45 Then Joseph could not restrain himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, “Make everyone go out from me!” So no one stood with him while Joseph made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept aloud, and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard it.
3 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph; does my father still live?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence. 4 And Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near to me.” So they came near. Then he said: “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6 For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. 7 And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.
9 “Hurry and go up to my father, and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph: “God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not tarry.
Genesis 45 marks a turning point in one of the most moving stories in the Bible. Joseph—sold into slavery by his brothers, wrongfully imprisoned, and later elevated to a position of power—can no longer restrain his emotions. He reveals himself: “I am Joseph.” Three words. A bold declaration. And a moment of complete transformation.
His brothers, overwhelmed with guilt and fear, are stunned into silence. Joseph, once cast off and left for dead, now holds their lives in his hands. And instead of revenge, he offers grace.
From Accusation to Redemption
Joseph doesn’t sugarcoat the past. He says plainly: “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.” There’s no hiding from the truth. But then comes the unexpected: “Do not be grieved or angry with yourselves… for God sent me before you to preserve life.”
Joseph had every right to retaliate. His power could have crushed them. But instead, his words and actions reflect divine purpose. He chooses to see God’s hand working through human wrongdoing to bring about salvation—not just for himself, but for many.
This kind of proclamation reminds me of Peter’s sermon in Acts 2:
“You have taken [Jesus] by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death…” (Acts 2:23)
Peter doesn’t hesitate to point to guilt—but neither does he stop at accusation. He continues with the good news of resurrection and redemption. Likewise, Stephen, before being martyred in Acts 7, boldly names the sins of his people. Speaking truth, even when it stings, is part of faithful preaching.
And yet—what matters most is not accusation, but restoration.
The Power of Choices
Joseph had options. He could have punished. He could have ignored. But he chose reconciliation.
He asks, “Does my father still live?” His concern was not for revenge, but for reunion. He commands, “Hurry and go get my father!”
Joseph’s longing to see his father Jacob reflects a human urgency many of us know. I remember long childhood car rides from my hometown of Springfield, Colorado to visit my grandmother in Sidney, Nebraska. Hearing, “We’re in Nebraska” made me think we were almost there—but Grammy’s house was still miles away. I couldn’t wait.
Joseph likely felt that same eager ache. He hadn’t seen his father in decades. The journey back to Canaan would take his brothers nearly 10 days—and another 10 to return. A full month would pass before father and son would embrace again.
I Am Joseph… But God Did It
Maybe Joseph wanted to say to his father: “Remember my dreams? The ones no one believed? Look what God has done!” But the key is this: Joseph never takes the credit. He says clearly,
“It was not you who sent me here, but God.” (Genesis 45:8)
Joseph knew that it wasn’t his looks, strength, or intelligence that saved Egypt. It was God—working through his suffering and faithfulness.
That’s what we must remember. When life brings hardship or betrayal, or when the path is long and uncertain, God is still at work.
Life Application: Trust God’s Bigger Story
Joseph’s story reminds us: God has a plan, even in our pain. There are countless young people today who give up on life far too soon—never knowing the greatness God may have intended for them. What might have happened if they had trusted God to write their story?
Joseph’s journey—from pit to palace—was not easy. But it was purposeful.
Like Joseph, we have options. Will we choose bitterness—or forgiveness? Revenge—or restoration? Fear—or faith?
“I Am Joseph” Rev. Dennis Alan RobertsFulbright, Shubert, Nebraska, July 14, 2024
“So the advice was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants. And Pharaoh said… ‘Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?’” (Genesis 41:37–38)
Pharaoh, though not a worshiper of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, recognized something divine in Joseph. The Hebrew phrase used here—the Spirit of God—may have meant different things to Pharaoh. Perhaps he thought Joseph was blessed by the Egyptian gods. Ancient Egypt was a land rich with gods—over 2,000, in fact. Names like Ra, Isis, Horus, and Osiris were etched into temples and daily life.
But in the middle of this polytheistic empire, one man stood out as marked by the Spirit of Yahweh. Pharaoh didn’t convert, but he couldn’t deny Joseph’s divine wisdom. So, Joseph was elevated—not because of charm or education—but because of God’s favor.
MythologyArt. (2024). Sekhmet. Pixabay.com.
Pharaoh gave him his signet ring—the ancient world’s symbol of authority. He dressed him in royal linen, placed a gold chain on his neck, and paraded him through the streets in a chariot, commanding everyone to bow. Joseph’s name was changed to Zaphnath-Paaneah, which some believe means “Savior of the World” or “Revealer of Secrets.” He was even given a wife—Asenath, daughter of a high priest in the pagan city of On.
Whether Asenath accepted Joseph’s God or not, we don’t know. But we do know this: Joseph held onto his faith in the midst of power, wealth, and culture.
“All the Land of Egypt“
Five times this phrase appears in our passage: “all the land of Egypt.” Joseph was not just Pharaoh’s assistant—he had full authority. Verse 46 tells us, “Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.” He didn’t waste time. He got to work.
And imagine what he saw: pyramids piercing the skyline, bustling cities, temples to sun gods, traders from Canaan, and the Nile winding its way through a wealthy, united kingdom. The Middle Kingdom era of Egypt was marked by stability, expansion, and order—everything Joseph needed to implement his God-given plan to save the region from famine.
This must have been a mountaintop moment. Like an Olympic gold medalist. Like a newly promoted CEO with a corner office. Like a graduate earning their PhD. Like an MVP signing a multi-million-dollar contract.
Joseph had arrived.
But Don’t Miss the Point
None of this was possible without God.
Joseph’s story reminds us that even when others betray us, when the world misunderstands us, and when it seems all hope is lost—God is still working. If Joseph had stayed with his brothers, or even succeeded in Potiphar’s house, he would never have become the man who saved Egypt and surrounding nations from starvation.
But because he kept trusting God through every trial, Joseph was exalted all over the land.
What About Us?
We may never ride in a chariot or rule a nation, but we can trust in the same God who elevated Joseph. We are not forgotten. Our trials are not wasted. And our faithfulness will not be ignored.
Joseph’s story is ultimately not about his rise to power—it’s about God’s presence, provision, and purpose.
And one day, like Joseph, we’ll stand on our mountaintop, shouting victory—not over Egypt, but over death and the grave, thanks to the One who was exalted not just over a land, but over all creation: Jesus Christ, risen from the dead.
Sermon Title: Exalted All Over the Land | Rev. Dennis Alan RobertsFulbright | Shubert, NE June 30, 2024.
“But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.” —Genesis 39:21 (NKJV)
Introduction: When the Truth Doesn’t Seem to Matter
One of the most gripping narratives in the Old Testament is the life of Joseph. It’s a story filled with emotional highs and lows—betrayal, injustice, resilience, and, ultimately, redemption. In Genesis 39, we find Joseph in a foreign land, sold into slavery by his own brothers, and yet blessed by God in the midst of his suffering.
Joseph was purchased by Potiphar, a high-ranking Egyptian official. Though Joseph had no impressive resume—just the dirt of travel and betrayal on his back—Potiphar saw something in him. More accurately, Potiphar recognized that “the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand” (v. 3). Joseph quickly rose to a position of great trust, becoming overseer of Potiphar’s entire household.
But then, everything changed. Genesis 39:6-10:
6 Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. 7 And it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.” 8 But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. 9 There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” 10 So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her.
Scripture tells us Joseph was “handsome in form and appearance” (v. 6), and Potiphar’s wife took notice. Her daily advances were persistent and direct. “Lie with me,” she said. But Joseph refused—not only because it would betray his master’s trust, but because it would be a sin against God (v. 9).
Her desire turned to fury when Joseph fled her final, forceful attempt. In his rush, he left his garment behind. She used it as false evidence, spinning a lie that would change Joseph’s life. Her accusation—that he tried to assault her—was believed. Joseph, though innocent, was thrown into prison.
Source: Roundel Illustrating Episodes from the Biblical Story of Joseph, 7th century, metmuseum.org – Textiles like this one are thought to have been produced by Copts (Christian Egyptians) whose designs and motifs influenced the visual repertoire of the early Islamic period. This roundel utilizes explicitly Christian imagery—the life of Joseph, son of Jacob. The early life of Joseph appears to have been a popular source of imagery in Egypt, likely because the narrative largely takes place in that region. Roundels like this were often placed near the shoulders of a child’s garment, and the imagery here of Joseph’s childhood may have been considered as not only an appropriate choice for a child’s garment but also a protective one. (description from metmuseum.org)
A Story That Hits Close to Home
Have you ever been falsely accused? I have.
As a teenager, I came home one day with my mother to find a police car in our driveway. The officer approached with a stern expression and a heavy accusation: someone had used my name to make a prank call to the fire department, reporting a plane crash at the local airport. Emergency services had rushed to the scene, only to find nothing. It appeared I was the culprit.
Thankfully, I had an alibi—I had been at my guitar lesson during the call. Though I was cleared, I still remember the fear and helplessness I felt. What if I hadn’t been able to prove my innocence?
Wrongful Accusations in Today’s World
Joseph’s story is ancient, but the experience of false accusation is tragically modern. According to Prison Fellowship:
“Since 1989, DNA testing has exonerated over 225 innocent people in the United States—some of whom had spent years behind bars. At least 123 people have been released from death row since the 1970s. Wrongful convictions not only destroy lives—they allow the guilty to go free.”
Contributing factors include eyewitness misidentification, false confessions, and inadequate legal defense. Even today, thousands sit in prison cells for crimes they didn’t commit—just like Joseph.
Truth and Consequences
Potiphar believed his wife’s lie. I wonder how long it would have been before she tried the same thing again with another servant. But her slander had real consequences. And this kind of behavior—malicious lies, unfounded gossip, character assassination—remains dangerous.
Attorney David Goguen explains it this way:
“Libel and slander fall under defamation. Defamation is a false statement someone makes about you, which they present as fact, and which damages your reputation or causes emotional or financial harm.”
In today’s world, even idle gossip can do deep damage. Words matter. Lies—whether whispered behind backs or shouted from platforms—have the power to wound and destroy.
“But the Lord was with Joseph... and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison” (v. 21).
Joseph’s integrity remained intact, and over time, he was given authority even in prison. Eventually, he would rise to power beside Pharaoh himself.
Could he have done anything differently? Not likely. His only option in the face of temptation was to flee—and that was the right choice. Charles Spurgeon once wrote:
“In contending with certain sins there remains no mode of victory but by flight… A covenant must be made with our eyes not even to look upon the cause of temptation.”
The Lord Is With Us
Genesis 39 is not just a tale of injustice; it’s a declaration of God’s presence. Four times we are told: “The Lord was with Joseph.” This same truth applies to us. When we gather at the communion table, we do so in remembrance of Jesus—but also with the assurance of His ongoing presence.
He is with us. In trials. In temptations. In accusations. In prison cells. And around the table.
Let us give God the praise, for He never leaves nor forsakes us. Amen.
Falsely Accused (Genesis 39:1–23) | Originally preached by Rev. Dr. Dennis Alan RobertsFulbright Shubert Christian Church, June 23, 2024
Sometimes, the Bible tells a whole story in a single verse. In Genesis 35:22, we read: “While Israel was living in that land, Reuben went and lay with Bilhah, his father’s concubine; and Israel heard about it.”
Just one sentence. No added commentary. No dramatic pause. No confrontation scene. Just—Reuben, the firstborn, committed a shameful act with his father’s concubine, and somehow, Israel (Jacob) found out.
It’s sandwiched between the grief of Rachel’s death and a list of Jacob’s sons—as if the writer didn’t quite know what to do with it. But there it is, quietly disrupting the family legacy.
How Did Jacob Hear?
The verse says, “Israel heard about it.” We’re left to wonder: Who told him? Did someone witness it and come forward? Was it gossip? Small towns—ancient or modern—aren’t known for keeping secrets. The text doesn’t say, and maybe that’s the point.
Some sins are meant to be hidden. Reuben and Bilhah surely didn’t plan on sending out announcements. This was meant to stay secret—but secrets have a way of surfacing, especially when they’re rotten.
Why Include This?
You might ask, “Why is this even in the Bible?” Especially when the next verse moves on to list the twelve sons of Jacob, without so much as a comment. But maybe the lesson is exactly that—sin doesn’t always erupt in the moment. Sometimes, it lingers in silence, buried under the surface… until the day of reckoning comes.
The Reckoning
It’s not until Jacob is on his deathbed in Genesis 49 that the impact becomes clear. To Reuben, he says:
“Reuben, you are my firstborn… Unstable as water, you shall not excel, Because you went up to your father’s bed; Then you defiled it…”
No further punishment is recorded in Genesis 35. But that final word from a dying father is devastating. “You shall not excel.” It’s the undoing of a legacy Reuben might have had.
Was It Power? Was It Revenge?
Some scholars suggest Reuben’s act wasn’t just lust, but a power play. An attempt to assert dominance or to block Bilhah from rising in status after Rachel’s death. Was this about humiliating Bilhah, or asserting himself as next in line? Maybe both.
Whatever the motivation, the outcome was clear: disgrace, broken trust, and lost inheritance.
A Word for Father’s Day
It’s fitting—if painfully so—that this passage falls near Father’s Day. It reminds us how easily the sins of one generation bleed into the next, how fragile trust can be, and how silence isn’t always golden.
Jacob’s silence in Genesis 35 is eerie. Did he say nothing at the time? Did he wait for the right moment? Or did he simply carry it in his heart until the day he could finally speak truth?
As fathers, sons, and families, we’re reminded that the choices we make ripple through time. And yet, even in disgrace, Reuben’s name isn’t erased. He remains part of the Twelve Tribes. The consequences are real, but grace isn’t gone.
A Final Thought: No Verse Is Too Small
This story—just one sentence long—is a reminder that no part of Scripture is too small or too awkward to matter. The Bible tells the truth of human lives—messy, broken, sinful, sometimes shocking. And yet, God works through it all. Nothing is wasted. Not even a footnote like Genesis 35:22.
Let’s not read the Bible just to finish it. Let’s read it to find ourselves in it. Sometimes even in the most uncomfortable places.
Original Title: Reuben & Bilhah, June 16, 2024 (for Father’s Day) | Shubert Christian Church Shubert, Nebraska
In the summers of 1977 and 1978, I was offered a job to work for my cousin driving a combine during wheat harvest. Running two combines it took about three-and-a-half to four weeks to harvest the wheat. The first summer, my cousin said that he would pay me $25 a day to drive a combine. At 16 years old, I enjoyed driving the combine so I didn’t think much of it at the time. The next summer he gave me a rais; $30 a day. Again, I loved driving the combine so I didn’t complain.
However, it was an itchy, dirty job. The days were at least 12 hours with some going beyond 16 hours, harvesting from 7:30 AM to 1:00 AM the following morning. Then to drive home, shower, and sleep, and be back to the field by 6:30 AM, to refuel and service the combine. At $30 a day divided by 16 hours, I was working about $1.88 an hour. That was well below the minimum wage which was $2.30 an hour. Even working at my dad’s garage, I was making $2.00 an hour.
Did I feel that I was being ripped off? At the time, not really. I trusted my cousin was being fair with me. But, my dad said to me that he felt our cousins were taking advantage of me. Did we drive out to the field and start carrying our picket signs in protest to the unfair wage? No! We did not. But, my dad taught me a lesson about how it’s not wise to work for your relatives. A lesson that I have never forgotten.
Do I carry any ill will toward my family? No! I wouldn’t trade those memories for the world and would probably do it all again. However, the lesson still remains in my mind especially as we study Genesis 31:1-7 (NKJV):
1 Now Jacob heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying “Jacob has taken away all that was our father’s, and from what was our father’s he has acquired all this wealth.” 2 And Jacob saw the countenance of Laban, and indeed it was not favorable toward him as before. 3 Then the LORD said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your family, and I will be with you.”
4 So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field, to his flock, 5 and said to them, “I see your father’s countenance, that it is not favorable toward me as before; but the God of my father has been with me. 6 And you know that with all my might I have served your father. 7 Yet your father has deceived me and changed my wages ten times, but God did not allow him to hurt me.
It seems that this was a case of love at first sight. When Jacob first met Rachel, he kissed her, and then he wept (Genesis 29:11). It didn’t matter that she was his first cousin. God didn’t address the issues of incest until much later. Jacob went to Rachel, he wanted her and was willing to work for her father in order to marry her. However, Rachel’s father, Laban, deceived Jacob and when the time came for Jacob to marry Rachel, Laban substituted his daughter Leah instead. After unknowingly having intercourse with her, Jacob discovered it was not Rachel and returned to Laban saying “why have you deceived me?”
Laban agreed to give Rachel to Jacob on the basis that he would work for him for another seven years (Genesis 29:25-27). However, as time passes and Jacob has almost finished his agreement, Laban begins to realize that Jacob is making him a lot of money so he contracts Jacob to work even longer.
The original agreement was (Genesis 30:31-33, NKJV):
31 So he [Laban] said, “what shall I give you?”
And Jacob said, “You shall not give me anything. If you will do this thing for me, I will again feed and keep your flocks: 32 Let me pass through all your flock today, removing from there all the speckled and spotted sheep, and all the brown ones among the lamps, and the spotted and speckled among the goats; and these shall be my wages. 33 So my righteousness will answer for me in time to come, when the subject of my wages comes before you: every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and brown among the lamps, will be considered stolen, if it is with me.”
It is evident that God blessed Jacob. Because, over time Jacob’s flocks turned out to be strong, and well fed compared to Laban’s flocks. Therefore, Laban’s other sons became involved in sharing their complaints (Genesis 31). The sons felt that Jacob was robbing them of the inheritance they’d receive from their father. Realizing the hostility, Jacob decides to leave, especially after God told him:
3 Then the LORD said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your father and grandfather and to your relatives there, and I will be with you.” (Genesis 31:3, NLT)
At this time, Jacob felt he did not owe Laban anything. In fact, his own complain was:
6 You know how hard I have worked for your father, 7 but he has cheated me, changing my wages ten times. But God has not allowed him to do me any harm. (Genesis 31:6-7, NLT)
“Cheated me,” is a strong phrase; “deceived” isn’t much better. But the point is, Jacob is telling his wife that her father took advantage of him. Whereas, depending on who you talk to, Laban or his sons, the question might be: who took advantage of who?
Then, Rachel and Leah list their own complaints (Genesis 31: 14-16, NLT):
14 Rachel and Leah responded, “That’s fine with us! We won’t inherit any of our father’s wealth anyway. 15 He has reduced our rights to those of foreign women. And after he sold us, he wasted the money you paid him for us. 16 All the wealth God has given you from our father legally belongs to us and our children. So go ahead and do whatever God has told you.”
The women have their own reasons for their hostilities. With their belief that the Bible is based on a “patriarchal paradigm,” most women were considered lesser than men, with little of their own rights. Examining ancient culture, this is quite evident and true. It is certainly not an idea that is built upon righteousness, nor does it indicate any of God’s love being lost to women.
Continuing with the story, Jacob and his family head off without telling Laban. When Laban catches up to them, he also airs his own complaint (Genesis 31:25-29, NLT):
25 Laban caught up with Jacob as he was camped in the hill country of Gilead, and he set up his camp not far from Jacob’s. 26 “What do you mean by deceiving me like this?” Laban demanded. “How dare you drag my daughters away like prisoners of war? 27 Why did you slip away secretly? Why did you deceive me? And why did you say you wanted to leave? I would have given you a farewell feast, with singing and music, accompanied by tambourines and harps. 28 Why didn’t you let me kiss my daughters and grandchildren and tell them good-bye? You have acted very foolishly! 29 I could destroy you, but the God of your father appeared to me last night and warned me, ‘Leave Jacob alone!’
Based on what we know about Laban, it is pretty unlikely he would have thrown a farewell feast for his daughters and Jacob. Especially since we know that Laban was deceptive, it’s likely that he would have come up with another scheme. Additionally, Laban’s hostility toward them, reminding Jacob, “I could destroy you!” Yet, there’s one slight problem, or rather one big problem. A big God. An Almighty God. Who warns Laban, “leave Jacob alone!” The lesson here: It’s always good to have God on your side.
What do we learn from the challenges these families faced? From the story of Jacob and Laban, we gain insight into human relationships, ethics, perseverance, and God’s providence.
We learn patience and perseverance. Jacob worked for Laban for 20 years. Seven years for Rachel, another seven for Leah, and six more years for livestock. Despite the deceit and unfair treatment, Jacob persevered. This teaches us that achieving our goals often requires enduring difficult circumstances and remaining steadfast.
We learn the consequences of deception. Both Jacob and Laban engaged in deceptive practices. Jacob deceived his father, Isaac, to receive the blessing meant for Esau, and Laban deceived Jacob by giving him Leah instead of Rachel. These actions led to complicated family dynamics and strained relationships.
We learn God’s sovereignty and faithfulness. Despite the human flaws and deceptive actions, God’s plan continued to unfold. God promised to bless Jacob and was faithful to that promise, even when Jacob faced difficulties. This teaches us that God’s plans are sovereign, and His faithfulness endures despite human failures. It reassures us that God can bring about good from our circumstances and remains in control even when things seem chaotic.
We learn how to work diligently and ethically. Jacob worked diligently for Laban, even when he was treated unfairly. This underscores the value of working hard and maintaining a strong work ethic, regardless of how others treat us. It also reminds us to trust that God sees out efforts and will reward us in His timing.
We learn how to set boundaries. Eventually, Jaco realized that he needed to separate from Laban to fulfill God’s plan for his life. He took his family and possessions and left. This teaches us the importance of setting boundaries in relationships, especially when those relationships are harmful or exploitative. It is crucial to recognize when it is time to move on for our well-being and to follow God’s direction for our lives.
We learn how to resolve conflict. The story also highlights the importance of resolving conflicts. Jacob and Laban eventually made a covenant to part ways peacefully (Genesis 31:44-54). This shows the importance of addressing conflicts directly and finding a resolution that allows both parties to move forward without lingering animosity.
We learn to have faith in God. When leaving Laban, Jacob prayed and relied on God to protect him from Laban’s potential retaliation. This teaches us the importance of placing our faith and dependence on God, especially when facing uncertain or challenging situations.
We learn God’s blessings amidst challenges. Jacob prospered greatly. This illustrates that God’s blessings can come even in challenging circumstances. It encourages us to remain faithful and trust that God can and will bless us, sometimes in unexpected ways.
You might wonder “what if?” What if Jacob had not worked for his father-in-law? What if he had just gracefully asked for his daughter’s hand in marriage? Would there have been a better relationship between these two men, eventually? We know that within the family, the human family as well as the family of God that there are oftentimes conflict. Conflicts occur with people collaborating with people. Our communion with God can be a place for resolving conflicts. When we worship with others, we come together to remember our Lord Jesus Christ. Being reminded that no conflict should keep us from him, as he also instructed us to love one another.
Sermon Title: Why You Should Never Work For Your Relatives | Sermon: June 2, 2024, Shubert Christian Church, Shubert, NE
We continue with Jacob’s story after leaving off with the dispute over a birthright with his older brother, Esau (first born son of Issac). Having a birthright would mean obtaining the highest position in the family, and receiving a much larger portion of inheritance, including land. However, as we remember from the last chapter, Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for the low price of a bowl of stew.
To claim the birthright, Jacob and his mother managed to deceive Isaac into offering this blessing to Jacob. When Esau came forward to receive his birthright, he became intensely angry. Isaac also grieved when discovering that he had been deceived and blessed the wrong son.
Upon researching this text and its interpretation from the Jewish point of view, Rabbi Joseph Telushkin notes at least two problems. 1) Rabbi Telushkin states “the Torah never explains why a blessing given under false pretenses cannot be reassigned to its proper recipient,” and 2) Jacob lied to his father. We have to wonder, how did Jacob get away with deceiving his father? And, if ever there is a point where one is expected to respect their dying parent, especially an honorable Patriarch like Jacob, at what point has his sin ever been made justifiable?
From this point, we move back into the text, Genesis 28:10-11 (NRSV):
10 Jacob left Beersheba and went toward Haran. 11 He came to a certain place and stayed there for the night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place.
All of this happened while Jacob was fleeing from his brother Esau. His journey to Haron is believed to have been over 400 miles. As he gets started, about 50 miles from home, he has this dream, Genesis 28:12-15 (NRSV):
12 And he dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth, the top of it reaching to heaven; and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 13 And the LORD stood beside him and said, “I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring; 14 and your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you and in your offspring. 15 Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
Image: “Jacobs Ladder” (1655) Rembrandt van Rijn
Jacob has an encounter with God. First, one might wonder from this text, why did God choose him? If this was a man who was clearly guilty of deceiving his father, why would God choose such a man to reveal himself to? However, if we look toward the New Testament, one is able to see that God doesn’t always reveal himself to those whom we should judge as the best of God’s creation. If we ask why God would choose Jacob, we should also ask why God chose Paul to be an Apostle.
When looking at this encounter between God and Jacob, we can see that Jacob is not being judged for his former sins. Instead, God offers future blessings to a man who has stolen blessings. God gives Jacob undeserved recognition in saying, “all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you.” But the best promise, God says, “know that I am with you…for I will not leave you.”
Many of us have been like Jacob. Our life’s journey has taken us to some places where our behaviors have bordered on the unethical. Some might call this guilt-ridden, leaving us to wonder, where is God? And, if God is out there, why would he have anything to do with me?
To some point, it is easy to understand why some people are agnostic when it comes to faith. Some may even admit that they believe in God but just don’t think God would have anything to do with them; sort of like God is on vacation, taking a break after creating the world. It is difficult for people to acknowledge that God is working in their personal life at this very moment. For some, it’s easy to be content with our life and live with very little awareness of the existence of God. Yet, it isn’t until our lives encounter a tragedy, say the death of a loved one or a sudden terminal illness, that we drop down to our knees in prayer frantically searching, asking “God, where are you?!”
This can be especially frustrating when we hear stories of Jacob and his direct encounter with God. We look at Jacob’s past and we wonder why he was allowed to become a famous biblical leader. We will never understand the kind of justice or injustice done by this story but what we do know is that God revealed Himself to Jacob, which assures us that God is capable of being present with the sinful.
Many people today assume God will have nothing to do with them because they are not perfect enough to have fellowship with Him. Yet, what we learn from this story of Jacob is that the idea couldn’t be further from the truth. From this one story and the many that follow, we see example after example of how God has chosen to have company with many men and women who’ve lived sinful lifestyles.
When we think about God’s willingness to be in company, and have communion with sinners, we ought to know that whatever spiritual state many of us may find ourselves in, God is always with us. There are reminders throughout the Old Testament where God says, “I am the LORD, the God of Abraham,” or “the God of Israel,” or “the God of your fathers.” This is even continued by Jesus in the New Testament, that even Jesus’ name, Emmanuel, means “God with us.”
In continuing with Jacob’s story, Genesis 28:16-19 (NRSV):
16 Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, “Surely the LORD is in this place--and I did not know it!” 17 And he was afraid, and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”
18 So Jacob rose early in the morning, and he took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it. 19 He called that place Bethel.
After Jacob awoke from his dream, he set up a pillar, and named the place Bethel. The name Bethel may have two meanings, 1) the house of God, and 2) the gate of heaven. This helps support the idea that whenever God is, it is holy. Therefore, if God is present with us, then we can continue to acknowledge “surely the LORD is in this place. How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”
To conclude, in times of trouble and heartache, many of us ask “Where is God?” Jesus said in the closing words of Matthew’s gospel, “I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28.20b, NIV). Where is God? God is with you. He is with you today. He will be with you tomorrow. God will never leave you.
Sermon Title: Where is God? Sermon Date: July 18, 1999, First Christian Church, Paradise, California
As we begin Genesis 25, we meet Esau and his brother Jacob, sons of Isaac (son of Abraham) and Rebekah. Esau and Jacob were twins with Esau the first born and Jacob following right after. As they grew, they had very different interests. Esau was a skilled hunter and farmer and Jacob “was a mild man, dwelling in tents” (Genesis 25:27). While it’s typically not common for parents to have favorites among their children, this was not the case for Esau and Jacob. Instead, Esau was the favorite of Isaac, which meant that Isaac had given Esau his birthright whereas Jacob was the favorite of Rebekah but received nothing. This birthright is expanded more in Genesis 25:29-34 (NKJV):
29 Now Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field, and he was weary. 30 And Esau said to Jacob, “Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary.” Therefore his name was called Edom. 31 But Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright as of this day.” 32 And Esau said, “Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?” 33 Then Jacob said, “Swear to me as of this day.”
So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.
Esau despised his birthright and considered the responsibilities and honors unimportant and uninteresting. Unsurprisingly, he would sell his birthright to his brother over bread and stew. A formal oath solidified the agreement, “Jacob said, ‘swear to me as of this day.’ So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob” (Genesis 25:33). Esau took what God considered sacred and made it common. He was more concerned about his temporary and material needs and gave them priority over his rights as the firstborn son and responsibilities as heir; a blessing of the Abrahamic covenant. This isn’t the only place in the Bible that references Esau’s lack of commitment. Hebrews 12:16 says:
16 lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright.
Esau abandoned his birthright but that’s not all. Esau also chose wives–Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite–who were outside the tribe his parents approved of. Whether they were “wild women,” we do not know but knowing from Hebrews that Esau was a “profane person and a fornicator having women he was not married to,” little is left to the imagination.
As we fast forward, Isaac was getting old, he was nearly 180 years old and was blind. He called out to his favorite son, Esau, and asked him to go hunting to bring back “savory” food. His wife Rebekah was standing nearby and devised a plan for Jacob to slaughter some goats, she would cook the food, and Jacob would take it to his father, posing as Esau. The only problem, Esau was a hairy man and Jacob was not. So, Rebekah went out and stole clothes from Esau and placed goat skins on Jacob where his father would likely want to feel, in order to fool him into believing that Jacob was Esau.
Image Source: Hendrick ter Brugghen – Web Gallery of Art, Public Domain
Jacob, disguised as Esau, went and gave food to his father. Isaac was amazed that his favorite son found the game so quickly to which Jacob replied, “God provided.” Isaac was suspicious and asked Jacob to come near him. He felt Jacob’s phony costume and said, “Your voice sounds like Jacob but you feel like Esau. Are you really my son Esau?” Jacob lied and replied, “I am.”
Jacob passed the inspection. Isaac was convinced Jacob was Esau. He felt like Esau and his clothes smelled like Esau. So, Isaac blessed Jacob instead of Esau. Isaac said,
28 Therefore may God give you Of the dew of heaven, Of the fatness of the earth, And plenty of grain and wine. 29 Let peoples serve you, And nations bow down to you. Be master over your brethren, And let your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, And blessed be those who bless you!” (Genesis 25:28-29)
This was likely a one-time deal. There was no going back now. Jacob was blessed with the highest blessing. Sometime later, Esau comes home and prepares his game, cooks it, and brings it to his father. Isaac, having just eaten, says he is full and realizes he was deceived. Esau is heartbroken and weeps, which eventually turns to rage. He says, “Blee me, O my father!” Genesis 25:39-40 (NKJV) says:
39 Then Isaac his father answered and said to him: “Behold, your dwelling shall be of the fatness of the earth, And of the dew of heaven from above. 40 By your sword you shall live, And you shall serve your brother And it shall come to pass, when you become restless, That you shall break his yoke from your neck.”
As a result, Esau vowed he would kill his brother, Jacob. As an expert hunter, he could do just that. We’ve seen this story play out before with Cain and Abel. As God chose Abel over Cain, God chose Jacob over Esau.
There are multiple cheaters in this story. Rebekah conspired to deceive and cheat her husband, Isaac. Jacob cheated his brother out of a blessing. Esau cheated by marrying foreign women and living a reckless life. Unfortunately, we know people like this in our lives today. We’ve heard these stories. We see examples of these stories in popular media like The Bachelor, Survivor, and many others. This level of suffering entertains us but deep down, there is more to be said about deceit than the humor of a reality TV show. For Jacob, this meant that his mother sent him away, 450 miles away to be exact, to save him from being killed by his brother. Who knew you could find such entertainment in the Bible?
Title: “Your Cheating Heart” | Service Date: October 16, 2015, First Christian Church, Hiawatha, Kansas
Many people are familiar with the story of Abraham and Isaac. Genesis 22:1-5:
1 Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2 Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off. 5 And Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.”
It sometimes horrifies us to think how God could require human sacrifice. Yet, the point of this story is to show God testing Abraham’s faith and loyalty; nothing more. Genesis 6-12:
6 So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together. 7 But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” Then he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”
8 And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together. 9 Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an alter there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the alter; upon the wood. 10 And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” So he said, “Here I am.”
12 And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”
Image Source: “Abraham and Isaac before the Sacrifice” 1644 painting by Jan Victors
We may never know if God would have allowed Abraham to follow through and kill his son, Isaac. Fortunately, we have the privilege of knowing how this story ends.
One of the areas of focus for this story is looking at what the Bible has to say about love and where it originated. In today’s society, we throw around the word “love” rather loosely. It is not so much a Christianized idea and because of this, love can often be associated with “tolerance,” “affirmation,” and “acceptance.” Even within the walls of progressive Christianity, there is a connection with a worldview of love. This makes us wonder; Where did love originate?
William McDonald, author and former president of Emmaus Bible College, stated “the first occurrence of a word in the Bible often sets the pattern for its usage throughout Scripture.” The Hebrew word for “love,” אָהַב (˒âhab, aw-hab,) was first used in Genesis 22:2:
2 Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Issac, whom you love…
We know from reading Genesis 21 that Isaac was almost a miracle child for Abraham and Sarah, because of their older age. There was likely a lot of hope for them that through their offspring, their lineage would continue. Therefore, we are left wondering why God would require Abraham to give up his only son when He knew how important this child was to them. And, on top of that, let’s not forget the request to kill Isaac.
Within the context of defining love, we look at Abraham’s love for his child. Warren Wiersbe, author of With the Word Bible Commentary, explains that this was a test of love:
Abraham loved his son, but he loved God more. Isaac was God’s gift to Abraham, but the gift had to become a sacrifice to God. If the gift becomes more important than the Giver, it becomes an idol.
We have no evidence that Abraham told God outright, “I love you,” but we know from this text that Abraham passed the test which proved to God, through action and obedience, that God meant more to him than anything. He may have ever realized that if it were not for God, he wouldn’t have Isaac. Furthermore, his actions exemplify the love that a parent has for their children. Later in Genesis 25, we see Isaac with his children, Esau and Jacob.
27 So the boys grew. And Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, but Jacob was a mild man, dwelling in tents. 28 And Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.
As parents, we rarely show favoritism to our children. However, Isaac showed favoritism toward Esau, the older twin brother of Jacob. We see this continue to Genesis 27:
1 Now it came to pass when Isaac was old and his eyes were so dim that he could not see, that he called Esau his older son and said to him, “My Son.” And he answered him, “Here I am.” 2 Then he said, “Behold now, I am old. I do not know the day of my death. 3 Now therefore, please take your weapons, your quiver, and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me. 4 And make me savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die.”
The same word “love” is used in this scripture but its meaning is different. We all have a favorite food that we love. It might be apple pie, chocolate cake, or cookies. If you don’t have a sweet tooth, maybe you love mashed potatoes, turkey, and green bean casserole. Whatever it is, most of us have a love for food. Even in the Bible, we find that people had a love for certain foods.
Image Source: Jan Van Kessel. “Fruit and Vegetable Market with a Young Fruit Seller.” Between 1650 and 1660.
Another kind of love is romantic or sexual love. We see an example of this in Genesis 29:30 (NKJV):
30 Then Jacob also went in to Rachel, and he also loved Rachel more than Leah. And he served with Laban still another seven years.
This time, love is interpreted to mean love between two people. In this example, we are given a biblical model of romance and sexual love between a man and a woman. This kind of love is one of God’s greatest gifts to humanity. In today’s society, many try to minimize the significance of this blessing by forcing the acceptance of other types of sexual and romantic love upon us. Unfortunately, this has been one of the reasons romantic and sexual love are often disregarded with couples refusing to commit to the marriage vows or even breaking marriage vows in time.
Looking at the origin of love is an exciting journey. God allowed humankind to develop feelings of certain things. All these various kinds of love, whether it be romantic love or love for certain foods, it was all placed within the boundaries that always put God first. Even for Abraham, it was to put God first. Some might even read Genesis and say that love toward God was implied, but that’s not always explained. Jumping into the book of Exodus 20:4-6, we see an example of this (NKJV):
4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
We see another example of loving God in Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (NKJV):
4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
While there are many other examples of loving God throughout the Bible, another example, this time stated by our Lord Jesus Christ, is in Mark 12:28-30 and Matthew 22:34-40. Matthew 12:28-30 reads:
28 Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, “Which is the first commandment of all?” 29 Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.
The origin of love is encompassed within the boundaries of the Kingdom of God. Its purpose is to love God and to put God first. By doing this, we can be sure that everything else will fall into place. When the world tries to redefine the meaning of love and sexuality the results will always end in heartache. Even for those who indulge in the love of food, it still brings all kinds of problems, including health issues, obesity, addiction, etc. However, the biggest difference with food is that we need food to survive. I don’t think God intended for us to not have a favorite food, but food cannot become one’s God.
People can love their families and should love their families. But people who do not love God do not always know how to love their families. Or to turn it around, people who do not love their families cannot love God. This is not to say that people do not get hurt by their families, and sometimes we have to forgive people but remain distant. And in many cases, we have to love people at a distance.
The Bible has something to say about love in just about every book. Sometimes, people struggle with studying their Bible because they think they need to read the book starting with Genesis, all the way through. It can be really helpful and rewarding to do a word study, and in this case, take a word (like love) and identify where and how that word is used in the Bible. One can gain a great deal of spiritual understanding just by reviewing that word and seeing how it repeats itself, what different versions of the word are used, and how it unfolds through the scriptures. Love is certainly a gift from God and true love is from God. We can seek out love throughout the Bible and every time we find God, we will also find love.
Title: Formerly “The Origin of Love” | Sermon: October 8, 2023, Shubert Christian Church, Shubert, Nebraska
Weddings are joyful occasions—filled with celebration, laughter, and love. They bring families and communities together to mark a new beginning. For many mothers, a wedding is also a moment of pride, reflection, and deep emotional investment. On this Mother’s Day, we turn to the wedding at Cana, where Jesus performed His first miracle. It’s a story not only about divine power but also about the quiet influence of a mother who knew her son better than anyone else. William Hull (1970) said:
“A wedding feast was one of the most important and joyous occasions in the life of a Jewish family. Since marriages were usually arranged well in advance, the tiny village of Cana in Galilee may have eagerly anticipated this celebration for a long while” (The Broadman Bible Commentary, Volume 9, p. 23).
As we turn to John 2:1-12, we find Jesus, His disciples, and His mother attending a wedding in Cana of Galilee.
2 On the third day a wedding took place in Cana of Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and 2 Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding as well. 3 When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother told Him, “They don’t have any wine.” John 2:1–12 (HCSB)
This wasn’t just a casual event—it was a major social celebration in a Jewish village. Traditionally, wedding feasts could last as long as seven days, with much food, dancing, and of course, wine. The text begins with a problem: the wine runs out. In our modern context, this might seem like a minor inconvenience. But during this time, it was common for wedding festivities to last seven days so running out of wine could be a sign of poor planning; a serious embarrassment for the host family that could tarnish their reputation. It is here that Mary, the mother of Jesus, steps in.
Source: “The Marriage Feast at Cana” by Bartolomé Estebán Murillo, 1672
Since there were seven days set aside to pull off this wedding, we can certainly wonder about the complexities of details. In my time as a pastor and having been involved in wedding services, I have noted how strict certain people are about wedding details. It seemed that back in the day, ministers could just pull out a service book from their library and proceed with a brief marriage ceremony. However, today, ministers are expected to offer much more:
“Do you want a formal wedding? a semi-formal wedding, a contemporary service, a traditional service, a simple wedding, or something else?”
“Will there be organ music, live music, recorded music, special music done by a group or vocalist, will you see singing as you walk down the aisle, or something else?”
“Do you want this wedding inside the church, outside the church, inside a community hall, inside a home, outdoors or should we have it in the parking lot?”
Wedding events have expanded so much that some churches even have a wedding coordinator available; if not, the family often hires their own. What I’ve discovered is there’s often a family member – usually someone’s aunt – who feels they are qualified for the job and take it upon themselves to be the wedding coordinator. They tell everyone where to stand, dictate the proper etiquette, insist on selecting the flower girls for the service, and manage the gift table. Maybe it’s not an aunt, maybe it’s a cousin, a sister, a mother? You get the picture.
With this in mind, we wonder about Mary. What was her role in this story? Since there isn’t a mention of Joseph, Jesus’ father, we could assume this event is after he passed away. This could also mean that Mary is related to the groom’s family, making the connection that Mary’s sister, Salome the mother of John (not John the Baptist) was a cousin of Jesus. However, this is just a theory and whether or not Mary and Jesus were attending the wedding of relatives or just happened to be at the event does not make a difference to the outcome of the story. Instead, this story and its dialogue are about the relationship between a mother and her son.
We know this wedding is an important event for Mary to attend. We imagine, as at any wedding, that many of the mothers are gathered around amazed at the festivities and eager to celebrate. Then, a sour note lands on the party when they realize, there is no more wine. And, the intriguing moment when Mary runs to Jesus with the problem at hand. Why would Mary run to Jesus?
To which Jesus replies, John 2: 4-8:
4 “What has this concern of yours to do with Me, woman?” Jesus asked. “My hour has not yet come.” 5 “Do whatever He tells you,” His mother told the servants. 6 Now six stone water jars had been set there for Jewish purification. Each contained 20 or 30 gallons. 7 “Fill the jars with water,” Jesus told them. So they filled them to the brim. 8 Then He said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the chief servant.” And they did.
At first, we might read Jesus’ response to be harsh. “Woman, what has this concern of yours to do with me?” But in the cultural and linguistic context of the time, this wasn’t disrespectful. “Woman” was a formal, polite address. And His question was a way of signaling that He was stepping into His divine mission – not simply acting as her son, but as the Son of God.
Mary does not argue. Instead, she turns to the servants and instructs them to do whatever he tells them to do. In this moment, she is demonstrating faith. She trusts Jesus completely and because of her great faith, Jesus elects to meet the need at hand. This story teaches us that whenever faith is acted upon, miracles do appear. Jesus responds—not out of obligation, but from compassion and divine purpose. He tells the servants to fill six large stone jars with water. These jars, used for Jewish purification rituals, hold 20 to 30 gallons each. Once filled, Jesus instructs them to draw some out and take it to the chief servant. In John 2: 9-12,
9 When the chief servant tasted the water (after it had become wine), he did not know where it came from—though the servants who had drawn the water knew. He called the groom 10 and told him, “Everyone sets out the fine wine first, then, after people have drunk freely, the inferior. But you have kept the fine wine until now.” 11 Jesus performed this first sign in Cana of Galilee. He displayed His glory, and His disciples believed in Him. 12 After this, He went down to Capernaum, together with His mother, His brothers, and His disciples, and they stayed there only a few days.
The water has turned into wine. Not just any wine—the best wine. The chief servant, unaware of what has happened, is amazed. He says to the groom, “Everyone sets out the fine wine first… but you have kept the fine wine until now” (v. 10).
Many people in our world today do not believe in miracles. This text is an example of Jesus’ first recorded miracle – a sign that revealed His glory and caused His disciples to believe in Him. It began not with a grand declaration or a supernatural sign, but with a quiet moment between a mother and her son.
Mary didn’t perform the miracle—but her faith created the space for it to happen. Her trust in Jesus set the stage for His glory to be revealed. She didn’t demand; she simply believed. On a simple occasion of attending a wedding, Mary saw an opportunity for Jesus to bring joy to people’s lives. The joy was not found merely in the drink that was provided, but instead was the joy of the discovery as people realized the Messiah had come.
Sometimes, mothers have a way of seeing what others don’t. They notice what’s missing. They know when to speak, and when to trust. And in Mary, we see a mother who understood the weight of who her son was—even when His full mission was not yet clear.
Later in John’s Gospel, we see Mary again—at the foot of the cross. Even in His final moments, Jesus makes sure His mother will be cared for, saying to the beloved disciple, “Here is your mother” (John 19:27). His concern for her never faded.
On this Mother’s Day, we honor the mothers who have brought us into the world, nurtured us in love, and pointed us—sometimes gently, sometimes firmly—toward Jesus. We remember the quiet strength of Mary, whose faith opened the door to Christ’s first miracle. We thank God for mothers who see what others miss, who believe even when others doubt, and who teach us to listen to the voice of Jesus.
And at the very least, we say: God bless our mothers—for through them, many of us have come to know Jesus Christ.
~Rev. Dennis A. Fulbright
Preached: “The Mothers of Cana” | 2014, Hiawatha First Christian Church (DOC) & 2003, Paradise First Christian Church (DOC) , Revised 5/6/2025 by BRO, BA, Div.
In Hebrew, the word for everlasting is עֹלָם˓ôlâm, o-lawm’ which means eternity, forever future, or a time unending. So when God makes a promise to Abraham in Genesis 17, is this promise good for eternity? Or was God exaggerating? Genesis 17:1-2 reads
1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. 2 And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.”
Does everlasting still mean everlasting? In today’s society, we could say the Jews and the nation of Israel are God’s people. Many people have tried to remove the Jews from having any claim to a covenant with God. The nation of Israel and the bloodline of the Jewish people still make the Jews descendants of Abraham. Yet, the focus of this chapter is on the term “everlasting” and does everlasting still mean everlasting for today’s society?
Image: “Clouds” by Thomas Cole, 1838.
Abram surely knew that God, The Almighty God (El Shaddai), was the creator of the universe and therefore had no limitations to power or strength. In Genesis 17: 1, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God;” (NKJV).
As God made promises to Abram, Abram must have realized that God was serious. His immediate response was that he fell on his face before God. He was showing God respect and indicating his unworthiness to be in the presence of God. To which God replies in Genesis 17:3-6:
3 Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying: 4 “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. 5 No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you.
God said Abram was “blameless” which meant for him to maintain his integrity, to walk before God obeying God. His reward was that God would multiply him exceedingly. God continues in Genesis 17:7-8:
7 And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. 8 Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”
Then, God changes Abram’s name. The name Abram means “high father,” and his new name, Abraham, meant “father of a multitude.” We also learn later in Genesis 17:16 that Sarai also receives a new name; Sarah, the “mother of nations.” And, every time their names are spoken, it is a reminder of the promises of God’s covenant. This covenant was not just a covenant that would be terminated upon the death of the recipients. This covenant was now an “everlasting covenant”; an eternal covenant, a covenant without end.
Whenever one reads the books of the Old Testament one gets the idea that the story plot is about God’s people coming to God, turning away from God, coming back to God, and then rejecting God. The Israelites (known as the Hebrew children) also known as the Jews have a hot and cold relationship with the Almighty. They reject the Almighty and in return; the Almighty rejects them.
Because they are God’s chosen people, God is always there to welcome them back into the fold. Therefore, this nation shouldn’t be discounted from the Biblical message. Our nation, the United States of America, should support Israel. If our nation turns away from Israel, God will certainly turn away from us. Yet, the most troubling part is there are millions of people in this nation that turned away from God already; they simply no longer care.
Those practicing the Jewish faith today likely feel they are well-connected to God. Whereas, people of our faith, our Christian faith believe that since the Jews rejected Jesus Christ, they lost their rights to be considered as the people of God; the true chosen people of God. There’s that little problem again about the “everlasting covenant.” Does everlasting still mean everlasting? Hosea 4:1, 6-7 (NKJV) explains:
4 Hear the word of the Lord, You children of Israel, For the Lord brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land: “There is no truth or mercyOr knowledge of God in the land.6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.Because you have rejected knowledge,I also will reject you from being priest for Me;Because you have forgotten the law of your God,I also will forget your children.7 “The more you increased,The more they sinned against me; I will change their glory into shame.
It is clear that God, through the prophet, is addressing Israel. Without including a lengthy portion of Hosea 4, Hosea 4:1 clarifies that it is addressing Israel, and 4:6 details how God is rejecting his people. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…” (Hosea 4:6) clearly emphasizes that if you do not know something, then you are vulnerable to being destroyed.
An example of this could be like flying an airplane. Imagine you’re traveling on a commercial jet at an altitude of 35,000 feet when the pilot suddenly hands you the controls. They tell you to just “fly the plane.” Of course, most of you’d likely reply, “But I don’t know how to fly the plane!” But the pilot does not rescind the command and instead replies, “Just fly the plane!” Then, the pilot puts on a parachute, opens the door, and jumps out.
You were told to fly the plane and now you are left flying the plane. What do you think the results will be? It’s pretty likely you are going to crash the plane, and while there are cases where people survive plane crashes, this is likely not going to be one of those cases. The point here is you lack the knowledge for how to fly a plane and therefore are destroyed for your lack of knowledge.
Of course, the knowledge implied is the “knowledge of God.” In Hosea 4:7, “the more they increased, the more they sinned against me.” Some would assume that because the people of Israel sinned against God, God is saying to them “Okay, the deal is off, you are no longer my people.” But God does not say this. God is a merciful God who is long-suffering. He is a God who is ready to forgive when people sin. The only real problem between Christianity and today’s Judaism is that today’s Jews do not accept Jesus Christ as the Messiah; the Savior. What becomes problematic is, how can one be saved without a savior. The answer, one cannot! At the same time, Jews claim they do not accept Jesus Christ…yet.
We still cannot rule out the possibility that God may give his people a special opportunity, a last-ditch opportunity to acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord. Whether or not they reject Jesus, the covenant of God still stands. The covenant is everlasting and is good for all future generations.
Which brings another question, how much land will be claimed? Genesis 17:8 says “All the land of Canaan.” If you look up a map of Canaan, and go back to about 2000 BC, how much of this land is given to God’s people?
Looking at this from the perspective of the twenty-first century, as of 2024, Hamas is working toward destroying Israel. We hear about the Gaza Strip and wonder, when will the Hamas and Israel stop fighting? Only time will tell. However, under the promise of the everlasting covenant, if Israel truly returns to God, then Israel should have a claim to the land of Canaan. This could include the Gaza Strip, possibly parts of Saudi Arabia, and a large portion of Jordan. There are a lot of other complications here. There are cultural differences, religious differences, political differences; all kinds of complex issues to give reason for fighting a war.
At the end of the day, it’s best to be on the side of God. The God who is eternal and gives eternal covenants. Eternal life is a promise that is every bit as good as a covenant. As Israel claims the rights to their land, through our Savior Jesus Christ, we claim our rights to eternal life. There is a land that is being prepared for us, and it will be glorious.
Title: Does Everlasting Still Mean Everlasting? | Sermon: April 28, 2024, Shubert Christian Church, Shubert, Nebraska
