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📘 Genesis 33 – The Covenant Heals Relationships (Complete Chapter)

(Part 33 in the “God Keeping Covenant” Series)

🌟 INTRODUCTION (Brief Recap)

Genesis 33 shows the fruit of transformation.
Jacob met God in Genesis 32; now he meets Esau in Genesis 33.

You cannot truly reconcile with people until you first encounter God.

Theme: God keeps covenant by healing relationships, restoring peace, and teaching humility.

📖 VERSE-BY-VERSE COVENANT INSIGHTS (CONTINUED & COMPLETED)

Genesis 33:4 — Esau’s Unexpected Grace

“Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.”

Esau’s heart has been changed.

Covenant Lesson:

God works on both sides of a broken relationship.

Illustration:

You may rehearse an apology, but God has already prepared forgiveness.

Genesis 33:5–7 — Jacob Presents His Family

Jacob introduces his wives and children, and they bow before Esau.

Covenant Lesson:

Covenant humility includes your entire household.

Genesis 33:8–11 — Jacob Insists Esau Receive the Gift

Esau initially refuses the gifts.

Jacob responds:

“I have seen your face, as though I had seen the face of God.”

This connects Esau’s forgiveness with Jacob’s encounter at Peniel.

Covenant Lesson:

When God changes you, you see people differently.

Illustration:

After experiencing grace from God, we extend grace to others.

Genesis 33:12–15 — Esau Offers Protection; Jacob Declines

Esau offers to travel together.

Jacob politely declines, citing:

• the children
• the livestock

Jacob chooses wisdom and boundaries.

Covenant Lesson:

Reconciliation does not require reunion.

Peace does not always mean proximity.

Genesis 33:16–17 — Separate Paths, Peaceful Hearts

Esau returns to Seir.
Jacob journeys to Succoth, building booths.

Covenant Lesson:

Covenant peace allows people to walk separate paths without hostility.

Genesis 33:18–20 — Jacob Settles in Shechem and Builds an Altar

Jacob purchases land.

He builds an altar and names it:

“El-Elohe-Israel”
God, the God of Israel

This is huge.

Jacob now publicly identifies:

• God as his God
• Himself as Israel

Covenant Lesson:

Reconciliation must end in worship.

🔑 12 MAJOR COVENANT PRINCIPLES FROM GENESIS 33

1. Transformation precedes reconciliation.
2. God softens hearts on both sides.
3. Humility opens the door to peace.
4. Fear fades when faith leads.
5. Grace flows from healed identity.
6. Forgiveness can happen faster than expected.
7. Peace does not require proximity.
8. Boundaries protect covenant peace.
9. Reconciliation restores dignity to families.
10. Covenant blessings should be acknowledged publicly.
11. Worship seals reconciliation.
12. God’s covenant heals emotional wounds as well as spiritual ones.

✨ DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What changed in Jacob between Genesis 32 and 33?
2. Why did Jacob bow seven times before Esau?
3. How did God prepare Esau’s heart for reconciliation?
4. Why did Jacob insist Esau accept the gift?
5. What does “peace without proximity” mean today?
6. Why did Jacob build an altar after reconciliation?
7. How can believers pursue reco

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📘 Genesis 32 – The Covenant Transforms the Man: Jacob Wrestles with God

(Part 32 in the “God Keeping Covenant” Series)

🌟 INTRODUCTION

Genesis 32 is the night before destiny.
Jacob is about to face Esau — the brother he deceived 20 years earlier.
He is fearful, anxious, and desperate.

But before Jacob can meet Esau, he must meet God.

This chapter shows us that:

• God will not allow covenant people to enter the next season unchanged
• Fear must be confronted
• Prayer must become desperate
• Identity must be transformed

Theme: God keeps covenant by breaking us, blessing us, and changing us into who He called us to be.

📖 VERSE-BY-VERSE COVENANT INSIGHTS

Genesis 32:1–2 — Angels Meet Jacob

“And the angels of God met him.”

Jacob names the place Mahanaim (“two camps”).

Covenant Lesson:

God surrounds covenant people with angelic protection before major transitions.

Illustration:

Like a security detail arriving before a high-risk meeting, heaven reinforces Jacob before Esau.

Genesis 32:3–5 — Jacob Sends Messengers to Esau

Jacob sends gifts and humble words:

“Your servant Jacob… my lord Esau.”

This shows fear and unresolved guilt.

Covenant Lesson:

Past sins not dealt with spiritually will resurface emotionally.

Genesis 32:6–8 — Fear Returns

The messengers report:

“Esau is coming… with 400 men.”

Jacob is terrified and divides his camp.

Covenant Lesson:

Human strategies cannot replace spiritual transformation.

Illustration:

Like rearranging furniture in a burning house — the real issue still remains.

Genesis 32:9–12 — Jacob Prays a Desperate Covenant Prayer

This is Jacob’s first recorded mature prayer.

He reminds God of:

• His promises
• His protection
• His word

“I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies…”

Covenant Lesson:

Covenant prayer clings to God’s promises, not self-confidence.

Illustration:

A drowning man doesn’t debate theology — he grabs the lifeline.

Genesis 32:13–21 — Jacob Sends Gifts Ahead

Jacob sends wave after wave of gifts to Esau.

Covenant Lesson:

Gifts may appease people, but only God can change hearts.

Genesis 32:22–23 — Jacob Is Left Alone

“Jacob was left alone…”

This is the most important moment.

Covenant Lesson:

God often isolates us before He transforms us.

Illustration:

The operating room is quiet — because surgery requires separation.

Genesis 32:24 — Jacob Wrestles with a Man

“There wrestled a man with him until the breaking of day.”

This “man” is:

• A divine being
• The Angel of the LORD
• A theophany (appearance of God)

Jacob is wrestling with God Himself.

Covenant Lesson:

You cannot enter covenant destiny until you stop wrestling people and start wrestling God.

Genesis 32:25 — Jacob Is Touched in His Hip

God touches Jacob’s hip and dislocates it.

Covenant Lesson:

God cripples self-reliance so covenant dependence can begin.

Illustration:

God breaks the crutch you lean on so you learn to lean on Him.

Genesis 32:26 — “I Will Not Let You Go”

Jacob says:

“I will not let You go unless You bless me.”

This is desperate faith.

Covenant Lesson:

Covenant blessing requires persistence, surrender, and hu

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Title: The Departure and the Defense — God’s Covenant Promises Deliverance

Genesis 31 marks the turning point where Jacob, having completed his service, must escape Laban's household to return to the promised land, as God commanded. This chapter demonstrates God keeping His covenant by directly commanding the return, defending Jacob's prosperity, and preserving him from danger.

Verse-by-Verse Breakdown

1. The Divine Command to Return (Verses 1–16)

Jacob senses the rising hostility from Laban's sons and receives a direct instruction from God.

• Verses 1–3 (Laban’s Sons and God’s Instruction): Laban's sons accuse Jacob of taking their father's wealth. Jacob notices Laban's unfriendly countenance. God cuts through the tension with a clear command: “Return to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you.”
  • Covenant Connection: This directly fulfills the final part of the Bethel vow (Gen 28:15): "I will bring you back to this land." God initiates the movement back to the promised land of Canaan, demonstrating His faithfulness to the geographical promise made to Abraham.
• Verses 4–16 (Jacob's Justification): Jacob gathers Leah and Rachel and explains the situation. He recounts how Laban changed his wages ten times, but God intervened to protect him. He explicitly recounts a dream where God revealed He was the God of Bethel and commanded the return.
  • Covenant Connection: Jacob confirms that his prosperity is not due to clever breeding methods, but Divine intervention: "Thus God has taken away the livestock of your father and given them to me." (v. 9). God ensured the "Blessing" aspect of the covenant—wealth and prosperity—was firmly in Jacob’s hands before ordering the departure.

2. The Secret Escape and Laban's Pursuit (Verses 17–25)

Jacob prepares and executes the return trip, and Laban immediately gives chase.

• Verses 17–21 (The Flight): Jacob quickly gathers all his family and possessions, crosses the Euphrates River, and heads toward the hill country of Gilead. Rachel steals her father's household idols (teraphim) before they leave.
  • Covenant Connection: Jacob’s act of secretly leaving is due to his fear of Laban (v. 31), yet God is the one who initiated the trip. The gathering of Jacob's massive family and wealth (the promised seed and blessing) is the physical evidence that God is keeping His word.
• Verses 22–25 (Laban’s Pursuit): Laban finds out on the third day and pursues Jacob for seven days, finally overtaking him in Gilead.

3. God's Direct Intervention and Defense (Verses 26–42)

God intervenes in a dream to protect Jacob from Laban’s impending violence.

• Verses 26–30 (The Divine Warning): Laban is prepared to harm Jacob, but God warns Laban in a dream:"Take heed that you speak to Jacob neither good nor bad." (v. 24). Laban is forced to only offer Jacob verbal reprimand.
  • Covenant Connection: This is the most direct fulfillment of the protective element of the covenant promise: "I am with you and will keep you wherever you go." (Gen 28:15). God is Jacob’s silent guard, defending him from potential loss of life and property.
• Verses 31–42 (The Confrontation): Jacob defends his flight and his labor, accusing Laban of constantly cheating him. Rachel's theft of the idols is uncovered but concealed. Jacob boldly attributes his survival and wealth to God: "Unless the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear

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There’s a Blessing in Rejoicing In Spite Of

Text: Habakkuk 3:17–19 (KJV)
Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls— Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills.

Habakkuk is not preaching from a mountaintop of prosperity—he is speaking from the valley of loss, uncertainty, and fear. Everything that normally sustained life in Judah had failed. No crops. No livestock. No visible hope. Yet in the middle of it all, the prophet makes one of the strongest faith declarations in Scripture: “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord.”

This teaches us a powerful truth: rejoicing is not rooted in circumstances, but in confidence in God. There is a blessing that comes when we learn how to rejoice in spite of what we see, feel, or experience.

Habakkuk lived during a time when judgment was coming upon Judah. The economy was collapsing, the nation was unstable, and the future looked bleak. The fig tree, vine, olive, fields, flocks, and herds represented every major source of income, food, and security. In modern language, Habakkuk is saying:

“Even if the paycheck stops, the savings dry up, the job is lost, the diagnosis is bad, and the future looks uncertain…”

Rejoicing is a choice, not a reaction.

1. Rejoicing Does Not Ignore Reality

Habakkuk does not deny the problem—he names it. Faith does not pretend trouble isn’t real; faith just refuses to let trouble have the final word.

👉 You can acknowledge the pain and still praise God.

Illustration:
A mature believer doesn’t say, “I’m not hurting.” They say, “I’m hurting, but I trust God.”

2. Rejoicing Shifts the Focus

Habakkuk says, “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord.”
Notice—he doesn’t rejoice in the loss, but in the Lord.

👉 What you focus on determines how you feel.

• Focus on circumstances → discouragement
• Focus on Christ → strength

3. Rejoicing Declares Faith Before the Breakthrough

Habakkuk rejoiced before anything changed. This kind of praise is prophetic—it speaks victory before victory shows up.

Scripture Connection:

• Acts 16:25 – Paul and Silas praised God before the prison doors opened.
• Jehoshaphat’s army praised before the battle was won (2 Chronicles 20).

4. Rejoicing Releases Strength

Nehemiah 8:10 reminds us, “The joy of the Lord is your strength.”

👉 When you rejoice:

• Strength replaces weariness
• Hope replaces despair
• Peace replaces panic

Rejoicing doesn’t remove the problem—but it renews the person facing the problem.

5. Rejoicing Anchors Us in Who God Is

Habakkuk says, “I will joy in the God of my salvation.”

Even if God doesn’t change the situation immediately, He is still Savior, Provider, Healer, and Keeper.

👉 God is not diminished by your difficulty.

6. Rejoicing Is a Testimony to Others

When believers rejoice in hard seasons, it sends a message:

• God is real
• Faith is authentic
• Hope is alive

Your praise in spite of may be the sermon someone else needs to see.

7. There Is a Blessing Attached to Rejoicing

The blessing may not come instantly

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📘 Genesis 28 – Jacob’s Dream at Bethel: The Covenant Confirmed

(Part 28 in the “God Keeping Covenant” Series)

Genesis 28:1–2 — Isaac Sends Jacob to Padan-Aram

Isaac blesses Jacob and commands him:

“Do not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan.”

He must marry into the covenant family.

Covenant Lesson:

Covenant purpose requires covenant partnerships.

Genesis 28:3–4 — Isaac Speaks the Abrahamic Blessing Again

Isaac says:

• “God Almighty bless you”
• “Make you fruitful and multiply you”
• “Give you Abraham’s blessing”

This is the covenant officially transferred.

Covenant Lesson:

God’s covenant must be spoken and passed down intentionally.

Genesis 28:5–9 — Esau Tries to Please His Parents, But Without Covenant Understanding

Esau sees his parents dislike his Canaanite wives.
So he marries Ishmael’s daughter — trying to fix spiritual consequences with natural decisions.

Covenant Lesson:

You cannot fix spiritual problems with fleshly solutions.

Genesis 28:10–11 — Jacob Stops at a Place Called Luz

Jacob is alone, afraid, and sleeping outside with a stone for a pillow.

Covenant Lesson:

God often reveals Himself in places of loneliness, fear, and transition.

Genesis 28:12 — Jacob Dreams of a Ladder to Heaven

“A ladder set up on the earth… angels ascending and descending.”

This represents:

• Heaven touching earth
• Angels ministering
• Covenant access
• A prophetic picture of Jesus (John 1:51)

Covenant Lesson:

Wherever God’s covenant person stands, heaven is open.

Genesis 28:13–15 — God Speaks the Covenant Directly to Jacob

God says:

• “I am the LORD God of Abraham and Isaac”
• “The land is yours”
• “Your seed shall be as the dust of the earth”
• “In you and your seed all families of the earth will be blessed”
• “I am with you”
• “I will keep you”
• “I will bring you back”
• “I will not leave you”

This is Jacob’s first personal encounter with God.

Covenant Lesson:

Covenant must become personal — not just inherited.

Illustration:

A child raised in church finally encounters God for themselves.

Genesis 28:16–17 — Jacob Awakens in Awe

“Surely the LORD is in this place, and I knew it not.”

He says:

“This is the house of God… the gate of heaven.”

Covenant Lesson:

Sometimes the most ordinary places become holy places when God shows up.

Genesis 28:18–19 — Jacob Sets Up a Pillar & Renames the Place “Bethel”

Bethel means “House of God.”

The stone becomes:

• A memorial
• A place of worship
• A prophetic site for future encounters (Jacob returns here in Genesis 35)

Covenant Lesson:

Covenant experiences must be marked, remembered, and revisited.

Genesis 28:20–22 — Jacob Makes a Vow

Jacob vows:

• The LORD will be my God
• This stone will be God’s house
• I will give a tenth to God

Jacob responds with faith and commitment.

Covenant Lesson:

A real encounter with God produces devotion, obedience, and giving.

🔑 15 MAJOR COVENANT PRINCIPLES FROM GENESIS 28

1. Covenant blessings must be passed down intentionally.
2. Covenant marriages matter for God’s long-term plan.
3. God meets covenant people in lonely and fearful places.
4. Heaven is open over God’s chosen.
5. Angels ministe

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📘 Genesis 27 – The Covenant Redirected Through Jacob

(Part 27 in the “God Keeping Covenant” Series)

Genesis 27 records the moment when the Abrahamic blessing — the covenant blessing — passes from Isaac to Jacob.

This chapter reveals:

• Isaac’s human intention
• Rebekah’s spiritual insight
• Jacob’s struggle
• Esau’s anger
• God’s sovereign choice

Even though the family is divided and motives are mixed, God’s covenant plan is fulfilled exactly as He promised in Genesis 25:23:

“The elder shall serve the younger.”

Theme: God keeps covenant even through flawed people, family conflict, and unexpected circumstances. His purpose overrides human plans.

Genesis 27:1–4 — Isaac Plans to Bless Esau Privately

Isaac is old and blind.
He calls Esau secretly and says:

“Prepare me savory meat… that I may bless you before I die.”

Isaac knows the prophecy, yet he still prefers Esau — a picture of choosing flesh over spirit.

Covenant Lesson:

When covenant leaders let personal preference override God’s word, problems follow.

Illustration:

A pastor choosing leaders based on personality instead of spiritual calling.

Genesis 27:5–10 — Rebekah Overhears and Acts Quickly

Rebekah knows God’s prophetic word.
She tells Jacob:

“Obey my voice.”

Covenant Lesson:

Sometimes the person most sensitive to God’s voice is not the one in charge.

Illustration:

A praying mother seeing spiritual danger long before her husband notices.

Genesis 27:11–17 — The Plan, the Clothes, and the Goat Skins

Jacob hesitates because Esau is hairy and he is smooth.
Rebekah covers Jacob with goat skins and Esau’s clothes.

Covenant Lesson:

Jacob receives the blessing disguised as Esau — a prophetic picture of grace.

We receive the Father’s blessing wrapped in the identity of Another—Jesus Christ.

Genesis 27:18–20 — Jacob Lies to Isaac

Isaac senses something is wrong.
Jacob lies three times.

Covenant Lesson:

God’s purpose is not based on human perfection; but deception always brings later consequences.

Genesis 27:21–27 — Isaac Discerns by Senses but Not by Spirit

Isaac:

• feels Jacob → “The hands are Esau’s”
• hears Jacob → “The voice is Jacob’s”

Yet he still blesses Jacob.

Covenant Lesson:

When spiritual discernment is low, people make decisions based on feelings instead of faith.

Genesis 27:27–29 — The Covenant Blessing Given to Jacob

The blessing includes:

• Dominion
• Prosperity
• Nations bowing
• Protection
• Those who bless you will be blessed
• Those who curse you will be cursed

This is the Abrahamic covenant transferred.

Covenant Lesson:

Once spoken, covenant blessing cannot be revoked.

Genesis 27:30–40 — Esau Returns & Cries Bitterly

Esau weeps:

“Bless me, even me also, O my father!”

But Isaac explains — the covenant blessing has already been given away.

Esau’s portion includes:

• temporary prosperity
• conflict
• eventual freedom

Covenant Lesson:

Those who despise their birthright eventually regret it.

Illustration:

People who trade spiritual inheritance for temporary pleasure later discover the emptiness of the exchange.

Genesis 27:41–45 — Esau Plans to Kill Jacob

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💡 Sermon Title: The Vision of Joy: (God’ Joy say things are going to get better)

Key Scripture: Hebrews 12:2 (NKJV)

"Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Introduction: A Month of Joy

• Opening: Welcome to the Month of Joy. As the world seeks joy in presents and temporary pleasures, the Bible offers us something far deeper: enduring joy.
• The Paradox: Our key text shows us the greatest act of suffering—the Cross—was motivated by a future joy. Jesus traded immediate comfort for ultimate fulfillment.
• The Thesis: We are going to look to Jesus to understand what this "joy set before him" was, and how embracing His vision transforms our ability to endure and find true, lasting joy today.

Seven Key Points & Biblical Witnesses

1. Defining the Joy: The Prize, Not the Process (Hebrews 12:2)

Joy is a spiritual condition and a fruit of the Holy Spirit. It is not dependent on circumstances, but on Christ’s completed work and the promises that never change. Internal Conviction, spiritual abiding and constant. The deep peace you have when you are losing everything.

Happiness is an emotion when things go our way. We are happy when we get a raise, when the weather is nice, when we receive a gift. When the circumstance changes, the raise is spent, the weather turns cloudy the gift breaks the feeling of happiness fades.

• The Point: Christ's joy was not in the suffering; it was the glorious, guaranteed outcome. It was a clear, future vision of victory and glory.
• Supporting Scripture: Psalm 16:11 ("...In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.")
• Illustration: The Marathon Runner. What keeps a runner going? Not the pain of the mile, but the joy of the finish line—the medal, the crowd, and the accomplishment. Jesus endured the cross by focusing on the finish line.

2. The Joy of Redemption: The Gathering of the Family (Joy for Us)

• The Point: The greatest part of Christ's "joy set before Him" was seeing US redeemed. His delight is in the saved souls who become His siblings and Bride.
• Supporting Scripture: Luke 15:7 (The joy over one repentant sinner). Christ looked through the cross and saw you and me gathered into God's kingdom.
• Biblical Witness: Paul's Joy in the Churches. The Apostle Paul suffered countless hardships, but his joy was his spiritual children. 1 Thessalonians 2:19 asks: "For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?" Paul endured for the joy of seeing redeemed lives.

3. The Joy of Restoration: His Return to Glory (Joy for Him)

• The Point: Christ looked forward to the moment the work was complete, and He could return to the Father in perfect, unfiltered glory. The ultimate joy of completing the mission.
• Supporting Scripture: John 17:5 (Jesus praying: "And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.")
• Illustration: The Soldier Returning Home. A soldier on a long deployment is fueled by the thought of stepping off the plane and embracing their family. That return to the rightful place of rest and love is the ultimate joy.

4. T

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(Part 26 in the “God Keeping Covenant” Series)

Genesis 26 is the only chapter in the entire Bible dedicated solely to Isaac.
Abraham is gone.
Jacob is not yet the covenant carrier.
This chapter shows us how God establishes Isaac personally as the heir of the Abrahamic covenant.

We see:

• Famine
• Fear
• Divine promises
• Protection
• Prosperity
• Conflict over wells
• A covenant treaty
• God’s faithfulness in the life of the second generation

Theme: God keeps covenant by reaffirming His promises, prospering His people, and protecting His purpose—even during famine and conflict.

Genesis 26:1–3 — Famine & Divine Instruction

God tells Isaac:

• Do NOT go to Egypt (the world system)
• Stay where I tell you
• I will bless you right here

Covenant Lesson:

God can bless you in the famine if you stay in His will.

Illustration:

A believer prospering during a recession because covenant people live by God’s economy, not the world’s economy.

Genesis 26:3–5 — God Repeats Abraham’s Covenant

God says:

• “I will be with you”
• “I will bless you”
• “I will give these lands to you”
• “In your seed all nations will be blessed”

Covenant Lesson:

Covenant blessings transfer from one generation to the next—BUT the next generation must walk in obedience.

Genesis 26:6–11 — Isaac’s Fear & God’s Protection

Like Abraham, Isaac lies about Rebekah, saying:

Abimelech discovers the truth but does NOT harm Isaac—because God protects covenant people even when they fail.

Covenant Lesson:

God’s covenant protection remains even when your faith wavers.

Genesis 26:12–14 — Isaac Sows in Famine & Reaps 100-Fold

This is supernatural.

Covenant Lesson:

When covenant people sow in obedience, God gives miraculous increase.

Illustration:

A church planting seeds of generosity during financial shortage and seeing unexpected overflow.

Genesis 26:15–16 — Envy of the Philistines

The Philistines fill Abraham’s wells with dirt.
Abimelech tells Isaac:

Covenant Lesson:

God’s blessing attracts both favor and envy.

Genesis 26:17–22 — The Battle for the Wells

Isaac digs wells:

• Esek (“contention”)
• Sitnah (“opposition/hatred”)
• Rehoboth (“room, enlargement”) — “For now the LORD has made room for us.”

Covenant Lesson:

Before God brings expansion, you may fight battles of contention and opposition.

Illustration:

Every new ministry assignment comes with:

• resistance
• criticism
• spiritual warfare
  But then… God gives Rehoboth.

Genesis 26:23–25 — God Appears Again

In Beersheba God says:

Isaac:

• builds an altar
• pitches his tent
• digs a well

Covenant Lesson:

Every covenant person must:

1. Worship (altar)
2. Dwell in God’s presence (tent)

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