Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• Last week we considered Sarah and Abraham and how their faith changed the present
• Abraham's faith changed his life
• Abraham's faith affected the way he lived
• If we have faith for living, does it affect the way we die?
• Isaac blessed Jacob and Easu (v20)
• Jacob blessed the two sons of Joseph and worshiped (v21)
• Joseph mentioned the children of Israel (v22)
• Considering three men who faced death
• Each had living faith and died well
• Perhaps the biggest test of faith is how we face death
• How will we face death?
• Example of John Wesley
• Example of my father

Isaac (v20)

• If you study his life can you find a man who walked by faith?
• Certainly in his younger years
• Not much mentioned of Isaac after this
• There seem to be disappointments
• He made the same error as his father - he lied about Rebecca being his wife
• The two children: 'the older will serve the younger' - but Isaac wanted to give the covenant blessing to Esau
• When the blessing was given to Jacob, Isaac did not withdraw it but believed in faith (Gen 28:2-4a)
• What example would you choose of Isaac's faith?
• Mount Moriah
• This incident - the writer to the Hebrews choses this example of faith
• Jacob still blessed Esau (v20 and Gen 27:39-40)
• We may have struggles
• Whatever we have been in the past doesn't matter now (once we know God)
• What Isaac was like in the past doesn't matter compared to how he is now
• It is what you are like now that matters
• Are you trusting God now?
• Not what experiences you have had in the past
• Quote from Matthew Henry
• There were many regrets in Isaac's life
• What really counts is how you are now - don't wait until your death bed

Jacob (v21)

• Jacob blesses the two sons of Joseph [his grandchildren] - Gen 48:13-16
• It was not the firstborns who were blessed but the ones that God had chosen
• We must accept God's sovereign choice and ways
• Many emphasise 'our' choice
• The Bible exalts and emphasises God's soveriegn and divine will
• Jacob worshiped leaning on the top of his staff
• Do we accept God's sovereign purposes?

Joseph (v22)

• 'When we grown older we either become bitter or sweeter'
• Joseph had every human right to become bitter
• Think of how his brothers treated him
• There was no trace of bitterness
• Instead he had faith
• He knew that God would bring the people out of Egypt
• Joseph had dream and visions - perhaps God had shown him this only
• He gave instruction for his bones to be taken back into the land - it was a reminder of his faith
• He died in faith trusted God for the future
• His hope wasn't in the land or possessions but to God's land and the promise to His people
• "They all died in faith" (v13) - this was Joseph

Closing Remarks

• Three old men - not cynical but living in faith
• They faced death unselfishly
• Think of Jesus thinking of others as He died on the cross
• May it be that we live unselfishly and live in faith now
• May it be that we die well
• May it be that we are concerned for our children and the church