Mature Class Study, teacher Helene Goble.
Every day we can make new choices, even if we’ve made bad choices in the past. Rebekah was given a message about her elder son serving her younger son that she remembered and later acted on.
Genesis 25:23 And the Lord said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.
Isaac loved Esau because of the venison but Rebekah loved Jacob. Esau was faint when he came from the field. He wasn’t prepared before he left home so now he was faint. Esau didn’t see the value of his birthright so he sold it for a bowl of soup.
Genesis 25:28-29 And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob. And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:
Rebekah heard Isaac ask Esau for venison. She told Jabob to take meat to him and act like he was Esau. Jacob saw that his dad might see him as a deceiver. Jacob made a decision to deceive his father and there was a consequence.
Genesis 27:5-17 And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau…Esau went to the field to hunt for venison…Rebekah spake unto Jacob…I heard thy father speak unto Esau…saying, Bring me venison, and make me savoury meat, that I may eat, and bless thee…before my death. Now…obey my voice…fetch me…two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury meat…thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may…bless thee before his death. And Jacob said…Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man: My father peradventure will feel me, and…seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me…his mother said…Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey…And…his mother made savoury meat…Rebekah took goodly raiment of…Esau…put the skins…of the goats upon his hands…gave the savoury meat…into the hand of her son Jacob.
Isaac favored Esau but Rebekah favored Jacob. Jacob lied to his father. The consequence was strife between Jacob and Esau.
Genesis 27:20-23 And Isaac said…How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because the Lord thy God brought it to me. And Isaac said…Come near…that I may feel…whether thou be my very son Esau…Jacob went near …felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob’s voice, but…the hands of Esau. And he discerned him not…so he blessed him.
Jacob’s name was changed to Israel. Israel chose to favor Joseph so Joseph’s brothers hated him.
Genesis 37:3-5 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more…they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him. And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.
Joseph’s brothers hated him so much they conspired to kill him. They each made a choice in a bitter, hateful way that had consequences. Later Reuben made a choice to deliver Joseph from his brothers so they didn’t kill him.
Genesis 37:18-22 And when they saw him afar off…they conspired against him to slay him. And they said..Behold, this dreamer cometh. Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and…say, Some evil beast hath devoured him…Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him. And Reuben said… Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit…lay no hand upon him; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him…
Judah suggested they sell Joseph to Midianite merchants so they got some money out of the situation. Joseph didn’t choose to be a slave in Egypt, but he made a decision to not have a bad attitude. Joseph’s brother’s lied to and deceived their father Israel. Israel had deceived his father Isaac. We see consequences in his sons deceiving him now.
Genesis 37:26-32 And Judah said…What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood?…let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother…And his brethren were content. Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and…sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver…Reuben returned…Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes. And…unto his brethren, and said, The child is not; and I, whither shall I go?…they took Joseph’s coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped…in the blood…brought it to their father; and said…know now whether it be thy son’s coat…
Joseph was a slave in Potiphar’s house and the Lord made him to prosper. Why? Because Joseph loved God, made the decision to chose not to have a bad attitude. He turned to God for comfort and help in the situation so God blessed his choices. What if he had chosen to go with Potiphar’s wife – God couldn’t use him. If the butler had totally forgot about Joseph, he never would have come before Pharaoh. We have to stay close to God so his Spirit can help us make good decisions.
Genesis 39:1-4 And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh…bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites…And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man…And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and…made all that he did to prosper…Joseph found grace in his sight…he made him overseer over his house…
Joseph waited 2 extra years in prison because the butler forgot to tell Pharaoh about him (Genesis 40:23). Joseph didn’t do anything wrong but was in prison. He made decisions to spend time close to God and in prayer. The devil will fill your time with something else if you don’t spend time in prayer. Joseph stayed sweet and had grace by being close to God. His brothers realized the consequences of their choices. Joseph was seeing the consequences of his choices in the blessings and was able to help his brothers. He didn’t get bitter when they sold him, when he was put in prison, or when the butler forgot about him. God can use every miserable, horrible thing we go through if we stay close to him. He’ll supply the help and grace we need, then God will use it for us to help others. God can’t use it if we get upset, irritated, frustrated, and grumpy.
Genesis 45:1-3 Then Joseph could not refrain himself…he cried, Cause every man to go out…And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren. And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians…heard. And Joseph said…I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer…they were troubled at his presence.
The Jews hated the Samaritans but Jesus asked the Samaritan woman who came to the well for some water. Jesus didn’t go by customs. Jesus saw her need and knew she was weary of life. He offered her living water. She saw something was very different about Jesus who knew all about her. She went to tell others that Jesus knew all about her and must be the savior.
John 4:5-14 Then cometh he to a city of Samaria…Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well…There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith…Give me to drink. (…disciples were gone…to buy meat.) Then saith the woman…How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. Jesus answered…If thou knewest the gift of God, and who… saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked…he would have given thee living water The woman saith…from whence then hast thou that living water? Art thou greater than…Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank…? Jesus answered… whosoever drinketh of the water that I…give him shall never thirst…be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
When the disciples returned they were surprised Jesus didn’t want to eat. He said he had meat to eat that they had no idea about. Jesus said his meat was to do the will of God. Joseph’s first purpose also was to do God’s will. The woman of the city put aside her pride to tell others and many believed because she said Jesus knew all about her. Others came to see Jesus and many more believed. One seed can produce many fruits. One seed from the Samaritan woman telling others produced many more seeds. This is our job too, to tell about Jesus so others believe and are helped. God is able to accomplish what he needs to do and we can have a part in it. It’s our decisions that can help or hinder others.
John 4:29-33 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? Then they went…unto him. In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat. But he said…I have meat to eat that ye know not of. Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat?
Sometimes we ignore something God wants us to do something. It’s important to do what he shows us. Maybe there’s someone at work, a neighbor, relative, or friend that God wants us to talk to and sow a seed. What decisions and choices will we make that affect us and our family? Ruth made a decision to leave Moab with Naomi and follow Naomi’s God. She was a Moabitess but she’s in the lineage of Jesus because of her choice. Daniel decided to pray when he’d be thrown in the lions’ den. He trusted God so the lions didn’t eat him. We can make good decisions for wonderful consequences.
John 4:39-42 And many of the Samaritans…believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did. So when the Samaritans were come…they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days. And many more believed because of his own word; And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour…