Even More Surprise Genesis 26:12-25. Key verses 23-25 This man is full of surprises. Isaac at last experiences success. He can now settle down, buy a Lazy Boy, hopefully retire fat and happy. Life is finally good! But what do we see? He packs his bags, his family and all his belongings and heads for […]
The Isaac Response Genesis 26:12-25. Key verse 22 It is so ingrained within us, to push back, “my way or the highway.” We have seen such a different response from our friend Isaac. What is it that is driving this consistent retort of yielding, moving on and beginning again? It is so counter intuitive. As […]
The Punch Line (contd.) Genesis 26:12-25. Key verse 22 We have all seen it. Most likely we have experienced it to some degree; a heavy investment of time and talent towards a noteworthy pursuit. All of a sudden it turns its head and strikes back leaving a painful wound. We say, “I did not intend […]
The Punch Line Genesis 26:12-25. Key verse 22 After so many struggles, conflict and heartache, Isaac and his family finally get some relief. We have had so many questions and bewilderment over this man’s responses. But now in verse 22 what has been hidden within this man’s heart is now revealed to us all. Let’s […]
Life reality #3- Being accused or “Where did that come from?” Genesis 26:12-25 Have you ever done what you thought was fully “the right thing to do” pure intentions, no hidden agenda but in the end misunderstood and actually accused of ill intention? That is a hard pill to swallow and some of you know the pain. […]
Life reality #2- Not all see it as I see it Genesis 26:12-25 A piece of ground; honest hard work to improve that ground; hitting water and creating a free flowing well. It’s obvious who should own that well. Hmmm, not so obvious to all. How do you respond when your “rights” are being challenged? What is […]
Life reality #1- Not all are happy with my success Genesis 26:12-25 Last week we talked about the importance of blessing, its lack in our culture and its ability to establish a reference point in a young man’s life. I’m convinced this reference point is important because it communicates to the boy he is secure and he […]
Isaac and the Wells Genesis 26:12-25 What you have discovered by now is that this journey with Jacob is taking quite some time. Yes indeed! The men at the Moot House study have given me a wonderful gift. They have given me the freedom to move through the text at my own pace. It’s been like this […]
“I Just Call it Like it Is!” Genesis 26:6-11 Have you ever said it? “I just call it like it is” sure you have and so have I. But after “eating crow” (Wikipedia-American colloquial idiom meaning humiliation by admitting wrongness or having been proved wrong after taking a strong position) on numerous occasions I’m not so quick these […]
Making a Move Genesis 26:1-5 We all know, “Pressure.” We know the pounding in our head, shortness of breath, sleepless nights, the pit in our stomach, the weight bearing down. Naturally we want to get out from underneath this debilitating force. We want relief. This of course is natural. How have you dealt with this? What is your […]
The Hunter Becomes the Hunted Genesis 25:29-34 Raising a modern day knight is not for the faint of heart. “Boys will be boys,” we say as we observe and respond to their bonehead antics. Wait a minute. I was a boy once and so where you. In fact the truth is there is still a Jacob and […]
Family Genesis 25: 24-26 Family. What does this word prompt in you? Are your feelings warm and endearing? For some of you the word may generate conflicting or even painful memories. For some there is nothing, no emotion at all. Families are complex organisms consisting of personalities, perceptions, roles and relationships. These combined bring forth very interesting dynamics […]
Me First (contd) Genesis 25:24-26 So what drives this propensity to either trip up or hold back the other? As long as I feel safe, in control and at the center of my world, all is ok. There is no need whatsoever to even consider the other. However, once the other is perceived as receiving what I […]
Me First Genesis 25:24-26 Jacob’s first action on this side of the womb so graphically illustrates our human condition. This need to be first, to overpower, to supplant, to supersede is in us, all of us. We have seen it operable at the level of world powers. We see it within corporate strategies and tactics. We see […]
Two Peoples Key Verse: Genesis 25:19-23 Have you ever gazed perplexed towards Heaven and shouted “What is going on?” Have you been puzzled by some occasion in your life or by what is occurring or for that matter not occurring around you. Let’s take a look at God’s response to a seemingly simple request. What is occurring […]
The Other Half Genesis 25:12-18 I would venture to say most families have what we have come to call “the other half,” those we don’t talk with much, we just don’t seem to gel. We describe them as simply, “different.” But as it is true, the apple does not fall far from the tree, so we must […]
Context for Journey Key Verse: Genesis 25:11 Like every living thing around us we as men were once born, we live for awhile and then we die. It all happens so quickly and generally within a relatively small place. This is a disturbing reality we all face sooner or later. What is it then that can […]
What to Be About In Robert Lewis’ book, “Raising a Modern Day Knight” one major idea within the book is that we as men ought to be living for something bigger than ourselves. Within this first session we look at three Old Testament characters (Adam, Noah, Abram), how God used each to affect a global change and […]
The life of Jacob as recorded in Genesis 25-49 has brought intrigue my entire adult life. In earlier years his apparent split personality, cunning, crafty, manipulative on one hand but yet his deep and transparent relationship with God Almighty seemed perplexing to me. Now, later in life I have become less surprised by my friend’s […]