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Review:

• If God does not change and his plans are firmly established, why pray?
  
  
• Why does God test us with trials and hardships?
  
  
• Today we ask: “Do we have a say?”

Read Genesis 25:19-34

A birth that forecasted a pattern. (25-26)

            Jacob- “grasping the heal” or “follower”.  A Hebrew idiom for “he deceives”. 

• He becomes a man who stays among the tents. (27)
• Cooks
• Forward thinker.
• Willing to wrestle for what he desires. 
• Opportunist.

            Esau- “hairy”.  Also known by Edom which means “red”.  (30)

• A skilled hunter.
• A man of the open country. (27)
• A man of the moment—impulsive.

God chooses against tradition. (23)

• Isaac petitions God for a child after 20 years of marriage to Rebekah.
• Rebekah asks the Lord for why there is so much going on in the womb.
  • Twins!
  • Two nations are within her.
  • One nation will be stronger than the other.
  • The older will serve the younger.

Human actions fulfill God’s plan. (29-34)

• Desperation gets played. Birthright given up.
  • Even Isaac’s blessing was taken by Jacob through deception. Genesis 27
    

• Sin abounds on both sides.
  
  
• Both experience consequences of their sins.

Explaining the Jacob over Esau decision.  Romans 9:6-16

• Already established plan. Psalm 33:11
  
  
• Jacob loved. Esau hated. (13) Malachi 1:2-5
  
  
• Decision is not by works or merits. (11)
  Ephesians 2:8-9 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast.”

• The choice is according to His plan.
  
  
• Why that choice: his purpose, his pleasure.

Ephesians 1:9-11 “He made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, ¹⁰ to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. ¹¹ In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.”

That’s not fair!!! 

• Job questioned God with his sovereign plan and God responded with three questions:
  • “Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him?”
  • Would you discredit my justice?
  • Would you condemn me to justify yourself? Job 40:2, 8

• Paul sees this response coming to what he just said and asks these two questions:
  • Who are you to talk back to God?
  • Does God not have the right as a “potter” to make some things for special purposes and other things for common use? Romans 9:19-20

What we know and do not know in God’s sovereign plan.

1. We know God’s plan will happen and that it is good.
   
   
2. We do not know how the will of man and the sovereign plans of God merge.

• This is a mystery within the context of our finite understanding and His infinite knowledge.
• We know that sin is never willed for by God.
• We know that our sin will not thwart his plan.
• We know that our actions both good and evil will lead to the outcomes God has established. Genesis 50:20

3. His purpose and pleasure is best understood through the Cross.

Acts 2:23 “This man [Jesus] was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.”

Coming to grips with God’s Sovereignty.

• There is hope when your leader knows all things coming.
  • God’s knowledge of past, present, and future is already fully complete.
  • He has the enemy’s playbook and signs!

• There is peace knowing there is a God who has absolute control in the outcomes.
  • God has a plan and purpose for all his actions.
  • Mankind’s actions will not change that.

• There is trust to be found especially when we lack understanding. 3:5-6
  • God is always just and fully good in how He operates.
  • Man is not.

• There is confidence when you know who wins.
  • John 16:33 “…take heart! I have overcome the world.”
  • 1 John 5:4 “…everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory…”

This is most difficult when life has dealt you some difficult blows.  As we learned last week these challenges and hardships can bring a stronger faith and greater understanding of our need for God.

Song: “Oceans”

Benediction:  Going forward. 

Philippians 2:12-13 “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, ¹³ for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”

1. Let God do his job.
   
   
2. Recognize you are at the mercy of God.
   
   
3. Prayerfully live out your faith in obedience to Him.