Genesis 27 -- Helping God Out Is Usually NOT In His Timing

While Rebekah had been pregnant with her twin boys, God Himself had promised her that Jacob would get the firstborn’s blessing even though Esau was the firstborn.  She seemed to believe God needed her help in accomplishing this.

Also, as the boys grew up, their parents’ favoritism for one over the other laid the groundwork for all of the problems they would experience in this chapter.

A third event occurred in this chapter that, combined with the other two, brought things to a head in Isaac’s home.  Isaac turned 137 (the age at which his brother had died) and he believed he would probably die in the near future (he ended up living 43 more years).  He therefore decided to issue his paternal blessing to Esau, and sent him out to prepare for it.  Rebekah overheard his plans and conspired with Jacob to deceive her husband so that Jacob could steal the blessing by impersonating his brother.

It worked.  Jacob got the blessing, Esau was filled with hatred for Jacob, and Rebekah told him to run away for his own safety.  It would be 20 years before he returned, and in the interim his mother would pass away.  This family was destroyed by greed, deceit, and treachery.  God had promised Jacob the very blessings he achieved by surreptitious means, but Jacob didn’t seem to want to obtain it all in God’s timing and in God’s way.

Father, help me not to rush ahead of You.  Guide me in Your perfect timing and help me to accept it when You slow things down for my best.  Also keep me ever mindful that the end never justifies the means.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford