Facing Failures

Facing Failures

Genesis 32: ³ Then Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother in the land of Seir, the country of Edom. ⁴ And he commanded them, saying, “Speak thus to my lord Esau, ‘Thus your servant Jacob says: “I have dwelt with Laban and stayed there until now. ⁵ I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, and male and female servants; and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find favor in your sight.” ’ ”

 

⁶ Then the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau, and he also is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.” ⁷ So Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed; and he divided the people that were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two companies. ⁸ And he said, “If Esau comes to the one company and attacks it, then the other company which is left will escape.”

 

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GOD told Jacob to return to the land of Isaac and Rebekah. Unfortunately, he had one major problem, namely Esau. Jacob had stolen his birthright and his blessing. He barley escaped with his life when he left. Esau stated he would kill Jacob but Rebekah helped Jacob escape.

 

My Observations:

• GOD sent Jacob back to a place where he had to face his past mistakes.
• Jacob suspected that Esau would still be mad, so he sent messengers ahead to imply he had plenty of gifts to give away.
• Jacob got “greatly afraid and distressed” when he heard Esau was coming to meet him with four hundred men.

 

Being sent back home to a hostile environment may have felt terrible, especially when it was caused by Jacob. BUT GOD had a reason that Jacob was not aware of. GOD was changing Jacob to become a leader who faced situations caused by his own actions. Jacob knew the situation was very serious so he divided the camp in half and prepared them to flee.

 

Jacob was doing what you and I would do. He braced himself for the worst and expected Esau to inflict revenge. Maybe he thought he deserved punishment. Perhaps, deep down he felt he was sorry things happened the way they did. Whatever the case, Jacob faced a difficult situation head on so he could move forward.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think GOD told Moses about Jacob’s plan to return to Esau?
• What mistake have you made that you are afraid to admit?
• Can you face the fear of admitting the mistake you made without fighting the consequences you may face so GOD can move you forward?

Protection Program

Protection Program

Genesis 28: Then Isaac called Jacob and blessed him, and charged him, and said to him: “You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan. ² Arise, go to Padan Aram, to the house of Bethuel your mother’s father; and take yourself a wife from there of the daughters of Laban your mother’s brother.

³ “May God Almighty bless you,

And make you fruitful and multiply you,

That you may be an assembly of peoples;

⁴ And give you the blessing of Abraham,

To you and your descendants with you,

That you may inherit the land

In which you are a stranger,

Which God gave to Abraham.”

⁵ So Isaac sent Jacob away, and he went to Padan Aram, to Laban the son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, the mother of Jacob and Esau.

 

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Isaac was aware that Jacob had lied and stolen Esau’s blessing. But it was too late. He did not want Jacob to marry a Hittite woman, known as the daughters of Canaan. He sent Jacob away.

 

My Observations:

• Isaac blessed Jacob again, asking GOD to make him fruitful and multiply him.
• Isaac blessed Jacob with the ability to gather people.
• Isaac blessed Jacob with the blessing of his father Abraham, which came directly from GOD.

 

Undeservingly, Jacob accepted the blessing and went to Rebekah’s brother Laban. GOD was clear that Laban was Rebakah’s relative. HE was also clear that Rebekah was the mother of Jacob and Esau.  This is the first time their names are mentioned together and Jacob’s name is mentioned first.

 

Jacob is being sent away, similar to a witness protection program of today. Isaac wanted him to marry someone from His father’s lineage. Rebekah wanted Jacob protected from Esau. GOD saw the entire plan and allowed Jacob to be protected.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think Isaac blessed Jacob, knowing he made a mistake?
• Have you ever been protected in the middle of your sins?
• Can you praise GOD for HIS protection because HE sees, knows and forgives your sins?

Escape Plan

Escape Plan

Genesis 27: ⁴¹ So Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him, and Esau said in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”

 

⁴² And the words of Esau her older son were told to Rebekah. So she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said to him, “Surely your brother Esau comforts himself concerning you by intending to kill you. ⁴³ Now therefore, my son, obey my voice: arise, flee to my brother Laban in Haran. ⁴⁴ And stay with him a few days, until your brother’s fury turns away, ⁴⁵ until your brother’s anger turns away from you, and he forgets what you have done to him; then I will send and bring you from there. Why should I be bereaved also of you both in one day?”

 

⁴⁶ And Rebekah said to Isaac, “I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth; if Jacob takes a wife of the daughters of Heth, like these who are the daughters of the land, what good will my life be to me?”

 

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Angry at the situation he created, Esau decided to do something about it. He planned to kill his brother Jacob. His hatred was so deep, that he must have said what he would do out loud. Rebekah heard that Esau was planning to kill Jacob, so she put an escape plan into action.

 

My Observations:

• Jacob needed an escape plan because of his lie.
• Esau’s plan was yet another bad decision.
• Rebekah’s plan was to appeal to Isaac’s dislike of the Hittite women.

 

Yes, this situation was messy. BUT GOD knew it would be messy when HE told Rebekah, “the older shall serve the younger.” You would think that three wrongs would make a wrong, BUT GOD took three messed up plans to develop something good. Jacob’s lie, Esau’s hatred and Rebekah’s human plan would all work together for GOD’s good.

 

GOD sees our evil plan that we try to make innocent, and uses sufficient grace to cover us. HIS plan does not include anything evil. HE can see through the twisting and manipulation that humans do and still make HIS plan work. No eil plan can stop GOD. Jacob’s escape plan was put in place.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think GOD told Moses about what Esau said and Rebekah’s response?
• Have you ever gotten so angry at GOD that you wanted to hurt HIM by refusing to follow HIM?
• If you know there are parts of GOD’s word you refuse to follow, will you ask HIM to help you in those areas?

 

A Thorough Blessing

A Thorough Blessing

Genesis 27: ²⁵ He said, “Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son’s game, so that my soul may bless you.” So he brought it near to him, and he ate; and he brought him wine, and he drank. ²⁶ Then his father Isaac said to him, “Come near now and kiss me, my son.” ²⁷ And he came near and kissed him; and he smelled the smell of his clothing, and blessed him and said:

 

“Surely, the smell of my son
Is like the smell of a field
Which the Lord has blessed.
²⁸ Therefore may God give you
Of the dew of heaven,
Of the fatness of the earth,
And plenty of grain and wine.
²⁹ Let peoples serve you,
And nations bow down to you.
Be master over your brethren,
And let your mother’s sons bow down to you.
Cursed be everyone who curses you,
And blessed be those who bless you!”

 

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After eating the food Rebekah made, Isaac smelled Jacob and determined that it must be Esau whom he was blessing. He gave Jacob a thorough blessing.

 

My Observations:

• Isaac blessed Jacob with plenty.
• Isaac blessed Jacob with protection.
• Isaac blessed Jacob with people.

 

Jacob’s deception gave him the blessing he was looking for. This blessing was not taken lightly. It included GOD providing plenty, protection and people to Jacob. This blessing was binding, meaning GOD would agree with the terms.

 

HE already knew HE was going to bless Jacob in this way, anyway. Isaac’s blessing needed to be said to everyone so they understood who was supposed to receive the blessing. The blessing was given.

 

Challenge

• Why did GOD tell Moses about Jacob’s deception to get the blessing?
• Have you ever been blessed undeservedly?
• Will you praise GOD for the undeserved blessings HE provides to you?

Desire to Liar

 Desire to Liar

Genesis 27: ¹⁸ So he went to his father and said, “My father.”

 

And he said, “Here I am. Who are you, my son?”

 

¹⁹ Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn; I have done just as you told me; please arise, sit and eat of my game, that your soul may bless me.”

 

²⁰ But Isaac said to his son, “How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?”

 

And he said, “Because the Lord your God brought it to me.”

 

²¹ Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come near, that I may feel you, my son, whether you are really my son Esau or not.” ²² So Jacob went near to Isaac his father, and he felt him and said, “The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” ²³ And he did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau’s hands; so he blessed him.

 

²⁴ Then he said, “Are you really my son Esau?”

 

He said, “I am.”

 

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Jacob followed his mother’s instructions to the letter. He went into Isaac and said he was Esau. He then said he had the wild game that he was sent out to get.

 

My Observations:

• Jacob lied about being /Esau.
• Jacob Lied about catching wild game.
• Jacob really desired to get the blessing, so he lied to get it.

 

Jacob seemed like he would do anything to get what he wanted. But little did he know, GOD would eventually change his deceptive ways. It’s quite amazing how GOD chooses sinners like you and me.

 

GOD cannot stand sin. HE sees deception, lies and manipulation as a problem. BUT GOD also knows when HE can use someone who has been lying and cheating. GOD’s grace is amazing HE would bless this liar, despite his ways. One day his ways would have to change.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about what HE allowed Jacob to do?
• Have you ever lied to yourself or others?
• Is this the day you are changed to follow GOD wholeheartedly and without fear?

Seized Opportunity

 Seized Opportunity

Genesis 27: ⁵ Now Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt game and to bring it. ⁶ So Rebekah spoke to Jacob her son, saying, “Indeed I heard your father speak to Esau your brother, saying, ⁷ ‘Bring me game and make savory food for me, that I may eat it and bless you in the presence of the Lord before my death.’ ⁸ Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to what I command you. ⁹ Go now to the flock and bring me from there two choice kids of the goats, and I will make savory food from them for your father, such as he loves. ¹⁰ Then you shall take it to your father, that he may eat it, and that he may bless you before his death.”

 

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Rebekah asked GOD “Why am I like this?” when Esau and Jacob wrestled in her womb. She remembered that GOD told her the future. “The older shall serve the younger.” Listening in on the conversation between Isaac and Esau, Rebekah knew this was the only chance for Jacob to be positioned to get the inheritance blessing.

 

My Observations:

• GOD predicted the truth about what would happen, and HE knew deception would be the reason it would happen.
• Rebekah may have felt justified in developing the deception, since she heard from GOD what would happen.
• Rebekah, like Sarah, took matters in her own hands.

 

Using deception is never a good idea. GOD states the facts of what happened. HE knew HE was going to bless the nation that would come through Jacob. HE also knew Rebekah and Jacob used deception to try to help HIM out, when HE needed no help.

 

This deception would shape Jacob in a not so good way. Later on, we will see how this deception played out. Rebekah saw this as the only chance to put Jacob in the position to get the blessing. This blessing would be an oath before GOD/.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think GOD told Moses about the conversation between Rebekah and Jacob?
• Have you ever tried to steer your future using deception?
• Are you brave enough to not use deception but lean on GOD for HIS guidance today?