Genesis 25-28 reads a lot like a soap opera, full of deceit, family drama, great blessings, and even death. At the ripe age of 175, Abraham dies and passes on God's blessings to his son, Isaac. Isaac is married to Rebekah, and together they are the second generation to carry out God's plan to make Abraham the father of a great nation. Isaac works to follow his father's footsteps and God's will for His life.
Isaac's life and his family is not without its share of mistakes and problems. And like Abraham and Sarah, it takes the couple a long time to conceive (20 years) the children they so desperately want. Isaac prays to God for his wife, and she finally has two boys. Our prayers for others really do make a difference!
The birth of Isaac's two sons, Esau and Jacob, brings trouble and some sibling rivalry. God gives the family His promise, His word, to be with them and bless them. He tells Rebekah from the beginning,
In other words, God promises Rebekah that her younger child will take the lead in God's blessings in days to come. Unfortunately, Rebekah, like many of us, is impatient for God's promises to come true. She, like Sarah some years earlier with Hagar, takes matters into her own hands, showing a lack of trust and patience in God's ability to work out the details of His own plan.
I don't know about you, but this scene, in all its doubt and impatience, has been a familiar one to me at times in my own life.
So when Esau and Jacob grow up, and it's time for Isaac to give his blessings to his children, Rebekah deceives her husband and convinces Jacob to steal his brother's blessing. It's clearly wrong.
As I read through these lies, it makes me mad, and I feel so sorry for Esau. And in the end, Jacob still gets what he doesn't deserve. He gets his father's blessing and God's. Rebekah gets her way, and Esau and Isaac are hurt by the whole situation. It just seems so unfair that I don't understand the story at this point.
So, this is where I stop and start talking to God. I think, "God, what do you want me to learn from this awful story?"
Hey, you know what? This situation happens all the time in the world today, doesn't it? When we don't trust God and take matters into our own hands, we end up causing a lot of heartache. That's part of our sinful nature, and we do have to face the consequences of choices we make without God's counsel.
Life isn't fair and blessings abound when we don't deserve them. Thank goodness for endless amounts of grace. That's why God's sovereignty and love for us are so powerful.
Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, and Esau's family story shows us that even though we are not perfect (in fact very selfish), God is able to work both our good and bad choices for His glory. We save ourselves from a lot of grief when we are willing to rely on Him rather than ourselves and our own perspectives.
Are there any areas of your life in which you need to let go and trust God more?
We will see how God continues to work in Jacob's life, strengthening his faith, despite his terrible mistake, in chapters to come...
A prayer for today-
In Christ's love,
*This post is part of A Mind-Maker-Upper's Everyday Reading Project. Click here to read more.
Isaac's life and his family is not without its share of mistakes and problems. And like Abraham and Sarah, it takes the couple a long time to conceive (20 years) the children they so desperately want. Isaac prays to God for his wife, and she finally has two boys. Our prayers for others really do make a difference!
The birth of Isaac's two sons, Esau and Jacob, brings trouble and some sibling rivalry. God gives the family His promise, His word, to be with them and bless them. He tells Rebekah from the beginning,
23 The Lord said to her,
“Two nations are in your womb,
and two peoples from within you will be separated;
one people will be stronger than the other,
and the older will serve the younger.”
In other words, God promises Rebekah that her younger child will take the lead in God's blessings in days to come. Unfortunately, Rebekah, like many of us, is impatient for God's promises to come true. She, like Sarah some years earlier with Hagar, takes matters into her own hands, showing a lack of trust and patience in God's ability to work out the details of His own plan.
I don't know about you, but this scene, in all its doubt and impatience, has been a familiar one to me at times in my own life.
So when Esau and Jacob grow up, and it's time for Isaac to give his blessings to his children, Rebekah deceives her husband and convinces Jacob to steal his brother's blessing. It's clearly wrong.
As I read through these lies, it makes me mad, and I feel so sorry for Esau. And in the end, Jacob still gets what he doesn't deserve. He gets his father's blessing and God's. Rebekah gets her way, and Esau and Isaac are hurt by the whole situation. It just seems so unfair that I don't understand the story at this point.
So, this is where I stop and start talking to God. I think, "God, what do you want me to learn from this awful story?"
Hey, you know what? This situation happens all the time in the world today, doesn't it? When we don't trust God and take matters into our own hands, we end up causing a lot of heartache. That's part of our sinful nature, and we do have to face the consequences of choices we make without God's counsel.
Life isn't fair and blessings abound when we don't deserve them. Thank goodness for endless amounts of grace. That's why God's sovereignty and love for us are so powerful.
Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, and Esau's family story shows us that even though we are not perfect (in fact very selfish), God is able to work both our good and bad choices for His glory. We save ourselves from a lot of grief when we are willing to rely on Him rather than ourselves and our own perspectives.
Are there any areas of your life in which you need to let go and trust God more?
We will see how God continues to work in Jacob's life, strengthening his faith, despite his terrible mistake, in chapters to come...
A prayer for today-
Dear God,
Thank You for Your complete sovereignty over Your creation. Forgive me for being so impatient as You work out Your will in my life. Help me to wait on You and Your timing. ___________ is really weighing on my mind today. I trust You with all my uncertainty, God. Reassure me with Your love and grace. I also pray for __________ (those on my heart). May he/she/they feel the power of my prayers.
In the name of Jesus I pray,
Amen
In Christ's love,
*This post is part of A Mind-Maker-Upper's Everyday Reading Project. Click here to read more.
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