Selfish Home
Our Imperfect Family • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Text: Genesis 27
The Temptation of Self-Interest:
In Genesis 27, we encounter Isaac, the aging patriarch, who desired to bless his eldest son, Esau.
However, Instead of trusting in God's timing and purpose, Rebekah succumbed to the temptation of self-interest. She devised a deceptive plan to deceive her husband, Isaac, and promote her own agenda.
Why did Rebekah feel so?
And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan-aram, the sister to Laban the Syrian. And Isaac intreated the Lord for his wife, because she was barren: and the Lord was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to inquire of the Lord. 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.
And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau’s heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.
Remember how last week we saw that the husband is the head and that the mother and father are head of the children. Well Rebekah was one of those mothers that believed it was best to protect her boys from their father’s plan.
Recognize that the problem of a disjointed home did not start with Esau and Jacob. It started at the top.
The mother and Father at top brought in the problem and it is seen in Jacob and Esau.
Esau wanted his blessings
He wanted all the stuff he didn’t want the weight he didn’t want the responsibility.
Esau loved the things of the World.
He was a man of the outdoors. He prioritized his body and isolation more than understanding his role in the plan God has. Please understand that living a life unto yourself is opposite the plan that God has for you. You don't get it preacher I like to be by myself. Except your now a father and isolation is no virtue. They need a dad and an Esau will keep them from what they need.
You see this self driven love in how Esau looked at his Birth right.
Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
Jacob wanted his blessings
Make no mistake about it Jacob was the same self driven man. He will have his humility handed to him on a plate. But that is still many years in the making.
Jacob loved his comfort. He loved living among the tents. Undoubtedly he loved the attention and the likes, reposts. Oh wait. Jacob like the
Isaac took his eyes of his Duty.
To pass on a generation that had God as their God. Men who were completely dedicated to the love and worship of Yahweh. But he failed in this duty. He had a lifetime to duplicate the faith and faithfulness of Abraham in a way where his sons could live it. But look at what they became...
What you and I see is this crazy house in total disarray and you have to wonder how did we get here.
The Consequences of Selfish Actions: The consequences of Rebekah's actions were severe. Deception and lies tainted their family dynamics, leading to broken relationships and deep wounds. Esau, the deceived son, experienced profound grief and bitterness upon discovering that his blessing had been taken from him. The family that was meant to be a testament of God's faithfulness and love was now fractured by selfishness and deceit.
The destruction of the home is happening in real time. We are watching the death of the West. One great indicators is what is being allowed to happen to teachers in school today. No one can be corrected. No one can be told what to do. When our children begin to model for us the rebellion that exists in our carnal nature it is time we see it for what it is.
Naturally we will push against any kind of claim to our rights. The home does not exist for the purpose of making a place for a bunch of independent actors to move around. It is a unit that is designed for a specific purpose. and it is all together different than Selfishness.
The Ripple Effect of Self-Interest: Rebekah's self-interest also affected Jacob, who was unwittingly caught up in the deception. Although he received the blessing, he was forced to flee from his brother's wrath, leading to years of separation and pain. The consequences of self-interest can extend far beyond the immediate individuals involved, affecting future generations and perpetuating a cycle of brokenness.
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
You see it is here that we find the purpose of our home. Imagine how different this whole thing would have been if Isaac had sat the family down and said look I have a blessing and I am going to give it to Esau. For the fact that I love God with all of my heart I want to guide our family to love God and you boys are responsible to love the Lord God. Instead the things that pleased God were completely ignored.
Isaac had venison he loved
Rebekah had a God given excuse to usurp her husband.
Esau had an attitude
Jacob had a skeem
The Call to Selflessness and Righteousness: As followers of God, we are called to a higher standard. Jesus himself taught us to love our neighbors as ourselves and to put the interests of others before our own. Self-interest and selfish ambition are contrary to the teachings of Christ. When we prioritize our own desires and ambitions above the well-being of others, we risk causing harm and damaging our relationships.
In the face of all of these mistakes we can look to Calvary and see our savior doing as he commanded laying down his life for his friends.
Embracing God's Plan and Purpose: In contrast to Rebekah's flawed approach, we must learn to trust in God's plan and timing. God is faithful and knows what is best for us. Instead of manipulating situations for personal gain, we should seek His guidance, surrendering our desires to Him. By aligning our lives with God's will, we can find true fulfillment, blessings, and harmony in our relationships.
Conclusion:
The story of Genesis 27 serves as a stark reminder of the destructive nature of self-interest. When individuals prioritize their own desires over righteousness and the well-being of others, relationships suffer, trust is shattered, and hearts are broken. As followers of Christ, let us resist the temptation to pursue our own interests at the expense of others. Instead, may we seek selflessness, trust in God's plan, and embrace His purpose for our lives. Through love, compassion, and humility, we can build stronger, healthier relationships and be a reflection of God's grace to the world around us.