In Need of Grace
-
Greg Waybright
- Genesis 25:19-34
- What is Your Name?
- 38 mins 34 secs
- Views: 744
Small Group Questions
Read Genesis 25:19-34
- Jacob's story is full of messy relationships and decisions. Where are you experiencing messiness in your life right now? Have you ever seen God redeem messy situations?
- How do you imagine Rebekah would have felt about what she hears from God in verse 23? How would you respond? Can the actions we take help bring about or hinder God's promises?
- In ancient times names often defined who a person was. What do the names in this passage tell us about the people they are given to? What “names” define who you are right now?
- Our choices have real consequences. What are some of the good and bad consequences that can come out of Jacob and Esau's interaction? How might God be working in this moment?
- What is one area in your life where it is difficult to see God at work right now? What would it look like for you to make faithful choices in spite of this messiness?
Study Notes
What Is Your Name? In Need of Grace
Genesis 25:19-34
Through much of this summer 2018 we will be considering the life of Jacob as it’s recorded in the book of Genesis. When I read about Jacob’s life, I immediately think, “The is real life with all its messiness.”
I know there are happenings in Jacob’s story that may seem unfamiliar to us. But, in general you will relate to the fears of a married couple, to the sibling rivalry between two brothers, to the temptation to resort to deception to get our own ways, as well as to many, many other parts of the story.
None of the people in this story come off particularly well. This will not be a series in which you constantly hear me say, “Be like the people in this story.” But, you will hear me say, “Learn to walk with God by watching how he deals with these people’s lives.” – even if what you learn is that you shouldn’t do what they did.
As we begin this series, I want to confess to you that, as I have read and re-read the account of Jacob’s life, many of the big questions about God that I have long had have rushed back into my mind. I’ve decided I should tell you about them right now because I imagine you ask some of these questions too – like these:
- How does a God who exists outside time and space dimensions (who actually created both time and space dimensions) meaningfully interact with people in time and space in such ways that we make real decisions and that our decisions make any difference in his plan at all?
- How does God allow for our sinful choices to have genuine, often pain-filled consequences, while, at the same time, use those consequences to further his work in us and in the world?
- How does prayer change anything if God is already working all things together for good?
Do you ever ask questions like those? I do. And, I must tell you that the Bible rarely, if ever, gives us nice and neat term-papers answering to these questions. Instead, God has chosen in his Word to show us how he, as the unlimited and sovereign God his, interacts with us in our world by telling us stories; i.e., by reporting his dealings with the lives of real people, people like Jacob, his brother Esau, his mother Rebekah and his father Isaac in Gen 25-36. Jacob’s story begins in Genesis 25. God’s Word lets us know that Jacob’s life is set within what we have been calling “God’s biggest story”, i.e., a story running from Gen 1 – Rev 22.
#1: Jacob is a part of “God’s biggest story” (and so are you) – This is the account of the family line of Abraham’s son Isaac. Abraham became the father of Isaac… (25:19).
Years before Jacob was born, God had met his grandfather Abraham and used a poetic verse to give Abraham a promise that he and his descendants were never to forget:
I will make you into a great nation,
and I will bless you…
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you (Gen 12:2a,3b).
Anybody who has heard that prophecy (as all of us now have) will read Gen 25:19 about Abraham being Isaac’s father and know that all of this is a part of God’s eternal plan to bring salvation to all peoples. So, we might think, “All will surely go smoothly because this is about God’s chosen people.” Right? This is the family through whom a savior will come so it will be the perfect family – right? Well, let’s see what happens.
#2: Prayer is an essential part of God’s story -- Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was childless. The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant (25:19).
I’m quite sure Isaac knew both 1) about God’s promise to his father Abraham as well as 2) that he was the one chosen to have the next son in God’s fulfillment of his promise. However, after waiting until he was forty to get married, I’m also sure that Isaac and his beautiful wife Rebekah were wanting children ASAP. But, Rebekah seemed unable to have a child. Just as Abraham’s wife Sarah, Rebekah seemed to be unable to give birth to that male offspring prophesied by God. After twenty years of trying, they had no son! So, Isaac prayed. The Hebrew word translated “prayed” actually means “pleaded.” Like so many in our own world and in our church who want something like to get married or to have a child, Isaac and Rebekah beg God to provide.
Would Isaac and Rebekah have had a child if Isaac had not prayed? The Bible neither asks nor answers that question. Instead, the Bible says, “Isaac pleaded on behalf of his wife… and the Lord granted his prayer.”
The entire book of Genesis emphasizes that God is at work in this world with a plan to bless all peoples – but that he works out that plan in response to prayer. God’s people are thereby called upon to live lives in which we learn to wait and to pray – and to trust God as we do. Sarah and Abraham had to wait 25 years before Isaac was born; Jacob would have to labor for 14 years to obtain his wife; and Joseph would have to wait over 20 years before he was reconciled to his brothers. I imagine Isaac prayed for many years and with great fervor. And, when at last, Rebekah became pregnant, they knew that the child was a gift from God in answer to prayer.
Perhaps you’re in one of those difficult times of waiting right now. Maybe there are things happening in your life that you cannot make sense out of. Perhaps God is calling you to a place of prayer? In this situation in Gen 25, I believe God was teaching his people that the promised blessing made to Abraham was not going to be accomplished by mere human effort. I’ve heard preachers say, “God accomplishes His will, His way.” That’s true. But, I will tell you also that the praying of God’s people is a big factor in that truth. That God has a plan that he brings about in keeping with our prayer seems to be a lesson all who walk with God must learn.
Many years later, King David, who experienced many times of waiting on God and wondering what God was doing, told us, “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him (Ps 37:7).” So, Isaac prayed fervently – and God granted his request. What happened then? You might think, after all that waiting and fervent praying, surely all will go smoothly.
#3: God often uses trials to further his work in us and in our world. Rebekah became pregnant. But, the babies jostled each other within her, and she said, “Why is this happening to me (25:21b-22)?”
That phrase, “the babies jostled each other”, is way too weak. The Hebrew literally says the children smashed themselves inside her, like a man trying to smash rocks with a hammer. I wonder whether all of you who have been pregnant can imagine this. With all this intrauterine warfare going on inside, Rebekah seems to understand that these children inside her are going to be trouble so she cries out in exasperation, “Why is this happening? Why should I go on living?”
In the ancient world, a mother often believed that her main reason for living had to do with her children and family. And, Rebekah anticipates that her family is going to be a disaster. In fact, she is so puzzled by this internal struggle that she cries out to God for an answer. So, notice this: In the face of infertility, Isaac’s response is to pray. In the face of a difficult pregnancy, Rebekah’s response is to pray. In answer to prayer, God gives Rebekah a prophecy in the form of a poetic verse – just as God had given Abraham years before.
God sometimes spoke prophecies that he wanted his people to remember in the form of a verse. It’s like what we find setting the stage for the plot in Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings:
“One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them all, and in the darkness, bind them,
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.”
You’ll see something like that when you look at the prophetic verse God gave to Rebekah:
“Two nations are in your womb,
and two peoples from within you will be separated;
one people will be stronger than the other,
and the older will serve the younger (25:23).”
In many ways, this prophecy continues to play out in many of the battles happening in the Middle East in our own day. And, the prophecy of the children engaged in battle forms the framework for all that happens afterward in the story of Jacob. https://goo.gl/images/DfvqaF All this is to say that, when trials come into your life, do not view them as being outside the knowledge and the care of God. God would use this family struggle to do his work in this world. But, can you imagine how disappointed Rebekah must have been when she learned that her family would be characterized by competition and division. This is not exactly a peaceful pregnancy where Mom is able to dream of her family being the perfect family. I imagine Rebekah wept when she heard the prophecy. I weep too as a pastor when I think about Rebekah’s pain in going through this.
This brings me to something I want to say to you as your Sr. Pastor, i.e., No matter what you are currently going through in your life, God knows and at work to bring about good. No matter what you see as you look into your future, God has much more for you than you are seeing. Your present circumstances do not capture all that God has for you. That was true for Rebekah and her family. It’s true for you too.
#4: God’s story includes the unexpected use of our failing and the redemption of failures. Joseph said, “What you meant for evil, God meant for good, to bring it about that many people should be rescued… (Gen 50:20).
The biggest shocker in all that is shocking about God’s prophetic verse to Rebekah is that the younger would rule the older. That wasn’t the way things worked in that society. You see, what was called the birthright was to be given to the oldest son. The oldest son received a double portion of the family inheritance. He also became the head of the family and the spiritual leader upon the passing of the father. And, of course, in the case of this particular family, the birthright determined who would the one through whom God’s blessing would come to all peoples. That was just the way of things in their world. Sociologists would say that it was a systemic reality. So, when we read the story, we wonder how the younger will rule the older? The deck was stacked vs Jacob.
So, let’s face it straight on – In this story, the younger gets the birthright through acts of self-promotion, manipulation and deception. Ever since people turned away from God in Genesis 3, this world has been filled with selfishness and sin. And, the story of Jacob shows us that God’s plan is not thwarted by human sin and weakness. To the contrary, God is able to use our human failure to bring about his purposes. As I said before, “God works all things together to bring about his good (Rom 8:28).”
So, in Gen 25:25-26, the first boy comes out all red and covered with hair – I mean, really, really hairy. The Bible says, “all his body was like a hairy cloak.” He gets the unfortunate name, “Esau”, meaning “the hairy one.” So, he looks like he’ll be a real man’s man, a beast of a man.
The second child comes out grabbing on to his older brother’s heel so he gets the name “Jacob”, meaning “heel-grabber”. That term referred to a person who is always trying to get ahead, to take what doesn’t belong to him. For a “heel-grabber”, the end will always justify the means.
And, we will see that the boys live up to their names. The story fast forwards in v. 27 to when the boys are young men. The Bible describes Esau as “a skillful hunter, a man of the field.”. So, Esau had become that man’s man. I could see Esau today driving a 4 X 4 with massive tires, country music blaring from his speakers, a gun rack, and a Doberman in the back.
But, the Bible describes his fraternal twin brother, Jacob, as “a quiet man, staying in the tents.” The word translated “quiet” means “ordered” – or everything planned and under control. He was a very strong man physically. In our day, he probably would have daily workouts at the gym under the supervision of a trainer. He would listen to jazz and drive a Tesla in which everything would be clean and everything in its rightful place.
You know the story. Esau comes back from one of his hunts exhausted and starving. He smells some of Jacob’s stew and says, literally, “Give me some of that red stuff and give it to me now.” Jacob seems to have been plotting for this day, plays on his brother’s lack of discipline and sense of drama and taunts him: “You want this? This rich meaty stew? It’s good!”. But, you have to give me the birthright! And Esau takes the bait. The cunning hunter fell into a better hunter’s trap, becoming prey to his own appetite. Esau valued his birthright so little that he sold it for a bowl of stew.
All this says a lot about how easy it is for us to give up eternal things for temporary pleasure. We all know how easy it is to trade what is of great value for what amounts to a bowl of beans: to exchange purity for pornography, integrity for financial gain, family for a fling. But, we’ll think more about that topic another day.
Today, I want you to see how God uses people and actions like we see in our story to accomplish his salvation plan. Just think about the four characters in our story today:
- Isaac, who loves one son more than the other simply because he can get good meat from him.
- Rebekah, who loves one son more than the other so much that she deceives his father to get him the birthright.
- Esau, who regards God’s blessing and birthright as less valuable than a bowl of red stuff.
- Jacob, who is willing to swindle his own brother in his weakness to get what he wanted.
What a mess! Are you feeling any better about your own family right now? We’ll be focusing on family matters next week -- so, let me tell you this right now. There were consequences for each of these family member’s failings and sins, serious consequences. But, something I want you to take home today is that God’s grace is truly greater than our sin.
What were the “names” of these four main characters? Isaac means “laugher” because he was the child born when his 90+ year old mother laughed about having a child. Rebekah means “captivating” because she seemed to be able to charm people to get things done. Esau means “the hairy one” and Jacob means “the heel-grabber”, “the self-promoter”. But, without question, they all had a shared name, i.e., “In need of God’s grace.” They all fell short of what God longs for in us as human beings, i.e., they fell short of God’s glory. And, so do I. And, so do you. They will have to learn that “in need of grace” is their name before God will bring them together.
And, it’s only when all of us at LAC deeply believe that we are “in need of God’s grace”, that we will ever become the kind of church that God wants us to be. That name will take away all the pride that keeps us from loving God and loving people as Jesus says we must do in his greatest command.
God’s grace was greater than their collective sins. That’s why there is hope for each of us, for all our families (even those as messed up as Isaac’s was), for our church and for our world.
At the beginning of this series, I want to offer you the hope that is yours because the God who made you is the God of grace. As I often tell you, you cannot do anything that will make God love you more than he loves you this very moment. And, you cannot do anything to make him love you less than he loves you this very moment. He loves you so much that he will not leave you just as you are. He has much he wants to do in you and through you. But, his work carries you, as John Newton’s song says, “Through many dangers, toils and snares.” So, make a recommitment right now to live for him, to pray fervently and to trust him no matter what you are going through.
No less than Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob and Esau, you and I are “in need of grace”. And, our God is the God of amazing grace.
Chinese Study Notes
你的名字是什麼？需要神的恩典
創世紀 25:19-34
今年夏天的大多數時間，我們會一起思想雅各的生命，這記載在創世紀中。我讀的時候，立即想到：“這是一團糟中的真實生命啊”。
你也許覺得他的生命似乎和你相距很遠，但想想看，你也許正面對婚姻問題，弟兄姊妹的競爭，正遇到試探去以欺騙的方法得到你想要的等等，其實這許多方面都是這故事中的一部分。
在這故事中，沒有一個人能做到完美。這並不是一個我常講的系列，要我們去效法故事的主人公；但是你要學習“與神同行，看他如何對付這些人的生命”---即使你知道你不應該效法他們的行為。
在這個系列的開始，我要承認，我讀雅各一生的時候，許多我想瞭解的有關神的重大問題又跳了回來。我現在要告訴你們這些，因為我想你們也會有一些類似的問題。
- 一個創造時空又在時空之外的神如何與時空內的人有意義地互動，使我們做出自己的決定，而這些決定又一點兒不會影響他的計畫？
- 神怎麼會允許我們做罪性選擇（常常帶著痛苦的後果），而同時又讓這些後果促進他對我們和世界的工作？
- 若神已經使萬事相輔相成，禱告怎麼會帶來改變呢？
你有沒有問過這些問題？我有！雖然聖經並沒有給我一個白紙黑字的明確答案，但事實上，神選擇用他的話，透過聖經故事告訴我們，他是怎樣的一位超越和統理的上帝並介入我們的世界，介入了真人的生命，比如創世紀25-36章的雅各、以掃、利百佳、以撒。雅各的故事起始于25章，但聖經讓我們知道雅各的生命實際上被設定在我們所說的“神最大的故事”---是從創世紀到啟示錄。
#1: 雅各是神最大故事的一部分（我們也是）– 亞 伯 拉 罕 的 兒 子 以 撒 的 後 代 記 在 下 面 。 亞 伯 拉 罕 生 以 撒 (25:19).
雅各沒有出生前，神就與他的祖父亞伯拉罕相遇，並以預言詩應許他和他的後裔不會被遺忘：
我 必 叫 你 成 為 大 國 。
我 必 賜 福 給 你…
地 上 的 萬 族 都 要 因 你 得 福 …(創12:2a,3b).
任何聽到這應許的（像我們今天一樣）都會去讀創25：19，關於亞伯拉罕生以撒的故事，那是神永恆計畫的一部分，要將救恩帶給萬民。我們也許想：“這一家既然是神的選民，就當事事順利”， 對嗎？既然要把救恩帶給萬民，就應該是完美的一家，對吧？不過，還是讓我們看看接下來發生了什麼。
#2: 禱告是神故事的重要部分 -- 以 撒 因 他 妻 子 不 生 育 ， 就 為 他 祈 求 耶 和 華 ； 耶 和 華 應 允 他 的 祈 求 ， 他 的 妻 子 利 百 加 就 懷 了 孕 (25:21).
我很清楚以撒知道1）神對他父親的應許；2）他自己是被揀選的，即要生兒子去實現神的應許。我們可以想像，到40歲才結婚的他和他的妻子利百佳是多麼否迫不及待想要孩子！但利百佳似乎不能懷孕，就像亞伯拉罕的妻子撒拉；利百佳看起來不能生出神所預言的男孩。在試了20年後，他們還沒有孩子！於是以撒向神禱告。從希伯來文所翻的“禱告”其實是“祈求”的意思，就像我們想要婚姻和孩子時會祈求一樣；以撒和利百佳向神乞求賜子。
如果以撒不禱告，他們會有孩子麼？聖經沒有問或回答這問題，事實上，聖經說：“以 撒祈 求 耶 和 華 ……耶 和 華 應 允 他 的 祈 求 ”。
整本創世紀都在強調神在世上作工，實行一個祝福萬民的計畫---但他使用了回應人禱告的方式。神的百姓被呼召過一個等待和禱告的生活---所以我們要信靠神。亞伯拉罕和撒拉在以撒出生前等了25年；雅各為了娶妻做了14年苦工；約瑟在20年後，才與哥哥們和好。我可以想像以撒以極大的渴望求了多年，最終利百佳懷孕，讓他們知道孩子是神回應禱告的禮物。
也許你現在某種困難中等待；也許你生命中有什麼難處發生，這是不是神正呼召你去禱告呢？在25章這裡，我想神是要他的子民明白，給亞伯拉罕的應許不能單靠人的努力去實現。我聽過講道說：“神以他的方式實現他的旨意”---這是真理。但我還要告訴你們，神子民的禱告是這真理的重要方面。神給所有與他同行的人有一個功課，就是不斷禱告，這是神的一個計畫。
多年以後，大衛王也經歷了許多的等待，他想知道神在其中做什麼，他說：“你 當 默 然 倚 靠 耶 和 華 ， 耐 性 等 候 他 （詩37：7）。” 雅各切切禱告，神賜給他所求的。然後呢？你也許想，在這樣的等待和切切禱告後，一切該順利了吧。
#3: 神常常使用試煉促成他在我們身上和世上的工作。他 的 妻 子 利 百 加 就 懷 了 孕 。 孩 子 們 在 他 腹 中 彼 此 相 爭 ， 他 就 說 ： 若 是 這 樣 ， 我 為 什麼 如 此 呢 (25:21b-22)?”
“孩子們彼此相爭” 的翻譯表達得不夠，希伯來文說他們在她裡面彼此打壓，就像一個人用錘子擊打岩石。我想知道懷孕的姊妹有過這樣感受沒有？因為孩子們在腹裡面的激烈打鬥，使利百佳似乎預感到腹中的孩子要帶來麻煩，所以她惱怒地喊出來：“為什麼會這樣？我為什麼要活著呢？”
古時候，一個媽媽常常認為她活著的主要原因是為孩子和家庭，而利百佳預感到她的家庭將面臨災禍。她對裡面的腹中的爭鬥太困惑了，所以向神求問。注意：在不孕的時候，以撒做出的回應是禱告；在懷孕艱難時，利百佳做出的回應還是禱告。神用一個預言詩的文體回答了她，就像多年前給亞伯拉罕的預言。原來神有時用預言詩是要他的子民牢牢記住，就像我們在“指環王”中看見的詩體的表達：
“一個指環統治他們，一個指環找到他們，
一個指環帶領他們，以黑暗弄瞎他們；
就在陰暗存在的魔都地.”
讓我們回到神給利百佳的預言吧：
“耶 和 華 對 他 說 ： 兩 國 在 你 腹 內 ；
兩 族 要 從 你 身 上 出 來 。 這 族 必 強 於 那 族 ；
將 來 大 的 要 服 事 小 的 (25:23).”
從許多方面看，這預言在今天中東不間斷的爭鬥中還在應驗。對孩子爭鬥的預言也預告了雅各故事之後所發生的。https://goo.gl/images/DfvqaF所有這些在說，當你遇到試煉時，不要以為神不知道、神不看顧；神就要用這家庭的掙扎來做這世上工作。但當利百佳知道了家庭未來的紛爭和破裂時，該是多麼絕望---這不再是平安的懷孕去達到媽媽們夢想的完美家庭！我可以想像利百佳此時的哭泣；我作為牧師也哭了，因為我知道利百佳的痛苦將貫穿下去。
作為主任牧師，我想對你們說，不管你們現在的生命如何，神都知道並要以此帶給你益處；不管你怎麼看待你的未來，神為你預備的必你所見的要多得多。你今天的環境不能攔阻神對你的計畫。這對利百佳和她的家庭就是如此，對你也一樣。
#4:神的故事中包含了神出其不意地使用我們的失敗以及對我們失敗的救贖. 約瑟說, “從 前 你 們 的 意 思 是 要 害 我 ， 但 神 的 意 思 原 是 好 的 ， 要 保 全 許 多 人 的 性 命 ， 成 就 今 日 的 光 景… (Gen 50:20)”.
在神給利百佳的預言中，最令人震驚的是神對她說，將來小的要治理大的。這不是當時社會的常態。當時出生的名分是歸長子的，長子要得雙倍的家族遺產；在父親死後，長子就是家長和屬靈的帶領人。當然，在這故事裡，出生的名分是歸於神所選定的，要藉著他祝福萬民的那個。對他們那個世界來說，大的管理小的才是自然而然的，社會學者會說是體制的必然。所以我們在這裡會想那預言，小的如何治理大的？雅各所對懟的可是一個體制啊。
讓我們直面此事---在這個故事裡，小的是通過自身的手段去得出生名分的，包括操縱和欺騙。自從創世紀第3章記載的，人類背離了神之後，這世界充滿了自私和罪。雅各的故事告訴我們神的計畫不會被人的軟弱和罪所攔阻。相反，神也使用人的失敗來達成他的目的，正如羅馬書8：28：“神讓萬事相輔相成，叫愛神的人得益處。”
因此在25：25-26，長子出來的時候全身通紅長毛，毛髮濃密，聖經說：“他渾身是毛，如同皮衣。”他有一個不好的名字：“以掃”，意思是“多毛的”，他這名字看起來就將是一個人中之獸。
第二個孩子出來的時候抓著他哥哥的腳跟，所以他的名字是“雅各”，意思是“抓腳跟”，指一個人總是要衝到前面，奪取不屬於他的。這個名字最後將名副其實。
我們將看見這兩個孩子就照他們的名字長大，27節展現孩子們迅速長大了。聖經說以掃是“一個熟練的弓箭手，是田野之人。” 想像今天的以掃好像是開著改裝車，大聲放著鄉村音樂，帶槍的漢子。
但聖經描述他的同胞弟弟雅各，是一個“安靜呆在帳篷裡的人”。“安靜”的意思是“秩序”，凡事都有計劃，都能控制。他是身體強壯的人。想像今天的雅各可能是在健身房接受訓練的達人，他一邊聽爵士樂，一邊開著名車，讓一切乾淨、到位。
你們都知道這個故事：有一天以掃打獵回來又累又餓，他聞到雅各煮湯的香味，就說：“給我一些那紅東西，現在就給我”。雅各好像早就計畫了這一天，他抓住哥哥缺乏自製力的弱點，嘲諷他說：“你要這個？這濃湯嗎？那好，但你必須把長子名分給我！” 以掃果然上鉤了。善於捕獵者上了更高明的獵手的圈套，成為人家的獵物。以掃太輕看了自己的長子名分，只換取了一碗紅豆湯！
這其實是說我們多容易放棄永生來換取短暫的快樂。我們都知道人是多麼容易就用一碗豆湯取代永恆的價值：用色情換純潔；金錢換品德，用匆忙換家庭---我們以後再談這個話題。
今天，我要你透過故事看到神如何使用人和人的行動來完成他的救贖計畫，看看這四個人：
- 以撒，偏愛以掃只因為想吃野味；
- 利百佳，偏愛雅各以致幫助他從父親那裡騙取長子的名分；
- 以掃，輕看神的祝福和長子名分，甚至不如一碗紅豆湯；
- 雅各，利用哥哥的弱點獲得自己想要的。
整個一團糟！你覺得你的家會好些麼？下周我們會側重在家庭問題。每個人的失敗與罪都有後果，嚴重的後果！但你們今天要認識的是：神的恩典實在大過我們的罪！
這四個人的“名字”是什麼呢？以撒的意思是“笑”，因為她的母親在90歲時生他之前笑過神的應許，就是她在絕經後可以懷孕；利百佳意思是“俘獲”，她似乎能吸引人達到目標；以掃意思是“多毛”， 而雅各是“抓腳跟”， 就是追逐自我的意思。但無疑，他們都有一個共同的名字：“需要神的恩典”。他們都缺乏神希望我們人類身上應有的東西，都虧欠了神的榮耀。我也一樣，你也是。他們都必須從神學到“需要神的恩典”，才能再次來到一起。
我們只有深深相信我們的名字是“需要神的恩典”，才能成為神要我們成為的樣式。這名字將拿去我們的一切攔阻我們愛神愛人的驕傲，實現耶穌吩咐我們的大使命。
神的恩典大過一切的罪，這就是給我們每一個人的盼望，給我們每一個家庭（甚至像以撒那樣糟糕的家庭），也給我們的教會和我們的世界。
在這個系列的開始，我要你們知道，這盼望是你們的，因為造你的神就是恩典的神。正如我常常告訴你們的，你們不能使他對你們的愛彼時少於此時，不能使他的愛改變。他是如此愛你，以致他不會因你的本相而離棄你。他在你生命中有計劃，要使用你；但神提升你的方法是像約翰牛頓的歌中寫的：“經過許多危險、勞苦和網羅”。所以，現在就委身為他而活吧，切切禱告並在你一切光景中相信他。
我們和以撒、利百佳、雅各、以掃一樣，都“需要神的恩典”。好消息是，神是有奇異恩典的神！