Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/Sermons/zz20080928.htm

THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION
Genesis: Explaining The Foundations Of History
Part VII: Explaining God's Plan To Bless Men Regardless Of Apostasy
P. Trusting God With The Harm Others Can Do To Our Possessions
(Genesis 26:1-33)

Introduction: (To show the need . . . )

Recently, we have heard how many people are concerned about what other troublesome parties can do to harm their possessions:

(1) We all know by now of the stock market's recent intense volatility that has been caused by the long-term effects of greedy, shoddy business practices in the mortgage industry. This problem has reportedly put at risk the retirement portfolios and jobs of millions of us Americans that are deeply impacted by the stock market.

I heard United States Senator Christopher Dodd, Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, report on a televised news program that this whole crisis could have been averted, that regulators were to blame for failing in their oversight of the banking industry! On the other hand, I have heard some talk show hosts spread the blame to include the Senator himself, and many other government officials!

(2) I learned this past week of 2 businessmen in our body who are facing financial losses, one of them very high, since customers are not paying for services they have rendered. This puts pressure not only on the company owner, but on his employees who depend on his ability to meet payroll so they can earn a livelihood.

(3) A radio talk show host this past Wednesday reported how a high percentage of doctors in Connecticut are considering leaving the State! The high cost of malpractice insurance coupled with stiff State government regulations has put a big financial squeeze on them, making for a potential health care vacuum for us!

(4) Two unrelated Christian couples I know have told me this past week of significant financial trials they are facing right now due to their property partnerships with ungodly extended family members. Not only is the amount of wealth involved in each case very great, but the recent world economic crisis has intensified their problems as it makes the financial stakes involved even greater!



Thus, we may ask, "If I see that all I possess is left at risk due to what other troublesome parties can do to harm it, how am I to respond in an edifying way?!"



(We turn to the sermon "Need" section . . . )

Need: "What can I do if all I own can be hurt by difficult parties?!"
  1. When Isaac faced a famine in Canaan, he moved south to Philistine territory apparently intending to enter Egypt, Genesis 26:1, 2.
  2. GOD then told Isaac to STAY in Canaan, for His Covenant was in force regardless of the famine, and Isaac would be PERSONALLY blessed as had Abraham if he STAYED in FAITH, Genesis 26:2-5.
  3. Isaac HEEDED GOD and STAYED, but, that led to the threat of LOSING ALL that he POSSESSED to FOES, Gen. 26:6, 7, 14-16:
    1. Isaac knew the Philistines might kill him and take his wife, Gen. 26:7.
    2. As the Philistines saw God materially bless Isaac, in envy they filled in the wells for his herds and told him to go, 26:14-16; Ibid., p. 725.
    3. Thus, though Isaac chose to heed God by staying in the land (Genesis 26:1, 6), it led to the Philistines coming to threaten all that he owned!
  4. However, Isaac was LED of GOD to HEED GOD'S WORD instead of FLEEING, FREEZING or FIGHTING his foes, Genesis 26:7-33:
    1. Isaac was led of God to heed His Word versus fleeing, Gen. 26:7-11:
      1. Like his father Abraham had twice done to protect his life (Gen. 12:10-13; 20:1-2), Isaac initially lied, claiming his wife was his sister so the Philistines would not kill him and take her, Gen. 26:7.
      2. However, God showed the Philistines that Rebekkah was Isaac's wife (Gen. 26:8-9), and motivated the Philistine ruler to threaten death to anyone who touched Isaac or his wife, Genesis 26:10-11.
      3. Thus, Isaac was encouraged by God to stay in Philistine territory.
    2. Isaac was led of God to heed His Word versus freezing, 26:12-14a:
      1. Instead of freezing in fear, Isaac's faith that God would shield him (26:3-4) led him to productive action, to invest in a crop, and God gave a hundredfold yield in the wake of the past famine, 26:12, 1!
      2. Apparently using this yield as buying power in a land needy for food from the past famine, Isaac traded it for other wealth, diversifying until he became rich in animals and slaves, 26:13-14a!
    3. Isaac was led of God to heed His Word versus fighting, 26:14b-24:
      1. Isaac's material expansion led the Philistines to envy him, so they filled in his father's wells to harm his herds, and told him to leave, Gen. 26:13-16; Ryrie St. Bible, KJV , 1978 ed., ftn. to Gen. 26:15.
      2. Now, Isaac had the power to react by defeating the Philistines, for his father's soldiers had defeated the Genesis 14 city state coalition!
      3. However, God's changing the Philistine attitude in the matter of his wife and His added material blessings encouraged Isaac to heed his father's example to be a blessing in line with God's Genesis 12:2 Word , so Issac moved away from his foes, Gen. 26:16-17; 21:25.
      4. When Isaac moved, he had to dig a well to water the herds God had given him. However, as this well uncovered a flowing spring, the Philistines claimed it was their own, Gen. 26:18-20. Isaac named this well Esek, or "contention", due to the strife, and heeded God's Word and moved a second time, Gen. 26:21a; Ibid., ftn. to 26:21.
      5. However, that move again left Isaac having to dig a second well, and the Philistines again objected, so he named it Sitnah, "enmity", to depict their hatred of him, Genesis 26:21b; Ibid., ftn. to 26:21.
      6. Isaac then moved a THIRD time to be a blessing, and dug a third well that was so far from the Philistines that they finally would not contest it; he called it Rehoboth, or "plenty of room" where God could keep adding His blessings, Ibid., ftn. to Gen. 26:22; 26:3-4.
      7. Isaac finally ended up at Beersheba where God verbally approved of his efforts to stay in Canaan but still be a blessing by repeatedly peaceably moving from his foes: God told him not to fear, that He would multiply his seed in line with His Covenant, Gen. 26:23-24.
  5. God then caused the Philistines to give Isaac room to do His will:
    1. God rewarded Isaac by leading the Philistines to make a treaty with him just as they had with faithful Abraham, Gen. 26:25-31; 21:22-32.
    2. The day Isaac made this treaty, his men found water at a new well in Beersheba they were digging, so he named it "Shebah" for the "oath" that had been formed there, Gen. 26:32-33; Ibid., Ryrie, ftn. to 26:33.
    3. [Abraham's and Isaac's treaties with the Philistines were both made at Beersheba, and 2 ancient wells have been found there 300 yards apart, presumably one dug by Abraham and the other by Isaac, James M. Gray, Christian Worker's Com. on the O. & N. T., 1915, p. 33-34!]
Application: If even all we own is threatened by what foes can do, (1) may we trust in Christ as Savior to become sons of God, John 1:11-13. (2) Then, (a) may we rely on the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:16) to (b) resist fleeing, freezing or fighting our foes, but rather (c) heed God's Word. (3) God will then supply all we need to do His will.

Lesson: In facing the threat of losing all he owned due to his foes, Isaac like Abraham LEARNED to HEED GOD'S WORD opposite FLEEING, FREEZING or FIGHTING his foes; God then led his foes to live in peace with him so that Isaac might fulfill God's assignment, cf. Proverbs 16:7.

Conclusion: (To illustrate the sermon lesson . . . )

(1) In view of the recent financial crisis where the jobs and retirement portfolios of millions were put at risk in the stock market due to greed in the mortgage industry, Lisa Rowley's September 24, 2008 article, "Bailout Fallout: How To Cope With The Financial Crisis," on Yahoo!Finance.com cited Dr. Brad Klontz, a Clinicial Psychologist, who wrote: "'We are biologically programmed to respond to stress in three different ways: we fight, we run away, or we freeze . . . [but] They can have dire consequences to our financial health."

Instead, Lisa Rowley, whose column is read by 42 million visitors a month, urges that we heed "conventional wisdom" by using proper asset allocation, diversification and systematic investing, ideas we have often noted Scripture teaches in Ecclesiastes 11:1-6, Ibid. So, like Isaac, versus fleeing, freezing or fighting over the financial crisis troublesome folk have handed us, we must obey Scripture!

(2) Then, illustrating how God will supply all a believer who trusts in Him needs so he can do His will regardless what threats to his possessions others make, we view a 1995 letter from southern Sudan.

It was penned by Immanuel Oywash, a Shilluk believer who had been released from prison to earn money to pay the fine of 2 cows and 4 goats levied at him and others for witnessing about Christ.

Keep in mind that Immanuel had no bank account, no savings, no Social Security System or retirement portfolio, no health insurance and not even government protection for his life -- none of what many of us possess! In his letter to his pastor, Immanuel wrote: " . . . My own father . . . denounced me publicly, saying that I am not his son . . . At present, I am living at Agugo village with fellow Christians who have become my parents. We are told that many magicians are bewitching us day and night and are surprised that we are not dead or even getting sick. Many people are burning their objects of worship because they have not seen us die from the curses of the witches and magicians, and many in our village have accepted Jesus Christ as the only God who can save them. Please, we want you to come so that you can tell them more." (SIM NOW magazine, Winter, 1996, p. 6)

May we like Immanuel Oywash in Sudan, or like Abraham or Isaac, not react to foes who threaten all we possess by fleeing, freezing or fighting; rather, may we heed God's Word, seeking to be a blessing to all, and see God supply all we need to do His will!