Gen.15:18 “...On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your descendants I have given this land, From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates...”
How long does it take for God to fulfill a promise?
--- Abraham Gen.25:7 - 175
--- Isaac Gen.35:28 - 180
--- Jacob Gen 47:28 - 147
--- Joseph Gen 50:26 -110
--- Egyptian Slavery - 400yrs
Has Israel ever possesed the land from the river of Egypt to the river Euphrates?
Does God ever promise more than He delivers?
Is this an ongoing situation?
Gen.22:1-2 “...Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." He said, "Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you..."
What was the test? Why the test?
Can the blessings of God become an idol? Can we elevate a Promise above God?
Does it explain Mark 10:21? The man couldn’t give all he possessed to the poor - went away sad.
What was the result of Abraham passing the test (Gen.22:18)?
Is the world still blessed through God’s obedient people? Hear. Obey. Be a blessing.
How did God interact with people on earth?
Just talked to Abram (Gen.12:1).
Just appeared (Gen.17:1)
Appeared to Isaac (Gen.26:2)
Jacob had a dream (Gen.28:12) Heaven and earth were connected, God spoke from above.
Read Gen.31:24. How did God speak to Laban? Why? To keep the bigger plan functional?
Sometimes God interacts. Sometimes God watches.
Who decides?
What do you think of Jacob? (Israel - father of 12 tribes)
Lots to not like?
Two “God pleasing” qualities surfaced in Chapter 32 - Humility and Persistance.
Did this encounter with God change Jacob’s character?
He led his family instead of hiding among them (33:3).
Will God empower us to become who we should be, moving us from fear to faith? Rom.4:17 “...calls into being that which does not exist...”
Lesson? God can use anyone.
Gen.34 - Story of Dinah
A true hollywood story? (rape, deceit, greed, murder)
Sister is raped, then the guy wants to marry her.
They deceive the whole community into circumcision.
How could they be talked into such a thing? Greed v.22
Then all the males are murdered v.25
What do you think God thought about this? Does “...for such a thing ought not to be done...” 34:7 apply to all 4 scenes?.
Was God addressing the problem of personal revenge in the eye for an eye of Ex.21:24?
What do you think God thinks about our litiginous society?
Foreign gods. Gen.35:2 “...So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, "Put away the foreign gods which are among you, and purify yourselves...”
Pre-10 commandments “no other gods”
How do foreign gods become a part of families?
--- Fallen angel - deceived into embracing OTHER
--- Fallen culture - what’s the big deal, it’s normal
--- Fallen self - personal preference
We will have many opportunities to talk about idols and high places.
If we’re not convicted, we’re probably not listening.
Esau’s life. Did he get a raw deal?
In Gen.25:34 he lost his birthright. Taken or Given?
In Gen.27:36 he lost the blessing. Taken or Given?
Now Gen.36:6, he’s the one who moves. Jacob comes back and Esau gets displaced.
What do you think about this?
What do we lose when ‘preference and pleasure’ are more important to us than ‘promise’?
Gen.37 Life of Joseph, one of the 12 brothers (12 tribes)
What kind of relationship with his brothers?
What irked them?
What did they do?
Will the promise be swallowed up by preferences?
37:28 Sold for? 20 Shekels Matt.26:15 Jesus 30 Pieces
37:36 Sold by Ismaelites to Potiphar.
39:2 Why was Joseph successful?
So did he have it made?
39:20 Thrown into jail for something he didn’t do.
39:21 Why did Joseph find favor with the jailor?
So did he have it made?
41:1 Two full years before he gets out.
41:6 How old when he became 2nd to Pharaoh? 30yrs
What does this story tell you about God? Does He accomplish His purposes in spite of unfairness? Do we focus on fairness?
Gen.42 Joseph’s brothers come to Egypt.
42:8 - they didn’t recognize him (it had been a while)
42:21 - “we are guilty” (carried it for quite a few years)
How long will we carry guilt?
How can a person get free from guilt? (repentance, Christ atonement?)
42:28 What response when they found the money in their bags. “What has God done to us”. Why didn’t they say “What has the Egyptian done to us”? Did they recognize the sovereignty of God.
44:16 Again, “...God has found out the guilt...”
Had the brothers changed?
44:33 Now willing to give up self for another.
This was the core group of 12 that was to bring forth the Jewish nation, the people of God. Later there would be 12 disciples that would to bring forth the Church Age.
--- It took time for God to bring the brothers to usefulness.
--- It took time for Jesus to bring the disciples to usefulness.
--- It takes time for the Holy Spirit to bring us to usefulness.
45:5 “...God sent me before you to preserve life...”
45:8 “...it was not you who sent me here, but God...”
50:20 “...you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive...”
EGYPT - symbolic of the world.
Joseph’s godly life prevented disaster. Is this consistent with God’s intention for calling the Patriarchs? Did Joseph bless his world?
NOTE: The same world that God empowers us to live in, can also enslave us.
Exodus 1:8 “...Now a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph...”
What didn’t he know? That God exists, and blesses?
Why didn’t he know? Didn’t he know history? Weren’t there people living that he could see “the Lord was with them”?
What did his ignorance create?
Was he ignorant in his culture’s eyes?
Is America ignorant? Remember, the same world in which God empowers us to live, can eventually enslave us.
Exodus 1:16-17 “...if it is a son, then you shall put him to death; ...But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt had commanded them...” Ex.1:20 “...God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied, and became very mighty...”
People who don’t fear God, but fear for their own life preferences, will kill babies to further their cause.
He happened with the Pharaoh of Egypt. In happened with Herod of the Rome Empire (Matt.2:16). Is it happening in America?
Is this fulfilling God’s intentions?
Why is abortion one of the most divisive issues faced by Americans? Personal preference?
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