November 5, 2006
LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON
Hebrews 11:9-19

 

   "By faith [Abraham] sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob..." (Heb. 11:9). Father, son, and grandson all sojourned in a strange land, dwelt in tents and looked for God to fulfill His promises. God spoke to each of these "fathers" renewing His promises and oaths. By faith they obtained a good report, yet certain of their missteps also seem to have been passed on.
   Abraham had barely pitched his tent and built his altar between Bethel and Hai before he was tested by a famine in the land. He fled to Egypt where, fearing for his life, he told Pharaoh Sarah was his sister. Had Abraham forgotten God's promises? Was his life in jeopardy before God fulfilled His promises? Indeed not! The Lord had to step in and keep Sarah from contact with the Egyptians. God had not forgotten His promise.
   There was another "famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar." So that he would not make the same mistake of Abraham, "the LORD...said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land. (Gerar was in the land.) Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I swore unto Abraham thy father." Yet "...the men of the place asked him of his wife; and he said, 'She is my sister:' for he feared to say, 'She is my wife;' lest, said he, the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah; because she was fair to look upon" (Gen. 26:1-7). Like father like son. But there are more examples.
   God had just renewed his promise of a son through Sarah, yet Abraham pled with God, "O that Ishmael might live before thee!" (Gen. 17:18). But God said through Sarah, "Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac" (Gen 21:10). Later Isaac too intended to bless "his [firstborn] son Esau" but Rebekah schemed with "her son Jacob" to be sure her son received the blessing. Only afterward did Isaac realize his blessing had been given to Jacob, and he awakened to God's purpose to bless Jacob. Later Joseph approached his father's deathbed with his sons positioned so Jacob's right hand of blessing would be on the firstborn. But Jacob had learned the lesson well. By faith he crossed his hands to "bless...the sons of Joseph."

 

Ivan L. Burgener