Pastor Bob DuPar
January 11, 2009

Journal Entry



Scripture

Genesis 24:52-26:16; Matthew 8:18-34; Psalm 10:1-15; Proverbs 3:7-8

Observation

“Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant.”
Genesis 25:21

“Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the Lord blessed him. The man (Isaac) became rich, and his wealth continued to grow until he became very wealthy.” Genesis 26:12-13

“In his pride the wicked does not seek Him (God); in all his thoughts there is no room for God. …He says to himself, ‘Nothing will shake me; I’ll always be happy and never have trouble.’ …He says to himself, ‘God has forgotten; He covers His face and never sees. …He won’t call me to account.’ …But You, O God, do see trouble and grief; You consider it to take it in hand. The victim commits himself to You; You are the helper of the fatherless.” Psalm 10:4, 6, 11, 13b, 14

Application

Isaac’s prayer to God on behalf of Rebekah’s barrenness was a much better method to fertility than sleeping with his wife’s servant! (Abraham) Isaac got this right. But, in Genesis 26:7 he tries to pass Rebekah off as his sister before King Abimelech –like father, like son!

I was struck and challenged by the description of a wicked man: He does not seek God; there is no room for God in his thoughts; he believes he is unshakeable; he subscribes to the myth that he’ll always be happy and never have problems; he thinks that God has forgotten about him and will never hold him accountable. Some of these characteristics sound like my own self-deception from time to time.

Prayer

“Lord, I take comfort in knowing that nothing escapes Your notice. You are sovereign. You are righteous. No one outsmarts You. Thank You that You are fair and merciful as well.”