And I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying, Bring me venison, and make me savoury meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before the Lord before my death. Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee. Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury meat for thy father, such as he loveth: And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death(Gen. 27:6-10).
God asks for our obedience in all things, but He does not need us to bring His plans to fruition. When Rebekah was pregnant, and the Lord said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger (Gen. 25:23), He was simply informing her of what would be, not enlisting her aid to bring it about. Jacob was the heir to the Abrahamic covenant because that is what God proclaimed—the actions or intentions of Isaac, Rebekah, Esau, and Jacob had no bearing on that fundamental truth.
But just because our actions cannot fundamentally alter God’s plan does not mean that they cannot affect the path our lives will take. When Rebekah compelled Jacob to disguise himself as Esau in order to receive the blessing Isaac intended to bestow on his elder son, she set into motion a series of events that would set brother against brother (27:41) and send Jacob into a 20-year exile (27:43-45; 31:41). And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me them (27:13). Rebekah’s self-imposed curse was heavy indeed; Scripture gives us no indication that she ever saw her beloved Jacob again.
God used the scheming of Rebekah and the deception perpetuated by Jacob to bring about His glory, just as He uses all things. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose (Rom. 8:28). His plan suffered no setback, nor was its radiant perfection dimmed. Yet for Rebekah and Jacob, the reverberating consequences of these sinful actions would be felt for years to come. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap (Gal. 6:6).
If we could go back in time and ask Rebekah why she did what she did, we would likely find that she acted to prevent Isaac from blessing Esau contrary to the will of God. While that sounds like righteous reasoning on the surface, a closer examination reveals a disturbing level of belief in self and an overall lack of faith in God. Rebekah boldly appointed herself interpreter and executor of God’s plan for her children’s lives, then she set out to bring it about by any means necessary. She never once stopped to consider how far outside of His established will her actions took her.
Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God (Rom. 2:21-23)?
Thought for Today: Devious, prideful actions can never be justified by the claim of doing them in God’s name for the furthering of His plan; His perfect will would never lead us into sin.
Christ Revealed: As the spiritual Seed that would bless all the nations of the earth (Gen. 26:4; Gal. 3:16).
Word Studies: 25:6 concubines = secondary wives without inheritance rights; 25:8 gave up the ghost = died; 25:16 castles = settlements; 25:21 intreated = prayed earnestly; was intreated of him = granted his prayer; 25:23 two nations = the Israelites and the Edomites (36:9); 25:29 sod = cooked, boiled; 26:3 Sojourn = Live temporarily; 26:8 sporting with = showing loving affection to; 26:9 of a surety = clearly; 26:10 lightly = ignorantly, have lien = have had sexual relations; 26:11 charged = warned, commanded, ordered.
Pray For Government Officials:Nepal (30,986,975) Southern Asia • Major Languages: Nepali, Maithali • Limited Religious Freedom • 81.3% Hindu; 9% Buddhist; 4.4% Muslim; 3% Kirant; 1.4% Christian; 0.5% Other; 0.4% Unspecified • Prayer Suggestion: Praise the Lord for His faithfulness and mercy (Lam. 3:22-23).
Optional ReadingMatthew 9