As I was preparing for a message on the Family a few weeks ago, I was studying the family of Issac and Rebekah and the twin boys they had, Esau and Jacob. They were a prime example of the dysfunctional family to say the least. I mean you had Isaac whose favorite son was Esau, and you have Rebekah, whose favorite son was Jacob; partiality and favoritism from the word go. Then you have the Word of the Lord that came to Isaac and Rebekah telling them that there were two nations in her womb, and that they would struggle with each other, and the older would serve the younger.
Amazingly, Isaac, when he was old would call his favorite son, Esau, to come before him so that he could give him the blessing. However, Rebekah heard what was about to happen so she intervened by sending Jacob to go and kill a goat. After they prepared the meal she put Jacob up to going before his father and pretending to be Esau, and asking for the blessing of the first-born. So it appears to me that Isaac did not accept the fact that the older would serve the younger, (as God had earlier said) and he was about to follow the tradition of men and pass on this blessing of the first-born son to Esau.
That being said, Rebekah did not have to put her son up to lying; in fact they both took part in a scheme to deceive Isaac. God had already said that Jacob was his choice to lead the family, and he didn't need their help to make it happen. Anyway, Jacob, at the behest of his mother went in to deceive his aged father. Isaac, although suspecting something was wrong, reluctantly went along with the blessing. Of course he was blessing his younger son Jacob. But remember, this was God's spoken plan in the first place. From before they were born the Lord had already declared that the elder would serve the younger. I find it amazing that we often try to alter or change God's spoken plan for us when we already know what He's said concerning a matter. Well, Isaac and Esau didn't like it, but God's plan prevailed.
I would however like to point out a few things about this story. I know that it was God's plan for Jacob to receive the blessing and ultimately lead the family; God had said so. But notice what happened by Jabor and his mother scheming to ensure that it happened.
- There was great animosity between Jacob and his brother. The last words that Jacob remembers before he left for his Uncle Laben's house was Esau saying: "When Daddy dies I'm going to kill you".
- This caused strife between Jacob and his father, and without a doubt between Isaac and Rebekah.
- Listening to his mother, Jacob thought he'd only be gone a few months, but it turned out to be 20 years, and we don't know if he ever saw his mother again after his departure.
So when you do things your way and you get what you wanted, is it going to be worth the price you had to pay to get it?
Stayed tuned; I will add to this story tomorrow.
Mike Sanes
Pastor, The Harbor
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