Dysfunctional Family Extraordinary People True Colors Genesis 27 Dysfunctional Family Extraordinary People 1

True Colors Genesis 27 Dysfunctional Family Isaac – the willfulness of old age Isaac is 137 years old here and will live another 43 years, yet he is “bed ridden.” Isaac is willfully determined to pass the blessing on to Esau in spite of God’s prior announcement – Genesis 25:23. Isaac has a favorite – Esau. Isaac is at odds with his wife. Isaac tries to pass the blessing in secret all while indulging himself. 2

True Colors Genesis 27 Dysfunctional Family Rebekah – the power of the home This is a home in disarray and marked by a lack of trust in each other. Rebekah is at the center of this distrust, listening at the door. Rebekah’s real failure is spiritual, her lack of trust that God would fulfill His promise. Was she to do nothing and let the blessing go to Esau or do wrong so that good might come? 3

True Colors Genesis 27 Dysfunctional Family Jacob – liar and deceiver Jacob can be praised for valuing spiritual things while Esau despised them. You could even say he obeyed his mother, but Jacob was a man! Jacob not only goes along with his mother’s scheme but lies to his father and even uses the name of God in his deception. Jacob bows to Esau before Esau bows to Jacob. 4

True Colors Genesis 27 Dysfunctional Family Esau – a despicable attitude Esau tries to get the drop on Jacob by agreeing to his father’s plan, knowing he had already given his birthright away. His weeping and crying over the blessing is not of repentance but of not getting his way. The proof is found in Hebrews 12:15-17. 5

Hebrews 12:15-17 (NASB) 15  See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; 16  that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.  17 For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.

True Colors Genesis 27 Dysfunctional Family An unexpected conversion In verse 33, Isaac realizes that he has lost in his willful rebellion against God. The Sovereign God had ruled the day and the broken Isaac had now submitted to the Almighty – “and indeed he will be blessed.” God does not forget this – Hebrews 11:20. 6

Hebrews 11:20 (NASB) 20  By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come.

True Colors Genesis 27 Dysfunctional Family An unexpected conversion In verse 33, Isaac realizes that he has lost in his willful rebellion against God. The Sovereign God had ruled the day and the broken Isaac had now submitted to the Almighty – “and indeed he will be blessed.” God does not forget this – Hebrews 11:20. God sees the new Isaac and would remember his sins no more – Heb. 10:17 cf. Jer. 31:34. 6

Hebrews 10:17 (NASB) Jeremiah 31:34 (NASB) 17  “And their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” Jeremiah 31:34 (NASB) 34  They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the Lord, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”

True Colors Genesis 27 Dysfunctional Family An unexpected conversion This may be a conversion from unsaved to saved. It is at least a conversion from willful rejection of the sovereign decree of God to an obedient acceptance of His will and plan. 7

True Colors Genesis 27 Extraordinary People Lesson #1 – The Will of God and not the will of man will always be established. Isaac and Esau set out on a path together. God changes Isaac, who surrenders to His will. Isaac blesses Jacob a second time in Genesis 28:3-4. The wording here shows that Isaac has come to value the covenant of salvation and acknowledges the sovereignty of God and His grace. 8

True Colors Genesis 27 Extraordinary People Lesson #2 – The fruits of deception always turn bitter in the mouth. When we go God’s way, we will be blessed. When we grasp for something in our own willful and selfish way, we will never be satisfied. Rebekah lost Jacob. Jacob, the deceiver, was himself greatly deceived. Jacob was demoted to rigorous servitude to Laban. 9

True Colors Genesis 27 Extraordinary People This was an ordinary family. They all pursued their individual ways with worldly wisdom. This was all in a family where God was still at work and through whom the Messiah would come. Christians are called to something higher, something extraordinary. 10

True Colors Genesis 27 Application Are you submitting to the will of God in your life or are you going your own way? Are you patiently waiting on God, His timing, and His way? Are you going to live a life of self- gratification or Christlike service for the Kingdom? 11