Category: Old Testament

Observing his life is threatened, Jacob says enough is enough and takes his wives and flocks and servants and secretly heads toward the promised land. Laban gets wind and pursues but is warned by God in a dream not to mess with Jacob. So an agreement is made never to cross this line at the…

There is rivalry between Rachel and Leah as they compete for Jacob’s affections and the blessing of children. And God in His grace opens the wombs of both. Jacob attempt to leave the area, but Laban appeals and asks Jacob what is price is to stay… all the spotted and speckled sheep! Laban agrees but…

Four examples from four characters of how NOT to walk in faith! Yet Isaac ends up in the Hall of Faith, finally acknowledging the Lord’s will instead of his own. Would he really believe Jacob was Esau just because he has some animal hair on him?!

As Abraham enters the sunset of his life, he actually remarries and has a number of sons that will become nations. At 175 he is gathered back to his fathers, buried by Issac and Ishmael. Then Issac makes the same mistake as his father with the king in Gerar.

Abraham initiates a search for a wife for Issac. His chief servant is sent to the land where he grew up and by the grace of God he found Rebekah at the well drawing water. And by the grace of God, Rebekah agreed to return with the servant and become the wife of Issac sight…

The moment that the faith of Abraham is cemented happened when he was asked by God to sacrifice the child that had been promised to him decades earlier. Pastor Carl also reflects on Abraham’s “only son” reflecting God’s only Son, sharing the similarities between the two sacrifices.

Fear of God, or fear of man? Abraham experiences another challenge in his approach to dealing with kings in areas he finds himself… say Sarah was his sister and not wife so his life can be saved and Sarah can join the king’s harem! But God defends His “prophet”. Later ewe lambs are used to…

The judgment of Sodom and Lot’s rescue and a warning for us today to not turn from the Lord to the ways of the world… as Jesus Himself said, “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.” Pastor Carl…

To Abraham these were three men on a hot day that needed some refreshment. Soon he would realize this was the Lord Himself one the way to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. As the two angles went ahead, Abraham spent a few minutes with the Lord interceding for the cities with his nephew Lot in mind.

Sarai suggests to Abram that he take Hagar as his wife in order to fulfill God’s promise. But that was not God’s intent, His promise would be fulfilled through Sarai herself more than a decade later. Pastor Carl takes us through that narrative as well as the purpose of circumcision… a response to God’s covenant,…