United Front

"Now it came about, when Isaac was old and his eyes were too dim to see, that he called his older son Esau and said to him, 'My son.' And he said to him, 'Here I am.' Isaac said, 'Behold now, I am old and I do not know the day of my death. Now then, please take your gear, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me; and prepare a savory dish for me such as I love, and bring it to me that I may eat, so that my soul may bless you before I die.' Rebekah was listening while Isaac spoke to his son Esau. So when Esau went to the field to hunt for game to bring home, Rebekah said to her son Jacob, 'Behold, I heard your father speak to your brother Esau, saying, "Bring me some game and prepare a savory dish for me, that I may eat, and bless you in the presence of the Lord before my death." Now therefore, my son, listen to me as I command you. Go now to the flock and bring me two choice young goats from there, that I may prepare them as a savory dish for your father, such as he loves. Then you shall bring it to your father, that he may eat, so that he may bless you before his death.'" -Genesis 27.1-10

Here's where it all comes out. The family favoritism of the parents has been known for decades by the twins. Esau, the first born, the rugged outdoors man, is loved by his father. Jacob, number two son, the gentle man who loves the finer things of life, has found acceptance with his mother. Jacob has already stolen his brother's birthright, and now Isaac is setting his affairs in order in preparation for his death. And here again we see the family drama unfold.

Isaac is prepared to bless his son Esau, to pass the covenant God made with Abraham on to him. Rebekah hears about it and begins to work behind the scenes in order to advance Jacob. She begins a plan to deceive her husband. Jacob does what she says and receives the blessing of his father.

This is what happens when we don't present a united front with our wives. The children will pit you against each other, and you'll do all that you can for your favorite child. Rather than doing what is best for you and your marriage. I wonder how their marriage was. It began with Isaac loving his wife, and we do have to keep in mind that it is a different culture in that part of the world. But looking at how they parent, I wonder how strong the marriage was.

Men, in marriage, and parenting, you must present a united front with your wife. The two of you became one in marriage. You stand together, or not at all. Isaac's family is so full of drama and deception because mom and dad weren't on the same page. What do you want for your marriage and your family? If you want chaos and drama, then follow the example here. Have favorite children, work against each other. But if you don't want this, then present a united front.

Work together. Work with her. She bears the opposite side of the image of God. She sees things in a way you really can't with out her. She has different gifts, different talents, different passions. Embrace them, and work with them. Be a united front and watch the effect it will have on your family.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Lack of Involvement

"When Esau was forty years old he married Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite; and they brought grief to Isaac and Rebekah." -Genesis 26.34-35

Isaac's family is full of issues. Each parent has a favorite child, and the younger deceives his brother to get an upper hand. The older acts hastily and foolishly, trading the future for the moment. And we see no involvement from the parents in any of this. And then the time comes for marriage. Abraham was very intentional and very involved in the selection of a bride for his son. But here we see that Esau acts completely on his own. And his decision brings grief to his parents.

Men, when we aren't involved in the lives of our children, or young people in general, this is what happens. How many young girls had no man to show them how they should be treated, to tell them they are beautiful and captivating princesses to build them up, not get something from them? The decisions they make looking for love and validation grieve us.

How many boys walk around trying to prove themselves, living selfishly trying to get ahead and make a name for themselves? How many of them have no idea who they are, or how to use their strength on behalf of others because they never had anyone to show them how? How much grief have they caused?

Men, the only way it ends is if we get involved. Invest yourself into your children. Be their daddy, not just their father. And invest yourself in the lives of their friends. We live in a world of broken families, and fatherless children. Some through divorce, some through abandonment, and others through death, but fatherless all the same. They need a daddy to love them, and be involved in their lives.

I've thought about my own children someday, and the thought that has crossed my mind a lot is, "What if something happens to me, and I'm not around? Who will be there for them as a man?" I have life insurance, so my family will be taken care of, but they need more than money. This week I called one of my closest friends and asked him a huge favor. "If anything happens to me, would you be willing to be a male role model for my children?" You have no idea the relief that came over me when he said he would.

Men, if we don't get involved the destructive, grief filled, cycle will just continue. Get involved.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

God of the Father

"The Lord appeared to him the same night and said, 'I am the God of your father Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless you, and multiply your descendants, for the sake of My servant Abraham.'" -Genesis 26.24

Look at how God identifies Himself to Isaac here. "I am the God of your father". This is the first time we see this phrase in Scripture, but think about what it means. Abraham had a personal relationship with God. He served, obeyed and worshiped Him. God led, and Abraham followed. God was Abraham's God. And so now God appears to Isaac and introduces Himself. Isaac is invited to follow God and take part in the covenant.

I am the God that your father followed. He obeyed Me and I took care of him. I established My covenant with him, and just as he trusted Me, you can trust Me. I will bless you and be with you because of your father. And just as his father did, Isaac built an altar to mark the spot where God had spoken. The God who took care of his father has come to him, and Isaac is ready and willing to follow.

Men, who, or what, is your god? What will present itself to your children with the promise of I'll treat you as I treated your father? Alcohol? Wealth? Sex? These things that rule your life and lead only to destruction. Or will it be God, Yahweh, who says, "Your father followed Me. He trusted me all his life, and I took care of him. If you will trust Me as he did, I will take care of you as well. I am the God of your father."

Who do you want your children to follow and serve? You had best follow and serve the same thing. Your children are watching you, and they want to be like you. Set the right example for them. One day have God speak to them and introduce Himself as "The God of your father."

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Hills to Die On

"Then Isaac dug again the wells of water which had been dug in the days of his father Abraham, for the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham; and he gave them the same names which his father had given them. But when Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and found there a well of flowing water, the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with the herdsmen of Isaac, saying, “'water is ours!' So he named the well Esek, because they contended with him. Then they dug another well, and they quarreled over it too, so he named it Sitnah. He moved away from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it; so he named it Rehoboth, for he said, 'At last the Lord has made room for us, and we will be fruitful in the land.'" -Genesis 26.18-22

God has blessed Isaac and he has become very wealthy in the land, and so King Abimelech asks him to leave, so Isaac moves to the valley of Gerar, and re-digs the wells that his father had dug. But the herdsmen quarrel with him and say that the land is theirs. We see now the issues that Abraham avoided by having the field and tomb deeded over to him. But there is a quarrel, so he moves on and digs another well. Again there is a quarrel, and so again he moves. Digs the third well, and finally finds no quarrel.

We see an important principle here, what hills are you willing to die on? It's an important question for us to ask, because there are places we have to take a firm stand, and if required, die instead of move. But there are other things that it would be a waste of a life, or many lives, to die for.

Men died at Normandy, Thermopylae, the Alamo, Golgotha, because those were hills worth dying on. They knew what would happen if they didn't make a stand, and they refused to sit by and let it go down without a fight. But a well in a land that God had already promised to his descendants wasn't worth his life. One day it would be theirs, and Isaac was willing to wait, he wasn't willing to die here. God had been with him, and made him very wealthy. He had blessed him just as He had promised. And so Isaac was willing to wait.

Men, what are the hills you're willing to die on, and what are the things you just need to let go? Ask yourself, "Is this Normandy or a well?" You can dig another well somewhere else, but you only have one shot at Normandy. What hills are you willing to die on? Stand firm, and let God handle the rest. He won't forget the promises He's made, and He doesn't want you to foolishly waste your life on something small and insignificant.

What is worth dying for? What do you need to let go of?

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Like Father, Like Son

"So Isaac lived in Gerar. When the men of the place asked about his wife, he said, 'She is my sister,' for he was afraid to say, 'my wife,' thinking, 'the men of the place might kill me on account of Rebekah, for she is beautiful.'" -Genesis 26.6-7

Another famine takes place, and Isaac is moving so his family will survive. His initial plan is to head to Egypt, but God tells him not to, and makes the promise to him that He made to Abraham. I will give you this land, I will multiply you, all the nations of the earth will be blessed by your descendants.

So Isaac goes to Gerar, to King Abimelech. And once there we find Isaac in the same situation as his father, he passes his wife off as his sister to save his own skin. The sin of the father has been picked up by the son, and we see him following in his footsteps in an aspect of life he'd have been better off without.

Men, our actions speak so much louder than our words. The things our children watch us do will speak so much louder than the lessons we try and teach them. I'm reminded of the country song, "I've Been Watching You." It begins with a four year old saying a four letter word, and the dad asking, "Where'd you learn to talk like that?" To which the son replies, "He said I've been watching you dad, ain't that cool. I'm your buckaroo, I wanna be like you and eat all my food and grow as tall as you are. We got cowboy boots and camo pants, yeah we're just alike, hey ain't we dad. I wanna do everything you do, so I've been watching you."

That's the reality of it, our children watch everything we do, and learn by what we do. And just as the negative traits we hate about ourselves are seen, the good ones can be as well. Verse two of the song goes like this.

We got back home and I went to the barn
I bowed my head and I prayed real hard
Said Lord please help me help my stupid self
Then this side of bedtime later that night
Turning on my son's Scooby Doo nightlight
He crawled out of bed and he got down on his knees
He closed his little eyes, folded his little hands
And spoke to God like he was talking to a friend
And I said son now where'd you learn to pray like that

He said I've been watching you dad, ain't that cool
I'm your buckaroo, I wanna be like you
And eat all my food and grow as tall as you are
We like fixing things and holding mama's hand
Yeah we're just alike, hey ain't we dad
I wanna do everything you do
So I've been watching you

With God's help we can pass down the good traits and not the bad ones. Our children can watch us overcome the sins in our own life and see that it is possible to over come them and live righteously. They'll see their father do battle against evil and win. They'll see that his life is about something bigger than himself, and they'll want to be part of that as well. And you'll see like father, like son in a whole new light.

Which image are you going to pass down? What do you want your son to be like?

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Hasty and Foolish

"When Jacob had cooked stew, Esau came in from the field and he was famished; and Esau said to Jacob, 'Please let me have a swallow of that red stuff there, for I am famished.' Therefore his name was called Edom. But Jacob said, 'First sell me your birthright.' Esau said, 'Behold, I am about to die; so of what use then is the birthright to me?' And Jacob said, 'First swear to me'; so he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew; and he ate and drank, and rose and went on his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright." -Genesis 25.29-34

Esau comes in from the field after one of his outings, and he's hungry. He asks his brother for some of the stew that he's made, but we see a brotherly rivalry unfold. No doubt this has gone on for years, but now Jacob raises the stakes. Sure I'll give you some stew, but first I want your birthright. Esau was the first born of these two twins, and so the large part of the inheritance would go to him when his father died. And it was a significant chunk.

I've had lentil stew like Jacob made. It's bland as all get out, and I can't imagine giving anyone a dime for it, and yet Esau foolishly, and hastily trades his birth right for a bowl and some bread. He gives no thought to what he is giving up, he's only thinking about the momentary satisfaction and indulgence, that ultimately wasn't worth it.

Men, it's so easy to get caught up and make a decision like Esau did. The one drink that you vowed never to take turns into two, then when life gets hard, then it consumes you. The receptionist at work, it starts with a smile, then some casual flirting, and then one day you wake up next to her while your wife is at home getting the kids breakfast. That one moment where we make a hasty decision and don't look at the long term effects, ends up being foolishness that costs us big time. And just as lentil stew is nothing compared to a birth right, the momentary enjoyment is nothing compared to the life you're giving up.

Men, don't be hasty, and don't be foolish. Be rational and wise. Keep your guard up at all times. And don't sacrifice the future for a moment.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

No Favorites

"Now Isaac loved Esau, because he had a taste for game, but Rebekah loved Jacob." -Genesis 25.28

The beginning of family struggles, the father loves one of his children more than the other. The two of them share a special bond, and it's easy for them to share and relate. The father naturally draws to the one son, but at the expense of the other. Sometimes it's just neglect, but often it turns into abuse.

Esau was the athlete, and Jacob was the artist. And Isaac prized athleticism. I doubt Jacob was called names by his father, but there is no doubt that he knew his father preferred his brother over him. You have to wonder what his father never knew about him, the talents he never got to share or develop, all because his father related better to his brother.

How many of us were over looked by our fathers because we didn't fit their idea of a man? How many of us were put down by a father who wanted an all star quarterback, instead of a world class pianist? How many of us have struggled with identity and self worth because of it?

A man doesn't favor one child over another. He learns to communicate and relate to them in ways that speak to each one. He learns the heart of each of his children and speaks affirmation into each child's heart. He helps each of his children see their gifts and talents and encourages them to develop their passions. He has no favorites, he loves each of them as they are, not how he would have them be. And part of it, is knowing yourself, and living life to the fullest yourself, not vicariously through them.

Let your children be themselves, and love the for who they are.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Pray for Your Family

"Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord answered him and Rebekah his wife conceived." -Genesis 25.21

Rebekah is the second of at least seven, and possibly eight, women to have a miraculous birth in the Bible. She is barren, unable to conceive children, and if Isaac's, the son of promise, wife cannot bear him children, how can the covenant be fulfilled? If you look back to Genesis 24.59, Rebekah had a nurse who came with her when she left her father's house. There is the potential for another "Abram and Hagar" scenario to unfold. But that isn't the approach that is taken. Instead Isaac prays for his wife, and God answers his prayer.

Men, as the spiritual leaders of our families it is our duty, and privilege, to be able to pray for them in a way no one else can. No one else on earth has the intimacy with your wife that you do. No one else knows your children the way you do. And no one else can pray for them the way that you can. No one can lift them up to God the way that you can.

Will you accept your duty and pray for them? Will you lift up your wife's burdens and heart aches to God? Will you hold your children up to God and cover them in prayer? If you won't then who will? Are you willing to surrender this privilege to some other guy?

Men, let us pray, because God hears our prayers. Let us do what we were made to do and lead our families. Pray for them, and watch God work wonders in their lives.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Satisfied with Life

"Abraham breathed his last and died in a ripe old age, an old man and satisfied with life; and he was gathered to his people." -Genesis 25.8

This verse has stood out to me for a while. Abraham dies at a ripe old age, old and satisfied with life. Oh that this would be the result for every man. How many get to the end and wish they had lived more? Not necessarily longer, but lived more fully alive. How many men get to the end with regrets about all the time they wasted? How many men get to the end regretting the dreams they never pursued? How many get to the end without having enjoyed any of life?

I don't want that to be me, and I'm guessing neither do you. I want to live my life to the fullest, like Abraham. I want to set out into the unknown on a journey of faith, with God. I want to live ready to hear Him speak, and willing to obey whatever He asks. I want to do things right, and lay a solid foundation for those who come after me. And ultimately, I want to defend the defenseless and live to be a blessing to others.

That was how Abraham lived his life. Yes, he made some mistakes along the way, we all will, but he didn't let them discourage and depress him. When he came to the end of his life, he looked back over it with satisfaction, ready for what came next. Oh that we would all face death this way, not wishing we had just a little more time.

Let us live life to the fullest, so when the time comes, we can die satisfied with life.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Love Your Wife

"Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and he took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her; thus Isaac was comforted after his mother's death." -Genesis 24.67

The servant returns with Rebekah, and she and Isaac are married. And for the first time in the Bible we are told that a man loved his wife. This is the first mention in scripture of a husbands love for his wife. We are never told that Adam loved his wife, or Noah, or even Abraham. Isaac is the first to have that said about him. Was there something different about the relationship he had with her? I don't know. But if this is the first time it's worthy of mention, my guess is maybe.

Men, some of us are married, and some of us aren't. Some of us have been, and some of us will be. Can it be said of you that you loved your wife? Will it be said of you that you love your wife? In our culture the word has been watered down to the point where we love our wives, and we also love some particular food, or movie, or activity.

I want it to be said of me, that I loved my wife. Not just in the fact that we stayed married until we die, but that I enriched her life. That I blessed her and allowed her to unveil her captivating beauty. I want to love my wife in a way that stands out, in a way that is worthy of mention.

I have no doubt that men loved their wives long before Isaac and Rebekah, but something about the love of this man for his wife was worthy of being mentioned. I want to be like that. I want to love my wife.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Worship God

"Then the man bowed low and worshiped the Lord. He said, 'Blessed be the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken His lovingkindness and His truth toward my master; as for me, the Lord has guided me in the way to the house of my master’s brothers.'" -Genesis 24.26-27

When the servant sees how God has answered his request, his first response is to praise and worship God. He doesn't send word to Abraham. He doesn't saddle up and head home with the girl. He doesn't even go with her to her father's house first. The very first response is to worship God.

When prayers are answered in your life, what is your first response? Do you call your wife? Do you meet with some friends to celebrate? Neither of those are bad things, and should be among the first things that we do. But our very first response should be to worship God.

Recently I found myself having a prayer answered, and answered in a way far beyond what I was hoping for. I think I did call my wife first, but in the midst of everything I caught myself, and I got on my knees and took a moment to thank and praise God for His incredible answer to prayer. That night, we went out with some friends to celebrate.

Men, nothing we accomplish is because of us, it's all a gift from God. Let us never take credit, and never forget to give credit. When God answers our prayers, let us immediately worship Him for the blessing.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Expect God to Answer

"Meanwhile, the man was gazing at her in silence, to know whether the Lord had made his journey successful or not." -Genesis 24.21

The servant began this mission by seeking God, and we are told in verse 15, that before he had finished speaking Rebekah came to draw water. In his prayer he had asked God for a specific sign, and now he is watching to see if this girl is the one he has been sent to find.

The man had a difficult task to do, and so he prayed for God's guidance. And then he was aware and watching for an answer. He expected God to answer him. Through out the Bible we'll see this kind of attitude regarding prayer, and it begs the question, do we expect God to answer our prayers? Do we expect to hear from God when we call on Him, whether it be yes, no or, not right now? Or is it something we offer hoping that if He's not too busy, He might possibly get around to us at some point in the near future?

Sometimes we idolize the men of the Bible, thinking somehow they were Super followers of God, who caught His ear because of some unattainable level of righteousness. But as we've already seen, Noah, a man who was blameless and walked with God, was also a drunk. And Abraham, the father of nations is a coward and a liar who has taken matters into his own hands. Does it really sound that different than us? Soon to join their ranks are Jacob the trickster, Moses the murderer, and David the adulterer. These were just men who God got a hold of, and made them Men of God.

And remember, this verse involves a servant, whose name we aren't even given here. We don't know much about him, other than he belonged to Abraham, was sent on a mission, and prayed expectantly to God. Why can't we pray in the same way?

As we seek God in the everyday tasks, let's be expectant of an answer from Him. The answer might be no, but it's still an answer. Pray, and expect God to answer.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

The Everyday Tasks

"He said, 'O Lord, the God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today, and show lovingkindness to my master Abraham. Behold, I am standing by the spring, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water; now may it be that the girl to whom I say, "Please let down your jar so that I may drink," and who answers, "Drink, and I will water your camels also" —may she be the one whom You have appointed for Your servant Isaac; and by this I will know that You have shown lovingkindness to my master.'" -Genesis 24.12-14

A servant has been given a task by his master, and as he prepares to undertake it, he prays and seeks God's guidance. Yes, it's a fairly big task, finding a wife for your master's son, but as a servant he's used to be given tasks to do by his master. In some ways it's routine, everyday stuff. And yet he first seeks God and asks for success and guidance. How often is this our approach?

Everyday we have tasks to accomplish. Some big, some small. Some from work authorities, others from family members. Some life changing, and others common. Some of them seem so small and insignificant that we do them without thinking twice. What if we treated every task as this servant did? What if every undertaking began with asking God for success?

Prayer and seeking God would become a way of life. If everything I did I first sought God's blessing and guidance on, how many useless things would I avoid doing? If I were to pray for success from God on everything I did, how much stress and aggravation would I save myself? If I called on God in all of the small things, how much easier, and more natural, would it be to call on Him first during the big things? What if we made calling on God the central focus of our lives?

As men, it's easy to see a task and dive right into it. At work when we have the same thing to do day after day we can do it in our sleep. At home it's easy to zone out and just slide by. But what if we took a much more intentional approach and prayed over each task we undertake? How would you grow as a man?

Seeking God in all things, molds us into Men of God. Let us lift every task to Him, and watch His hand in everything we do.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Help Them Follow

"The servant said to him, 'Suppose the woman is not willing to follow me to this land; should I take your son back to the land from where you came?' Then Abraham said to him, 'Beware that you do not take my son back there! The Lord, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from the land of my birth, and who spoke to me and who swore to me, saying, "To your descendants I will give this land," He will send His angel before you, and you will take a wife for my son from there. But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free from this my oath; only do not take my son back there.'" -Genesis 24.5-8

Abraham wants the best for his son. He wants a wife who is not a foreigner, but he also knows the promise that God has made to him. And we see that Abraham's desire is greater to follow God. He is sending his servant to get a wife for his son, with the clear instructions not to take his son back to the land he came from. God has promised this land to him, and he is not going to leave it.

As men, our greatest desire for those who come after us should be for them to follow God and receive the blessings He has promised. And if we are going to lay a strong foundation for them, we need to set them up as best we can. For Abraham, it was keeping his son in the land of promise. A man will do anything to win the heart of a beautiful woman, even leaving the land and staying where she lived.

As men, let us do all that we can to help the next generation follow God.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Be Involved

"Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household, who had charge of all that he owned, 'Please place your hand under my thigh, and I will make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live, but you will go to my country and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son Isaac.'" -Genesis 24.2-4

Abraham doesn't want just any woman for his son Isaac. He knows the practices of the Canaanites, and doesn't want his son to be married an influenced by them. And so he sends his servant to his relatives to find a wife for his son there. He wants the best for his son.

As father's we need to be involved in the lives of our children. We need to be involved in the companions they choose. We need to help guide them towards good friends, and steer them away from bad ones. And if we do this well, when them time comes for them to choose a spouse, they'll be able to make good decisions.

Our children have been given to us to raise and guide. We need to be involved in their lives if we are going to do this. And the more involved we are the more we can help them make the right decisions. And if we've been involved in their lives when they are young, they'll seek our influence when they are older.

Be involved.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Do it Right

"Abraham listened to Ephron; and Abraham weighed out for Ephron the silver which he had named in the hearing of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, commercial standard... So the field and the cave that is in it, were deeded over to Abraham for a burial site by the sons of Heth." -Genesis 23.16, 20

Sarah has died, and now Abraham seeks a burial place. But he is still a stranger in the land, and so he speaks to the sons of Heth, the Hittites, who occupied the land at that time. They tell him to take whichever tomb he wishes, and that no one will refuse him any place. But Abraham insists on paying for it. And so when he finally gets a price from Ephron, he weighs it out and pays for it, and the land is deeded over to him. It becomes his legally, in the presence of witnesses, and no one can say other wise.

This is how men need to handle things. Had the land just been handed over to Abraham, and had he accepted it that way, who knows what disputes would have come up in the future that his children, grandchildren, or great grandchildren, would have had to deal with. Had they taken the land as a gift, it could potentially have been taken back, and the grave of his wife desecrated. But Abraham does things correctly so that never becomes an issue. He pays for the land, and it becomes his.

When we handle situations correctly, we save unnecessary headaches for the people who come behind us. Some of you have had to deal with things that have come about because of shady, under the table, deals that others have made. You've been left to clean up their mess, at your own expense. A man doesn't leave a burden on others because he didn't deal with the situation correctly from the beginning.

Men, let's do things right. Let's do all that we can to make sure those who come after us don't have to clean up a mess we've made. Our messes only hinder their progress, and damage their name. Our messes weaken the foundation. Do things right and it will be strengthened.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Worship and Declare

"Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the place of his son. Abraham called the name of that place The Lord Will Provide, as it is said to this day, 'In the mount of the Lord it will be provided.'" -Genesis 22.13-14

I read these words yesterday, and felt like there was something there. It's been a long day, and I've been thinking about them a lot. And I think what this says to a man is that a man worships with his children, and declares what God has and will do.

Abraham has been faithful and obedient to God, and God has showed Abraham that child sacrifice does not happen in His kingdom. And then, God provides the lamb for the sacrifice. Abraham takes the ram, and with his son Isaac, offers it as a burnt offering to the Lord. Together they praise God for what he has done.

I don't think this is the first time that Isaac had been part of a sacrifice. After all, he's probably in his twenties, and he's aware that they didn't have a lamb to offer. But he has gotten to take part in the sacrifice to God. He and his father worshiped together. Men, we must worship with our families. I don't remember the specific statistic, but if a dad sets the example of church worship to his children, they are much more likely to stay active in the church as they grow.

But it isn't enough simply to worship, there is more we see with Abraham here. He declares what God has done, by calling the place "The Lord Will Provide". He identifies the place by how he has seen God work there. Are there places like this in your life? Do you have places where you have encountered God and He has done something great? What do you call that place? Have you shared the place and experience with your children?

Men, let us worship God with our families, let us lead them in worship. Let us declare what God has done, and share that with our families. Let us celebrate the goodness of God.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

A Man's Willingness

"Then they came to the place of which God had told him; and Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood, and bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood." -Genesis 22.9

We don't know how much time has passed between Genesis 21, when Isaac is born, and Genesis 22, when Abraham goes to offer him as a sacrifice. I've seen different thoughts, some say it was 15-25 years, one said it was 37 years. But no matter which one is correct, we know two things. First, Abraham is over 100, anywhere from 115-137, he's an old man. Second, Isaac is young and strong, anywhere from 15-37, in the prime of his life.

And so with that in mind, you begin to look at the story with another perspective. Isaac, was more than capable of overpowering his father. He could have easily outrun him if he didn't want to fight his father hand to hand. But he doesn't. He willingly carries the wood to the top of Mt. Moriah. He willingly allows himself to be tied up. He willingly allows himself to be place on the altar. He was willing to allow his father to sacrifice him. Why? Because it was the will of God.

You'll see many similarities to Jesus in this story. And we have another example of what a man is to do. Are we willing to do whatever God asks? Are we willing to struggle and sacrifice ourselves if that is what God's plan is? Our are we trying to figure out how to gain the upper hand in wrestling match with Him? Or looking for the clearest route to book it out of there?

Are you willing to go to death for God? Are you willing to die to yourself to fulfill His will? And more than that, are you willing to carry the wood to the place where you will be sacrificed? Are you willing to do whatever God asks in order to do His will? Are you willing to help it be fulfilled no matter the cost to you? Are you willing?

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

A Father's Faith

"Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son, and he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together. Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, 'My father!' And he said, 'Here I am, my son.' And he said, 'Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?' Abraham said, 'God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.' So the two of them walked on together." -Genesis 22.6-8

Father and son have come to Mt. Moriah, and after loading up they begin their trek to the top. The son knows they are there to offer a sacrifice. They have wood, fire, and the knife, but something is missing, the lamb to offer. So the son asks his father, "Where is the lamb?" His father knows what God has told him, offer your son. But he also knows that this is the son of promise. This is the son that God has made a covenant to bless the world through. And so the father replies, "God will provide the lamb." And the two continue on together.

We see here the faith of a father. God has made a promise, and then has asked for the fulfillment of that promise to be sacrificed. But he has faith in God that the promise will still be fulfilled, somehow. And we see in the father, the reassurance to his son, that God will provide the lamb.

Father's we don't have all the answers. We don't know what God is up to, or how He is going to work. But our children look to us for comfort and guidance. They look to us for security. It is our job to provide it. It is our job to trust the Father. God's will may come with difficult requests. We may find ourselves, time and again, in difficult situations with very few answers. But it is not our job to have every answer. It is our job to trust God.

Our children will learn that God is dependable and trust worthy from us. They will learn faith and confidence in God from us. What example are you setting? Do you have faith in God to provide, or are you overcome with worry and doubt?

God will provide, have faith and trust Him. Your children are watching you, and they will learn from what they see. As their father, set an example of faith.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

God's Difficult Requests

"He said, 'Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.' So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him and Isaac his son; and he split wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him." -Genesis 22.2-3

I wonder what was going through Abraham's mind as he heard this? He came out of a pagan culture where child sacrifice was a common practice, so I don't think God asking for this would have been a shock to him. But the fact that God has promised him a son, who would be the beginning of a nation, and Isaac is the son of promise, he's probably wondering how God will fulfill the promise. At the time he doesn't know what's going to happen, he just knows that God has given him a command.

We are able to look at the whole story, we know the ending just as we know the beginning. But Abraham didn't. And yet look at his response. God says do this, and Abraham does it. He gets up early, gets ready, and prepares wood for the offering, and then goes to where God told him to go, planning to do what God told him to do.

What is your response to the requests of God. God has never asked you to sacrifice your child to Him, but what has he asked you to do, or to stop doing? Your fantasy league? An addiction? Overtime that takes you away form your family? Maybe it's a food, or working on your car. Why are they so difficult to let go of? Why is it so hard to do what God has asked?

And maybe He isn't asking you to give up anything. Maybe He's asking you to accept a calling. Maybe He wants you to leave everything behind and go to an unreached people group in Africa. Maybe He wants you to stay right here, and go to the unreached people next door.

God was testing Abraham, and in this test He showed Abraham more about Himself, and saw Abraham's unquestioned faithfulness to Him. What are you unable to learn about God because of the things you are refusing to do? What is God seeing about your faithfulness? God will requests of us that are difficult, but all of it is for our good, and our gain.

When we give up something temporal, and physical, we gain the eternal and the spiritual. When we are willing, and determined, to obey everything God says, we grow into Men of God.

What is God asking you? What is holding you back?

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

When God Calls

"Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, 'Abraham!' And he said, 'Here I am.'" -Genesis 22.1

What is your response when God calls? In Genesis 3, Adam hid from God, ashamed because he was naked. Here, Abraham hears God call him by name and responds, "Here I am." He isn't hiding, ashamed and afraid to hear from God. He welcomes the conversation, ready to hear what God has to say.

What is your response? God is calling you. He's reaching out to you. Are you hiding from Him, or are you calling out to Him, "Here I am"? Some of you have been hiding from Him for years, maybe decades, afraid and ashamed of something in the past. You're hoping He won't find you. That is no way for a man to live.

A man must own up to his mistakes if he is ever to find healing from the past. God cannot work in us, or through us, if we are determined to try and hide from Him. We'll see a King who tried this at some point in the future. But when we are open, and available, with "Here I am" God can work and teach us. He's about to test Abraham, and in the testing, to teach Abraham more about Himself.

God is calling us because He wants to know us more deeply. He wants to reveal more of Himself to us, and mold us more into the image of His Son. God is calling you, what will your response be?

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Kindness for Kindness

"Now it came about at that time that Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, spoke to Abraham, saying, 'God is with you in all that you do; now therefore, swear to me here by God that you will not deal falsely with me or with my offspring or with my posterity, but according to the kindness that I have shown to you, you shall show to me and to the land in which you have sojourned.' Abraham said, 'I swear it.'" -Genesis 21.22-24

Abimelech has shown great kindness to Abraham. He has allowed him to sojourn in his land. And he didn't kill him over the issue with Sarah. He has also given him livestock and servants. He has dealt kindly with this man because he is a prophet of God. And he asks for kindness and honesty in return toward himself and his descendants. And Abraham agrees.

A man does not repay good favor with evil. To those who show him kindness, he returns it. And to those who don't offer kindness, he gives it still, but more on this later in Scripture. As I read these verses my mind kept going to a quote from the movie Robin Hood. "We can't repay our good luck with bad grace, it invites darkness." Robin and his companions are headed back to England after years on Crusade in the Holy Land. On the way they come upon a group of knights who have been ambushed. There is one survivor, Robert Loxley. He asks Robin to return his sword to his father, and he swears to. This ambush gives the men their passage home, and Robin feels compelled to honor his vow. That is what a man does.

What kindness have you been shown? How have you repaid it? It isn't always convenient or desirable, but it is right. We must reach out with kindness, and return it when it is given.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Old Weaknesses

"Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah." -Genesis 20.2

Again we see Abraham pass his wife off as his sister. For a second time he enters a foreign land as a sojourner, and allows his wife to be taken by another man. I'm just like, "What the heck dude?!" So much has transpired since Egypt. God has spoken on several occasions. Abraham has received a new name, a covenant, and the sign of the covenant. And yet here he is pulling the same stunt again.

How many times have you beaten yourself up over the same sin that you commit time and again? How many times have you tried to move past it, and heal from it? And yet time and again it continues to be a struggle. And every time you hate yourself for giving in again.

First, let me say that that's a good thing. The fact that you are upset over the act is a sign of new life in you. You know who you were, you have entered something new, and are striving to live differently. You are aware of the wrongness of your actions, and what's more, you care about the wrongness of your actions. This is a sign of the work that God has done in you.

It is important to know that we cannot overcome our sins and struggles on our own. The more we rely on our strength and will power to resist, the more we fall into them, and the worse we feel when we do. It is only in the power of the Holy Spirit that we can overcome the sin in our lives. It is only in God's strength that we can triumph.

And so we must lean on Him more. We must draw ever closer to Him. The deeper our relationship with Him is the stronger we will be. But also, the closer I am to God, the more I want to do things that please Him, and the less I want to do things that displease Him. My desire to please God is stronger than my desire for any sort of gratification, and that gives me strength to resist the temptations that come.

My desire is to live my life in a way that gives glory to God, and with His help, and in His strength I am able to do that. He empowers me to do the right thing, even when it isn't the easy thing. He encourages me to speak the truth, even if it may lead to my death. He fills me with His spirit so that I can live in holiness. My old weaknesses are powerless compared to the new strength I have in Christ.

It will not always be easy, and there will be times we fail. In those moments we turn to God quickly, seeking His forgiveness and healing. We pray for God to lead us away from the situations, and when we find ourselves in them, to give us eyes to see the escape He has promised to provide. And the more we walk with Him, the easier it becomes. It takes time, but God is loving and patient, and He walks with us every step of the way.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Lead Your Family

"When morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, 'Up, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away in the punishment of the city.' But he hesitated. So the men seized his hand and the hand of his wife and the hands of his two daughters, for the compassion of the Lord was upon him; and they brought him out, and put him outside the city."  Genesis 19.15-16

Lot moved to a city full of wickedness.  But God is going to save him.  He is told to gather his family and flee, but when the time came, he hesitated.  For whatever reason Lot is afraid to leave even though he has been warned of the coming disaster.  And his hesitance destroys his family.

His wife turns back to look at the city and becomes a pillar of salt.  After a brief stay in a neighboring city he takes his daughters to a cave in the mountains.  When they realize they won't marry, they get their father drunk and commit incest in order to preserve the family line.  What would have happened if he had never hesitated?

Men, we must lead our families.  Our hesitation may not lead to the same fate as Lot did, but if we fail to lead we let our families down.  How many heart broken wives are out there because their husbands won't initiate?  How many children are orphaned because of fathers who won't engage?  How much damage has been caused by men who won't lead their families?

What do you want for your family?  What do you want the future to hold for your children?  How do you want your wife to feel?  You have a lot to do with that, for good or bad.  If you lead them correctly, you leave a solid foundation for them to build on.  But every hesitation, weakens it until its at the point where anything built on it crumbles.

Will you lead?

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Lay a Solid Foundation

"For I have chosen him, so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him." -Genesis 18.19

God made a covenant with Abraham, that in him all the families of the earth would be blessed. Abraham was just one man, but he marks the beginning of a family, a nation, and from his line the Messiah would come, and save the world from sin. Abraham was the beginning, the one that God began to speak with and teach. And it was Abraham's responsibility to teach his family about God, and lead them in following Him, so that the blessings could come. God had made promises to Abraham about his descendants, but they could only be fulfilled if Abraham's descendants followed God.

As men, we have the responsibility to lead our families and instruct our children to love and fear God. As husbands and fathers, we are to be the leaders, the head of the household. We are to set the example by living righteously, and acting justly. Our children's first impression of God will be what they see in us. Our children's initial love of God will come form the priority we place. And the legacy we leave we be measured most by our children.

What can God do with a family led by a man of God? The father's ceiling is simply the foundation his children can build upon. So how strong is it? Is it solid and ready for construction to begin? Or is it in serious need of repair? The later hinders them, and holds them back. Things they may have been able to accomplish for the Kingdom won't be because of the work they had to do that wasn't theirs to fix.

It is the role of a man to lay a solid foundation for his family by leading them in the paths of righteousness. A man must know God, and have a personal and intimate relationship with God if he is ever to do this. His life must be dedicated to following God and growing closer to Him daily. And if he does this, and teaches his children to do the same, they will far surpass anything their father did for for the Kingdom, and that is our hope.

We lay the foundation for the next generation, how strong is it?

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Be Careful what You Pray For

"And Abraham said to God, 'Oh that Ishmael might live before You!'... 'As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I will bless him, and will make him fruitful and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.'" -Genesis 17.18, 20

God has promised Abraham a son with his wife Sarah, and Abraham laughs. He says, "Will a child be born to a man one hundred years old? And will Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?" (verse 17a) The idea is unfathomable to him. He knows how things work, and he knows that things like this are impossible. Remember, he's still learning about God and all that He is able to do.

And so he presents another option, Ishmael, the son that he already has. But God, who is almighty, able to do everything we call impossible, tells him, "No, but Sarah your wife will bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him" (verse 19b).

But none the less, God does not ignore the prayer of a father for his son. Ishmael will be blessed by God, and from him twelve princes will come. And we have the twelve Imams of Islam. The prayer to bless Ishmael has led to conflict for thousands of years. This prayer has led to seven crusades fought over the Holy Land between Christians and Muslims. It has led to constant fighting in the Middle East, as well as the desire of many to wipe Israel off the map.

We must be careful what we pray for, because our prayers, though they seem right in our eyes, could lead to things we never imagined. May we always seek the will of God, and take God at His word. When God says He will do something, may be believe and trust Him, no matter how impossible it may seem.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Name Change

"No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations." -Genesis 17.5

An encounter with God, where humble ourselves to truly listen to Him, cannot leave us unchanged.  As we grow in our relationship with God, and come to know him more, we also come to see ourselves through God's eyes.  We come to learn our true identity and divine purpose.

Abram becomes Abraham.  His name changes from "exalted father" to "father of multitudes".  He is given the identity that God has for him, his true identity.  And just as we see Abram is the first to fall on his face before God, he is also the first to have his name changed by God.

What identity have you been given by the world?  Who have your parents told you you are?  What have your peers led you to believe about yourself?  How do you see yourself?  Now forget it all, and ask God, "What is my name?"  

Warrior.  Leader.  Son.  Beloved.  Man of God.

That is who you will be after you believe Him, and humbly fall on your face before Him.  God's voice will speak your true name, your new identity, listen and believe it.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Humility Before God

"Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him" -Genesis 17.3a

God shows up and speaks, and Abram's first reaction is perfect, fall flat on his face. This reaction is one of complete surrender and submission. We'll see this reaction time and again throughout the Bible, but this is the first. Abram was the start of a lot, and so it's fitting for him to begin this practice as well.

Humbly on his face, fully surrendered, open, and vulnerable, God is free to speak to a fully captive audience. This is how it always should be. God speaks, we shut up, drop what we're doing, and give our undivided attention. But how often is it like this? How often do we really even seek conversation with God? (Notice it says that "God talked with him".)

When is the last time you really prayed? I have to be honest and say I don't know. Yes, I've talked with God. I've lifted up concerns to Him and presented my requests. I've thanked Him for everything He's provided. But the last time I had this reaction I don't know. I don't know the last time I've just sat, fully open, and listened to God speaking. I don't know the last time I've fallen on my face and listened to God talk. This has to change in my life, and if your life is in the same situation as mine, so does yours.

I've really started to think about where my life is headed career wise. I'm not actively pursuing anything in full time ministry, but am preparing as best I can for when that time comes again. I've started to think about interviewing. Everyone wants to know your plan and your strategy to help the Church grow. Honestly, I don't have one. And I'm wondering what would happen if I answered that question, "We're going to seek God together. When something comes up, we're going to stop right then, and fall on our faces and ask God. And we aren't going to move until He tells us what the plan is."

What if more churches, more pastors, and more Christians took this approach to life? What is God trying to say to us that we are missing because we haven't fallen on our faces before him to listen?

Men, it's time for us to get flat on our faces before God. Let's set aside everything that distracts us and get face down before God. When you're flat on your face you can't look around at anything else. There is nothing to focus on but God. And if we would be Men of God, this is exactly where we need to be.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor