Genesis - HAMPTON ROADS CHURCH: Recent Episodes
Hampton Roads Church
Expository Sermons through the entire Book of Genesis with a view toward our redemption in Jesus. Find out more at hamptonroadschurch.com/sermons
In Hebrews 11:21, Jacob's entry into the "Hall of Faith" describes a mountaintop moment of faith for him. It's not his wrestling with God. It's not his wonder at the stairway to heaven. It's not even his sacrifice to God before departing the Promised Land. Instead, it's the event of this chapter, Genesis 48, where Jacob worships on his staff as he blesses Joseph's sons.
Jacob departs the Promised Land to be reunited — at last— with his beloved Joseph! But before he departs the land of promise, he sacrifices to God in faithfulness. God responds by reaffirming Jacob's role in His Mission, a Mission from God!
To affect a wonderful reuniting of Jacob's sons, God orchestrates true repentance. Joseph will have a grand reveal before his brothers, and his brothers will have a grander repentance before him.
Like many new adventures, love interests, careers, and pursuits of self-validation, we begin with heightened expectations only to end up in settled disappointment. Such was the case for Jacob as he went to bed with Rachel but in the morning, behold, it's Leah!
God comes down to disrupt and exhort Jacob at his lowest point — alone, afraid, abandoned, and broke — show him the Kingdom and the plans for his life to bless all. Jesus likewise shows up His Kingdom and His affirmation to be with us as we walk and work with Him to bless all people.
After our introduction to the twins in Genesis 25, Jacob connives to secure Esau's birthright for a bowl of stew. Worst deal ever, but that's the peril of living life without the ability to delay immediate gratification. Ultimately, Jesus denied his immediate gratifications because he had a greater delayed gratification - us.
From Israel's perspective (whether the setting is their fearful entry into the promised to battle the inhabitants or their despair while in captivity in Babylon), this is the story of how they came into being — or said another way, "How I Met Your Mother." Abraham's servant finds a bride for Isaac to continue the promises established in Genesis 12, 15, 17, and 22. As an aside, we'll also glean a lesson on finding an appropriate spouse in the Lord.
We struggle with God's test of Abraham (and Isaac) but marvel at God's sacrifice of His only son, whom He loves to ransom us from our self destruction.
God affirms a covenant with Abraham (no longer called Abram) to be the father of a multitude through Isaac, if Abraham will walk faithfully and obediently with God. Abraham responds to God's offer by circumcising himself and his household that same day. For us, circumcision of the foreskin holds no value, but Christ does circumcise our flesh when we raised to new life in Him. See Colossians 2:11-14
God exalts Abram for his faith by credited him with righteousness. Yet Abram repeatedly expresses his doubts even in the midst of faithful walking with God. "How can I know?" he asks. God responds with covenant ratification ceremony that amazes Abram and anchors us in real hope. No one could see this coming!
As the "pre-history" of Genesis draws to a close, God re-engages man to fill the earth, but man attempts to live out of alignment with the will of God. Genesis 11:1-9
Through the flood, the ark and the bow, we can appreciate: Man's Sin, God's Grief, and Costly Mercy.
In the great epic of Creation—Fall—Redemption—Restoration, the Bible here describes the loss of paradise and the fall of man through the first Adam. But just as the first Adam disobeyed regarding the Tree, the second Adam, that is Jesus, obeyed concerning the tree to provide reverse the curse and set the stage for a paradise restored. A study of Genesis 3.
Genesis 1 often stirs interest in the question "HOW was the universe created?" However, based on the artistry and significance of this Scripture, the better questions to ask is "WHY was the universe created?"