Into the Word with Bryce Ferguson

When Isaac is old, his focus continues to be for Esau.  As his sight leaves him, he seeks to bless Esau.  But Rebekah overhears Isaac’s intentions and, in a plot to deceive her husband and take advantage of his blindness, because her focus is Jacob, she recruits Jacob to pass himself off as Esau and be the supplanter.  [note: technical difficulties prevented an episode on 4.28.24] Additional scrip...

God appears to Isaac at Beersheba and reminds Isaac, “I am with you.”  Isaac then receives an unexpected visit from Abimelech, who proactively reached out to Isaac for the purpose of peace.  And the first words out of Abimelech’s mouth at their encounter is a testimony of the Lord.

Isaac follows God’s leading into the land of Gerar, and as he plants, God blesses his yield.  From there, God continues to give Isaac more until he had great wealth.  So, how will Isaac steward that which he has been given?  Because it is the Lord who decides who is given how much. Additional Scripture Ref. Psalm 89:1,11 / Psalm 135:6-7 / Psalm 135:15-18 / Proverbs 30:4-9 / Zephaniah 1 / James 5:1...

Isaac follows God’s guidance during a time of famine to the land of Gerar.  But then, Isaac takes his eyes off God, creating and following his own assumptions instead, and walking a dangerous path.  But, while Isaac and Rebekah dwell there among a pagan people, God works through a pagan king to accomplish God’s purposes, and correct Isaac and Rebekah.

God appears to Isaac and affirms that His call to Abraham and His covenant with Abraham and the blessing for Abraham, is also for Isaac, and for Isaac's offspring.  God affirms the continuity that the covenant is an everlasting covenant, the possession an everlasting possession, and God's relationship with His people is present every single day.  To God be the glory!

After the brothers are grown, true to their nature in the womb, they continue to be divided as one is careless and the other is shrewd in a disrespectful transaction over the birthright.  Impulsively, Jacob asks for the birthright from Esau, and over a simple meal, Esau throws it to the wind.   Additional scripture: Hebrews 12:14-17, 25, 28-29, and Exodus 20:18-21

In God’s chosen family line, Isaac encounters the same barrier his parents did, and he knew that God had promised in the covenant for a large nation of descendants – yet Rebekah was barren.  And as they prayed to the Lord, they had to wait, a long time.  When God brought about Rebekah’s pregnancy, God spoke to Rebekah, telling her the two children would not be peaceful, but rather divisive.  Psalm...

When Abraham dies, his estranged son returns along with the son of his household.  Both Ishmael and Isaac come together in respect to grieve and arrange the burial of their father.  Two different lines of Abraham produce very different paths.  

After the servant’s long journey to find a wife for Abraham’s son, Isaac is comforted after his mother’s death, by his joining together in marriage with Rebekah.  Each had sought the Lord first, and now they will seek Him together, in marriage.  

As Abraham’s servant is about to leave on his journey back with Rebekah, to fulfill his commission, her family asks that she stay.  The faith from the night before is now being tested at the moment of departure.  The line of the covenant is at hand.  And Rebekah says, “I will go.” Reference texts:  Matthew 14:25-33 Genesis 22:17-18

The servant continues his mission in testifying to Rebekah’s family of God’s sovereignty and God’s leading, His provision and His goodness.  The God of the covenant has led him here.

When Rebekah answers Abraham’s servant about her family line, the servant sees God has fulfilled his commission from Abraham.  The initial faith of Abraham has now passed to his servant, and the servant testifies to Rebekah.

Before the servant was finished praying, Rebekah arrives at the well.  The boldness of his prayer is met with a bold answer. Additional scripture: James 4:2-6, Matthew 7:7-8, Luke 6:33-36, Matthew 22:35

Abraham’s servant swears to Abraham that he will venture the long distance to Mesopotamia to take a wife for Abraham’s son, Isaac.  And it will be an adventure of faith.  As the servant nears the destination his prayer to God builds into a very bold request.

God has set Abraham’s gaze forward, tied to the covenant, tied to the promises, and tethered to God’s desires.  In his spiritual maturity, Abraham focuses his gaze on being a provisional patriarch.  Ref. Genesis 15:17-20, 17:7-8

Abraham’s faith in God propels him to seek a godly wife for his son, Isaac.  He knows the importance of a godly spouse and he knows the covenant of God will be continued through Isaac. Reference Scripture: Genesis 22:1-18 Matthew 10:37-38 Proverbs 22:6

After the child of the promise was born, after the dramatic test of Abraham’s faith on the mountain with Isaac, after the Lord stayed Abraham’s hand and provided a ram, there were many more years, and then came the death of Sarah.  While grieving her loss, Abraham arranges her burial in this foreign land, and leads in the testimony of his faith.    Deuteronomy 30:15-20a 2 Corinthians 5:6-9 1 Peter...

The origin story of mankind and earth is from God.  The reason we are here is for God.  The purpose is to glorify God.  And our testimony is to proclaim His excellencies before all mankind. Note: Please join me in prayer as we consider and step forward toward 501(c)3 non-profit ministry status later in 2024.  

Every single person on earth is struggling in some way, carrying a burden, affected by the sin of others and their own sin.  In the sadness, depression, and loneliness, God reaches down to man, to be the ever-present Friend, the ever-present Guide, and the ever-present God to them.  No longer need any single person be alone.  Jesus has made the acceptable sacrifice.  This is the story of Christmas...

After God brought forth the long-awaited child of the promise unto Abraham, God now commands something extremely costly from Abraham concerning this child.  It surely must have been mysterious to Abraham that God would ask this, but God did.  So, the real question is, how will Abraham respond - because how he responds will reveal the authenticity of his relationship with God.

After previous tension with Abraham, Abimelech approaches him for the purpose of a covenant.  He desires Abraham to always be true with him and treat him well, and Abraham responds in faith.  And when a dispute over a well is addressed, Abraham gives a gift to show the truth. 

Jealousy flares again in Abraham’s household because there is one “wife” too many.  God had previously set forth the child of the promise, and God affirms the child of the promise will indeed be the chosen line.  And in the departure of Hagar, we witness God’s affirmation of the words He spoke also to her.

After a period of waiting, which turned out to be 25 years, God brings to Abraham and Sarah exactly whom He promised: their son, Isaac.  God was faithful.  And God was true.

As Abraham and Sarah journey to a new land, Abraham’s faith is put to the test again, and he chooses the way of man.  Despite the reckless behavior of both he and his wife, God intervenes to defend and to protect and to honor.

*sensitive topic warning* Lot finally flees up to the hills, where the angel had instructed, because even Lot thinks Zoar too dangerous.  While living in a cave with the only family he has left, Lot’s daughters devise a plan to deceive and to harm, predicated on a lie.