Genesis 43
WHY WAS ISAAC BLESSED
AND ENJOYED IT?
(Gen. 26:12-25)
The Bible calls Abraham the father of the faith. When Abraham offered his son Isaac, born at the age of 100, as a burnt offering, he did not spare his only son and offered it to God. Together with his son Isaac, he firmly held on to the covenant of Christ.
If God answers prayer, how much should we pray? What is the standard of prayer?
Do we really have answers?
Abraham built an altar for this. (Gen.13:18 So Abram moved his tents and went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron,
where he built an altar to the LORD.
Gen.14:14 When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit
as far as Dan.)
Isaac prayed to God for this. (Genesis 25:21 Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. The LORD answered his prayer,
and his wife Rebekah became pregnant.
Servant of Abraham pray and receive answer. Gen.24:26-27 v. 26 Then the man bowed down and worshiped the LORD,
saying, "v. 27 Praise be to the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my master. As for me,
the LORD has led me on the journey to the house of my master's relatives."
After Jacob met God (see the throne and ladder in Genesis 28:10-22 at Bethel), he enjoyed the blessing of prayer.
In the end, he fully experienced the blessing of prayer. (Genesis 32:22-32 Jacob changed to Israel)
To what extent did Joseph pray? (Genesis 37:1-11) to the extent that the covenant he held onto became a dream,
Gen.39:1-6 Joseph, who became housekeeper in Potiphar's house, Gen.40:1-11 Helped the officers in prison, Gen. 45:5 And now, do not be distressed
and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.
1. Key verses of prayer answers through Genesis
1) Genesis 1:27-28 (Original blessing)
2) Genesis 3:1-20 (Loss of blessings)
3) Genesis 3:15 (Restoration of blessings)
4) Genesis 6:1-20 (Enjoyment of Noah's prayer answers)
5) Genesis 13:18 Built an altar to the Lord, 14:1-14 (Abraham's enjoyment)
6) Genesis 24:26 Servant of Abraham pray and receive answer. Gen. 25:21 (Isaac's Answer to Prayer)
7) Enjoying the blessing of the throne in Genesis 28:10-24 Bethel (Jacob's enjoyment)
8) Genesis 39:2-6 (Joseph's enjoyment)
2. If the people of the covenant pray, answers will come from four aspects.
1) God gives wisdom first (Dan 6:1-22)
Dan 3:1-25, Genesis 37:1-11, Genesis 39:1-6, 41:1-16
2) God announced a clear plan (Genesis 37:1-11, Ps 78:70-72)
Exodus 3:1-15, Ezekiel 37:1-14, Ezekiel 33:1-9, Joshua 1:1-8
* Making known his lifelong plan (Scheduled, continuous, concentrate prayer, earnest answers from this point on)
3) God proves it one by one (Genesis 37:12-24)
Gen. 39:1-6, 39: 20-23, 40:1-23, 41: 1-16, 41: 37-45
4) The door to answers and evangelism (missions) continues to open. (Joseph's evangelism, missions)
3. The Blessing of Isaac
1) The blessing he received (Genesis 26:12-14, 26:18- 19, 26:20-22)
2) The purpose of the blessing (Genesis 26:23-24)
v. 23 From there he went up to Beersheba.
v. 24 That night the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham."
3) The process and result of the blessing (Genesis 26:25 )
v. 25 Isaac built an altar there and called on the name of the LORD. There he pitched his tent, and there his servants dug a well.
Conclution
Isaac was blessed by four factors.
First, like his father Abraham, he was a man of faith who only held onto the covenant of Christ.
Second, he built an altar well like his father Abraham (centered on worship)
The third lived praying and calling on the name of Jehovah (centered on prayer).
Lastly, it is because Isaac also lived an obedient life (centered on the Word).
I pray in the name of the Lord that you also hold on to the faith of Isaac and enjoy it.