God's Calling: Lessons from the Patriarchs

Devotional

Day 1: God's Initiative in Our Lives

God's calling is not dependent on our perfect obedience but on His divine initiative. Abraham's story in Genesis shows that despite his imperfections and moments of doubt, God repeatedly reached out to him, establishing a covenant and promising blessings that would extend to all nations. This narrative teaches us that God's calling is about His divine initiative and purpose. Our role is to respond in faith and obedience, trusting that God will fulfill His promises even when we falter. This understanding can bring comfort and assurance, knowing that our relationship with God is grounded in His steadfast love and commitment. [10:35]

Genesis 12:1-3 (ESV): "Now the Lord said to Abram, 'Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.'"

Reflection: Think about a time when you felt unworthy or inadequate in your spiritual journey. How can you remind yourself today that God's calling and initiative are based on His purpose and not your perfection?

Day 2: Wrestling with God for Transformation

Jacob's life, marked by manipulation and deception, transforms when he wrestles with God and is renamed Israel. This pivotal moment teaches us the importance of being honest about our flaws and holding onto God's promises. Wrestling with God is not about resisting Him but about seeking His blessing and transformation in our lives. This story encourages us to engage deeply with God, even in our struggles, and to seek His transformative power in our lives. It reminds us that through honest confrontation with our weaknesses and God's grace, we can experience profound change and a new identity in Him. [30:30]

Genesis 32:24-28 (ESV): "And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, 'Let me go, for the day has broken.' But Jacob said, 'I will not let you go unless you bless me.' And he said to him, 'What is your name?' And he said, 'Jacob.' Then he said, 'Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.'"

Reflection: Identify a personal struggle or flaw that you have been wrestling with. How can you bring this struggle before God today, seeking His blessing and transformation?

Day 3: Integrity and Resilience in Trials

Joseph's life exemplifies integrity and resilience despite numerous trials. His ability to bless others, including Egypt and his own family, highlights the theme of blessing. Joseph's story shows that a life of integrity and faithfulness can lead to blessings for oneself and others, fulfilling God's promises. This narrative encourages us to maintain our integrity and resilience, even in the face of adversity, trusting that God can use our circumstances for His greater purpose and the blessing of others. It reminds us that our faithfulness in trials can have far-reaching impacts beyond our immediate understanding. [36:59]

Genesis 50:19-21 (ESV): "But Joseph said to them, 'Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.' Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them."

Reflection: Reflect on a recent trial or challenge you have faced. How can you maintain your integrity and resilience in this situation, trusting that God can use it for a greater purpose?

Day 4: Honoring the Wisdom of Elders

In our society, we often focus on youth and neglect the wisdom of the elderly. The story of Jacob blessing Pharaoh and his sons reminds us of the importance of honoring our elders. They carry valuable wisdom and experience that can guide and bless the community. We should listen to their stories and learn from their lived experiences. This theme encourages us to value and seek out the insights of older generations, recognizing the richness they bring to our lives and communities. It calls us to create spaces where their voices are heard and their contributions are honored. [39:47]

Leviticus 19:32 (ESV): "You shall stand up before the gray head and honor the face of an old man, and you shall fear your God: I am the Lord."

Reflection: Think of an elder in your life whose wisdom and experience you have not fully appreciated. How can you honor and seek their guidance today?

Day 5: Continued Faithfulness in Later Life

For the elderly, the call is to continue blessing others with their wisdom and experience. Just as Jacob blessed Pharaoh and his sons, elders in our community have a unique role in passing on wisdom and tradition. Their lived experiences and faithfulness can provide invaluable guidance and encouragement to younger generations. This theme highlights the ongoing importance of the elderly in the spiritual and communal life, encouraging them to remain active in sharing their faith and experiences. It also calls younger generations to seek and value the blessings that come from the wisdom of their elders. [41:52]

Psalm 92:12-14 (ESV): "The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green."

Reflection: If you are an elder, consider how you can actively bless others with your wisdom and experience today. If you are younger, think about how you can seek out and learn from the wisdom of an elder in your community.

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we embarked on an ambitious journey through Genesis chapters 12 to 50, likening these chapters to a viewfinder on a telescope that helps us focus on the grand narrative of God's interaction with humanity. We explored the lives of the patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph—each representing different themes and stages of spiritual growth and God's unfolding plan.

We began with Abraham, whose life exemplifies God's calling and initiative. Despite his imperfections and moments of doubt, God repeatedly reached out to Abraham, establishing a covenant and promising blessings that would extend to all nations. This narrative teaches us that God's calling is not about our perfect obedience but about His divine initiative and purpose.

Next, we examined Jacob, a complex figure whose name means "heel" or "deceiver." Jacob's life is marked by manipulation and deception, yet God's providence continues to work through him. The pivotal moment comes when Jacob wrestles with God and is renamed Israel, symbolizing a transformation and a new identity. This story underscores the importance of wrestling with God, holding onto His promises, and being honest about our flaws.

Finally, we looked at Joseph, whose life is characterized by integrity and resilience despite numerous trials. Joseph's ability to bless others, including Egypt and his own family, highlights the theme of blessing. His story shows a progression in the patriarchs' response to God, culminating in a life that blesses others and fulfills God's promises.

In applying these themes, we addressed different age groups within our community. For the young, the focus is on discovering and preparing for God's calling. For those in the middle of their lives, the emphasis is on perseverance and faithfulness. For the elderly, the call is to continue blessing others with their wisdom and experience.

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Key Takeaways

1. God's Calling and Initiative: Abraham's story teaches us that God's calling is not dependent on our perfect obedience but on His divine initiative. Despite Abraham's imperfections and moments of doubt, God repeatedly reached out to him, establishing a covenant and promising blessings. This reminds us that God takes the first step in our relationship with Him, and our role is to respond in faith and obedience. [10:35]
2. Wrestling with God: Jacob's life, marked by manipulation and deception, transforms when he wrestles with God and is renamed Israel. This pivotal moment teaches us the importance of being honest about our flaws and holding onto God's promises. Wrestling with God is not about resisting Him but about seeking His blessing and transformation in our lives. [30:30]
3. Integrity and Resilience: Joseph's life exemplifies integrity and resilience despite numerous trials. His ability to bless others, including Egypt and his own family, highlights the theme of blessing. Joseph's story shows that a life of integrity and faithfulness can lead to blessings for oneself and others, fulfilling God's promises. [36:59]
4. Honoring Elders: In our society, we often focus on youth and neglect the wisdom of the elderly. The story of Jacob blessing Pharaoh and his sons reminds us of the importance of honoring our elders. They carry valuable wisdom and experience that can guide and bless the community. We should listen to their stories and learn from their lived experiences. [39:47]
5. Continued Faithfulness in Later Life: For the elderly, the call is to continue blessing others with their wisdom and experience. Just as Jacob blessed Pharaoh and his sons, elders in our community have a unique role in passing on wisdom and tradition. Their lived experiences and faithfulness can provide invaluable guidance and encouragement to younger generations. [41:52]
### [41:52]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:04] - The Telescope Analogy
[02:03] - Genesis 12-50 as a Viewfinder
[02:55] - Introduction to the Patriarchs
[03:50] - God's Promise to Abraham
[04:36] - Major Themes: Calling, Providence, Blessing
[05:33] - Application for Different Age Groups
[06:31] - Genre of Genesis
[08:56] - Abraham's Complex Life
[10:35] - God's Initiative with Abraham
[12:49] - The Birth of Isaac
[14:27] - The Sacrifice of Isaac
[18:11] - Application for the Young
[22:53] - Jacob's Deceptive Nature
[29:53] - Jacob Wrestles with God
[32:00] - Application for the Middle-Aged
[36:17] - Joseph's Integrity and Blessing
[39:47] - Honoring Elders
[41:52] - Continued Faithfulness in Later Life
[43:45] - Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What was God's initial promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3?
How does Jacob's encounter with God in Genesis 32:24-28 change his identity?
In Genesis 50:19-21, how does Joseph respond to his brothers' fear after their father's death?

Interpretation Questions

How does Abraham's story in Genesis 12:1-3 illustrate God's initiative in our lives? [10:35]
What does Jacob's wrestling with God in Genesis 32:24-28 teach us about facing our flaws and seeking transformation? [30:30]
How does Joseph's response to his brothers in Genesis 50:19-21 reflect the theme of blessing others despite personal trials? [36:59]

Application Questions

Reflecting on Abraham's story, how can you identify and respond to God's calling in your life, even if you feel imperfect or doubtful? [10:35]
Jacob wrestled with God and was honest about his flaws. What are some areas in your life where you need to be more honest with God and seek His transformation? [30:30]
Joseph showed integrity and resilience through his trials. How can you maintain integrity and bless others in your current circumstances? [36:59]
For those in the middle of their lives, how can you continue to persevere in your faith and hold onto God's promises, even when life gets challenging? [32:00]
How can you honor the elders in your community and seek their wisdom and experience? What steps can you take to ensure their voices are heard and valued? [39:47]
If you are an elder, how can you continue to bless others with your wisdom and experience? What specific actions can you take to mentor and guide the younger generation? [41:52]
Think about a time when you felt called by God but faced obstacles. How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience? How can you apply those lessons to your current situation? [18:37]

Sermon Clips

1. "I want you to think about Genesis chapters 12 to 50 like a viewfinder. It helps us to orient to the rest of the biblical story. Because what we've talked about, Genesis 1 to 11 so far, is like that big cosmic picture. It's seeing the whole universe, the whole creation, the whole world, all of humanity, all the nations. The creation of humanity. We talked about those things last week. And then in Exodus and beyond, we see God interacting with Israel, the nation of Israel, in a kind of very granular, fine detail." [02:03] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "What we find when we look through that viewfinder is that we're now in about 2000 BC. What archaeologists and ancient historians call the Middle Bronze Age. 2000 years before the birth of Christ. And in this setting, God begins to speak to one man and his family. He calls him out of Babylon. So Babylon is a setting that Genesis chapter 11 ended with. The Tower of Babel is set in Babylon. Chaldea, from which Abraham is called, is set in Babylon. So from that universal global picture, the Bible starts to zoom in on one family, one man. And God promises to bless him." [03:50] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Abraham's life is not perfect. And yet he can be the vessel of blessing for God in this world. Instead, what the story of Abraham really is getting at is not the perfection of Abraham's faith, but that God is taking initiative and God is starting initiative. He's calling Abraham out to him from the nations. It's God who takes that first step to call Abraham out from Babylon. And it's God who repeatedly makes this covenant promise to him in these chapters." [10:35] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "The point is that despite the brokenness of the world, things are not unsalvageable. In fact, that's exactly what God is doing in Abraham. He's trying to salvage. He's trying to repair. He's trying to fix what is broken. So God comes to Abraham, makes his promise. And finally, in chapter 11, chapter 21, a son is born to Sarah." [13:33] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "I think one of the things that we can take from Abraham's life is this theme of calling, especially in that earlier part of our lives. We're often trying to figure out what is it that I'm meant to do? Who am I, my identity? What am I meant to do in this world? Well, I think the challenge for us is really, hear and listen to what is God calling us to do. What is God calling us? What has God made you to do?" [18:37] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "Jacob is a key figure in this narrative. First of all, the name Jacob is full of meaning as is typical in the ancient world. Jacob is a twin. He's a fraternal twin. And we'll just move on to the next slide here. And Jacob, his name comes from the word heel. And that's because he's a fraternal twin. And the story goes that as he was born, he comes grasping or clutching his older brother Esau's heel. And so they call him Jacob, which means heel, or it comes from the word Hebrew, akav, which means heel." [23:30] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "God's providence, despite human frailty, continues to carry the promise forward. That as God's people, God's children, that God can continue to work despite our human frailty. So I want to fast forward to the end of chapter 32, in which Jacob has this encounter with this strange, mysterious figure. As he's coming back home, he has lived abroad because he feared for his life after tricking Esau and his father. He feared for his life. He fled the land of Canaan, away from the promised land." [28:39] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "I think we learn from Jacob's story. Is not to let go of that calling from God. And calling not in the sense of ministry, say in pastoral ministry or something, but calling in the sense of discipleship. What did Eugene Peterson call discipleship? A long obedience in the same direction. Thank you. A long obedience in the same direction. I think for a lot of us in this kind of middle section of life, the temptation is, it's easy to kind of get off that path, to take it off, take an off ramp off of that path and to do something else, be distracted, maybe disappointed, be disappointed with life and simply say, okay, you know, I'm going to kind of take a back seat here." [32:37] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "Joseph, now a foreigner in Egypt, is able to bless Egypt. He helps, by his foresight and his interpretation of dreams, he's able to help Egypt survive the famine. Right? He... Blesses them with his gifts. And not only Egypt, but also the rest of his family. God miraculously brings them to Egypt, to him, and he helps them survive. And therefore, the story, the promise can continue." [37:44] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "So I think the first application for us is not towards the elders, not directed to the elders, but really directed to the rest of us, is to honor our elders. Eldership in the ancient world was something valuable because they passed on through tradition. They represented wisdom. And experience. Today, I mean, in our age of novelty and technology and fast pace and changing things, like the elderly, we don't have that same sense of honor for them anymore. So the first thing, I think, is just for us to honor our elders, listen to their stories, their wisdom, their tradition, because they represent what God has done for us in the past and who God has been for us." [40:30] (54 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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