February 12, 2013
Central Truth
God has the complete ability to accomplish His promises!
"May peoples serve you,
And nations bow down to you;
Be master of your brothers,
And may your mother's sons bow down to you.
Cursed be those who curse you,
And blessed be those who bless you."
(Genesis 27:29)
1 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.”
5 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.” 11 But Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, “Behold, my brother Esau is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man. 12 Perhaps my father will feel me, and I shall seem to be mocking him and bring a curse upon myself and not a blessing.” 13 His mother said to him, “Let your curse be on me, my son; only obey my voice, and go, bring them to me.”
14 So he went and took them and brought them to his mother, and his mother prepared delicious food, such as his father loved. 15 Then Rebekah took the best garments of Esau her older son, which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob her younger son. 16 And the skins of the young goats she put on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck. 17 And she put the delicious food and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.
18 So he went in 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 as you told me; now sit up 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?” He answered, “Because the LORD your God granted me success.” 21 Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come near, that I may feel you, my son, to know whether you are really my son Esau or not.” 22 So Jacob went near to Isaac his father, who 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 He said, “Are you really my son Esau?” He answered, “I am.” 25 Then he said, “Bring it near to me, that I may eat of my son's game and 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 and kiss me, my son.” 27 So he came near and kissed him. And Isaac smelled the smell of his garments and blessed him and said,
“See, the smell of my son
is as the smell of a field that the LORD has blessed!
28
May God give you of the dew of heaven
and of the fatness of the earth
and plenty of grain and wine.
29
Let peoples serve you,
and nations bow down to you.
Be lord over your brothers,
and may your mother's sons bow down to you.
Cursed be everyone who curses you,
and blessed be everyone who blesses you!”
When I read this passage the first time, I was thinking, "How in the world will this have any practical application?" If we were to go with the surface level information provided in this passage alone, we would think that deception is the key to receiving God's blessing! Right?
Today's key verse is at the tail end of today's passage. At first glance, this verse could be a blessing given to any of God's chosen people.
Gather around and let us paint a picture of WHY perspective is crucial in applying God's Word to our lives. Knowing the bigger picture creates perspective. Every day, I strive to make wise decisions based on that perspective, and let it shape my values and my decisions.
Jacob was Esau's younger twin brother. Birthright and blessing belonged to the older Esau. As Esau grew further from the Lord and Jacob grew closer over the years, it was evident to Rebekah that she had to intervene when Isaac was about to extend his blessing to Esau. She took complete responsibility for Jacob's actions. Watch this! What I learned when I had perspective is that Genesis 25:23 had already foretold: "The Lord said to her, 'Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples will be separated from your body; … and the older shall serve the younger.'''
God's vision for carrying out His promises is usually different than ours, or at least higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). I am able to appreciate so much about today's passage when I have gained perspective. For instance: in Hebrews 12:16 the writer says that Esau was godless. Paul said in Philippians 3:18-19 that enemies of the cross have their stomach as their God. Maybe that is why Esau sold his birthright because he was hungry (Genesis 25:29-33). God's promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:3 also falls in line with today's verse. Perspective IS everything! It changed my entire view of this passage of Scripture. Today, let perspective shape your values and your values shape your decisions.
1. In what other areas of life is perspective important? Relationships? Career?
2. Knowing that our scope of perception is infinitely less than God's, how can we better trust Him knowing that He is faithful? (Hebrews 10:23)
3. Knowing the value of perspective, will you be more willing to truly understand what God's Word says by using other passages of Scripture to help you?
4. Can you think of an example of how perspective changes your values and consequently your decisions?