Day 3 of Week 5 The Patriarchs

October 8, 2008
Day Three of Week 5
 
The Generational Impact
Today's Treasure: Genesis 26: 18
Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug in the time of his father Abraham, which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham died, and he gave them the same names his father had given them.
 
Today's lesson turns back to Isaac and focuses on the parental influence that we all see carried down from generation to generation. Luke 6: 37 – 38 reads, "Do not judge, an d you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
The things we do really do have a great effect on our lives and the lives of our children. We are all living, breathing reflections of our parents…for the better or the worse. I am sure we all have wonderful attributes as well as not so wonderful attributes we inherited from our parents. Take time to realize that they didn't necessarily pass down the not so good attributes just to ruin your lives. Remember, they had parents, too. You never know how many generations carried something down that fell in your lap. However, you do not have to pass it along to your children. If you recognize something in your life that is a hindrance, call yourself out on it. Get on your knees and ask the LORD to help you overcome this bad habit that you do not want your children to give to your grandchildren.
 
In Genesis 26, you will see spiritual, behavioral and circumstantial ties that Isaac shares with Abraham. At this point, Abraham is already dead and buried; however, you will be made aware of similarities in Isaac's life that are uncanny. As you read this chapter, please remember that "Abimelech" is used for a royal lineage, much like King George or King Edward. So, this is not the same king that Abraham dealt with….just the same name.
What similarities do you see between Abraham's and Isaac's actions in?
Segment 1: Genesis 26: 1 – 11; glance at Genesis 12: 10 – 20 and Genesis 20: 1 – 11.
Circumstantial – there was another famine like the one that occurred in Abraham's time.  
Spiritual - God reminded Isaac of the (same) promises he made to Abraham because of his faith.
Behavioral - Both Isaac and Abraham went to Abimelech. Both Isaac and Abraham lied about their relationship with their wives. They both claimed to have a brother/sister relationship so they would not be killed. In both cases, Abimelech feared them and ordered them to not be touched.
Segment 2: Genesis 12 – 22
Spiritual – Both Abraham and Isaac were blessed after their confrontation with Abimelech
Behavioral – Abraham dug wells and Isaac reopened the wells of his father
Circumstantial – they each had the same had to fact disputes between the servants over the wells
Segment 3: Genesis 26: 23 – 34
Behavioral/spiritual – Both Abraham and Isaac both built altars
Circumstantial – They each had confrontation with Abimelech concerning a treaty and Abimelech's desires because the LORD was with Abraham and Isaac.
Some scholars doubt the validity of this chapter in the Bible because of the similarities between Abraham and Isaac. They feel these are just simply too great; however, I think these scriptures were included for the sake of making us realize how deep our decisions as a parent dig into the lives of our children. I believe the Bible did not have to include a lot of details about Isaac and Rebekah because their lives were so much like the lives of Abraham's parents. Think about how we respond to a difficult decision. How often has your response mirrored how your parents responded to difficulties when you were a child? Did you realize that the statistics for second-generation adultery are overwhelmingly high? Even if a child despised the adultery and was very judgmental of it, they tend to make the same decision when they grow older. Very often, when parents make poor financial decisions, it carries over into the children because they were never taught how to handle their money appropriately. There are so many sins that our children pick up from us and we have picked up from our parents. Today's study focuses on deceit and how both Abraham and Isaac turned to it when backed against a wall. We need to understand that Ezekiel 18 clearly tells us that each individual is responsible for his or her own sins. It is up to us to create new behaviors in order to stop the sins from carrying over into the next generation.  
If you are willing, write a prayer asking God to free you from any stronghold of deception, no matter where they originated.  
 
What part of the discussion on parenting is speaking most clearly to you at this=2 0moment? Write down your thoughts so you can begin working on a way to incorporate healthier alternatives.
 
Think of the wells that Isaac reopened as being a conceptual example of inherited behavior. Can you share an example of a reopened well or relate in any way you'd be willing to share?  
On a positive note, I have recognized that I developed my mom's determination to succeed in tasks that she commits herself to. I am sure I have taken on this same determination by watching her. Like her, I refuse to take "this can't be done" as an answer. Phillipians 4: 13 says, "I can do everything through Him that gives me strength." I cannot accept that this cancer can't be overcome. Fortunately, my mother did teach me to endure and never take "no" for an answer!!! Now that I really need to dig deep to find this, my mom had already planted the seed.
 
Segment 3 provides a fitting conclusion to the concepts we've studied today. How did the LORD introduce Himself to Isaac in Genesis 26: 24?
"I am the God of your father Abraham"
 
Remember, as you go about your day that God never changes. He is the same God today that Abraham met so many years ago. He can take all of the bad examples in your life and turn them into reasons to succeed and change for the sake of the children not yet born to our children. I encourage all of us to commit to prayer. We need to ask that our eyes be open to the things we need to change so we can heal the wells of our souls.
 
I love you all,
Tiffany