WHAT DID ISAAC DO?
We are the seed of Abraham in Christ Jesus and the blessing of Abraham is ours. But they manifest according to the level of our growth and maturity. Let us learn from the first seed of Abraham – Isaac.
In Gen 26 we read how there was a famine and Isaac is instructed by God to stay in Gerar. Isaac is now travelling with his two children and his wife. Isaac began to grow and flourish. But everywhere he went people claimed his wells. Just when he thought he had found room in Rehoboth, the king himself asks him to leave – he lacked social blessing and His life had become all about digging wells for his business.
Isaac needs a restart: So he returns to the place of his birth – Beersheba. That night the Lord appeared to him and encouraged him: whenever you seek a restart God is on your side. Like the Father he will run to a prodigal wanting to come home!
Gen 26:25 – There Isaac built an altar, pitched his tent and dug a well: He prioritized his life properly: God first, family next and business third.
Until then it was only digging wells. He was all about business and saving his flocks. At one time for that he put his wife at risk calling her his sister. Clearly he was not prioritizing his wife and children. When he made that change –Gen 26:26-30 – The King came to him.
- GOD IS A GOD OF FAMILIES
- Long before there was any group there was a family in the garden.
- God himself is a triune family: There’s a Father, a Son and the Holy Spirit.
- When God sent his Son to the earth, He made sure Jesus was born in a family with a mother and a father.
God wants to save your whole family:
- At Passover God said – “A lamb for a household.”
- When God saw Noah, He saved his whole family.
- When God rescued Lot, He called his whole family.
- When God spared Rahab’s life, he allowed her to bring in all her family members into the house.
Acts 11:13-14 – Call Peter and he will tell you words for you and your household to be saved
Acts 16:31 – To the Jailor he said “Believe on the Lord and you and your household shall be saved”
- YOU ARE CALLED TO YOUR FAMILY:
Ps 68:6 – God sets the solitary in families: Everyone needs a home and a family. It is a place of refreshment and renewal. Everywhere else you have to wear a certain dress, act in a certain way to fit. Your family members can hold you accountable for your actions.
>Professionals – Are you too busy at work that you neglect to spend time with the family?
->A young man stood in a court for forgery. The judge had known him from a child. His father was a famous legal scholar who was too busy with writing a book on his work on the Law of Trusts – The most exhaustive work on the subject in existence. Judge – “Do you remember your father whom you have disgraced?” The prisoner: “I remember him perfectly. When I went to him for advice or companionship, he would look up from his book on the ‘Law of Trusts’ and say, ‘Run away, boy, I am busy.’ My father finished his book, and here I am.”
>Couples – Are you enjoying each other? Your number one priority is your spouse, after God.
>Children – Do you obey your parents? Do you communicate with your parents about your routine? Do you honor the home you live in? Do you support your parents financially and take care of them?
- MEN, LISTEN: LEAD YOUR FAMILY TO GOD
Men – As a leader, do you lead your family to God? If not, you cannot effectively lead in any other aspect.
God had a special liking for Abraham because God testifies about Abraham saying – I know he will instruct his family. Gen 18:19
God blessed Abraham saying “In you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” Gen 12:3.
->MAX JUKES Vs JONATHAN EDWARDS
Max Jukes – In 1874 a member of the New York Prison noticed that there were 6 people from the same family serving in one of the prisons. He was intrigued and did a study. He traced the family line back to a man by the name of Max Jukes. He was born in 1720, he was known in the town as the trouble maker, he was heavy drinker with no integrity. He married a woman just like him. They had six daughters and two sons.
1200 of their descendants were studied:
310 were homeless
180 were alcoholics
160 were drug addicts
150 were criminals
7 of them committed murder.
Another family that lived around the same time was studied. His name was Jonathan Edwards. He was born in 1703 and married Sarah, a God-fearing woman; he was a devoted family man. He was a famous theologian and the president of Princeton University. He’d been married for 31 years until his death. He had 11 children.
1400 of their descendants were studied:
13 were college presidents
66 were professors
100 were attorneys
85 were authors of classic books
32 were state judges
66 were physicians
80 were holders of public office: 3 governors, 3 US senators and one Vice President of the United States.
A similar story is in the Bible – Ahab and Jezebel had 70 children. They were all killed in one day. But Obed-Edom and his 70 children moved to serve in David’s Tabernacle.
Your family life matters. Prioritize your family. Be faithful to your family and God will bless every other aspect of your life!