Genesis 25:19-34 “The Gift”

Message: Genesis 25:19-34 “The Gift”

Esau was given a divine gift in being the firstborn of the family. Unfortunately, his lesser pursuits gained his total devotion. In this way, Esau despised his birthright. Jacob, on the other, desperately wanted this gift for himself. What he didn’t realize is that even his desire for it was because God has already called him to it. In the end, the birthright isn’t what mattered most. Instead, it was the desire of one’s heart and what one pursues that matters most. Jacob had always been chosen by God. Esau too was blessed by God. It would take a long time for both of them to realize this. The question is, what are we doing with this “Gift” of life that God has given us? What is it we are pursuing? In what do we find our identity?

Genesis 22:1-14 “Giving Up, Holding On”

 Message: Genesis 22:1-14 “Giving Up, Holding On”

During lent people often choose to ‘give up’ something for time. In our passage this week, Abraham is asked to give up the ‘Son of Promise.’ It doesn’t make sense, since through Isaac Abraham was to have descendants as numerous as the stars. God never intended to sacrifice Isaac, but He did intend for Abraham to decide what was most central to his life, The Promise or his life with God? What does relationship with God mean to us? Do we love God for the sake of the relationship or love the relationship for the sake of something else? Is there anything we need to give up so that we can embrace our relationship with God?

Genesis 21:1-21 “Tears and Laughter”

 Message: Genesis 21:1-21 “Tears and Laughter”

In Genesis 21, the long-awaited Promise of a son is fulfilled, “at the very time God had promised him.” At the same time Sarah’s tears are being turned into laughter, Hagar’s laughter is turned into tears. But she too is given a Promise, though it too will take an extended time to come about. In this chapter we experience the reality of life’s tears and hardships, but also the hope of God’s Promise, that will one day turn our tears into laughter