Title: God blesses whom He blesses.
(S) Gen. 25:5-6 "Abraham left everything he owned to Isaac. But while he was still living, he gave gifts to the sons of his concubines and sent them away from his son Isaac. But while he was still living, he gave gifts to the sons of his concubines and sent them away from his son Isaac to the land of the east."
(O) It says at the beginning of chapter 25 that Abraham took another wife after Sarah died named Keturah and she bore him 6 sons. Now in the above verse it says he gave gifts to the sons of his concubines and sent them away. So, did he have more than 8 sons? How many concubines did he have? So, why does God say in Gen.22:2 "your only son Isaac"???
(A) Often we look at the disparities in people - is it luck, is it choices they make or is it just that God blesses whom He blesses? It may be choices but it may be just God knowing each of us and wanting us to draw close to Him and knowing exactly the path that will draw us to Him. That is not to say that God allows terrible things to happen to us - life allows terrible things to happen to us because we are in a fallen world and much is up to us - but God does give us a hand up when we ask - with the best answer for us - which we would know if we knew the end from the beginning.
(P) Lord help me to realize that I cannot fix the world for my family - I have to understand that God is in control and will bless as He sees fit.
Title: Isaac and Ishmael - they both loved their father.
(S) Gen. 25:9 "His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah near Mamre, in the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite, the field Abraham had bought from the Hittites."
(O) It is only these two sons - not the sons of Keturah - nor the sons of the concubines - if there were more sons - but these are the only 2 that are mentioned. I wonder how Ishmael felt when he helps with the burial of his father knowing that Abraham left everything to Isaac. Now if you go on a tour - they say that Abraham and and Hagar and Ishmael are buried in Mecca at the Kaaba. And Gen. 25:10 says that Abraham was buried with Sarah his wife. I think it does not matter where the cave of Machpelah near Mamre is - we are not to worship places but rather God.
(A) I started out wondering about the way that God operates as it is not our kind of fair but His own. He blesses Isaac - who is the son that was promised him through his first wife Sarah. Only one son gets it all - they are both at their father's funeral but they are not treated equally. There are 12 sons and 12 tribal rulers that come out of Ishmael and yet Gen: 25:18b says "And they lived in hostility toward all their brothers." Why, why, why - is it because Sarah was disobedient and Abraham did not trust God to provide Isaac through her? Ishmael - it says that God was with him as he grew up and that he would become a great nation - but he was never the son of promise that Isaac was - that is God's choice and hard to accept.
(P) God does what he does - that does not mean that it will not be equal for every person through no fault of their own. The great struggle between people would be over if we ever understood this point.
Title: God repeats the Isaac Ishmael scenario in Jacob and Esau and yet they were twins
(S) Gen:25:23-"The Lord said to her 'Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated: one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger."
(O) It seems that God often does the same thing twice so that we get it - here we have the 2 sons scenario again but with both sons of the same woman - in fact twins. God will favour the one and not the other. Jacob the younger son will take Esau the firstborn's blessing much as Isaac was the one to receive his father's blessing, not Ishmael.
(P) Same prayer - Lord help me to understand your choices.
Title: Oh how little we sell out our heritage for.
(S)Gen 25:33-34 "But Jacob said, "Swear to me first,"So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jcob. Then Jacob gave Esaw some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and seft. So Esau despised his birthright."
(O) Esau was the first born and should have inherited everything of his father's wealth and yet for some stew - the NIV says lentil stew - not even a great stew - he gave up everything - a little bit of comfort now and a life of difficulty later.
(A) How like us. We give up our inheritance in God for a little momentary pleasure. I think I do this. I have a hard time waiting for so many things that I think about too much. The things we give up the great life we might have through serving God are just like this not so great stew.
(P) Patience.
Title: There are so many temptations to "Go down to Egypt"
(S) Gen. 26:2 The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, "Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you."
(O) Figuratively there are so many times when we are not suppose to go to Egypt - whatever that means for me - not to say that negative thing - not to think that thought - it is so many possibilities - going to Egypt.
(A) We can separate ourselves from God in so many ways - whatever going to Egypt means for me - but the it is my craving to be close to God and so whatever Egypt is - I know when I am going there - that lack of yielding in my spirit in my marriage that resentment of another's life whatever it may be - but to be in God's will is so much better - and I will be blessed if I am where I am suppose to be.
(P) Lord keep me from those places that are Egypt for me.
(S) Pslam 6:9b "The Lord accept my prayer."
Title: God always prepares a person for salvation and then sends the appropriate person.
(S) Luke 10:32-33 "Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter.....so I sent for you immediately, ...... Now we are all here in the prescence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us."
(S) Luke 10:44-45"While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holyl Spirit came on all who heard the message. The ciercumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles."
(O) 1. God prepared Cornelius to receive the message of Christ - but Cornelius was already seeking God - he just did not know where God would come from. 2. God tells Peter to go - even though they are not Jews and this is out of the ordinary for Peter. 3. Peter obeys.
(A) God is preparing whatever the mission field is for us. In this case Cornelius was ready to receive the message. We are not to worry that we are not doing enough soul winning if we are ready and willing to do God's will that is what he expects. He will work out the details for whatever is needed.
(P) God help me to be prepared and ready to hear your voice at all times.
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