Category Archives: Bible

Genesis 27 is a strange story. Isaac knew that Esau had sold his birthright to Jacob, but when he was close to death he intends to bless Esau rather than Jacob. Gen 25v28 tells us that Isaac favoured Esau because of his venison, and Isaac requests a meal of venison before he dies.

Jacob and Rebekah conspire to deceive Isaac into giving Jacob the blessing of the birthright. When Isaac realises the deception, he “trembled very greatly”. He knew that the blessing of the birthright should have gone to Jacob, and God had prevented him from blessing Esau instead. God’s intended plan cannot be hindered by man.

David writes in Psalm 32 of the forgiveness of God, and also of trusting in God. “Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD”. What God has promised will certainly occur, and we can be absolutely confident in God’s word, His love, and our glorious future together with Him.

In Genesis 24 we find the story of Rebekah becoming Isaac’s wife. It’s a strange story about a custom unfamiliar to us, but also a story of faith shown in different ways by Abraham, Eliezer, and Rebekah. All put their trust in God for the best outcome. Abraham relied on God for providing a wife for Isaac, Eliezer relied on God for the selection of that wife, and Rebekah trusted in God that marrying Isaac was the right thing to do.

It’s interesting that Eliezer’s prayer to God for success in finding a suitable wife is answered before he had finished praying. This means that Rebekah had to have left her house before Eliezer had even started praying. A real world example of Jesus’ words in Matthew 6, “your Father knows what you need before you ask him”.

Just as God answered David’s prayers, “O LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me”, He will answer our prayers too, in the way that develops us to be more like Him

In Genesis 22 we read of another great act of faith by Abraham, the almost-sacrifice of Isaac. Even more challenging than leaving Ur or waiting 25 years for a promised seed that was naturally impossible, Abraham simply states to Isaac “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering”. Abraham had faith that whatever the outcome, God would provide. He even names the place where he found the ram caught in the thicket, “The Lord will provide”.

David also believed that God would provide for his needs. Psalm 28, “Blessed be the LORD! For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy. The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. The LORD is the strength of his people; he is the saving refuge of his anointed.”

God will always provide what we need, whether it be trial or refuge or strength. “Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage”

24 years after Abram had first been promised to become a great nation, in Genesis 18 Abram is told that his promised child would finally arrive the next year, when Abram would be 100. Romans 4 tells us that his faith did not waver, but instead he was fully convinced that God was able to do what He had promised.

In stark contrast to this highlight of Abram’s life comes the destruction of Sodom, and the narrow escape of Lot. We see the end result of the choices Abram and Lot made, one choosing to remain in the promised land, the other the well watered Jordan Valley.

Psalm 22 is a Messianic Psalm, describing the results of the choices that Jesus made, the pain and anguish he experienced on the cross, yet still he maintained his trust in God. “For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him.”

It also describes a time we all long for, “All the ends of the earth shall remember
and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you.” A fulfilment of the promise God made to Abram, that we have been invited to share.

Abram’s journey of faith was neither easy nor peaceful. Having battled against Chedorlaomer and rescued Lot, Abram was afraid. God reassured Abram, saying “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great…your very own son shall be your heir” .  Again God reminded Abram of previous promises, “I am the Lord who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess”.

Abram believed God when He said this impossible thing would happen, and that belief was counted as righteousness. Faith is not something developed overnight, it takes time, and God knows this.

Psalm 18 was David’s way of thanking God for reassurance during his trials, a Psalm written for all Israel to sing. “I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.”

God has given us examples like David and Abram to show that He will reassure and encourage us during difficult times, further developing our faith.

God told Abram to leave Ur and travel to a land unknown. Abram “went, as the Lord and told him”. Along the way Abram built altars and worshipped God. He showed great faith, yet made mistakes, travelling to Egypt during a time of famine and lying about his wife.

Psalm 14-16 touch on the idea of deceit. “O Lord, who shall sojourn in your test? … He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart”. We all make mistakes, even great men of faith like Abram and David.

Perhaps that is why there are so many Psalms that talk about God’s care and Him being our refuge.  “Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge… I have no good apart from you”. David realised and wrote about his mistakes, and his method for dealing with them, both sobering and comforting. He writes “I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.”