1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:06,640 Good morning, everyone and a very Happy Mother’s Day to you all. 2 00:00:06,640 –> 00:00:10,560 Please open your Bible at Hebrews chapter 11. 3 00:00:10,560 –> 00:00:17,840 We’re looking today at the extraordinary story of how the blessing of God came to a 4 00:00:17,840 –> 00:00:25,840 weak father, a strong mother, and a very troubled son. 5 00:00:25,840 –> 00:00:31,440 It is a marvelous story for Mother’s Day today. 6 00:00:31,440 –> 00:00:37,520 Now we’re looking at the story of Isaac the son given to Abraham and Sarah in fulfillment 7 00:00:37,520 –> 00:00:40,660 of the promise of God. 8 00:00:40,660 –> 00:00:47,480 And I am so glad that Isaac is included in Hebrews and chapter 11 as one of the models 9 00:00:47,480 –> 00:00:48,680 of faith. 10 00:00:48,680 –> 00:00:50,599 And here’s why. 11 00:00:50,599 –> 00:00:54,000 Isaac lived an unremarkable life. 12 00:00:54,360 –> 00:01:01,279 I mean, when you put him alongside Abraham and Jacob and Joseph, he just seems insignificant. 13 00:01:01,279 –> 00:01:05,959 I mean, what great thing did Isaac ever do? 14 00:01:05,959 –> 00:01:13,260 Here is a man who without question was overshadowed by his famous father. 15 00:01:13,260 –> 00:01:17,160 And for that matter by his notorious son. 16 00:01:17,160 –> 00:01:23,260 And for that matter by his super gifted grandson, who of course, was Joseph. 17 00:01:23,860 –> 00:01:28,180 Can you imagine having Abraham for your father and Sara for your mother? 18 00:01:28,800 –> 00:01:32,459 I mean, who could ever possibly live up to that? 19 00:01:33,300 –> 00:01:36,160 And perhaps you know what this is like? 20 00:01:36,160 –> 00:01:45,279 You have a multi-talented wife or husband, unusually successful colleagues or friends. 21 00:01:46,360 –> 00:01:52,500 Maybe you’re tired of being introduced as someone’s father or husband or mother or 22 00:01:52,599 –> 00:01:56,320 daughter or wife or neighbor or friend. 23 00:01:57,419 –> 00:02:01,980 Spotlight always seems to be on someone else and what you’re doing is living 24 00:02:01,980 –> 00:02:04,599 what seems to be a very ordinary life. 25 00:02:04,800 –> 00:02:05,879 That’s really Isaac. 26 00:02:06,879 –> 00:02:10,199 He’s overshadowed by everyone else around him. 27 00:02:11,600 –> 00:02:15,419 Of 50 chapters in the book of Genesis. 28 00:02:15,440 –> 00:02:17,800 12 are devoted to Abraham. 29 00:02:18,500 –> 00:02:20,460 10 are devoted to Jacob. 30 00:02:20,580 –> 00:02:22,580 11 are devoted to Joseph. 31 00:02:22,880 –> 00:02:26,779 Only 2 are devoted to Isaac. 32 00:02:26,820 –> 00:02:32,660 Genesis 26 and Genesis 27 there really was very little to record about him. 33 00:02:34,039 –> 00:02:40,759 What great events took place in the life of Isaac? 34 00:02:41,339 –> 00:02:45,619 Of course, the first thing that we think about was what happened on Mount Mariah 35 00:02:46,100 –> 00:02:50,419 where Isaac was laid on the altar and his life was spared because God 36 00:02:50,419 –> 00:02:52,899 provided a substitute to die in his place. 37 00:02:53,220 –> 00:02:56,860 That story of course, is recorded in Hebrews chapter 11. 38 00:02:56,899 –> 00:02:58,360 It’s there in verse 17. 39 00:02:58,619 –> 00:03:01,979 But notice that it’s recorded as a story about the faith of Abraham. 40 00:03:02,820 –> 00:03:03,559 Not Isaac. 41 00:03:05,179 –> 00:03:09,360 Then if you look in Genesis and chapter 24, quite extraordinary. 42 00:03:09,720 –> 00:03:15,399 We have the story of the search for a wife for Isaac. 43 00:03:15,740 –> 00:03:19,419 The most striking thing about that story is that Isaac doesn’t feature in it. 44 00:03:20,600 –> 00:03:22,940 It’s another Abraham story. 45 00:03:23,479 –> 00:03:29,699 It’s Abraham who sends out his chief servant in order to find a wife for Isaac. 46 00:03:29,860 –> 00:03:33,139 Leaves you wondering, what in the world was Isaac doing? 47 00:03:34,479 –> 00:03:41,100 So here we have a quiet man who lived an unremarkable life. 48 00:03:42,600 –> 00:03:46,500 And of the two chapters that are devoted to him in the book of Genesis, the 49 00:03:46,500 –> 00:03:49,419 first Genesis chapter 26, what’s it all about? 50 00:03:49,559 –> 00:03:55,839 Well, it tells us that Isaac dug well in various places and then ended up having 51 00:03:55,839 –> 00:03:58,679 disputes with the neighbors over who had the rights to the water. 52 00:04:00,720 –> 00:04:07,699 But God’s blessing was on this unremarkable man. 53 00:04:09,320 –> 00:04:15,699 And that’s why I’m so glad that he’s included in Hebrews chapter 11, verse 20. 54 00:04:16,700 –> 00:04:26,700 By faith, Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. 55 00:04:28,100 –> 00:04:34,260 Here is the one outstanding thing about him to be recorded, and he’s included 56 00:04:34,299 –> 00:04:40,040 because of this, in the models and the examples of faith. 57 00:04:41,040 –> 00:04:44,500 By the way, just notice this, that Isaac’s 58 00:04:45,000 –> 00:04:50,480 outstanding act of faith came right at the end of his life. 59 00:04:51,920 –> 00:04:54,619 The one thing he’s remembered for came right at the end. 60 00:04:55,720 –> 00:05:01,140 It is never too late to exercise faith. 61 00:05:03,119 –> 00:05:07,480 Now, why does this blessing that Isaac imparted to his sons matter so much? 62 00:05:07,480 –> 00:05:08,519 Why is it important? 63 00:05:08,540 –> 00:05:10,260 Why would Hebrews record it? 64 00:05:10,799 –> 00:05:13,500 Well, you remember that God had said to Abraham, 65 00:05:14,019 –> 00:05:21,739 I will bless you, and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed. 66 00:05:22,799 –> 00:05:27,160 Blessing to the whole world would come through Abraham, 67 00:05:28,119 –> 00:05:31,779 but the promise would not be fulfilled by Abraham personally. 68 00:05:31,940 –> 00:05:35,179 It would be fulfilled through his offspring. 69 00:05:35,959 –> 00:05:41,540 And that is why of course the birth of Isaac is so important in the Bible’s story. 70 00:05:41,739 –> 00:05:45,200 Without an offspring, how could the promise be fulfilled? 71 00:05:45,200 –> 00:05:47,779 God said in your offspring, 72 00:05:48,540 –> 00:05:52,420 shall all the nations of the earth be blessed? 73 00:05:52,980 –> 00:05:57,540 And that theme of the offspring of Abraham is taken up in the New Testament, 74 00:05:57,799 –> 00:06:01,519 where we read this, in Galatians chapter 3 verse 16. 75 00:06:01,820 –> 00:06:06,880 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. 76 00:06:08,079 –> 00:06:12,459 It does not say and to offsprings, plural, 77 00:06:13,019 –> 00:06:14,940 referring to many. 78 00:06:14,940 –> 00:06:19,339 But referring to one, it says and to your offspring, 79 00:06:20,000 –> 00:06:23,119 who is Christ. 80 00:06:24,679 –> 00:06:27,820 So you see this is the whole point of the Bible’s story, 81 00:06:27,820 –> 00:06:30,420 that somewhere in Abraham’s line, 82 00:06:30,420 –> 00:06:32,519 there would come a descendent. 83 00:06:33,019 –> 00:06:35,980 And this descendant, who would come in Abraham’s line, 84 00:06:35,980 –> 00:06:38,279 would bring blessing to the world, 85 00:06:38,279 –> 00:06:41,059 and Galatians tells us that this descendant, 86 00:06:41,059 –> 00:06:43,559 to whom the whole of the Old Testament looks forward, 87 00:06:43,559 –> 00:06:46,059 is Jesus Christ. 88 00:06:46,519 –> 00:06:49,459 And that, of course, is why the Old Testament story 89 00:06:49,459 –> 00:06:53,519 focuses in on the line of Abraham’s descent. 90 00:06:53,519 –> 00:06:55,859 Why God had promised that his blessing 91 00:06:55,859 –> 00:06:57,559 would come to the whole world! 92 00:06:58,220 –> 00:07:00,760 And that it would come through a person 93 00:07:00,760 –> 00:07:03,059 born into this line. 94 00:07:03,059 –> 00:07:05,119 So in each new generation, 95 00:07:05,119 –> 00:07:07,119 the question was always the same, 96 00:07:07,119 –> 00:07:11,420 who would continue the line of promise? 97 00:07:11,920 –> 00:07:14,200 When Abraham died, 98 00:07:14,200 –> 00:07:17,100 the promise of blessing through his offspring 99 00:07:17,100 –> 00:07:19,359 was carried forward 100 00:07:19,359 –> 00:07:20,920 by Isaac. 101 00:07:21,920 –> 00:07:24,619 But Isaac had two sons. 102 00:07:25,619 –> 00:07:28,179 And so when Isaac comes to the end of his life, 103 00:07:28,179 –> 00:07:29,980 the obvious question is, 104 00:07:29,980 –> 00:07:32,179 well, which of these two sons 105 00:07:32,179 –> 00:07:35,019 will carry the promise forward 106 00:07:35,019 –> 00:07:37,119 into whose line 107 00:07:37,119 –> 00:07:41,660 will the savior of the world be born? 108 00:07:42,660 –> 00:07:44,959 And so the greatest responsibility 109 00:07:44,959 –> 00:07:46,380 that was given to Isaac 110 00:07:46,380 –> 00:07:49,459 in this man’s relatively uneventful life 111 00:07:50,119 –> 00:07:54,320 was to name the heir to the promise 112 00:07:54,859 –> 00:07:58,720 and to pass the blessing onto him. 113 00:07:59,619 –> 00:08:01,179 And Hebrews records this 114 00:08:01,179 –> 00:08:04,959 as the single-most significant event 115 00:08:04,959 –> 00:08:06,420 in Isaac’s entire life. 116 00:08:06,420 –> 00:08:08,980 Why? Because it relates to how blessing 117 00:08:08,980 –> 00:08:11,459 comes to the whole world. 118 00:08:12,179 –> 00:08:14,959 And it tells us in Hebrews 119 00:08:14,959 –> 00:08:17,760 that Isaac gave this blessing 120 00:08:17,760 –> 00:08:20,019 by faith. 121 00:08:20,119 –> 00:08:26,679 Now, when we pray for God’s blessing 122 00:08:26,679 –> 00:08:29,220 on someone that we love, 123 00:08:29,220 –> 00:08:31,019 or when we speak about God’s blessing, 124 00:08:31,019 –> 00:08:33,960 we’re really asking 125 00:08:33,960 –> 00:08:35,960 that God will give good gifts 126 00:08:35,960 –> 00:08:37,219 to that person 127 00:08:37,219 –> 00:08:40,619 and that their lives will be enriched. 128 00:08:40,619 –> 00:08:43,820 But when Isaac pronounced the blessing 129 00:08:43,820 –> 00:08:45,979 that is being spoken of here 130 00:08:45,979 –> 00:08:47,419 at the end of his life, 131 00:08:48,059 –> 00:08:51,479 he was speaking as a prophet. 132 00:08:51,479 –> 00:08:54,159 He was announcing. 133 00:08:54,159 –> 00:08:55,619 Speaking the word of God, 134 00:08:55,619 –> 00:08:58,280 announcing the line 135 00:08:58,280 –> 00:08:59,760 into which the one 136 00:08:59,760 –> 00:09:01,020 who would bring blessing 137 00:09:01,020 –> 00:09:03,159 to the world would come. 138 00:09:03,159 –> 00:09:03,619 It’s why it was 139 00:09:03,619 –> 00:09:06,479 such a significant event. 140 00:09:06,479 –> 00:09:08,460 And you see this most clearly 141 00:09:08,460 –> 00:09:10,859 in Genesis and chapter 28, 142 00:09:10,859 –> 00:09:12,880 where Isaac says to Jacob 143 00:09:12,880 –> 00:09:14,119 in verse four, 144 00:09:14,119 –> 00:09:16,460 May he give the blessing 145 00:09:16,460 –> 00:09:17,960 of Abraham to you 146 00:09:17,960 –> 00:09:20,719 and to your offspring with you. 147 00:09:20,719 –> 00:09:22,559 He’s passing on 148 00:09:22,559 –> 00:09:23,760 the great promise 149 00:09:23,760 –> 00:09:26,359 that had been given to Abraham 150 00:09:26,359 –> 00:09:27,880 that was to be carried forward 151 00:09:27,880 –> 00:09:30,760 into future generations. 152 00:09:30,760 –> 00:09:33,719 Notice that Hebrews records 153 00:09:33,719 –> 00:09:35,260 that Isaac invoked 154 00:09:35,260 –> 00:09:37,359 future blessings on Jacob 155 00:09:37,359 –> 00:09:38,820 and Esau. 156 00:09:38,820 –> 00:09:41,320 That reminds us of this. 157 00:09:41,320 –> 00:09:45,479 That God gives good gifts 158 00:09:45,479 –> 00:09:48,280 to those who despise Him 159 00:09:48,280 –> 00:09:52,059 as well as those who love Him. 160 00:09:52,059 –> 00:09:53,859 And there may be someone here today 161 00:09:53,859 –> 00:09:54,820 and to feel out here 162 00:09:54,820 –> 00:09:56,520 under some degree of duress 163 00:09:56,520 –> 00:09:59,059 on Mother’s Day and 164 00:09:59,059 –> 00:10:00,359 you’ve really no place 165 00:10:00,359 –> 00:10:01,760 for God in your life at all. 166 00:10:01,760 –> 00:10:02,880 Let me tell you this, 167 00:10:02,880 –> 00:10:05,159 that every good gift in your life 168 00:10:05,159 –> 00:10:06,020 has come to you 169 00:10:06,020 –> 00:10:09,760 from the hand of God. 170 00:10:09,760 –> 00:10:11,700 But the great blessing 171 00:10:11,700 –> 00:10:14,159 that is given to Jacob 172 00:10:14,159 –> 00:10:16,520 is that Jacob was directly 173 00:10:16,520 –> 00:10:18,919 related to Jesus Christ. 174 00:10:18,919 –> 00:10:19,460 That of course, 175 00:10:19,460 –> 00:10:20,659 is the great blessing, 176 00:10:20,659 –> 00:10:21,760 whatever else is going on 177 00:10:21,760 –> 00:10:23,559 in your life. 178 00:10:23,719 –> 00:10:24,599 If you, by faith, 179 00:10:24,599 –> 00:10:25,619 are directly related 180 00:10:25,619 –> 00:10:26,619 to Jesus Christ, 181 00:10:26,619 –> 00:10:28,119 you are supremely 182 00:10:28,119 –> 00:10:32,159 and eternally blessed. 183 00:10:32,159 –> 00:10:33,320 Now, the story 184 00:10:33,320 –> 00:10:35,700 of how this blessing was given 185 00:10:35,700 –> 00:10:37,919 is told to us in Genesis 186 00:10:37,919 –> 00:10:39,520 and chapter 27, 187 00:10:39,559 –> 00:10:40,679 that was read for us 188 00:10:40,679 –> 00:10:42,619 a few moments ago. 189 00:10:42,619 –> 00:10:45,020 It’s a remarkable story. 190 00:10:45,020 –> 00:10:46,760 And what it makes clear 191 00:10:46,760 –> 00:10:47,919 and why this is 192 00:10:47,919 –> 00:10:49,460 a wonderful passage 193 00:10:49,460 –> 00:10:51,520 of Scripture for Mother’s Day 194 00:10:51,520 –> 00:10:53,159 is that Isaac 195 00:10:53,159 –> 00:10:55,260 would never have made it 196 00:10:55,260 –> 00:10:58,119 into faith’s Hall of Fame 197 00:10:58,119 –> 00:10:59,059 if it had not been 198 00:10:59,059 –> 00:11:00,359 for the sheer strength 199 00:11:00,359 –> 00:11:01,320 and resolve 200 00:11:01,320 –> 00:11:03,159 of his remarkable wife, 201 00:11:03,159 –> 00:11:03,760 Rebekah. 202 00:11:03,760 –> 00:11:06,479 What an amazing woman 203 00:11:06,479 –> 00:11:08,400 she was. 204 00:11:08,440 –> 00:11:10,539 Remember her story? 205 00:11:10,539 –> 00:11:12,799 Rebekah had endured 206 00:11:12,799 –> 00:11:16,440 a very difficult pregnancy. 207 00:11:16,440 –> 00:11:17,880 Becoming a mother for her 208 00:11:17,880 –> 00:11:19,979 had not been easy. 209 00:11:19,979 –> 00:11:21,239 Carrying twins 210 00:11:21,239 –> 00:11:23,580 surely never is. 211 00:11:23,580 –> 00:11:25,039 And the Scriptures tell us 212 00:11:25,039 –> 00:11:26,380 that the twins 213 00:11:26,380 –> 00:11:28,440 that she was carrying, 214 00:11:28,440 –> 00:11:30,380 they struggled together 215 00:11:30,380 –> 00:11:31,900 within her. 216 00:11:31,900 –> 00:11:33,880 Jacob and his brother, Esau, 217 00:11:33,880 –> 00:11:34,640 were fighting 218 00:11:34,640 –> 00:11:37,280 before they were even born. 219 00:11:37,320 –> 00:11:38,799 But God spoke to Rebekah 220 00:11:38,799 –> 00:11:40,419 during the pregnancy 221 00:11:40,419 –> 00:11:41,960 and revealed to her 222 00:11:41,960 –> 00:11:44,320 what He had planned. 223 00:12:03,159 –> 00:12:04,460 Well when the time came 224 00:12:04,460 –> 00:12:06,679 for the twins to be born, 225 00:12:06,799 –> 00:12:08,700 Esau came out first. 226 00:12:08,700 –> 00:12:11,340 So, he was the older. 227 00:12:11,340 –> 00:12:12,340 Then Jacob came out 228 00:12:12,340 –> 00:12:13,679 a very close second 229 00:12:13,679 –> 00:12:14,940 because the Bible records 230 00:12:14,940 –> 00:12:16,859 that he was actually holding on 231 00:12:16,859 –> 00:12:19,380 to the heel of his brother. 232 00:12:19,380 –> 00:12:22,799 And so he was the younger. 233 00:12:22,799 –> 00:12:24,880 And Rebekah knew 234 00:12:24,880 –> 00:12:26,440 beyond question 235 00:12:26,440 –> 00:12:27,179 the will of God. 236 00:12:27,179 –> 00:12:29,580 It had been revealed to her. 237 00:12:29,580 –> 00:12:32,260 It was God’s purpose 238 00:12:32,260 –> 00:12:33,219 that the promise 239 00:12:33,219 –> 00:12:35,880 that had been given to Abraham 240 00:12:35,880 –> 00:12:39,179 that had been carried forward by Isaac 241 00:12:39,179 –> 00:12:44,280 should be continued through Jacob. 242 00:12:44,280 –> 00:12:45,599 But when the time came 243 00:12:45,599 –> 00:12:47,359 for Isaac her husband 244 00:12:47,359 –> 00:12:51,739 to pronounce the blessing on his son 245 00:12:51,739 –> 00:12:53,859 Rebekah realized 246 00:12:53,859 –> 00:12:54,979 that her husband 247 00:12:54,979 –> 00:12:59,000 was about to make a terrible mistake. 248 00:12:59,000 –> 00:13:03,440 Isaac had a special affection for Esau. 249 00:13:03,440 –> 00:13:05,000 Not least because 250 00:13:05,119 –> 00:13:06,820 Esau was a hunter 251 00:13:06,820 –> 00:13:08,440 and used to cook venison 252 00:13:08,440 –> 00:13:10,340 the way his father liked it. 253 00:13:10,340 –> 00:13:13,359 Very clear that the way to Isaac’s heart 254 00:13:13,359 –> 00:13:15,880 was through his stomach. 255 00:13:15,880 –> 00:13:17,479 And Isaac said to Esau 256 00:13:17,479 –> 00:13:18,979 chapter 27 and verse three 257 00:13:18,979 –> 00:13:20,599 go out to the field 258 00:13:20,599 –> 00:13:22,640 and hunt game for me 259 00:13:22,640 –> 00:13:23,479 and prepare for me 260 00:13:23,479 –> 00:13:25,840 delicious food such as I love 261 00:13:25,840 –> 00:13:26,840 and bring it to me 262 00:13:26,840 –> 00:13:28,260 so that I may eat 263 00:13:28,260 –> 00:13:32,659 that my soul may bless you 264 00:13:32,739 –> 00:13:34,000 before I die. 265 00:13:35,859 –> 00:13:38,320 And Rebecca heard her husband 266 00:13:38,320 –> 00:13:40,640 speak these words 267 00:13:40,640 –> 00:13:41,479 and when she did 268 00:13:41,479 –> 00:13:44,260 she realized that her husband 269 00:13:44,260 –> 00:13:47,780 was about to act in direct opposition 270 00:13:47,780 –> 00:13:52,260 to the revealed will of God. 271 00:13:52,260 –> 00:13:54,000 God had said that the promised blessing 272 00:13:54,000 –> 00:13:56,020 would continue through Jacob. 273 00:13:56,900 –> 00:13:58,219 And here’s Isaac 274 00:13:58,219 –> 00:14:00,440 and he’s determined to pronounce 275 00:14:00,679 –> 00:14:02,500 the blessing on Esau. 276 00:14:04,400 –> 00:14:07,080 So what was Rebecca to do? 277 00:14:08,719 –> 00:14:10,099 Well, Rebecca came up 278 00:14:10,099 –> 00:14:12,739 with a very cunning plan. 279 00:14:12,739 –> 00:14:13,640 She said to Jacob, 280 00:14:13,640 –> 00:14:15,940 verse six of chapter 27, 281 00:14:15,940 –> 00:14:17,039 I heard your father 282 00:14:17,039 –> 00:14:19,280 speak to your brother Esau, 283 00:14:19,280 –> 00:14:21,119 what he said was bring me game 284 00:14:21,119 –> 00:14:22,880 and prepare for me delicious food 285 00:14:22,880 –> 00:14:23,840 that I may eat it 286 00:14:23,840 –> 00:14:25,539 and bless you before the Lord 287 00:14:25,539 –> 00:14:26,760 before I die 288 00:14:26,760 –> 00:14:29,960 and therefor my son obey my voice 289 00:14:30,440 –> 00:14:32,059 as I command you. 290 00:14:32,059 –> 00:14:34,559 Here’s a woman in total control. 291 00:14:35,679 –> 00:14:39,659 My son obey my voice 292 00:14:39,659 –> 00:14:41,039 as I command you. 293 00:14:42,299 –> 00:14:44,539 Rebecca was not willing 294 00:14:45,679 –> 00:14:47,260 to let her husband 295 00:14:47,260 –> 00:14:50,200 contradict the will of God 296 00:14:51,479 –> 00:14:53,020 and her plan was very simple. 297 00:14:54,140 –> 00:14:56,359 She would prepare a meal 298 00:14:56,359 –> 00:14:58,679 cooked just like Isaac liked it. 299 00:14:59,619 –> 00:15:03,080 Jacob would then impersonate Esau 300 00:15:03,080 –> 00:15:04,900 and take the food to Isaac 301 00:15:04,900 –> 00:15:06,479 whose eyes were so weak 302 00:15:06,479 –> 00:15:08,179 that he wouldn’t be able to tell the difference 303 00:15:08,179 –> 00:15:09,700 between the two boys. 304 00:15:10,559 –> 00:15:12,479 And then Isaac would impart 305 00:15:12,479 –> 00:15:15,599 the promised blessing to Jacob. 306 00:15:17,320 –> 00:15:19,479 Now Jacob was far from convinced 307 00:15:19,479 –> 00:15:21,200 that this plan could actually work. 308 00:15:22,679 –> 00:15:25,880 Esau’s skin was hairy. 309 00:15:25,880 –> 00:15:28,039 Jacob’s skin was smooth 310 00:15:28,760 –> 00:15:32,159 the old man might not be able to see 311 00:15:32,159 –> 00:15:33,919 but he only needed to reach out 312 00:15:33,919 –> 00:15:35,559 and touch Jacob’s skin 313 00:15:35,559 –> 00:15:36,919 and surely then he would know 314 00:15:36,919 –> 00:15:39,179 that this was Jacob and not Esau. 315 00:15:40,479 –> 00:15:43,400 But Rebecca had a plan for that. 316 00:15:43,400 –> 00:15:48,400 First she dressed Jacob in Esau’s clothes 317 00:15:48,700 –> 00:15:52,320 which had the smell of the field about them. 318 00:15:53,520 –> 00:15:57,320 Then she put the hairy skin of an animal 319 00:15:57,320 –> 00:15:59,140 on the back of Jacob’s hands 320 00:15:59,140 –> 00:16:02,039 and on the back of his neck 321 00:16:02,039 –> 00:16:03,619 and when the food was prepared 322 00:16:03,619 –> 00:16:04,840 she gave it to Jacob 323 00:16:04,840 –> 00:16:07,719 and sent him into the tent 324 00:16:07,719 –> 00:16:10,219 to receive the old man’s blessing. 325 00:16:11,820 –> 00:16:14,919 Can you imagine what this was like for Jacob? 326 00:16:15,760 –> 00:16:17,380 He goes in and he says, 327 00:16:17,380 –> 00:16:21,479 I am Esau, your first born 328 00:16:21,479 –> 00:16:23,440 which of course was a downright lie. 329 00:16:24,320 –> 00:16:26,940 The old man seemed suspicious. 330 00:16:28,140 –> 00:16:31,059 Come near me, he says, 331 00:16:31,059 –> 00:16:33,039 that I may feel you 332 00:16:34,179 –> 00:16:38,780 to know if you are really my son Esau. 333 00:16:40,460 –> 00:16:42,059 Now Jacob’s heart must have been 334 00:16:42,059 –> 00:16:45,200 absolutely pounding in his chest 335 00:16:45,200 –> 00:16:48,859 as the old man feels the back of his hand 336 00:16:48,859 –> 00:16:51,559 that’s covered of course with the animal’s skin 337 00:16:51,559 –> 00:16:53,320 and then the neck 338 00:16:54,080 –> 00:16:58,820 the voice is Jacob’s voice he says 339 00:16:58,820 –> 00:17:02,080 but the hands are the hands of Esau. 340 00:17:03,919 –> 00:17:05,800 And then the old man says, 341 00:17:05,800 –> 00:17:09,660 come near and kiss me 342 00:17:11,280 –> 00:17:12,180 my son. 343 00:17:14,319 –> 00:17:17,520 And so Jacob came near the scripture records 344 00:17:17,520 –> 00:17:20,140 and kiss him. 345 00:17:21,020 –> 00:17:26,020 And when he did, Isaac smelled Esau’s clothes 346 00:17:28,400 –> 00:17:30,540 that had the smell of the field on them. 347 00:17:32,140 –> 00:17:36,660 And then he pronounced the blessing on Jacob. 348 00:17:39,719 –> 00:17:42,459 Now Jacob had hardly left the tent 349 00:17:42,459 –> 00:17:46,640 when Esau returned with the food that he had prepared. 350 00:17:46,640 –> 00:17:49,560 He comes in and Isaac says, well, who are you? 351 00:17:50,979 –> 00:17:55,479 To which the answer is, I am your son, your first born Esau. 352 00:17:58,040 –> 00:17:59,719 And then Scripture records these words, 353 00:17:59,719 –> 00:18:04,719 then Isaac trembled violently, 354 00:18:05,079 –> 00:18:08,760 trembled violently, and said, 355 00:18:08,760 –> 00:18:12,579 who was it then that hunted game and brought it to me 356 00:18:12,579 –> 00:18:16,819 and I ate it all before you came and I have blessed him. 357 00:18:17,560 –> 00:18:21,839 And then in a moment both Isaac and Esau 358 00:18:21,839 –> 00:18:23,520 realized what had happened. 359 00:18:25,040 –> 00:18:28,640 And Esau cried out, the Bible says, 360 00:18:28,640 –> 00:18:32,979 with a loud and bitter cry. 361 00:18:35,640 –> 00:18:38,260 Now that’s the story that many of you know well, 362 00:18:39,560 –> 00:18:41,239 and here’s the obvious question. 363 00:18:41,380 –> 00:18:45,739 Hebrews chapter 11 and verse 20 says, 364 00:18:45,739 –> 00:18:50,739 by faith Isaac invoked future blessings 365 00:18:51,079 –> 00:18:54,040 on Jacob and Esau, obvious question, 366 00:18:54,040 –> 00:18:57,160 how could it possibly be said that he did this by faith? 367 00:18:58,599 –> 00:19:01,939 Imparting the blessing to Jacob was not what he wanted 368 00:19:01,939 –> 00:19:03,880 and it was not what he intended, 369 00:19:03,880 –> 00:19:08,880 should this not say by mistake Isaac invoked 370 00:19:09,739 –> 00:19:13,880 future blessings on Jacob and Esau? 371 00:19:13,880 –> 00:19:17,319 Where is the faith, that’s the question? 372 00:19:19,079 –> 00:19:20,400 And here’s the answer, 373 00:19:22,979 –> 00:19:26,599 when Isaac realized what had happened 374 00:19:28,000 –> 00:19:30,339 he submitted to the will of God, 375 00:19:32,180 –> 00:19:34,719 he accepted what had happened and he made 376 00:19:34,719 –> 00:19:37,560 no attempt whatsoever to change it. 377 00:19:39,500 –> 00:19:42,920 He says to Esau, I have blessed him 378 00:19:44,520 –> 00:19:47,359 and he shall be blessed. 379 00:19:49,079 –> 00:19:53,000 It’s not what I wanted, but it’s what God wanted 380 00:19:54,239 –> 00:19:55,739 and that’s what’s gonna happen. 381 00:19:57,680 –> 00:20:02,280 In fact, as we saw earlier, Jacob then went on to repeat 382 00:20:02,280 –> 00:20:05,680 the blessing on Jacob a second time. 383 00:20:05,680 –> 00:20:09,560 This time, knowingly, in chapter 28, in verse four, 384 00:20:09,560 –> 00:20:13,920 He says, may he, that is God, give the blessing of Abraham 385 00:20:13,920 –> 00:20:18,920 to you and to your offspring with you. 386 00:20:20,719 –> 00:20:22,479 Now that is why Hebrews says 387 00:20:22,479 –> 00:20:25,079 that Isaac gave the blessing by faith. 388 00:20:26,119 –> 00:20:30,599 If Isaac had simply gone with what he felt, 389 00:20:30,599 –> 00:20:33,520 he would have revoked the blessing on Jacob. 390 00:20:33,560 –> 00:20:37,020 He would have said, now, wait a minute, I was tricked. 391 00:20:37,020 –> 00:20:40,280 I never intended to give the blessing to Jacob, 392 00:20:40,280 –> 00:20:43,219 so what I said is obviously null and void, 393 00:20:43,219 –> 00:20:44,719 but Isaac didn’t do that. 394 00:20:44,719 –> 00:20:45,900 He couldn’t do that. 395 00:20:45,900 –> 00:20:47,640 He realized that what he had spoken 396 00:20:47,640 –> 00:20:50,060 was actually the Word of God, 397 00:20:50,060 –> 00:20:53,839 and he saw that behind Rebekah’s cunning trick, 398 00:20:54,719 –> 00:20:58,699 God was actually working out his sovereign purpose, 399 00:20:58,699 –> 00:21:00,540 and Isaac’s faith lay in this, 400 00:21:00,560 –> 00:21:03,880 he submitted to God even when God’s will 401 00:21:03,880 –> 00:21:05,260 was not what he wanted. 402 00:21:06,300 –> 00:21:08,119 Now, throughout this entire series, 403 00:21:08,119 –> 00:21:10,979 we are learning what genuine faith looks like. 404 00:21:10,979 –> 00:21:13,300 What is faith, and what does faith do? 405 00:21:13,300 –> 00:21:15,819 And surely here is the distinctive thing 406 00:21:15,819 –> 00:21:18,579 that we learn from the story of Isaac. 407 00:21:18,579 –> 00:21:21,219 Here’s what genuine faith looks like. 408 00:21:21,219 –> 00:21:25,939 Faith submits to God even when His plan 409 00:21:25,939 –> 00:21:28,640 is not what we would have chosen. 410 00:21:31,300 –> 00:21:33,280 When your plans are frustrated, 411 00:21:35,000 –> 00:21:38,000 when God does not give you what you want, 412 00:21:39,579 –> 00:21:40,660 what does faith do? 413 00:21:42,079 –> 00:21:46,219 Faith submits to God. 414 00:21:46,219 –> 00:21:50,199 That is why Hebrews says by faith, 415 00:21:51,359 –> 00:21:55,719 Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. 416 00:21:55,719 –> 00:21:58,459 Now, here’s the very obvious challenge 417 00:21:58,520 –> 00:22:02,619 that comes to all of us today from this story. 418 00:22:04,040 –> 00:22:09,040 How are you going to respond when God’s will, 419 00:22:09,420 –> 00:22:13,119 God’s plan, is not what you would have chosen? 420 00:22:14,000 –> 00:22:15,000 That’s the question. 421 00:22:16,660 –> 00:22:19,400 What are you gonna do when your prayer 422 00:22:19,400 –> 00:22:21,119 is not answered as you hoped, 423 00:22:21,119 –> 00:22:23,900 your wish is not fulfilled? 424 00:22:23,900 –> 00:22:26,420 What are you gonna do if God should lead you 425 00:22:26,420 –> 00:22:29,780 on a very painful and difficult path? 426 00:22:31,979 –> 00:22:33,199 Well you see, when God’s will 427 00:22:33,199 –> 00:22:34,939 is not what you would have chosen, 428 00:22:34,939 –> 00:22:37,780 you will respond in one of two ways. 429 00:22:37,780 –> 00:22:39,579 There are two ways you can go. 430 00:22:39,579 –> 00:22:42,819 You can respond like Isaac, 431 00:22:42,819 –> 00:22:45,300 or you can respond like Esau. 432 00:22:47,380 –> 00:22:51,619 Here are two men, a father and a son, 433 00:22:52,979 –> 00:22:54,780 and both of them want the same thing. 434 00:22:56,579 –> 00:22:59,800 Isaac wants Esau to inherit the promise. 435 00:23:01,260 –> 00:23:04,280 Esau wants Isaac to give him the blessing. 436 00:23:06,739 –> 00:23:11,479 But when God’s plan is not what either of them wanted, 437 00:23:11,479 –> 00:23:13,859 the two of them respond in entirely different 438 00:23:13,859 –> 00:23:15,180 and opposite ways. 439 00:23:16,760 –> 00:23:18,380 How does Esau respond? 440 00:23:18,380 –> 00:23:21,040 Well, Esau just walks right away from God. 441 00:23:22,099 –> 00:23:24,959 That is why Hebrews describes this man 442 00:23:24,959 –> 00:23:28,000 as a godless man. 443 00:23:29,619 –> 00:23:32,020 Esau lived far from God. 444 00:23:34,140 –> 00:23:36,640 If God doesn’t give me what I want, 445 00:23:36,640 –> 00:23:38,859 I don’t want anything more to do with Him. 446 00:23:38,859 –> 00:23:43,560 That’s Esau, and you will know people like that today too. 447 00:23:46,680 –> 00:23:51,680 When God’s plan is not what you would have chosen, 448 00:23:52,479 –> 00:23:56,380 this is the temptation you will face. 449 00:23:56,380 –> 00:23:59,459 To live at a distance from God. 450 00:24:01,119 –> 00:24:03,359 To drift away from Him because 451 00:24:03,359 –> 00:24:06,520 He did not give you what you wanted. 452 00:24:08,819 –> 00:24:12,280 Hebrews gives us the very sad bottom line on Esau. 453 00:24:12,280 –> 00:24:14,560 It shows us where that leads. 454 00:24:16,160 –> 00:24:18,920 It tells us in one of the saddest phrases I think 455 00:24:18,959 –> 00:24:20,560 in the whole Bible 456 00:24:20,560 –> 00:24:23,439 that Esau found no chance to repent 457 00:24:23,439 –> 00:24:25,699 even though he saw it with tears. 458 00:24:26,780 –> 00:24:28,199 He couldn’t repent. 459 00:24:29,319 –> 00:24:30,400 Why couldn’t he repent? 460 00:24:30,400 –> 00:24:33,319 Well, he couldn’t repent because he didn’t have any faith. 461 00:24:34,760 –> 00:24:37,920 All that he had at a distance from God 462 00:24:37,920 –> 00:24:40,099 was an ongoing life of bitter regret 463 00:24:40,099 –> 00:24:42,400 that God had not given him what he wanted. 464 00:24:44,119 –> 00:24:47,000 I don’t want anything to do with a God 465 00:24:47,000 –> 00:24:50,239 who doesn’t give me what I want. 466 00:24:51,680 –> 00:24:52,520 That’s Esau. 467 00:24:53,760 –> 00:24:57,920 And his story is a very tragic story indeed. 468 00:25:01,520 –> 00:25:03,400 But if you should come to a place 469 00:25:03,400 –> 00:25:06,119 where God’s plan is not what you would have chosen, 470 00:25:06,119 –> 00:25:07,880 here’s a better path. 471 00:25:09,119 –> 00:25:13,180 Don’t respond like Esau and walk away from God. 472 00:25:14,380 –> 00:25:15,839 Respond like Isaac. 473 00:25:15,839 –> 00:25:16,680 What did he do? 474 00:25:16,719 –> 00:25:19,219 He submitted to God. 475 00:25:20,599 –> 00:25:22,619 He didn’t get what he wanted, 476 00:25:22,619 –> 00:25:26,160 but he submitted to God’s plan. 477 00:25:26,160 –> 00:25:29,520 And submitting to God’s plan 478 00:25:29,520 –> 00:25:31,880 when it is not what you would have chosen 479 00:25:31,880 –> 00:25:35,880 is a sure mark of genuine faith. 480 00:25:36,719 –> 00:25:37,979 This is what faith does. 481 00:25:39,079 –> 00:25:40,900 This is what faith looks like. 482 00:25:42,439 –> 00:25:44,680 It submits to the plan of God 483 00:25:44,680 –> 00:25:47,540 even when that plan is not what you would have chosen. 484 00:25:49,079 –> 00:25:52,959 And you see that so clearly in the story of Isaac, 485 00:25:52,959 –> 00:25:55,239 you see it in the story of Job. 486 00:25:56,760 –> 00:25:59,479 And of course, you see it in the story of Jesus. 487 00:26:01,079 –> 00:26:04,500 Because Jesus came to a place 488 00:26:04,500 –> 00:26:06,959 where the Father’s plan was not what anyone 489 00:26:06,959 –> 00:26:07,880 would have chosen. 490 00:26:09,199 –> 00:26:12,260 The will of God for him involved great pain. 491 00:26:13,160 –> 00:26:16,380 It involved him being taken from the friends he loved. 492 00:26:18,260 –> 00:26:22,160 It involved him bearing the sin of the world. 493 00:26:23,400 –> 00:26:25,500 Do you remember how he wrestled with it 494 00:26:25,500 –> 00:26:29,739 in the Garden of Gethsemane and then he submitted 495 00:26:29,739 –> 00:26:31,500 to the Father’s will, 496 00:26:31,500 –> 00:26:36,500 Father, not what I will, but your will be done. 497 00:26:36,800 –> 00:26:39,119 your will be done. 498 00:26:41,540 –> 00:26:42,819 That’s what faith does. 499 00:26:44,380 –> 00:26:49,380 Faith submits to God, even when His plan 500 00:26:49,500 –> 00:26:52,719 is not what you would have chosen. 501 00:26:55,819 –> 00:26:58,300 Now what do we learn from this story? 502 00:26:58,300 –> 00:27:01,219 How do we apply it to our lives today? 503 00:27:01,219 –> 00:27:04,500 Let me just make these observations 504 00:27:04,520 –> 00:27:06,579 briefly this morning. 505 00:27:06,579 –> 00:27:09,959 First, here’s a wonderful thing that we learn 506 00:27:09,959 –> 00:27:13,099 from this story, that God’s promise to bless 507 00:27:13,099 –> 00:27:16,739 always prevails. 508 00:27:16,739 –> 00:27:18,939 Now I do have to say this morning, 509 00:27:18,939 –> 00:27:21,780 this story that is recorded for us in the Bible, 510 00:27:21,780 –> 00:27:23,579 the Bible records what happened. 511 00:27:24,780 –> 00:27:29,780 And this story is not a moral example. 512 00:27:29,979 –> 00:27:34,979 The lesson for Mother’s Day is not be like Rebekah, 513 00:27:35,859 –> 00:27:38,380 deceive your husband and get what you want. 514 00:27:40,020 –> 00:27:44,420 The lesson for Mother’s Day is not be like Jacob, 515 00:27:44,420 –> 00:27:47,760 tell lies to your father and you will be blessed. 516 00:27:47,760 –> 00:27:51,819 That is not the reason that this story is in the Bible. 517 00:27:51,819 –> 00:27:56,819 In fact, you really have to read the rest of the story 518 00:27:57,540 –> 00:28:02,540 to see that lies and deception 519 00:28:02,819 –> 00:28:05,219 brought ongoing pain and sorrow. 520 00:28:05,219 –> 00:28:06,579 They always do. 521 00:28:07,660 –> 00:28:09,579 The family divided. 522 00:28:11,260 –> 00:28:14,260 Jacob left home in obvious fear 523 00:28:14,260 –> 00:28:16,180 of what Esau might do to him 524 00:28:17,140 –> 00:28:20,660 and Rebekah never saw her dearly loved son again. 525 00:28:21,260 –> 00:28:23,099 So don’t base your ethics 526 00:28:24,420 –> 00:28:27,699 on the story of Rebekah and Jacob. 527 00:28:28,380 –> 00:28:29,540 That’s not why it’s in the Bible. 528 00:28:29,540 –> 00:28:30,619 Why is it in the Bible? 529 00:28:30,619 –> 00:28:34,380 Well, to tell us and to encourage us with this 530 00:28:34,380 –> 00:28:38,380 that God’s promise to bless always prevails. 531 00:28:39,339 –> 00:28:41,739 Here’s Isaac and he’s determined 532 00:28:41,739 –> 00:28:43,660 to thwart the purpose of God 533 00:28:43,660 –> 00:28:45,219 and he cannot succeed. 534 00:28:47,099 –> 00:28:49,939 Those who are determined to thwart success 535 00:28:50,020 –> 00:28:51,739 but those who are determined to thwart the purpose of God 536 00:28:51,739 –> 00:28:53,579 ultimately will never succeed. 537 00:28:55,180 –> 00:28:56,859 And this story in the Bible 538 00:28:56,859 –> 00:28:59,500 is a story of wonderful hope 539 00:28:59,500 –> 00:29:03,060 for far-from-perfect families. 540 00:29:03,060 –> 00:29:04,020 I mean, think about it. 541 00:29:04,020 –> 00:29:06,300 This is a story about a husband and a wife 542 00:29:06,300 –> 00:29:08,219 who are not on the same page. 543 00:29:09,579 –> 00:29:11,339 It is a story about two brothers 544 00:29:11,339 –> 00:29:13,619 who just can’t seem to get along. 545 00:29:14,540 –> 00:29:15,979 And you look at this family 546 00:29:15,979 –> 00:29:16,760 and you say, 547 00:29:16,760 –> 00:29:18,420 where in the world can God’s blessing 548 00:29:19,160 –> 00:29:21,020 be found in the middle of all of this? 549 00:29:22,739 –> 00:29:23,920 And yet, here’s what we learn. 550 00:29:23,920 –> 00:29:26,500 God is present, even in this family. 551 00:29:27,939 –> 00:29:30,359 And He’s working out His purpose 552 00:29:30,359 –> 00:29:33,560 even through the pain of a very troubled family. 553 00:29:35,739 –> 00:29:37,380 And then think about this. 554 00:29:38,859 –> 00:29:40,219 This is a story 555 00:29:41,119 –> 00:29:42,560 about lies, 556 00:29:43,459 –> 00:29:44,520 deception, 557 00:29:45,520 –> 00:29:48,540 and betrayal with a kiss. 558 00:29:51,339 –> 00:29:53,239 And yet, God’s promise to bless 559 00:29:53,239 –> 00:29:54,900 all the families of the earth 560 00:29:54,900 –> 00:29:56,959 is actually carried forward through it. 561 00:29:58,660 –> 00:30:00,300 And of course that points us forward 562 00:30:00,300 –> 00:30:02,479 to the New Testament where we read 563 00:30:02,479 –> 00:30:05,000 about a disciple of Jesus who lied 564 00:30:06,180 –> 00:30:07,459 and deceived 565 00:30:08,579 –> 00:30:12,439 and betrayed his Master with a kiss. 566 00:30:14,699 –> 00:30:16,760 And yet the will and purpose of God 567 00:30:16,760 –> 00:30:19,260 to bring blessing to all the nations of the world 568 00:30:19,260 –> 00:30:23,719 is carried forward even through this. 569 00:30:25,400 –> 00:30:30,400 Now you see, if you should experience the pain 570 00:30:32,060 –> 00:30:34,640 of lies and deception 571 00:30:35,939 –> 00:30:37,900 and even betrayal with a kiss, 572 00:30:39,239 –> 00:30:41,420 well your first thought may well be 573 00:30:41,420 –> 00:30:43,500 this is the end of all hope. 574 00:30:45,219 –> 00:30:48,640 I want you to hear this from the story in the Bible today, 575 00:30:48,640 –> 00:30:53,560 God’s promise to bless always prevails. 576 00:30:56,020 –> 00:30:58,699 Second thing we learn from this story 577 00:30:58,699 –> 00:31:02,579 is that God’s promise to bless is always a gift 578 00:31:02,579 –> 00:31:04,520 and it is never a right. 579 00:31:05,660 –> 00:31:07,060 You know we read in the New Testament 580 00:31:07,060 –> 00:31:08,459 in Romans in chapter three, 581 00:31:08,459 –> 00:31:13,260 all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God 582 00:31:13,319 –> 00:31:18,280 and are justified by His grace as a gift, 583 00:31:19,640 –> 00:31:24,640 as a gift through the Redemption that is in Christ Jesus. 584 00:31:25,859 –> 00:31:28,119 Now you see what that’s saying. 585 00:31:28,119 –> 00:31:32,040 No one is ever entitled to the blessing of God. 586 00:31:33,020 –> 00:31:36,319 It is always a gift, it is never a right. 587 00:31:36,319 –> 00:31:40,540 It cannot be earned and it cannot be deserved. 588 00:31:41,400 –> 00:31:45,459 Now of course, by convention in those days, 589 00:31:45,459 –> 00:31:49,400 the blessing went to the eldest child. 590 00:31:49,400 –> 00:31:51,219 That’s why Esau expected 591 00:31:51,219 –> 00:31:54,859 and presumed that it would be his by right. 592 00:31:56,540 –> 00:32:00,619 But you see God does not work by convention. 593 00:32:00,619 –> 00:32:03,219 I will have mercy on whom I have mercy. 594 00:32:03,219 –> 00:32:07,300 I will have compassion on whom I have compassion. 595 00:32:08,140 –> 00:32:12,180 Esau thought that he had a right to the blessing 596 00:32:12,180 –> 00:32:13,099 and he was determined 597 00:32:13,099 –> 00:32:15,819 that he would do the work to get it. 598 00:32:15,819 –> 00:32:17,979 He hunted the game, he cooked the stew. 599 00:32:17,979 –> 00:32:19,140 If I put in the effort, 600 00:32:19,140 –> 00:32:22,500 if I do the work, I will be rewarded with the blessing. 601 00:32:22,500 –> 00:32:23,959 But despite all of his effort, 602 00:32:23,959 –> 00:32:25,459 he doesn’t get what he wanted. 603 00:32:26,939 –> 00:32:30,780 You see the same spirit of entitlement 604 00:32:30,780 –> 00:32:33,819 and again, the elder brother in Jesus’ story, 605 00:32:33,819 –> 00:32:35,800 remember of the prodigal son. 606 00:32:35,800 –> 00:32:37,060 What does the elder brother do? 607 00:32:37,380 –> 00:32:39,479 Well he works really hard 608 00:32:39,479 –> 00:32:41,319 and because he works really hard, 609 00:32:41,319 –> 00:32:42,760 he feels entitled. 610 00:32:42,760 –> 00:32:43,920 He says to the father, 611 00:32:43,920 –> 00:32:46,719 these many years I have served you 612 00:32:46,719 –> 00:32:50,739 and I have never disobeyed your command. 613 00:32:50,739 –> 00:32:52,099 You ever felt like that? 614 00:32:53,800 –> 00:32:55,959 Lord I’ve lived a good life. 615 00:32:57,880 –> 00:32:59,180 I’ve worked hard. 616 00:33:00,760 –> 00:33:04,780 I’ve been disciplined and I have kept your commandments. 617 00:33:05,640 –> 00:33:08,339 Now why have you not given to me what I want? 618 00:33:10,339 –> 00:33:12,819 Well you see Esau thought that the blessing 619 00:33:12,819 –> 00:33:15,140 of God was his right. 620 00:33:16,699 –> 00:33:20,640 But no one has a right to the blessing of God 621 00:33:20,640 –> 00:33:22,819 and of course that includes Jacob 622 00:33:22,819 –> 00:33:24,479 who certainly didn’t deserve it. 623 00:33:25,619 –> 00:33:28,079 And we don’t deserve it either. 624 00:33:28,079 –> 00:33:28,920 That’s the point. 625 00:33:28,920 –> 00:33:32,719 All have sinned, all of us. 626 00:33:33,560 –> 00:33:37,680 All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 627 00:33:37,680 –> 00:33:40,160 There isn’t one of us who is entitled 628 00:33:40,160 –> 00:33:41,800 to the blessing of God. 629 00:33:41,800 –> 00:33:45,880 God’s blessing is a gift, never a right 630 00:33:47,479 –> 00:33:51,739 and so if you would receive the blessing of God 631 00:33:51,739 –> 00:33:55,959 you have to give up claiming it as a right 632 00:33:56,319 –> 00:33:59,939 and you have to humble yourself 633 00:34:01,680 –> 00:34:06,680 and come empty handed in order to receive it as a gift. 634 00:34:08,520 –> 00:34:10,979 And then here’s the last thing that God’s promise 635 00:34:10,979 –> 00:34:15,239 to bless is ours in Jesus Christ. 636 00:34:15,239 –> 00:34:18,419 It’s wonderful how the New Testament takes up 637 00:34:18,419 –> 00:34:21,199 the big themes of the Old Testament story 638 00:34:21,199 –> 00:34:23,479 and here’s one place in which our story 639 00:34:23,479 –> 00:34:25,899 is taken up in the New Testament. 640 00:34:25,899 –> 00:34:29,399 Galatians chapter three in verse 28 and 29 641 00:34:29,399 –> 00:34:31,179 we read these wonderful words. 642 00:34:31,179 –> 00:34:33,739 That is neither Jew nor Greek. 643 00:34:34,600 –> 00:34:36,560 That is neither slave nor free. 644 00:34:37,560 –> 00:34:41,600 There is no male and female for you are all 645 00:34:41,600 –> 00:34:44,000 one in Christ Jesus. 646 00:34:44,919 –> 00:34:49,919 And if you’re Christ’s then you are Abrahams offspring 647 00:34:50,899 –> 00:34:54,479 heirs according to promise. 648 00:34:55,879 –> 00:34:58,080 Now, think about this is absolutely amazing. 649 00:34:59,260 –> 00:35:01,800 In the Old Testament, 650 00:35:01,800 –> 00:35:06,199 the blessing of being heir to the promise 651 00:35:06,199 –> 00:35:11,199 could only ever come to one person in each generation. 652 00:35:13,280 –> 00:35:18,280 But here we are being told that the promised blessing, 653 00:35:18,520 –> 00:35:21,919 that being heir to the promise 654 00:35:21,919 –> 00:35:26,479 will come to women and men 655 00:35:26,479 –> 00:35:30,659 of every nation, Jew and Greek, 656 00:35:30,659 –> 00:35:34,479 of every social status. 657 00:35:35,520 –> 00:35:38,800 Jew, Greek, slave, free, male, female. 658 00:35:38,800 –> 00:35:43,100 You are Abraham’s offspring. 659 00:35:43,899 –> 00:35:47,139 You are heirs of the promise 660 00:35:47,139 –> 00:35:51,179 if you belong to Jesus Christ. 661 00:35:52,600 –> 00:35:54,239 It’s amazing. 662 00:35:54,239 –> 00:35:57,620 It’s the fulfillment of God’s great purpose 663 00:35:57,620 –> 00:36:00,840 that blessing would come to all the families of the earth 664 00:36:00,840 –> 00:36:04,939 through a descendant of Abraham, who is Jesus Christ. 665 00:36:04,939 –> 00:36:06,280 And do you see then today 666 00:36:06,280 –> 00:36:08,719 that the arms of Jesus Christ 667 00:36:08,719 –> 00:36:11,419 are lovingly and welcomingly 668 00:36:11,520 –> 00:36:14,959 extended towards every person here today, 669 00:36:14,959 –> 00:36:16,679 they’re extended towards you today? 670 00:36:16,679 –> 00:36:19,879 There is love in the Lord Jesus Christ for you, 671 00:36:19,879 –> 00:36:23,239 there is blessing in the Lord Jesus Christ for you. 672 00:36:25,179 –> 00:36:27,979 The blessing of being adopted into God’s family, 673 00:36:29,280 –> 00:36:33,080 the blessing of being His forever 674 00:36:33,979 –> 00:36:38,719 can be yours through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. 675 00:36:39,699 –> 00:36:42,340 And here’s how it happens, think of it. 676 00:36:44,639 –> 00:36:47,540 Jacob came to Isaac 677 00:36:49,580 –> 00:36:52,639 dressed in Esau’s clothing 678 00:36:54,199 –> 00:36:57,580 and thereby received a blessing 679 00:36:58,500 –> 00:37:00,199 that he did not deserve. 680 00:37:02,199 –> 00:37:05,659 And we come to God the Father 681 00:37:06,179 –> 00:37:08,659 as sinners 682 00:37:10,379 –> 00:37:14,560 clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ 683 00:37:14,560 –> 00:37:18,659 and when we come in this way by faith, 684 00:37:18,659 –> 00:37:23,100 God’s blessing is ours. 685 00:37:24,080 –> 00:37:25,060 Let’s pray together. 686 00:37:27,040 –> 00:37:30,479 Father, we are staggered 687 00:37:31,300 –> 00:37:33,239 at this amazing reality 688 00:37:33,239 –> 00:37:36,479 that your desire to bless has been so strong 689 00:37:38,699 –> 00:37:41,239 that you sent your own Son into the world, 690 00:37:42,540 –> 00:37:45,820 that the ancient promise may be wonderfully fulfilled 691 00:37:47,179 –> 00:37:50,000 and that in Christ, the great inheritance, 692 00:37:50,000 –> 00:37:53,500 all the promises you have ever given will be ours 693 00:37:54,639 –> 00:37:56,600 in time and for eternity 694 00:37:57,580 –> 00:38:01,159 through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord. 695 00:38:02,439 –> 00:38:05,000 Give to us a due sense of the privilege 696 00:38:05,000 –> 00:38:06,959 that is ours in Christ. 697 00:38:08,459 –> 00:38:10,560 Help us, dear Father, please help us 698 00:38:10,560 –> 00:38:14,260 when your plan for us is not the path 699 00:38:14,260 –> 00:38:15,560 the we would have chosen. 700 00:38:17,840 –> 00:38:20,820 Save us from being like Esau who walked away. 701 00:38:22,239 –> 00:38:26,179 Make us like Isaac, who is a model of faith 702 00:38:26,479 –> 00:38:30,100 because he submitted to your plan and purpose 703 00:38:30,100 –> 00:38:32,820 even when it was not what he would have chosen. 704 00:38:34,459 –> 00:38:37,739 And so make us like Jesus, in whom we see this 705 00:38:38,699 –> 00:38:43,699 fully, gloriously, savingly in the Garden of Gethsemane, 706 00:38:45,959 –> 00:38:48,320 and grant that truly being His, 707 00:38:48,320 –> 00:38:50,899 we may walk with Him all the days of our lives 708 00:38:51,939 –> 00:38:54,000 until faith is turned to sight, 709 00:38:54,979 –> 00:38:56,860 and we enter into the fullness of all 710 00:38:56,860 –> 00:38:59,379 that You have promised and prepared 711 00:38:59,379 –> 00:39:03,520 forever and forever, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 712 00:39:04,659 –> 00:39:05,500 Amen.