To My Daughters,
Genesis 27 can be a pretty depressing chapter to read, but I am always encouraged by it because the people in the Bible are so real. The "Isaac's" were such a dysfunctional family! They do nothing perfectly and yet many are still mentioned in Hebrews 11....the hall of faith chapter. And there is the encouragement...God did not look at the results only...He looked at those things they did by faith and not by sight and rewarded them. Our God is a discerner of the thoughts and the intents of our hearts. The bible tells us that our hearts are desperately wicked...who could know them? God does. He sees through it all and focuses His attention not on the carnality and disobedience but on the smoldering flax and the bruised reed that desire to live for Him and builds and if that weren't enough He is also faithful to deal with us as sons...disciplining us and pruning us to mold us into vessels fit for His use. He does it all and is faithful to complete the good work he starts in each of us.
For this study we will just look at Isaac and the responsibility he had in all that occurred in this 27th chapter. Here is what struck me as I read. Isaac had a good beginning with the Lord...he ran well. His zeal faded as he reached the end, however, and his focus seems to be on the things of the world rather than on His Lord.
The chapter begins with Isaac thinking he is going to die....neither God nor his family were on his mind...his stomach was on his mind. Clearly, Isaac's focus was Isaac. His mind was on the things of the flesh, not the things of God.
Isaac knew what God had told Rebekah when Jacob and Esau were still in her womb. The younger son would receive the blessing...the older would serve the younger. He probably also knew that Esau had sold his birthright to Jacob. Yet, here we find Isaac in direct disobedience to God ready to give Esau the blessing instead of Jacob.
Reading from verses 21-27 we see that Isaac was living by sight...by his feelings...not by faith. Read the chapter carefully. There is no mention of him asking God for guidance or for help. AND you would think, given his weakened condition, that this would be the case. He was not depending on God...he was depending on his own senses.
Isaac had the responsibility here as a man of God to lead his family. It is clear from the sin and plotting that surrounded him as well as his own words and actions, that his mind had been on himself and the things of the world for a long time. In fact, Isaac had gone so far as to place himself in direction opposition to the declared word of God. He was trying to change the plan of God. Read verses 32 and 33:
And his father Isaac said to him, "Who are you?" So he said, "I am your son, your firstborn, Esau." Then Isaac trembled exceedingly, and said, "Who? Where is the one who hunted game and brought it to me? I ate all of it before you came, and I have blessed him—and indeed he shall be blessed."
I think, Isaac, in one fell swoop saw with heart knowledge here just how far he had fallen and how long he had opposed the will of His Father in Heaven. He trembled exceedingly...methinks in remembering God's words....The older shall serve the younger. Despite his fleshly efforts, God's word still went forth as declared, but his family suffered. in large part due to Isaac's lack of faithfulness. To his credit he immediately affirmed God's plan and word and here is what is amazing...Read what is written in Hebrews 11 about him.
By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
Nevertheless, our sin has consequences. It does not just affect us...it affect all those around us...especially those that God has placed in our care. Isaac and his family lived a troubled life despite its godly beginning. Live your life according to the word and the will of God. Be blessed both here and in the heavenlies!!!
Love
Mom
