Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Just as a construction company devises blueprints before constructing a building, and a civil engineer takes detailed measurements and computes angles and stress points to guide the erection of a new bridge, so did God have a magnificent plan from the very beginning.

In Genesis 1-11, we learn of God's great patience.

reveals God's promises.

And in , God makes known His purpose.

God's purpose included not only the general flow of history, but also the particular details of people's lives.

God has a purpose for our lives, established before the foundation of the world (; ).

Our sovereign God reigns with absolute authority over all circumstances, people, and powers, forever.

engineer takes detailed measurements and computes angles and stress points to guide the

Each chapter of our study accentuates this very point:

􀁈􀁕􀁈􀁆􀁗􀁌􀁒􀁑􀀃􀁒􀁉􀀃􀁄􀀃􀁑􀁈􀁚􀀃􀁅􀁕􀁌􀁇􀁊􀁈􀀏􀀃􀁖􀁒􀀃􀁇􀁌􀁇􀀃􀀪􀁒􀁇􀀃􀁋􀁄􀁙􀁈􀀃􀁄􀀃􀁐􀁄􀁊􀁑􀁌􀈑􀁆􀁈􀁑􀁗􀀃􀁓􀁏􀁄􀁑􀀃􀁉􀁕􀁒􀁐􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁈􀀃􀁙􀁈􀁕􀁜􀀃􀁅􀁈􀁊􀁌􀁑􀁑􀁌􀁑􀁊􀀑􀀃􀀬􀁑􀀃􀀪􀁈􀁑-

· Isaac is provided a wife by the hand of God ().

􀁈􀁖􀁌􀁖􀀃􀀔􀀐􀀔􀀔􀀏􀀃􀁚􀁈􀀃􀁏􀁈􀁄􀁕􀁑􀀃􀁒􀁉􀀃􀀪􀁒􀁇􀀊􀁖􀀃􀁊􀁕􀁈􀁄􀁗􀀃􀁓􀁄􀁗􀁌􀁈􀁑􀁆􀁈􀀑􀀃􀀪􀁈􀁑􀁈􀁖􀁌􀁖􀀃􀀔􀀕􀀐􀀕􀀕􀀃􀁕􀁈􀁙􀁈􀁄􀁏􀁖􀀃􀀪􀁒􀁇􀀊􀁖􀀃􀁓􀁕􀁒􀁐􀁌􀁖􀁈􀁖􀀑􀀃􀀤􀁑􀁇􀀃􀁌􀁑􀀃􀀪􀁈􀁑􀁈􀁖􀁌􀁖􀀃

· Jacob is promised to dominate over his brother before he comes out of the womb (Genesis 25:21-23).

25:21-23).

􀀕􀀖􀀐􀀘􀀓􀀏􀀃􀀪􀁒􀁇􀀃􀁐􀁄􀁎􀁈􀁖􀀃􀁎􀁑􀁒􀁚􀁑􀀃􀀫􀁌􀁖􀀃􀁓􀁘􀁕􀁓􀁒􀁖􀁈􀀑

· Joseph is given dreams from God that will be fulfilled despite seemingly impossible circumstances ().

􀀪􀁒􀁇􀀊􀁖􀀃􀁓􀁘􀁕􀁓􀁒􀁖􀁈􀀃􀁌􀁑􀁆􀁏􀁘􀁇􀁈􀁇􀀃􀁑􀁒􀁗􀀃􀁒􀁑􀁏􀁜􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁈􀀃􀁊􀁈􀁑􀁈􀁕􀁄􀁏􀀃􀈠􀁏􀁒􀁚􀀃􀁒􀁉􀀃􀁋􀁌􀁖􀁗􀁒􀁕􀁜􀀏􀀃􀁅􀁘􀁗􀀃􀁄􀁏􀁖􀁒􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁈􀀃􀁓􀁄􀁕􀁗􀁌􀁆􀁘􀁏􀁄􀁕􀀃􀁇􀁈􀁗􀁄􀁌􀁏􀁖􀀃􀁒􀁉􀀃

The destiny of Jacob's sons are predicted by God's Spirit, the fulfillment of which has been and is being accomplished ().

􀁓􀁈􀁒􀁓􀁏􀁈􀀊􀁖􀀃􀁏􀁌􀁙􀁈􀁖􀀑􀀃􀀪􀁒􀁇􀀃􀁋􀁄􀁖􀀃􀁄􀀃􀁓􀁘􀁕􀁓􀁒􀁖􀁈􀀃􀁉􀁒􀁕􀀃􀁒􀁘􀁕􀀃􀁏􀁌􀁙􀁈􀁖􀀏􀀃􀁈􀁖􀁗􀁄􀁅􀁏􀁌􀁖􀁋􀁈􀁇􀀃􀁅􀁈􀁉􀁒􀁕􀁈􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁈􀀃􀁉􀁒􀁘􀁑􀁇􀁄􀁗􀁌􀁒􀁑􀀃􀁒􀁉􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁈􀀃􀁚􀁒􀁕􀁏􀁇􀀃

As we contemplate the workings of God through the pages of the Scriptures, we cannot help but exclaim with the Apostle Paul,

􀁓􀁈􀁒􀁓􀁏􀁈􀀏􀀃􀁄􀁑􀁇􀀃􀁓􀁒􀁚􀁈􀁕􀁖􀀏􀀃􀁉􀁒􀁕􀁈􀁙􀁈􀁕􀀑

Each chapter of our study accentuates this very point:

· 􀀬􀁖􀁄􀁄􀁆􀀃􀁌􀁖􀀃􀁓􀁕􀁒􀁙􀁌􀁇􀁈􀁇􀀃􀁄􀀃􀁚􀁌􀁉􀁈􀀃􀁅􀁜􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁈􀀃􀁋􀁄􀁑􀁇􀀃􀁒􀁉􀀃􀀪􀁒􀁇􀀃􀀋􀀪􀁈􀁑􀁈􀁖􀁌􀁖􀀃􀀕􀀗􀀌􀀑

· Jacob is promised to dominate over his brother before he comes out of the womb (Genesis

􀀕􀀘􀀝􀀕􀀔􀀐􀀕􀀖􀀌􀀑

􀁆􀁌􀁕􀁆􀁘􀁐􀁖􀁗􀁄􀁑􀁆􀁈􀁖􀀃􀀋􀀪􀁈􀁑􀁈􀁖􀁌􀁖􀀃􀀖􀀚􀀌􀀑

· 􀀷􀁋􀁈􀀃􀁇􀁈􀁖􀁗􀁌􀁑􀁜􀀃􀁒􀁉􀀃􀀭􀁄􀁆􀁒􀁅􀀊􀁖􀀃􀁖􀁒􀁑􀁖􀀃􀁄􀁕􀁈􀀃􀁓􀁕􀁈􀁇􀁌􀁆􀁗􀁈􀁇􀀃􀁅􀁜􀀃􀀪􀁒􀁇􀀊􀁖􀀃􀀶􀁓􀁌􀁕􀁌􀁗􀀏􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁈􀀃􀁉􀁘􀁏􀈑􀁏􀁏􀁐􀁈􀁑􀁗􀀃􀁒􀁉􀀃􀁚􀁋􀁌􀁆􀁋􀀃􀁋􀁄􀁖􀀃􀁅􀁈􀁈􀁑􀀃

􀁄􀁑􀁇􀀃􀁌􀁖􀀃􀁅􀁈􀁌􀁑􀁊􀀃􀁄􀁆􀁆􀁒􀁐􀁓􀁏􀁌􀁖􀁋􀁈􀁇􀀃􀀋􀀪􀁈􀁑􀁈􀁖􀁌􀁖􀀃􀀗􀀜􀀌􀀑

􀀤􀁖􀀃􀁚􀁈􀀃􀁆􀁒􀁑􀁗􀁈􀁐􀁓􀁏􀁄􀁗􀁈􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁈􀀃􀁚􀁒􀁕􀁎􀁌􀁑􀁊􀁖􀀃􀁒􀁉􀀃􀀪􀁒􀁇􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁕􀁒􀁘􀁊􀁋􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁈􀀃􀁓􀁄􀁊􀁈􀁖􀀃􀁒􀁉􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁈􀀃􀀶􀁆􀁕􀁌􀁓􀁗􀁘􀁕􀁈􀁖􀀏􀀃􀁚􀁈􀀃􀁆􀁄􀁑􀁑􀁒􀁗􀀃􀁋􀁈􀁏􀁓􀀃

􀁅􀁘􀁗􀀃􀁈􀁛􀁆􀁏􀁄􀁌􀁐􀀃􀁚􀁌􀁗􀁋􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁈􀀃􀀤􀁓􀁒􀁖􀁗􀁏􀁈􀀃􀀳􀁄􀁘􀁏􀀏􀀃􀇘􀀲􀁋􀀏􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁈􀀃􀁇􀁈􀁓􀁗􀁋􀀃􀁒􀁉􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁈􀀃􀁕􀁌􀁆􀁋􀁈􀁖􀀃􀁒􀁉􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁈􀀃􀁚􀁌􀁖􀁇􀁒􀁐􀀃􀁄􀁑􀁇􀀃􀁎􀁑􀁒􀁚􀁏􀁈􀁇􀁊􀁈􀀃􀁒􀁉􀀃

􀀪􀁒􀁇􀀄􀀃􀀫􀁒􀁚􀀃􀁘􀁑􀁖􀁈􀁄􀁕􀁆􀁋􀁄􀁅􀁏􀁈􀀃􀁋􀁌􀁖􀀃􀁍􀁘􀁇􀁊􀁐􀁈􀁑􀁗􀁖􀀏􀀃􀁄􀁑􀁇􀀃􀁋􀁌􀁖􀀃􀁓􀁄􀁗􀁋􀁖􀀃􀁅􀁈􀁜􀁒􀁑􀁇􀀃􀁗􀁕􀁄􀁆􀁌􀁑􀁊􀀃􀁒􀁘􀁗􀀄􀀃􀀺􀁋􀁒􀀃􀁋􀁄􀁖􀀃􀁎􀁑􀁒􀁚􀁑􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁈􀀃

􀁐􀁌􀁑􀁇􀀃􀁒􀁉􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁈􀀃􀀯􀁒􀁕􀁇􀀢􀀃􀀲􀁕􀀃􀁚􀁋􀁒􀀃􀁋􀁄􀁖􀀃􀁅􀁈􀁈􀁑􀀃􀁋􀁌􀁖􀀃􀁆􀁒􀁘􀁑􀁖􀁈􀁏􀁒􀁕􀀢􀀃􀀺􀁋􀁒􀀃􀁋􀁄􀁖􀀃􀁈􀁙􀁈􀁕􀀃􀁊􀁌􀁙􀁈􀁑􀀃􀁗􀁒􀀃􀀪􀁒􀁇􀀏􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁄􀁗􀀃􀀪􀁒􀁇􀀃􀁖􀁋􀁒􀁘􀁏􀁇􀀃

􀁕􀁈􀁓􀁄􀁜􀀃􀁋􀁌􀁐􀀢􀀃􀀩􀁒􀁕􀀃􀁉􀁕􀁒􀁐􀀃􀁋􀁌􀁐􀀃􀁄􀁑􀁇􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁕􀁒􀁘􀁊􀁋􀀃􀁋􀁌􀁐􀀃􀁄􀁑􀁇􀀃􀁗􀁒􀀃􀁋􀁌􀁐􀀃􀁄􀁕􀁈􀀃􀁄􀁏􀁏􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁌􀁑􀁊􀁖􀀑􀀃􀀷􀁒􀀃􀁋􀁌􀁐􀀃􀁅􀁈􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁈􀀃􀁊􀁏􀁒􀁕􀁜􀀃􀁉􀁒􀁕􀁈􀁙􀁈􀁕􀀄􀀃

􀀤􀁐􀁈􀁑􀇙􀀃􀀋􀀵􀁒􀁐􀁄􀁑􀁖􀀃􀀔􀀔􀀝􀀖􀀖􀀐􀀖􀀙􀀌􀀑

Isaac and Jacob ()

Our sovereign God delights in painting His purposes on the background of human experience.

When Isaac's mother, Sarah, died (), God provided Isaac a wife (Rebekah) for his comfort ().

But God had an even greater purpose in the union of Rebekah and Isaac, just as God has purpose in each marriage beyond the comforts and enjoyments of those so united.

The Messiah would eventually come through Isaac's lineage.

In , we find sorrow and joy mixed once again.

Isaac loses his father, Abraham, who was "gathered to his people" ().

In the same chapter, we read of the joyous birth of twins for Isaac and Rebekah.

Even before these boys leave the womb, the Lord declares His sovereign purpose for their lives: "The LORD said to her, 'Two nations are in your womb, and two people from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger' " ().

This prophecy begins its fulfillment in the same chapter, as Esau gives to Jacob his birthright for a single meal ().

This birthright involved more than a physical or tangible inheritance.

It was tied inseparably to the covenant promises and the Messianic lineage waiting to be carried on from Abraham and Isaac.

When God has a plan or a purpose, it will be accomplished through ordinary, sinful human vessels.

The name Jacob means, "He grasps the heel" ( - implies, "supplanter," or "deceiver").

In the womb Jacob wrestled with his brother Esau, then out of the womb he eventually manipulated and supplanted Esau for the birthright () and deceived his father to obtain the blessing ().

Almost immediately, Jacob, who violated the trust of those at home, would lose the comforts of home as he fled to a distant land ().

This same Jacob, a master at deceiving others, would himself be deceived by his uncle Laban into years of labor to gain a wife ().

God had purposed not only for the fulfillment of His promises to the world through the covenants, but for the finishing and polishing of Jacob's character.

The same God, who met Jacob at Bethel on his escape from home (), would call him back to the same site many years later, a changed man ().

Through encounters with life, confrontations with his own weaknesses, and wrestling with God, Jacob became Israel, a "prince with God" ().

Joseph ()

There is probably no story in the Bible, outside the Gospel accounts of Christ Himself, that demonstrates so clearly and wonderfully the sovereignty of God.

Joseph's life breathes life into the often quoted verse, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" ().

Joseph was hated by his brothers and sold as a slave ().

He was framed by Potipher's wife in Egypt and thrown into prison ().

One whom Joseph had helped-who could have sought his release from prison-forgot him ().

But God did not forget Joseph.

On the contrary, God had a purpose for Joseph's downward journey.

It is in the place of suffering that God forges strong saints.

It is through trials that God builds character.

Thirteen years after Joseph had been rejected by his own family, God raised Joseph from a prison to a palace.

From suffering to glory!

From defeat to victory!

All in a single day.

God's purpose was not only to bless Joseph, but also, to build a nation.

Through Joseph, God provided a red carpet entrance for the small Jewish family into the protective environment of Goshen ().

God's ultimate purpose was to provide the world with the Messiah through the tiny nation of Israel.

Jacob’s Last Days ()

When Joseph learned that his father was ill, he took his two sons with him to Jacob's bedside.

Jacob rallied his strength, sat up, and reminded Joseph of God's purposes as promised in the covenant given first to Abraham, then to Isaac, and finally to himself ().

Jacob declared that Joseph's sons would be his ().

Jacob was adopting Ephraim and Manasseh as his own, that they might receive the inherited blessings of Jacob's other sons.

It is astonishing to read about the blessings received by God through Jacob to each of the boys.

The Word of God is proven once again not to "come back void."

It accomplishes all that the sovereign God has purposed ().

The birthright naturally given to the oldest son, Reuben, would be lost because of an earlier sinful act ().

It would be granted to Joseph () and thus to Joseph's sons ().

The Spirit of God laid out the future of each son and their descendants with details that only He could know.

For example, Judah, the one so wayward for a time (), proved himself willing to give up his life for his brother ().

Through Judah would eventually come the Messiah from whom salvation would be offered to all who believe.

Final Thought

God does not always tell us what the future holds, in order that we might trust Him who holds the future.

Spurgeon wrote, "When you can't trace His hand, trust His heart."

God never makes mistakes.

What seems to us as a world out of control is always in God's control.

Our darkest valleys are as light to God (), and our most difficult trials are designed by God as opportunities for our growth ().

The Lord reigns as (King over all (), and His love dictates the circumstances of our lives.

He has a purpose!

Let us trust Him!

Final Thought

Devotion ( Personal Study)

Issac and

Read the commentary portion of this study guide.

Write down one insight that was especially challenging or encouraging for you.

2. Read .

What does this story tell us about God’s sovereign oversight regarding marriage and other relationships?

Do you believe God governs the affairs of your life?

What part do you have in that process?

do you have in that process?

3. Read .

a. God clearly foretold the destinies of Esau and Jacob ().

Is Esau, therefore, absolved of responsibility for his foolish behavior, which became a stepping stone toward fulfillment of his destiny (; see )?

b.

Our human tendency is to rail against the idea of God knowing the future.

If God did not know the future, would He be God?

Let us remember that when God showed favor to Jacob, it was part of His master plan of salvation, whereby the grace of God might be made available to the whole world.

Read (especially ), and compare with (especially ), noting the progression of Paul’s logic.

Thank God that He is both sovereign and merciful.

Discussion (Small Group Study)

4. Consider some of the rich stories found in our reading for this week.

Pick one of your favorite stories and tell why it is a favorite (e.g.: What does that story say to you?).

Stories include: The marriage of Isaac, the birth of Jacob and Esau, Jacob’s deception for the birthright, Jacob’s dream at Bethel, Jacob’s wives, Jacob wrestles with the angel, Joseph sold into slavery, Joseph in Egypt, and Jacob blessing his sons.

5. Turn to the story of Joseph, beginning in .