As The Blessing Turns Pt 1 - Gen. 27:1-13.

Have you ever wondered if the bible was true? If so the story recorded in Gen. 27 is just one more reason that it makes sense to believe the scriptures? Why? Because most societies cast the cultural heroes in the best possible light. The natural human tendency is to view our important historical figures as examples of the highest virtues.

The scripture however is concerned with displaying the supreme virtues of God’s character, nature, ways and saving purpose in Jesus Christ. One of the ways the scripture does this is to show the very real and sinful nature of humanity. This story is an important account in the history of God’s people and a significant example of our need for salvation and God’s gracious choice to give us salvation.

Many of us are familiar with the general outline of the story. The question before us this morning is what is showing about Himself, His plan, His people and His salvation in this story. The first part of that answer is that the Lord through Moses wanted to explain to His ancient people the beginnings of their history and how it was that they were about to enter into the land of promise.

Along with this theme this story shows how God brings about His will even through the selfish, sinful desires and schemes of people just like us.

A third issue this passage highlights is our need for to be saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. The scripture emphasizes this by showing us the true nature of the only people in the world that God had revealed Himself directly to. Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob and Esau are historical proof that apart from a special, divinely initiated work of God that we would be lost and apart from God through our own will.

How does God bring about His will to chose Jacob and reject Esau? And how does He work through evil to bring about His purpose and our ultimate good? He did so by working through Isaac's disobedience, Rebekah's devising her own plan, Jacob's deception and despite Esau's demand.

Isaac disobeyed God‘s plan and tried to undo God‘s clearly revealed purpose. When Isaac was old and his eyes were dim so that he could not see, he called Esau his older son and said to him, "My son"; and he answered, "Here I am." 2 He said, "Behold, I am old; I do not know the day of my death. 3  Now then, take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me, 4 and prepare for me delicious food, such as I love, and bring it to me so that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die."

Isaac was intent on giving Esau his blessing even though he knew Esau despised his birthright and had rejected God’s clear purpose for the family. He also knew that God had already chosen Jacob as the one who would eventually inherit Abraham’s blessing and lead the family. In spite of that Isaac was determined to install Esau as the head of the family and the one who would carry the family mission.
But God providentially allowed Isaac to fall into poor health so that when he’s blind at the crucial time of giving the blessing.

Having rejected the family calling and mission God was not going to allow Esau to inherit the blessing and lead the family. Providentially for Isaac God prevented him from entrusting the salvation of the family and through them the world to ungodly Esau. Isaac did act in faith by blessing his children and conferring on them the mantle of God’s promise to Abraham.

Neither you, the world, or Satan will be able to stop God’s purposes in Christ from being accomplished. However, the truth is that if we could, we would. God’s purpose is to save all who believe in Jesus Christ, gather them into one family and rule them in a kingdom of righteousness, peace, love and worship in heaven and earth forever and ever.
There is no doubt that God will install Jesus Christ His Son as the king of the universe to be worshiped by all creation.

Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. Psalm 2:10-12

God’s purposes center on the person and work of Jesus Christ. To rebel against, ignore or keep the salvation and rule of Christ in your life at a distance is the exact same as fighting against the express will of the living God.

If you are currently not submitting to the rule and will of God what are you waiting for?

Rebekah devised a way to execute God‘s plan she relied on her wits instead of God in order to accomplish God’s will. Now Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to his son Esau. So when Esau went to the field to hunt for game and bring it, 6 Rebekah said to her son Jacob, "I heard your father speak to your brother Esau, 7 'Bring me game and prepare for me delicious food, that I may eat it and bless you before the Lord before I die.' 8 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice as I command you. 9 Go to the flock and bring me two good young goats, so that I may prepare from them delicious food for your father, such as he loves. 10 And you shall bring it to your father to eat, so that he may bless you before he dies."

Rebekah was right in recognizing that Esau should not have been the one to inherit the family blessing. She was wrong however in how she went about it. But God providentially allowed her to overhear Isaac’s conversation with Esau and allowed her plan to succeed. She was wrong in refusing to seek the Lord for direction regarding obtaining the blessing for Jacob. She was wrong in hatching a plan to deceive her husband. She was wrong to bring Jacob in on the deception.

There are times when wives must straightforwardly speak to their husbands about decisions that are either ungodly or unwise. And this was one of those times. Moreover, brothers you want a wife who has the wisdom and courage to speak to you about decisions you can make that will bring hardship to your family.

Men, do you encourage your wives to give wise, godly input into the issues that affect your family?

Though God ensures that Rebekah’s plan works her actions further deepen the family distrust and animosity. Though God will so work in your life to bring about His own glory don’t be fooled into thinking that you can live outside of his clear will and not suffer any consequences from it.

But there’s an even more important lesson we can learn from Rebekah.

At some point in life many of us awake to the truth that like Isaac we’ve lived in disobedience to God and His word. At that point we can’t think like Rebekah and believe that it’s up to us to pull off our salvation. It’s interesting that like Isaac fell into the same trap as his father, Rebekah falls into the same trap as Sarah her mother-in-law. Both believed God’s plan depended on them.

Is that how you’re thinking about your salvation? Have you come to the point of knowing you’ve disobeyed God and now believe that you have to make it right by your own actions? Do you believe that you stand in a perfect, permanent right relationship with the living God based on what Christ and Christ alone has done or based on what Christ has done plus the regular religious things you do?

Finally, be very assured that God is in control of your life. Look how He worked to insure that the blessing he committed to Jacob would indeed be his even though Jacob’s father was determined to give it to Esau.

To Him Who Loves Us...
Pastor Lance