Come Follow Me 9: Genesis 24-27

Come Follow Me Lesson 9: Genesis 24-27

Introduction:

The blessings of the Priesthood and of the Gospel are the blessings of Salvation of of Life Eternal. (See Abraham 2:11)

The Lord’s covenant promises are ongoing, from generation to generation. The covenant was renewed with Isaac and Rebekah’s family. (It has also been renewed with ours. We are their descendants and children of the covenant.)

Look for their examples of kindness, patience, and trust in the Lord’s promised blessings. These are hallmark attributes of children of the covenant, or of disciples of Jesus Christ.

Will you give up you figurative daily pottage to know the Lord? Will you do so in order to secure God’s blessings for both you and your posterity?

Personal Study 24:

Why was Isaac’s marriage of prime importance to Abraham? Why did he seek a daughter of the covenant?

Why does God ordained marriage, between a man and a woman, carry with it the best chance for the success of our Heavenly Father’s children?

Do we pray for our children and their spouses and the success of their families?

Do we pray for our children in their dating and courtship years?

Do we recognize the good qualities that our children and children in law have? Do we look for the good and praise the good?

How important is marrying in the covenant to our eternal progression? Doctrine and Covenants 131:1–4

The Family: A Proclamation to the World

Family Study 24:

“Abraham asked a trusted servant to find a wife for Isaac, and the servant covenanted with Abraham that he would.”

What are some valuable attributes that Rebekah possessed that are good qualities to look for in a spouse?

Readings: Chapter 24

vs 7 Do we have trust in the God of Abraham as he did? Do we realize that He will send angels before us and before our children to prepare the way to accomplish His purposes?

Vs 12 Abraham’s servant prayed for success for his master. When we are given assignments by God’s chosen servants, do we pray for our success and for theirs?

Rebekah was beautiful; she was a virgin; she was kind and generous. The servant’s prayers were answered. She gave him water and his camels too. And she was from Abraham’s family and would allow him to rest in her parents’ home.

Vs 27 “I being in the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master’s brethren.”

Do we recognize that we will most often realize blessings when we are “in the way,” when we are where we are supposed to be, doing what we are supposed to be doing?

Laban, Rebekah’s sister welcomed Abraham’s servant into his mother’s house.

After the servant made known his purposes to Laban and the household, they recognized that his errand was from the Lord and agreed that Rebekah should go with him and be Isaac’s wife.

Vs 52 Abraham’s servant worshiped the Lord, bowing himself to the earth. Thanksgiving.

Vs 53 More gifts were given to Rebekah and to her family.

Vs 57-58 Rebekah was given the choice, would she go with Abraham’s servant to his people, or was she not ready? She said, “I will go.”

60 And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them.

Rebekah was modest.

67 And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.

Personal Study 25:

“Is there any “pottage” that is distracting you from blessings that are of most value to you? What are you doing to focus on and appreciate these blessings?”

Matthew 6:19–33 Where is your treasure? Are you seeking first and foremost the kingdom of God?

2 Nephi 9:51 Where do you find refreshment? Do you spend your time with things that cannot satisfy you?

Family Study 25:

The birthright went to Jacob because he kept the commandments of the Lord?

Was it right for Jacob to ask the birthright blessing from Esau in exchange for some food?

What do you think of the devious means by which Rebekah and Isaac dress up as Esau, so that Jacob would give him the blessing?

Readings: Chapter 25

Esau and Jacob were struggling in the womb, for who should be born first.

The Lord reveals their destiny to Rebekah

Abraham took another wife Keturah after Sarah’s death and had many more children.

Vs 5 All the land was given to Isaac.

Abraham lived to be 165. vs 7

9 And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre;

10 The field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth: there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife.

Vs 11 God blessed his son Isaac;

Ishmael’s 12 sons are names (as princes).

Vs 17 Ishmael lived to be 137 years old.

Isaac’s history also put forth. Rebekah had been barren too. But they petitioned the Lord and she was blessed with twins.

They struggled within her.

22 And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to inquire of the Lord.

23 And the Lord said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.

The Lord has always revealed great things to His daughters, especially pertaining to their own families.

Isaac was 60 when Esau and Jacob were born. Jacob had hold of Esau’s heal. (Did Jacob come out head first then?)

32 And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?

Do we sell ourselves short, because we don’t want to endure our current struggle? Do we sell the Lord short on the promised He’s made to us, thinking that our current appetites are more important?

Vs 34 thus Esau despised his birthright.

Do we despise the blessings of the Lord because we lack understanding of His Eternal Plan?

Personal Study 26:

The Abrahamic Covenant is meant to be passed down from one generation to the next. The Gospel of Jesus Christ allow with the ordinances of salvation are to be taught by parents to their children.

What are some of the blessings of the covenant?

Family Study 26:

Why are wells important? How is Jesus Christ a well of living water?

Readings: Genesis 26:

Vs 3. Abraham covenant established with son Isaac.
Vs 4 All nations blessed through his seed.

Vs 5 We have all been blessed because of Abraham’s righteousness.

What blessings have you received in life because of the righteousness of your parents?

Vs 7 Isaac wants to tell everyone that Rebekah is his sister, so his life is preserved. Rebekah is very beautiful.

What makes women of the covenant so beautiful?

Abimelech found out that Rebekah was Isaac’s wife and told his people not to touch her.

Isaac was prospered in the land, more than everyone else. The Philistines envied him.

Vs 15 So much so that they filled all of his wells with earth.

Vs 18 Isaac redigged the wells of his father.

The people wanted Isaac’s wells.

Vs 24-26 Beersheba—Lord appeared to Isaac, covenant renewed. Altar built. Well digged.

Abimelech and Isaac make a treaty and part on good terms.

Esau marries Hittite wives (not in the covenant).

Personal Study 27:

Remember that Rebekah had a revelation that Isaac was to be the birthright son. (see Genesis 25:23 and Genesis 27:33)

Readings: Genesis 27:

Isaac was told by his mother to pretend to be Esau. Isaac got the real blessing. He received both the birthright and the blessing.