The battle for the blessing - Hebrews 11 - Sittingbourne Baptist Church

Increase our faith - Luke 17:5

Continuing our walk through Hebrews 11.

Profile & C.V.

Name – “My name is Isaac, son of elderly parents Abraham and Sarah” (Genesis 21 v 1 – 7.)

Meaning – “The name means – “He laughs” – Well wouldn’t you when your parents were so old and past child bearing days when I arrived on the scene!”

Early life – “I had a “near death” experience when I almost lost my life by being sacrificed on an altar to my Father’s God” (Genesis 22 v 1 – 15.)

Status –“ I’m married to Rebekah (Genesis 24 v 62 – 67);and am the father of twin boys Esau and Jacob, with Esau “a real man’s man,”(Genesis 25 v 19 – 34) by far and away being my favourite son!”

Why are you included in the hall of faith? “I know that I am far from perfect, but this is the reason that the Bible gives – “By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future” (Hebrews 11 v 20.) If it was this blessing that got you included, then you better tell us about it. “Happy to oblige”:-

The Story.

“I was getting on a bit and my eyesight was failing so I decided the time was right to pass on my blessing to my son. I should really have given it to Jacob because of a prophetic word that the Lord gave my wife (Genesis 25 v 23); as well as the fact that Esau had sold his birthright to his younger brother in exchange for a meal (Genesis 25 v 29 – 34.) But Esau was my eldest and favourite son so I contrived to bless him by sending him off on a hunting trip and charging him to cook me a meal with the wild game he caught.

But even the best laid plans sometimes go awry, and mine were scuppered because Rebekah heard everything that I said to Esau. So she prepared a meal, dressed Jacob up to impersonate Esau and sent him in to me with his gastronomic delights. I was a little suspicious because he did not sound like Esau, but at the same time he felt and smelled like Esau! So I enjoyed the meal, washed it down with the finest of wine, and gave him my blessing.

Just as I was nodding off to sleep, the real Esau arrived on the scene and I realised that I had been duped. I started to shake, but by now it was too late because my blessing was irrevocable.”

Thanks Isaac for sharing your story, but what do you think that it can teach us about faith? “That’s not an easy question to answer, but If you would permit me I would like to suggest two things”:-

1 – “The words of blessing that I spoke over both Jacob and Esau could not have been conceived by the natural mind. They were a revelation from God which by faith I received and believed. So make sure that by faith you receive the word of the Lord.”

2 – “Much of the words of blessing given to both boys were about the future which I could not see. All I could do was to speak them out and believe and trust that God in his good time would fulfil them. So make sure that by faith you believe what God has said regarding the promised future.”