Verses and Sketches

Jacob --- From Struggler to Prevailer "He said, 'Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed.'” Gen. 32:28 Jacob's Accolade: "...Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel..." --- His old name (Jacob) --- His new name (Israel) Jacob's Achievement: "...for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed." --- His struggle with the Master --- His struggle with men 

Joh 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. God's Heart--- "...God so loved the world..." *Its Intensity - "So" *Its Involvement - "Loved" * Its Interest - "the world" God's Hand --- "...He gave His only begotten Son..." * Its Service - "He gave" * Its Sacrifice - "His only begotten Son" * Its Salvation - "Son" God's Heritage --- "...whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." * Its comprehensiveness - "...whoever..." * Its condition - "believes in Him" * Its compassion - "should not perish but have everlasting life"

Ge 27:28 Therefore may God give you Of the dew of heaven, Of the fatness of the earth, And plenty of grain and wine. 29 Let peoples serve you, And nations bow down to you. Be master over your brethren, And let your mother's sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, And blessed be those who bless you!" * Prosperity: --- "... may God give you Of the dew of heaven, Of the fatness of the earth, and plenty of grain and wine." --- Riches * Preeminency: --- "Let peoples serve you, And nations bow down to you. Be master over your brethren, And let your mother's sons bow down to you." --- Regency  * Pivotality: --- "Cursed be everyone who curses you, And blessed be those who bless you!" --- Relevance

Ge 25:23 And the LORD said to her: "Two nations are in your womb, Two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people shall be stronger than the other, And the older shall serve the younger." * The Twins Will Be Established Representatives: "Two nations are in your womb..." --- Two territories * The Twins Will Be Ethnic Races: "Two peoples shall be separated from your body..." --- Two Traits * The Twins Will Be Estranged Rivals: "One people shall be stronger than the other, And the older shall serve the younger." --- Two Tensions

Ge 22:2 Then He said, "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you." * God's Tests Often Involve What's Dear To Us: "...Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love..." --- a precious son  * God's Tests Often Involve What's Difficult For Us: "...go to the land of Moriah..." --- a precarious stretch (A journey of three days. Travels in Bible times were difficult and dangerous.)  * God's Tests Often Involve What's Distressing To Us: "...offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you." --- a painful sacrifice 

Abraham's Plea For Sodom and Gomorrah  Ge 18:23 ...Abraham came near and said, "Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked?"  * Abraham's Confidence: "... Abraham came near ..." --- Intimacy and Boldness  --- A confident practice  * Abraham's Concern: "...Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked?"  --- Intercession and Beseechment  --- A concern for justice