Be Authentic [Genesis 25-50]: Exhibiting Real Faith in the Real World

The "Be" Commentary

by Warren W. Wiersbe

Be Authentic



God made you an original, so be authentic!

Anybody can travel with the herd. It takes faith to be yourself and resist the forces that want to make you conform to the thoughtless crowd around us. In this study of Genesis 25-50, you will meet three unique men (and some unusual women) who dared to be authentic:

• Isaac, whose quiet life made a difference in history.
• Jacob, who had his ups and downs but ended up a prince.
• Joseph, who suffered unjustly but was given a throne.

These familiar Bible characters and their stories take on new meaning as you see God making them into authentic people who accomplish Hs will in this world. They will teach you:

• How to live with people who make your life miserable
• Why families fall apart
• How to make new beginnings when you've failed
• What to do when your dreams become nightmares
• How to enrich the next generation with your faith

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Theology, Christian Living, Spirituality, Old Testament, Reference

192 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1997

About the author

Warren W. Wiersbe, former pastor of the Moody Church and general director of Back to the Bible, has traveled widely as a Bible teacher and conference speaker. Because of his encouragement to those in ministry, Dr. Wiersbe is often referred to as 'the pastor's pastor.' He has ministered in churches and conferences throughout the United States as well as in Canada, Central and South America, and Europe. Dr. Wiersbe has written over 150 books, including the popular BE series of commentaries on every book of the Bible, which has sold more than four million copies. At the 2002 Christian Booksellers Convention, he was awarded the Gold Medallion Lifetime Achievement Award by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. Dr. Wiersbe and his wife, Betty, live in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Reviews

[Ed · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never been disappointed reading one of Warren Wiersbe's To Be books. This one is no exception. I really like the way that Wiersbe really digs into the verses and draws up practical lessons that we can apply in our lives today. Reading the Old Testament is not boring with Wiersbe.

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wiersbe always has fresh insights into the Word! Here are a few:

When Jacob came out limping after his encounter with God, Wiersbe writes, "Jacob limped for the rest of his life. God had taken away Jacob's ability to run." He adds the observation that Jacob had fled from Esau, had fled from Laban, but now he has to trust God for the outcome.

Then when Leah was taken to be Rachel on the wedding night I had never put together the fact that Jacob had in fact done the same thing with his father, pretended to be someone he wasn't. What goes around, comes around.

But unlike his other commentaries I took issue with some of his suppositions. For this I gave a lower rating because I did not agree. Two interpretations that I can remember had to do with Jacob's encounter with God and the subsequent meeting with Esau.

Wiersbe contends that Jacob's wrestling came from arrogance. But what if it came from desperation to have God's blessing? What if all of us wrestled with God for His blessing in our lives? We would come away differently. Most certainly a part of us would have to be "put out of joint", but that would be worth God transformation in our lives.

Then when Jacob meets Esau. Wiersbe says that Jacob didn't do or say the right things, instead he bows down several times. Wiersbe says instead of a prince he is acting like a pauper. Esau didn't bow, Wiersbe points out. Rather, Wiersbe says, Jacob was groveling and deceiving his brother again. I don't see it that way at all. Jacob, who had wronged his brother twice now needed to show that he was asking for forgiveness. These are just two examples but there were several others.

Several chapters were really important for a fuller understanding of biblical ideas. For example when Jacob is leaving Canaan to go to Egypt Wiersbe gives a short explanation of why Beersheba was not only important to Jacob but to the people of Israel. Very interesting. Another chapter that show lots of research and insight was the chapter on Jacob's blessings on his sons. Wiersbe adds a lot of information on how these prophecies turned out. Those chapters are superb.

[Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wiersbe has written another exceptional Bible commentary, this one on the Patriarchs that came after Abraham. There was a little too much supposition about possible motives for why people did what they did, but for the most part, I appreciated his insights.

Wiersbe has a gift of explaining a Bible passage within the context of all of scripture, sending me scurrying to read many other verses. One of his NT cross-references which shed light on the Genesis stories was Hebrews 6:12 - It is through faith and patience that we inherit the promises.

[Wendie Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wiersbe just lets you have it-- and it all makes perfect and lovely sense.

[Alex]

I had my mum pose as a guest reviewer for this book so here is a snippet of what she thought (thanks mum!):

"Two points to ponder - “God is looking for authentic people who will dare to have firsthand spiritual experiences in life and not settle for the second-hand imitations that are promised if you listen to the right seminars, watch the right videos, and attend the right meetings” and “why be a cheap imitation when you can be a valuable original”?

It takes faith to go against the flow and be the person God desires you to be. Familiar Bible characters and their stories can often be glossed over however this text boldly displays the lives of Abraham (very briefly), Isaac, Jacob and Joseph, who are great examples of authenticity, warts and all. Families fall apart and dreams are blown away by relationships gone wrong, while the sovereignty of God throughout it all is stand alone and fuel for encouragement and faith.

I was constantly amazed at the various points the author brought out with each individual character and Gods’ presence in it all to bring about His plan and purpose, as well as His gracious manner in dealing with His people – points to ponder indeed and very thought provoking.

The final chapter in the book is a call to be authentic and after a brief summary of the text really drives home the point of what it really means to be an authentic believer and the privilege through the grace of God that we have in not needing to be ‘cookie-cutter’ Christians.

If the lessons throughout the text are appropriated the reader will learn to not only live ones’ as an authentic individual, but realize that life is a stewardship from God that needs to be invested and not wasted.

I loved this book and am excited about using it as a group study with the ladies in my church. This is also a book worth having in every home library – one to return to often."

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do you often tire of the people portrayed to us via tv, internet or even books. People portrayed as perfect people. Warren Wiersbe has taken a look at three authentic men in the Bible, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. Men from the Old Testament who were definitely not perfect men. Men who had deception problems, problems being fair, and family troubles.

Broken down into thirteen chapters, each chapter examines the lives each man, their home lives and the problems they faced and caused. He also compares the similarities between the father's and sons. Each chapter ends with discussion questions perfect for personal Bible study or group studies. This book is a perfect tool for someone looking for a personal Bible study. It will guide you to be yourself and to show you the pitfalls that come when we give in to our personal choices, and the victory of following God's directions.

Part of Dr. Wiersbe's "BE" commentary series, this second edition of the book has been updated with the discussion questions, and a new introduction by Ken Baugh. Dr Wiersbe a respected pastor and author will guide you to discover how to live an authentic life.

216 pages, $12.99 US 4 stars



This book was provided by The B&B Media Group for review purposes only. No payment was received for this book.

[Wyndy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like these bible studies because they are told in a story biographical manner. They don't whitewash the people, they present them as they are, the problems they faced, how they responded, and how God responded. Everyone makes mistakes and sins, that's reality. The message here is that God forgives the sin, stays true to his covenant and promised blessings, but doesn't erase the sin, the sinner still has to face the consequences of his sin, even if it is years later or the next day. I liked the quote that the author uses which to me sums up this part of the family tree: "Faith is living without scheming." How much better off these men would have been if they had had faith in God and hadn't schemed to have their own way. Having the study follow the leaders through 3 generations helped to show how characteristics follow through the people time after time, century after century. The ponderings at the end of each chapter helped to bring the theme of that chapter into the present day and also to review the chapter. It is an excellent bible study.

[Christy Trever · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be Authentic by Warren W. Wiersbe is part of his magnificent Be series that covers each book of the Bible. This volume focuses on Genesis 25-50 with the stories of Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. Wiersbe manages to take these age old stories that everyone has heard hundreds of times brand new. His writing is so full of insight and wisdom, I found myself regularly jotting down notes in my journal. Wiersbe takes the lives of the patriarchs and explains how God used each of these authentic sinners for His own purposes, but what He required of them was that they follow Him and be real. The chapters are easily read in about fifteen minutes daily and will offer readers a deeper, richer read of the Bible. The writing style is conversational and intelligent without being dry or boring. I'm a big fan of this series and look forward to reading more in the future.

[Amydeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Wiersbe doesn’t disappoint with this book. His knowledge and insight really brings out a lot of points I had never thought about before. He discusses how history repeats itself and we are part of parents generation, but we can be unique if we choose to be. I loved how he presented the information and I will be looking for more of his books in the future!

This is a great study book if you’re looking for something to do with a small group or just by yourself. He’ll have you digging through your Bible and finding God’s Word applying to your life in a whole new way. He breaks the book of Genesis up in easy study sessions for you to follow. He had me immersed in Genesis and really getting an overall feeling for the book more than I have ever had.

I am excited to check out other books that Dr. Wiersbe has to offer now that I’ve tasted this one!

[Mandy J. Hoffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are over 4 million "Be" books in print and there is a reason for that! This book, along with it's counterparts, are excellent resources for the person in the pew as well as the full-time ministry personnel.

Reading this book is not like reading a dry, just the facts, commentary - it's like reading a fascinating book that helps you really grasp the passages of Genesis 25-50. Wiersbe explains the scripture in a clear way that is easy to understand for anyone, not just the scholars. I highly recommend buying this series of books that will walk you through the entire Bible so that you can have personal access to digging deeper in your walk with Christ.

[Clara Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book primarly covered the life of Joseph with only some reference to the other patriarchs. It covers both the death of Jacob and the death of Joseph. Some quotes are: "Authentic believer are all made of clay." "Authentic believers depeend on the grace of God." "Authentic believer's aren't all alike." "Authentic believers know that life is a pilgrimage." "Authentic believers become like Jesus Christ." "Authentic believers make a difference in their world." When talking about death, Wiersbe talks, about in recent years the music at funerals have become more pagan as we are moving into a more secular time of our society.

[Mike Eccles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third in the series of commentaries on Genesis by Wiersby. It has helped me enjoy and understand the stories and implications of the lives of Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. I had my doubts about my own commitment to read slowly through Genesis having read the book before fast and without understanding or insight. This volume and those that preceded it in the "Be" series have made the reading journey a great learning and spiritual experience. I move on to Exodus now with Wiersby's continued support.

[Terri Hardy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, this book was read for a Bible Study, but was so filled with insights that it was just great reading. Knowing nothing of Wiersbe until I found a quote by him to use for the theme at a Women's Event, I am so glad that our church went deeper into his studies. The patriarchs of the Bible are shown for who they are, flawed, scarred people with one thing in common-they followed hard after God.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I find Wiersbe's treatments somewhat lacking in depth and although I don't always agree with his conclusions, I very much enjoy the discussions based on this series that we have on Sundays in our Bible Life group.

[Frans Kempe · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of Isaac, Jacob and Joseph.

[Barbara Harper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be Authentic (Genesis 25-50): Exhibiting Real Faith in the Real World closes Warren Wiersbe’s trilogy of commentaries on the book of Genesis.

These chapters in Genesis focus primarily on Jacob and his sons, especially Joseph.

Jacob and his twin brother, Esau, were very different personalities. They struggled with each other even in the womb (Genesis 25:22-23), and their parents’ favoritism only fueled the fire.

God had chosen the younger Jacob to be in the line of the family He would use to bless the world rather than Esau, the older. But Jacob and his mother, Rebekah, used that information to manipulate circumstances rather than trusting God to accomplish what He had proclaimed. That brought Jacob’s conflict with Esau to a head, resulting in Jacob fleeing to his mother’s relatives.

There he fell in love and got a taste of his own scheming medicine. The next twenty years were hard, but they helped develop his character. “Little by little, Jacob was learning to submit to God’s loving hand of discipline and was growing in faith and character.”

He had twelve sons, but favored Joseph. Jacob seemed not to have learned about the dangers of parental favoritism from his own situation. “The man who had grown up in a divided an competitive home (25:28) would himself create a divided and competitive family.” Joseph’s brothers, in jealousy and hatred, sold him into slavery, took his special coat that his father had made for him, spread animal’s blood over it, then let Jacob conclude that Joseph was dead.

Though a slave, Joseph seemed to have a talent for administration. But even his master saw that “The LORD was with him, and the LORD caused all that he did to succeed in his hands” (Genesis 39:3). Joseph rose to prominence until he became second only to his master. But then he was lied about and sent to prison. He rose to prominence there as well, and aided two of Pharaoh’s servants. But the one who was restored to his portion forgot Joseph—until Pharaoh had a dream that troubled him, and the servant remembered Joseph had helped him with his dream. So Joseph was called for, interpreted Pharaoh’s dream, gave him sound advice, and once again rose to prominence as the second in the land.

And then one day his brothers showed up in Egypt. But they didn’t recognize him. These chapters are some of the most dramatic in the Bible, keeping me in anticipation even though I have read them before and knew how the story would turn out.

Wiesrbe’s title for this commentary comes from his conclusion that, “In short, they were authentic, real, believable, down-to-earth people. Flawed? Of course! Occasionally bad examples? Certainly! Blessed of God? Abundantly.” These people are an encouragement that God works with and accomplishes His will through flawed individuals.

There were many helpful and instructive things to observe in these chapters. I was blessed to see the changes in some people—Jacob over time, and his son, Judah, especially. But a few things in Joseph’s story particularly stood out to me this time. Because Joseph so often comes out on top even when he’s thrown into dire circumstances, I think we sometimes downplay his suffering. But when he named his sons in reference to his afflictions, it really spoke to my heart:

Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh. “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s house.” The name of the second he called Ephraim, “For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction” (Genesis 41:51-52).

Wiersbe pointed out that Joseph could have become bitter, but instead he maintained his faith in God and kept a tender heart, showing compassion towards others. “Joseph’s sensitive heart was a miracle of God’s grace. For years dead Egyptian idols and the futile worship given to them had surrounded Joseph, yet he had maintained his faith in God and a heart tender toward his own people. He could have hardened his heart by nursing grudges, but he preferred to forgive and leave the past with God (41: 50–52).”

Then, as often as I have pored over the Scriptures about suffering and reconciled myself to the fact that it’s a tool God uses in wisdom and love, I find myself still asking “Why?” sometimes. I wondered why Joseph had to go through all he did when he was one of the “good guys.” But Wiesrbe pointed out that if Joseph had remained at home as the favored son, he might have grown up into a very different kind of person.

Being a victorious Christian doesn’t mean escaping the difficulties of life and enjoying only carefree days. Rather, it means walking with God by faith, knowing that He is with us and trusting Him to help us for our good and His glory no matter what difficulties He permits to come our way. The maturing Christian doesn’t pray, “How can I get out of this?” but “What can I get out of this?”

The book of Genesis provides for a rich study. I enjoyed Dr. Wiersbe’s aid on this trek through the book.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be authentic was a helpful guide to the final chapters of Genesis. It starts after Sarah dies and Isaac marries Rebekah. It end with the deaths of Jacob and Joseph.

Wiersbe includes a lot of historical facts in his commentaries. It was helpful to know what was going on behind the story. He never references Apocrypha though. Some of those books also contain historical information.

This book in the Be series contained a summary. Reading through the commentary, I didn't know why it was called Be Authentic. But the summary explained that it means to be a true believer in God. Like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph, we can take God at His word and act on what He says. God's words are trustworthy and He has a plan for each of us.

Joseph believed God and was able to survive and be trained for greater things by his experiences in Egypt. He fulfilled his purpose and part in God's plan. His brothers demonstrated what people are like without God. But Joseph showed how forgiveness and belief and love and wisdom are possible with God.

Be Authentic is about believing God and following God's ways. Joseph did that. He depended on God and God saved him, his family and the world through him.

[Laura The Book Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved reading and studying about the biblical patriarchs. This was a quote out of the book about Jacob that I agree with.

"It's too bad that Christians in general have adopted Esau's prejudiced view of Jacob and characterized him as a crafty deceiver who was always trying to swindle somebody. Jacob was wrong in deceiving his father, but he was right in believing God's Word and knowing that the covenant blessing was his. He didn't steal the birthright: he bought it. He was a diligent man who worked hard for fourteen years to get his wives and another six years to acquire his flocks and herds, and it was Laban who defrauded Jacob, not Jacob who robbed Laban. He was not a perfect man of faith who became "Israel," a prince with God. Many times in Scripture God deigned to call Himself 'the God of Jacob' and 'the God of Israel.' At no time do we find God rebuking Jacob for cheating somebody. Quite the contrary, throughout Jacob's life, God fulfilled the basic meaning of his name, 'God will protect,'...

[Alana · Rating 4 out of 5]

It only took me so long to finish this because I have been very slowly making my way through Genesis and materials about it (and because I have book ADD and easily get distracted). As usual, Weirsbe's commentary is easily accessible, informative, helpful, and thought-provoking. I don't agree with all of his premises, but I do with most, and those that I don't, at least provide food for thought as I continue to study and ponder.

These are good introductions into deepening one's understanding of Scriptures in a time when we are so far removed from the time and place and the people to whom they were written.

[Mallory · Rating 4 out of 5]

Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph are the focus in this final book of the Genesis study. I believe this is the first time I have read through Genesis while both enjoying it and understanding it more. Wiersbe has a knack for shining lights into even the darkest and bleakest of corners. I feel like I can tackle some of the more difficult books of the Bible with his commentaries now! The biggest takeaway from this book and the two preceding volumes is simply that God works through very flawed human beings to accomplish His greater purposes. Mistakes and bad choices are not the end. They lead to consequences, of course, but they do not finish a story.

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another absolutely fantastic study from Dr. Wiersbe. Hands down the most applicable, readable, and enjoyable commentator I've ever seen.

So easy to understand, so relatable, and provides the facts of MacArthur with the remarkable insights of Matthew Henry. This one took me so long simply because I'm trying to write everything he says down. Every tidbit, every fact, the deeper he probes into the Bible the more remarkable it becomes.

I recommend these studies to anyone interested, I use large chunks of this information to preach, I learn so much and I am so invigorated and on fire when I read Wiersbe. He opens up the depths of scripture., and I am so grateful to get to learn from Wiersbe.

[Rachel Mellema · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book looks into the essence of genuine Christian living. Wiersbe doesn't present an idealised version of Christianity but instead offers a roadmap for embracing authenticity in a world that often values appearances over genuine connection. This book is a must read for anyone seeking a deeper, more genuine walk with God, it's great!

[Andy Febrico Bintoro · Rating 5 out of 5]

4/50 of be series. i read alphabetically.
this book about the half later of genesis, spoke about three major person: isaac, jacob, and joseph. the authentic here means they may sinned but they came back.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found Wiersbe’s commentaries on Genesis aggravating at best. He seems to believe the founders of Judaism were perfectly justified in all actions, because, after all, wasn’t God glorified in the end? If anything this series on Genesis has made me hate this book.

[John C. Whitehead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent study! Warren Wiersbe was SO grounded in the knowledge of God’s Word, making him an outstanding Bible teacher. His teaching has pulled me much deeper into the Word, fueling my appetite for more!

[Jan Norton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring

Wiesbe shows us the authenticity of these men. He shows us how God use them in their weaknesses and failures to bring Him honor and glory. God‘s grace was in their lives as well in ours. God created us in His image and he wants to use us accomplish His purposes.

[Barbara Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Reading Companion

I thoroughly enjoy Weirsbe’s works. He is always so thorough and well knowledgeable about Scripture. Able to show me things I’ve never thought of before causing me to stop and ponder. He also helps me apply what I read to my life now.

[R. Kent · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent Bible commentary

This is an excellent source for either a solo or a group Bible study. It goes into the life's of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob/Israel. I highly recommend this book if you are interested in the Patriarchs.

[Carolee DeWitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book, I was particularly interested in the children of Joseph. It was good to see their influence in the building of the Isralites.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Covers the lives of Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, and the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of each of them.