Trust and Obey and Trust.

Steve Gentry

[0:00] Alright, go ahead and have a seat. Welcome to Village Church. If this is your first time here [0:04] My name is Steve one of the pastors here at Village and as always I’m thankful and grateful to see each and every one of you [0:11] We are back in the thick of Genesis now as a church as we preach through this part of the book [0:18] So this week we’re gonna be in Genesis 25. We’re gonna be starting down in verse 19 this morning [0:24] But over the past few weeks, we’ve looked at how Abraham prepared the next generation [0:30] To receive the covenant of God and trust the promises that God has made

[0:35] Will actually happen that they will come to pass [0:39] You know when we trust the promises of God our vision is clearer and our pathway is certain [0:46] When we don’t trust the promises of God and rather lean on our own feelings lean on our own [0:54] Emotions above God we will feel the curse of sin at a sharp and [1:00] faithless level because God is to be trusted [1:04] We are designed by God to order our lives around the certainty of his promises and his trustworthiness

[1:11] to deliver what he has promised in [1:15] The book of Genesis God promised Abraham and Sarah that he was going to make them a great [1:21] Nation and a blessing to all nations of the earth the fulfillment of that promise [1:27] Started very small it started very meager it started with one [1:31] Son but God’s promises to build out came in his timing rather than our own [1:39] In this God promised and that promise extended past the physical lives of Sarah and Abraham

[1:45] They only saw the fulfillment begin to develop as it marched forward towards the nation of Israel and then ultimately [1:53] As the nation of Israel was the source through which Jesus Christ was born the Son of God [1:59] came into this earth to redeem people from their sin and become the [2:05] fulfillment of God’s promise to bless all the nations of [2:09] As we read through the book of Genesis we see God working through real time [2:16] To bring about his promises through real people and today is going to be much of the same

[2:21] We’re going to see God work through Abraham’s son Isaac and his wife Rebecca to continue [2:28] The march toward the fulfillment of his covenant [2:31] Through the nation of Israel through Jesus Christ and then through us the church, but we’re gonna see two births today [2:39] We’re gonna see the birth of Esau and we’re going to see the birth of Jacob now [2:43] We see a lot of Jacob’s born into the world. It’s a popular name [2:47] I think it’s actually returned like the top ten now of children born what will never be in the top ten is Esau

[2:54] So so we’re gonna learn kind of why that is this morning that that Esau is not popular [3:02] It’s kind of on the list with Judas. It’s like if you ever meet a Judas [3:06] It’s like oh I am so sorry man that must have been really tough on you [3:12] raised with a name like that, but but what we’re going to see kind of the overarching theme through Genesis [3:19] 25 towards the end of it this morning is that God doesn’t always work the way that he that we rather [3:26] Would choose for him to work, but that doesn’t mean he’s not working

[3:32] That even when things aren’t going the way that we want them to go that even when the story doesn’t kind of turn out [3:40] The way that we pictured it to work out God is still working and he is working [3:47] according to his plan to bring about the most glory in every situation in [3:55] in those situations [3:56] Especially the situations where things aren’t going the way that we would have chosen for them to go God [4:02] desires for us to take a posture of trust in

[4:07] Every one of those instances and so look with me in Genesis chapter 25 [4:12] I’m gonna start reading in verse 19 and here’s the way Moses under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit wrote [4:18] Said these are the generations of Isaac Abraham’s son [4:23] Abraham fathered Isaac and Isaac was 40 years old when he took Rebecca the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of [4:30] Padana Ram the sister of Laban the Aramean to be his wife and [4:35] Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife

[4:37] Because she was barren and the Lord granted his prayer and Rebecca his wife [4:45] Conceived pray with me [4:47] Father you are a good God [4:50] And Lord today my prayer is that we would reflect on that that we would worship you in [4:56] Light of that that we would trust that and through that that you would change our lives [5:02] And they would change us to have more faith in you and have more hope in the promises that you have given us in your

[5:10] Word and Lord through that faith and through that hope may we live lives [5:16] Seeking to give you glory in any and all [5:19] Circumstances in the name of Jesus I pray amen and so Isaac and Rebecca were married and their lives [5:27] Moved forward and that’s really the way that it works out for every one of us [5:32] No matter what happens in your life. You are moving forward [5:37] No matter what the circumstances are like the only option that you have is to move forward

[5:43] You may think in your mind that you have the option to just sit there and to stay still but no matter what’s happening [5:50] Around you you’re always going to be moving forward, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re moving forward in the right direction [5:57] You can make some really stupid choices and move forward yet in the completely wrong [6:05] Direction and so the key is to figure out what direction is it that God? [6:11] Desires for me to move forward in and so we see [6:16] Isaac we see Rebecca and we see kind of some situations that are familiar to the record that we’ve seen so far in the book

[6:23] of Genesis [6:24] Isaac and Rebecca are married they want to have a child and it is not happening [6:29] The text actually tells us after Isaac’s prayer that she was barren very similar to the situation [6:36] That his father and mother found themselves in but they were much later in life when they were dealing with the promise of God [6:43] For them to have children and so Isaac was raised by Abraham to believe in this promise [6:49] That they were going to be a great nation that there was going to be a family and that all the families of the world

[6:55] We blessed through their family and so Isaac gets married and of course the next logical step is ok now [7:03] God’s going to fulfill this promise and we’re going to have children and nothing [7:09] Nothing [7:10] It’s not happening [7:12] Things aren’t turning out the way that Isaac and Rebecca thought they were going to turn out but Isaac’s [7:21] Reaction to that is kind of the lesson that we can initially glean just practically speaking for our lives

[7:28] Because his reaction is not always our reaction our reaction is not always ok things are not going the way that I want them [7:36] I need to take them to the Lord and that’s what Isaac does Isaac takes it to the Lord [7:43] So often we find ourselves in the exact same place as followers of Jesus [7:48] We know that God has made promises we know that he’s going to fulfill those promises [7:54] We know that Romans 8 28 says and then for those who love God for those who are the call to coordinate his purpose all [8:00] Things work together for good so no matter what comes into my life no matter what I face no matter what I’m going through

[8:07] I can have a rock-solid [8:10] Trust that God is going to work it out towards his good [8:15] But then reality of what’s actually going on in my life takes place and I struggle don’t I? [8:22] We struggle [8:23] We struggle to trust and I have to believe that Isaac and Rebecca are in those shoes where they have the promise of God [8:32] Yes, this is going to work out the way that God wants it to work out

[8:37] But in the here and now that is not an easy promise to lay hold of and to trust [8:44] Because it doesn’t feel much like God’s bringing the kingdom of God into my life right here and right now [8:51] And so we will despair so we will struggle if things get tough right now [8:57] What am I supposed to do and that is what Isaac did? [9:02] Isaac took his desire to God and he let God be the filter of that desire [9:08] and it’s interesting the way that it works out because

[9:12] Rebecca was barren yet the text tells us that Isaac [9:17] Went to the Lord in prayer and that’s how you know that this is a tough [9:22] Situation because the way that it works if you are married you know that the way that it works [9:27] Well, if you’re a good husband now some of you are scumbags [9:29] So you don’t care what’s going on in the life of your wife and you need to repent big and actually [9:34] Love your wife the way you’re supposed to love your wife

[9:36] But she’s going through barrenness and if you know anything about the way that [9:42] Women are instinctively wired when a woman wants to actually have a child when she wants to procreate [9:49] When she wants to start a family and so you’re trying you’re working on and it’s not working out Rebecca was in pain [9:57] She was in emotional anguish. She was in spiritual anguish and Isaac [10:02] He’s the husband and you just feel completely just just bankrupt [10:07] You don’t know what to do. You don’t know how to respond

[10:10] You don’t know exactly what she’s going through and Isaac did the most loving thing that he could possibly do for his wife [10:19] He took her pain on to himself and he went before the Lord in prayer [10:24] He said father, please [10:27] work on our [10:29] behalf [10:31] God had promised Abraham that his descendants would outnumber the stars and again there are issues with having children

[10:40] You know in your life when things don’t seem to measure up to the promises of God [10:45] You need to take your desires before God [10:49] That is where you start and that is where you need to remain while you endure through the entire [10:55] process of [10:57] Trusting and having faith in God to fulfill his promises even in light of doing absolutely [11:03] Everything under the Sun that common sense would tell you to do you need to build a life where you understand that

[11:11] Everything is dependent on a move of God [11:16] Because anything worth having in your life is going to be dependent on a move of God on your [11:24] behalf, but how often do we develop spiritual amnesia? [11:29] You see the way that we react to tough times the way that we react to difficult circumstances [11:35] We do as much as we can we struggle we want we crave we stress without ever [11:43] Taking the need to God

[11:46] See Isaac took his wife’s need to God [11:50] You know if you survey the scriptures from Genesis to Revelation [11:55] You will see this theme that always emerges that theme is absolute [12:01] dependence on God [12:04] You know that the human posture that relays that type of dependence is prayer [12:11] Prayer is a posture of dependence and that is what Isaac does

[12:17] And God is gracious for us to take our desires before him [12:23] He is not as many would paint him as maybe the struggles in your life have made you think some far-off [12:30] Deity that has made all that is but he’s removed himself out [12:34] He specifically removed himself away from your life because you don’t think that he’s listening to you, but look in 1st John 514 [12:42] This is this is the confidence note that term [12:46] Confidence it’s an important term because the rest of the text is dependent on that term

[12:52] Is that you can be confident that God is listening to everything that you ask [13:00] He hears absolutely every prayer that you take before him. That’s one of my favorite things about prayer [13:07] It’s no matter what’s going on no matter what I’m doing every minute of every day. I can have complete confidence [13:15] That the Lord is listening to me [13:18] Now some of you you don’t want him to listen, but that’s another sermon now, but the Lord is listening [13:26] He hears my prayers at every moment of my day

[13:30] I can turn to him and I can just with reckless abandon [13:33] I can pray whatever it is that I need to pray to him [13:37] I can ask whatever it is that I want from him [13:39] I can go to him and bring him anything that I need to go to him [13:44] And I don’t need to worry now did I start that prayer the right way because I know [13:48] Unless you say things like my dear most gracious heavenly Father est to the nth degree you are wonderful

[13:55] You are a holy you are blessed [13:56] You are the awesome when you are the creator and 20 minutes later you haven’t actually started praying yet because you’re still on the introduction [14:03] Did I say enough King James English? [14:05] Alright, you know you know you just your prayers are weird stop that you just go before him and he’s listening [14:12] He’s there you know that God’s never gotten annoyed with my prayer [14:18] Maybe a lack of but not an abundance of

[14:22] Hey, I can’t help but think as a father [14:24] The way that my children come to me and and they ask and they just come with new with no airs on I mean [14:32] They’ll be in their underpants hair all crooked sideways. Hey, can I have hey? Can you hey dad? Hey? [14:40] And I’ve never once said how dare you come into my presence that way

[14:47] Who do you think you are now I have gone oh sweet Lord it’s 3 a.m. [14:54] But thankfully God doesn’t sleep so he’s okay

[15:00] But my children they’re always welcome they can always bring they can always come and they can always ask [15:07] But there are times when I say no [15:10] And it’s for their good [15:12] You see James 4 3 tells us and it says you ask and you do not receive because you ask wrongly to spend it [15:20] on your own passions [15:22] That last stanza of that verse is vital

[15:26] To spend it on your own passions see my kids. Hello. I’ve got three of them one of them doesn’t speak English yet [15:34] I don’t know what his problem is, but the other two they speak too much English and [15:38] They’re always talking always coming always asking but man they ask for some stupid stuff [15:46] You know every commercial I want that I want that I want that and that’s their prayer to me because they’re meaning daddy [15:53] Buy that that you have endless supply of money buy that buy that and so often [15:59] When I’m just kind of wanting to kick the can I’m like well, maybe later, but so often I have to say no

[16:07] No [16:07] No, you can’t have gummy bears for lunch [16:11] No, you can’t have an ice cream cone for dinner. No [16:16] And it’s because if I gave them [16:19] Everything that they asked me to give them into their lives. I have no doubt at least with my kids [16:25] Maybe your kids aren’t wicked mine are it would kill them

[16:29] All right, they would die they would go into a diabetic coma [16:33] Within two days if I just gave them everything [16:38] But you see that’s because I have some wisdom that they don’t have and when I think about the amount of wisdom [16:44] I have compared to my children it makes it even more crazy [16:48] The fact that sometimes I question God for not giving me things because he has infinite wisdom [16:54] He has creator wisdom. He knows

[16:58] Everything that I need from past to present to future because he not only knows what I need right now [17:04] He knows what I’m going to need in 20 years [17:06] He not only knows what’s going on in my life right now [17:09] But he knows the direction that he’s taking me on for the rest of my life [17:12] And so God will look into my life, and he will say no [17:16] No, I’m not gonna change your path. No. I’m not gonna take that out of your life

[17:20] No, I’m not gonna give that into your life because the direction that you’re on right now is the direction that I want you [17:26] To go on I know it’s not pleasant [17:29] But you don’t know the glory that I’m going to reap out of it in ten years [17:34] Because I’m leaving that in your life because I’m not relieving that situation because I’m not giving that into your life [17:42] right now [17:46] That’s the interesting thing about a loving father and your perspective on how God views you

[17:53] If you view God because of the cross of Jesus Christ as a complete loving father [18:00] Then you have to trust him [18:03] See you need to let God filter your desires [18:07] You see friends you will ask God for things that aren’t good for you [18:11] You want them, but you want them for all the wrong reasons and sometimes we don’t even know that it’s the wrong reasons because God [18:18] Understands my motivations more than I even understand my motivations and I am unwise for wanting those things in my life

[18:28] Friend left alone to your own passions. You would not turn out that much different than a four-year-old [18:35] You would destroy the work of God within you if God took his hand off of you [18:41] therefore God denies us at times and [18:45] To trust God is to let him be the filter of our lives [18:52] And so what do you do see some of us respond to something like that? [18:55] We’re like well

[18:55] I’m not gonna take all of my requests to God then because I feel like some of them are pretty stupid [19:00] No, that’s not the posture either [19:02] make requests with the joy of [19:07] Not having them fulfilled at times [19:10] You need to make requests with the joy of not having them fulfilled at times because that is [19:17] Trust that is what it means to trust God. I have said no to my children all the time yet

[19:24] They still love me

[19:27] Why because they know I have their best in my motivation [19:33] You see that’s the trust that you need to have with God [19:36] He has your best as his motivation and sometimes the best that God has for me will not be that pleasant [19:45] Sometimes it won’t be that much fun for me in the moment [19:48] But I have the promise that tells me even in that which is unpleasant [19:53] I can trust because of Jesus because of his death and because of his resurrection that somewhere down the road. There’s glory

[20:00] the glory of God [20:03] So, how do you know whether you’re having that type of joy in your life [20:08] Well, I would say that anxiety is a good indicator as to how your passions are leaning [20:14] You see God’s Word [20:16] conforms our passions [20:18] See some of us we see prayer the wrong way and we see God’s reaction to prayer the wrong way because we aren’t

[20:23] Growing in our knowledge of God and there’s only one way to grow in your knowledge of God [20:28] Contrary to what you may have heard the only way to grow in your knowledge of God is through his word [20:31] He’s given us an entire word to tell us this is what I want you to do with your life [20:35] This is how I want you to react with your life [20:37] This is the pathway that I want you to be on in your life [20:39] This is what giving God glory looks like it is literally contained through the narratives as well as the prescriptive passages of

[20:48] This word and as I grow in that my life is conformed to the image of his son [20:54] Jesus Christ and the way that I can flesh that out through the way that I feel in my life is anxiety [21:03] And Philippians chapter 4 verse 6 it says this so do not be anxious about anything [21:08] That’s an interesting passage. Is it not? [21:11] Now I can tell you I don’t really nerd on you very much [21:15] But but but I’ve taken a little bit of Greek and and I’ve seen this in the original language

[21:20] And what it says in the original language is do not be anxious about anything

[21:26] Okay [21:27] Because I know there’s this thread that goes through us where we’re like well does anything mean anything [21:33] I mean, it’s got to mean you know some things so so it doesn’t say don’t be anxious about anything [21:39] It says don’t be anxious about some things. No it says anything [21:43] Just what it says and what it means is what it says it means don’t be anxious about anything [21:49] But in everything by prayer and supplication with Thanksgiving let your requests be made known

[21:54] To God and so this is an area of dispute within society. I’m not gonna gonna say it’s not it’s it’s a [22:02] controversial issue in our time, but [22:05] understand that regardless of the cause anxiety exists because of sin no matter where it comes from [22:12] It exists because of sin and the way that the word tells us is don’t be anxious about anything [22:19] And what should my reaction to my anxiety be and he says go to God do what Isaac did [22:26] Make your requests be made known to God because he says pray go to the presence of God make supplication

[22:33] That’s a word that we don’t use very often that means requesting supply [22:38] It means asking God for the things that we want for the things that we need for the things that we think are causing [22:45] us so much stress anxiety in our lives [22:47] And then he’s amazing phrase where he says and you do that [22:52] with Thanksgiving

[22:56] It’s interesting and I want to put an asterisk beside this and qualify my statement

[23:03] Anxiety exists because sin exists be clear on that if anyone tells you otherwise they’re lying [23:11] but there are [23:13] conditions of [23:15] Anxiety that require medical attention [23:17] I’m not discounting that at all if your doctor has prescribed you medication for anxiety [23:25] Do not hear me say throw it away. No follow his directions and some of the husband’s like, thank you

[23:34] Before those pills I tell you

[23:40] Follow your doctor’s recommendations, but [23:45] Do not while you’re following your doctor’s recommendations [23:49] Discount the spiritual aspect of your struggle [23:53] Because here’s what culture does culture gives us an opposing message [24:00] Culture tells us be anxious about much [24:04] So we think it’s okay, but that’s not what God tells us

[24:08] You see within the realm of faith much not all [24:13] But much anxiety comes from a distrust in God [24:20] Therefore we worry ourselves into a frantic place because we do not trust God to give into our lives [24:27] the good that he has [24:30] Nor do we trust him to define what good for us actually is [24:35] Do not be anxious instead pray with Thanksgiving. There is no frenzy in Thanksgiving

[24:43] As I was reflecting on this passage this week preparing to bring it to you this morning [24:48] I was just thinking and I was just kind of caught in a moment of reflecting on the last year of my life [24:54] And I was just so thankful for all of the things that God has brought into my life for all of the blessings [25:02] spiritually physically [25:04] Materially all of the wonderful blessings that God has brought into my life and just for that moment [25:10] I was so thankful and you know in those moments where you are looking at what God has done in your life

[25:16] It is so difficult for the negative to cause anxiety. It is an anxiety

[25:22] relieving thing to be thankful [25:26] It’s the opposite of anxiety because it looks as to what I’ve received versus what I need [25:32] But then of course very quickly I was reminded of what I need [25:36] That anxiety begins to well up again [25:39] You see but what if I don’t get but what if this happens in my life? [25:43] But but what if I’m doing the wrong thing what if I’m making the wrong decision?

[25:47] What if this happens what if that happens what if X Y and Z happen at exactly the same time well that happens [25:53] I’d be homeless [25:56] It’s a very quick the worries of this world the turmoil of this world this fear that you’re going to lose or this fear [26:03] That you’re not going to get or this fear that everything is [26:07] Overwhelms you to a point where you cannot see anything that God is doing in your life [26:14] And that is what Philippians 4 is talking about

[26:17] See do not be so overcome by the curse of sin in this world that you do not see the hand of God [26:25] working on your behalf [26:27] Because he’s working in all of it I [26:31] Promise you he’s working you know that anxiety will not exist in the kingdom of God

[26:37] So when the Lord restores his vision of creation through the triumph of the gospel there will not be any [26:44] Antidepressants in the kingdom of God and some of you just got anxious you’re like what? [26:50] But I’ve got my prescription [26:52] I’m going to need it okay calm down [26:55] It’s because the Lord will remove the curse of sin from this world this world will be completely refined and [27:02] We will be as we were always meant to be before the throne of God

[27:08] And when you think about that what a relief

[27:13] What a thankfulness that should harbor in your life [27:16] But some of you are so caught in the throes of anxiety that you refuse to even be [27:23] Blessed by the faith that gives us hope of what God’s going to do in the future and for that I tell you repent

[27:31] repent [27:32] friends [27:34] Isaac trusted the Lord [27:36] He took his desire to the Lord and the Lord’s desire matched Isaac’s desire and the Lord moved in the lives of Isaac and Rebecca [27:46] and [27:47] You may not want to believe this but prayer and desire are that simple

[27:53] Stop over complicating it, but what though if God moves in ways that you don’t understand [28:01] Is then is it time to panic because there’s the caution we read that passage [28:06] And we say oh Isaac prayed to the Lord and God gave Isaac what he wanted okay? [28:11] So if I pray the Lord he’s gonna give me what I want not always

[28:17] Not if your plan doesn’t match his plan, so what do you do there? [28:21] Secondly God is to be trusted with his plan [28:24] God’s to be trusted with his plan to have faith is to trust God with being God [28:31] The narrative then takes an interesting turn [28:35] Here’s what it says in Genesis 25 [28:39] He continues and Moses writes, and he says the children struggled

[28:44] together within her [28:47] She conceived and there’s now a struggle and she said if it is thus [28:51] Why is this happening to me so she went to inquire of the Lord note the posture again? [28:58] She didn’t go to dr. Phil [29:00] All right, she didn’t immediately grab a magazine for five tips on whatever [29:06] She went to the Lord

[29:09] Posture of dependence and [29:12] The Lord said it’s amazing if you give the Lord the opportunity to work at work

[29:19] Two nations are in your womb and two peoples from within you shall be divided the one shall be stronger than the other [29:25] The older shall serve the younger [29:27] Completely countercultural to the way it should have been in their culture when her days to give birth were completed [29:35] Behold there were twins in her womb the first came out red I understand

[29:42] All his body like a hairy cloak so they called his name Esau [29:47] Afterward his brother came out and with his hand holding Esau’s heel significant [29:52] So his name was called Jacob Isaac was 60 years old when she bore them [29:58] When the boys grew up Esau was a skillful hunter a man of the field while Jacob was a quiet man dwelling in tents [30:05] What a description, you know one of them was awesome [30:08] I mean he was out there run through the fields killing animals the other guy sat in a tent

[30:14] It’s like here’s Bob he sits in the living room

[30:19] It’s like you don’t have anything else you could say about me [30:23] All right. Well [30:25] Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebecca loved Jacob [30:32] It’s fascinating because God looks to Rebecca and we see we read that we’re like, oh so what we gotta understand that [30:38] For her God is telling her hey these two children that I have put within you [30:43] By the way, the turmoil you’re experiencing will last the rest of their lives

[30:49] great

[30:53] Not only that but the older he’s gonna serve the younger so your entire family is going to be [30:58] Dysfunctional opposed to the way the rest of the culture is going to work things are never going to be easy between the two of these [31:04] guys [31:05] Right there a blessing turned into a challenge [31:08] That’s the way most parents view their children [31:12] But Rebecca was called to trust and there’s the historic fact of the way that this happens

[31:18] But there’s also wisdom to be gleaned in this that God is to be trusted with his desires [31:24] When he works in ways that we would not have worked we must trust him in Psalm 115 3 [31:30] The scripture tells us it says our God is in the heavens. He does all that he

[31:37] pleases

[31:39] God’s decrees are [31:41] Based on his will he’s the only one free to truly do [31:46] What he pleases why he is God and only God can be trusted with that [31:52] When we do what opposes his will it is to our detriment [31:57] But sometimes we’re uncomfortable with this fact, even though scripture is [32:02] Explicitly clear about that. We demand that we are to have complete

[32:07] Freedom we aren’t God and so we can not have that because it would be to our destruction [32:14] I mean some of us we want the freedom that God has we want the control that God has we don’t want God to [32:20] Be free to do whatever he wants in our life [32:22] We don’t want God to be free to design my past present and future [32:26] We don’t want God to be free to get his glory throughout whatever means he chooses in my life [32:31] I want that think about this

[32:33] Have you ever gone to a drive-thru at a fast-food restaurant and had a panic attack because you couldn’t figure out what you wanted?

[32:43] I [32:43] Mean some of you have gone to the drive-thru and you’re sitting there and you’re like, oh, I’ve never done that [32:49] I’ve always asked for a number three, but then you got that other thing you got [32:52] Okay, do I get a milkshake with the number three? Do I want to be skinny today? Do I’ll be fat? [32:57] All right, all right, what do I want now if you’ve got kids it’s chaos going through the drive-thru, all right [33:06] So if we can’t even perfect going through a drive-thru

[33:11] You want complete control? [33:15] Good luck with that [33:16] All right. Here’s the way Romans 9 tells us what God’s doing in the lives of Esau and Jacob [33:23] All right, some of y’all are like, oh no [33:26] For this is what the promise said about this time next year [33:29] I will return and Sarah shall have a son and not only so but also when Rebecca had conceived children by one man

[33:35] Our forefather Isaac though [33:37] They were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad had done nothing either good or bad [33:44] In order that God’s purpose of election might continue not because of works [33:50] But because of him who calls she was told the older will serve the younger as it is written Jacob [33:57] I loved but Esau I hated what shall we say then is there injustice on God’s part by no means? [34:04] For he says to Moses I will have mercy on whom I have mercy and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion

[34:09] So it then it depends not on human will or exertion but on God who has mercy

[34:19] Friends the word means what the word means and so to some of you who are bristling up and you’re like, but what about my freedom?

[34:29] Is [34:30] Romans 9 as much the word of God as Psalm 23 [34:34] The Lord is my shepherd [34:37] Is Romans 9 as much God’s Word as John 3 16 [34:43] Is Romans 9 as much God’s Word as any other word [34:47] Sort of Scripture or are your views of the sovereign hand of God

[34:52] somehow truncated apart from Romans 9 to which you take away the [34:59] inspiration of the Holy Spirit from this phrase when it says it does not depend on human will or [35:06] exertion but on the sovereign hand of Almighty God who has mercy [35:12] Why did he use Jacob rather than Esau because God wanted to use Jacob rather than Esau [35:20] It was not because Esau was a bad person [35:23] It was not because Esau did anything wrong

[35:26] The text is clear it is simply because God wanted to show his hand mighty [35:32] Through the younger rather than the older why because obviously God would get more glory out of it [35:39] That is why [35:40] The friend I will tell you this was for the purpose of God’s election to move forward [35:46] Just as God ultimately chose to raise the nation of Israel himself [35:51] He chose Israel rather than another nation. So God chose to use Jacob rather than Esau

[35:58] We must trust God with his choices no matter what they are [36:05] If God works in a way that is different than you want him to you trust God [36:09] If God blesses someone else in a way you wanted you trust God [36:15] If God brings something into your life that you would rather not endure you trust God [36:21] The choice of Jacob over Esau reveals to us that God has a plan that is moving forward and that [36:29] Plan is dependent on him not me

[36:33] This is not an arbitrary choice [36:36] There are no arbitrary moves with God [36:39] There is only a sovereign plan [36:42] Friend I tell you God can be trusted in each and every moment because it doesn’t depend on my [36:50] imperfect choice [36:51] instead it depends on God’s perfect will and

[36:55] If you will plant your feet firmly right there [37:00] That is an anxiety [37:02] reducer and a faith builder [37:06] Because you have a God who is worthy of praise and you have a God who actually has power to [37:15] fulfill his promises

[37:18] Too busy we’re trying to steal God’s control and give it to ourselves [37:23] That would destroy us all [37:26] Now our reaction should be number three. God is to be followed in his plan [37:30] He’s to be sought for his plan he’s to be trusted with his plan and he’s to be followed in his plan [37:37] It is [37:38] faithless for your passion to trump God’s design

[37:43] faithless [37:43] note the way the story continues it fast forwards a little bit into the lives of Jacob and Esau and [37:49] In verse 29 the Moses writes once when Jacob was cooking stew [37:54] It’s like he’s writing a tale and was sometimes divorced this away from the previous part of the chapter [37:59] But what Moses is doing here [38:01] He tells us his amazing truth that God revealed to Rebecca about his sovereign plan and the rest of the book of Genesis

[38:09] Is about the sovereignty of God so get used to it and he comes and he says I’m gonna give them an example [38:15] Now, you know this one time [38:18] That’s where the rest of chapter 25 takes us. He says this one time Jacob was cooking stew. What a way to start the story [38:26] Esau came in from the field and he was exhausted [38:29] And Esau said to Jacob let me eat some of that red stew for I am exhausted [38:34] Therefore his name shall be called Edom

[38:37] Jacob said sell me your birthright now and Esau said I am about to die of what use is a birthright to me [38:44] Jacob said swear to me now so he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob [38:50] Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew and he ate and drank and rose and went his way thus Esau [38:57] Despised his birthright [39:00] The text tells us that Esau is what we would probably label as a man’s man [39:08] All right. He’s rugged

[39:11] He is tough [39:13] He’s the hunter [39:17] Jacob well, he’s none of those things [39:19] He’s a homebody [39:21] He’s the way we would describe it and I would have described it in text actually describes it [39:26] He’s a mama’s boy

[39:28] He stayed inside a lot [39:31] If we were picking the heir to the throne, we would probably pick Esau [39:36] All right [39:37] And now some of y’all are being a little politically correct here and you’re like well not necessarily [39:41] I mean Jacob probably had wonderful qualities in and of himself [39:45] All right. Let the apocalypse happen and you’re not lining up behind Jacob

[39:50] I’ll tell you that right now you’re behind the hunter [39:53] All right [39:54] You’re not behind the guy who dwelt in tents. I mean what a description [39:59] He sat around a lot that Jacob what a sitter

[40:05] But but he [40:07] The only problem though is when you actually read the text Esau’s a moron [40:15] All right. He’s a dumb dumb. All right. He’s an imbecile. All right. He is stupid [40:20] He is an idiot. I don’t even know if he could read [40:24] All right. The guy’s illiterate. All right. He’s as dumb as you possibly get you’re like, why are you saying so many mean things? [40:30] He sold his birthright for soup

[40:36] Not a quick thinker [40:38] All right, not that bright, but you got to hand it to Jacob [40:42] He’s a lot smarter than Esau [40:44] Obviously, so here’s the way the story works out Esau’s out hunting. He’s doing his thing man [40:50] He is his dad loved him because he’s bringing game home [40:54] All right

[40:55] Isaac is obviously a meat a terry in because he brings the meat home and Isaac’s like good son [41:00] That’s what I would be like my son just started bringing me steak after steak after steak, but you’re my favorite [41:05] All right. I like you more than the other two [41:09] And and and so he goes out and obviously they didn’t have yeti coolers back then [41:15] So he he’d been out in the woods for a long time [41:17] Maybe he didn’t have that successful of a hunt

[41:19] So he returns home and he maybe hasn’t eaten in days of the way that their transportation which was by foot [41:26] Worked back then and so he comes home and he’s famished the word that they use in here [41:31] Exhausted is a word that means more than I’m physically tired. It means I am on the brink of death [41:37] It’s like I need [41:39] Sustenance and so he goes to Jacob and he’s like Jacob you’ve got something [41:43] I want because Jacob had been in his tent because that’s where he stayed

[41:47] And he had his apron on and if it’s modern days, he’s watching Food Network or something [41:53] He’s like a chopped marathon and he’s like so he’s sitting there. He’s watching he’s following the instructions like stir it counterclockwise [42:00] No wrong way. Okay, and so he’s making this stew and in comes Esau and he saws like I want some soup [42:07] And here’s how you know, this is not a morality tale. All right [42:11] The right thing to do in this situation boys and girls [42:14] Got any siblings in here is give your brother some soup

[42:18] I mean, that’s just mean is you got this pot cooking you’re like, huh, you want some soup. How’s that birthright? [42:25] You gonna give that to me? Oh, okay, stupid. I’ll take it [42:29] And so here’s this great exchange that happens between them [42:33] Now the birthright is significant because that is what it was to be basically the heir apparent for the family [42:41] And [42:42] So he is the firstborn Esau is and so all of the hopes of the future are on him

[42:48] All of the thoughts of the future of Isaac’s family are on him and surely Isaac is looking at him and saying [42:55] The nations will obviously be blessed by the hunter [42:59] Not so much by the tent guy, but the hunter is what the nations were blessed through and he can handle it on his back [43:07] He is strong [43:09] But I bet Jacob had grown up resenting that [43:13] Because he was physically weak

[43:16] It’s probably pale. That’s why it said he dwelt in tents [43:20] physically wasn’t as strong as his brother and [43:24] Right here. He sees an opportunity [43:27] And he takes it [43:30] And he takes the birthright from his brother [43:33] you see we’re tempted to look at this and say

[43:38] Who’s the hero of the story? Is it Jacob or is it Esau? [43:43] And I’ll tell you it’s neither [43:45] See to start with though Esau is an example of us when the glory of God is available through following Jesus [43:52] And we are mesmerized by a bowl of stew that we think we will die without [43:58] Because eternal glory is often offered to us and you would sell it for a pile of trinkets

[44:05] Second in Jacob’s shrewdness [44:08] We see a guy who should have just given his brother some soup [44:11] But instead he saw an opportunity and took advantage of his mentally inferior brother [44:16] He took the spot that he had always wanted [44:20] But there’s a third thing that most people don’t see in the story and that is because we don’t read [44:26] The narratives of the Old Testament properly most of the time

[44:30] The third thing you see is that God’s will happen through a set of meager circumstances of sibling rivalry

[44:38] You see God’s will is going to happen every single time [44:43] And that is where we need to seek and find our joy [44:48] Proverbs 3 5 contains the instruction to trust the Lord and not to trust our own [44:56] Understanding we are tempted to read that story and say oh Jacob is such a jerk [45:01] Someone should undo that and give the birthright back to Esau [45:06] But to that I have to say friend trust God

[45:09] You are going to look at many things in your life and you are going to say that is not fair

[45:18] Friends in a sin in a sinful world it isn’t fair [45:22] But in a sinful world understand fair is hell [45:27] You see Esau despised his birthright. He let that decision follow him the rest of his days. That’s what that meant [45:36] I mean surely Esau blew it [45:40] No doubt he blew it, but he had many days ahead of him to live a life [45:47] He could have moved forward. He could have enjoyed his family, but the text doesn’t put it that way

[45:54] It’s a friend. I tell you do not sit back and let your not fair [45:59] ruin tomorrow [46:02] Move forward with the sovereign God [46:06] Who said the older will serve the younger [46:12] Friends what is God teaching you through your not fair and

[46:18] How do you need to trust God that he has a plan [46:23] See because trusting God is the only option [46:26] Some of you will look at your life and you’re like, okay. I’ll work my way out. I’ll be frantic. I’ll stress [46:32] I’ll be anxiety ridden because I don’t know if I’m the Esau of the story and I don’t know if I’m the Jacob of the story [46:39] And friend the point is that you are neither neither of those two people are the main character of this record [46:46] God is

[46:49] Proverbs 19 21 tells us that we will plan much but it is the purpose of God that will stand [46:57] And I want you to understand friend when we combine [47:00] Proverbs with God’s sovereignty we find a life worth living [47:07] The point is that you need to trust God [47:11] That’s the point of all of this God works through mundane [47:15] Circumstances God works through sibling rivalry God works through barren wives

[47:21] God works through stupid hunters [47:26] the point is [47:28] God [47:30] Do you have plans?

[47:33] Take them to God [47:35] let him filter your plans and [47:39] As he filters your best-made plans [47:42] Move forward looking for his hand to work in every single circumstance [47:49] trust God [47:51] obey God and

[47:54] Keep moving and trusting God more and more as you obey him as the band comes forward

[48:04] These situations are hard [48:06] Because we’re always trying to find how the characters are similar to us how we can find our story in their story [48:14] And surely there are many examples of how you can but if you get too caught up in that mentality [48:20] You will make yourself the main character in the main point of your life

[48:27] Friend that’s not the way that we’re to view our lives [48:31] That’s where we go wrong so many times [48:34] God is the main character of my life [48:38] God is the storyteller of my life [48:42] The point of my life and what faith teaches me is that my task is [48:48] To find my place in the story that God wants to tell

[48:52] And that’s what I try to do every single day [48:55] Where can you start with that? [48:58] Well the first place that you start is building a trust in God [49:02] And the reason that you can trust God is because God worked history [49:07] Into such a way that his own son came to redeem you from your sin [49:14] He proved his trustworthiness by penalty of your sin onto himself on the cross and

[49:20] Then he proved his power by three days later physically rising from the dead to give you a new life [49:28] Which you can walk every day in a relationship with God every day in faith with God [49:33] Regardless of what the circumstances in your life are because of the cross of Jesus because of the resurrection [49:38] You can look to God and say I don’t know why but I know where it’s going [49:43] It’s going to the glory of God [49:46] If you’ve never put that kind of trust in God, I’m gonna call you to do that today

[49:53] While we’re reflecting on communion as a church, please step outside into the foyer. There’ll be somebody there to pray with you [49:59] Someone there to talk to you about faith in Jesus Christ [50:02] But if you’re in here and you are a follower of Jesus the bread represents his broken body [50:07] The cup represents the shed blood of Jesus and when we eat and when we drink what that [50:12] Symbolizes is that the life of Christ is now in our lives [50:15] If you believe that find hope in that when you’re ready come