Gtcotr/ws011123
Jeremiah 33 NLT
23 The LORD gave another
message to Jeremiah. He said,
24 “Have you noticed what
people are saying? — ‘The LORD chose Judah and Israel and then
abandoned them!’ They are sneering and saying that Israel is not worthy to be
counted as a nation.
25 But this is what the LORD
says: I would no more reject my people than I would change my laws that govern
night and day, earth and sky.
26 I will never abandon the descendants of Jacob or David, my servant, or change the plan that David’s descendants will rule the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Instead, I will restore them to their land and have mercy on them.”
The seed of Abraham through his son Isaac will never be rejected or abandoned. No matter what anyone says and regardless of what it might look like to you, God will not reject the descendants of Isaac any more than He would change the laws He has put in place to govern night and day, earth and sky.
God’s covenant blessings belong to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob not because they are perfect, but because God is perfect. This prophecy describes the grace given to those chosen by God.
Deuteronomy 7 NLT
6 For you are a holy people,
who belong to the LORD your God. Of all the people on earth, the LORD your God
has chosen you to be his own special treasure.
7 “The LORD did not set his
heart on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other nations,
for you were the smallest of all nations!
8 Rather, it was simply that
the LORD loves you, and he was keeping the oath he had sworn to your ancestors… That is why the LORD
rescued you with such a strong hand from your slavery and from the oppressive
hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt.
9 Understand, therefore, that the LORD your God
is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand
generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his
commands.
10 But he does not hesitate to punish and destroy those who reject him.
Since we know God is love and is so committed to the descendants of Abraham through his son Isaac, it might be beneficial to know who the Bible says the descendants of Isaac truly are.
Romans 9:7 Being descendants of Abraham doesn’t make them truly Abraham’s children. For the Scriptures say, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted,” though Abraham had other children, too.
Galatians 3:29 And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you.
Galatians 4:28 And you, dear brothers and sisters, are children of the promise, just like Isaac.
If you belong to Jesus, you are a true child of Abraham, and an heir to the promise of God, just like Isaac. Three of the fundamental principles we glean from the life of Isaac are still as powerful today as they were 4000 years ago.
1.
Respect the leader God gives you.
· In Isaac’s case it was his father.
Genesis 22
7 Isaac turned to Abraham and
said, “Father?”
“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.
“We have the fire and the wood,” the boy said, “but where is the
sheep for the burnt offering?”
8 “God will provide a sheep
for the burnt offering, my son,” Abraham answered. And they both walked on
together.
9 When they arrived at the
place where God had told him to go, Abraham built an altar and arranged the
wood on it. Then he tied his son, Isaac, and laid him on the altar on top of
the wood.
10 And Abraham picked up the
knife to kill his son as a sacrifice.
·
God
spoke to Abraham … Abraham spoke to Isaac.
· Abraham trusted God … Isaac trusted Abraham.
Sometimes faith requires we trust God in others.
2. Trust God in your current circumstances.
Genesis 26 NLT
1 ¶ A severe famine now
struck the land …
2 The LORD appeared to Isaac
and said, “Do not go down to Egypt, but do as I tell you.
3 Live here as a foreigner in
this land, and I will be with you and bless you …
12 ¶ When Isaac planted his crops that year, he harvested a hundred times more grain than he planted, for the LORD blessed him.
Isaac sowed in the land of famine.
3. Share your faith with your family.
Hebrews 11:20 It was by faith that Isaac promised blessings for the future to his sons, Jacob and Esau.
Isaac prophesied over his children.
Additional Scriptures:
Genesis 25:5 Abraham gave everything he owned to his son Isaac.
Genesis 25:21 Isaac pleaded with the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was unable to have children. The LORD answered Isaac’s prayer, and Rebekah became pregnant with twins.
Genesis 26:35 But Esau’s wives made life miserable for Isaac and Rebekah.
Genesis
35:28 Isaac lived for 180 years.
