God's Big Picture: Genesis 27

God often uses the evil in this world to accomplish his good and perfect purposes for redemption

Jacob deceives Isaac

Jacob’s life is marked by deception

God can use evil to accomplish good

Jacob Deceives Isaac Gen. 27:1-29

Isaac wants to give the blessing to Esau

Gen. 27:1-4

Rebekah makes Jacob deceive Isaac so he can get the blessing

Gen. 27:5-25

Isaac is fooled and gives the blessing to Jacob instead of Esau

Gen 27:26-29

The reason this blessing is so important is that it does two things, one physical and one spiritual.

First, it makes the recipient the sole heir of the fathers wealth

Second, it makes the recipient the one through whom God will carry out his plan of redemption.

It was so important that Jacob get this blessing because God had chosen Jacob over Esau to bring about his redemption of the world.

Jacob’s life is marked by deception Gen 27:30-46

Esau, in his anger, recounts Jacob’s past deception

Gen. 27:36

Jacob’s name means “He cheats”

He stole Esau’s birthright

Now he stole the blessing from Esau

Jacob is deceitful almost to the very end of his life, but God still uses him

Jacob is deceitful in many of his dealings until he wrestles with God, which changes his heart to be one who follows God faithfully

God can use evil to accomplish good

Jacob getting the blessing - Gen. 27:27-29

Joseph being sold into slavery - Gen. 50:20

Pharaoh hardening his heart - Ex. 9:16

Babylonian exile - Hab. 1:5-6, 2:20

The cross - Isaiah 53:3-12

Conclusion

We experience evil in this Present Evil Age, but we can believe and be confident that God’s good and perfect will shall be accomplished in the Age to Come. Why? Because the cross happened. The cross is evidence that God can use the most evil thing in the world and make good come from it. The cross is evidence that God loves sinners. The cross is evidence that God is committed to his plan of redemption. The cross shows that the wrath that should be given to us has been given to Jesus instead. We received gain from the death of Jesus, which the more we think about it the more we should be astounded at the majesty of this grace.