Hey everyone,
Once again, I just wanted to say thanks for everyone who participated in our EM Ministry Fair. It was great seeing so many of you guys finding out more about our EM and signing up. Thanks also to everyone who helped out from our Core Team, those who provided food and helped with setup. For those of you who signed up, we’ll be contacting you guys soon. Here’s today’s devotion:
Mon, Jan 23rd – Genesis 27
Blood is thicker than water. One of those popular statements that stays with you. Even though you may get along better with other people when it comes down to it, family bonds are the strongest that we have. Reading thru our chapter today, it really seems inconceivable that this story even happened. How could Isaac mistake his two sons? It’s like mistaking Tim Tebow for myself. (Probably would never happen). It was time for Isaac to pass along the final blessing to his first born and so he would call Esau out to prepare a meal before the final blessing. Most people wouldn’t bother to notice that Rebekah and Jacob weren’t there. Why not? More than likely Isaac wanted to quickly pass along the blessing to his favorite which would upset the others. This was his way to shamelessly avoid controversy. But as Esau went out, Rebekah along with Jacob would conspire to take the blessing away. Jacob would bring the food that his mother
prepared and approached his father with the food along with animal skins on him to disguise himself. Isaac was obviously confused but he eventually believed and gave the blessing. Later on Esau would come back and Isaac would be shocked knowing that he had been deceived.
Again how did this happen? First, Isaac was old and his eyesight was poor. Second, no one in their right mind would believe that their own flesh and blood would commit such an act. One of the things that I’ve always wondered was why didn’t Isaac change the blessing to a curse on Jacob. There was the aspect of God’s sovereignty in this matter. Any Jewish father couldn’t simply take a blessing and turn it to a curse. There was the aspect of the serious bestowal of blessing thus challenging all fathers to not give out their blessings lightly.
What do we learn from this story? Don’t trust our family members. Not exactly, but it would fulfill God’s plan that the older would serve the younger and that God would choose the one that wasn’t deserving of blessing to actually receive it. The story of Jacob reminds us of ourselves. Just like Jacob, we weren’t deserving of what we received. The question to ask is whether we grasp His grace and respond in gratitude.
Have a great week in the Lord guys and God bless!
Coram Deo,
P. Ben