Carson Valley Bible Church

This week, we looked at Isaac's life and geneology of Abrahams' heritage.

And more.

In Genesis 25, Pastor Luke points out two different sections of this text. Verses 1-18 is the conclusion of Abraham's life. Verses 19-34 are the beginnings of Isaac's life - that God's plan was to choose Isaac and Isaac's heritage to keep His Promise through.

As we explored the text of Chapter 25, we see the age of Isaac is 40, in verses 19-20. Why do we need to know this detail? We then looked at verse 26 - and we're told that Isaac was 60 when he became a father. 20 years later.

For 20 years, this man prayed. He trusted God to keep His Promise. He prayed more. And when he was 60 years old, his prayer came to life - with not just one baby, but two!

Esau and Jacob were born, after Rebekah 'went to inquire of the Lord'. The children were struggling with each other even inside the womb. In verse 22, God tells her about these twins - that they represent two nations who will be divided. We're not told what she does with this information, but surely Isaac must've known. We're not told this was a secret - in fact, this scenario plays out in generations to come.

Moses continues on in the chapter to tell us about the twins, that the first one born (Esau) was to 'serve the younger'. We learn how this comes to be. We also know as we look ahead in Genesis about the character of these boys. Esau ends up giving Jacob his birthright (v. 34).

Pastor Luke refers to Romans 9:10-13 here. Paul writes about Rebekah's children, and how God chooses one over the other. Luke asks the question, "is this fair?" We know later on that both Jacob and Esau do things that are not favorable to God (at all). So why/how does God choose?

Perhaps Moses wanted his readers to know that God is God - and we are not. None of us deserves to be 'chosen'. We're reminded about how lucky we are to know of this God, who remembers not only His Promise to Abraham (and Moses himself!), but His Promise to us. We desperately need to want to delight in the fact that God makes choices on who He chooses! Moses himself remembers this, and it's definetly important enough to him to tell the story to the hebrews, and to us.

Lastly, in v. 30, we're told Esaus's name was called Edom (meaning red v. 25). It's a glimpse of the future, as the Edomites were always at war with Israel - hence the twins struggling in the womb. Luke points out that even King Herod was an edomite - after all, he tried to have Jesus killed as a baby, ordering all the males under the age of two in Bethlehem killed, after he heard about Jesus...

Once again, we are learning about the beginnings of how the history of the world began, receiving more glimpses of the coming, real King. We don't have to fear the future - we know, and are told, the end of the story! We hope you continue to join us as we continue on with the Promises of God in Genesis.

Watch it all explained here - on our CVBC Vimeo Channel link: https://vimeo.com/793865773

We're grateful to continue with our regular worship this week! This week we've chosen the modern hymn

"Amazing Grace (My chains are gone)"

Chris Tomlin was invited to 'add' to the famous hymn Amazing Grace, in 2007. In the below link, we read that Tomlin recounts a plane ride whereon he had a chance encounter with a friend, who told him about some acquaintances who were making a movie about William Wilberforce called Amazing Grace (2007). His friend mentioned that the producers of the film were wondering if Tomlin would be willing to “do something” with the hymn of the same name.

After briefly recounting Wilberforce’s work toward abolishing the slave trade in Europe, Tomlin explains the life of “Wilberforce’s mentor,” John Newton (1725-1807), who wrote the hymn “Amazing Grace” (1779) after his conversion and abandonment of his career as a slave trader. While pondering the proposal, Tomlin read about the history of John Newton and reflected on the depth of the lyrics in their context of slavery. Out of this reflection, he had an epiphany: “So these words just started flowing one night—my chains are gone, I’ve been set free, my God, my savior, has ransomed me—” Tomlin breaks off here and describes the word ransom “—I was thinking about how you pay a ransom for a slave."

He continued reciting the lyrics: ‘and like a flood, his mercy reigns. Unending love, Amazing Grace.’ And so I wrote that little refrain, and started singing it out to the hymn, never thinking it was going to do anything! "I sent it to the guys saying, ‘hey, if you want to use this for the movie, that’d be great,’ never dreaming that churches would adopt this version of ‘Amazing Grace.’ So I count it an incredible privilege to be in a long line of people who’ve sung this song."

Read the whole story here: https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/articles/history-of-hymns-amazing-grace-my-chains-are-gone

Here's the entire song lyrics!

Amazing grace how sweet the soundThat saved a wretch like meI once was lost, but now I'm foundWas blind, but now I see

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fearAnd grace my fears relievedHow precious did that grace appearThe hour I first believed

My chains are gone, I've been set freeMy God, my Savior has ransomed meAnd like a flood His mercy reignsUnending loveAmazing grace

The Lord has promised good to meHis word my hope securesHe will my shield and portion beAs long as life endures

My chains are gone, I've been set freeMy God, my Savior has ransomed meAnd like a flood His mercy reignsUnending loveAmazing grace

The earth shall soon dissolve like snowThe sun forbear to shineBut God, who called me here belowWill be forever mine, will be forever mineYou are forever mine

CCLI# 11519802

We are excited about singing this version of Amazing Grace together this weekend!

What?

What in the world is Deets?

Well, it's modern slang for details! Believe it or not, it's actually in the Merriam Webster dictionary... yes, I had to see if it was! Or, if you have a young person you're close to, you might have heard the word before...

We've been going through Genesis for a year now here at CVBC. I'm especially enjoying hearing Pastor Luke preach through it, a challenging task that he takes seriously, yet gratefully. For me, the best part is when he points out how much God cares about every detail. From the moment of creation, God cared. Even before that. He created us in His image!

Even knowing this, there's been times in my own life I found it very difficult (if not humanly impossible) to feel like God cares. To feel like anybody cares, if I'm really honest. And I'd have to bet that we all, at some point, have felt this way.

This has been a tough week for me in a couple of aspects, this being one. I'm risking a chance here of being real, but by now you may know me a bit more - that I have nothing to hide, yet everything to gain. That is who I am, and is what should be shared. It's the reason small groups work so well - in order to allow those going through the same thing(s) - to know that others have those things too - and especially, to have hope.

Sometimes when people don't do what I desire, or react how I think they should, I find myself feeling alot of things. But mostly, it makes me feel alone. Like no one cares, etc., etc. You know the drill, the spiral that doesn't point to anywhere but down.

But that's my point. And God reminded me of that - loudly, and a few times this week!

That downward spiral isn't one way. It's actually coming from 'down there'. Straight from the pit. It's a pack of lies - literally. And to think I used to live there alot in my younger life! Well, I'm here to tell you that the struggle is real. We have a real, studious enemy who is very serious about wanting us to think this about ourselves - and about others, for that matter.

So I say we must bring these thoughts from the dark, to the light. Not only do I say, but so does Paul - who tells everyone at his trial before King Agrippa and the entire court about his own darkness. This man was made blind - you know the story, where he is on the road to Damascus, to kill believers of the early church. Then bam! He meets Jesus on the road. Talk about darkness! And surely feeling like no one cares!

Check out Acts 26:12-18 (basically the whole chapter there). My emphasis will be from v. 16 ^"But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me, and to those in which I will appear to you, ¹⁷delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you¹⁸to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me."

You see, that is the purpose. For everything we go through, whether circumstances, thoughts, good times and bad. To open our eyes. To share our struggles with each other.

The details.

Lord, continue to provide protection for all of us, so that we might see...

'Till He comes again,

Julie

"God is in this Story" Katy Nichole and Big Daddy Weave... https://youtu.be/ryD3D9X2myk

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