September 18, 2022

God’s grace despite human sinfulness

Preacher:
Passage: John 19:25-30, Genesis 27:1–29
Service Type:

Introduction

Last week:

Early signs of a rift between brothers
Jacob took advantage of Esau for his birthright
We will soon see that Esau wants to murder Jacob

Family feuds are terrible things

Example of the Prince William and Harry

Chapter 27 – problems amongst the family – brothers and marriage

God has purposes of grace for this family
God’s grace despite human sinfulness

Marriage problems

Most marriages suffer from problems time to time
Some face problems almost continually
Marriage is rarely without problems due to sinners living in close proximity

Lack of communication between husband and wife

Husband and wife

Isaac wants to bless Esau

He has not discussed this with Rebekah
He is ignoring God’s word

Rebekah is not prepared to confront her husband

She hatches a plan

They have not talked it through

Marriage is a wonderful thing

Two persons but one flesh
Togetherness and teamwork
A lack of communication means that people have started to live individually
We are not meant to be independent

What if problems have occurred?

Help and counseling
Try to work it out together with forgiveness
Ultimately – to ask God for help

Deviousness in Marriage

Affairs occur because of devious behaviour

Debt also
Arguments
Hiding things
Relationship breakdown
Causes sadness and mistrust

Example in Rebekah

She does not talk to but deceives her husband
Is this a clever plan?
The ends does not justify the means

She is not trusting God
She is not confronting her husband

Jacob is worried but goes through with the plan

Isaac is deceived
The plan is successful but at great cost

Esau wanted to murder Jacob
Did she ever see Jacob again?
What sorrow must have filled her heart
How did she confess to Isaac after?

Deviousness never pays

It causes great grief when uncovered
Sin never pays
We must be open and honest

Making your children the centre of your affections

We are to love our children

We are not to love our children above our spouse
We are not to favour our children
We are not to put all our affection on one child

Isaac loved Esau and Rebekah loved Jacob

Isaac favoured Esau – v4
Rebekah favoured Jacob

What happens when a child leaves home – does the relationship break up if a parent lives for a child?

We are to live for God
The primary relationship is husband and wife

Leading family members into sin

This is the worse thing we can do

Rebekah suffered
Jacob suffered

She produced a trait that continued in his character
This only changed at Penuel
Our own character informs our children – examples

Marriages go wrong when we do not parent properly

Recap of Points

Quite negative/sad – the gospel message offers forgiveness for families
We believe that God can restore families and work miracles

We see this with Jacob
We are to seek help in God

A failure to trust God

The heart of the problem
Isaac did not believe God’s word

When Isaac sought to bless Esau – he was trying to go against God’s plan

Rebekah does not trust God

She tries to help out
God’s purposes were worked out – but she did not need to lie and deceive

She should have trusted

It can be difficult to trust

When you see no way out of a situation

Jacob spiralling into sin

One lie leads to another
He even brings God into it – v20

He uses God’s name in vain
It is his own sinful actions

Does this not happen to us?

God’s grace is greater

It is remarkable that God blesses Jacob (v29-30)

Jacob did not deserve this

Grace shown to an undeserving sinner

God does discipline him before blessings come

He does inherit the promises (in time)

How did Isaac by faith bless Jacob?

He (and Rebekah) still believed in the promises of God
God’s purposes are much higher than our sinfulness

There is grace in Jesus Christ

He blesses us with salvation, the forgiveness of sins, with heaven
All who believe in Him will receive His blessings

Trust in Jesus Christ – the blessings of God will be yours
Closing Remarks