Sunday Night, March 10, 2019 PM

Okay, yeah. Okay, so chapter 2 verse 1. Now when anyone presents a grain offering as an offering to the Lord his offering Shall be a fine flour and they shall pour oil on it and put frankincense on it.

So this is very finely ground flour. So the best of the best again you pour oil on it. It's gonna help it burn and you put frankincense on it. So it's gonna burn sweetly. It's gonna be sweet aroma to the Lord.

Then he will bring it to Aaron's sons the priests and shall take it from his take from his handful of his fine flour of its oil with all of its frankincense and the priest shall offer it up in smoke as to As its memorial portion on the altar an offering by fire of a soothing aroma to the Lord.

Okay, the remainder of the grain offering Belongs to Aaron and his sons. I think most holy of the offerings of the Lord by fire and that and then they get to eat that nothing but notice. Verse 2 he shall bring it then to Aaron's sons and the priests and shall take from it his handful.

So out of all the fine flour that fine flour. That's hard to say of all the fine flour that he brings to the priest. He takes just one handful out of it. Notice and and takes the oil with notice all of its frankincense.

He puts all the frankincense in that one handful. He doesn't put it in the flour he puts it in that handful and that's what's offered up to the Lord. Yeah, otherwise, yeah, that would be pretty nasty having to eat perfume.

Well, it's definitely something very it says soothing aroma to the Lord and it's something that they all recognized was something very special. Very fine given to the Lord to worship him.

David do you have a question? I think we should.

Isaac and Rebecca in Genesis 25

It's a good question from Genesis 25, it's it shortly certainly grabs our attention doesn't it when we read Genesis 25. And you can imagine Rebecca's plight in the situation. In Genesis 25 we come to verse 19 we have heard that.

We've heard about the descendants of Abraham. We've heard about the descendants of Ishmael, but now we're focusing in on Isaac and It was Abraham's ardent wish that Isaac not marry a wife from Canaan but that there would be a Daughter from Abraham's own people somewhere that he would marry and and so Isaac is now married and we come to verse 19 of Genesis 25 says now.

These are the records that the generations of Isaac. Abraham's son. Abraham became the father of Isaac and Isaac was 40 years old. When he took Rebecca the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan Aram the sister of Laban the Aramean to be his wife.

So he's 40 years old by the time he gets married. And this would be in today's age. Our culture would be well, it's a little bit old to get married. In in this culture very old to get married, but he he waited.

According to honor his father and got married to the daughter that his father approved of to the to the to the woman that his father approved of. Verse 21. Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife because she was barren.

How did how did he how did they know that she was barren. Well, we'll find out later that Isaac was 60 years old 60 years old when Rebecca Conceived the twins and gave birth to the twins so for 20 years.

It became obvious and Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife. Because she was barren and Lord answered him and Rebecca his wife conceived. The first thing we see in the passage is the way that Isaac loved his wife.

Now this passage verses 19 through 34 is all about love. We would Be surprised by that, but indeed it is all about love this this particular portion of Genesis 25. First thing we see is that Isaac loved his wife.

And so he prayed for her. He prayed for her. This is what a husband does when he loves his wife. He prays for her. Her burdens are his burdens and he interceded for her and the Lord was gracious to answer.

Someone else who loves his bride is Jesus Christ. Romans 834 says that Jesus Christ intercedes for us. He intercedes for his bride. I'm thank God that Jesus Christ is at the right hand of the Father. Interceding for us and this is why there is therefore now no condemnation.

He's the one who died for us. He's been raised. He's at the right hand. He's praying for us. And so we see this love that Isaac had for his wife now. Verse 22 the children, but the children struggled together within her.

Now, what are the babies called inside her womb? Children. No, not fetus children children. They are they are genuine unique individuals children Struggling within her and she said if it is so why then am I this way?

Remember that question. Remember that question if it is so then why why then am I this way. It is the question that Paul will bring up in Romans 9. He actually takes Rebecca's language to ask the question in Romans 9.

But it's a good question to ask if it is so then why am I this way. And she did the right thing. She went to inquire of the Lord. All right, I don't get this this something's wrong. I don't understand this something is not right.

So she goes inquires the Lord so she prays Lord said to her. Two nations are in your womb and two peoples will be separated from your body. One people shall be stronger than the other and the older shall serve the younger.

Two nations are in your womb. This is a Continuation of what God told to Abraham you'll be the father of many nations and here his he's got grandsons who will be Nations. Ishmael himself would give birth to many nations.

He would be the father of many nations and here we have two nations. Coming from Isaac one Would be stronger than the other. One they were separated from her body. I mean they were gonna be apart from one another opposed to another indeed.

One will be stronger than the other and the older so show it serve the younger who was stronger. Miss Jacob stronger or Esau stronger. No, which one I read that I thought well, which one was stronger because I mean Esau was the one running around with 400 armed men.

So at one point I know Esau looks a little stronger than Jacob. Jacob was pretty terrified of him and in certain points in history Edom the nation that came from Esau was stronger and other points, especially under David and Solomon Jacob was stronger so but I think ultimately what it what is pointing at is that There's going to be a disparity between the two.

One would be favored by God empowered by God. Strengthened by God it was never said of Edom that one of them could one soldier could chase ten and and ten could chase a thousand. You know it. Never it was never said of Edom.

But it does say that the older will serve the younger and so it is that so this is God's decision. We have already seen from time to time in the scriptures the reversal of the birth order what you call primogeniture the chosen seed of Adam and Eve the The true inheritor their true son if you would the representative for Adams family was not Cain.

Who killed Abel ended up being Seth a younger? When it comes to the birth orders a birth order in Noah's sons Shem the Blessed One was not the oldest. And so we see this some again and again, but here God says it very specifically the older shall serve the younger.

And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled behold there were twins in her womb just as God said. Now the first came forth red all over like a hairy garment, and they named him Esau. Which means Harry so they named him Harry.

And eventually he got the nickname red. I'm not picking on you. Okay, I'm just I'm not. I mean this is the way the Bible reads. So his so his real name was Harry, but his nickname was red. And Afterwards his brother came forth with his hand holding on to Esau's heel and so his name was called Jacob.

Meaning heel grabber supplant or deceiver. There are certain ways you can read yahob as Yahweh protects, which is a great way to read it. But he was named this because he was a known deceiver and supplant er and Here he is as an infant grabbing the heel and so they named him that you know.

And Isaac was 60 years old when he cheat when she Rebecca gave birth to these twins now. When the boys grew up Esau became a skillful hunter a man of the field, but Jacob was a peaceful man living in tents.

So Esau loved the action. Jacob loved the peace. You can just their opposite and personality is as well as appearance. Now Isaac loved Esau because he had a taste for game, but Rebecca loved Jacob, what do you think about this?

Parents and their children a description of well Isaac loved Esau, but Rebecca loved Jacob. What do you think about that? What does that sound like? Not fair sounds like favoritism a Recipe for disaster.

We know that in our homes, right? We know that by experience. We know that from our extended relatives and so on. We know that there's a problem. If parents play favorites and decide to love one, but not the other.

I mean, that's that's a. That's a bad deal. We all know that. So and when it comes to love first, we see a husband loving his wife. And so he prays for her and now we have parents who are loving their children.

But we see them loving them in a way that is not righteous. All right. Isaac loved Esau. Rebecca loved Jacob. This is not saying that they were totally against the other but you could but the point is It's emphasizing the favoritism.

What do you think this does? Is God's love unrighteous like this? Of course not. He's God. He's righteous. He's good. He's perfect. And so the way that he loves is always righteous and perfect now we can certainly complain about the way that Isaac and Rebecca loved but we can't complain about the way that God loves and That's pretty much Paul's point in Romans 9.

So we need to go ahead and flip over to Romans 9. Where Paul quotes this very passage in Genesis? It's always helpful to see how the Apostles and Christ himself how they interpreted the Old Testament.

They said well Jesus said very often. Have you never read? And he'd quote a little bit of Scripture and then he would apply that we would interpret it correctly and then apply it and Here Paul does the same in Romans 9.

He starts off in Romans 9 by Confessing his very his deep grief his great sorrow for his fellow Israelites. Who have rejected Christ who do not believe who who although they were given so much in the scriptures.

They they're not trusting in Christ and it brings to mind, you know. Well, is there something that has failed as God failed has his promises failed because not all these not all the Israelites are believing In their Messiah, and of course that can't be true.

Let God be true and every man a liar. He's already said that in Romans 3. And so he explains Verse 6. Here's here's how we are to understand it verse 6, but it is not as though the Word of God has failed.

For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel. There's a mind-bender for you. Well, how can that possibly be? What do you mean? They're not all Israel who's descended from Israel? That doesn't make any sense.

He explains nor are they all children because they're Abraham's descendants. But through Isaac your descendants will be named. That is it is not the children of the flesh Who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants you see what do you see what?

Paul is doing he's pointing out that You're not you're not one of Abraham's descendants just because you're a child in the genetic lineage of Abraham as is often the. With the Pharisees getting really mad with Jesus and they said are we not Abraham's children and and No, you're not you're that the devil is your father and you know that didn't go well that conversation.

But Paul's pointing out that Not everybody who has come from Abraham is a Jew. We already know that because there was Ishmael and then there was but and not even everybody who came through. This lineage should be considered as Israel because they have to come through the promise.

That is not the children of flesh who are children of God. But the children of the promise are regarded as descendants and they start talking about the promises. Notice the promises for this is the word of the promise at this time.

I will come and Sarah shall have a son. There's one promise. Which he will talk about at length in Galatians as well and Not only this but there's also there was Rebecca also when she had conceived twins by one man our father Isaac for though the twins were not yet born and Had not done anything good or bad.

So that God's purpose according to his choice would stand not because of works but because of him who calls. It was said to her the older shall serve the younger. Just as it is written Jacob. I loved but Esau I hated.

Now this this portion where it says Jacob I loved but Esau I hated. For this we have to go. I want to say to Malachi unless my brain is Totally glitching. Ah Malachi one the Oracle of the Word of the Lord to Israel through Malachi.

I have loved you says the Lord, but you say how have you loved us? What's not Esau. Jacob's brother declares the Lord yet. I have loved Jacob, but I have hated Esau. So Paul reflects when it comes to who are the children.

Who are the children of God verse 8? It depends not on your genetics and it's not to depend upon your performance. But it depends on God's purpose. That's what he says. So he quotes not only Genesis 25, but he also quotes Michael 1 and then he says Jacob I have loved but Esau I've hated.

Now from this proceeds a great deal of objection a great deal of discomfort. Many different things that Paul brings up says. Yes. I know you're gonna say this and I know you're gonna say this. I don't know you're gonna say this because he's heard this before.

Here's what we don't want to do, okay. We do not want to read Romans 9 and the things that make us Uncomfortable and then find a way to interpret those things so that we no longer feel any discomfort whatsoever.

How good I don't feel bad anymore. Because then why all the objections if we can explain These verses away so that we don't have discomfort anymore. Why are there so many objections in the text? They're there because it's uncomfortable.

Notice what he says Verse 11 for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad. So that God's purpose according to his choice would stand not because of works. But because of him who calls it was said to her the older should serve the younger just that it's written Jacob I love the Esau.

I hate it. Now. Remember when Jacob and Esau grew up there was Esau and what did he like to do? I Boy does Isaac love that give me some venison man. He loves the fact that Esau goes out and hunts and Brings home the game and this is a reason given for why?

Isaac preferred Esau because of what Esau did the kind of guy Esau was and Rebecca favored Jacob. We're not told exactly why we're not given the cause there. But he saw with but Jacob was a peaceful man.

He stayed closer to home and for some reason Rebecca preferred Jacob. Maybe she just had mercy on him. She could tell there was favoritism towards Esau and so she naturally Responded that trying to balance things out and preferred Jacob, but do you notice that?

We we see when we read Genesis 25. We is since instantly that it is wrong. It is unjust it is it is unrighteous For the parents to play favorites based on the personality or the performance of this child versus that child.

Right, we knew that immediately now when God sovereign righteous Holy God makes a choice to love one and hate another and He does so before they're ever born and has no regard for their performance or personality.

Why do we protest? What's the character of God? Is he still righteous is he still good? Yes, but but it sure makes me feel uncomfortable. But you know, it was really Jake it was really Isaac and Rebecca who did the unrighteous choosing.

Wasn't it? Because they were looking for performance and personality but God in his holiness and his righteousness Loved one and hated the other and proved it in in the course of history. Now, let's Sure, it's God's choice.

It's God's purpose. I Probably said purpose did I say purpose definitely election. Now, let's think about Jacob for a second. Let's look at the Esau. Esau end up marrying about three different women. They were all Despised by his parents.

He made his living going around with a band of marauders. At Genesis 36 one of the saddest chapters in the whole Bible it is full of Esau's success the way that he had children and the success of his his sons who became clansmen and then became Kings and ruled over us a good section of a fortified area in the middle in the ancient Near East and It's the saddest one of the saddest chapters in the Bible because God has never mentioned at all.

How do you know that God hates someone he just lets them go Go do whatever you want. However, you want with whoever you want, and he does not interfere. That's how you know, God hates someone. He just let Esau go do whatever he wanted and Esau did whatever he wanted and All he did was according to his own sinful nature and he was good at it.

He was successful. He left his mark on planet Earth. Ever heard of Petra. He he was he was someone in history and In his story in Genesis 36 God has never mentioned. That's how you know, God hates you when he just let you go.

Now how you know, God loves you. He hounded Jacob. He would not let that guy alone. He even wrestled him. I Mean he would not leave Jacob alone. He proved how much he loved Jacob. Now, let's think about Jacob's character for a moment.

Upstanding guy. The kind of guy you want to go into business with. The kind of guy you want your daughter to marry. No to all of it this guy was by name a Crook and God gave him a new name and a new meaning for the name but God chose to love him and when he loved him he just never let him go and he loved him and he loved him and he loved him and Jacob was then known as Israel.

He crippled him made him walk different never was the same after that. You know, so we see the difference there and it wasn't based on you know, Jacob being a better guy. Smarter made better decisions.

No, none of that. None of that that is the message of grace that's the good news of grace. You know, it is not based on our. It's not based on our record how good we do not our not our lineage. None of that it's based on God.

It's based on God and all the objections that come after that. You know God might be unjust. Well Why does he still find fault who resists his will and so all these objections that we read about verses 14 and following?

The answer time and again is God is God we are not. And God saves according to his grace and not according to us, which is really good news. I would hate to perform for my salvation. That would that I'd lose every time.

I Would hate to perform for my child salvation to do enough to get God convinced God to save my child. I would I could never do enough so it's in the hands of a sovereign and gracious and righteous and Just and holy and merciful God and that's exactly where you want salvation to be right in his hands.

Well, there's a lot more I think that we could talk about does that help your. It was it nations or was it individuals. I think it has to be individuals. First because he goes on to mention in Romans 9 talked about Pharaoh and.

And also all the objections are put into the personal right, it's not about No one's objecting in Romans 9 in in Paul's Examples of objections none of these example objections are angry about what God does with nations.

Is about what God does with individual people and so that's that's where the emphasis is here. But the reason why nations come into it is because those nations came out of real individuals you know Jacob was the father of Israel and Esau was the father of Edom and so.

Those particular individuals did. Because the way God dealt with them did have an impact through history in in terms of nations. Which is again where we want it to be, you know, I hate hate to have that resting in my Hands well We're out of time.

We didn't make it through part of Genesis 25, so but we'll talk more about the the stew. And the selling of a birthright and all of that and our next opportunity, okay, let's close by singing the doxology.