Do you want to do it God’s way or do you want to do it your way?
Reminders:
- God’s sovereignty supersedes manipulative or godless behaviors.
- Sin has many consequences and sin is always destructive.
God communicated His plan for Jacob to Rebekah before Esau and Jacob were born.
Genesis 25:23 (NLT)
And the Lord told her, “The sons in your womb will become two nations. From the very beginning, the two nations will be rivals. One nation will be stronger than the other; and your older son will serve your younger son.”
Sin is living outside of the will of God.
- Sin has many consequences and sin is always destructive.
Did you ever hear the expression, “Do you want to do it the easy way or do you want to do it the hard way?”
Remember: You can plan, but what the Lord says is what will happen.
Proverbs 19:21 (NLT)
You can make many plans,
but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.
Proverbs 21:30 (NLT)
30 No human wisdom or understanding or plan
can stand against the Lord.
Isaiah 14:24 (NLT)
24 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies has sworn this oath:
“It will all happen as I have planned.
It will be as I have decided.
Job 23:13 (NLT)
13 But once he has made his decision, who can change his mind?
Whatever he wants to do, he does.
Isaiah 46:9-10 (NLT)
9 Remember the things I have done in the past.
For I alone am God!
I am God, and there is none like me.
10 Only I can tell you the future
before it even happens.
Everything I plan will come to pass,
for I do whatever I wish.
- You can plan, but what the Lord says is what will happen.
- Living outside of the will of God is sin.
“Do you want to do it God’s way or do you want to do it your way?”
Genesis 27:30-46 (NLT)
30 As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, and almost before Jacob had left his father, Esau returned from his hunt. 31 Esau prepared a delicious meal and brought it to his father. Then he said, “Sit up, my father, and eat my wild game so you can give me your blessing.”
32 But Isaac asked him, “Who are you?”
Esau replied, “It’s your son, your firstborn son, Esau.”
33 Isaac began to tremble uncontrollably and said, “Then who just served me wild game? I have already eaten it, and I blessed him just before you came. And yes, that blessing must stand!”
34 When Esau heard his father’s words, he let out a loud and bitter cry. “Oh my father, what about me? Bless me, too!” he begged.
35 But Isaac said, “Your brother was here, and he tricked me. He has taken away your blessing.”
36 Esau exclaimed, “No wonder his name is Jacob, for now he has cheated me twice. First he took my rights as the firstborn, and now he has stolen my blessing. Oh, haven’t you saved even one blessing for me?”
37 Isaac said to Esau, “I have made Jacob your master and have declared that all his brothers will be his servants. I have guaranteed him an abundance of grain and wine—what is left for me to give you, my son?”
38 Esau pleaded, “But do you have only one blessing? Oh my father, bless me, too!” Then Esau broke down and wept.
39 Finally, his father, Isaac, said to him,
“You will live away from the richness of the earth,
and away from the dew of the heaven above.
40 You will live by your sword,
and you will serve your brother.
But when you decide to break free,
you will shake his yoke from your neck.”
Jacob Flees to Paddan-Aram
41 From that time on, Esau hated Jacob because their father had given Jacob the blessing. And Esau began to scheme: “I will soon be mourning my father’s death. Then I will kill my brother, Jacob.”
42 But Rebekah heard about Esau’s plans. So she sent for Jacob and told him, “Listen, Esau is consoling himself by plotting to kill you. 43 So listen carefully, my son. Get ready and flee to my brother, Laban, in Haran. 44 Stay there with him until your brother cools off. 45 When he calms down and forgets what you have done to him, I will send for you to come back. Why should I lose both of you in one day?”
46 Then Rebekah said to Isaac, “I’m sick and tired of these local Hittite women! I would rather die than see Jacob marry one of them.”
Examine the Scriptures
Genesis 27:30-46 (NLT)
30 As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, and almost before Jacob had left his father, Esau returned from his hunt. 31 Esau prepared a delicious meal and brought it to his father. Then he said, “Sit up, my father, and eat my wild game so you can give me your blessing.”
This was not God’s will for Esau.
32 But Isaac asked him, “Who are you?”
Esau replied, “It’s your son, your firstborn son, Esau.”
33 Isaac began to tremble uncontrollably
Isaac was sensing the reality of his actions. Isaac was remembering what God had said.
A phrase I like to say is “busted’.
and said, “Then who just served me wild game? I have already eaten it, and I blessed him just before you came.
And yes, that blessing must stand!”
That blessing must stand.
- Isaac’s blessing to Jacob must stand.
Isaac knew what had happened.
Isaac had to know that he had been tampering with God’s plan.
Isaac knew that he was wrong in wanting Esau to receive the blessing.
Isaac knew that the blessing was really from God and not from him.
- It was God’s will for Jacob to receive the blessing.
God’s blessing to Jacob.
- Jacob’s blessing came from God. (not from Isaac)
Genesis 28:13-15 (NLT)
At the top of the stairway stood the Lord, and he said, “I am the Lord, the God of your grandfather Abraham, and the God of your father, Isaac. The ground you (Jacob) are lying on belongs to you. I (God) am giving it to you and your descendants.
14 Your descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth! They will spread out in all directions—to the west and the east, to the north and the south. And all the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants. 15 What’s more, I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. One day I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised you.”
- Our blessings come from God
Ephesians 1:3 (NLT)
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.
James 1:17 (NLT)
Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.
2 Corinthians 9:8-10 (NLT)
8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 9 As the Scriptures say,
“They share freely and give generously to the poor.
Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”
10 For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.
Psalm 23:1-4 (NLT)
1 The Lord is my shepherd;
I have all that I need.
2 He lets me rest in green meadows;
he leads me beside peaceful streams.
3 He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name.
4 Even when I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me.
John 15:5 (NLT)
“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.
34 When Esau heard his father’s words, he let out a loud and bitter cry. “Oh my father, what about me? Bless me, too!” he begged.
35 But Isaac said, “Your brother was here, and he tricked me. He has taken away your blessing.”
Jacob did not take away Esau’s blessing. God took it away.
36 Esau exclaimed, “No wonder his name is Jacob,
for now he has cheated me twice. First he took my rights as the firstborn, and now he has stolen my blessing. Oh, haven’t you saved even one blessing for me?”
Sounding selfish
37 Isaac said to Esau, “I have made Jacob your master and have declared that all his brothers will be his servants. I have guaranteed him an abundance of grain and wine—what is left for me to give you, my son?”
Note:
-
- Jacob’s blessing came from God.
- Isaac’s blessings came from God.
Genesis 25:11 (NLT)
After Abraham’s death, God blessed his son Isaac, who settled near Beer-lahai-roi in the Negev.
Genesis 26:2-4 (NLT)
2 The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt, but do as I tell you. 3 Live here as a foreigner in this land, and I will be with you and bless you. I hereby confirm that I will give all these lands to you and your descendants, just as I solemnly promised Abraham, your father. 4 I will cause your descendants to become as numerous as the stars of the sky, and I will give them all these lands. And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed.
38 Esau pleaded, “But do you have only one blessing? Oh my father, bless me, too!” Then Esau broke down and wept.
39 Finally, his father, Isaac, said to him,
Words he did not want to hear. Words that sound more like a curse than a blessing.
“You will live away from the richness of the earth,
and away from the dew of the heaven above.
Esau would not enjoy the earth’s riches or heaven’s dew.
You will not live on good land.
You will not have much rain.
Jacob’s blessing
28 “From the dew of heaven
and the richness of the earth,
may God always give you abundant harvests of grain
and bountiful new wine.
40 You will live by your sword,
You will have to fight to survive.
The Edomites fought time and again with Israel.
Jacob’s blessing
29 May many nations become your servants,
and may they bow down to you.
and you will serve your brother.
Jacob’s blessing
May you be the master over your brothers,
and may your mother’s sons bow down to you.
But when you decide to break free,
you will shake his yoke from your neck.”
But when you fight to be free,
you will break away from his control.
Unclear when or if this has happened.
Jacob Flees to Paddan-Aram
41 From that time on, Esau hated Jacob because their father had given Jacob the blessing.
Esau hated Jacob.
And Esau began to scheme: “I will soon be mourning my father’s death. Then I will kill my brother, Jacob.”
Esau plans to kill Jacob.
42 But Rebekah heard about Esau’s plans. So she sent for Jacob and told him, “Listen, Esau is consoling himself by plotting to kill you. 43 So listen carefully, my son. Get ready and flee to my brother, Laban, in Haran. 44 Stay there with him until your brother cools off. 45 When he calms down and forgets what you have done to him, I will send for you to come back. Why should I lose both of you in one day?”
46 Then Rebekah said to Isaac, “I’m sick and tired of these local Hittite women! I would rather die than see Jacob marry one of them.”
