Blessings of Faith

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Blessings of Faith

Text: Hebrews 11:2 ,21.

Introduction:

A. Faith is a cepting without reservation that which cannot seen nor understood by human reasoning.

B. This princ pIe is remarkably demonstrated in the incidents 0 which our text makes reference.

I. ISAAC'S SON . Genesis 25:24-28.

A. Esau was aac's favorite, vs 28.

1. Esau di not value the promises of God, but lived for the t . gs of this world. 2. He des ised his birthright, Genesis 25:34. 3. He w a "profane [godless, sacrilegious] person," Hebre s 12:16. 4. For th se reasons, God said, "Esau have I hated," Roman 9:13. B. Jacob w Rebekah's favorite, vs 28. 1. Jacob d sired the covenant promise, but was unwilling to wait or God to give it to him. 2. He che ted Esau out of the birthright. 3. Later,e stole (by lying and deceit) the blessing that Isaac f y intended to bestow upon Esau. II. ISAAC'S FAIT IN BLESSING IDS SONS. Genesis 27. A. Jacob's bi ing. 1. Was ob . ed by less than honorable means, Genesis 27:18-2 . 2. The ble sing included: a. Fr itfulness-rdew of heaven," vs 28. b. Pro perity--"plentyof corn and wine,"vs 28. c. Int rnational honer=all nations to serve him, vs 29. d. E tation over brethren-- Lord over his bre hren, vs 29. e. Ho or among his own people. f. A c se upon his enemies--"cursed be everyone that curseth thee. " g. A lessing to his friends--"Blessed"be he that ble seth thee. II 3. In many respects Jacob was a scoundrel in the ways of the wor d, but he had respect to the divine promise. . 7· 4. Per ps his worst fault was his impatience and un I' gness to wait on God. B. Enter E u, Genesis 27:30-33. 1. diately followingJacob's exit. 2. Intr duced himself, correctly, as the firstborn, 3. Now Isaac seemed to fully realize what had just gone befo e, and it caused him to tremble "very exce dingly,"vs 33. a. saac may have suspected trickery all along. b. ut he was controlled by the Spirit of God and as compelled to bless Jacob. c. ow recognizing God's will, he said, "Yea,and he hall be blessed," vs 33. C. morse, Genesis 27:34-40. ept bitterly. ecause of the loss of the material blessings,and ecause he was outsmarted by his brother, Jacob. 2. did not repent, but begged for a blessing, vs 38. 3. .d not receive a blessing as such, but a prophetic reve tion of his future. a. ven though he did not value the spiritual, he ould enjoy heaven's goodness, vs 39; (cf atthew 5:45). b. e would live by his sword, vs 40. c. ometime in the future, his descendants would btain dominion over Jacob's descendants, vs 40; cf II Kings 8:20-22). III. JACOB BL SSED THE SONS OF JOSEPH. Hebrews 11: 1. A. Gave J seph two portions in Israel, Genesis 48:22. B. He thus expressed his faith in God's promise. C. He extr cted an oath that Joseph would bury him in Can D. Then J cob worshiped God, leaning on his staff, Hebrew 11:21. Conclusion: A. Faith .orrectly expressed is a blessing and encourgement to children and grandchildren. 1. Pare ts, does your faith encourage your children to wors ip God? -8 -

Index