Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph—these are names I grew up with. Countless Sunday School lessons were taught about these patriarchs of Hebrew history. And I thought I was pretty knowledgeable when it came to these guys.
I thought wrong.
Danae and I participated in a 10-week online Bible study. Each week we completed homework from the book God of Covenant by Jen Wilkin before watching a video session taught by Wilkin herself.
SIDE NOTE: If you haven’t had the opportunity to participate in a group Bible study, might I recommend it! I’ve done a Bible study alone and can testify that I didn’t learn nearly as much as when I did it with someone else. Two heads are much better than one! Plus, each week I was reminded how God’s Word is for all people! Danae and I read the same Bible passage, and it ALWAYS applied to our individual personal lives. Never could I say, “Well this lesson was only for Danae.”
Side note done.
Wilkin’s study God of Covenant covers chapters 12 through 50 of Genesis, beginning with the life of Abraham and concluding at the death of Joseph. And as much as I thought I knew everything there was to know about these faithful men, I discovered that there is SO much more to know about Godthrough His faithfulness to these men.
Of all I learned from this powerful study, it was God’s Sovereignty that seemed to continually flow from the pages of His Word.
His sovereignty seen in the birth of Isaac to a barren Sarah far past her physical ability to conceive.
His sovereignty to supersede Isaac’s favoritism of Esau and to use even the sinfulness of Rebekah to ensure that Jacob received the blessing.
His sovereignty in removing the idols of Rachel and Joseph from out of Jacob’s life until Jacob was ready to see that God had been with Him all the time.
His sovereignty to use the wrong done to Joseph for the future preservation of the nation of Israel.
As I step back and witness the mighty power of God to work over all and through all, I must ask myself, “Is there anything too difficult for my God? Am I willingly letting go of my favoritism, my need to control my own life, so that He can receive all the glory?”
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