Epistle for August 11, 2004
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E-pistle
Dr. Curt Scarborough, President FreeWay Foundation August 11, 2006
Silent Suffering and Free Forgiveness
Issac was like a valley between two gigantic mountain peaks: Abraham and
Jacob. Although his name appears in the famous phrase identifying God, "God of
Abraham, Issac, and Jacob," he often is overlooked as a rather wimpy, non-descript
personality.
Yet, if Abraham is the "Father of the Faithful" and Jacob is the "Father of the
Twelve Tribes of Israel" . . . Issac could well be called the "Father of Forgiveness."
A miraculous son of promise, whose name means "laughter," Issac was ridiculed by
his older half-brother and he almost became the first human sacrifice.
I. A Chip off the Old Block
Genesis 26 begins with a famine in the land, as is the case in so many other
accounts of God's providence in the Old Testament. This adversity moved Issac to the
place where God wanted him to be. God appeared, spoke to him, covenanted with him,
and warned him not to go to Egypt, where his father Abraham had gotten into trouble.
Issac obeyed, but followed his father's example of compromise and lost integrity,
just as Abraham had done in Genesis 12:10-20 and 20:1-18. When confronted about his
lie, Issac confessed the sin and his motivation, realizing that the offense impacted
unbelievers. Abraham's sins brought a plague upon the Egyptians and threatened the
welfare of the Philistines. So did Isaac's. A lesson for us: Our sin is not only against
God and harmful to ourselves, it also hurts unbelievers who hold God's people to a
higher standard.
II. A Man Blessed by God
The land of famine (v. 1) now became for Issac a land of abundance (v. 12).
In that same year, he sowed and reaped a hundred-fold return.
Notice the "exceedingly, abundantly above all that we ask or think"
(Ephesians 3:20) blessings Issac received from God. The progression of prosperity
in verse 13 is amazing: He began to prosper . . . continued prospering . . . became
very prosperous.
This cycle is typical of God's merciful dealings with mankind. We see famine
and sin, followed by repentance and confession, followed by blessings and prosperity.
III. A Man Persecuted By Unbelievers
The Philistines envied Issac's prosperity (v. 14). Father Abraham had been
troubled earlier over the well he had dug, Genesis 21:22-34. The treaty had soon been
broken, and his wells filled with dirt. (Unbelievers often desire for God's people to
fail and leave, because they are "shown-up" and uncomfortable.)
So now the Philistines demand that Issac leave; he moves, vv. 16, 17. Then he
opens the wells his father had dug, called them by the names his father had given them,
and dug additional new wells, vv. 18, 19.
It may be good for us to go back to the place where our own spiritual forefathers
dug wells and discovered life-giving water. We may have to dig out the dirt which the
enemy has shoveled in there. But, unstopping the wells can be beneficial for the
refreshing, renewing, reviving which the church needs so desperately today. We don't
need any new structures or innovative program . . . we need to get "back to basics"
. . . finding and unstopping those artesian wells of God's grace and power, and calling
them by the same names our father did.
IV. A Man With A Forgiving Spirit
The events come rapidly and the opposition mounts daily. The unbelievers
claim, "This well is ours!" over and over. Issac names the disputed wells "Esek"
meaning Quarrel, and "Sitnah" meaning Enmity (hatred, hostility) vv. 20, 21. Each
time Issac avoided conflict and moved. This may seem wimpy in these days of
litigation and demanding our rights, but a deep principle of Godliness was in
operation here.
Such a spirit of forgiveness and non-violence should characterize those
of us who follow Christ and His teachings. (See Matthew 5:38-48; 6:9-15 & 18:21-35)
Once again we see adversity moving Issac to the place God wanted him to
reside. Here where God spoke to him and renewed the covenant, Issac build an
altar (worshipped), called on God (prayed), pitched his tent (dwelt, abode), and dug
a well (providing for present needs and for future generations). Digging a well
represents the discipline of providing a cistern where God's water of Life can be
collected and distributed to a thirsty world.
Yet even in this place of covenant renewal, worship, and service,
unbelievers continued to harass Issac. They hated him, sent him away, destroyed
his work, stole his property, and lied about their motives.
In spite of everything Issac continued to treat them with kindness. With
neverending patience, and unlimited hospitality, he feasted them, swore not to
retaliate against them, and sent them on their way without hostility, vv. 27-31.
That same day, according to Genesis 26:32, Issac's servants exclaimed,
"We have found water!" When Christians today live in the spirit of forgiveness, we
too shall discover the River of Living Water flowing out from our lives to bless
others, John 7:38, 39.
Issac asked, "Where is the Lamb sacrifice?" (Genesis 22:7) John the Baptist
answered that questions: "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of
the world!" (John 1:29) Let us today resolve to follow the Lamb with a spirit, like
Issac's, of silent suffering and free forgiveness.
Follow The Ark
(Joshua 3:1-17)
I. Concentration: on a new day under a new leader
1. Under Joshua's leadership, God gave Israel a new symbol of His presence:
the people were ordered to follow the ark, rather than the pillar of cloud
and fire which they had followed for the previous 40 years, v. 3:
Exodus 40:34-38
2. God required a new level of faith: "Red Sea" faith required the people to
move forward on dry ground AFTER they had seen God part the waters.
"Jordan River" faith required the people to step into the water BEFORE
God parted the River to let them move across on dry ground, vv. 13-17.
3. God ordered them to fight a new kind of warfare: on their wilderness journey,
they fought defensively to protect themselves from enemy attacks,
Exodus 17:8-16; in the Promised Land, they fought offensive battles to
drive out the Canaanites and to occupy their territory, v. 10.
4. God provided a new method of supplying their needs:
from passively gathering manna from heaven to actively taking spoils
of war from the Canaanites, Joshua 5:12.
II. Meditation: on the reasons they were told to "Follow the Ark"
1. They needed DIRECTION, for they had not passed this way before, v. 4.
2. They needed PROTECTION, for the Jordan River was at flood stage, v. 15.
3. They needed a practical, down-to-earth EXAMPLE OF FAITH; the priests who
carried the ark were men who demonstrated active faith by getting their
feet wet in obedience to God's command, v. 15.
4. They needed GOD'S PRESENCE AMONG THEN; the ark contained symbols of
God's word (tablets of law). God's provision (pot of manna), God's anointing
(Aaron's rod that budded), and God's grace (the mercy seat), v. 3;
Hebrews 9:4-5.
III. Revelation: on Jesus, who is the Ark . . . Immanuel: "God With Us," Isaiah 7:14
1. Jesus is the Word, John 1:1, 14.
2. Jesus is the Manna, John 6:31-33.
3. Jesus is the Anointed One (Christ; Messiah), Matthew 16:16.
4. Jesus is the Mercy Seat (Propitiation), Romans 3:25.
IV. Application: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Follow Jesus, the Living Word, the Bread of Life, the Anointed One, the
Propitiation (covering) for my sins.
2. Walk in mature faith, stepping out on God's promises BEFORE I see
His miraculous hand at work.
3. Engage in spiritual warfare against Satan, Ephesians 6:10-18.
4. Trust in the Lord for protection and provision because, "I HAVE NOT BEEN
THIS WAY BEFORE, AND THE WATER IS OVER MY HEAD!"
Pillsbury College & Seminary
Has God been speaking to you about becoming a student at
Pillsbury College & Seminary? Maybe now is the time for you to
continue your education. Please call us at 314-739-1121 or email
<a href="mailto:info@pillsburycs.org" title="mailto:info@pillsburycs.org">info@pillsburycs.org and we will be glad to answer any questions.
If you call, Dr. Bartlett will speak to you about class work or any other
concerns you may have about Pillsbury.
We will also mail our catalog if you provide your name and address.
Our catalog contains information concerning all our class work and tells
about Pillsbury's vision for all of our graduates.
All work is done through distance learning. There are no on-campus
classes to attend. Dr. Scarborough has tutorials for most of the classes,
which will help in studying for the exams.
Contact us about furthering your education at Pillsbury College &
Seminary – TODAY!!
"If you saw a heat wave, would you wave back?"
-Steven Wright
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