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”)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for March 3, 2024

God Will Provide…

Genesis 22:1-24

1. View the Crisis from God’s Perspective 1-2

• “…After these things…”
• character of the test and conditions preceding it
• specific command

2. Observe Abraham’s Compliance 3-5

• immediate, intimate and intensive

3. Observe Abraham’s Confidence 6-10

• astounding
• accounting: Heb. 11:17-19
• expressing: v.8- “…God will provide for Himself…”
• a built altar and a bound Isaac

4. Consider the LORD’S Response (11-24)

• “…for now I know…”
• don’t miss the repetition
• The LORD “will see…”
• affirmation of promises
• provision of a substitute and a wife

5. So What?

• Because the LORD provides, comply with His commands.
• “At the heart of God’s program of blessing is sacrifice, and although that may seem the way of failure, in God’s marvelous dealings it is the way of victory.” (A. Ross)
• Make the connection to the cross (Rom. 8:32).
• “No strength of our own and no goodness we claim; yet, since we have known of the Savior’s great name, in this our strong tower for safety we hide: the Lord is our power, ‘The Lord will provide.’” (J. Newton, “The Lord Will Provide”)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for February 25, 2024

The Answer Is ‘Yes’

Genesis 18:16-33

1. Background/Context

• theme of justice connected to preceding narrative
• justice validated through Abraham’s intercession

2. The LORD Addresses Abraham 16-21

• a sovereign soliloquy and its rationale
• announcement of the investigation of Sodom
• defining righteousness and justice

3. The LORD Responds to Abraham’s Appeal 22-33

• Abraham’s appeal for justice
• Abraham’s humble, persistent and targeted intercession
• assurance of mercy in the midst of judgment

4. The Aftermath

• Lot rescued (19:1-22; 2 Pet. 2:7), Sodom destroyed (19:23-28), Abraham remembered (19:2)

5. So What?

• Because the LORD’S mercy flows even in judgment, recognize His righteousness and rejoice in His revelation.
• See the destruction of Sodom as a warning of the certainty of God’s ultimate judgment (Luke 17:28-30; Rom. 9:29; 2 Pet. 2:6; Jude 7).
• “There is no refuge from God, only in God.” (D. Kidner)
• connection to NT and Christ: Rom. 8:1; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Pet. 1:3; Psa. 24:3
• conform…convey…cry (Hab. 3:2)
• “Your mercy flows upon us like a river. Your mercy stands unshakable and true. Most holy God, of all good things the Giver, we turn and lift our fervent prayer to you. Hear our cry, O Lord, be merciful once more. Let your love, your anger stem; remember mercy, O Lord, again.” (W. Sutton, “Your Mercy Flows”)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for February 18, 2024

This Time Next Year

Genesis 17

In Genesis 17 the LORD reiterates and expands on the instructions/promises He conveyed previously. In the events leading up to Genesis 17, Abram did what most of us have done when presented with situations that seem incompatible with God’s promises: He attempted to run ahead of God.

1. The Purpose of God’s Design

• to stagger us
• to show us

2. The Parameters of God’s Dominion

• Elohim
• El Shaddai
• significance of a name change

3. The Priority of God’s Desire

• orientation
• renewal of covenant promises
• “…walk before me…blameless…”
• Ishmael and Isaac (Gen. 21:1-7)
• same day submission

4. So What?

• Since the Lord keeps His promises, anticipate His future faithfulness in every facet of your life.
• “God loves to magnify His sovereign grace and keep us in our humble place.” (Piper)
• Orient your life to God’s presence and God’s promises.
• It really is all about Jesus (John 8:58)!

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for February 11, 2024

So Shall Your Offspring Be

Genesis 15:1-6

1. The LORD Promising 1

• significance of “After these things…”
• protection and provision

2. Abram Lamenting 2-3

• Abram’s address:”…O Lord GOD…”
• Eliezer of Damascus: slave as heir? Abram: father of any/many

3. The LORD Guaranteeing 4-5

• when promise and problem intersect
• repetition, clarification and expansion (Psa. 147:3-4)

4. The LORD Crediting 6

• verse 6: believed…counted…righteousness
• repeated in Rom. 4:3, Gal. 4:6, Jas. 2:23
• The Lord’s confirmation points us to the cross (Gen. 15:7-21, Isa. 45:22)

5. So What?

• Because the LORD has the power to protect and provide for you, understand that your circumstances pose no problem for Him.
• Don’t fear or fret. Do delight and depend. Expect Him to be what you call Him!
• “I am the God of the stars. They do not lose their way. Not one do I mislay. Their times are in my hand. They move at my command.” (A. Carmichael) “Standing on the promises that cannot fail, when the howling storms of doubt and fear assail, by the living word of God I shall prevail, standing on the promise of God.” (R. Carter)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for February 4, 2024

To the Land That I Will Show You

Genesis 11:27-12:9

1. Background 11:27-30

• from the covenant with Noah to the covenant with Abram (Gen. 31:53, Josh. 24:2)
• cast of characters and itinerary

2. The LORD’S Call 1-3

• Get out! … Be a blessing.
• promises: land, nation, name, blessing

3. Abram’s Compliance 4-6

• leaving his “world” to follow the LORD’S command (Gen. 15:6, Heb. 11:8)
• without the benefit of travel brochures or social media
• obedience in spite of advanced age and the presence of idolatry

4. The LORD’S Confirmation 7a

• revelation by word and appearance
• heavenly visitation and confirmation of promises

5. Abram’s Continuation 7b-9

• tent and altar
• worship prompted by the word

6. So What?

• Because the LORD is the ultimate deliverer and promise-keeper, forsake all to worship Him and serve His purposes.
• Resolve, by God’s grace, to live as a sojourner and worshiper.
• Connection to Christ: Luke 9:57-62, Rev. 5:1-11
• “Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah, pilgrim through this barren land; I am weak, but Thou art mighty, hold me with Thy pow’rful hand…” (W. Williams)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for January 28, 2024

The Case of the Confused Lip

Genesis 11:1-9

1. Background

• table of nations (Gen. 10)
• Babel (Gen. 10:10)

2. Man Proposes 1-4

• key word: “come”
• one language…
• eastward migration to Shinar
• make bricks…build city/tower…make name…
• disregard for God’s word (Gen. 9:1)

3. The LORD Disposes 5-9

• divine inspection
• divine evaluation
• divine interruption

4. So What?

• When you attempt to raise yourself in pride, expect God to bring you down in confusion.
• A repeated reminder: God has declared war on pride. (Prov. 3:34, James 4:6, Luke 18:14)
• Exult in the invitation of Matt. 11:28-30 and reflect on Acts 2:1-13.
• “Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail, in Thee do we trust, nor find Thee to fail…” (Grant)

Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for January 21, 2024

Tracing the Rainbow through the Rain

Genesis 9:1-17

1. Setting

• post-flood proclamations
• key emphases: God’s insistence and God’s initiative

2. Renewal of Blessing 1-7

• pronouncement repeated
• provision of food
• prohibition regarding blood (Lev. 17:11, Acts 15:28-29)
• prohibition regarding taking life (Rom. 13:4)

3. Establishment of Covenant 8-17

• promise of preservation
• provision of protection
• pledged with a sign (Rev. 4:1-3, 10:1)

4. So What?

• Because of the reminder that life is precious to God, aim to promote, preserve and protect it.
• “History is God’s highway to an appointed future.” (Piper)
• connection to Christ: Heb. 9:26
• “O joy that seekest me through pain, I cannot close my heart to Thee. I trace the rainbow through the rain, and feel the promise is not vain, that morn shall tearless be. O Cross that liftest up my head, I dare not ask to fly from Thee. I lay in dust, life’s glory dead, and from the ground there blossoms red, life that shall endless be.” (G. Matheson, “O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go”)