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11. Reinforcing the Covenant


Genesis 26:1-6
Key verse:
"I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all the nations on earth will be blessed. 
Genesis 26:4

Where have we heard this before? Why do we have to hear it again? In Deuteronomy 6, the Lord instructs the fathers of Israel to pass their knowledge of God, on to their children.  "These commandments I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  Impress them on your children.  Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." (Deut.  6:6-7) How like God to do Himself, what He asks of us once again.  God instructs fathers to pass their faith along to the next generation.  Now, here God is, passing on His promise of faithfulness to Isaac, the next generation in the lineage of Christ. 

Abraham probably had many talks throughout the years about the promises that God had made to him.  Abraham had probably charged Isaac with the importance of staying close to God and obeying His will so that Isaac too, could be a beneficiary of the blessings that God had promised. 

Now, Abraham has fulfilled his calling, and God comes to Isaac and makes His promise anew to the son personally.  You will be blessed and your offspring will be a blessing to others.  God is recommitting Himself to the family that will bear Messiah.  There are no grandchildren in God's plan.  Each person, each generation must respond for itself and say, "Yes, I will do as you have said," when God asks again, "Do you trust me?" The covenant and the commitment are continually being renewed.  It wasn't enough for Abraham to walk with God.  Isaac also needs to walk with God to demonstrate to his children how it is done and to demonstrate to God that he understands and accepts the call. 

Our parents can only do so much for us.  Eventually, we must put into practice what we have been taught.  Also, our children will not automatically absorb and accept our faith.  It is our responsibility to put it into words and practice before them to lead them in the way.  Eventually, in every generation, we become responsible to make our faith in God and our commitment to Him, a renewing of the Covenant, our own. 


Hymn: "Blessed Assurance" 

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