The Promise Through the Mess

Intro:

515 years ago (April 18 -1506), cornerstone laid for St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome by Pope Julius II

largest Basilica in the world, finished in 1615, required great sums of money / led the Pope to see other revenue streams - indulgences

500 years ago, Luther stood before the Emperor Charles V called to recant his works (Pope Leo X excommunicated him 3 months earlier - 1/3/1521)

Admitted his strong language: I have no hesitation in admitting that in these I have shown greater violence than befitted a man of my calling

In our text, we encounter a the that happened 3 thousand years prior

Gen 27-28 retell the account of a royal mess where everyone bears blame

aftermath of the tangled web - a blessing gone sideways, and as it goes with all deception, it other choices need to be made.

We observe how they view the choices before them - the lens, the problem and the solution

We’ll observe God’s providence at work and the alignment to God’s will where evident

REBEKAH’S LENS: Control

as we’ve pointed out - motives somewhat unknown, but she is the main driving force throughout this chapter

Is she trying to do the right thing or just get a win for her favorite son?

Appears she has been in charge of much of the household, especially with Isaac in failing health

being the comfort of Isaac at the passing of his mother does raise some potential questions about their relationship (Gen 24:67)

1. The Problem: Preservation

Eager to not lose her sons

jacob - death; Esau - punished (death/banishment - cain?)

Two different outcomes

Jacob and Esau to both remain living

Peaceful household without foreign (local) wives

2. The solution: Manipulation

Jacob: “forgets” what you did to him (nothing of “let the curse be upon me”)

‘a while’ (v44) (lit. days) thinking perhaps she would be able to work something calm him down

ended up being 20 years and the rest of Rebekah’s life!

Also mirrors the tactics used to get the blessing for Jacob

living/quality of life is horrible having hittite women around and as DILs (26:35)

Jacob should not get a wife from this land

NO mention of the concern for Joseph’s life

Illustration: like Peter who so often felt he had the right thing “No you won’t die” only to be corrected by Christ

It has been pointed out that in the alphabetical order goes word, work, worker, world. When we put those out of order, we do not act more clarity, but confusion. When we start with the word of God and allow the word to direct our steps you will not be immune to messes, but the word is far more suited to carry the burden of the work than you or I am.

ISAAC’S LENS: Faith

1. The Problem: Passing the Promise

Rebekah’s plea - keep us from have to deal with displeasurable in-laws

He apparently sees the connection to the promise that he carries in himself

This blessing invokes Abraham’s name

the first blessing (27:28-29)- abundance of crops / rule over family & nations / curse & blessing towards others

more importantly the blessings envoke the God who made the original promise

2.The Solution: Trust God

Isaac settled in God’s plan to go through Jacob

Isaac was deceived, but he at least was aware something was up

God works even through the trickery of his family

consequences are still present for the actions, but God’s will persists

Blessing: - Direction

no wife from Canan

trusting the El-Shaddai (Lord Almighty) for possession of land

he has to return for that!

ESAU’S LENS: Desire

what the felt need is (hunger, anger, here: approval)

1. The problem: Approval

Reaction -> He acts only after he finds out that the Hittite women are offensive this his parents

could be looking to do the right thing - sticks with father’s family (Ishmael)

craves the good the perceived good favor of his parents

NOT focused on the covenant God has made - does he even know?

2. The solution: Approximate

I’ll pick the what, way, and means of what needs to be corrected

close is good enough

not submitted to the will of God

of all three examples, this one diverges the most

Esau goes to the family the very offspring that resulted from lack of trust in God’s plan

Psalm 81:11–16 ESV

11 “But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me. 12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels. 13 Oh, that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways! 14 I would soon subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes. 15 Those who hate the Lord would cringe toward him, and their fate would last forever. 16 But he would feed you with the finest of the wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

Application:

1) See the ++Christ

believe in - not just ‘that’, but trust him and cling to him as your only hope

grow in grace - process of stripping away the things that don’t belong and adding through the work of the Spirit through spiritual eyes

fix your eyes on Christ the author and perfecter of your faith - the living Word

“sinful appetites do not decrease but increase by being gratified. The longer our minds are set on earthly things, the more earthly minded we will grow. Therefore we must seek the Lord without delay.” - Jonathan Edwards

2) See the ++Promise

You are not ruled by the messes you experience (even the ones your create)

The Lord is at work in ways you have no clue about, but he is at work through the revealing of his word

Christ for you

Conclusion

Martin Luther - “Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures or by clear reason (for I do not trust either in the pope or in councils alone, since it is well known that they have often erred and contradicted themselves), I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and will not recant anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience. May God help me. Amen”

Luther lived 20 more years and wrote more - majority focused on the word

Thoughts:

-aftermath of deception

Everyone still clueless

Rebekah looks to preserve:

1) Jacob - Esau wants to kill

B/C of what “you” did to him - no responsibility

she makes no effort to bear the promise of taking the curse (27:13) upon her - but she never really could

she does suffer the loss of ever seeing Jacob again

send off immediately to brother until esau cools down

2) Her own peace

More than likely just a tactic to get Isaac to go along with it

Very real displeasure (26:35) hating Hittite women

does not oppose based on purity

Isaac very passive, yet godly direction from him

Do NOT take a wife from Canaan

Blessing is great

fruitful and multiply

Abraham’s blessing (land)

Esau

looks to gain favor through actions

only gleans the despising of the Hittite women

Getting it wrong but God makes it right