This week we look at a situation where Isaac, Rebekah, Esau and Jacob all sinned against God. Each person dealt with the consequences of their sins for the rest of their lives. God showed that His plan would unfold as He wanted it to.
But this story also shows us several of God’s characteristics: He offers mercy to repentant sinners, He is faithful in His forgiveness and mercy, and He doesn’t give up on us.
Isaac plots to bless Esau behind Rebekah and Jacob’s backs but blatantly in God’s presence. This blessing normally took place in a great public ceremony. But Isaac knows he is sinning against God, so he plans to bless Esau in secret.
Rebekah overhears Isaac talking to Esau. Consequently, she counterplots and asks Jacob to help her. Jacob seems hesitant to be caught, but Rebekah assures him that she will take the blame.
Rebekah disguises Jacob to feel and smell like Esau. When Jacob enters the tent to receive Isaac’s blessing, Isaac is suspicious. But he has poor eyesight and can’t confirm that Jacob is Esau. Isaac is blinded by his spiritually-dulled senses. He allows his worldly senses to guide him. Isaac blesses Jacob, thinking he is blessing Esau.
As soon as Jacob leaves, Esau enters the tent. Isaac feels his guilt and realizes what had happened. He knows that he has sinned against God, but he doesn’t take responsibility for his sin.
In the same vein, Esau doesn’t take responsibility for his sin. He blames Jacob and weeps to receive Isaac’s blessing. Esau wanted his earthly father’s blessing and approval, but he didn’t want any spiritual blessings from his heavenly Father. Isaac finally gives Esau a blessing, but it is a negative prophecy for Esau and his family.
Isaac’s entire family didn’t trust God’s plan and timing. They should have allowed God to do what He was going to do, in His own way. Manipulating God’s plan is prideful; it shows that we lack trust in God’s promises and character.
After this incident, there is great tension between Esau and Jacob. Instead of repenting to Isaac and God, Rebekah presents a plan to Jacob. She continues to manipulate Isaac and go behind his back. Isaac and Rebekah send Jacob to Rebekah’s family to find a wife. Isaac blesses Jacob before he leaves. At this point, Isaac finally submits to God’s plan for Jacob’s life.
Esau still is unrepentant and lives in unbelief. He finds another ungodly wife (this time from Uncle Ishmael’s family), perhaps seeking his father’s approval. Esau clearly doesn’t understand God’s prophecies for him and Jacob.
God wants Christians to be godly people. That means that we strive to be like Him, such as displaying the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control). No one in Isaac’s family did this. But if they had repented and changed their behaviors, God would have forgiven them and helped them be more like Him.
Jacob obeys his parents, and leaves for Haran. When he stops to rest for the night, God gives him a vision. In a dream, God shows Jacob a stairway to Heaven with angels ascending and descending on the stairway. The stairway connects God in Heaven to Jacob on Earth. Then God’s promises to Abraham and Isaac are given to Jacob. Later Jesus deciphers this picture. In the New Testament, Jesus tells Nathanael that He is the stairway (John 1:51). He is the only way for sinful man to connect with God.
Jacob wakes up from the dream and recognizes God’s presence. He builds an altar and worships God. This was a turning point in Jacob’s life – he personally commits to worshiping and following God. He begins his personal faith journey at this time.
From this story, who am I most like?
- Isaac – Do I let the pleasures of the world distract me from the eternal? Do I suffer from spiritual laziness?
- Rebekah – Do I believe God can’t do anything without me? Do I step in to “fix” God’s plan?
- Esau – Do I despise spiritual things? Do I reject God and refuse to surrender control of my life to Him?
- Jacob – Do I tell God that I want Him and His spiritual blessings yet deny God the power to lead my life?
I want God to help me keep my eyes on Him and the eternal. I want to take my hands off any control I want to have over my life. Instead, I want to be more like God Himself.
Finally! I remembered to record Avery’s memory verse, and she was willing to participate!
I don’t know who told her to add the “joy” part. I think I need to talk to her about not adding to Scripture!