Sermon on Genesis
CHAPTER 1: CREATION
v.1 In the beginning God The subject of the Bible is God. The purpose of the Bible is to bring us to the knowledge of God and His love for us.
Doesn't nature reveal God to us? Why do we need the Bible to know Him? Nature reveals God's power, greatness, and wisdom, but this revelation is not complete. We need the Bible to provide us with a unified body of knowledge concerning God.
God is the creator of all things, the object of creation, and the sustainer of creation.
God created the heaven and the earth. Men who do not accept God as the creator must find other explanations for our existence.
Problems with the theory of evolution:
1. No new creation taking place.
2. Matter is constantly changing but the trend is downward (deterioration), not upward.
3. The earth would have to be much older than it is to provide time for
simple cells to evolve to the complexity of the cells we see today.
A. Complexity of cells is not synonymous with higher life forms. Frog cells are more complex than human cells.
4. The dating of fossils is often inaccurate.
5. Mutations occur within a species but do not cross over to another species.
6. The population of earth would be greater if man were as old as the evolutionists claim.
7. Suggested reading: Evolution: The Fossils Say No by Duane Gish and Twilight of Evolution by Henry Morris.
The Hebrew word for God in verse 1 is Elohim which is plural. This indicates that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit acted together to create the world.
v.2 There could be a gap in time between the first verse and the rest of the chapter. In the first verse, the Hebrew word translated create is bara meaning to make something out of nothing. Thereafter, the word asah is used, which means to assemble existing materials into an order.
But the earth became wasteful and desolate is another reading of the second verse.
v.3 Light is needed for life.
v.6-8 The blanket of moisture that surrounded the earth protected men from cosmic radiation and cell damage so that lifespans were much longer.
v.11,12 God created plant life that can reproduce itself.
v.20-25 God created the families of living things, the species.
v.26-28 Man is created in the image of God. The order to replenish the earth could indicate a pre-existence upon the earth.
IN THE BEGINNING GOD I. THE FACT OF GOD ASSUMED. A. No elaborate arguments given seeking to prove or establish His existence. B. This is a natural and logical assumption. 1. Evidences of His existence all around us and overwhelming. a. The design and order of the universe. b. The cycles and perpetuation of life forms. c. The human body. 2. Only a fool could deny the eviden...
1 Sermon on Genesis 1:1
The book of Genesis was written by Moses. Genesis is the book of beginnings: the beginning of creation, the beginning of man the beginning of sin, and the beginning of God's plan for the redemption of sinning man.
2 Sermon on Genesis 1:1
IN THE BEGINNING GOD I. THE BIBLE IS GOD'S REVELATION OF HIMSELF TO MAN. A. It never seeks to prove His existence. 1. It is always assumed. If I should write an autobiography I would not attempt to first prove I existed. B. The first verse introduces the subject matter of the book In the Beginning God. 1. Who is God? 2. What is He like? 3. What has He to do with me? C. S...
3 Sermon on Genesis 1:1
IN THE BEGINNING GOD I. THE BIBLE NEVER SEEKS TO PROVE THE EXISTENCE OF GOD. A. It always assumes the existence of God. 1. You do not seek to prove your existence, you have enough sense to know that by seeing you we should automatically know that you exist. 2. God is clearly seen in His creation. ROM 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness an...
Sermon on Genesis 1:3-5
I. AND GOD SAID, LET THERE BE LIGHT. A. In verse one we read, In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. I understand that to mean our universe. B. In verse 2 we read that the earth was without form and void, and darkness covered the face of the deep. 1. Out here in the corner of the Milky Way Galaxy was a formless mass, covered with ice shrouded in darkness. It ...
Sermon on Genesis 1:26-28
CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD I. SO GOD CREATED MAN IN HIS OWN IMAGE. A. Note first of all that man was created. He did not evolve. 1. The evolutionist would have you to believe that man evolved over a period of billions of years by the fortunate occurances of accidental circumstances. a. They teach that matter acting on matter given sufficient time can bring anything into exi...
Sermon on Genesis 1:26
THE IMAGE OF GOD I. WHAT IS MEANT BY THE IMAGE OF GOD? A. I do not believe that it means a physical image. 1. Though the Bible refers to the eyes of the Lord, and His ears. It talks of the hand of the Lord, also the arm of the Lord. These are all used in a figurative sense, for in the Psalms it refers to Him covering us with His wings. 2. Jesus was a manifestation of the Godhead...
Sermon on Genesis 1:27-31
DOMINION OVER THE EARTH I. AND GOD BLESSED THEM. A. After God created man, the first thing that we read is that God blessed them. 1. You need to know that God wants to bless you and He delights in blessing His children. a. I know how I love to bless my children and my grandchildren and now my great grandchild, with the second on the way. b. One of the greatest delights of m...
CHAPTER 2: DETAILS OF CREATION
v.2 "Rested" indicates that God was finished, not tired.
v.13 The Ethiopia referred to is not the area we know as Ethiopia today.
v.21 "Rib" actually means "curved section" in the Hebrew. God may have made an incision in Adam and used his blood or a clone cell to create Eve.
v.21-24 The woman was created to complete the man. The marriage relationship should be a building up and complementing of one another.
Sermon on Genesis 2:15-17
THE FALL OF MAN I. WHAT IS MEANT BY THE FALL OF MAN? A. We read that God said, Let us make man in our image and our likeness. We mean that man has fallen from the image of God. 1. When you look about on mankind today, you do not see him as God created him, nor how God intended him to be. 2. We mentioned that God was a superior trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, while man ...
CHAPTER 3: THE FALL
v.1 The word serpent here is not the Hebrew word commonly used for snake. It could be translated dragon, especially since snakes are reptiles, not "beasts of the field".
v.5 Satan implies that God is not fair in withholding the knowledge of good and evil.
v.6 Eve was deceived by the serpent, but Adam willfully transgressed when he ate the fruit. She was led into sin by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life.
v.9 "Where art thou?" is the cry of a heart-broken father. God knew that Adam and Eve were the victims of their choice and that they were now in bondage to death and darkness.
v.12-13 Adam and Eve tried to shift the blame for their sin onto others.
v.15 The first promise of the Messiah: Jesus, the seed of the woman (Mary), destroyed the "head" or authority and power of Satan by His redemptive death on the cross. The cross is the second tree established by God whereby men might leave the government of death and darkness and go back into the government of life and light.
v.21 The concept of a blood sacrifice to cover sin is first introduced here as the animals are slain to provide clothing for Adam and Eve. This event foreshadows Christ's eventual death on the cross, which put an end to blood sacrifice.
v.22-24 God was merciful, not harsh, when He sent Adam and Eve away from the tree of life, because He knew they would not want to have to remain forever in their earthly, aging bodies.
Sermon on Genesis 3:1-7
TEMPTED TO SIN I. THE TEMPTER. A. Satan revealed in scripture as. 1. Deceiver (angel of light). 2. Opposer of God. 3. Liar liar from the beginning... 4. The true enemy of the believer for we wrestle not against flesh and blood... II. THE FORM OF TEMPTATION. A. Questioning God's Word hath God said? 1. Still attacking God's Word today. a. Doubt the accuracy. b. Doub...
Sermon on Genesis 3:7, 21
FIG LEAVES OR FUR COATS I. THE BEGINNING OF SIN BROUGHT BEGINNING OF SORROW. A. Satan seeks to associate sin with pleasure. 1. With Eve. a. Good for food. b. Pleasant. c. Desirable. 2. First reaction to sin often positive. a. You seek to draw others to join you. b. Eve gave to Adam and he ate. 3. Things have not changed from the beginning. a. Sin still seems fun at the ...
Sermon on Genesis 3:9
WHERE ART THOU? Intro: Genesis means beginning. Beginning of physical universe, beginning of life forms, beginning of man. I. MAN, A SPECIAL CREATION. A. Rest of creation spoken into existence. 1. God formed man's body out of dust. 2. God breathed into man life. B. Man has a special relationship to God above all other creators. Made in image of God. 1. A touch of God in ...
Sermon on Genesis 3:21
REDEMPTION Intro. Webster's Dictionary defines redeem as: To ransom, free or rescue by paying a price; To free from the consequences of sin. Some of the synonyms for redeem are, reclaim, recover, regain, rescue, save. These all describe what God has done for the sinner. I. THE NEED OF REDEMPTION. A. Man had sinned, he ate the fruit of the tree that God commanded he should not e...
CHAPTER 4: CAIN'S SIN
v.3 "In process of time" Adam could have had four generations of children during the time lapse indicated by these words.
Usually, all a man's children are not listed in the Bible; only those who are relevant to the story are named.
v.5 Cain's offering did not please God.
v.7 God explained to Cain that sin in his life had caused his offering to be rejected.
Sermon on Genesis 4:1-4
BUILDING TOWERS TO HEAVEN I. THIS WAS THE BEGINNING OF MAN'S FALSE RELIGIOUS SYSTEMS. A. All religious systems have a base, man's attempt to reach heaven. 1. There is a universal awareness of God. 2. Universal desire to worship God. a. Woman at the well. B. There are many attempts to localize God. 1. Establishing of sacred places. 2. Creating magic sticks, lucky charms. 3...
CHAPTER 5: THE PATRIARCHS FROM ADAM TO NOAH
v.21-24 The deaths of men are recorded in an unbroken chain until Enoch. Enoch was taken from the earth by God. Enoch, as a man of faith, represents the Church, which will also be taken out of the world (raptured). Noah symbolizes the 144,000 Jews who will have to go through the Tribulation here on earth, but will be protected by God.
v.25-27 It appears that Methuselah died in the Flood.
Sermon on Genesis 5:1-32
This is the book of the generations of Adam. [And as you read these generations of Adam and as it lists them for us] In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created. And Adam lived one hundred and twenty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth (Gen 5:1-3).
CHAPTER 6: THE STORY OF NOAH
v.3 God cut the lifespan from an average of 912 years to an average of 120 years
v.4 The "sons of God" may refer to fallen angels who married the "daughters of men" and produced giant offspring.
v.6 "Repented" is our way of describing God's response to the evil in the world He had created, though He actually does not "repent" as we do.
v.14 "Pitch" is tar.
v.15 A cubit is 18 to 24 inches. The ark had the square footage of 1,000 boxcars.
v.19-21 Noah had room for the animals because he only had to take one pair from each species. God sent the animals to the ark, so Noah did not have to search them out.
Sermon on Genesis 6:1
AS THE DAYS OF NOAH WERE Intro: Jesus walking through the Temple precincts with the disciples. Not one stone was left standing. What will be the sign of these things and thy coming . . . I. POPULATION EXPLOSION MEN BEGAN TO MULTIPLY UPON THE FACE OF THE EARTH. A. You may figure by a mathematic formula the population in a given number of years if you know the average family ...
Sermon on Genesis 6:1-3
THE DAYS OF NOAH Intro: In response to the disciples request for end time signs. As it was in the days of Noah,so shall the coming of the Son of Man be. I. HOW WAS IT IN NOAH'S DAY? A. Population explosion. Men began to multiply on the face of the earth. 1. Some math ratios put as many as 4 billion. 2. Since flood, reduction of life span, wars, plagues. It took till: a....
Sermon on Genesis 6:1-11
I. THE CONDITION OF THE WORLD. A. Wickedness of man was great. B. The imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. C. The earth was corrupt before God. D. The earth was filled with violence. E. These are the conditions that brought God's judgment. F. The present condition of the world. 1. Rising crime rate, crimes of violence. 2. Corruption that-exists...
Sermon on Genesis 6:3
STRIVING WITH GOD MY SPIRIT...HEREIN IS A BLESSING AND A CURSE I. HOW DOES GOD'S SPIRIT STRIVE WITH MAN? A. He seeks to reason with us about sin. 1. Come now, let us reason together... 2. He reveals to us our sin. a. This is where the striving often begins. 1. I defend my actions. 2. I deny my guilt. 3. A conflict is set up inside. 3. He points to Jesus Christ the ...
Sermon on Genesis 6:8
NOAH FOUND GRACE Intro. The Hebrew word translated grace in most translations is translated favor. Noah found favor in the sight of the Lord. This same Hebrew word is translated favor in the majority of places where it is found in the King James Bible. I. HOW IS IT THAT NOAH FOUND FAVOR IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD? A. Noah was a just man. vs 7 1. He was upright, and fair. 2. God...
CHAPTER 7: THE FLOOD
v.6 It took Noah and his sons about 120 years to complete the ark.
v.11 "Fountains of the deep" are underground reservoirs.
A flood legend was part of the mythology of all the ancient cultures, confirming the common origin of man.
v.12 Forty is the number of judgment in the Bible.
Sermon on Genesis 7:1-24
And so the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all of your house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation. Now of the clean beast thou shalt take by sevens, male with his female (Gen 7:1-2):
So seven pair of the clean beasts.
CHAPTER 8: NOAH LEAVES THE ARK
v.21 God's evaluation of man: "...for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth."
Sermon on Genesis 8:1-22
The eighth chapter begins with the words,
And God remembered Noah (Gen 8:1),
CHAPTER 9: THE COVENANT
v.9-11 God promised that He would not destroy the earth with a universal flood again.
v.19 The peoples of the world are divided into three ethnic groups after Noah's three sons.
Sermon on Genesis 9:9-17
GOD'S COVENANT Intro. Webster's Dictionary defines covenant as a formal, solemn and binding, agreement. Throughout the scriptures we find God offering many covenants. I. GOD'S COVENANT WITH NOAH THAT HE WOULD NEVER AGAIN DESTROY THE EARTH WITH A FLOOD. A. First note that God initiated the covenant. I establish My covenant with you. 1. This is true of the covenants in the Bib...
CHAPTER 10: THE TABLES OF NATIONS
v.2 The sons of Japheth are the Caucasians who settled in Russia and the European continent.
v.6 Ham's descendants populated the African continent.
v.21 Shem was the father of the Hebrew (the children of Eber) and Oriental people.
Sermon on Genesis 10:1-32
Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah (Gen 10:1),
And as we get into chapter ten, this chapter has been called the "Table of Nations". And here you have the beginning of all of the various nations of the world, the various ethnic groups with these sons of Noah. "These are the generations of the sons of Noah."
CHAPTER 11: THE TOWER OF BABEL
v.4 The tower was a ziggurat a temple tower where people planned to worship the stars and the heavens.
v.26 Since Shem and Abram were contemporaries, Shem may have given the details of the ark and the Flood to Abram.
Sermon on Genesis 11:1-9
BUILDING TOWERS TO HEAVEN I. WHY DOES MAN SEEK TO BUILD TOWERS TO HEAVEN? A. Man's inner consciousness declares God exists. 1. God is on a higher level or plane. 2. Man is reaching out for God. B. Within I realize I need God. 1. My life is incomplete without Him. 2. Life is a puzzle and enigma without Him. 3. Life is impossible without Him. a. I may be a very self-suffi...
Sermon on Genesis 11:31; 12:5
Intro: After the flood when men began to multiply on the earth they once again turned from God. God called out a family that He might create a nation. Come ye apart from them and be ye separate. I. THE CALL OF GOD SOMETIMES ONLY HALF OBEYED AND THEY CAME UNTO HORAN AND DWELT THERE. A. We do not know how the call came to Abram. 1. The first thing he must do is tell his family....
CHAPTER 12: THE PROMISE OF BLESSING
v.2,3 The promise of blessing God gave to Abram included the promise of the Messiah that was to come from Abram's line:
"and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed".
v.5 Abram and Sarai had the same father, so she was his half-sister.
v.11-20 Abram was seventy-five and Sarai was in her sixties.
Though Abram is considered to have been a great man of faith, his faith was not always constant, and here is a lapse of faith.
Sermon on Genesis 12:1-20
Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy family (Gen 12:1),
So Abraham really wasn't totally obedient at this point. And this to me is interesting, because Abraham is always held as the model of faith in the New Testament, the model of a man who believed and trusted God.
CHAPTER 13: ABRAM AND LOT DIVIDE
v.14-18 God promised the land to Abram and his descendants forever.
God told Abram to look at the land with the eyes of faith and then to walk in faith all over the land.
Sermon on Genesis 13:14-18
THE LOOK OF FAITH I. LIFT UP NOW THINE EYES. A. Abraham just experienced a difficult trial. 1. He and Lot had just parted company. 2. Lot had chosen the Jordan valley. 3. In the midst of trials Satan often speaks to us. a. You were sure a fool to give them a choice. b. Now you are all alone, what are you going to do? c. It doesn't pay to be gracious. He gets the gard...
CHAPTER 14: THE KING OF SALEM
v.18 Salem is thought to be Jerusalem. The term El Elyon, "most high God," is first used here.
Some scholars think Melchizedek may have been Shem, who was still alive at that time, while others believe that Melchizedek was a theophany, an appearance of God in human form, which would be Christ.
v.20 Abram tithed to Melchizedek.
v.22 Abram used the term Melchizedek had used - "most high God".
Sermon on Genesis 14:1-24
And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel the king of Shinar (Gen 14:1),
Now Shinar is Babylon.
and Arioch the king of Ellasar [which is Babylonia], and Chedorlaomer the king of Elam [which is Persia], and Tidal the king of [Goyem or] nations (Gen 14:1);
CHAPTER 15
v.1 Abram had not taken any spoil from the battle, so God told him that He would be his shield and reward.
v.13 The 400 years of bondage of the Hebrews in Egypt is prophesied.
v.14 The Hebrews "borrowed" from their Egyptian neighbors when they left Egypt.
Sermon on Genesis 15:1
THE GREAT REWARD I. AFTER THESE THINGS. A. Four kings from Babylon and Persia invaded the land plundering many cities including Sodom. 1. Lot was taken captive. 2. An escapee came to Abram to inform. B. Abraham armed 318 servants. 1. They pursued the plundering armies. 2. They caught up with them near Dan. 3. Pursued them as far as Damascus. C. As Abraham returned with ...
Sermon on Genesis 15:1-6
HONEST DOUBT Intro: Abram had just defeated the confederacy of kings and saved Lot and his family, the king of Sodom offered Abram the spoils which he refused. I. THE OCCASION FOR THE HONEST DOUBT. A. God had just spoken to Abram two promises. 1. I am thy shield. a. Perhaps Abram began to fear a retaliation from these four kings. b. I am your defense. 2. I am thy exceed...
Sermon on Genesis 15;1
THE LORD OUR SHIELD Intro. Lot had journeyed with Abraham from Haran to the land of promise. They were together until they became so prosperous that the land was not big enough for their animals to graze together. It was then that Abraham told Lot that it would be best to separate and that Lot could have the first choice. Lot saw the beauty and fertility of the Jordan Valley and ...
CHAPTER 16
v.2 Sarai had a lapse of faith when she tried to help God to produce an heir for Abram. Though this lapse was forgiven, the descendants of Ishmael have caused problems for the sons of Abram since these early days.
v.11 Ishmael means "God shall hear".
v.14 Beerlahairoi means "the well of Him that liveth and seeth me".
Sermon on Genesis 16:1-16
Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: she had a handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai (Gen 16:1-2).
CHAPTER 17: THE COVENANT OF CIRCUMCISION
v.1 God reveals Himself further as El Shaddai.
v.5 Abram means "high father". Abraham means "father of many nations".
v.10-14 Circumcision was a symbol of the cutting away of the flesh to pursue the things of God and of His Spirit.
v.15 Sarai means "contentious" Sarah means "princess".
v.16 The fourth chapter of Romans lists the four keys to Abraham's faith as: 1) Not considering the human limitations. 2) Not staggering at the promises of God. 3) Giving glory and thanks to God for what He will do. 4) Knowing that God can fulfill His promises.
v.17,18 A second lapse of faith: Abraham laughed and wondered inwardly when God told him that Sarah would bear a son, and then Abraham told God that he would be satisfied with Ishmael.
v.19 God told Abraham to call his son Isaac, which means "laughter".
Sermon on Genesis 17:27
Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old (Gen 17:1),
So this is another thirteen years later.
the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am Almighty God (Gen 17:1);
El Shaddai. So here is the first term use of the term Almighty God, El Shaddai.
walk before me, and be thou perfect. And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly (Gen 17:1-2).
CHAPTER 18: THE LORD VISITS ABRAHAM
v.13,17 When LORD is written with all capital letters, it signifies the Hebrew Yaweh (YHVH) is used in the text. The Jews do not pronounce His holy name.
v.22 The men (angels) went on to Sodom, but the Lord (Jesus, since this was a theophany) stayed with Abraham.
v.23-32 The concept that the Lord would not destroy the righteous with the wicked was argued by Abraham as the "right" way to act. According to this concept,
God will not destroy His Church in the tribulation, but will take it out before His judgment begins, as He removed Lot from Sodom.
Sermon on Genesis 18:20
THE DAYS OF LOT GEN 18:20 And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; I. ABRAHAM'S INTERCESSION FOR THE CITY OF SODOM. A. The premise of the intercession, it would not be right to punish or judge the righteous with the wicked. Abraham asked: Will you destroy the righteous with the wicked? He knew his nephew Lot li...
CHAPTER 19: THE ANGELS VISIT SODOM
v.1 The two angels had gone on to Sodom. The judges of Sodom sat in the gate.
v.5 The men of Sodom wanted to have homosexual relations with the angels.
v.6-8 It is hard to understand why Lot would offer his virgin daughters to the wicked men of Sodom unless one understands that in those times women were considered chattel and were not esteemed as women have been since Christianity developed.
v.10 The angels pulled Lot back into the house.
v.14 Though Lot was righteous, his compromises in moving into the wicked city cost him his children. Only his two daughters who remained at home went with him.
v.31 The daughters thought they were the only survivors on the earth, so they acted to preserve life.
v.37,38 The Moabites and Ammonites were the result of these unions and caused continual problems for the Hebrews.
Sermon on Genesis 19:22-24
REMEMBERING LOT'S WIFE I. THE CONDITIONS OF SODOM. A. Physical - Beautiful lush plain south of Dead Sea. 1. Dead Sea 40 miles long, 10 miles wide, 1286 feet below sea level. 2. Divided into upper and low end. Lower end 10 to 20 feet deep. Upper up to 1400 feet deep. 3. Lower end more recent, being formed by northern end being filled with salt, raising level. 4. It is under t...
Sermon on Genesis 19:26
THE CONQUENCES OF COMPROMISE I. LOT WAS A VERY WEALTHY MAN. HIS FLOCKS AND HERDS BECAME SO GREAT HE COULD NO LONGER STAY WITH ABRAHAM. A. The scripture describes him as having great substance. 1. Abraham and he had come to that point that they had to part company. 2. Abraham left the choice of the land up to Lot. You go one way and I will go the other. 3. Lot chose the lush...
CHAPTER 20: ANOTHER LAPSE OF FAITH
v.2 Sarah was in her nineties at this point.
Abraham again had a lapse of faith, which only confirms that he was a man just as we are. The gift of faith that God gave Abraham is available to us, too
Sermon on Genesis 20:1-18
Abraham journeyed from there toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and he sojourned in Gerar (Gen 20:1).
So Abraham was living in the area of Hebron, but now he is still sort of a nomadic person. If you go over to Israel today, you'll see the Bedouins living in their tents and they are nomadic people. They'll live for awhile in an area and then they'll get up, pack their tents and move and live in another area. And Abraham was living in tents. He never had a house to dwell in, dwelt in tents as a Bedouin, as a stranger, as a sojourner.
CHAPTER 21: THE BIRTH OF ISAAC
v.1-7 The birth of Isaac was a source of awe at God's power and joy in His blessing.
v.12 God promised Abraham that "in Isaac shall thy seed be called". This promise was to help Abraham in a later trial.
v.31 Beersheba means "the well of oath or swearing".
Sermon on Genesis 21:1-34
Now the LORD visited Sarah as he had said (Gen 21:1),
I like this.
and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken (Gen 21:1).
I like that, "as He had said, and as He had spoken." I've got that underlined that just sort of hit me. "The Lord visited Sarah as he had said." The Lord keeps His word. The Lord is faithful to His promise. He may not do it as quickly as we would like Him to do it. Abraham been waiting for thirteen years, you know, since the last promise was made. And he was getting older everyday. But the Lord came to Sarah as He said and He did as He had spoken.
CHAPTER 22: THE FELLOWSHIP OF HIS SUFFERING
God's revelation of Himself to Abraham took the form of a progressive fellowship into which He led Abraham each time He appeared to him.
First appearance: fellowship of the discontent of God with the worldly society (Genesis 12:1 ).
Second appearance: fellowship with the plans and methods of God (Genesis 13:14-18).
Third appearance: fellowship with the patience of God (Genesis 15).
Fourth appearance: fellowship of the hope of God (Genesis 15:12-21).
Fifth appearance: fellowship of the sufficiency of God (Genesis 17).
Sixth appearance: fellowship with the justice of God (Genesis 18: 23-33).
Seventh appearance: fellowship of His suffering (Genesis 22).
v.1 "Test" is a better word than "tempt" to describe the experience God planned for Abraham.
v.2 This verse compares to John 3:16 where God the Father sacrificed His beloved Son. Calvary is located right on the crest of Mount Moriah.
v.3-10 Repetition of the word "and" denotes consistent, deliberate action.
v.5 The plural verb was used when Abraham said, "I and the lad will go yonder and worship and (we will) come again to you".
v.6 Isaac had to carry the wood for the sacrifice even as Christ had to carry the cross.
v.8 Abraham prophesies, "My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering (sacrifice)".
v.8-10 Hebrews 11:17-19. Since Abraham had the promise of God (Genesis 21:12) that his descendants would come through Isaac, and since Isaac had no children when God asked for the sacrifice, Abraham knew that, if necessary, God would raise Isaac from the dead.
Like Christ, Isaac was a willing sacrifice, for he was about thirty years old and could easily have overpowered his aged father.
v.14 Jehovah-jireh means "God sees, God provides". "In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen" was a prophecy of the sacrifice of Jesus by the Father on the same mount.
v.16-18 When Abraham gave his best to God, God rewarded him doubly. Abraham was allowed to enter into a deep, intimate fellowship with God in suffering over the sacrifice of a beloved only son.
1 Sermon on Genesis 22
JEHOVAH WILL SEE IT: THE LORD WILL BE SEEN (JEHOVAH JIREH) I. PROVISION IN HOUR OF EXTREMITY. A. Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it and was glad. When he saw the substitute for Issac. II. PROVISION SPONTANEOUSLY MADE. A. Abraham did not pray for substitute. III. PROVISION MADE BY GOD HIMSELF. A. The Lord will provide. 1. What sacrifice could man offer ? (burn...
2 Sermon on Genesis 22
THE FELLOWSHIP OF HIS SUFFERING. Intro: Jesus said to Jews Ye do search the scriptures.... Here is one of the clearest pictures of all. I. AFTER THESE THINGS, THIS WAS THE SEVENTH OF A SERIES WHEREBY GOD REVEALED HIMSELF TO ABRAHAM. A. Called to leave the Ur of the Chaldees. Fellowship with the discontent of God. B. Next appearing was when God promised him the land, where...
Sermon on Genesis 22:1, 2
FELLOWSHIP OF SUFFERING Intro: God created man for fellowship. He desires fellowship with you. The story of Abraham is a man being drawn into full fellowship with God. Friend of God. We haven't cried together. I. THIS IS THE SEVENTH AND FINAL APPEARANCE OF GOD TO ABRAHAM. A. First in the Ur of the Chaldees and later at Haran called to leave land and family. 1. Fellowship wit...
Sermon on Genesis 22:1-2
FELLOWSHIP OF HIS SUFFERING I. GOD CREATED MAN FOR FELLOWSHIP. A. I John 1, That which we have seen and heard... B. Paul speaks of his desire to know the fellowship of His suffering. 1. Suffering seems to create the closest bond of fellowship. 2. We never cried together. II. THIS WAS THE SEVENTH APPEARANCE OF GOD TO ABRAHAM AS GOD BROUGHT HIM INTO AN EVER DEEPENING FELL...
Sermon on Genesis 22:1-14
THE FELLOWSHIP OF HIS SUFFERING Intro: God created man for fellowship. The deepest fellowship is the fellowship of suffering. We have never cried together. I. THIS IS THE SEVENTH AND FINAL APPEARANCE OF GOD TO ABRAHAM AS HE WAS LEADING HIM INTO A SUCCESSIVE DEEPER FELLOWSHIP. A. First in Ur of Chaldees called him to leave his family and country. 1. Fellowship with discontent...
Sermon on Genesis 22:1
GIVING GOD OUR BEST Intro: Most have never really tried what God called Abraham to give. I. ABRAHAM'S TESTING CALL TO GIVE BEST. A. God calls for best of our love. B. God calls for best of our gifts. (cruse of oil.) C. God calls for best of our service. D. God calls for best of our loyalty. II. ABRAHAM'S READY RESPONSE. A. It cost his home life. B. All personal incentiv...
Sermon on Genesis 22:1
I. NOT ISOLATED INCIDENT. A. Link in chain. 1. Seven occasions God appeared to Abraham. B. Purpose of God through Abraham to restore a lost order, and establish kingdom. 1. Not chosen that from his loins a. people might spring forth to be God's people. 2. That is while other peoples abandoned to darkness and death. a. God said, I will bless thee and make thee a blessing In ...
Sermon on Genesis 22:1,2
THE FELLOWSHIP OF SUFFERING Intro. There are seven recorded occasions when the Lord appeared to Abraham. This is the last of the seven. In each occasion the Lord was drawing Abraham into an ever deeper fellowship with Himself. I. THE SEVEN APPEARANCES. A. The first appearance was when he received the call of God to leave his birthplace in the Ur of the Chaldees and his family a...
Sermon on Genesis 22:2
Genesis 22:2 God's Call to Abraham to Give His Best I. Isaac was the most prized possession of His Father. Thy Son, thine only Son Isaac, whom thou lovest. A. God had promised to Abraham that He would give to him a son, and that through his seed all of the nations of the earth would be blessed. 1. Abraham waited many years for that promise to be fulfilled. a. It is probably w...
Sermon on Genesis 22:16
THE NEARNESS OF GOD UNRECOGNIZED Intro: A long journey, a hard pillow, an uneasy conscience, a heavy heart, these are the things that make men dream. I. MAN'S UNCONSCIOUSNESS OF THE NEARNESS OF GOD. A. God is omnipresent. 1. Psalm 139. 2. Acts 17:28 In Him we live and move... B. We are not always conscious of His presence. 1. The place of Jacob's dream. 2. The Lord is i...
CHAPTER 23: SARAH'S BURIAL
v.3-20 This chapter provides insight into the dealings of Abraham with the Canaanites.
Sermon on Genesis 23:1-20
And so Sarah was a hundred and twenty-seven years old. And she died in Kirjatharba; the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah (Gen 23:1-2),
Now evidently Abraham had been away with the flocks or something when Sarah died and he wasn't at her side at her death, which is a sad thing indeed. He came to mourn,
CHAPTER 24: A BRIDE FOR ISAAC
The story of Isaac and Rebekah is a beautiful love story that symbolizes the Holy Spirit wooing a Bride (the Church) for the Son (Christ).
v.26 Throughout this story, Eliezer is a selfless individual, speaking more of Abraham and Isaac than of himself, just as the Holy Spirit glorifies the Father and the Son without drawing attention to Himself.
v.29-31 Laban hurried to greet Eliezer when he sensed there could be a profit.
v.53 The Holy Spirit gives glorious gifts to us.
v.58 Rebekah was drawn by the Spirit to her bridegroom, so she did not hesitate to go.
Sermon on Genesis 24:63
THE CAMELS ARE COMING Intro. God declared through Hosea the prophet that He had spoken by the prophets, and had multiplied visions, and used similitude. Things that are similar to illustrate a point. This story of getting a bride for Isaac is one of the similitude or types of the Old Testament. GEN 24:2 And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all t...
CHAPTER 25: JACOB AND ESAU
v.25 Esau means "hairy". Jacob means "heel-catcher or supplanter".
v.27 "Plain man" means that he was delicate.
v.30 Edom means "red"; this was Esau's nickname.
v.34 Esau did not really care about his birthright, for he went on his-way after eating the lentils; but to Jacob the birthright was something to be desired.
Sermon on Genesis 25:1-34
Then in chapter twenty-five we find that Abraham [after Sarah's death] took another wife, her name was Keturah. [The name means, "mother of us all".] And she bare him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, 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 (Gen 25:1-4),
CHAPTER 26: ISAAC'S LAPSE OF FAITH
v.1-11 Isaac said his wife was his sister to protect himself just as his father had done with his wife.
v.20 Esek means "strife ".
v.21 Sitnah means "contention".
v.22 Rehoboth means "room for us all".
v.23 Shebah means "seventh".
Sermon on Genesis 26:1-35
Now there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. [And like father, like son,] Isaac went to Abimelech the king of the Philistines unto Gerar (Gen 26:1).
Now, it was to Abimelech that Abraham went, but certainly not the same one that Isaac went to because this is a hundred years later, more than a hundred years later. So Abimelech was sort of a title of the king of the Philistines. And so Isaac went unto the land of the Philistines
CHAPTER 27: THE SUBSTITUTION
v.38 Esau wept for the loss of the material blessings, but he did not really seek the blessing of God on his life. Hebrews 12:17.
v.40 Esau's descendants were the Edomites who were under the dominion of the Israelites for a time but finally revolted. The Herod kings in the New Testament were the last known Edomites.
Sermon on Genesis 27:34
TRUE REPENTANCE I. WHAT IS REPENTANCE? A. It is to be so sorry for what you have done that you change. 1. It isn't just being sorry, but sorry enough to change. 2. There are many who are sorry for what they have done, for the hurt and anguish that their actions have brought on themselves and others, but have not really repented for what they have done. 3. If you would conduct...
CHAPTER 28: JACOB IS SENT AWAY
v.11 Jacob was at Bethel, the same spot where the Lord had shown to Abraham all the land that He would give to him and to his seed.
v.20 Jacob was such a scheming man that even his vow to God was basically a bargain with God rather than a loving consecration.
Sermon on Genesis 28:10-16
THE PRESENCE OF GOD Intro: A hard trip, a guilty conscious, an uncomfortable bed, these are ingredients that make for dreams. I. THE DREAM. A. God many times spoke through dreams. 1. Pharaoh. 2. Nebuchanezzar. 3. Joseph. B. Why does he use a dream? 1. Sometimes we keep our waking hours so jammed with our own thoughts, can't get through. 2. We seldom take time for meditati...
Sermon on Genesis 28:16, 17
THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF GOD Intro: The omni-presence of God is a part of Christian theology. Though we believe it, we so often fail to recognize it. I. SURELY THE LORD IS IN THIS PLACE. A. Jacob was fleeing for his life. 1. His brother threatened to kill him. 2. Jacob had disguised himself and received his brother's patriarchal blessing. 3. Running for his life he arrived tir...
Sermon on Genesis 28:16
THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD UNRECOGNIZED Intro. Jacob is fleeing for his life. He has deceived his father and received the blessing that his father intended for Esau, his twin brother. Esau has consoled himself with the thought that as soon as his father dies, he will kill Jacob. The evening of the first day of his flight has brought him all the way to Bethel. Bone tired and weary, ...
CHAPTER 29: JACOB MARRIES
v.17 Tender eyed meant "blue-eyed." Blue eyes were considered a weakness then.
v.23-27 Laban was as scheming as Jacob in giving his older daughter to Jacob in place of the beloved Rachel, for whom Jacob had worked for seven years.
v.27 The seven years work for each daughter was a dowry paid to Laban by Jacob.
v.30,31 Jacob made his preference of Rachel over Leah obvious.
v.32 Reuben means "see, a son".
v.33 Simeon means "heard".
v.34 Levi means "joined".
v.35 Judah means "praise the Lord".
Sermon on Genesis 29:1-35
Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the people of the east. And he looked, behold there was a well in the field, and, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone was upon the well's mouth. And all of the flocks were gathered together here: and they rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again on the well's mouth in this place. And Jacob said unto the young people that were there, My brothers, where do you come from? And they said, We're from Haran. And he said unto them, Do you know Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, Sure, we know him. And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, Sure: and, look, Rachel his daughter is coming with the sheep (Gen 29:1-6).
CHAPTER 30: THE BIRTH OF JOSEPH
v.6 Dan means "judging".
v.8 Naphtali means "wrestling".
v.11 Gad means "a troop".
v.13 Asher means "happy".
v.18 Issachar means "hired".
v.20 Zebulun means "dwelling".
v.24 Joseph means "adding".
v.35 Laban removed all the speckled and ring straked animals from the herd so that only solid colored animals would be born and he would have Jacob's labor for free.
v.37-43 Jacob devised a system that caused the offspring of the stronger animals to be marked so that only the weaker animals were solid-colored.
Sermon on Genesis 30:1-43
Now when Rachel saw that she could not bare Jacob children, Rachel envied her sister; and she said to Jacob, Give me children, or else I'm going to die. And Jacob was angry with her: and he said, Am I in God's place, who hath withheld thee from the fruit of the womb (Gen 30:1-2)?
So here's some hard feelings and harsh words between husband and wife because Rachel feels the disgrace of not being able to bear children.
And so she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in to her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may have children by her. And so she gave him Bilhah her handmaid as a wife: and Jacob went in to her. And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son. And Rachel said, God hath judged me, and so she called his name Judge, Dan (Gen 30:3-6).
CHAPTER 31: JACOB DEPARTS
The three basic principles of God's guidance are illustrated in this chapter:
1) Desire - God placed the desire to return home in Jacob's heart.
2) Uncomfortable circumstances - the situation at Laban's house was getting unbearable.
3) Direct word - the Lord told Jacob to return to his home.
v.7 Laban had tried to outwit Jacob.
v.13 God reminded Jacob of the vow he had made to Him at Bethel.
v.26-30 Laban was a hypocrite; in verse 29 we can see what was really in his heart.
It is sad that a man's gods can be stolen.
v.47 Jegarsahadutha and Galeed both mean "the witness".
v.49 Mizpah means, "The Lord watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another".
v.50-53 The intent of Mizpah was negative, because Laban and Jacob did not trust each other. They wanted God to watch between them, since they could not constantly see each other.
Sermon on Genesis 31:41
CHICKENS COME HOME TO ROOST A free translation of Genesis 31:36-41 GEN 31:36 And Jacob was angry with Laban and began to tell him off saying: Where have I wronged you, what is my sin that you have so hotly pursued after me? You have searched through all of my stuff and have found nothing. I was with you for twenty years, during that time I took great care of your flocks, I have ...
CHAPTER 32: JACOB BECOMES ISRAEL
v.2 Mahanaim means "two hosts".
v.12 Jacob reminded God of His promise.
v.13-21 After his prayer, Jacob started planning ways to win his brother's forgiveness.
v.24-26 Though he was ninety, Jacob wrestled with the angel all night and would not submit until he was crippled in his thigh. Why did God cripple Jacob?
Jacob was a man of faith. He trusted God and believed in His purposes. However, Jacob thought that God needed his help to get things done, and God knew that Jacob had to be defeated so that he would rely on God instead of on his own resourcefulness. God crippled Jacob in order to crown him with His glory. When Jacob surrendered, God's power could begin to be manifested to him.
v.26 Hosea 12:3 tells us that Jacob was pleading with tears when he cried, "I will not let thee go, except thou bless me".
v.28 Israel means "governed by God"
v.30 Peniel means "the face of God".
Sermon on Genesis 32:6-12
PRAYER I. MOTIVATIONS TO PRAY. WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO MOTIVATE? A. Some motivated by desperation. 1. These were troubling days for Jacob. a. Laban had just departed. b. Esau is on his way with 400 men. 2. There doesn't seem to be any human way out. 3. What does an extremely resourceful person do? B. Some motivated by fear I fear. 1. He feared for the safety of his fam...
1 Sermon on Genesis 32:9-12
THE MERCIES OF GOD Intro: Jacob returning home after 20 years. He had fled from home 20 years earlier because his brother was planning to kill him. We now see him at Jordan, the border of his land praying. I. HIS MOTIVE FOR PRAYER. A. A last resort. 1. His servants just brought disturbing news. Esau on his way to meet him with 400 men. 2. He had just had a bad scene with his ...
2 Sermon on Genesis 32:9-12
GETTING WHAT YOU DON'T DESERVE. Intro: Troubling news. I. TO WHOM ADDRESSED O GOD OF MY FATHER ABRAHAM, AND GOD OF MY FATHER ISAAC, THE LORD WHICH SAIDEST UNTO ME. A. First element in prayer - who are you talking to? 1. He that cometh to God must believe that He is. a. What is your concept of God? 1. Some unintelligent force in the universe? 2. Mystic creative powers wi...
Sermon on Genesis 32:22-31
VICTORY OUT OF DEFEAT Intro: Difficult story on surface. God deliberately crippling a man. I. THE DEFEAT OF JACOB. A. A man of complete self reliance and resourcefulness. 1. He never faced a problem he could not solve. 2. He outwitted every foe. 3. He was shrewd, cunning, clever, he would have done very well in Los Angeles or New York. B. The pressures that were on him. 1....
Sermon on Genesis 32:24-28
WHEN GOD CRIPPLES Intro: This is the story of God touching a man to cripple him, in order that through the crippling he might crown him. I. THE STORY FROM THE HUMAN SIDE. A. Jacob is coming home. 1. God has fulfilled His promise at Bethel. 2. The stream Jabboic brings back memories of twenty years. a. They were prosperous years. b. They were hard years. 1. Working for his ...
Sermon on Genesis 32:26-28
THE CRIPPLING THAT CROWNS GEN 32:26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. GEN 32:27 And he said unto him, What [is] thy name? And he said, Jacob. GEN 32:28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. I. JACOB IS UNDE...
CHAPTER 33: THE REUNION
v.4 Perhaps it was when Esau saw Jacob limping that he decided to be reconciled with him. The moment Esau had planned for vengeance became a moment of beauty as the two brothers wept and embraced.
v.12-18 Jacob had not become fully Israel (God-governed) yet, because when Esau offered to accompany him to Seir, Jacob told him he would follow Esau there.
However, when Esau left, Jacob went in the opposite direction to Shechem.
v.19,20 God had told Jacob to go back to the land of his Father and to his family, but Jacob disobeyed in going to Shechem and the Lord allowed him to have serious problems there.
v.20 Elelohe-Israel means "God, the God of Israel".
Sermon on Genesis 33:1-20
And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and the two handmaidens (Gen 33:1).
In other words, each of the mothers with their children that they had born.
CHAPTER 34: TROUBLE AT SHECHEM
v.13 Jacob's sons were also deceitful.
v.16-21 It was not the will of God that the children of Israel be mixed with other people, so this plan was not carried out.
v.30 Jacob was not so upset by the injustice of what his sons had done as by the dangerous position their actions had put him in.
Sermon on Genesis 34:1-31
Now there's a time gap between chapters thirty-three and thirty-four because at the time that they had left the land of Padanaram, Dinah was less than six years old. And now she comes into the story at this point and obviously is older than that.
And Dinah the daughter of Leah (Gen 34:1),
CHAPTER 35: JACOB MOVES TO BETHEL
v.1-6 This time Jacob obeyed God when He told him to go to Bethel.
v.7 El-bethel means "the God of Bethel". Bethel means "the house of God".
v.8 Allonbacuth means "the oak of weeping".
v.10-12 In Bethel there was a renewal of commitment, not of Jacob to God so much as of God confirming His promises to Jacob.
v.18 Benoni means "the son of my sorrow". Benjamin means "son of the right hand".
1 Sermon on Genesis 35:1
THE CALL TO BETHEL Intro. Jacob is fearful, his sons have done a horrible thing of treachery and deceit that has put the whole family in jeopardy. The consequences of their deed could be disastrous. On his death bed Jacob cursed the anger and the self will that led to their actions. Jacob realized that they would have to move on, it was not safe to stay there. This is when God sa...
2 Sermon on Genesis 35:1
BACK TO BETHEL Intro: The Call of God for Jacob to return to Bethel is much like the call of Christ to the church of Ephesus to return to its first love.
I. IT IS AT BETHEL GOD FIRST REVEALED HIMSELF TO JACOB. A. A God of mercy and kindness. 1. Jacob was not really seeking God at the time. a. He was fleeing for his life. b. His treacherous sowing was ready to bear harvest. ...
CHAPTER 36: THE GENERATIONS OF ESAU
v.1 Edom was Esau's nickname.
v.12 Though Esau did not strike Jacob, when the children of Israel came out of Egypt the first people they fought, the Amalekites, were descendants of Esau.
v.15 Duke means "prince, chief of thousands".
Eliphaz was the name of one of Job's comforters; the events in the book of Job may have taken place during the time of Jacob and Esau.
Sermon on Genesis 36:1-43
Now in chapter thirty-six, we're not going to bother to go into it in any detail because in it we have the generations of Esau. And they are given in chapter thirty-six just to drop out of the picture. But just to show you the descendants of Esau, the Scripture lists their names and all here in chapter thirty-six.
The generations of Esau, who is Edom (Gen 36:1).
Which means red, and he was the father of the Edomites. In verse six, it says,
CHAPTER 37: JOSEPH'S BROTHERS SELL HIM
v.3 Jacob showed his favoritism to Rachel's son, Joseph, by giving him the coat of many colors, signifying that he had chosen Joseph for his heir.
v.5-9 Joseph's prophetic dream that his brothers would bow down to him made them even angrier at him.
v.12 Shechem was about ninety miles from Hebron. They had to go far from home to find pastures for their flocks.
v.22 Reuben, the eldest child, planned to rescue Joseph and send him back to his father.
v.28 Joseph is a type of Christ, hated and sold by his brothers but eventually becoming their ruler.
Sermon on Genesis 37:23-28
THE PITS I. JOSEPH'S EXPERIENCE. A. Sent by his father to check welfare of his brothers. 1. His brothers were jealous and bitter. a. Jealous because of long-sleeved coat and dream. b. Bitter because he had reported their misdeeds to their father. B. His brothers seeing him coming decided to kill him. 1. His oldest brother who wanted no part in the killing suggested an alter...
CHAPTER 38: THE DECEPTION OF JUDAH
Apparently the Lord allowed this story to be included in the Bible because Judah was to play an important part in the lineage of Christ. Christ was the lion of Judah. This story also demonstrates the grace of God, because He used even a corrupt man rather than only saintly men.
v.29 Perez means "breach".
v.30 Zerah means "sunrise".
Sermon on Genesis 38:1-30
Now it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brothers, and he turned in to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite, whose name was Shuah; and he took her, and went in unto her (Gen 38:1-2).
CHAPTER 39: JOSEPH SENT TO PRISON
v.6 "Well favored" means "handsome".
Joseph was a beautiful person, inside and out.
v.9 Joseph recognized that all sin is against God and is in rebellion to His laws.
v.20 Joseph was put into the prison where the Pharaoh's prisoners were kept.
Sermon on Genesis 39:2
THE LORD WAS WITH JOSEPH Intro: Scripture often sums up a man's life in a few words. Abraham believed God. Saul, Behold I have played the fool. Moses was very meek. I. EVIDENCES OF THE LORD BEING WITH HIM. A. At home growing up. 1. Communicated to him through dreams. 2. Gave him favored position. B. When sold as slave. 1. And prospered him. 2. Made ruler over the hou...
Sermon on Genesis 39:4
SINNING AGAINST GOD Potiphar put Joseph in charge of all of his household. He trusted him with everything he owned. The Lord blessed greatly the house of Potiphar for Joseph's sake. Potiphar did not have to worry about anything that he had because Joseph was so capable. Now Joseph was well built and handsome, and Potiphar's wife sought to entice him to go to bed with her. He refu...
CHAPTER 40: JOSEPH INTERPRETS TWO DREAMS
v.3 God wanted Joseph to meet the butler of the Pharaoh.
v.7 Joseph was a man of keen insight, since he noticed the depression of the butler and the baker.
v.8 Joseph had not become bitter against God over the trials he had to endure.
v.20-22 Within three days the interpretations of the dreams of the butler and the baker became reality.
v.23 Once he was back in his comfortable position, the butler forgot about Joseph.
Sermon on Genesis 40:1-23
It came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt. And Pharaoh was angry against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers (Gen 40:1-2).
CHAPTER 41: PHARAOH HAS A DREAM
v.1 It is hard to understand why Joseph had to spend two more years in prison after his meeting with the Pharaoh's butler. God was probably refining Joseph so He could use him. Perhaps Joseph was full of bitterness and vengeance toward his brothers, and God wanted to give him time for these feelings to dissipate. The experiences of life can make us a bitter person or a better person. God wanted to make Joseph a better person.
v.16 Joseph gave God the credit for interpreting the dreams.
v.38 Pharaoh recognized that the Spirit of God was in Joseph.
v.45 Pharaoh called Joseph "Zaphenathpaneah" which means "the man to whom secrets are revealed".
v.51 Manasseh means "forgetting".
v.52 Ephraim means "fruitful".
v.54-57 The famine that Joseph predicted brought people from the surrounding countries to buy food in Egypt.
Sermon on Genesis 41:51
MANASSEH AND EPHRAIM I. THE TRIALS THAT JOSEPH ENDURED. A. He was despised by his brothers. 1. Can you imagine how it would be to have 10 older brothers that all hated you? 2. The taunting and teasing that must have gone on. B. His brothers hated him enough to kill him. 1. When they saw him coming to them they conspired to kill him. a. His oldest brother did not want to go ...
CHAPTER 42: JOSEPH SEES HIS BROTHERS
v.6,7 It had been about twelve years since Joseph's brothers had sold him. He dressed and looked Egyptian and spoke to his brothers through an interpreter, so they did not recognize him.
v.21,22 Though twelve years had passed since the brothers had sold Joseph, they were still feeling guilty about the way they had treated him. Sin has a way of causing people to carry an increasing load of guilt that can negatively affect their lives. Jesus died to cleanse us from our sins and to obtain eternal forgiveness for us.
v.23,24 It was not easy for Joseph to be stern with his brothers.
v.36 The cry of Jacob came from near-sightedness. He thought everything was going against him when actually God was moving in his life to give him his heart's desire. Sometimes we think God is not working in our lives when He is quietly doing miraculous things for us.
v.38 Jacob was willing to let Simeon stay in prison in Egypt rather than let Benjamin go.
Sermon on Genesis 42:6
WHEN YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE I. GOD HAD GIVEN TO JOSEPH A DREAM WHEN HE WAS LIVING AT HOME WITH HIS BROTHERS. A. His brothers were very jealous of Joseph because of their father's preferential treatment of Joseph. B. The Bible gives us the story. GEN 37:3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he [was] the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of [many]...
Sermon on Genesis 42:6
WHEN YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE I. GOD HAD GIVEN TO JOSEPH A DREAM WHEN HE WAS LIVING AT HOME WITH HIS BROTHERS. A. His brothers were very jealous of Joseph because of their father's preferential treatment towards him. B. The Bible gives us the story. GEN 37:3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many c...
Sermon on Genesis 42:6
WHEN YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE I. GOD HAD GIVEN TO JOSEPH A DREAM WHEN HE WAS LIVING AT HOME WITH HIS BROTHERS. A. His brothers were very jealous of Joseph because of their father's preferential treatment of Joseph. B. The Bible gives us the story. GEN 37:3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he [was] the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of [many]...
Sermon on Genesis 42:36
ALL THINGS ARE AGAINST ME Intro: Jacob's sons have just returned from Egypt with report of rough treatment. Accused of being spies, brother Simeon being held as hostage. Benjamin must go with them on next trip to verify their story. As they open their sacks of grain, there are bundles of money in each sack. I.
JACOB'S CRY, ALL THINGS ARE AGAINST ME. A. Despair can cause us t...
CHAPTER 43: BENJAMIN GOES TO EGYPT
v.11,12 Jacob was scheming again to help his sons to find favor in the Egyptian ruler's (Joseph's) eyes.
v.14 "If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved" Jacob had been put in circumstances where his own resources were so limited that he had to make a total commitment to God. Sometimes God puts us in a place that He knows will cause us to rely on Him.
v.33 Joseph had his brothers seated around the table according to age, from the eldest to the youngest. They were amazed that he could do this.
v.34 "Mess" means "portion of food".
Sermon on Genesis 43:1-34
So that was it. But time went on. The famine continued and they used up all of the grain that they had purchased in Egypt.
And so it came to pass, when they had eaten up the wheat which they had bought, their father said to them, Go on down and get us a little food. And Judah spake unto him, saying, The man did solemnly swear to us, saying, You're not going to even see my face, unless your brother is with you. Now if you will send our brother with us, we'll go down and buy the food: But if you will not send him, we'll not go down: for the man said unto us, You're not going to see my face, unless your brother is with you (Gen 43:2-5).
CHAPTER 44: JUDAH'S PLEA
v.15 Joseph pretended that he had powers of divination that could tell him when people were trying to steal from him.
v.33 Judah had led the attack on Joseph years before. He had changed enough to be willing to take Benjamin's place as a servant in Egypt.
Sermon on Genesis 44:1-34
And so he commanded the steward of his house, saying, Fill the men's sacks (Gen 44:1)
Well, let's see. "And he sat them before him according to birthright."
And he took and sent messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin's mess was five times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, and were merry with him (Gen 43:34).
CHAPTER 45: THE BROTHERS REUNITED
v.3 "Troubled" means "terrified".
v.8 Joseph recognized that God's overall plan to save his family was the reason that he was sent to Egypt, so he did not blame his brothers.
v.12 Joseph spoke directly to his brothers in Hebrew so that they would believe him.
Sermon on Genesis 45:5-8
GOD'S OVERRULING PROVIDENCE I. LOOKING FROM THE DIVINE SIDE. A. The World is in rebellion and lost. 1. Their concepts of God are wild, confused and wrong.
2. Man's sin has alienated him from the life of God. B. God still loves man and plans to send His Son to earth to teach man clearly of God then to demonstrate God's love by taking the guilt of man's sin upon Himself and dyi...
Sermon on Genesis 45:5-8
GOD'S SOVEREIGN PLAN Intro. Joseph's brothers hated him so much that they conspired to kill him. They had thrown him in a pit with the intention of leaving him there to starve to death. When they saw merchants heading toward Egypt, they sold Joseph to them for 20 pieces of silver. As far as they knew Joseph was dead. God was with Joseph while he was in Egypt and had ultimately ma...
CHAPTER 46: JACOB MOVES TO EGYPT
Jacob's family accompanied him to Egypt. The various members are listed with their mothers.
v.8-15 33 descendant's from Leah.
v.16-18 16 descendants from Zilpah.
v.19-22 14 descendants from Rachel.
v.23-25 7 descendants from Bilhah.
v.27 70 members of Jacob's family went into Egypt.
v.31-34 Joseph encouraged his brothers not to become urbanized but to stay out in the country in Goshen and to continue to be shepherds.
Sermon on Genesis 46:1-3
FEAR NOT Intro. Note the two names used in these verses. And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and God spoke to Israel in the night saying, Jacob, Jacob. His given name was Jacob, a name that described his old nature, schemer, surplanter. God had given to him a new name Israel, (Ruled by God).
Sometimes he is still Jacob, sometimes he is Israel. We also have two nat...
CHAPTER 47: THE FAMINE WORSENS
v.1-12 Jacob and his family settled in the country and were cared for by Joseph.
v.13-17 The people spent all their money for food, so they had to sell their cattle to Joseph to buy food.
v.18-26 The next year the people sold their lands and themselves to buy food. Joseph set up a twenty percent tax to be paid into the Pharaoh's store house from the produce of Pharaoh's farms.
v.30 Jacob wanted to be buried in the land that God had promised to him.
Sermon on Genesis 47:1-31
Shall we turn in our Bibles now to the forty-seventh chapter of Genesis?
Joseph has been sold by his brothers as a slave to the traders going to Egypt. In Egypt he is resold and purchased by a man named Potiphar who was the chief captain of the Pharaoh's guard. God prospered him and blessed him in Potiphar's house. Potiphar's house was blessed because of Joseph's being there. He made Joseph the head over everything he had. But Potiphar's wife set her eye upon Joseph, sought to seduce him. When he refused her seductive ways, she became angry, accused him of attempted rape and Joseph was placed in prison in Egypt with an indeterminate sentence.
CHAPTER 48: MANASSEH AND EPHRAIM
v.5 Jacob (Israel) laid claim to Joseph's two sons and made them part of the tribes of Israel. When the twelve tribes of Israel are listed, Joseph and Levi are often omitted, and Ephraim and Manasseh are included, though the listings vary. Twelve is always the number listed, however, for it is the number of divine guidance in the Bible.
v.13-20 Jacob purposely gave the preference to Joseph's younger son, reminiscent of his own past as the younger son who was told that he would rule over his older brother.
Sermon on Genesis 48:1-22
So it came to pass after these things, that one told Joseph, Behold, your father's sick (Gen 48:1):
He's dying.
and so Joseph grabbed his two sons to go and visit his father for the last time, Manasseh and Ephraim. And one told Jacob, and said, Behold, your son Joseph is coming unto you: and so Israel gathered together his strength, and he sat up on the bed. And Jacob said to Joseph, God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me, and he said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of people; and will give this land to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession. And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came in the land of Egypt, are mine; even as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine. And thy issue, whichever you have after them, will be yours, and will be called after the name of their brothers in their inheritance. And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way, and when there was yet but a little way to come to Bethlehem: and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath; the same is Bethlehem. And Israel beheld Joseph's sons, and said, Who are these? And Joseph said to his father, They are my sons, whom God hath given me in this place. And he said, Bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them (Gen 48:1-9).
CHAPTER 49: JACOB BLESSES HIS SONS
In this chapter Jacob called his sons to his deathbed and prophesied over each one.
v.4 Reuben lost the good opinion of his father when he took Jacob's concubine.
v.5-7 Simeon and Levi always seemed to work together. They had violent, ungoverned tempers.
v.8,9 The lion became the symbol of the tribe of Judah.
v.10 After God rejected Saul, who was from the tribe of Benjamin, as King over Israel, He placed David, who was from the tribe of Judah, on the throne. The throne of Israel was to belong to Judah until the Messiah (Shiloh) came.
v.13 Zebulon's tribe was to dwell by the sea along the northern coast of Israel.
v.16 Dan's tribe produced the judges.
v.19 Gad's tribe produced the troops, the soldiers.
v.20 Asher was the baker for the tribes.
v.22 Joseph could enjoy the fruit of his godly life and others were blessed by his life too, as passersby enjoy fruit that hangs over the wall. God wants our lives to be fruitful and to overflow with the blessings He bestows on us, so that we share His goodness with others.
v.23 Most of the arrows were shot by Joseph's brothers. There were various trials he had to endure: a) Arrows of doubt and scorn sent when he tried to share his dreams (Genesis 37:8) b) Arrows of hatred because the ten older brothers knew he was their father's favorite (Genesis 37:4) c) Arrows of treachery when his brothers decided to kill him (Genesis 37:28) d) Arrows of temptation as Potiphar's wife tried to seduce him (Genesis 39:7) e) Arrows of false accusations as she accused him of trying to attack her (Genesis 39:13-18) f) Arrows of forgetfulness when the butler forgot Joseph for two years. (Genesis 40:23)
v.24 It takes greater strength to hold back from taking revenge when it is in our power to do it. Though the arrows were shot at him, Joseph did not shoot back. The Father had His arms around Joseph's arms, holding the bow for him and giving him His strength to draw upon.
v.29-32 Jacob asked his sons to bury him with his fathers back in the promised land.
Sermon on Genesis 49:22
THE SECRET OF STRENGTH I. JOSEPH IS A FRUITFUL BOUGH. A. He is like a branch that is loaded with fruit. 1. That is how God wants our lives to be. Loaded with fruit. a. Jesus said: Herein is the Father glorified, that you bear much fruit. b. David spoke of the happiness of the man who walked not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stood in the way with sinners, nor sat in the...
Sermon on Genesis 49:22-24
THE SECRET OF STRENGTH Intro: Jacob is dying. He summons his 12 sons that he might prophesy concerning their future state. Turning first to Reuben. I.
JOSEPH IS A FRUITFUL BOUGH. A. God desires that our lives bring forth good fruit. 1. Herein is My Father glorified that ye... B. The fruit is a test of a man's life and doctrine. 1. Christ warned against false prophets, b...
CHAPTER 50: A BURIAL AND A DEATH
v.2,3 Perhaps Jacob's body is well-preserved even now since the Egyptian physicians embalmed him.
v.11 Abelmizraim means "the mourning of the Egyptians".
v.19 Joseph realized that God does not want us to retaliate for wrongs done us. When He is our shield and defender, no weapon that is formed against us shall prosper
v.20 The providence of God caused the plots of his brothers and Potiphar's wife to turn out to be good for Joseph and his family. Their motives did not matter, for God still brought good out of it. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28).
Sermon on Genesis 50:1-26
And Joseph fell upon his father's face, and he wept upon him, and kissed him. And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father: and the physicians embalmed Israel. And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are the days which they take to embalm them: and the Egyptians mourned for him for seventy days (Gen 50:1-3).
Now embalming processes took forty days and the period of mourning in Egypt for a great person was seventy days. And so it fulfilled the traditional things.