This week’s “Wednesday Word” is a summary of an exposition of Genesis 25-28 by Dr. Wellum from Sunday May 25, 2008.

The account of Jacob and Esau found in Genesis 25-36 puts on display the sovereign grace of the Lord. Just as God chose Isaac over Ishmael as the son of the promise, his sovereign hand will carry through his promises through Jacob instead of Esau. Indeed, it is God who provides, moving his promise forward by his own sovereign hand.

Where as the older son was most commonly the natural recipient of the father’s inheritance, God makes it clear that in the case of Jacob and Esau, the order will be reversed (25:23). When Paul seeks to answer the question as to why Israel had rejected Jesus as the Messiah in Romans 9, it is clear that God’s sovereign choice of Jacob over Esau had nothing to do with Jacob’s winning the Lord’s favor. Instead, before either one of them had done anything good or bad, “in order that God’s purpose according to His choice might stand, not because of works, but because of Him who calls, it was said to [Rebekah], ‘The older will serve the younger’” (Rom 9:10-11). God’s grace alone is seen as being solely responsible for the moving forward of his promise to Abraham. Given the apparently corrupt nature of both Jacob and Esau, it may be said that this promise is moving forward in spite of the moral quality of its recipients—for it is only through Jacob’s deception that he persuades Esau into giving him his birthright, and it is only through Jacob’s deception that he receives the blessing of his father Isaac.

In Chapter 26, the parallels between Isaac and his father Abraham are apparent. Both suffer through a famine in the land (26:1), both deal with King Abimelech (20:2; 26:1), and both lie about their wives in order to protect themselves (20:2, 26:7). Yet, despite all of their difficult circumstances and tendencies toward corrupt behavior, God works in them and through them—all the while protecting them—in order that his promise will be carried forward. God in his grace will accomplish that which he has pledged he will do, and he will do so through an unpredictable and volatile group of people.

As God navigates his promise through these difficult circumstances in Genesis, we are reminded that God’s salvation to us has been accomplished in us by his grace alone apart from any work of our own. Furthermore, as the recipients of the promises of Abraham struggle with disobedience, we are reminded that God can and will accomplish all that he desires despite our own shortcomings and sinful tendencies. Indeed, our only hope is to rejoice together with the apostle Paul, “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Rom 7:25-25).

Audio from this week’s lesson: Genesis 25-28.~TDG

Marriage is a sanctifying institution designed by God to make us happy … by making us holy.

On Saturday, June 14, we are hosting a Girl’s Night Out, wedding style. We will share wedding pictures, play some fun games (there will be prizes), and, of course, have some wedding cake! We will also be reminded of the sacredness of marriage and how blessed we are to have been given the gift of our husbands. Your friends and neighbors are welcome.

As part of this evening, we will also be welcoming Mrs. Wellum to our class. Mrs. Wellum has been serving faithfully as a children’s Sunday School teacher, but now she will be joining us on Sundays, and we are so excited to have her. We hope you can all join us!

Where: Kelli Bishop’s house
When: Saturday, June 14 (this is a new date) from 7-9pm

Contact Kristi Hunter, Kedra Giddens, Jeni Land or Julie Rue with questions or to help with food or decorations.

An unreasonable time of hanging out, BBQing and and talking with one another is in order. The following details are critical for your required participation.

The Date: Monday, May 26, 2008
The Time: 5-10 p.m.
The Place: Dr. & Mrs. Wellum’s home
7907 Machupe Ct.
Lousville, KY 40241
The What: Cooking out and chilling out
The How: Dr. Wellum’s new under-the-hood grill
The Who: Anyone can come. Contact Rebecca Mathis or Kedra Giddens to find out what to bring…or what you said you would bring!

For background on the inspiration for the title of this post, visit this wikipedia entry on the Florence Y’all Watertower.

Congratulations to the following outstanding graduates:

Dan Born
Russ Freeman
Reagan Marsh
Adam Panisiak
Robert Patterson
Wendy Schrock

More importantly, let’s offer praise to God in Christ, who has given us a capacity to search out his greatness in the various educational endeavors we enjoy.

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. ~Romans 11:33-36

This week’s “Wednesday Word” is a summary of an exposition of Genesis 22 by Dr. Wellum from Sunday May 21, 2008.

In Genesis 24 and 25 the focus of the biblical narrative shifts from Abraham to the child of promise—Isaac. This transition is accomplished by an extensive account of the finding of a bride for Isaac, as well as the account of Abraham’s death and the genealogies of Abraham’s sons. A lesson that is taught throughout these chapters is the way in which God’s sovereign redemptive plan and man’s responsibility to be actively involved in that plan are two truths that work together.

If the promised son, Isaac, was to become a great nation as God had promised (Gen. 12:1ff), then he would need a wife so that the two could multiply and fill the land that God was to give them. Thus, Abraham’s servant is sent to find Isaac a wife. Abraham tells him that he is not to get Isaac a wife from the Canaanites, but rather to go to “my country and to my relatives” (v. 4). The servant recognizes that the distance between his relatives and the land in which Abraham was sojourning might make the process difficult. He states, “Suppose the woman is not willing to follow me to this land; should I take your son back to the land from where you came?” (v. 5). To this Abraham gives the sharp reply, “Beware that you do not take my son back there!” (v. 6). If Isaac was to have a wife, she would have to, in faith, leave her home country and enter the land of promise just as Abraham had done. This is, in fact, precisely what she (Rebekah) does. The servant was led by God to exactly the right place, to meet exactly the right woman. She then leaves her family and homeland to become part of something bigger than she probably ever realized. The account of the finding of Rebekah then ends with Isaac and Rebekah meeting and marrying, and with a description of Isaac’s affections: “and he loved her; thus Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death” (v. 67).

Chapter 25 begins with yet another wedding; this time for Abraham: “Now Abraham took another wife, whose name was Keturah” (v. 1). Through Keturah, Abraham was given even more sons. But, as v. 5 notes, “[A]ll that he [Abraham] had” was given to Isaac.” As Abraham’s sending away of the sons of his concubines and as the genealogy of Ishmael that follows (vv. 12-18) shows, it was through Isaac and Isaac alone that the promised inheritance would come.

One cannot read these stories without a profound sense that God’s providence was governing all the affairs of his covenant partners; something that is especially evident in the servant being led directly to Rebekah. It was God who had made the promise of seed and it was God who providentially provided the means through which this seed would come. What is equally evident in these chapters, however, is the responsibility of the covenant partners to be actively involved in the fulfillment of the covenant promises. Abraham took initiative in finding a wife for his son so that the promise of a multitude of descendants might come about. In a cursed world, the initiatives and ingenuity of God’s partners were not always the wisest (e.g., Abraham taking Hagar to produce the promised seed); but, these initiatives were just as much a part of God’s sovereign plan as the promises themselves.

This theme of the responsibility of God’s people to be active in the fulfilling of God’s redemptive will is developed throughout the canon. Moses was to actively engage with Pharaoh for the deliverance of God’s people. Israel was to actively drive out the pagan nations so that they could inherit the promised land. When God’s people were in exile and the promise of restoration was made (see Ezek. 36-37 and Jer. 31, among other places), it was God’s servant (Isa. 42:1-9; 49:1-13; 50:4-11; 52:13-53:12) who would actively defeat their enemies and bring them back into the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Ultimately, this truth is seen in the life of Jesus as well. Jesus was to be “delivered up by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God” (Acts 2:23). But, to carry out this plan Jesus still had to actively “set his face to go to Jerusalem” (Lk. 9:51) and willingly submit His will to the will of the Father (Lk. 22:42).

In the same way, we (the church) are to actively engage in the plan of God; which is that Christ Jesus would be the firstborn of many brethren from every tribe, and tongue, and nation. We have been promised that Christ will build His church (Matt. 16:18); yet we are commanded to be actively involved in “the building up of the body of Christ” (Eph. 4:12). We have been promised that Christ will indeed be the firstborn of brethren from all peoples; yet we are commanded to be active in taking the gospel “even to the remotest part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). May we be people who delight in God’s promises and trust in God’s sovereign plan, and who also use God-given initiative and ingenuity in seeing that plan accomplished.

Audio from this week’s lesson: Genesis 24-25.

~DGG

Mike was born on September 4, 1981. He grew up in south Minneapolis and was raised in a Catholic home. In high school, he began to question the church and its validity. He quit attending services and began studying other faiths. He sided with eastern philosophy, leaning more towards atheism and agnosticism. Mike went off to college at Minnesota State University and fell completely in love with Christ during his freshman year. He was 19. Mike then got involved with Campus Crusade for Christ. He graduated from MNSU in 2005, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education. He taught K-12 Music in the public schools for two years. He is now a Masters student in the Billy Graham School at SBTS, studying to be a pastor.

Julie was born on July 7, 1983 and was raised in a small town in southwest Minnesota. She grew up in a Christian home and accepted Christ at the age of four. In sixth grade, Julie went through a time of rebellion but was wowed at the things of God during church camp that summer. She recommitted her life to Jesus at camp. Julie went to a small Christian college for two years, majoring in Math education. When she realized she truly had a desire for Speech Pathology, she had to transfer to MNSU. She ended up graduating with her Masters degree from MNSU in Speech Pathology and currently works at the Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Center as a Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist.

Mike and Julie met at MNSU in 2003. Both were heavily involved in the music department. Mike was in the process of trying to ask a girl out when the girl’s friend (Julie) walked up during the conversation. Mike suddenly forgot all about what he was doing when he saw Julie! Mike and Julie officially began dating November 16, 2003, and they were married July 23, 2005. They both love reading the Harry Potter books and spending time with Gloria, their cat. Mike is always up for a game of Ping Pong. Julie is pregnant with their first child, and she’s due at the end of October.

This week’s “Wednesday Word” is a summary of an exposition of Genesis 22 by Grant Gains from Sunday May 11, 2008.

Two of the themes that run through Genesis in general and the history of Abraham in particular are the themes of seed and land. God promised Abraham that he would father a great nation and that he would possess a foreign land. In Genesis 23, we learn something about Abraham’s faith and the promise of the land. Abraham finds himself living in a cursed land among cursed men, and yet he faithfully buys a portion of the land that he will inherit.

Genesis 23:1- 2 says, “Sarah lived to be a hundred and twenty-seven years old. She died at Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep over her.” The longevity of Sarah may amaze us, but we must remember that it was a tragically early death because she, just like us, was made to live forever. The fact that Sarah dies is a reminder of the curse that came on mankind and the land that he should have filled and ruled over (Gen. 3). Also, this occurs in the land of Canaan, who had a further curse called down upon himself (Gen. 9:24-25). There is no doubt that Abraham finds himself in a cursed land. Not only is he in a cursed land, but he is among a cursed people. The Hittites were the direct descendants of Ham through his son Canaan (Gen. 10:15-17).

Despite the fact that Abraham is in a cursed land with cursed men, he acts in faith and buys the cave of Machpelah with a portion of the land from Ephron the Hittite in order to bury Sarah. This theme of the land runs throughout scripture. In Genesis 1:28, God blesses mankind and tells them to fill and subdue the earth/land. However, man fails and brings the curse upon himself (Gen. 3). Noah holds promise, but he also fails. God does something interesting with Abraham. He takes responsibility for the covenant and the promises made. When Genesis 23 was written, the Israelites were preparing to enter the cursed land still held by cursed people. Eventually, Israel would enjoy a kind of dominion under the rule of David and Solomon, but that also faded to the point that they were cast out the land into exile because of their sin (Jer. 27). However, there was still hope. In Jeremiah 32, Jeremiah acts in faith the way Abraham does in Genesis 23, he buys a portion of land even though the nation is going into exile.

The hopes of the OT are fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Jesus enters a land that is cursed and under the rule of cursed men as well. However, we soon learn that the real enemy is the serpent of old. In Matthew 4, the serpent tempts Jesus and offers to give him the kingdoms of the world. Throughout his ministry, Jesus wages war on a different front than his followers expect. Jesus does take the land back and defeat his enemies, but he does it by taking the curse on himself (Gal. 3:10-14). Jesus now rules from heaven, and we know that he will take full possession of the land in the future and we will rule with him (Rev. 2:26).

However we have a present focus when it comes to the land as well. How are we to take possession of the land now? We must focus on the seed rather than the land. A story that illustrates and teaches this point is the story of the rich young ruler (Matt. 19). The young ruler would have been a prime candidate for the kingdom agenda if the focus were on land and possessions. However, he goes away dismayed because he cannot sell his possessions. The disciples, however, left everything to follow Jesus, and Jesus promised they would inherit much more (Matt. 19:27-30).

Therefore, we have at least to points of application when it comes to the land and acting with the same kind of faith that Abraham had in Genesis 23. First, our primary focus must be on making disciples and seeing people become part of Abraham’s seed through faith in Jesus Christ. Second, we must forsake taking the land now knowing that we will possess all things later. The faith of Abraham inspires hope in us. We know that the cave that holds Sarah and the grave that will hold us if the Lord does not come first will one day be a small portion of our possession. In Christ, we will have victory over the cursed land.

Audio from this week’s lesson: Genesis 23.

~TWM

Class,

The Freeman’s are home and enjoying their beautiful daughter, Kendra Grace. Enjoy these photos and an update from the family,

We are so proud to announce the birth of our new daughter, Kendra Grace, born Thursday, April 24th at Norton Suburban Hospital. Measuring in at 8 lbs. 1 oz., and 21 inches long, Kendra Grace made her grand entrance to the world at 3:44 pm. She was exactly one week late and came via c-section after a failed induction attempt. Mom and baby are both healthy and doing fine! We are so thankful for this blessing from the Lord!
~Russ & Katie

This week’s “Wednesday Word” is a summary of Dr. Wellum’s exposition of Genesis 22 from Sunday May 4, 2008.

Prior to Genesis 22, the birth of Isaac appears to have been the climactic moment in the fulfilling of God’s promise to Abraham. It would seem that everything would now come easily after the arrival of the promised son. However, Genesis 22 presents a major conflict in the unfolding of God’s promise to Abraham: “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you” (v. 2)

Abraham, fully aware that the death of Isaac would mean the death of the promised son, immediately set off to obey the command of the Lord (v. 3). However, as the texts implies, Abraham trusting that the Lord will be faithful to carry out his promises, believes that somehow he and Isaac will both return from the mountain (22:5, 8). The author of Hebrews picks this up as well: “He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back” (Heb 11:18).

As, Abraham raised the knife to take the life of his son, he fully illustrated his willingness to follow through in obedience to the Lord. However, an angel appeared saying, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me” (v. 12). Abraham was found completely willing to obey the command of the Lord, even if it meant the death of his son. In this, we are reminded, to trust and obey the Lord just as Abraham did, even if we are uncertain of the path before us.

Furthermore, we are reminded that just as it is with the rest of covenants, there is a need for an obedient son. The original readers would have been alarmed by the sacrificial imagery being conveyed within the narrative. Indeed, they would have recalled the substitutionary nature of the firstborn son from Numbers 3. Isaac, as the firstborn son, stands in the place of the rest of the nation; however, it would be going too far to say that Isaac is a type of Christ in this regard—for a substitution is made on behalf of Isaac (22:13).

Paul in Romans 8 quite possibly alludes to this account of Abraham and Isaac as he seeks to illustrate the faithfulness of God; and in doing so, he reminds us that under the New Covenant, God has provided a substitution on behalf of his people through the giving of his Son, Jesus Christ: “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Rom 8:32). Indeed, only on this ground, may we truly say that we are heirs of the promise (Rom 8:17).

Audio from this week’s lesson: Genesis 22.

~TDG

This week’s “Wednesday Word” is a summary of Dr. Wellum’s exposition of Genesis 19-21 from Sunday April 27, 2008.

In His covenant with Abram, it is revealed that God’s plan to renew the cursed world would be accomplished by the multiplication of covenant-men upon the earth (Gen. 17:2, “I will multiply you exceedingly.”)—a purpose seen earlier in Genesis, both before the Fall (1:28, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it.”) and after the Fall (9:1, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.”). Humans who were out of proper relationship to God because of sin would be brought back into proper relationship with God through God’s covenant partner Abraham and his descendents. The first of these descendants—Isaac—was promised in 18:10-14. But, in between the hope-filled accounts of the promise of this seed and his actual birth (chpt. 21), we are reminded that the serpent of Gen. 1-3 has a plan and people as well.

In chapter 19, the wickedness of men, specifically their sexual perversion, is highlighted in an account of the evil city of Sodom. The city had become so perverse that God intended to completely destroy it and all its inhabitants. Through the intercession of God’s covenant partner Abraham, however, at least one family was delivered (that of Lot).

In chapter 20, even God’s covenant partner is shown to be one who does “things that ought not to be done” (v. 9). Instead of trusting God during a journey to Gerar, Abraham told the people of this land that Sarai was his sister, which resulted in her being taken into the king’s harem. Thus, the one who was supposed to bear the promised seed was in danger of bearing the seed of a ruler of a kingdom of this world.

But, in the midst of all this wickedness and all of these situations that seemed to threaten God’s promises, God’s grace and faithfulness shines through—the promised seed is finally born (21:1-8). The covenant people were multiplying. Neither cities and mobs of wicked men (chpt. 19), nor the foolish decisions of God’s covenant partners (chpt. 20) would hinder God’s plan. Humans in proper relationship with God would fill the earth as God intended. God would have for Himself a people “from every tribe and tongue and people and nation” (Rev. 5:9). But, as the rest of the biblical story makes clear, this would require a better covenant partner than either Abraham or Isaac.

Audio from this week’s lesson: Genesis 19-21.

~DGG