Archives for 2020

Good morning,

Jacob was a product of his upbringing. His grandparents lied. His parents lied and played favorites with Jacob and Esau. So, Jacob learned all these traits and more. His early years were spent deceiving others. He even tried bargaining with God. It was not till he wrestled with the angel of God, did his life change.

When he met God, his named was changed to Israel, and he began living for God.

This week we look at the life of Jacob.

Jacob’s dysfunctional life

Genesis 25:28 And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.  (Parents playing favorites)

Genesis 25:29-34 And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:³⁰ And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.³¹ And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.³² And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?³³ And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.³⁴ Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.

And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. (v31) (Opportunist, taking advantage of others)

Genesis 27:1-46

Isaac’s request of Esau

“And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I. ² And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death: ³ Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison;⁴ And make me savory meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die.”  (1-4)

Rebekah’s command for Jacob

“And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.⁶ And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying,⁷ Bring me venison, and make me savory meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before the Lord before my death. ⁸ Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee.⁹ Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savory meat for thy father, such as he loveth:¹⁰ And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death.” (5-10)

Jacob deceives Isaac

“And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me them.¹⁴ And he went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother: and his mother made savory meat, such as his father loved.¹⁵ And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son:¹⁶ And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck:¹⁷ And she gave the savory meat and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.¹⁸ And he came unto his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I; who art thou, my son?¹⁹ And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy first born; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me.”  (13-19) (v13) (Rebekah’s manipulation teaching Jacob to deceive his father)

Isaac challenges Jacob then blesses him

And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because the Lord thy God brought it to me.²¹ And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not.²² And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.²³ And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau’s hands: so he blessed him. And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am. And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son’s venison, that my soul may bless thee. And he brought it near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine and he drank.²⁶ And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son.²⁷ And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the Lord hath blessed:²⁸ Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine:²⁹ Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother’s sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.(v24) (Jacob lied and stole the blessing from Esau)

Genesis 28:10-22 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, So that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: (20-21) (Jacob bargains with God. IF GOD…)

Parents should never play favorites. It causes separation and bitterness.

Jacob took advantage of Esau in buying his birthright.

Rebekah instigates this deceit. Her intent was to get Isaac’s blessing for Jacob, instead of the rightful person Esau. It works, but has disastrous consequences. Esau is mad enough to want to kill Jacob. Rebekah sends Jacob away to Laban.

We may be able to deceive people for a time, but usually the truth comes out. Then the problems start. There are always consequences to sin.

We are never able to deceive God. God knows and sees everything.

“O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.² Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.³ Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.⁴ For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.⁵ Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.” (Psalm 139:1-6)

“The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” (Proverbs 15:3)

Please God by obeying His word. God’s way is the only way to please God!

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Jacob was a product of his upbringing. His grandparents lied. His parents lied and played favorites with Jacob and Esau. So, Jacob learned all these traits and more. His early years were spent deceiving others. He even tried bargaining with God. It was not till he wrestled with the angel of God, did his life change.

When he met God, his named was changed to Israel, and he began living for God.

This week we look at the life of Jacob.

JACOB’S DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY

GENESIS 12-31

INTRO:  Functional vs Dysfunctional Families

Jacob PRE and POST Gen 32

Functional:                                            Dysfunctional:

1. Puts God first                                   No relationship with God or not first

2. Husband and wife                          Any kind of relationship

3. Quiver full of children                  No children

4. Bible foundation                              No foundation

5. Obey God                                         Do their own thing

WHO ARE THE PLAYERS?

1.   God-See lesson 1

2.  Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, Esau, Laban

WHAT did God do?

Exodus 34:7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

1) Jacob’s grandparents and parents dysfunction passed to him

Genesis 20:1-8 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah. (v2) Abraham lied

Genesis 26:6-11 And the men of the place asked him of his wife; and he(Isaac) said, She is my sister: for he feared to say, She is my wife; lest, said he, the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah; because she was fair to look upon. (v7) Isaac lied

Genesis 27:1-46 And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am. (v24) Jacob lied

2) Jacob’s dysfunctional life

Genesis 25:28 And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.  (Parents playing favorites)

Genesis 25:29-34 And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. (v31) (Opportunist, taking advantage of others)

Genesis 27: 6-17 And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me them. (v13) (Rebekah’s manipulation teaching Jacob to deceive his father)

Genesis 27:18-29 And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am. (v24) (Jacob lied, stole the blessing from Esau)

Genesis 28:10-22 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, So that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: (20-21) (Jacob bargains with God. IF GOD…)

3) Jacob reaps what he sowed Genesis 29-31

Genesis 29:15-27 And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me? (v25) (Jacob deceived others, now he has been deceived)

Genesis 31:7 And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me. (Jacob reaps what he sowed)

CONCLUSION:

• Dysfunction breeds dysfunction
• Break the cycle and obey
• God is not mocked. We reap what we sow!
• Biblical principles must guide us

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Jacob was a product of his upbringing. His grandparents lied. His parents lied and played favorites with Jacob and Esau. So, Jacob learned all these traits and more. His early years were spent deceiving others. He even tried bargaining with God. It was not till he wrestled with the angel of God, did his life change.

When he met God, his named was changed to Israel, and he began living for God.

This week we look at the life of Jacob.

Jacob’s grandparents and parents dysfunction passed to him

Genesis 20:1-8 And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar. And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah. (But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man’s wife.⁴ But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation?⁵ Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.⁶ And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.⁷ Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.⁸ Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were sore afraid. Abraham lied (v2)

Genesis 26:6-11 And Isaac dwelt in Gerar: And the men of the place asked him of his wife; and he (Isaac) said, She is my sister: for he feared to say, She is my wife; lest, said he, the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah; because she was fair to look upon. And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife.⁹ And Abimelech called Isaac, and said, Behold, of a surety she is thy wife; and how saidst thou, She is my sister? And Isaac said unto him, Because I said, Lest I die for her.¹⁰ And Abimelech said, What is this thou hast done unto us? one of the people might lightly have lien with thy wife, and thou shouldest have brought guiltiness upon us.¹¹ And Abimelech charged all his people, saying, He that toucheth this man or his wife shall surely be put to death. Isaac lied (v7)

We learn many things from our grandparents and parents. Children observe every action, whether good or bad. They will reflect what they see.

So, it is crucial that we do things that are pleasing to God and when we don’t, make it clear we were in error and repent. That will show that we are willing to be truthful before God.

Teaching the Bible is also crucial. The foundation for a life pleasing to God is to know the Bible and obey it.

Think about the things that you have learned from your grandparents and parents. Do they raise up God and His word? Would you teach them to your children?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Jacob was a product of his upbringing. His grandparents lied. His parents lied and played favorites with Jacob and Esau. So, Jacob learned all these traits and more. His early years were spent deceiving others. He even tried bargaining with God. It was not till he wrestled with the angel of God, did his life change.

When he met God, his named was changed to Israel, and he began living for God.

This week we look at the life of Jacob.

INTRO:  Functional vs Dysfunctional Families

Jacob PRE and POST Gen 32

Functional:                                            Dysfunctional:

1. Puts God first                                   No relationship with God or not first

2. Husband and wife                           Any kind of relationship

3. Quiver full of children                   No children

4. Bible foundation                              No foundation

5. Obey God                                         Do their own thing

WHO ARE THE PLAYERS?

1.   God-See lesson 1

2.  Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, Esau, Laban

WHAT did God do?

Exodus 34:7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

God gives our own free will. We may choose to obey God and be blessed or disobey God and be judged.

Our study this week begins with Abraham and Sarah. They were Jacob’s grandparents. Last week we saw how Abraham’s lack of faith in God’s promise has had lasting implications, even today. We also see that he lied about his relationship to Sarah. Jacob’s parents, Isaac and Rebekah, also lied about their relationship and played favorites with their boys.

So Jacob watched his grandparents and parents and learned how to live life. Unfortunately, in some cases they were not good examples. They failed to teach their children about God. About sin and its consequences.  About repentance when we do sin.

It is so important for us to teach our children, grandchildren, and anyone else, who is God, what He requires, the meaning of sin, and what to do when we sin. To teach them about salvation, by faith in Jesus Christ.

A lot of needless heartache could be avoided if we would focus in on our relationship with God.

As we study Jacob’s younger, rebellious days, think about what Jacob’s parents could have done to prevent this rebellion.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Abraham believed God. “And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.” (Genesis 15:6)

This week we will look at the life of Abraham. We will look at Abraham’s call, God’s covenants, Abraham’s lack of faith and his faithfulness.

Abraham’s act of faith

Abraham obeys God’s call

Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: ² And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:³ And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.⁴ So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. (Genesis 12:1-4)

Abraham obeys God’s call to go and offer Isaac as burnt offering

And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.² And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.³ And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him. (Genesis 22:1-3)

Abraham obeys God and offers Isaac as a burnt offering

And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.⁷ And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?⁸ And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.⁹ And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.¹⁰ And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. (Genesis 22:6-10)

Abraham obeys the angel of the Lord

And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.¹² And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. (Genesis 22:11-12)

As God supplies the ram as the substitute for Isaac, God sent Jesus to be the substitute for our sins. 

Where did God do this? 

The land of Canaan

WHEN did God do this?

Unknown

WHY is this a foundational stone?

God’s covenants with Abraham established that God’s people would be Abraham’s descendants

Abraham’s lack of faith instituted the strife between Arabs and what will be God’s people Israel

God provided a substitute sacrifice for Isaac and He did the same for us through the Lord Jesus Christ

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Abraham believed God. “And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.” (Genesis 15:6)

This week we will look at the life of Abraham. We will look at Abraham’s call, God’s covenants, Abraham’s lack of faith and his faithfulness.

ABRAHAM’S LACK OF FAITH

God promised Abraham a child. Abraham and Sarah were unwilling to wait on God’s timing. What they did was acceptable in the culture of the day. However, God already told him He would supply their child. A natural born child.

Abram failed to believe God would keep His promise

Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.² And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the Lord hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.³ And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.⁴ And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.⁵ And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the Lord judge between me and thee. (Genesis 16:1-5)

Ishmael   

And the angel of the Lord found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.⁸ And he said, Hagar, Sarai’s maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.⁹ And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.¹⁰ And the angel of the Lord said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.¹¹ And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Behold, thou art with child and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the Lord hath heard thy affliction.¹² And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren. (Genesis 16:7-12)

Isaac

And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.²¹ But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year. (Genesis 17: 20-21)

Conflict Arabs/Jews

And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.¹⁰ Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.¹¹ And the thing was very grievous in Abraham’s sight because of his son.¹² And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called. (Genesis 21:9-12)

Abraham failed to believe that God would provide for him a natural born son. He took matters into his own hands and we are living with the consequences of his lack of faith today.

Ishmael fathered the enemies of Israel. They are still fighting today.

When God makes a promise, He keeps His promises! When we fail to wait patiently for the fulfillment, we fail to obey, trust, and believe in God. That is sin.

We need to obey God’s word and wait patiently on Him.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

ABRAHAM

GENESIS 12:1-4

INTRO:  In the beginning GOD…

WHO ARE THE PLAYERS?

1.   God-See lesson 1

2.  Abraham

WHAT did God do?

Abraham’s Call

Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. (Genesis 12:1-4)

God’s Covenants

And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him. And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD. (Genesis 12:7-8)

Genesis 13:14-17      Land  “…for I will give it unto you.”  V15

Genesis 15:3-7          Son …“This shall not be thine heir…” V4

Genesis 15:18-21      Boundaries

Genesis 17: 1-8         Father of many nations “…thou shalt be a father of many nations.” V4

Genesis 17:15-19      Son “…thou shalt call his name Isaac:…” V19 “For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age…” 21:2

Genesis 22:15-18      Blessing “…because thou hast obeyed my voice.” V18

Abraham’s lack of faith

Genesis 16:1-5  Abram failed to believe God would keep His promise

And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai. V2

Genesis 16: 7-12  Ishmael “And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.”

Genesis 17: 20-21 “But my covenant will I establish with Isaac…” V21

Genesis 21: 9-12 Conflict Arabs/Jews“…Cast out this bondwoman and her son…” V10

Abraham’s acts of faith

Genesis 22:1-4  Abraham obeys“…and rose up, and went…” V3

Genesis 22:6-10 Abraham ready to sacrifice Isaac “And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.” V10

Genesis 22:11-12  Abraham sensitive to the voice of the angel “And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.”

As God supplies the ram as the substitute for Isaac, God sent Jesus to be the substitute for our sins. 

Why is this a foundational stone?

God’s covenants with Abraham established that God’s people would be Abraham’s descendants

Abraham’s lack of faith instituted the strife between Arabs and what will be God’s people Israel

God provided a substitute sacrifice for Isaac and He did the same for us through the Lord Jesus Christ

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Abraham believed God. “And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.” (Genesis 15:6)

This week we will look at the life of Abraham. We will look at Abraham’s call, God’s covenants, Abraham’s lack of faith and his faithfulness.

God’s Covenants

Land

And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him. And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD. (Genesis 12:7-8)

And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:¹⁵ For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.¹⁶ And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.¹⁷ Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee. (Genesis 13:14-17)

In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:¹⁹ The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the  Kadmonites,²⁰ And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims,²¹ And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites. (Genesis 15:18-21)

Isaac

And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him. (Genesis 17:19)

Father of many nations

And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.² And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.³ And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,⁴ As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.⁵ Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.⁶ And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.⁷ And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.⁸ And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God. (Genesis 17:1-8)

Blessing

And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,¹⁶ And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: ¹⁷ That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;¹⁸ And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. (Genesis 22:15-18)

When God makes a covenant, He keeps it. The covenant God made with Abraham is unbreakable. It is being fulfilled now and will be completely fulfilled in the future. God does not lie.

This covenant was not a conditional covenant. Only God made the covenant. There were no conditions set on Abraham’s part.

Contracts are our equivalent to a covenant. Two parties agree to do something. The contract is only as good as the parties making the contract. If one party chooses not to complete the contract, there are consequences.

Believers in Christ have a testimony to maintain. People should say that we are honest in all our dealings. When we agree to anything, we are obligated in the sight of God to perform that to which we agreed.

Do we? God is and will continue to keep covenant with His chosen people.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Abraham believed God. “And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.” (Genesis 15:6)

This week we will look at the life of Abraham. We will look at Abraham’s call, God’s covenants, Abraham’s lack of faith and his faithfulness.

Abraham’s Call

Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. (Genesis 12:1-4)

God chose Abraham. He told him to leave his home, his family, and his father’s house and go to a land that God would show him. God did not specify the land, the reason, or the mission. He told Abraham to go. Abraham obeyed without questioning or argument.

God made promises, called covenants, to Abraham. God would make of him a great nation, He would bless him, He would make his name great, and that Abraham would be a blessing.

God also stated that He would bless those that bless Abraham and curse those that curse him.

Why did Abraham go? He believed God. This was the beginning of Abraham’s journey of faith.

“By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.⁹ By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:¹⁰ For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” (Hebrews 11:8-10)

His eyes were on the eternal.

If God asked us to do something for Him, would we do it without questioning? What is our faith in God built? Are we heavenly minded or earthly? Spiritual of carnal? Do we care?

We should. Although we as believers in Christ are eternally saved, our works shall be tried by fire.

“Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.¹⁴ If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.¹⁵ If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.¹⁶ Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?¹⁷ If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” (1 Corinthians 3:13-17)

Our desire should be to be obedient to God’s word. To live by faith in Christ, who saved us from eternal damnation.

Will we?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

This week our Old Testament Foundation Stone is the Flood. God shows His judgment and His mercy. He judged the men and women who chose to act wickedly and He showed mercy to a man who chose to do righteously.

But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he. (Genesis 6:8, 9, 22)

GOD’S COVENANT WITH NOAH

And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying, And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you; And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth. And I will establish my covenant with you, neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth. And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth. (Genesis 9:8-17)

WHY IS THIS A FOUNDATION STONE?

1) A righteous God must bring judgment on unrighteous mankind

2) Flood shaped our world: Environment, weather, earthquakes, volcanoes, etc

3) Ark was God’s show of mercy for one righteous man

4) We are all descendants from those 8 people

The rainbow is the covenant God made with Noah that He would never destroy the earth and all its inhabitants with a flood.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001