Human Weakness Cannot Thwart God’s Plan

Human Weakness Cannot Thwart God’s Plan

Pastor Vincent - 19 March 2015

Seek The Lord While He May Be Found

At some points of our lives, we often come to a spiritual stupor- we find ourselves in a state of not seeking God, because He just feels so far away from us - remotely related to our feelings, needs, and critical situations we're in. It's easy to say a prayer of "Lord, please give me the strength and wisdom to face this episode...", but how often do we consciously seek God's voice in our situation and His perfect will (not our ways) after we've prayed? We often think that it's suffice - we've prayed, we've come to church, we've done something good to others, but through it all, do we seek to meet Him face to face, hear His advices and rebukes, and receives approvals and praises from Him? Have we stopped anticipating from Him? Or have we become disheartened because of the many unanswered prayers? God said, " as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields see for the sower and bread for the eater, So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." [Is 55:10-11] God is a God who keeps His covenant with His people. Today, regardless of how overwhelmed we are, He is still leading the entire history of mankind and you with His covenant, achieving His ultimate purpose here on earth. Let us not harden our hearts and continue on our rebellious ways. Turn to Him today, put to stop the fictional faith living we have and seek Him while He may be found. While the current thoughts, feelings and situations may seem real to you, God's thoughts and ways are higher than ours, and His way is the one that truly set us free from our deadlocks. The presence of the Lord comes alive when you seek Him today, may we be the seeker of God in all things and at all times!

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Gen 27:30 After Isaac finished blessing him, and Jacob had scarcely left his father’s presence, his brother Esau came in from hunting. 

31 He too prepared some tasty food and brought it to his father. Then he said to him, “My father, please sit up and eat some of my game, so that you may give me your blessing.”

32 His father Isaac asked him, “Who are you?”

“I am your son,” he answered, “your firstborn, Esau.”

33 Isaac trembled violently and said, “Who was it, then, that hunted game and brought it to me? I ate it just before you came and I blessed him—and indeed he will be blessed!”

34 When Esau heard his father’s words, he burst out with a loud and bitter cry and said to his father, “Bless me—me too, my father!”

35 But he said, “Your brother came deceitfully and took your blessing.”

36 Esau said, “Isn’t he rightly named Jacob? This is the second time he has taken advantage of me: He took my birthright, and now he’s taken my blessing!” Then he asked, “Haven’t you reserved any blessing for me?”

37 Isaac answered Esau, “I have made him lord over you and have made all his relatives his servants, and I have sustained him with grain and new wine. So what can I possibly do for you, my son?”

38 Esau said to his father, “Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me too, my father!” Then Esau wept aloud.

39 His father Isaac answered him,

“Your dwelling will be
    away from the earth’s richness,
    away from the dew of heaven above.
40 You will live by the sword
    and you will serve your brother.
But when you grow restless,
    you will throw his yoke
    from off your neck.”

 4 key characters, none commendable.

1) Isaac

  • Flesh > God’s word

 

Reflection for us:

  • Are our eyes looking at those who are impressive and who can please us?
  • Are we able to discern who we should bless?

 

2) Rebekah

  • Means > End

 

Word for us:

  • “The end justifies the means” is not biblical.
  • Human duty: Do right thing, let God work.
  • God does not need our meddling or help.
  • Problem is not that Christians are not zealous, but they try to be God.

 

3) Jacob

  • Human methods > God’s way

 

Word for us:

  • We claim “we believe”, but is the way we live built upon gospel truths?
  • Need healing from tendency to be “human-driven” instead of “God-driven”.
  • Unbelief makes us do foolish things.
  • Lacking faith prevents us from doing what is right.

 

4) Esau

  • Material > Spiritual

 

Word for us:

  • Having heard gospel, realize how blessed we are?
  • Don’t only pursue earthly blessings, but miss the God who provides them all.
  • Beware of the devil’s lie: “I will give you the splendor of the world, if you will bow down and worship me.” <Mt 4:8-9>

 

God triumphs over evil and still establishes His plan.

1) Despite Isaac’s weakness, God still used him to bless Jacob.

  • Despite being weak, our intercessions can be effective.

 

2) God fulfills promises, but also disciplines disobedience.

Gen 27:41 Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. He said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”

42 When Rebekah was told what her older son Esau had said, she sent for her younger son Jacob and said to him, “Your brother Esau is planning to avenge himself by killing you. 43 Now then, my son, do what I say: Flee at once to my brother Laban in Harran. 44 Stay with him for a while until your brother’s fury subsides. 45 When your brother is no longer angry with you and forgets what you did to him, I’ll send word for you to come back from there. Why should I lose both of you in one day?”

  • Both Jacob and Rebekah suffered for their deceitful scheme.

 

Conclusion:

(1) God exercises sovereign grace in spite of human weakness.

(2) God triumphs over evil and still establishes His plan.

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Preacher Hui Jun
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Huijun serves as Secretary of The Blessed RUN Ministries. She is also the Preacher at The Life Church and Missions (Singapore). She graduated from Singapore Bible College and currently lives in Singapore with her husband, Chengji.

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