Series: Roots Subject 1: Introduction

SERIES: ROOTS
SUBJECT 1: INTRODUCTION
In Matthew 13:3-9
3
And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to
sow;
4
And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured
them up:
5
Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung
up, because they had no deepness of earth:
6
And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they
withered away.
7
And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
8
But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some
sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
9
Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
And he spake many thins unto them in parables, sayings,Behold, a sower
Matt. 13:18-23
18
Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
19
When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh
the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which
received seed by the way side.
20
But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word,
and anon with joy receiveth it;
21
Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or
persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
22
He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of
this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
23
But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and
understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some
sixty, some thirty.
Jesus tells the story of a farmer sowing seed in his land as a picture for us of spiritual truth. The
grounds, He says, is the hearts of people
(Luke 8:12-15)
12
Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out
of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
13
They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no
root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
14
And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are
choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
15
But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the
word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
the seed is the Word of God

(Luke 8:11)11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
the Sower is Jesus, Himself
(Matthew 13:37)
37
He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
The seed that fell on the rocky ground withered and died because it had no roots. Jesus
emphasized in this parable the importance of our spiritual roots in God.
Every truth is the word of God is like a seed. When we hear the word it is very important that it
goes deep into our hearts and becomes rooted in our lives. The depth of the planting is based on
the openness of our heart. If our heart is not fully open, then there is only a shallow planting,
which is easily rooted out by the enemy, Satan.
(Matthew 13:19).
19
When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh
the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which
received seed by the way side.
CONDITION OF BRANCHES DEPENDS ON THE ROOTS.
The growth and branches of a plant will only be as healthy as its roots are strong and deep
(Romans 11:16, 18).
16
For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the
branches.
18
Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root
thee.
There is a parable in the Old Testament about a magnificent cedar tree:
“So it was beautiful in its greatness, in the length of its branches; For its roots extended to many
waters.”
(Ezekiel 31:7 KJV).
7
Thus was he fair in his greatness, in the length of his branches: for his root was by great
waters.
The reason it was such a magnificent tree was because its roots went deep down and reached
“many waters”. The beauty that was evident above the ground was the result of the unseen roots
beneath. So it is with us as Christians. We are not to focus our attention on trying to fix up our
own efforts; rather, our focus should be on our “roots”, allowing the truths of the word of God to
be deeply planted in our hearts and to become a reality in our experience. If our roots in God are
strong and healthy, our outward lives will automatically show the life and nature of Christ to
those around us
(See John 15 4-5, 7-8).
4
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the
vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth
forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
7
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be
done unto you.
8
Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
CHRISTIANS PICTURED AS TREES;
“The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that
be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring
forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing; Toshew that the LORD is upright: he is
my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.”
(Ps. 92:12-15)
12 The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13 Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;
15 To shew that the Lord is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in

him.
see also Jer. 17:7-8;

7
Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORDis.
8
For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the
river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be
careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.
Ps. 1:3.
3
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in
his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
PALM TREE:
A palm tree can grew in the most desert-like conditions. In drought everything around it will dry
up and die, but the palm tree will continue to grow in freshness. This is because it has a long tap-
root that goes deep into the ground and finds the water beneath.
As Christians, we too continue to grow in the Lord and “flourish like the palm tree” no matter
what the outward circumstances may be like. The roots of our lives are in the living water –
Jesus
(read John 4:7-14).
7
There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to
drink.
8
(For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)
9
Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest
drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the
Samaritans.
10
Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that
saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have
given thee living water.
11
The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep:
from whence then hast thou that living water?
12
Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof
himself, and his children, and his cattle?
13
Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoeverdrinketh of this water shall thirst again:
14
But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the
water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting
life.
CEDAR TREE:
The cedars of Lebanon were known for their strength and beauty. It was these trees that Solomon
used to build the Temple (see II Chron. 2).
1
And Solomon determined to build an house for the name of the LORD, and an house for
his kingdom.
2
And Solomon told out threescore and ten thousand men to bear burdens, and fourscore
thousand to hew in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundred to oversee them.
3
And Solomon sent to Huram the king of Tyre, saying, As thou didst deal with David my
father, and didst send him cedars to build him an house to dwell therein, even so deal
with me.
4
Behold, I build an house to the name of the LORD my God, to dedicate it to him, and to
burn before him sweet incense, and for the continual shewbread, and for the burnt
offerings morning and evening, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the
solemn feasts of the LORDour God. This is an ordinance for ever to Israel.
5
And the house which I build is great: for great is our God above all gods.
6
But who is able to build him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot
contain him? who am I then, that I should build him an house, save only to burn sacrifice
before him?
7
Send me now therefore a man cunning to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in
iron, and in purple, and crimson, and blue, and that can skill to grave with the cunning
men that are with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David my father did provide.
8
Send me also cedar trees, fir trees, and algum trees, out of Lebanon: for I know that thy
servants can skill to cut timber in Lebanon; and, behold, my servants shall be with thy
servants,
9
Even to prepare me timber in abundance: for the house which I am about to build shall
be wonderful great.
10
And, behold, I will give to thy servants, the hewers that cut timber, twenty thousand
measures of beaten wheat, and twenty thousand measures of barley, and twenty thousand
baths of wine, and twenty thousand baths of oil.
11
Then Huram the king of Tyre answered in writing, which he sent to Solomon, Because
the LORD hath loved his people, he hath made thee king over them.
12
Huram said moreover, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, that made heaven and earth,
who hath given to David the king a wise son, endued with prudence and understanding,
that might build an house for the LORD, and an house for his kingdom.
13
And now I have sent a cunning man, endued with understanding, of Huram my father's,
14
The son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a man of Tyre, skilful
to work in gold, and in silver, in brass, in iron, in stone, and in timber, in purple, in blue,
and in fine linen, and in crimson; also to grave any manner of graving, and to find out
every device which shall be put to him, with thy cunning men, and with the cunning men
of my lord David thy father.
15
Now therefore the wheat, and the barley, the oil, and the wine, which my lord hath
spoken of, let him send unto his servants:
16
And we will cut wood out of Lebanon, as much as thou shalt need: and we will bring it
to thee in floats by sea to Joppa; and thou shalt carry it up to Jerusalem.
17
And Solomon numbered all the strangers that were in the land of Israel, after the
numbering wherewith David his father had numbered them; and they were found an
hundred and fifty thousand and three thousand and six hundred.
18
And he set threescore and ten thousand of them to be bearers of burdens, and fourscore
thousand to be hewers in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundred overseers to
set the people a work.
The physical Temple of the Old Testament is a picture of the spiritual Temple that God is
building today. The House of God is not being built with bricks or wood anymore
(see Acts 7:48-50).
48
Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,
49
Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the
Lord: or what is the place of my rest?
50
Hath not my hand made all these things?
Christians are now the “living stones” or “cedars” that God is using to build His Temple
(Eph. 2:21-22;
21
In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22
In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
1 Corinthians 3:16King James Version (KJV)

16
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1 Peter 2:5King James Version (KJV)

5
Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up
spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
ANOTHER PARABLE;
Jesus told another parable to picture the importance of our “roots” or “foundations”; that of two
houses, one built on rock, the other on sand
(Matt. 7:24-27).
24
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him
unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that
house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26
And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened
unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27
house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
The house founded on rock stood while the other “fell with a great crash”. The strong foundation
of our lives, that holds us firm throughout any storm of life, is hearing and putting into practice
the Word of God.
ROOTED AND ESTABLISHED IN HIM
“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in
him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.”
Colossians 2:6-7
6
As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
7
Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught,
abounding therein with thanksgiving.
“. . . I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the
saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love
that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
Ephesians 3:17-19 King James Version (KJV)

17
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in
love,
18
May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth,
and height;
19
And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with
all the fulness of God.
It is only as our roots go deeper and deeper into Christ that we are being filled up to all the
fullness of God!
SERIES: ROOTS
SUBJECT 2: ANCESTRY
TWO REPRESENTATIVE MEN
The roots of our spiritual ancestry are in one of two representative men. These are two men in
world history whose actions have affected the whole of making. Each set a course that millions
followed. Each stood alone before God as the representative of the human race.
In Romans 5:12-21,
Romans 5:12-21King James Version (KJV)
13
(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
14
Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned
after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
15
But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be
dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus
Christ, hath abounded unto many.
16
And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to
condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.
17
For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive
abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus
Christ.)
18
Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even
so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
20
Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded,
grace did much more abound:
21
That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness
unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
the Apostle Paul describes the effects these two men have had on mankind.
“Sin came into the world through one man, and his sin brought death with it. As a result, death
has spread to the whole human race because everyone has sinned. . . . just as all people were
made sinners as the result of the disobedience of one man, in the same way they will all be put
right with God as the result of the obedience of the one man (another man).”
Romans 5:12, 19
12
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death
passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
19
For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one
shall many be made righteous.
THE FATHER OF THE HUMAN RACE:
The first man who represented us all was the very first man created . . . Adam. He was the father
of the human race. At creation God put a law into action. Every life-form was to “produce after
its own kind”
Genesis 1:11-12, 21, 24-25 King James Version (KJV)

11
And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree
yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.
12
And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree
yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
21
And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters
brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God
saw that it was good.
24
And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and
creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.
25
And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every
thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
Adam and Eve were created in the image of God. They too, were meant to produce after their
own kind and fill the earth with people in the image of God.
Genesis 1:26-31 King James Version (KJV)

26
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have
dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and
over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
27
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and
female created he them.
28
And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and
replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over
the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
29
And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the
face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you
it shall be for meat.
30
And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that
creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and
it was so.
31
And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the
evening and the morning were the sixth day.
But Adam and Eve sinned and rebelled against God (see Genesis 3:1-19).
Genesis 3:1-19King James Version (KJV)

1
Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had
made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of
the garden?
2
And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
3
But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall
not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
4
And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
5
For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye
shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
6
And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the
eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat,
and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
7
And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they
sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
8
And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day:
and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the
trees of the garden.
9
And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
10
And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and
I hid myself.
11
And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I
commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?
12
And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the
tree, and I did eat.
13
And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the
woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
14
And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed
above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust
shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:
15
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed;
it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
16
Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in
sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall
rule over thee.
17
And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and
hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed
is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
18
Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the
field;
19
In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of
it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
The glory of the image of God departed from them and they were left naked, ashamed,
and fearful and banished from their regal position of relationship with God. And they
reproduced after their own kind! All humanity has experienced the consequences of
Adam’s action. None has escaped its devastating effect. All the succeeding generations
have inherited a rebellious and diseased nature and have been alienated from God. Fear,
hate, guilt and loneliness are some of the evidences of its reality. All of us are born into
this world with our roots firmly planted in our ancestor, Adam.
See Romans 3:10-12, 23 King James Version (KJV)
10
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
11
There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
12
They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none
that doeth good, no, not one.
23
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
THE SECOND REPRESENTATIVE MAN
God would have been justified to have left rebellious man to his own ways, but because f His
great heart of love, He immediately put into motion His plan of restoring man back to Himself.
It was no good just patching up the fallen creation. Like a diseased plant, mankind would still
continue to receive its life-source from the roots of Adam. Man needed to be uprooted and
grafted into new roots to receive a new life-source. So, at exactly the right time in history, God
sent another representative man into the world. This man, too, was to affect the whole of the
human race; “For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive”
1 Corinthians 15:22 King James Version (KJV)

22
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
THE LAST ADAM
“. . . The first man, Adam, was created a living being; but the last Adam is the life-giving spirit”
1 Corinthians 15:45King James Version (KJV)
45
And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was
made a quickening spirit.
When Jesus Christ was dying on the Cross of Calvary, a marvelous act of God was in process.
An eternal transaction was taking place between heaven and earth. Jesus was representing
mankind. The Bible calls Him “The Last Adam”. In other words, in God’s eyes he was dying as
the Last of Adam’s descendants. He was the last of the fallen Adamic race. In this second
representative Man, God was laying an axe to the roots we had in Adam
seeMatthew 3:10 King James Version (KJV)
10
And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which
bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
In the act of Christ’s death, God was putting us to death, and all connection with fallen Adam
was being severed. God stopped the line of the first Adamic inheritance in Jesus.
THE SECOND MAN
“The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven”
1 Corinthians 15:47 King James Version (KJV)

47
The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven.
The Bible gives two terms to Jesus. He is not only called “The Last Adam”, He is also called
“The Second Man”. This is because God accomplished two facts in sending Jesus to represent
us: The first was His death, as we have just seen. The second was when God brought Him back
to life again
see1 Corinthians 15:20-23 King James Version (KJV)
20
But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
21
For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
23
But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at
his coming.
The race coming from Adam was full of sin, so God finishedit through Jesus dying on the Cross.
The he started all over again. In the resurrection, Jesus became the beginning of the whole new
race of people. Adam, the first man, passed on to his descendants all his faults. Jesus came alive
again to be the Second Man, to pass on to all those who believe in Him all His goodness.
THE NEW HUMANITY

1 Corinthians 15:48, 49 King James Version (KJV)
48
As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they
also that are heavenly.
49
And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the
heavenly
2 Corinthians 5:17-21 King James Version (KJV)
17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away;
behold, all things are become new.
18
And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath
given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19
To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their
trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20
Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we
pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the
righteousness of God in him.
1 Peter 2:9 King James Version (KJV)
9
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people;
that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his
marvellous light.
SERIES: ROOTS
SUBJECT 3: LIFE-SOURCE
TWO TREES
See Genesis 2:8-9; 15-17; 3:1-24.

Genesis 2:8-9; 15-17; 3:1-24 King James Version (KJV)
8 And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom
he had formed.
9 And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the
sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of
knowledge of good and evil.
15 And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to
keep it.
16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou
mayest freely eat:
17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the
day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Genesis 3 King James Version (KJV)
1
Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had
the garden?
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
I hid myself.
11
12
13
14
15
16
rule over thee.
17
18
field;
19
20
And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.
21
Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed
them.
22
And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and
evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live
for ever:
23
Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from
whence he was taken.
24
So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims,
and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
The two special trees in the garden planted by God each symbolized a choice for Adam and Eve.
THE TREE OF LIFE – represented a life’s fusion with God; offered the nature and life of God
Himself; imparted the highest expression of life . . . love; symbolized life.
THE TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGEOF GOOD AND EVIL – represented independence from
God’s; offered a lower form of existence; imparted a lower expression of life . . . the ability to
judge between right and wrong for self-justification; symbolized death.
The tree of the knowledge of good and evil imparted a lower life-source – a lower expression of
life began flowing through Adam and Eve when they ate of its fruit, and from them, through all
mankind. All they could now express was the knowledge of good and evil . . . the ability to judge
between right and wrong.
Results of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil:
Death (Genesis 2:17).

17
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day
that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Broken relationship with God – Genesis 3:8.

8
Broken relationship with one another – Genesis 3:12.

12
Self-justification – Genesis 3:12-13.

12
13
Cursed life – Genesis 3:16-19.

16
rule over thee.
17
18
field;
19
Cut off from eternal life – Genesis 3:22-24

22
for ever:
23
24
THE TREE OF LIFE
The Tree of Life represents a higher life-source. It is the expression of God’s life flowing
through us. It was much more than just the ability to judge between right and wrong. God, too,
knows good and evil
(Gen. 3:22),
22
for ever: but with His knowledge is a vital ingredient – love.
“(Wisdom is a tree of life” (Prov. 3:8, read also verses 13-24).
8
It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
13
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
14
For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof
than fine gold.
15
She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be
compared unto her.
16
Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.
17
Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
18
She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth
her.
19
The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the
heavens.
20
By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.
21
My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
22
So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
23
Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.
24
When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep
shall be sweet.
The Tree of Life meant not just theknowledge of Good and Evil. It imparted wisdom. In other
words, it was knowledge plus the love by which to use it.
The results of the Tree of Life:
Life – Genesis 3:22

22
for ever:
Relationship, forgiveness – Revelation 22:14.

14
Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life,
and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Restoration – Revelation 2:7

7
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that
overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of
God.
Healing – Prov. 15:4; Rev. 22:2

4
A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
2
In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life,
which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of
the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Fulfilled desire – Prov. 13:12

12
Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
Righteousness – Prov. 11:30

30
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
SCRIPTURAL EXAMPLE Jonah

(Jonah 3:10; 4:1-2)
10
And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the
evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.
1
But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry.
2
And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, was not this my saying,
when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou
art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee
of the evil.
Because of the evil and cruel acts the Assyrians had committed against his people, Jonah wanted
them to be punished. He was living from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and evil. But when
God saw their repentant hearts he forgave them. The Lord was expressing the Tree of Life.
JESUS WITH THE WOMAN CAUGHT IN ADULTERY

(John 8:3-11)
3
And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when
they had set her in the midst,
4
They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
5
Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
6
This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped
down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
7
So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is
without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
8
And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
9
And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one,
beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman
standing in the midst.
10
When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her,
Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
11
She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and
sin no more.
The only one with the right to throw a stone at the woman was Jesus, for He was the only one
without sin. Yet He did not judge her, but instead forgave her and offered her a new way of life.
The Pharisees operated from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. They were definitely
right . . . what the woman had done was wrong, and punishable by death under their law. But
Jesus expressed the Tree of Life.
THE TREE OF LIFE AVAILABLE TO US AGAIN
God Himself expresses this higher way of life toward us. If He had expressed the Tree of the
Knowledge of Good and Evil to us, we would have all been judged guilty because of our sin and
rebellion against Him. He had every right to condemn us. But He didn’t. Instead, He sent His
Son to take the punishment we deserved so that we could go free. Even though we were in the
wrong, because of His love He offers us forgiveness and a whole new life in Him. He has made
the Tree of life available to us in reality in Jesus Christ
(Jn. 10:10).
10
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they
might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
We are judged by whichever tree we choose to live by. If we do not respond to God’s
redemption we are left to be judged by the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.
To operate today from the life-source of judging between right and wrong results in the same
aspects of “death” that Adam experienced. We can be very right in a situation, but have the
wrong attitude, and the result will always be a broken relationship, both with God and with
others. We are to express to others the same heart that God has expressed to us. Our spiritual
roots are in one of these two trees.
SCRIPTURAL EXAMPLE
Jonah (Jonah 3:10; 4:1-2)
Because of the evil and cruel acts the Assyrians had committed against his people, Jonah wanted
them to be punished. He was living from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and evil. But when
God saw their repentant hearts he forgave them. The Lord was expressing the Tree of Life.
JESUS WITH THE WOMAN CAUGHT IN ADULTERY(John 8:3-11).

The only one with the right to throw a stone at the woman was Jesus, for He was the only one
without sin. Yet He did not judge her, but instead forgave her and offered her a new way of life.
The Pharisees operated from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. They were definitely
right . . . what the woman had done was wrong, and punishable by death under their law. But
Jesus expressed the Tree of Life.
THE TREE OF LIFE AVAILABLE TO US AGAIN

God Himself expresses this higher way of life toward us. If He had expressed the Tree of the
Knowledge of Good and Evil to us, we would have all been judged guilty because of our sin and
rebellion against Him. He had every right to condemn us. But He didn’t. Instead, He sent His
Son to take the punishment we deserved so that we could go free. Even though we were in the
wrong, because of His love He offers us forgiveness and a whole new life in Him. He has made
the Tree of life available to us in reality in Jesus Christ (Jn. 10:10). We are judged by whichever
tree we choose to live by. If we do not respond to God’s redemption we are left to be judged by
the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.
To operate today from the life-source of judging between right and wrong results in the same
aspects of “death” that Adam experienced. We can be very right n a situation, but have the
wrong attitude, and the result will always be a broken relationship, both with God and with
others. We are to express to others the same heart that God has expressed to us. Our spiritual
roots are in one of these two trees.
SERIES: ROOTS
SUBJECT 4: RIGHTEOUSNESS
CAIN AND ABEL
The parents of Cain and Abel were the first man and woman of the earth. Adam and Eve had
been created, by nature and potential, in the image of God. But because of their sin and rebellion
against the Lord, his was lost. Fear, shame, guilt, self-consciousness and self-justification now
became a part of their nature. They were out off from the presence of God. The ground Adam
was to till was cursed, and with hard work and a struggle, he now had to support his family.
Death was now their only future (read Genesis 3). But with the tragedy they had brought upon
themselves, God gave them a promise:
“And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall
bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”
(Gen. 3:15)
15
That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
God promised to send a Redeemer to restore all that had been lost. This, Then, was the heritage
of Cain and Abel as they were born into the world
(see Genesis 4:1-2).
1
And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten
a man from the LORD.
2
And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a
tiller of the ground.
THE TWO LINES
“In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. But
Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor
on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. . . .”
(Gen. 4:3-5, see also verses 5-8)
3
And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an
offering unto the LORD.
4
And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And
the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
5
But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his
countenance fell.
Although there are now no longer any direct descendants of Cain (they would have all been
destroyed by the flood of Noah’s day – Gen. 6-9), the line of Cain has continued – not in the
physical sense, but spiritually (see Jude 11). This is also true of the spiritual lines of Abel
(Hebrews 11:4)
4
By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he
obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being
dead yet speaketh.
Our spiritual roots of righteousness – how we trust God for acceptance into His presence – are
pictured in the offerings brought to God by the two brothers Cain and Abel.
THE WAY OF ABEL
Both Cain and Abel must have known that the way of sacrifice had been definitely appointed by
God (see Leviticus 17:11, Heb. 9:22),
11
For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make
an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.
22
And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood
is no remission.
for Hebrews 11:4 says “by faith Abel offered . . .” and Romans 10:17 tells us that “faith comes
by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”.
It was by faith that Abel brought his offering to God. Abel had heard that God required a
sacrifice; he believed, and he obeyed. The way of Abel is faith.
RIGHTEOUSNESS BY FAITH
Abel is a picture of the genuine believer relying on the finished work of Christ on the Cross.
In bringing the offering he did, Abel, confessed that he was a fallen creature, a guilty sinner.
He recognized that his only hope before God was in a substitute taking his place and bearing the
punishment (death) that he deserved. He believed God would accept this lamb as a substitute for
himself. Abel represents those who put their faith in the sacrifice of Calvary, who rest in the
redemptive work of the Cross, who receive as their substitute and Saviour the Lamb of God
which takes away the sin of the world (see John 1:29; I Pet. 1:18-19; Rom. 3:21-25).
John 1:29 King James Version (KJV)
29
The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God,
which taketh away the sin of the world.
1 Peter 1:18-19 King James Version (KJV)
18
Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and
gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
19
But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
Romans 3:21-25 King James Version (KJV)
21
But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by
the law and the prophets;
22
Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all
them that believe: for there is no difference:
23
24
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his
righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
THE WAY OF CAIN
Cain was a religious man. He did not deny God. But he denied his own ruined and fallen
condition and refused to accept the remedy God had provided – That of a substitutional sacrifice.
He heard God’s way but did not believe it. He followed his own way – his own ideas. He offered
the fruit of his own works . . . the fruit of the cursed ground. His offering was probably a very
beautiful one, the best fruits. He had worked hard and was very proud of it.
Cain is a picture of the natural man, who, in his pride and self-righteousness, rebels at the idea of
the need for a substitute. He represents those who turn their back upon the blood that Jesus shed
on the Cross, those who reject the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ and who think they can
obtain righteousness by their own “good works” (read Eph. 2:8-9). The way of Cain is unbelief.
Ephesians 2:8-9 King James Version (KJV)

8
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
RIGHTEOUSNESS IS A GIFT
“. . . ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.’ Now when a man
works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who
does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.”
Romans 4:3-5King James Version (KJV)
3
For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for
righteousness.
4
Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5
But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is
counted for righteousness.
The way of Abel is open to us (Matt. 7:13-14). The roots of our righteousness are either I Cain or
Abel.
Matthew 7:13-14King James Version (KJV)

13
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to
destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there
be that find it.
SERIES: ROOTS
SUBJECT 5: COVENANT
TWO COVENANTS PICTURED IN ISAAC AND ISHMAEL

A covenant is a contract between two or more people in which each party promises to fulfill
certain conditions in order to enjoy the benefits of the agreement. The Apostle Paul describes
how Isaac and Ishmael represent two covenants that God made with man (read Gen. 16, 21 and
Gal. 4:22-28).
Gen 16
Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose
name was Hagar.
2
And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray
thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to
the voice of Sarai.
3
And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in
the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.
4 And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her
mistress was despised in her eyes.
5 And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom;
and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between
me and thee.
6 But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thine hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And
when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.
7 And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain
in the way to Shur.
8 And he said, Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she
said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.
9 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her
hands.
10 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not
be numbered for multitude.
11 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child and shalt bear a son, and
shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORDhath heard thy affliction.
12 And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against
him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.
13 And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said,
Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?
14 Wherefore the well was called Beerlahairoi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.
15 And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son's name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael.
16 And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.
Gen 21:
And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken.
2 For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had
spoken to him.
3 And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him,
Isaac.
4 And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him.
5 And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him.
6 And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.
7 And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children
suck? for I have born him a son in his old age.
8 And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac
was weaned.
9 And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.
10 Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this
bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.
11 And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son.
12 And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and
because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in
Isaac shall thy seed be called.
13 And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed.
14
And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it
unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and
wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.
15
And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs.
16
And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bow shot: for
she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her
voice, and wept.
17
And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and
said unto her, Whataileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he
is.
18 Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation.
19
And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with
water, and gave the lad drink.
20
And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.
21
And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran: and his mother took him a wife out of the land of
Egypt.
22
And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief captain of his host spake
unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest:
23
Now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my
son, nor with my son's son: but according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt
do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned.
24
And Abraham said, I will swear.
25
And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech's servants
had violently taken away.
26
And Abimelechsaid, I wot not who hath done this thing; neither didst thou tell me, neither yet
heard I of it, but to day.
27
And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and both of them made a
covenant.
28
And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.
29
And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by
themselves?
30
And he said, For these seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be a witness
unto me, that I have digged this well.
31
Wherefore he called that place Beersheba; because there they sware both of them.
32
Thus they made a covenant at Beersheba: then Abimelech rose up, and Phichol the chief
captain of his host, and they returned into the land of the Philistines.
33
And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the
everlasting God.
34
And Abraham sojourned in the Philistines' land many days.
Gal 4: 22-28
22
For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
23
But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by
promise.
24
Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai,
which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
25
For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in
bondage with her children.
26
But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
27
For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest
not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
28
Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
THE COVENANT OF LAW – ISHMAEL
God made a covenant with His people when Moses went up onto Mt. Sinai to meet with Him.
Their side of the covenant was to deep the Law which He gave to Moses, summarized in the Ten
Commandments
(Exodus 20:1-17)
And God spake all these words, saying,
2
I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of
bondage.
3
Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
4
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven
above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
5
Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous
God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of
them that hate me;
6
And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
7
Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORDwill not hold him
guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
8
Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9
Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
10
But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou,
nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy
stranger that is within thy gates:
11
For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the
seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
12
Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy
God giveth thee.
13
Thou shalt not kill.
14
Thou shalt not commit adultery.
15
Thou shalt not steal.
16
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
17
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour'shouse, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his
manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.
God’s side of the covenant was His promise to bless them and make them His holy people
(Deut. 28:1-14)
And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy
God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that
the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:
2
And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto
the voice of the LORD thy God.
3
Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.
4
Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy
cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.
5
Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.
6
Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest
out.
7
The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy
face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.
8
The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou
settestthine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth
thee.
9
The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee,
if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways.
10
And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD; and
they shall be afraid of thee.
11
And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the
fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto
thy fathers to give thee.
12
The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy
land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many
nations, and thou shalt not borrow.
13
And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only,
and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of
the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:
14
And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to
the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.
But if they failed to keep their side of the covenant, they would be cursed and not blessed
(Deut. 28:15-68).
15
But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God,
to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day;
that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:
16
Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field.
17
Cursed shall be thy basket and thy store.
18
Cursed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy land, the increase of thy kine,
and the flocks of thy sheep.
19
Cursed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and cursed shalt thou be when thou goest
out.
20
The LORD shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that thou
settestthine hand unto for to do, until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish quickly;
because of the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken me.
21
The LORD shall make the pestilence cleave unto thee, until he have consumed thee from
off the land, whither thou goest to possess it.
22
The LORD shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an
inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and
with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish.
23
And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall
be iron.
24
The LORD shall make the rain of thy land powder and dust: from heaven shall it come
down upon thee, until thou be destroyed.
25
The LORD shall cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies: thou shalt go out one
way against them, and flee seven ways before them: and shalt be removed into all the
kingdoms of the earth.
26
And thy carcase shall be meat unto all fowls of the air, and unto the beasts of the earth,
and no man shall fray them away.
27
The LORD will smite thee with the botch of Egypt, and with the emerods, and with the
scab, and with the itch, whereof thou canst not be healed.
28
The LORD shall smite thee with madness, and blindness, and astonishment of heart:
29
And thou shalt grope at noonday, as the blind gropeth in darkness, and thou shalt not
prosper in thy ways: and thou shalt be only oppressed and spoiled evermore, and no man
shall save thee.
30
Thou shalt betroth a wife, and another man shall lie with her: thou shalt build an house,
and thou shalt not dwell therein: thou shalt plant a vineyard, and shalt not gather the
grapes thereof.
31
Thine ox shall be slain before thine eyes, and thou shalt not eat thereof: thine ass shall
be violently taken away from before thy face, and shall not be restored to thee: thy sheep
shall be given unto thine enemies, and thou shalt have none to rescue them.
32
Thy sons and thy daughters shall be given unto another people, and thine eyes shall
look, and fail with longing for them all the day long; and there shall be no might in thine
hand.
33
The fruit of thy land, and all thy labours, shall a nation which thou knowest not eat up;
and thou shalt be only oppressed and crushed alway:
34
So that thou shalt be mad for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see.
35
The LORD shall smite thee in the knees, and in the legs, with a sore botch that cannot be
healed, from the sole of thy foot unto the top of thy head.
36
The LORD shall bring thee, and thy king which thou shalt set over thee, unto a nation
which neither thou nor thy fathers have known; and there shalt thou serve other gods,
wood and stone.
37
And thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword, among all nations
whither the LORD shall lead thee.
38
Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field, and shalt gather but little in; for the locust
shall consume it.
39
Thou shalt plant vineyards, and dress them, but shalt neither drink of the wine, nor
gather the grapes; for the worms shall eat them.
40
Thou shalt have olive trees throughout all thy coasts, but thou shalt not anoint thyself
with the oil; for thine olive shall cast his fruit.
41
Thou shalt beget sons and daughters, but thou shalt not enjoy them; for they shall go
into captivity.
42
All thy trees and fruit of thy land shall the locust consume.
43
The stranger that is within thee shall get up above thee very high; and thou shalt come
down very low.
44
He shall lend to thee, and thou shalt not lend to him: he shall be the head, and thou shalt
be the tail.
45
Moreover all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake
thee, till thou be destroyed; because thou hearkenedst not unto the voice of the LORD thy
God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee:
46
And they shall be upon thee for a sign and for a wonder, and upon thy seed for ever.
47
Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of
heart, for the abundance of all things;
48
Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in
hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke
of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee.
49
The LORD shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift
as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand;
50
A nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old, nor
shewfavour to the young:
51
And he shall eat the fruit of thy cattle, and the fruit of thy land, until thou be destroyed:
which also shall not leave thee either corn, wine, or oil, or the increase of thy kine, or
flocks of thy sheep, until he have destroyed thee.
52
And he shall besiege thee in all thy gates, until thy high and fenced walls come down,
wherein thou trustedst, throughout all thy land: and he shall besiege thee in all thy gates
throughout all thy land, which the LORD thy God hath given thee.
53
And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy
daughters, which the LORD thy God hath given thee, in the siege, and in the straitness,
wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee:
54
So that the man that is tender among you, and very delicate, his eye shall be evil toward
his brother, and toward the wife of his bosom, and toward the remnant of his children
which he shall leave:
55
So that he will not give to any of them of the flesh of his children whom he shall eat:
because he hath nothing left him in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine
enemies shall distress thee in all thy gates.
56
The tender and delicate woman among you, which would not adventure to set the sole
of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye shall be evil toward
the husband of her bosom, and toward her son, and toward her daughter,
57
And toward her young one that cometh out from between her feet, and toward her
children which she shall bear: for she shall eat them for want of all things secretly in the
siege and straitness, wherewith thine enemy shall distress thee in thy gates.
58
If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that
thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, THE LORD THY GOD;
59
Then the LORD will make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of thy seed, even
great plagues, and of long continuance, and sore sicknesses, and of long continuance.
60
Moreover he will bring upon thee all the diseases of Egypt, which thou wast afraid of;
and they shall cleave unto thee.
61
Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law,
them will the LORD bring upon thee, until thou be destroyed.
62
And ye shall be left few in number, whereas ye were as the stars of heaven for
multitude; because thou wouldest not obey the voice of the LORD thy God.
63
And it shall come to pass, that as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good, and to
multiply you; so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to
nought; and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it.
64
And the LORD shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even
unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers
have known, even wood and stone.
65
And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have
rest: but the LORD shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow
of mind:
66
And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt
have none assurance of thy life:
67
In the morning thou shalt say, Would God it were even! and at even thou shalt say,
Would God it were morning! for the fear of thine heart wherewith thou shalt fear, and for
the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see.
68
And the LORD shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships, by the way whereof I spake
unto thee, Thou shalt see it no more again: and there ye shall be sold unto your enemies
for bondmen and bondwomen, and no man shall buy you.
The Covenant of the Law, then meant that by their good works they had to try to earn the
blessing of God and the right to be made righteous, or suffer His judgment.
THE COVENANT OF FAITH – ISAAC

A different covenant had been made with Abraham
Rom. 4:1-25
1
What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
2
For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
3
For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for
righteousness.
4
Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5
But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is
counted for righteousness.
6
Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth
righteousness without works,
7
Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
8
Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
9
Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision
also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.
10
How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in
circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
11
And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which
he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe,
though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:
12
And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who
also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet
uncircumcised.
13
For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his
seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
14
For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of
none effect:
15
Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
16
Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to
all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of
Abraham; who is the father of us all,
17
(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he
believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as
though they were.
18
Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations,
according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
19
And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was
about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb:
20
He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving
glory to God;
21
And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
22
And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
23
Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
24
But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus
our Lord from the dead;
25
Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
Gen. 12:1-3
Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred,
and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
2
And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great;
and thou shalt be a blessing:
3
And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall
all families of the earth be blessed.
Gen 15:3-6
3
And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house
is mine heir.
4
And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir;
but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.
5
And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars,
if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
6
And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
Gen17:4-6
4
As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.
5
Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a
father of many nations have I made thee.
6
And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall
come out of thee.
God’s side of the covenant with Abraham was that He would bless him, and through him and his
offspring, all the nations of the earth will be blessed. Not only did Abraham receive the promise
of earthly blessing, but also a spiritual and eternal inheritance
Hebrews 11:10
10
For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Abraham’s side of the covenant was simply to believe the promises that God had given
him.
Because of his faith God declared him righteous.
We are the “seed” of Abraham (read Ga. 3:16, 29)
16
Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as
of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
29
And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Because we receive Christ by faith, we are children of Abraham and heirs of the same promise.
We are a part of the covenant God made with Abraham (see Rom. 3:21-28
21
But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by
the law and the prophets;
22
Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all
them that believe: for there is no difference:
23
24
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his
righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
26
To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of
him which believeth in Jesus.
27
Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law?of works? Nay: but by the law of
faith.
28
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Romans 4:23-25
23
Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
24
But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus
our Lord from the dead;
25
Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
.
WHY HAS THE LAW GIVEN?

The Law was given to reveal sin.
Gal. 3:19-25
19
Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed
should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand
of a mediator.
20
Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.
21
Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law
given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
22
But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ
might be given to them that believe.
23
But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should
afterwards be revealed.
24
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be
justified by faith.
25
But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
Rom. 3:20
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the
law is the knowledge of sin.
Rom. 7:7-13
7
What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the
law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
8
But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of
concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
9
For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived,
and I died.
10
And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.
11
For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.
12
Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
13
Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might
appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment
might become exceeding sinful.
Its purpose was to act like a mirror. When we look into a mirror and see that our face is dirty, we
do not pick up the mirror and rub our face with it to try and get it clean. Its purpose is simply to
show us that we need cleansing, but we go to another source – the water – to actually be made
clean. The Law was added just for a period of time to make us aware of sin, to show us our need
of cleansing, and to point us to One who could make us clean
Rev. 1:5
5
And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead,
and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our
sins in his own blood,
Titus 3:5
5
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved
us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
THE CURSE OF THE LAW

Galatians 3:1-3
1
O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before
whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
2
This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the
hearing of faith?
3
Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
Galatians 3:10-12
10
For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed
is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to
do them.
11
But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just
shall live by faith.
12
And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
James 2:10
10
For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
No wonder Paul said the Galatians Christians were foolish for reverting to the Law, for under its
light two things are revealed: God’s righteous standard and judgment
Matt. 5:21-48
21
Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever
shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
22
But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in
danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger
of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
23
Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath
ought against thee;
24
Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother,
and then come and offer thy gift.
25
Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any
time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and
thou be cast into prison.
26
Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the
uttermost farthing.
27
Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
28
But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath
committed adultery with her already in his heart.
29
And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable
for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be
cast into hell.
30
And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for
thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast
into hell.
31
It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of
divorcement:
32
But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of
fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is
divorced committeth adultery.
33
Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear
thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
34
But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:
35
Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the
great King.
36
Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or
black.
37
But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these
cometh of evil.
38
Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
39
But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right
cheek, turn to him the other also.
40
And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak
also.
41
And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
42
Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou
away.
43
Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine
enemy.
44
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that
hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45
That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for hemaketh his sun to
rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46
For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the
same?
47
And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the
publicans so?
48
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Our inability to reach that standard and deserving of judgment

Rom. 7:14-25
17
Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
18
For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is
present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
19
For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
20
Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
21
I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
22
For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
23
But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and
bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
24
O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
25
I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the
law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
THE TWO COVENANT COMPARED

Read: II Corinthians 3
Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of
commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?
2
Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
3
Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us,
written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in
fleshy tables of the heart.
4
And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:
5
Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our
sufficiency is of God;
6
Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the
spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
7
But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the
children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his
countenance; which glory was to be done away:
8
How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?
9
For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of
righteousness exceed in glory.
10
For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the
glory that excelleth.
11
For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is
glorious.
12
Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:
13
And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not
stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:
14
But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away
in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.
15
But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
16
Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
17
Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
18
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed
into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
The letter (law) kills

Ex. 32:15-28
15
And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, and the two tables of the testimony
were in his hand: the tables were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the
other were they written.
16
And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven
upon the tables.
17
And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses,
There is a noise of war in the camp.
18
And he said, It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of
them that cry for being overcome: but the noise of them that sing do I hear.
19
And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and
the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and
brake them beneath the mount.
20
And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to
powder, and strawed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it.
21
And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought so
great a sin upon them?
22
And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that
they are set on mischief.
23
For they said unto me, Make us gods, which shall go before us: for as for this Moses,
the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.
24
And I said unto them, Whosoever hath any gold, let them break it off. So they gave it
me: then I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf.
25
And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked
unto their shame among their enemies:)
26
Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD's side? let him
come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.
27
And he said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by
his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his
brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour.
28
And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the
people that day about three thousand men.
Heb. 12:18-21
18
For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire,
nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
19
And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard
intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:
20
(For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast
touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:
21
And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)
Moses came down from Mt. Sinai, after receiving the Covenant of Law, to find the people
worshipping a golden calf. Because of the Law they had just received, 3,000 people died that
day.
The Spirit gives life
Acts 2:1-40
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one
place.
2
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled
all the house where they were sitting.
3
And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of
them.
4
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as
the Spirit gave them utterance.
5
And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under
heaven.
6
Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded,
because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
7
And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all
these which speak Galilaeans?
8
And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
9
Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea,
and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
10
Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers
of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
11
Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of
God.
12
And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, Whatmeaneth
this?
13
Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
14
But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men
of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my
words:
15
For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
16
But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
17
And it shall come to pass in the last days, saithGod, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all
flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see
visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
18
And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit;
and they shall prophesy:
19
And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and
fire, and vapour of smoke:
20
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and
notable day of the Lord come:
21
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be
saved.
22
Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among
you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye
yourselves also know:
23
Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have
taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
24
Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not
possible that he should be holden of it.
25
For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he
is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:
26
Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall
rest in hope:
27
Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to
see corruption.
28
Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy
countenance.
29
Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both
dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
30
Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that
of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his
throne;
31
He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in
hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
32
This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
33
Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the
promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
34
For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my
Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
35
Until I make thy foes thy footstool.
36
Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same
Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
37
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to
the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of
Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39
For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as
many as the LORD our God shall call.
40
And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this
untoward generation.
Heb. 12:22-24
22
But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly
Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
23
To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to
God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
24
And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that
speaketh better things than that of Abel.
25
See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that
spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh
from heaven:
We are dead to the Law

The Day of Pentecost was when all Israel celebrated the historical event of the giving of the Law
to Moses. On the Day of Pentecost that followed the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, God
poured out His Spirit, and His law was written on “tablets of human hearts” Through the
preaching of this covenant, 3,000 were made alive that day.
(see Jer. 31:33-34)
33
But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those
days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts;
and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
34
And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother,
saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the
greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember
their sin no more.
Luke 24:49
49
And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of
Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
Romans 7:1-6
Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath
dominion over a man as long as he liveth?
2
For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he
liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.
3
So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called
an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no
adulteress, though she be married to another man.
4
Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that
ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should
bring forth fruit unto God.
5
For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in
our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
6
But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we
should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
Galatians 2:19-21
19
For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
20
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the
life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and
gave himself for me.
21
I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is
dead in vain.
Galatians 3:13-14
13
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is
written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
14
That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we
might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Paul uses the picture of a woman bound by law to her husband until he dies. But at his death,
she is free to be married to another. The Law was a hard “husband” to us, judging us and
punishing us when we failed to obey. But through Christ’s death on the Cross, we were set free
from the Law and are now “married” to a new Husband, Christ Himself. Now we obey because
of the great love He has put within our hearts
Rom. 5:5
5
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by
the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Rom. 8:3-4
3
For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his
own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4
That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh,
but after the Spirit.
Matt. 22:36-40
36
Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all
thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38
This is the first and great commandment.
39
And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40
On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
41
While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,
42
Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The son of
David.
43
He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying,
44
The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy
footstool?
45
If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?
46
And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth
ask him any more questions.
Gal. 5:14
14
For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as
thyself.
SERIES: ROOTS
SUBJECT 6: MOTIVATION
ESAU AND JACOB

Read Genesis 25:27-33.
27
And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a
plain man, dwelling in tents.
28
And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.
29
And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:
30
And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint:
therefore was his name called Edom.
31
And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.
32
And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do
to me?
33
And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright
unto Jacob.
Esau and Jacob are given to us as examples of the kind of lives that attract either the love or
hatred of God
Mal. 1:2-3
2
I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau
Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob,
3
And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the
wilderness.
Rom. 9:13
13
As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
As we follow the characters of these two men, described in Scripture, we will see that it was
because of a particular attitude of heart that each one had – an attitude that was the motivation of
their whole lives.
TWO ATTITUDES OF HEART

(Read Genesis 25:21-27)
21
And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was
intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.
22
And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus?
And she went to enquire of the LORD.
23
And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people
shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other
people; and the elder shall serve the younger.
24
And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her
womb.
25
And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name
Esau.
26
And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his
name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.
27
And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a
plain man, dwelling in tents.
ESAU: The Man of the Field
In the New Testament, Jesus speaks of the “field” as a picture of the world
Matt. 13:24-30
24
Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto
a man which sowed good seed in his field:
25
But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his
way.
26
But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
27
So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good
seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
28
He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou
then that we go and gather them up?
29
But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
30
Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the
reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but
gather the wheat into my barn.
Matt.13:36-40
36
Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came
unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.
37
He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
38
The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are
the children of the wicked one;
39
The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the
reapers are the angels.
40
As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this
world.
Jn. 4:34-38
34
Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his
work.
35
Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you,
Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
36
And he that reapethreceiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he
that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
37
And herein is that saying true, Onesoweth, and another reapeth.
38
I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are
entered into their labours.
The statement that declared Esau a “man of the field” not only described his occupation, but
also, as the Bible unfolds, was a picture of his heart-attitude. Esau was a man who loved the
things of the world – who lived for the pleasures of life now.
Gen. 25:32
32
to me?
JACOB: The tent-dweller

The Scripture specifically separates Jacob as the one who lived in tents. Jacob, along with
Abraham and Isaac, had one main focus in life: he had his eyes on an eternal dwelling place
Heb. 11:8-10
8
By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after
receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
9
By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in
tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
10
For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
He believed God’s promise to Abraham, his grandfather, that he would be the father of many
nations
Gen. 12:2-3
2
And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great;
and thou shalt be a blessing:
3
And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall
all families of the earth be blessed.
Gen 17:4-7
4
As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.
5
Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a
father of many nations have I made thee.
6
And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall
come out of thee.
7
And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their
generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.
Gen 17:16
16
And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall
be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.
Gen 18:18
18
Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations
of the earth shall be blessed in him?
Gen 22:17-18
17
That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars
of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the
gate of his enemies;
18
And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed
my voice.
This promise was ultimately to be fulfilled in Christ and the New Creation that came forth from
Him – for it was the New Creation people, born through Christ’s atoning work on the Cross and
in His Resurrection that would make up the “City” of God
Heb. 12:22-24
22
But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly
Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
23
To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to
God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
24
And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that
speaketh better things than that of Abel.
Heb. 13:14
14
For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
Gal. 3:7-9
7
Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
8
And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached
before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
9
So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
Gal 3:13-19
13
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is
written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
14
That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we
might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
15
Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it
be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.
16
Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as
of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
17
And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law,
which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the
promise of none effect.
18
For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to
Abraham by promise.
19
Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed
should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand
of a mediator.
Rev. 21:2
2
And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven,
prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
The key to Jacob’s life was that “living in tents” represented a transient life. His whole attitude
was that he was a foreigner and pilgrim in the world. He had his eyes on one major goal . . .
God’s eternal purpose.
Heb. 11:13-16
13
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off,
and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers
and pilgrims on the earth.
14
For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
15
And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they
might have had opportunity to have returned.
16
But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not
ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
THE BIRTHRIGHT
Read Genesis 25:29-34
29
And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:
30
And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint:
therefore was his name called Edom.
31
And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.
32
to me?
33
And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright
unto Jacob.
34
Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose
up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.
The birthright was the method God had designed for the inheritance to be passed from one
generation to another. The firstborn son received: The position of rulership over the family
Gen. 27:37
37
And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his
brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him:
and what shall I do now unto thee, my son?
Gen 43:33
33
And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest
according to his youth: and the men marvelled one at another.
I Sam. 20:27
27
And it came to pass on the morrow, which was the second day of the month, that
David's place was empty: and Saul said unto Jonathan his son, Wherefore cometh not the
son of Jesse to meat, neither yesterday, nor to day?
I Sam. 20:29
29
And he said, Let me go, I pray thee; for our family hath a sacrifice in the city; and my
brother, he hath commanded me to be there: and now, if I have found favour in thine
eyes, let me get away, I pray thee, and see my brethren. Therefore he cometh not unto the
king's table.
Ex. 4:22-23
22
And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my
firstborn:
23
And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him
go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.
Ex. 19:5-6
5
Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be
a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
6
And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words
which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
Num. 3:12
12
And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all
the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites
shall be mine;
Num 3:44-45
44
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
45
Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the cattle
of the Levites instead of their cattle; and the Levites shall be mine: I am the LORD.
Num 8:17-19
17
For all the firstborn of the children of Israel are mine, both man and beast: on the day
that I smote every firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified them for myself.
18
And I have taken the Levites for all the firstborn of the children of Israel.
19
And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his sons from among the children
of Israel, to do the service of the children of Israel in the tabernacle of the congregation,
and to make an atonement for the children of Israel: that there be no plague among the
children of Israel, when the children of Israel come nigh unto the sanctuary.
The priestly ministry a double portion of the material wealth and possessions of the family
(Deut. 21:15-17)
15
If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated, and they have born him
children, both the beloved and the hated; and if the firstborn son be hers that was hated:
16
Then it shall be, when he maketh his sons to inherit that which he hath, that he may not
make the son of the beloved firstborn before the son of the hated, which is indeed the
firstborn:
17
But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double
portion of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn
is his.
But far more than this, the firstborn received the right to fulfill in his generation the next step in
God’s continuing plan and purpose
(Gen. 17:7)
7
And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their
generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.
When Esau sold his birthright to Jacob to satisfy his temporary physical hunger, he was virtually
saying he put no value on the purposes of God
(see Heb. 12:15-16)
15
Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness
springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
16
Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat
sold his birthright.
THE BLESSING
Read Genesis 27:1-36.
1
And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not
see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him,
Behold, here am I.
2
And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death:
3
Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the
field, and take me some venison;
4
And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my
soul may bless thee before I die.
5
And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to
hunt for venison, and to bring it.
6
And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto
Esau thy brother, saying,
7
Bring me venison, and make me savoury meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before
the LORD before my death.
8
Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee.
9
Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will
make them savoury meat for thy father, such as he loveth:
10
And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before
his death.
11
And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I
am a smooth man:
12
My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall
bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing.
13
And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and
go fetch me them.
14
And he went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother: and his mother made
savoury meat, such as his father loved.
15
And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the
house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son:
16
And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of
his neck:
17
And she gave the savoury meat and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of
her son Jacob.
18
And he came unto his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I; who art thou,
my son?
19
And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy first born; I have done according as thou
badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me.
20
And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son? And
he said, Because the LORD thy God brought it to me.
21
And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son,
whether thou be my very son Esau or not.
22
And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is
Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.
23
And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands: so
he blessed him.
24
And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am.
25
And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son's venison, that my soul may
bless thee. And he brought it near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine and he
drank.
26
And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son.
27
And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed
him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the LORD hath
blessed:
28
Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty
of corn and wine:
29
Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let
thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be
he that blesseth thee.
30
And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was
yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in
from his hunting.
31
And he also had made savoury meat, and brought it unto his father, and said unto his
father, Let my father arise, and eat of his son's venison, that thy soul may bless me.
32
And Isaac his father said unto him, Who art thou? And he said, I am thy son, thy
firstborn Esau.
33
And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that hath taken
venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed
him? yea, and he shall be blessed.
34
And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter
cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father.
35
And he said, Thy brother came with subtilty, and hath taken away thy blessing.
36
And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times:
he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he
said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?
Esau thought the blessing was separate from the birthright. When he sold the birthright to Jacob,
he knew he was selling him the right to be part of God’s purpose, but he had no intention of
selling him the material wealth and blessing of his inheritance. He did not realize that the
blessing was the result of the birthright (verse 34) when he heard he had lost the blessing, but not
when he sold the birthright!
THE ARENA OF FAITH
Heb. 11:1
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
Heb. 12:3
3
Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow
weary and lose heart.
After having listed the acts of faith by man such as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Paul uses the
picture of a race that is in progress, but which is obviously not yet completed. In other words, it’s
a relay race, with many taking part – and there is an ultimate goal for the whole team. The heroes
of faith in the past have all faithfully fulfilled their lap of the race, and have passed the baton on.
Abraham passed it to Isaac, Isaac was going to passed it to Esau, but he didn’t want it. Jacob
desired it more than anything else in life and took it up. Down through the centuries it has been
passed on from one to the other, until today. Now it’s our turn in the arena of faith and Paul
paints the picture of all the heroes of faith throughout the centuries now sitting in the
“grandstands” of heaven, cheering us on as we run the last lap, to complete the race that they
began . . . so that all together we might reach the goal.
The Scripture exhorts us to learn from the lives of those recorded in the Bible.
(I Cor. 10:6-11)
6
Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as
they also lusted.
7
Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to
eat and drink, and rose up to play.
8
Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three
and twenty thousand.
9
Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of
serpents.
10
Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the
destroyer.
11
Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our
admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
Christians who only desire blessings from God, like Esau, often become self-centered. But if
God’s plan is the centre of our lives, as with Jacob, then the blessings will come automatically
Matt. 6:19-34
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and
where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth
corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall
be full of light.
23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light
that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or
else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye
shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat,
and the body than raiment?
26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into
barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow;
they toil not, neither do they spin:
29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of
these.
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is
cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or,
Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that
ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall
be added unto you.
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the
things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
I Jn. 2:15
15
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world,
the love of the Father is not in him.
The roots of our motivation are either in Esau or Jacob. God desires each of us today to have a
Jacob-spirit.
SERIES: ROOTS
SUBJECT 7: ACTION
TWO COMPANIES
Read Numbers 13 and 14.

Numbers 13
1
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2
Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children
of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among
them.
3
And Moses by the commandment of the LORD sent them from the wilderness of Paran:
all those men were heads of the children of Israel.
4
And these were their names: of the tribe of Reuben, Shammua the son of Zaccur.
5
Of the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat the son of Hori.
6
Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh.
7
Of the tribe of Issachar, Igal the son of Joseph.
8
Of the tribe of Ephraim, Oshea the son of Nun.
9
Of the tribe of Benjamin, Palti the son of Raphu.
10
Of the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel the son of Sodi.
11
Of the tribe of Joseph, namely, of the tribe of Manasseh, Gaddi the son of Susi.
12
Of the tribe of Dan, Ammiel the son of Gemalli.
13
Of the tribe of Asher, Sethur the son of Michael.
14
Of the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi the son of Vophsi.
15
Of the tribe of Gad, Geuel the son of Machi.
16
These are the names of the men which Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses
called Oshea the son of Nun Jehoshua.
17
And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, Get you up
this way southward, and go up into the mountain:
18
And see the land, what it is, and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they be
strong or weak, few or many;
19
And what the land is that they dwell in, whether it be good or bad; and what cities they
be that they dwell in, whether in tents, or in strong holds;
20
And what the land is, whether it be fat or lean, whether there be wood therein, or not.
And be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the time
of the firstripe grapes.
21
So they went up, and searched the land from the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob, as men
come to Hamath.
22
And they ascended by the south, and came unto Hebron; where Ahiman, Sheshai, and
Talmai, the children of Anak, were. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in
Egypt.)
23
And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one
cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the
pomegranates, and of the figs.
24
The place was called the brook Eshcol, because of the cluster of grapes which the
children of Israel cut down from thence.
25
And they returned from searching of the land after forty days.
26
And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the
children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto
them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land.
27
And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely
it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it.
28
Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and
very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.
29
The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and
the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the
coast of Jordan.
30
And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess
it; for we are well able to overcome it.
31
But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for
they are stronger than we.
32
And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the
children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land
that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a
great stature.
33
And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were
in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
NUMBERS 14
1
And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.
2
And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole
congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would
God we had died in this wilderness!
3
And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our
wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt?
4
And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.
5
Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of
the children of Israel.
6
And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that
searched the land, rent their clothes:
7
And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which
we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land.
8
If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land
which floweth with milk and honey.
9
Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are
bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.
10
But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of
the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel.
11
And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long
will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them?
12
I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a
greater nation and mightier than they.
13
And Moses said unto the LORD, Then the Egyptians shall hear it, (for thou broughtest
up this people in thy might from among them;)
14
And they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land: for they have heard that
thou LORD art among this people, that thou LORD art seen face to face, and that thy cloud
standeth over them, and that thou goest before them, by day time in a pillar of a cloud,
and in a pillar of fire by night.
15
Now if thou shalt kill all this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the
fame of thee will speak, saying,
16
Because the LORD was not able to bring this people into the land which he sware unto
them, therefore he hath slain them in the wilderness.
17
And now, I beseech thee, let the power of my lord be great, according as thou hast
spoken, saying,
18
The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression,
and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children
unto the third and fourth generation.
19
Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy
mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.
20
And the LORD said, I have pardoned according to thy word:
21
But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.
22
Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in
Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not
hearkened to my voice;
23
Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of
them that provoked me see it:
24
But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me
fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.
25
(Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwelt in the valley.) Tomorrow turn you, and
get you into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea.
26
And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
27
How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have
heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me.
28
Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the LORD, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so
will I do to you:
29
Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you,
according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward which have
murmured against me.
30
Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell
therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.
31
But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall
know the land which ye have despised.
32
But as for you, your carcases, they shall fall in this wilderness.
33
And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your
whoredoms, until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness.
34
After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day
for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of
promise.
35
I the LORD have said, I will surely do it unto all this evil congregation, that are gathered
together against me: in this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.
36
And the men, which Moses sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the
congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land,
37
Even those men that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague
before the LORD.
38
But Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of the men that
went to search the land, lived still.
39
And Moses told these sayings unto all the children of Israel: and the people mourned
greatly.
40
And they rose up early in the morning, and gat them up into the top of the mountain,
saying, Lo, we be here, and will go up unto the place which the LORD hath promised: for
we have sinned.
41
And Moses said, Wherefore now do ye transgress the commandment of the LORD? but
it shall not prosper.
42
Go not up, for the LORD is not among you; that ye be not smitten before your enemies.
43
For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and ye shall fall by the
sword: because ye are turned away from the LORD, therefore the LORD will not be with
you.
44
But they presumed to go up unto the hill top: nevertheless the ark of the covenant of
the LORD, and Moses, departed not out of the camp.
45
Then the Amalekites came down, and the Canaanites which dwelt in that hill, and
smote them, and discomfited them, even unto Hormah.
In Theses chapters we read the account of Moses sending 12 spies into the Promised Land to
bring back a report on the general situation – a report intended to help develop a strategy so that
they might go in and possess their inheritance which had been promised by the Lord. When the
12 came back to give their report, they were divided in what
they expressed. Ten expressed unbelief, and two – Joshua and Caleb – expressed faith. The
whole attitude of a nation, a city, a family or an individual depends on how we “see”
circumstances and events of life. The roots of our action are based on whether we look at a
situation through eyes of faith, knowing God’s provision, or through eyes of unbelief tinted by
human limitation.
Let us examine the two companies of spies. All the spies had heard God’s promise that he would
subdue the nations before them and give them the land (see Ex. 13:5; 33:1-2), but the two
companies reacted differently.
Exodus 13:5
5
And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, and the
Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he sware unto thy
fathers to give thee, a land flowing with milk and honey, that thou shalt keep this service
in this month.
Exodus 33:1-2
33 And the LORD said unto Moses, Depart, and go up hence, thou and the people which
thou hast brought up out of the land of Egypt, unto the land which I sware unto Abraham,
to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, Unto thy seed will I give it:
2
And I will send an angel before thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite,
and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite:
TEN SPIES
These were in captivity to their five senses – they believed what they saw and heard, more than
the Word of God; they believed how they felt in the situation – fear, past experience had not
included fighting giants like these, so they were not prepared to step out into a new experience
where the power of God would confirm His promises to them – they were not prepared to move
beyond their previous capacity in warfare. There was no total commitment to the cause of God.
They were not prepared to give their lives for the purposes of God. They placed their dependence
on their own ability, and thus saw their lack.
TWO SPIES
These moved beyond the realm of their five senses and put their total trust in the word of God,
despite what they saw and heard. They ignored conflicting emotions and believed God’s power
to be adequate for the situation- faith. They stepped out of their past experience, and put their
confidence in the Lord, extending their past capacity by believing that God was with them. They
were totally committed to the call and cause of God, and were willing to give their lives, if need
be, for it. They knew their own lack, but did not put their trust in themselves, but in the Lord.
WHY IS FAITH SO IMPORTANT?
One cannot be saved without faith (see Mark 16:16; I Cor. 1:21; Luke 8:12; Eph. 2:8)
Mark 16:16
16
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be
damned.
1 Corinthians 1:21
21
For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God
by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
Luke 8:12
12
Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the
word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
Ephesians 2:8
8
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
One cannot please God without faith (see Heb. 11:6)
Hebrews 11:6
6
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe
that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
God has put such a priority on faith because in our life’s walk it represents total dependence on
Him. This is why the Lord says that it’s impossible to please Him without faith. When Adam fell
into sin in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3), he stepped out of God-dependence into independence –
out of God – consciousness into self-consciousness. The center of man’s life became self, instead
of God. So God has designed the life of faith as the way out of independence, back into total
trust in Him.
Genesis 3
3 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had
the garden?
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
I hid myself.
11
12
13
14
15
16
rule over thee.
17
18
field;
19
20
And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.
21
Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed
them.
22
for ever:
23
24
WHAT DOES REAL FAITH ENVOLVE?

Faith, consists of three major aspects – and if one is missing, real faith is not expressed.
THE MIND IS IMFORMED
We need to understand what God has promised us (see Rom. 10:17; Acts 8:12; 24:14; Ps.119:27, 130,
169)
Romans 10:17
17
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Acts 8:12
12
But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God,
and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Acts 24:14
14
But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the
God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:
Psalm 119:27
27
Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.
Psalm 119:130
130
The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
Psalm 119:169
169
Let my cry come near before thee, O LORD: give me understanding according to thy
word.
Note: An informed mind alone does not guarantee an expression of real faith (see James 2:19)
James 2:19
19
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and
tremble.
THE EMOTIONS ARE STIRRED
In “Repentance”, one experiences the emotion of “godly sorrow” (II Cor. 7:10). This is
understandable, since repentance has to do with sin, which has estranged us from God and once
wrought havoc in our lives. In “Faith”, we experience “joy” and “gladness”. This is proper, since
through faith we enter into all the rich blessing of God’s great salvation.
Note: An informed mind and stirred emotions do not guarantee saving faith. (Matt. 13:20, 21)
2 Corinthians 7:10
10
For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow
of the world worketh death.
Matthew 13:20
20
But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word,
and anon with joy receiveth it;
Matthew 13:21
21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or
persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
THE WILL IS COMMITTED
Hearing the Word and being stirred by it is not enough, we need to be convinced of it and act
upon it (see Matt. 7:24-27; James 2:17-18; Heb. 6:12; Rom. 1:5; 4:16-21; 16:25-26).
Faith links us with God, and is the conviction that the things which He has promised are true, in
spite of the fact that we do not yet see them (Heb. 11:1).
The roots of our action are to be in the two (2) spies (faith), not in the ten (10) spies, which is
unbelief.
Matthew 7:24-27
24
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him
unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25
house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26
And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened
unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27
house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
James 2:17-18
17
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18
Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy
works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
Hebrews 6:12
12
That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the
promises.
Romans 1:5
5
By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all
nations, for his name:
Romans 4:16-21
16
Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to
all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of
Abraham; who is the father of us all,
17
(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he
believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as
though they were.
18
Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations,
according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
19
And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was
about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb:
20
He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving
glory to God;
21
And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
Romans 16:25-26
25
Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching
of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since
the world began,
26
But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the
commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of
faith:
Hebrews 11:1
1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
SERIES: ROOTS
SUBJECT 8: LOYALTY
ZADOK
Three times the priest Zadok was tested he remained faithful. Each test he faced is applicable to
our lives also. As we study his situation and the choices he made, we must decide where the
spiritual roots of our loyalty are found.
TRADITION OR ANOINTING
The first great test of Zadok’s loyalty came when he had to choose between Saul or David as
king (see I Samuel 19:11-18; 22:2; 26:2; 30:9; I Chron. 12:23-28). On the surface it appeared as
though David was the usurper and Saul the one who deserved Zadok”s loyalty. But Zadok had
spiritual insight.
1 Samuel 8:11-18
11
And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take
your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and
some shall run before his chariots.
12
And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set
them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and
instruments of his chariots.
13
And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be
bakers.
14
And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of
them, and give them to his servants.
15
And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers,
and to his servants.
16
And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young
men, and your asses, and put them to his work.
17
He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.
18
And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you;
and the LORD will not hear you in that day.
1 Samuel 30:9
9
So David went, he and the six hundred men that were with him, and came to the brook
Besor, where those that were left behind stayed.
1 Chronicles 12:23-28
23
And these are the numbers of the bands that were ready armed to the war, and came to
David to Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the LORD.
24
The children of Judah that bare shield and spear were six thousand and eight hundred,
ready armed to the war.
25
Of the children of Simeon, mighty men of valour for the war, seven thousand and one
hundred.
26
Of the children of Levi four thousand and six hundred.
27
And Jehoiada was the leader of the Aaronites, and with him were three thousand and
seven hundred;
28
And Zadok, a young man mighty of valour, and of his father's house twenty and two
captains.
SAUL – TRADITION
Saul was made king because Israel wanted to follow the tradition of all the other nations (I Sam.
8:5-20). Saul was chosen because of his outward appearance (I Sam. 9:2, 15-17). Saul was a
man-made king, placed on the throne by the people (I Sam. 11:15). The anointing of the Holy
Spirit had left him because of his disobedience to the Lord (I Sam. 15:2-3, 7-23, 28-35; 18:12).
1 Samuel 8:5-20
5
And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make
us a king to judge us like all the nations.
6
But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And
Samuel prayed unto the LORD.
7
And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they
say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not
reign over them.
8
According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up
out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other
gods, so do they also unto thee.
9
Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and
shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.
10
And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king.
11
And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take
your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and
some shall run before his chariots.
12
And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set
them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and
instruments of his chariots.
13
And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be
bakers.
14
And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of
them, and give them to his servants.
15
And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers,
and to his servants.
16
And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young
men, and your asses, and put them to his work.
17
He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.
18
And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you;
and the LORD will not hear you in that day.
19
Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but
we will have a king over us;
20
That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out
before us, and fight our battles.
1 Samuel 9:15-17
15
Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying,
16
To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou
shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of
the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come
unto me.
17
And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to
thee of! this same shall reign over my people.
1 Samuel 15:28-35
28
And Samuel said unto him, The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this
day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou.
29
And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should
repent.
30
Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my
people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God.
31
So Samuel turned again after Saul; and Saul worshipped the LORD.
32
Then said Samuel, Bring ye hither to me Agag the king of the Amalekites. And Agag
came unto him delicately. And Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is past.
33
And Samuel said, As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be
childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal.
34
Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul.
35
And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel
mourned for Saul: and the LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.
When he faced Goliath’s challenge, God’s power was no longer upon him and Saul was afraid (I
Sam. 17:10-11).
1 Samuel 17:10-11
10
And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may
fight together.
11
When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and
greatly afraid.
DAVID – THE ANOINTING
The Lord chose David to be king because he was a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22; I
Sam. 16:6-7, 12). David loved God with all his might (Ps. 27:4; 63:1-8). He was king by the
word of the Lord (I Sam. 16:1; Ps. 89:20). David was anointed as king when he was still caring
for his father’s sheep, but God’s Spirit was upon him from that moment (I Sam. 16:13). Through
God’s power he killed a lion and a bear (I Sam. 17:34-37), and faced Goliath (I Sam. 17:40-52;
18:12, 28).
Acts 13:22
22
And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom
also he gave their testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after
mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.
1 Samuel 16:12
12
And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful
countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.
Psalm 27:4
4
One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the
house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to
enquire in his temple.
Psalm 63:1-8
1
O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh
longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
2
To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.
3
Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.
4
Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.
5
My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee
with joyful lips:
6
When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.
7
Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.
8
My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.
1 Samuel 16:1
1
And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have
rejected him from reigning over Israel? fillthine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to
Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.
Psalm 89:20
20
I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him:
1 Samuel 16:13
13
Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the
Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went
to Ramah.
1 Samuel 18:28
28
And Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal Saul's daughter
loved him.
1 Samuel 17:40-52
40
And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook,
and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his
hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.
41
And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield
went before him.
42
And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but
a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.
43
And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves?
And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
44
And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of
the air, and to the beasts of the field.
45
Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear,
and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the
armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
46
This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take
thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day
unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know
that there is a God in Israel.
47
And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for
the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hands.
48
And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came, and drew nigh to meet David,
that David hastened, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.
49
And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the
Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face
to the earth.
50
So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the
Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.
51
Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out
of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the
Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.
52
And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines,
until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the
Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron.
1 Samuel 18:12
12
And Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, and was departed from
Saul.
1 Samuel 18:28
28
And Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal Saul's daughter
loved him.
Zadok had to choose where to place his loyalty. We, too, face the same Choice today. Like
Zadok, the roots of our loyalty are either in Saul, who represented tradition (the organization and
outward observance of men), or in David, who represents the anointing (God’s evidenced by the
presence of His Spirit).
PERSONALITY OR PRINCIPLE?
The second choice that Zadok had to face was between King David and his son, Absalom.
ABSALOM – PERSONALITY
Absalom had won the hearts of nearly all Israel (II Sam. 15:6). He was a man with tremendous
“charisma”. Everyone was praising his handsome appearance (II Sam. 14:25), and he had shown
such a love and concern for the people (II Sam. 15:1-5). But his winning ways with the people
had a devious motive behind them. He had deliberately set out to win them over from David to
himself. He wanted to be king (II Sam. 15:10-18).
2 Samuel 15:6
6
And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so
Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
2 Samuel 14:25
25
But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from
the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.
2 Samuel 15:1-5
1
And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty
men to run before him.
2
And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that
when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called
unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes
of Israel.
3
And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man
deputed of the king to hear thee.
4
Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which
hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!
5
And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth
his hand, and took him, and kissed him.
2 Samuel 15:10-18
10
But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear
the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron.
11
And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were called; and they
went in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing.
12
And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counsellor, from his city, even
from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people
increased continually with Absalom.
13
And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after
Absalom.
14
And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us
flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us
suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.
15
And the king's servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do
whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint.
16
And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women,
which were concubines, to keep the house.
17
And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far
off.
18
And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites,
and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before
the king.
DAVID – PRINCIPLE
When the majority of Israel had been swayed by the strong personality and natural gifts of
Absalom, Zadok stood for principle. David was God’s choice for king, so he kept his loyalty
with David (II Sam. 15:24-29). Like Zadok, we make the choice as to where the roots of our
loyalty will be . . . in Absalom (personalities) or in David (principle).
2 Samuel 15:24-29
24
And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, bearing the ark of the covenant
of God: and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had
done passing out of the city.
25
And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find
favour in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again, and shew me both it, and his
habitation:
26
But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as
seemeth good unto him.
27
The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art not thou a seer? return into the city in
peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.
28
See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify
me.
29
Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they
tarried there.
HUMAN ACCOMPLISHMENT OR THE KING’S WORD?
Zadok’s third choice was between two of David’s sons – Solomon and Adonijah.
ADONIJAH – HUMAN ACCMPLISHMENT
David was old. Adonijah know that Solomon would succeed the throne at the king’s death. So he
didn’t wait until David was dead. He proclaimed himself king (I Kings 1:5), and gathered
Israel’s leaders, all his brothers with the exception of Solomon, and all the people to follow after
him (I Kings 1:7-10, 25).
1 Kings 1:7-10
7
And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they
following Adonijah helped him.
8
But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and
Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men which belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.
9
And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by
Enrogel, and called all his brethren the king's sons, and all the men of Judah the king's
servants:
10
But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he
called not.
1 Kings 1:25
25
For he is gone down this day, and hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance,
and hath called all the king's sons, and the captains of the host, and Abiathar the priest;
and, behold, they eat and drink before him, and say, God save king Adonijah.
SOLOMON – THE WORD OF THE KING
When the majority of Israel were rejoicing and hailing Adonijah as king, Zadok was waiting to
hear from David himself (I Kings 1:8, 20, 26).The Lord told David, even before Solomon was
born, that Solomon would reign after him (I Chron. 22:9-10). David then sent Zadok, and the
others loyal to him, to proclaim to all Israel that Solomon was king (I Kings 1:32-40). Adonijah
and his followers were disbanded (I Kings 1:41-53). Like Zadok, the roots of our loyalty are in
one of those two men. Adonijah was a self-made king with apparent success. But Solomon
speaks of our total commitment to God’s word, and our desire to follow and obey only Him.
Apparent human success can disappear overnight, but when our King gives His Word to us, It
has lasting results. We must be loyal to what God has told us.
1 Kings 1:8
8
But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and
Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men which belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.
1 Kings 1:20
20
And thou, my lord, O king, the eyes of all Israel are upon thee, that thou shouldest tell
them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.
1 Kings 1:26
26
But me, even me thy servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada,
and thy servant Solomon, hath he not called.

Series: Roots Subject 1: Introduction

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SERIES: ROOTS

the seed is the Word of God

CONDITION OF BRANCHES DEPENDS ON THE ROOTS.

There is a parable in the Old Testament about a magnificent cedar tree:

CHRISTIANS PICTURED AS TREES;

15 To shew that the Lord is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in

see also Jer. 17:7-8;

1 Corinthians 3:16King James Version (KJV)

1 Peter 2:5King James Version (KJV)

ROOTED AND ESTABLISHED IN HIM

Ephesians 3:17-19 King James Version (KJV)

TWO REPRESENTATIVE MEN

THE FATHER OF THE HUMAN RACE:

Genesis 1:11-12, 21, 24-25 King James Version (KJV)

Genesis 1:26-31 King James Version (KJV)

Genesis 3:1-19King James Version (KJV)

THE SECOND REPRESENTATIVE MAN

1 Corinthians 15:22 King James Version (KJV)

THE LAST ADAM

THE SECOND MAN

1 Corinthians 15:47 King James Version (KJV)

THE NEW HUMANITY

See Genesis 2:8-9; 15-17; 3:1-24.

Results of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil:

Death (Genesis 2:17).

Broken relationship with God – Genesis 3:8.

Broken relationship with one another – Genesis 3:12.

Self-justification – Genesis 3:12-13.

Cursed life – Genesis 3:16-19.

Cut off from eternal life – Genesis 3:22-24

THE TREE OF LIFE

The results of the Tree of Life:

Life – Genesis 3:22

Relationship, forgiveness – Revelation 22:14.

Restoration – Revelation 2:7

Healing – Prov. 15:4; Rev. 22:2

Fulfilled desire – Prov. 13:12

Righteousness – Prov. 11:30

SCRIPTURAL EXAMPLE Jonah

JESUS WITH THE WOMAN CAUGHT IN ADULTERY

THE TREE OF LIFE AVAILABLE TO US AGAIN

JESUS WITH THE WOMAN CAUGHT IN ADULTERY(John 8:3-11).

THE TREE OF LIFE AVAILABLE TO US AGAIN

CAIN AND ABEL

THE TWO LINES

THE WAY OF ABEL

THE WAY OF CAIN

Ephesians 2:8-9 King James Version (KJV)

Matthew 7:13-14King James Version (KJV)

TWO COVENANTS PICTURED IN ISAAC AND ISHMAEL

THE COVENANT OF FAITH – ISAAC

WHY HAS THE LAW GIVEN?

THE CURSE OF THE LAW

Our inability to reach that standard and deserving of judgment

THE TWO COVENANT COMPARED

The letter (law) kills

We are dead to the Law

ESAU AND JACOB

TWO ATTITUDES OF HEART

JACOB: The tent-dweller

Read Numbers 13 and 14.

WHY IS FAITH SO IMPORTANT?

WHAT DOES REAL FAITH ENVOLVE?