This week, we will be exploring Genesis 26:34-28:9 together, The Blessing According to God.
In many ways, this passage is a sad story.
Isaac and Rebekah's marriage appears to be in shambles.
Rebekah rules the roost.
Isaac is ruled by his palate.
Jacob deceives his own aged father.
Esau wants to kill Jacob.
This is the last time that we will see this family together.
But in the midst of the dysfunction, God's sovereignty and grace still function.
God overrides the foolish decisions of His people for His own redemptive purposes.
And His blessing is passed down from Abraham to Isaac to Jacob.
What is the blessing? Why is it important? And what does it mean for us today?
We will answer these questions on Sunday.
May God's blessing be poured out on us for His glory and our good!
Study guides will be available in the foyer this Sunday. A $5 donation will help cover the cost of printing. You can also access a digital file online by visiting the Digital Resources section of our website, 516church.org.

This week, we will be exploring Genesis 26:1-33 together, Digging Wells According to God.
I originally titled this chapter, "Flashback according to God." A strange title. But in Genesis 26, you really have an interruption in the narrative with a flashback to an earlier time in Isaac's marriage (before the twins) with many parallels to Abraham's life before the birth of Ishmael and Isaac.
Isaac follows in his father's footsteps in many ways...both good and bad.
But Genesis 26 as a whole focuses on Isaac digging wells.
Not the most relevant topic in today's world but a vital project when you live in the desert.
Isaac tries to restore Abraham's wells and digs four of his own--Esek, Sitnah, Rehoboth, and Shebah.
So what is the point of all these wells in Genesis 26?
Actually quite a lot.
In the midst of uncertainty, difficulty, and opposition, Isaac chooses to keep digging wells rather than building walls. He pursues peace. He learns to trust the Lord even in unfair circumstances. And he experiences greater and greater blessings from the Lord.
There is a message to all of us in Genesis 26. There is also a small glimpse into the conflict that is taking place in the Middle East even to this day.
May God fill us with His Spirit, give us His wisdom, guard our hearts with His peace, and empower us to serve Him!

This week, we will be exploring Genesis 25:29-34 together, Foolishness According to God.

Esau and Jacob are very different twins. Esau is hairy. Jacob is smooth. Esau is an outdoorsman. Jacob is an indoorsman. Esau is physically strong. Jacob is mentally strong. Esau is a fool. And Jacob is a heelcatcher who knows how to take advantage of a fool.

Genesis 25:29-34 is a strange passage in many ways. It is only six verses long but it packs massive implications for the story of Jacob and Esau. The birthright of the oldest son does not mean as much to us today but back then it meant everything, particularly in this case when the birthright is tied to the blessing of God.

Esau traded a treasure for a trifle.

He gave up the blessing for a bowl of soup.

He despised what was significant to get what was insignificant.

He put immediate gratification over enduring satisfaction in God.

Neither Esau nor Jacob are "heroes" in this story. Both are acting selfishly. But whereas Jacob is a finagler, Esau is a fool. And his foolishness exhibits a heart that is totally oblivious and obstinate toward God.

This week we will revisit the differences between Esau and Jacob and the struggles in the family. We will then examine the danger of putting the temporal over the eternal, of pursuing immediate gratification over enduring satisfaction in Christ.

May God fill us with His Spirit so that we will walk in His wisdom and pursue the things that really matter in this life and in eternity!