Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for May 12, 2024

Livin’ the Dream

Genesis 41:1-57

1. Background

• following Joseph’s “prison ministry” (40:1-23)
• forgotten by man but remembered by God
• two years later…

2. Pharaoh’s Dreams 1-8

• cows and grain
• troubled spirit and inability to interpret

3. Cupbearer’s Remembrance 9-13

• imprisonment and dreams
• identification of Joseph and recollection of accurate interpretation

4. Joseph’s Interpretation of Dreams 14-36

• Joseph is summoned and acknowledges his God
• Pharaoh relates his dreams
• 7 years of plenty and 7 years of famine
• fixed by God
• Joseph’s wise counsel

5. Joseph’s Elevation 37-57

• recognition of Joseph’s giftedness
• endowed with authority: “God speaks and lives”
• administrates grain storage at age 30
• births of Manasseh and Ephraim
• all the earth comes to Egypt and Joseph

6. So What?

• Because God sovereignly directs the destinies of nations in order to protect and provide for His own people, declare His power and depend on it.
• “He who is aware of God is humble and fearless at the same time. Even a king is nothing compared to God” (A. Ross) (Prov. 21:1)
• “Joseph acts out of confidence in the character of God.” (B. Waltke)
• connection to Christ: Heb. 12:1-3
• “Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take; the clouds ye so much dread are big with mercy, and shall break in blessings on your head. Blind unbelief is sure to err, and scan His work in vain; God is His own interpreter, and He will make it plain.” (W. Cowper)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for May 5, 2024

But the Lord Was with Joseph

Genesis 39:1-23

1. Blessed with God’s Presence 1-6a

• continuation from 37:36
• the LORD’S presence with Joseph
• favor in the sight of Potiphar

2. Propositioned by Mrs. Potiphar 6b-10

• Joseph’s form and appearance: away/advancing/attractive
• proposition and refusal
• Joseph’s perspective
• the persistence of Mrs. Potiphar: powerful/punctual/persistent

3. Falsely Accused 11-18

• the problem intensified
• Joseph flees
• Mrs. Potiphar accuses

4. Imprisoned but Not Abandoned 19-23

• Potiphar’s anger
• Joseph imprisoned: elevation/temptation/incarceration
• the LORD’S presence with Joseph

5. So What?

• When assaulted by the ticking bomb of temptation, arm yourself with an awareness of God’s presence and a superior satisfaction in Him.
• “The joy of the Lord will arm us against the assaults of our spiritual enemies and put our mouths out of taste for those pleasures with which the tempter baits his hooks.” (M. Henry)
• “Jesus is all the world to me, and true to Him I’ll be; Oh, how could I this Friend deny, when He’s so true to me…” (W. Thompson)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for April 28, 2024

Let’s See What Becomes of His Dreams

Genesis 37:1-36

1. The LORD selects Joseph (37:1-11)

• a continuing theme: the blessing of the Lord
• Joseph’s report to his father
• Joseph’s robe from his father
• Joseph’s revelation from God

2. The LORD subjects Joseph (37:12-35)

• favored son and hated brother
• dispatched by his father
• conspired against by his brothers
• Reuben’s intervention
• thrown into a pit (42:21)
• sold into slavery
• the deception of his brothers and his father’s grief

3. The LORD protects Joseph (37:36)

• preserved from death
• sold in Egypt to Potiphar
• imprisoned but later promoted (39:20-21 and 41:44)

4. So What?

• Because the Lord is sovereign and merciful, you can trust him in life’s lows and highs.
• NT commentary and connection to Christ (Acts 7:9-16)
• Remember that the Lord is never a victim of circumstances.
• “The Lord hath promised good to me, His word my hope secures; He will my shield and portion be as long as life endures.” (J. Newton, 1779)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for April 21, 2024

Endings Are for Beginnings

Genesis 35:1-29

1. Previously

• Jacob wrestles (32:24-32), meets Esau (33:1-7), settles in Shechem (33:18-20), endures Dinah episode (34)
• two themes: completion and correction

2. Jacob’s Compliance (1-8)

• back to Bethel (28:10-22)
• act of purification
• acknowledgement of presence
• example of provision

3. God’s Confirmation (9-15)

• repetition with additions
• enabled by the Almighty
• feasting on the facts

4. Life’s Continuation (16-29)

• Benjamin’s birth and Rachel’s death
• name change noted
• reality-check with Reuben
• death of Isaac

5. So What?

• Because endings represent beginnings in God’s economy, constantly renew your commitment to Him.
• connection to Christ: Rom. 5:8, 11:33-36, 12:1-2
• “Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be, the last of life for which the first was made…” (Browning)
• Cultivate a preoccupation with God’s goodness. Count your blessings!

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for April 14, 2024

Walking with a Limp

Genesis 32:24-32

1. Jacob’s Solitude (24a)

• free of Uncle Laban
• headed for a showdown with Esau (32:1-12)
• family and fortune sent before him (32:13-23)
• left alone at night

2. Jacob’s Struggle (24b)

• wrestling match until daybreak
• insight from Hosea 12:2-5

3. Jacob’s Submission (25-32)

• condescending yet conquering authority
• the “severe mercy” of a dislocated hip
• from wrestling to clinging
• confession and transformation: What’s in a name?
• Peniel: the “face of God”
• walking with a limp

4. So What?

• Because the LORD can transform “strong” losers into “weak” winners, reject self-sufficiency and rely on Him.
• How the LORD uses isolation, confrontation and dislocation in our lives:
• “If dependence is the objective, weakness is an advantage.” (Begg)
• Connection to Christ: A “greater” than Jacob (John 4:1-15)
• “Make me a captive, Lord, and then I shall be free; Force me to render up my sword, and I shall conqueror be. I sink in life’s alarms when by myself I stand; Imprison me within Thine arms, and strong shall be my hand.” (Matheson)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for April 7, 2024

What Goes around Comes Around

Genesis 29:1-30

1. Providential Encounter (1-14)

• Jacob “lifted up his feet” (28:15)
• from Bethel to a well near Haran
• dialogue with shepherds
• Rachel is coming!
• a flock watered and a woman kissed
• a welcome from Laban
• a biblical parallel and a notable absence (24:11-33)

2. Providential Education (15-30)

• a question about wages
• Leah and Rachel
• seven years for Rachel
• behold, it was Leah!
• Jacob’s question and Laban’s response
• marriage to Rachel and seven more years
• mercy in the middle of the mess

3. So What?

• Because God uses your circumstances to purify you and promote your spiritual health, persevere in His school of continuing education.
• The sovereignty of God is “the strong wood of the tree that keeps our lives from being blown over by the winds of adversity.” (Piper)
• Acknowledge the “law of the harvest.” (Galatians 6:7-10)
• The Lord’s discipline reveals our deficiency and directs us to His sufficiency.
• “And I smiled to think God’s greatness flowed around our incompleteness, round our restlessness, His rest.” (Browning)
• connection to Christ (John 4:1-26)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for March 31, 2024

Easter Message

Through the Resurrection

1 Peter 1:3-9

1. Background

• a restored Peter writing to a persecuted, predominantly Gentile audience before the outbreak of Neronian persecution

2. Exclamation: an introductory doxology 3a

3. Disposition: magnifying God’s motivation of mercy 3b

4. Causation: born again to a living hope 3c

5. Instrumentation: resurrection of Jesus Christ 3d

6. Specification: living hope as an inheritance 4a

7. Preservation: of inheritance and inheritors 4b-5

8. Celebration: triumph in the midst of trial 6-9

9. So What?

• Because of the resurrection, live now in anticipation of a perfect and unending future.
• How shall we then live? hope, holiness, fear, love (1:13-25)
• “You can shackle God’s people, but their God wears no fetters.” (P. Ross)
• “Let no one caught in sin remain inside the lie of guilt and shame. We fix our eyes upon the cross and run to Him who showed great love and bled for us. Freely You’ve bled for us. Christ is risen from the dead, trampling over death by death. Come awake, come awake. Come and rise up from the grave…No scheme of hell, no scoffer’s crown, no burden great can hold You down. In strength You reign forever let Your church proclaim…” (“Christ is Risen,” Maher and Fieldes)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for March 24, 2024

A Deceiver’s Dream and the Lord’s Faithfulness

Genesis 28:10-22

1. Providential Reorientation (10-11)

• Beersheba to Haran
• certain “place”
• contrasts
• strategically situated

2. Personal Revelation (12-15)

• Jacob’s dream: stairway, angels, LORD
• LORD’S message: promise, presence, protection

3. Prescriptive Response (16-22)

• expression for the sake of impression
• fear and awe
• house and gate
• word-driven worship

4. So What?

• Because the LORD reveals Himself as faithful, sinful wanderers can be transformed into serious worshipers.
• Relish the grace of the God of Jacob.
• Savor Scripture and saturate yourself in its promises.
• “…Angels descending bring from above echoes of mercy, whispers of love…” (Crosby, “Blessed Assurance”)
• connection to Christ (John 1:45-51)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for March 17, 2024

A Dysfunctional Family and Divine Faithfulness

Genesis 27:1-46

1. Isaac’s Defiance (1-4)

• his condition and his request
• his intention to bless Esau
• bless: extension of covenant relationship
• defiance of a previous directive (25:23)

2. Rebekah’s Disregard (5-17)

• her listening
• her understanding of the LORD’S promise
• her scheming and vowing

3. Jacob’s Deception (18-29)

• claims to be Esau
• lies about food
• receives blessing
• true to his name

4. Esau’s Despair (30-46)

• dialogue with a trembling father (Isa. 66:2)
• conspiracy unraveled (Heb. 11:20)
• his grief
• his murderous intent and his mother’s intervention
• future consequences

5. So What?

• Because the LORD blesses undeserving and unlikely people in unusual ways, live in awe of His mercy and grace.
• Setting aside God’s will for your will only leads to turmoil.
• Trust God to work in His own time and in His own way.
• Manipulative measures achieve only apparent and temporary success.
• Praise the LORD for a Savior! (Rom. 5:8; 2 Cor. 4:1-2)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for March 10, 2024

Inconspicuous Providence

Genesis 24

1. Abraham Commissions His Servant 1-9

• a relational relay
• a recognized relationship

2. The Servant Seeks God’s Guidance 10-27

• an expedition bathed in prayer
• making work effective not unnecessary

3. The Servant Testifies to God’s Faithfulness 28-60

• response of humility
• response of immediacy
• repetition of “steadfast love”

4. Isaac Takes a Wife 61-67

• and he loved her

5. So What?

• Because the LORD providentially governs your life for your good and His glory, faithfully follow Him in your present circumstances.
• Divine initiative and human responsibility are both biblical.
• Rebekah and the bride of Christ
• Acknowledge the Chief Actor and water the camels!
• “All the way my Savior leads me, cheers each winding path I tread, gives me grace for every trial, feeds me with the living bread…” (Crosby, “All the Way My Savior Leads Me”)