Gen #18Northside Church

Northside Church

Gen #18 Gen 27-27

Jamey Mills

2\11\24

My name is Jamey, Lead pastor here at Northside.

Hope you guys had a great week.

So glad to be with you guys.

We are in our 18th week of our study on Genesis… we’ve called it bringing Chaos to Order…

Genesis teaches us that God brought light and life into the darkness…

Thats true in creation… and it can be true in your own life.

It teaches us that God organized and designed creation… that humanity plays a special role in it… He created a place where humanity would enjoy God’s beauty, blessing, presence and favor (Eden)… but instead of livinging in it, they gave into this temptation to be like God… to decide what was right and wrong for themselves took over…

With that sin entered the world and brought all kinds of brokenness and shame…

To themselves

Damaged the very image of God they were created with. Identity issues come from this.

In marriage

In family

In culture

And with God.

They were kicked out of that place… and move sin drove them further and further from the place they were intended to be… with God… Enjoying his presence, beauty and favor.

That's what SIN Does even today.

One of the major themes we see in Genesis is God's desire to bless.

God desires to bless you. We see it over and over, but humanity sort of turns their head…

And as we study Genesis we realize that it’s not some old, archaic book; it's the living, breathing, inspired word of God that speaks to the very issues we face today.

It leads us to Know God, who He is… what He’s like, how He relates to humanity… and ignoring it… causes us to hold the most valuable things in life… with ignorance and loose hands.

Genesis then zooms in on one family, Abraham, and the amazing promises God gave him… We call it the Abrahamic Covenant… That God would…

Bless him

Give him descendants (as many as the sand on the shore)

That they’d become a great nation

And that God would bless all people through him…

And today, we know that’s Jesus. That Jesus… who came to take the sin of the world… to seek and save the Lost… came through the line of Abraham.

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Abraham and Sarah waited 25 years for Isaac to be born. The descendant that would carry on the covenant… and the process was messy.

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Isaac and Rebecca waited 20 years for their kids to be born… and it was messy

They had twins. And before they were ever born God told Rebecca that the older would serve the younger, sort of odd… not culturally what you would expect but God is telling her this for a reason.

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Esau (Older) was an outdoorsman… who liked to hunt … liked meat… dads favorite… Isaac seemed to have a meat problem.

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Jacob was an indoorsman … liked salad… and making salad… mom’s favorite

And it's so interesting. Early on you see Isaac praying for his wife and Future family. before the kids are even born you see Rebecca seeking God about some of the things she's experiencing….

But once they are born, you see this favoritism that not only leads to division it leads to dysfunction and eventually destruction.

Today I'm just going to give a very quick review of Ch 26 and then settle in to ch 27…

We see Isaac do the same thing to King Abimelech that Abraham did.

A severe famine caused Isaac and his family to move to Gerar… and when the men started asking about Rebekah, what did Isaac say? Its my sister… where did he learn that? Isaac did the same thing… to the same guy.

The king saw Isaac being frisky with Rebekah… confronted him… and took the moral high ground just like he did with Abraham… anyone who touches either of them will die…

God continued to bless Isaac… greatly. The locals got so jealous that they filled his wells with dirt… and that happens numerous times before the kind finally says dude, it's time to go.

People who didn't know God… were jealous of God’s presence and blessing being lived out in the lives of those who are walking with God.

They ended up landing and settling in Beersheba…

And ch 26 ends with telling us Esau married two hittite women that made life miserable for I and R.

So we are looking at the 3rd generation… Abraham… Isaac, and now Esau/Jacob

Genesis 27:1–4 (ESV)

27 When Isaac was old and his eyes were dim so that he could not see, he called Esau his older son and said to him, “My son”; and he answered, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Behold, I am old; I do not know the day of my death. 3 Now then, take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me, 4 and prepare for me delicious food, such as I love, and bring it to me so that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die.”

Isaac is living in reality. Death is coming and he thinks soon. He’s basically blind… and calls out to “HIS SON”...

In this passage Isaac continually refers to Esau as “His son” and Rebekah to Jacob as “Her son”...

Spoiler alert… it's gonna end poorly.

Isaac told E to go and hunt wild game… cook it the way he likes… bring it back so he could eat and then give Esau his Blessing…

Esau was eager… left right way…

We can’t forget that Esau seemed to care little for his God-given birthright… he held it loosely… He literally traded this valuable thing God had for him for stew….

And it would be to be critical. But we all have stew. We all have these things that when we are around it causes to lay down or hold loosely what it means to be made in God's image, and the promise that God has for us in order to take hold of something that honestly in the big scheme of things does not matter and cannot last. I didn't do it last week, but I think there's value in it. What is that for you?

What is that thing or what are the things that cause you to turn your head from the invaluable truth of God?

, they're being made in his image, and the amazing promise is that he lays before you?

Lust, money, attention, shopping, food, social media, reputation, alcohol, sex, house, retirement…

He cared little for the God-given birthright… but seems to care a ton about the “blessing” of his earthly father…

Cares little for God, but a lot for his father.

The God-given birthright was huge…

The blessing given by the father was about (3 areas)

1. Personal

2. Spiritual

3. Practical

This is what I plan to do.

He was giving it all to Isaac

Usually the blessing was done publicly…

This place of honoring your firstborn son… but here it's private… WHY?

I think it's because we see division…

Division literally means… two visions…

Isaac and Rebekah aren’t aligned on what they think needs to happen.

And they behave like it. Vs 5 says Rebecca was eavesdropping. She heard everything that Isaac said, and called for “her son” Jacob and told him Isaac’s plan.

Genesis 27:8 (ESV)

8 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice as I command you.

Rebekah was basically saying… forget what you think, forget what God said, forget what dad said and do what I say.

She told Jacob to go to the flock, bring me two young goats, I will prepare them Just the way your dad likes it, and he won't know the difference, he's blind. and he will bless you instead of Esau.

What is going on here…

What is going on here? just a little more than a chapter ago we see Isaac praying for his wife and future family… and we see Rebeka praying for her unborn children… seeking God, His guidance and leadership… and now… Division. What changed? Children.

Children can change your spiritual and marital dynamic.

Jacob was skeptical. But,I’m not Esau. I don't look like him, smell like him, he's a hairy man, I am more of a smooth man… swimmer type…

Dad will know… and I’ll get a curse instead of a blessing…

Genesis 27:13 (ESV)

13 His mother said to him, “Let your curse be on me, my son; only obey my voice, and go, bring them to me.”

Ohhh cute full grown boy… let it fall on me… just do what mommy says.

And so he did… and Rebecca prepared the food and took some of Esau’s clothes and gave them to Jacob…

It says she took the skin of the two goats and put it on the back of Jacob’s hands and neck…

How hairy is this dude that goat hide is undistinguishable?

The length she is willing to go to deceive is rough.

Gen 27:18 (ESV)

18 So he went in to his father and said, “My father.” And he said, “Here I am. Who are you, my son?” 19 Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn.

Jacob lied to his dad… that he went hunting… prepared it… so that he could eat and bless him…

But Isaac was highly suspicious… how did you get it so fast…

Jacob lied again and brought God into it… God granted me success…

Isaac said come near so I can feel and know you are really MY SON… Esau. Isaac felt the goat hide… and said… It's Jacob's voice by Esau’s hands. He passed the goat test…

Jacob brought the food and wine… he ate and drank… and said come, kiss me my son and as Jacob did Isaac smelt his clothes and finally… gave in.

And He blessed Jacob… thinking it was Esau.

This is rough. To be deceived like that by your wife and son… or your mom and brother…

One author said it like this…

Your priorities need to be your loyalties.

1. Relationship with God

2. Relationship with spouse

3. Relationship with your kids

They are ignoring their relationship with God…

They are hardening in their marriage relationship with each other…

And it's creating lasting waves in the family… It leads to entitled children.

Part of raising healthy and responsible kids… is connected to living out that priority dynamic…

That same author said it like this…

Marriage problems create parenting problems.

Issues and unhealthy in your marriage… translates to breakdowns in the way you parent… and within your kids.

Parenting makes things better. Over parenting makes things worse.

What do we see here? Over parenting.

I am about to lose a lot of friends… but

Over parenting is pretty common in Christian families

There is a tendency to think that elevating our kids to the same level as our spouse is a godly thing to do…thats what it means to love our kids… but it leads to over parenting, entitlement, and our kids becoming idols in our own lives.

This is where parents become controlling… legalistic… manipulation… overprotective…

More rules, more control = better kids.

The guy who wrote that said in 4 decades of ministry, he’s never seen that work.

We tend to get that way around those we love most.

The end result is that you have grown children that don't know how to navigate hardship, disappointment, failure, life, or relationships.

and I hope you'll love me anyway, but this was me. I did that.

Covert family systems are corrupt family systems. As parents, you've got to know that

Families that have parents operating in secret are unhealthy… and will become increasingly so.

Hiding, secrets, controlling spouse

At some point, Isaac and Rebekah needed to call timeout and huddle… pray, seek God and get on the same page.

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Do their kids see the priority of them seeking God together… NO

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Do they see them working together in this… no

Jacob doesn’t seem to be concerned with what’s right… but being caught.

It’s less about honoring his dad and doing the right thing, more about the outcome… which is telling of his heart.

Isaac is deceived and ends up blessing Jacob…

Gen 27: 28-30 (ESV)

28 May God give you of the dew of heaven and of the fatness of the earth and plenty of grain and wine. 29 Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be everyone who blesses you!”

30 As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, when Jacob had scarcely gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, Esau his brother came in from his hunting.

Awkward…

This division turns to Deception which turns to destruction

Esau walks in… without a clue. Excited… He’d done what he was asked.

Awkward… Arise and eat… and bless me…

Again Isaac is confused… who are you? I am Esau, your first born…

And then it says Isaac… this old and blind man… trembled violently…

He was rocked to the core as he realized the deception…

A father’s blessing was irrevocable…

Esau heart what happened… and it says cried… with increasing passion

Isaac gave Jacob everything…

Gen 27:37 (ESV)

37 Isaac answered and said to Esau, “Behold, I have made him lord over you, and all his brothers I have given to him for servants, and with grain and wine I have sustained him. What then can I do for you, my son?”

Esau asked… Do you have anything at all left for me…

Gen 27:39-40 (ESV)

39 Then Isaac his father answered and said to him:

“Behold, away from the fatness of the earth shall your dwelling be, and away from the dew of heaven on high. 40 By your sword you shall live, and you shall serve your brother; but when you grow restless you shall break his yoke from your neck.”

Life will be hard for you… your brother will be over you and you’ll hate it. But when you're ready… to own it and forgive… peace is possible.

Is there hope here… yes.

But as long as he was living outside of God’s will, unconcerned about God, living in anger… with God and his brother… and his mother… as long as he was consumed with it, there would be no peace.

Esau hated his borther… and vowed to kill him after his father died.

That sort of anger and hate gives the devil a foothold in your life; a point of leverage,a home base to work out of.

Rebekah heard about it, and instead of going to Isaac and talking about it… she once again tells the fully grown Jacob… OBEY MY voice and flee to my brother Laban…

A few weeks ago I mentioned this guy Laban is bad news…

It’s interesting that Rebekah is sending Jacob… now the heir of God’s covenantal promise… to the very place Abraham refused to let Isaac go.

Rebekah said I’ll send for you when Esau cools off…

But she had no idea what she was doing…

Rebekah would never see Jacob again.

For 20 years, these brothers wouldn’t even talk.

As she told Jacob this she said… why should I lose you both in one day…

Rebekah was admitting that she anilated her relationship with Esau… in her mind forever.

Gen 27:46 (ESV)

46 Then Rebekah said to Isaac, “I loathe my life because of the Hittite women. If Jacob marries one of the Hittite women like these, one of the women of the land, what good will my life be to me?”

She loathed her life… interesting… Rebekah got her way… and it didn't turn out well. There is a lesson in that for us.

She didn't trust God… forced her way… and it ended poorly. She refuses to acknowledge that she’s caused a lot of her own pain. She and her lack of obedience was part of the problem.

Proverbs 3:5–6 (ESV)

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,

and do not lean on your own understanding.

6 In all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make straight your paths.

How would living that out changed her life? Her marriage? Her children? His relationship with God?

And it's easy in hindsight to see it… but it takes wisdom and a heart that longs to honor God to live that truth before the wheels fall off.

It says that Isaac called for Jacob… and blessed him… and sent him to Laban to marry ONE of Laban's daughters. This… doesn’t go well.

The outcome God intended will happen… but how it happened I don’t believe is what God had in mind… Division… deceit… and destruction.

All OF THIS… was unnecessary. God had already told Rebekah what He was going to do… but she couldn’t wait… couldn’t trust it… she had a plan… and wanted to babysit God.

It makes me want to ask this…

If we aren’t seeking God, to honor and obey Him and what He said, why are we surprised when it doesn't go well?

How many case studies has God given us in scripture to learn from? Are we finally ready to learn and hear it?

At some point, we have to realize the wisdom of listening to the creator and designer of life.

True of false… the world would be a better place if we all agreed to follow what the Bible says? The problem is…

Rules without relationship lead to rebellion.

If you try to boil it down to doing… it doesn’t lead to faith… or connection with God. It leads to legalism….

We are saved through grace by what? Faith.

Rom 14:23 says that whatever doesn’t proceed from faith… is sin. What isn’t driven by our desire for and to honor God… is sin.

Who do you identify with?

Esau - strong, loud, flippant with God…

The God of Abe, Isaac was there for Esau too. Jesus is there for you.

Jacob - spoiled… sneaky…

God works in and on Jacob and eventually… we see him grow up and own some of his stuff.

Rebekah- some faith, but high control. Manipulative. Doesn’t trust God so works the outcomes

Repent… apologize… trust God

Isaac- favoritism… not leading family super well

Make sure your wife is second..

Bless all your kids

Repent and apologize

This family was messy… it’s not just you and yours.

God’s grace was at work…

Because this family was involved it would take time…

But in the end, God will have his way.

Working with God… seeking Him… trusting Him… matters.

It’s powerful for us to realize that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is Jesus… and… that He was active in directing and molding them even in their failure. He didn’t give up on them.

He blesses, forgives, and works… even in messy people.