaac blesses Jacob and Esau
May 9, 2005
Genesis 27
How can it be said that Isaac blessed his sons by faith, considering that he didn’t know whom he was truly blessing?
- full knowledge of any given situation is not a prerequisite to faith
- faith is shown by obedience
- perhaps God made it clear to Isaac that he was to bless the person in front of him, even though Isaac thought that person to be other than who he really was
- Prayer requests
- read Hebrews 11:20
- have students read the OT story (Genesis 1-45) and complete a study sheet (30 min.)
- study sheet will have an introduction to the characters/story and questions to be answered
- go over study sheet together
- application: faith is shown by action, and we do not require full knowledge of any situation to be faithful
- examples:
i. the nasty phrase, “because I said so”
Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that thou mayest believe, but believe that thou mayest understand.
Augustine.
One night a house caught fire and a young boy was forced to flee to the roof. The father stood on the ground below with outstretched arms, calling to his son, "Jump! I'll catch you." He knew the boy had to jump to save his life. All the boy could see, however, was flame, smoke, and blackness. As can be imagined, he was afraid to leave the roof. His father kept yelling: "Jump! I will catch you." But the boy protested, "Daddy, I can't see you." The father replied, "But I can see you and that's all that matters." faith is doing what our Heavenly Father asks even when we don’t understand the details or see the big picture
The following letter was found in a baking-power can wired to the handle of an old pump that offered the only hope of drinking water on a very long and seldom-used trail across Nevada's Amargosa Desert: "This pump is all right as of June 1932. I put a new sucker washer into it and it ought to last five years. But the washer dries out and the pump has got to be primed. Under the white rock I buried a bottle of water, out of the sun and cork end up. There's enough water in it to prime the pump, but not if you drink some first. Pour about one-fourth and let her soak to wet the leather. Then pour in the rest medium fast and pump like crazy. You'll git water. The well has never run dry. Have faith. When you git watered up, fill the bottle and put it back like you found it for the next feller. (signed) Desert Pete. P.S. Don't go drinking the water first. Prime the pump with it and you'll git all you can hold." lesson from last week: we show faith by obeying God even when it doesn’t make sense (or when you think you’ve got a better plan)
When a traveler in the early days of the west, came to the Mississippi, he discovered there was no bridge. Fortunately it was winter and the great river was sheeted over with ice. But the traveler was afraid to trust himself to it, not knowing how thick it was. Finally with infinite caution, he crept on his hands and knees and managed to get halfway over. And then he heard--yes he heard singing from behind. Cautiously he turned, and there, out of the dusk, came another traveler, driving a four-horse load of coal over the ice, singing as he went! God wants us to trust Him, and He is pleased when we show our faith by obeying Him, even if we’re a little nervous and cautious; looking at the faith of other people can and should encourage us to show faith with less trepidation
Isaac blesses Jacob and Esau by Faith
May 9, 2005
the background:
Isaac marries Rebekah; Rebekah gives birth to twins (Esau first, then Jacob); Father Isaac likes Esau best while Mother Rebekah likes Jacob best; Esau is technically the firstborn son, so all the inheritance of Isaac is supposed to go to him
Answer these questions as you read Genesis 27:1-45
1) What was Isaac’s physical ailment that worked to Jacob’s advantage?
2) whose idea was it to have Jacob pretend to be Esau and steal the blessing of the firstborn?
3) was Isaac 100% sure of whom he was talking to?
4) how did Esau react when he found out Jacob’s deception?
5) Did Isaac rescind Jacob’s blessing?
6) How did Jacob escape Esau’s murder-plot?
7) How can it be said that Isaac blessed his sons by faith, considering that he didn’t know whom he was truly blessing?
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