FORGETTING THE PAST

PEACE WITH THE PAST

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,

I press on toward the goal to win the prize

for which God has called me heavenward

in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3.13-14

Genesis 26:1-22 reports on "what is behind" Isaac, the heir of God's promises and purposes for mankind in and through Jesus. God has promises and purposes for us, too. We need to understand how God clears up our past so we can press on toward the goal and prize He has called us to. (Cf. Eph. 1.17-19)

Genesis 26:23-26 shows us how God freed Isaac from some pretty serious failures and sins against God (unbelief), Abimelech and his entire tribal clan (lying--when men of God lie to unbelievers, great and serious consequences comes to God's people and the unbelievers around them!), to his wife (how shameful can a man be!), and to those who depended of him (the rest of his family and his servants).

Trouble was brewing on many levels.

What a mess Isaac created! How could a man live with this? How does God untangle it?

First, God comes in Grace!

I'm sure there was plenty of guilt and shame, fear and anxiety and depression that filled Isaaac's every waking hour and nightmares daily. No man of God can do what Isaac had done and not be tormented with conviction and fear of judgment.

At just the right moment, God stepped in with redeeming, delivering Grace!

Grace comes to us in revelation of God's gloriousness.

Understanding this is vital.

When we are at the end of our rope and cry out to God,

He intervenes with deliverance and renewal, based on some new revelation of Who He Is and What He Does as it applies to us in our disaster and catastrophe.

God tells us Who He Is to us and What He Is Going To Do for us.

This this restoration to Grace and Fellowship is accompanied by affirmation of promises and purposes and with new revelation for us to follow by Faith and Obedience.

That night the Lord appeared to him and said,

"I am the God of your father Araham.

Do not be afraid, for I am with you.

I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants

for the sake of My servant Abraham."

Genesis 26.24

Think on these things--Phil. 4.8.

They were written for your sake.

"Everything that was written in the past

was written to teach us,

so that through endurance

and the encouragement of the Scriptures

we might have hope."

Romans 15.4

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace

as you trust in Him,

so that You may overflow with hope

by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Romans 15.13