ISAAC, JACOB, AND ESAU AND A TRIBUTE TO PATTI
Tuesday – May 1, 2018, Iyar 16, 5778
Greetings and welcome back to this faith building teaching from the Word of the only Living God. Since the last time I wrote this daily teaching from the Book of Hebrews or the Weekend teachings my sweet and precious wife has passed into Heaven. The Lord has strengthened me tremendously, He is my Help. I believe He has also strengthened the rest of our family to endure this time of, at times, intense sorrow. However, as Scripture tells us we do not sorrow as others with no hope, we have nothing but hope. I am remembering the good times as well as the not so good times present in our marriage, any marriage, any relationship but I am also determined to see her as she is today. She is in Heaven right now full of life and joy, and no vestiges of the curse. April 9th about 2:15 pm was the worst day of my life but it was the most wonderful day of her life. Can you imagine God’s very own Chariot of fire, the steeds of Heaven, with angel escorts bursting into her view as she exited her earthly tabernacle? She was whisked through that gate of Pearl into a palatial place beyond description of human language. As she burst through the open gate of Heaven she was greeted with thunderous applause and cheers. She was in the presence of the relatives who have gone before, the saints who have gone before, all shouting for joy and welcoming her home. There were also whispers that He is coming. Suddenly the Savior comes into sight with extended arms and Patti was wrapped in the arms of the Savior Himself? O what a sight, O what a goal for us all to press into. The featured picture is of Patti and me at Mount Batti in Camden Maine, who knows we may again stand there on assignment from our Father with the Glory of God shinning out of us like the sun.
Now, let’s turn our attention to our Bible Study by first reading aloud our primary text.
Hebrews 11:20-22 (KJV)
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.
22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
Interestingly there is no record of Abraham blessing Isaac. Perhaps this is due to the fact that the Promise came to both. We see this in the passage below after God has changed Abrams’ name to Abraham and Abraham finally made a faith confession that a child (not only Isaac but Jesus, The Seed) will be born. This faith confession or decree was crucial to the coming of Isaac and subsequently the coming of Jesus. As you might suspect Abraham is concerned about the child he fathered with Hagar however that child came by way of the flesh and not by faith. It seems that Isaac by being a willing participant in his own offering up in the land of Moriah became an equal participant, recipient of the Covenant between Abraham, The Seed, and God. As we go forward let us remember that at its core a blessing is an empowerment from God. The manifestation (supernatural work) of the Blessing is of God. A blessing is spoken, perhaps we could think of it as a decree into a person’s life.
Genesis 17:18-21 (KJV)
18 And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!
19 And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.
20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.
21 But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.
In the preceding passage in verse nineteen the word “seed” is singular in number and masculine in gender referring to the coming Messiah that would be sown for many. Listen into what Jesus had to say.
John 12:24 (KJV)
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
Later after the death of Sarah at one-hundred and thirty-seven years Abraham takes a wife(s) and has six recorded children. Let’s review the following passage together.
Genesis 25:1-8 (KJV)
1 Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah.
2 And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah.
3 And Jokshan begat Sheba, and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, and Letushim, and Leummim.
4 And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah.
5 And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac.
6 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.
7 And these are the days of the years of Abraham’s life which he lived, an hundred threescore and fifteen years.
8 Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.
Notice that Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac but then it goes on to say “that unto the sons of the concubines” Abraham gave gifts and sent them away east which would likely be back to Ur of the Chaldees. Notice that one wife is named which was really a concubine (not the same as a wife). The word concubine is plural indicating Abraham was quite the guy. God allowed this in that time but it was never the will of God as was divorce never the will of God. A concubine was a legitimate wife; however, she was of secondary rank according to The Complete Word Study Dictionary – Old Testament.
Genesis 25:11 (KJV)
11 And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by the well Lahairoi.
This well Lahairoi is interesting. This word is a combination of a well as in a pit with water, life, and vision. It seems that perhaps it was here that Isaac received the vision (saw afar off) of eternal life by the One who is Living Water. Until our next publication, I speak this Scriptural prayer for your life right now, receive it in the name of Jesus, confess it, and walk it out with thanksgiving.
2 Peter 1:2-4 (KJV)
2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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