Did you ever consider crime drama to be a sermon?

I often do. No matter what the plot line, I come away with the same conclusion: there is no end to the ways that we can screw up our lives.

In that sense, crime dramas are modern day retellings of the stories of Genesis. Throughout Genesis we hear the repeated drumbeat of human rebellion, but we also see a stronger force: the reaching out of the heart of God. This tension between human rebellion and divine grace drives the story of the Bible—and our story today. Despite our foolish decisions and attempts to control our own destiny, God continues to accomplish His purposes.

Today, we turn from Abraham’s story to the next generation, examining the struggles of Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, and Esau. What can Jacob and Esau teach us about selfish ambition? How does Isaac’s fear threaten God’s promise to bless the nations? And can the envy of Isaac’s neighbors derail God’s purposes?

In This Episode

• 00:00 – Introduction: Finding the sermon in crime dramas.
• 02:15 – The Big Picture View of Genesis: Understanding the ten toledot sections and the continuing tension between God's purposes and human rebellion.
• 05:52 – Rebekah's Misery: From childlessness to painful pregnancy, discover how God works through Rebekah to carry forward His promise.
• 12:26 – The Twins' Rivalry: Jacob and Esau demonstrate the danger of trying to secure your future through personal ambition.
• 20:29 – Isaac's Fear: Famine, fear and deception threaten God’s intended blessing to the nations.
• 29:01 – The Philistines' Envy: Isaac’s neighbors resent his prosperity and oppose him, but God will not allow them to halt his plan for Isaac’s line .
• 37:20 – Final Comments: When we push back, God refuses to take ‘no’ for an answer. Here is the comfort of God's relentless grace.

Join us for a closer look at Genesis 25–26 and discover what these family struggles reveal about our own lives —and the faithfulness of a God whose purposes cannot be thwarted.

Send me your comments or questions. I would love to hear from you.

For a complete listing of episodes, visit: https://www.biblewisdomtoday.com/episodes/

Episodes released every two weeks on Monday

Musical excerpts from "Pour le Piano" by Claude Debussy (Public Domain) performed by your host.