King James Bible Study – [Mark 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.]
Date: Thursday, January 20, 2022
Chapters: Genesis 25-26
Message: The Blessed
Hello My Friend,
As I was reading the chapters for today I started thinking about the Muslim’s and how they claim that it was actually Ishmael that God had made His covenant with. God may have blessed Ishmael for Abraham’s sake, but He did not make His covenant with Abraham concerning Ishmael, it was, otherwise, we would not have all this history about the Jews written in His Word. As far as the Quran is concerned, it is not inspired, it is said to have been written by a prophet named Muhammad, under the inspiration of the angel Gabriel around 610-632 BC. I would assume that if it did not come from God, then it is not inspired, and that while God sends the rain on both the just and unjust, only those who are the blessed of the LORD, become His inheritance, [Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. – 1 Peter 1:3-5]
God will never deny anyone, even a Muslim who repents and turns to Christ, many have and lost their lives as well, but their faith in Christ has them right there in the presence of Jesus as we speak. As we continue in the reading of Genesis, we find that Abraham got married again to a woman named, Keturah, but not legally, she was a common law wife, as Hagar was also.
[Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah. And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. And Jokshan begat Sheba, and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, and Letushim, and Leummim. And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah. And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac. But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country. And these are the days of the years of Abraham’s life which he lived, an hundred threescore and fifteen years. – Genesis 25:1-7]
[But unto the sons of the concubines,] This is referring to Keturah and Hagar, while Abraham gave his children from these women possessions, he did not pass any of his inheritance on to them, including Ishmael. This was because Isaac received the birthright since he was born of his legal wife, Sarah. Birthright is very important, as we will see reading through this chapter. Now, Isaac and Rebekah had been married for quite some time, but they had not had any children yet. Isaac prayed for God to give them a child, and He did grant their request, and actually gave them twins.
[And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian. And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD. And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger. – Genesis 25:20-23]
[and two manner of people] These two children would become the nation of Edom (Esau) and Israel (Jacob). Now, we have seen it before and perhaps even in our own family, sibling rivalry, and Esau and Jacob were no exception, from birth they would fight, and pretty much all their days of existence. First, was the matter of the birthright, by right, since Esau was the first born, he would have received the family inheritance and blessing. Genesis gives the account of Esau selling his birthright.
[And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents. And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob. And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: 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. And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright. – Genesis 25:27-34]
[Sell me this day thy birthright.] Why was this so important? There were many rights handed down to the first born son besides a double portion of the inheritance, honor, authority, and a blessing, which was more valuable to them than anything they would receive. Rebekah certainly never forgot what God had said to her, and made sure that it was going to happen, no doubt telling Jacob. [thus Esau despised his birthright] And this is exactly why it is recorded in God’s Word that He hated Esau, [For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son. And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. – Romans 9:9-13]
Why did God come to hate Esau? For a bowl of soup, Esau gave up his birthright. This means that he gave up all his rights to anything that he would have inherited from his father when he died. This one act of carelessness not only proved that he had no intention of following God, it also would bring a division between the two countries, so much so that God would eventually destroy it. Now, God sent a famine in the land, one in which Isaac found himself making the same mistakes as his father did. It was during this trial that God spoke to him and reminded him that He made a promise to his father that He will fulfill through him.
[And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar. And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of: Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father; And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws. – Genesis 26:1-5]
[Because that Abraham obeyed my voice,] Keep in mind that the only reason why God is so merciful and long suffering toward us is because of His promise given to us, through our faith in Christ, [Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. – 1 John 2:23-25]
When we follow God’s will we are blessed with so much more than just eternal life and the world knows it. Isaac did obey God, and He blessed him, and blessed him abundantly for it, [Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him. And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great: For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him. For all the wells which his father’s servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth. And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we. – Genesis 26:12-16]
[and the Philistines envied him.] This is when all the hatred and wars would start between the Philistines and Israel started. All this success did not go over so well for the Philistines, they actually became threatened and envious of Isaac and asked him to leave, but not without some strife, every time Isaac had his men dig a well, they would fight over it, except for one. This was where Isaac received a message from God Himself.
[And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the LORD hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land. And he went up from thence to Beersheba. And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham’s sake. And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the LORD, and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac’s servants digged a well. – Genesis 26:22-25]
[and called upon the name of the LORD,] Remember, it does not matter who we are, or what timeline we came, if we want God’s blessings to remain, we must call upon His name. And again, the world knows that we are of God. No matter how good we try to be, we are mess, we do not always have a perfect heart for God. God knows this and that is why He promises that if we believe in and accept His Son, we will be His children forever and will never leave nor forsake us, [My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. – John 10:27-29]
The world often envies the blessings that God gives while we are present in the world, and for that reason they are always in opposition to us no matter where we go, but there does come a time when God will take us to a place where we can be at peace with no opposition. When Abimelech saw how Isaac prospered and became respected, and knowing it was God that was blessing them, he thought it best to stop fighting him and come up with some kind of treaty.
[And Isaac said unto them, Wherefore come ye to me, seeing ye hate me, and have sent me away from you? And they said, We saw certainly that the LORD was with thee: and we said, Let there be now an oath betwixt us, even betwixt us and thee, and let us make a covenant with thee; That thou wilt do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee, and as we have done unto thee nothing but good, and have sent thee away in peace: thou art now the blessed of the LORD. And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite: Which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah. – Genesis 26:27-29,34-35]
[thou art now the blessed of the LORD.] You are not only blessed when you call upon the name of the LORD, you are the blessed. This means that you are enjoying the spiritual happiness and favor of God, [My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. – Proverbs 3:1-4]
[Which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah.] While God never makes two people the same, and we all have special characteristics, there really are only two kinds of people, God’s and Satan’s. God’s people believe every Word and seek to follow His will, even if they mess up, they are not perfect, and are very capable of doing evil, choose God. Satan’s people are against everything God stands for, they are very capable of doing good, and often reflect God’s people, but do not have the truth in them to turn to Christ, [Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. – John 8:43-44]
Today’s Prayer: God, When we put our faith and trust in Your Son we never fully comprehend just how merciful You are until we are faced with a situation that cries for mercy. Thank You, for Your mercies and grace, it is infinite and given freely to Your blessed children. We have found favor from You through our faith in Your Son alone, let us not come to despise our birthright, rather rejoice in it, knowing that You have more than a double portion, You are giving us eternal life. Lord, be with us in all that we do, lead us and guide us through the mercy and grace that only You can provide, while others mock us, remind us that Your grace is sufficient enough to keep our heads up high no matter how many times we fall. I ask this in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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