October 16, 2022

The Goodness of God

Preacher:
Passage: Genesis 26:1-22
Service Type:

Introduction

This passage is all about the goodness and faithfulness of God

If God did not keep His promises He would not be true
He would cease to be God, because He would be untrustworthy

However, God is true and He fulfills every promise He makes

God is not a man that He should lie

The Bible has multiple passages showing the faithfulness of God

The promise of Abraham’s seed (though it took many years)

Explanation

The promises reiterated to Issac – that he would prosper

Genesis 26 is the fulfillment of this promise

The promises given to Jacob

Harvest is about the faithfulness and promises of God

It is a blessing to look at Genesis 26 on this Harvest Sunday

The goodness of God despite failure and sin

God’s goodness despite Issac’s failure

There was one family who was given the covenant promises of God
Yet we read of a weak and fearful man who lied and did not trust God
Yet God blesses him abundantly

You may expect chastisement, but he receives blessing

What types of sin did he commit?

All sin is sin – but it can be categorised:

Sins of ignorance

Examples

Sins of weakness

Examples

Sins of deliberate fault

What was the sin of Issac?

A sin of weakness

God had commanded him not to go to Egypt

Even though there was famine, he stayed in the land and did not go to Egypt
He finds himself in hostility with the Philistines and had to move
He came into contact with King Abimelech
Isaac’s wife was very beautiful so he is deceptive about their marriage
One day King Abimelech sees that they are husband and wife
King Abimelech is furious but Isaac confesses
King Abimelech charges the people to stay away from Rebekah and Isaac (v11)

Isaac sins in weakness

He repeats the sin of his fore-father
Yet God is kind
God had given covenant promises to Issac (v3)

Application:

What about our sin?
There is a good God in heaven

He does not overlook sin
He sent Jesus to take our sin upon the cross, that we might be forgiven

God blesses

In one year Isaac is blessed 100 times over – in a year of famine (v12)

God freely forgives
Isaac was a man of faith

He was greatly prospered (v13)

Can you speak to the kindness of God

Personal example
When tragedy, death or trial come – do we blame God or remember His gracious kindness?
Never forget that God is a good God

The greatest blessings

Not physical primarily
But spiritual
Isaac came to learn this – he was an alien in the land, moved from place to place
The fulfillment of the promise would be in his seed – Jesus Christ
The fulfillment is found beyond this world – in heaven
Store up riches in heaven (not treasures on earth)
Abide in the Vine (Jesus) and you will bear fruit
Do you feel in a barren/pagan land – you can prosper spiritually in God

The goodness of God despite opposition

The Philistines envied Isaac

Have you encountered this?

The Philistines were jealous

They spoke against him
They stopped up his wells
They did not want him to prosper

The Philistines harass Isaac

He moves areas and digs the wells but the philistines quarrel over them

God’s blessings

Does not mean that everything will be easy
The Bible says we will suffer tribulation
Jesus tells us to be of good cheer, for He has overcome the world
Isaac could be of good cheer as God was with him and blessing him

He trusted in God
He was a peacemaker
He was patient

The Lord is Good and faithful

Ps 37

Isaac is learning to trust God
Trust in God

The happiest should be those who are born again
These are truly blessed indeed

May it be that you have asked Jesus for the forgiveness of sins, to be your Lord and Saviour

So God will be with you
So God will bless you