The
Family Dysfunctional
I am sure that as you can see by the unique title,
that this day’s lesson will be interesting and at times entertaining, and sad.
I will be using my own family as an example. You say, what do you mean by
dysfunctional family? Well the dictionary describes dysfunctional as not
working normal or properly. I think we all can agree that most families today
have some form of dysfunction.
Most families today eat on the run. Both parents work.
Some parents must work two jobs just to survive and provide for their families
wants. Notice that I said, wants. Not needs. We have become a nation of wants.
If we see something we want it regardless or whether we need it or not. Kids
are thrown into every program and sports that is running. When I was growing up
there were four seasons, Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. Today we have added,
football season, basketball season, baseball season, track, wrestling, etc.
etc., the list just goes on and on.
The family alter is a thing of the past. Not many
homes even know what the family alter is or was in this day and age, in which
we live. This is a good place to bring
my family into the lesson. I know my family better than anyone else’s. So,
using us as an example is the thing to do.
When my parents got married, my dad was 21 years old
and my mom was 15 years old. I came along. In those early days of their
marriage, there was love. But also, they could be mean to each other. They
split up and then got back together. They eventually got on the same page and
got in church and started living for the Lord. They raised me in church.
My dad was a hard worker. He did his best to prove for
his family. It wasn’t always easy. But he provided. He worked 40 hours a week
at the furniture plant in our little town. He farmed, raising tobacco to make
extra money. He put up hay to sale. He hunted and fished putting food on the
table. We didn’t go to the grocery store every time we wanted something to eat.
We grew most of what we ate.
My dad was not the spiritual leader of our home. That
is just the truth. He was not very spiritually minded when I was a young boy
growing up. My mom tried to have the family alter in our home every evening.
But my dad balked. He wanted to watch his sporting events on the TV instead of
reading from God word and praying as a family. I heard an old man of God say
one time, the family that prays together, stays together. Amen.
Maybe if my dad would have been the spiritual leader
of our home as God had intended our home would not have ended up like so many
other homes in America. My family home and life were torn apart by neglect.
Which led loneliness, which in turn led to adultery. Which ultimately ended my
home life. And I moved in with my Grandfather. Mom and dad went their separate
ways. But the hurt, anger, and hate left deep ridges in our lives. I have
written about this in other stories, in a series of stories I call Ramblings in
the Night.
As a little boy, I can remember my mom reading her
bible every morning. I can remember playing outside or in the basement of our
house. And every morning after she would finish reading from Gods word, she
would go into her bedroom closet and on bended knee pray. She prayed for me.
She cried out to God on behalf of her little boy. She doesn’t know that I could
hear her praying for me. But honey let me tell you. I could hear my momma
praying for me. I have no memory of my dad ever praying for me. He says that he
has prayed for me. I hope he has. But I’ve never heard him.
So, we see that if God is not part of the family
dynamic then the family will be dysfunctional. I believe that in order for a
family to truly be moving in the right direction God has to be a part of it. I’m
sure that many would disagree with me on this. And they are intitled to their
opinions.
Let’s get into the meat of the subject. Let’s look at
5 families from the bible. These families should be very familiar to most who
have read and studied the word of God. Most should have learned about them in
Sunday school class when you were a young child.
The first family we will look at is the First family
in the Word of God. Adam and Eve. We see in the Book of Genesis chapter 4
verses 1-15, the bible says;
1 And Adam knew* Eve his wife; and
she conceived, and bare*Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. 2 And
she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3 And
in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. 4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: 5 But
unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. 6 And
the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. 8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. 9 And
the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper? 10 And
he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. 11And
now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;
12 When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. 13 And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear. 14Behold,
thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me. 15 And
the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.
Cain was a tiller of the ground. A
farmer. He raised crops. Able his brother raised flocks. He was a shepherd. And
they both grew up under the teaching and instruction of their father Adam. And
they both knew what was expected of them regarding offerings to God.
We see is verse number 3 that Cain
brought of the first fruits of the ground. God was not happy with that
offering. And God refused it in verse 5. And Cain got mad. I’m sure he sulked
about it until it ate him up on the inside. His brother Abel also brought an
offering from firstlings of the flocks, in verse 4, and the bible says that God
respect for Abel’s offering.
Then the green-eyed monster of
jealousy shows its ugly head. Cain goes to his brother Abel and as you read
Cain kills his brother. Here is the first murder committed. Cain was wroth with
God, and jealous of his brother Abel. And in anger smote his brother and killed
him. God required a offering of blood.
Cain knew this. But he brought not the required offering as he was taught, and
God rejected it and him.
The point here is it
was about the blood. God
required a blood sacrifice, a blood offering. We can see that according to
Hebrews chapter 10 verses 1-18;
1 For the law having a shadow of good things to
come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices
which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. 2 For then would they not
have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have
had no more conscience of sins. 3 But
in those sacrifices, there is a
remembrance again made of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of
goats should take away sins. 5 Wherefore
when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest
not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast
had no pleasure. 7 Then
said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy
will, O God. 8 Above
when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin
thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the
law; 9 Then said
he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may
establish the second. 10 By
the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus
Christ once for all. 11 And
every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same
sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for
sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made
his footstool. 14 For
by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified. 15 Whereof the Holy Ghost
also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, 16 This is the covenant
that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws
into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17 And their sins and
iniquities will I remember no more. 18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more
offering for sin.
Even the first family was dysfunctional. One brother
killed the other. Even when God asked Cain about his brother. Cain asked God,
“Am I my brother’s keeper?” Yes, we
should be our family’s keepers. To watch over them and to love them. Even when
we are mad at them. Nothing should hinder our love for our family. If there is something,
then we need to go to that member in love and fix it.
Let move onto the second family, that I want to look
at. It is the family of Lot. Lot is the
nephew of Abraham. Lots family will provide several points on the dysfunctional
family. Let me stop and say right here. If God’s word did not tell me that that
Lot was a righteous man. I’d would have sworn that when he died he went to
hell. But God saw fit to let us know that Lot was a righteous man. Just not
very spiritual. We can see in II Peter 2:7-8;
7. And
delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
8. (For
that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous
soul from day to day with their unlawful
deeds;)
Now then looking at the word of God in Genesis chapter
number 13 we Lot about to separate from his uncle Abraham. God had blessed Lot
with great wealth, flocks, herds, and all that. I believe mainly because Lot
went with his uncle Abraham, when God told Abraham to get up and move.
But now the land could not sustain both Abraham and
Lot. So Abraham told Lot to go out and have a look around. And decide which way
he would like to go and Abraham would go the other direction. So, Lot did as he
was instructed. We read in Genesis chapter 13 verses 10-13:
10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all
the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere, before the Lord destroyed
Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like the land
of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. 11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot
journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.12 Abram dwelled in the
land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his
tent toward Sodom. 13 But
the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly.
The bible says
that Lot lifted his eyes and chose the plain because it was well watered. My
next point is this. It was about the
bounty for Lot. Lot saw profit
in settling on the plains because he could grow flocks, and herds, and crops.
And increase his wealth. The plains may have been good for cattle and sheep.
But they were not a good place to raise a family.
Most families
today are more interested in wealth, and material possessions than a Godly
home. They are more interested in amassing wealth and prestige. Than making
sure that their families are saved, born again and have a home in heaven. Say
amen. You know that is right. They have got their eyes on this world and what
they can get out of it and achieve. God is out of the picture. They don’t even
think about God until Sunday morning, if they even think about Him then. That’s
right. It’s true.
Then we don’t
hear much about Lot until Genesis chapter 18. God visits Abraham. He tells him
about his plan to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham petitions God to spare
the city. He starts out if 50 be found if God would spare it. God said he would
for 50. Then Abraham asked it to be spared for 40 sake. Again, God said yes for
40 sake. Then Abraham asked for 30 sake, then 20 sake, and finally for 10 sake.
And God said yes for 10 righteous, He would spare the city.
And we know that
10 righteous could not be found in cities of the plain. In verse 20 of Genesis
chapter 18 says; 20 And
the Lord said,
Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very
grievous; But God, in His love for
Abraham sent his Angels to rescue Lot and his family.
In
chapter 13 of Genesis Lot has set his eyes on Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities
of the plain. In chapter 19 we see that Lot and family have taken up residence
in Sodom.
19 And there came
two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing
them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the
ground; 2 And he
said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and
tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your
ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night. 3 And he pressed upon them
greatly; and they turned in unto him and entered into his house; and he made
them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat. 4 But before they lay down,
the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old
and young, all the people from every quarter: 5 And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where
are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we
may know them. 6 And
Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him, 7 And said, I pray you,
brethren, do not so wickedly. 8 Behold
now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring
them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these
men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof. 9 And they said, Stand
back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will
needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they
pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door. 10 But the men put forth
their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door. 11 And they smote the men
that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that
they wearied themselves to find the door. 12 And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any
besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast
in the city, bring them out of this place: 13 For we will destroy this place, because the cry of
them is waxen great before the face of the Lord; and the Lord hath sent
us to destroy it. 14 And
Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and
said, Up, get you out of this place; for the Lord will
destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law. 15 And when the morning
arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two
daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. 16 And while he lingered,
the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the
hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful unto him: and they brought him
forth, and set him without the city. 17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them
forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither
stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. 18 And Lot said unto them,
Oh, not so, my Lord: 19 Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy
sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in
saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me,
and I die: 20 Behold
now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape
thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live. 21 And he said unto him,
See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow
this city, for the which thou hast spoken. 22 Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do anything
till thou become thither. Therefore, the name of the city was called Zoar. 23 The sun was risen upon
the earth when Lot entered into Zoar. 24 Then the Lord rained upon
Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of
heaven; 25 And
he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the
cities, and that which grew upon the ground. 26 But his wife looked back from behind him, and she
became a pillar of salt. 27 And
Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood before
the Lord: 28 And he looked toward
Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo,
the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace. 29 And it came to pass,
when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and
sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the
which Lot dwelt. 30 And
Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with
him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two
daughters. 31 And
the firstborn said unto the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man
in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth: 32 Come, let us make our
father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our
father. 33 And
they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and
lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she
arose. 34 And it
came to pass on the morrow, that the firstborn said unto the younger, Behold, I
lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and
go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father. 35 And they made their
father drink wine that night also: and the younger arose, and lay with him; and
he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose. 36 Thus were both the
daughters of Lot with child by their father. 37 And the first born bare a son, and called his name
Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day. 38 And the younger, she
also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same is the father of the
children of Ammon unto this day.
The
cities of the plain were great for raising cattle, and flocks. They were
excellent for increasing Lots wealth. But Sodom and Gomorrah were a terrible
place to raise a family. It was about
a lack of burden for one’s family and a refusal to believe. The Angels told Lot that God was about to
destroy the city, but Lot wouldn’t listen. They warned Lot to gather his family
and run. Finally, we see in verses 12-14 that Lot goes to his children who were
married and begs them to flee the city. But the bible says that he seemed as
one that mocks. Lot waited to late to worry about his children. Gods vengeance
was about to rain down and destroy the cities. His family refused to listen.
The
Angels have to forcibly remove Lot, his wife, and two daughters that Lot offers
to the men of Sodom, in exchange for not laying hands on the Angels. The Angels
tell them to flee for the destruction of the cities were upon them. The Angels
in verse 17 gives Lot and his family strict orders, not to linger but escape as
fast as they can. To not look behind them, and not to stay on the plains. It was about looking behind and being
disobedient. Because in verse 26, Lots wife turns back to look and see
the destruction of Sodom and God turns her into a pillar of salt. Lots wife no
doubt loved the city life. She more than likely had a prominent position in
Sodom since Lot did. I think she looked back not just because of Sodom, but her
family that stayed behind were judged with the rest of Sodom and Gomorrah and
destroyed in the fire that God rained out of the heavens. Judge had come, and
the price was too great.
But
this isn’t the end of Lots story. We find him at the end of chapter 19 drunk
and in a cave, committing incest with his two daughters. It was about a bargain between the sisters, to raise seed for their
father. And we know that both daughters conceived, and both had sons to
carry on Lots name. And from the incestuous rape of their father, came two of
the wicked nations to ever live. And they are still causing problems to this
day.
Lots
family was grossly dysfunctional. Because of that dysfunction Lot lost his wife
and his children. Lost his wealth, all because he set his eyes on a wicked
world and forgot to seek Gods will in where he should raise his family. Sad
very sad.
Let
us look at one more family, shall we. In Genesis chapter 25 we find Isaac and
Rebekah. God blessed them after Isaac prayed. Rebekah was barren. But we see
that she conceived and had twins.
19 And these are the generations of Isaac,
Abraham's son: Abraham begat Isaac: 20 And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah
to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban
the Syrian. 21 And
Isaac intreated the Lord for his wife, because she was barren:
and the Lord was
intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22 And the children struggled together within her; and
she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the Lord. 23 And the Lord said unto
her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated
from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and
the elder shall serve the younger. 24 And
when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her
womb. 25 And the
first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name
Esau. 26 And
after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his
name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them. 27 And the boys grew: and
Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man,
dwelling in tents. 28 And
Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob. 29 And Jacob sod pottage:
and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: 30 And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with
that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom. 31 And Jacob said, Sell me
this day thy birthright. 32 And
Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this
birthright do to me? 33 And
Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his
birthright unto Jacob. 34 Then
Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and
rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.
Two
sons Rebekah gave Isaac. They were Esau and Jacob. Esau the elder son and Jacob
the younger. Esau was Isaacs favorite and Jacob was Rebekah’s. That is always
the case. And that is how a dysfunctional house is born. As we see at the end
of this chapter Esau has given up a great treasure. It was about a birthright. As eldest son Esau was entitled
to a huge inheritance or birthright. But we see in verses 30-33; Esau was
hungry and asked Jacob to feed him. The price for that bowl of porridge was his
birthright. And Esau gave it away willingly. And because of that we see in
verse 34 Esau despised his brother. Not a happy home, no sir. But it doesn’t
end there.
It
chapter 27 Jacob with the help of his mother Rebekah rob Esau. This time It was about a blessing. Isaac
was old and near his time to die. And he wanted fresh meat. Esau went out hunting.
While he was gone Jacob with Rebekah’s help cooked up a lamb and tricked Isaac
with the food into blessing Jacob instead of Esau.
27 And it came to pass, that
when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called
Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold,
here am I. 2 And
he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death: 3 Now therefore take, I
pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and
take me some venison; 4 And
make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that
my soul may bless thee before I die. 5 And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son.
And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it. 6 And Rebekah spake unto
Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother,
saying, 7 Bring
me venison, and make me savoury meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before
the Lord before my death. 8 Now therefore, my son,
obey my voice according to that which I command thee. 9 Go now to the flock, and
fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury
meat for thy father, such as he loveth: 10 And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may
eat, and that he may bless thee before his death. 11 And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau
my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man: 12 My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall
seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a
blessing. 13 And
his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and
go fetch me them. 14 And
he went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother: and his mother made
savoury meat, such as his father loved. 15 And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son
Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger
son: 16 And she
put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of
his neck: 17 And
she gave the savoury meat and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand
of her son Jacob. 18 And
he came unto his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I; who art
thou, my son? 19 And
Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy first born; I have done according as
thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul
may bless me. 20 And
Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son?
And he said, Because the Lord thy God brought it to
me. 21 And Isaac
said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether
thou be my very son Esau or not. 22 And
Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is
Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau. 23 And he discerned him
not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands: so he blessed
him. 24 And he
said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am. 25 And he said, Bring it
near to me, and I will eat of my son's venison, that my soul may bless thee. And
he brought it near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine and he
drank. 26 And
his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son. 27 And he came near, and
kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said,
See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the Lord hath blessed: 28 Therefore
God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of
corn and wine: 29 Let
people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and
let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee,
and blessed be he that blesseth thee. 30 And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an
end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of
Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting. 31 And he also had made
savoury meat, and brought it unto his father, and said unto his father, Let my
father arise, and eat of his son's venison, that thy soul may bless me. 32 And Isaac his father
said unto him, Who art thou? And he said, I am thy son, thy firstborn Esau. 33 And Isaac trembled very
exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it
me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and
he shall be blessed. 34 And
when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding
bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father. 35 And he said, Thy brother
came with subtilty, and hath taken away thy blessing. 36 And he said, Is not he
rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my
birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast
thou not reserved a blessing for me? 37 And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I
have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants;
and with corn and wine have I sustained him: and what shall I do now unto thee,
my son? 38 And
Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me,
even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept. 39 And Isaac his father
answered and said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the
earth, and of the dew of heaven from above; 40 And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve
thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that
thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck. 41 And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing
wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of
mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob. 42 And these words of Esau
her elder son were told to Rebekah: and she sent and called Jacob her younger
son, and said unto him, Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth
comfort himself, purposing to kill thee. 43 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; arise, flee
thou to Laban my brother to Haran; 44 And
tarry with him a few days, until thy brother's fury turn away; 45 Until thy brother's
anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him: then
I will send, and fetch thee from thence: why should I be deprived also of you
both in one day? 46 And
Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth:
if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these which are of the
daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me?
So,
we see that Jacob not only conned his brother Esau out of his birthright. Jacob
also robbed him of his blessing from his father Isaac. Families fall all the
time by methods that Jacob employed on his brother. Dysfunctional family drama.
I
will close with this final family. This family left God’s country for the land
of Moab, because of a famine in the land. The man’s name is Elimelech. His wife’s name is Naomi. They had
two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, who were raised in Moab. Married wives
from Moab, named Orpah and Ruth. You can find this story in the Book of Ruth. It
is only 4 chapters long. But it is a rich and beautiful story. That finds a
family out of the will of God. But by the end we see God’s will revealed to us.
Mahlon
and Chilion, along with their father Elimelech die. Naomi is alone in a strange
land, with two daughters in law. She bade them return to their mothers. Orpah
does. But Ruth cleaves to Naomi and returns with Naomi back to Bethlehem.
Naomi
instructs Ruth to go into the fields and glean ears of corn. A man by the name
of Boaz takes notice of her. Finds out who she is. From there we see that Boaz
instructs his servants to leave ears for Ruth to glean and not to rebuke her.
Boaz
ends up falling in love with Ruth. But first he has to confront a near kinsmen
closer to Naomi than he is. The near kinsmen cannot perform the duty that is
required of him and tells Boaz to do it.
It is about a birth. This birth is a holy birth. Because Boaz is a grand sire
several times removed of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. If we look at the
last chapter of Ruth chapter 4, we find that;
13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and
when he went in unto her, the Lord gave her conception, and she bare a son.
14 And the women
said unto Naomi, Blessed be the Lord, which hath not left thee this day without a
kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel. 15 And he shall be unto
thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter
in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born
him. 16 And
Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it.
17 And the women
her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they
called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David. 18 Now these are the
generations of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron, 19 And Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab,
20 And Amminadab
begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat Salmon, 21 And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed, 22 And Obed begat Jesse,
and Jesse begat David.
That’s right
folks Jesus is a descendant of Boaz and Ruth. Let us look at Matthew chapter 1.
1 The book of the
generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 2 Abraham begat Isaac; and
Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren; 3 And Judas begat Phares
and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram; 4 And Aram begat Aminadab;
and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon; 5 And Salmon begat Booz of
Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; 6 And Jesse begat David the
king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias;
7 And Solomon
begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa; 8 And Asa begat Josaphat;
and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias; 9 And Ozias begat Joatham;
and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias; 10 And Ezekias begat
Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias; 11 And Josias begat
Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon:
12 And after
they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat
Zorobabel; 13 And
Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor; 14 And Azor begat Sadoc;
and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud; 15 And Eliud begat Eleazar;
and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob; 16 And Jacob begat Joseph
the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. 17 So all the generations
from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the
carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away
into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations. 18 Now the birth of Jesus
Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before
they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19 Then Joseph her husband,
being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to
put her away privily. 20 But
while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him
in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary
thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring
forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall
save his people from their sins. 22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled
which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall
be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name
Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 24 Then
Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and
took unto him his wife:25 And
knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his
name Jesus.
The greatest
birth that ever took place. Started over there in a field when Boaz saw Ruth.
Because of that, God planned for them to marry and have a son, and so many
generations later the savior of all man would be born. But it started because
the family was out of God’s will and dysfunctional.
I hope you
enjoyed the lesson. I know it’s long but there is a lot of verses to cover. I
didn’t want to leave anything out if I possibly could. God bless all who read
and understand.
Prepared and Written By: David M. Shuler
16MAY2018
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