Let God Take the Lead

Pre-sermon Reading:

2 Peter 3:9 ESV

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Introduction

More often than not, our default response when things do not go the way we had hoped or expected, is to step in and find a way to make things happen

If we try to rush ahead of God or manipulate the situation in order to get what we think is the right thing — We may find ourselves spinning out of control on black ice, so to speak.

Make no mistake — God will see keep His Word (His way), despite our attempts to make Him do it our way — but there are always consequences

God wants to transform you and me into people who trust Him enough to patiently and prayerfully wait for His timing

Narrative

When God called Abraham and his descendants, it was the beginning of an epic historic saga…like none other.

Abraham ultimately trusted God - the ultimate proof of this trust is found in the unexpected instruction from God for Abraham to offer up Isaac (the child of promise) as a sacrifice on Mount Moriah.

Isn’t it comforting to know that God’s plan isn’t threatened by our impatience or our sinful attitudes?

God had told Abraham, Isaac, and now Jacob that they would be a great nations and that the entire world would be blessed through them —

Let’s jump into a particular scene in the lives of Isaac and Rebekah

Genesis 25:21–34 ESV

And Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren. And the Lord granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived. The children struggled together within her, and she said, “If it is thus, why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the Lord. And the Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger.” When her days to give birth were completed, behold, there were twins in her womb. The first came out red, all his body like a hairy cloak, so they called his name Esau. Afterward his brother came out with his hand holding Esau’s heel, so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them. When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents. Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob. Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted. And Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!” (Therefore his name was called Edom.) Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright now.” Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” Jacob said, “Swear to me now.” So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

Prayer

These two boys began their competition for attention while still in their mother’s womb - they struggled together —

Two nations -Divided -One stronger than the other - The older shall serve the younger

God clearly prophesied to Rebekah that the older would serve the younger…it didn’t matter what custom said — only what God said

Here’s the essence of the situation

Esau was Isaac’s favorite son — The eldest son traditionally held the birthright - Thus, when his father died, he would receive the biggest inheritance over his younger brothers, would be the new head of the family, and would have recieved his father’s blessings

Rachel’s favorite was Jacob — after all, the prophecy said the younger would rule the older - Jacob was destined to rule (in her mind)

We have a situation where Rebekah and Isaac (once a young beautiful couple) were on opposing teams

Rebekah: Team Jacob

Isaac: Team Esau

We have a set of twins, each of them only concerned with what they wanted

The story has all the makings of a disaster, with people doing things their own way instead of waiting on God to bring about His will in His good time.

Instead of trying to force God's hand, have faith, wait, and trust God to fulfill His promises

Transition: Isaac, Esau, Rebekah, and Jacob are good examples of the way we should NOT approach God’s will — they are also a great illustration of the fact that God will see His will accomplished, despite the impatience, pride, and sinfulness of His people.

Some choose to close their eyes to God’s will

Genesis 27:1–4 ESV

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.” He said, “Behold, I am old; I do not know the day of my death. Now then, take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me, 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.”

He knew the prophecy concerning his twin sons

He tried to avoid, ignore, or convince himself that the prophecy didn’t matter

He would make sure Esau recieved his birthright (even though he sold it, on oath, to Jacob)

He didn’t have witnesses present — and the brother

Some want what they want, now! They will worry about God’s plan later

Genesis 25:29–34 ESV

Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted. And Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!” (Therefore his name was called Edom.) Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright now.” Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” Jacob said, “Swear to me now.” So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

For Esau - it was all about his appetites - what made him happy

Maybe he hunted a lot because there was a lot of work to do back home, tending the flocks, etc.

Some want to make sure — they try to help push God’s will

Genesis 27:6 ESV

Rebekah said to her son Jacob, “I heard your father speak to your brother Esau,

She was in the know - nothing happened in their family without her knowledge and influence

She convinced herself that God needed help to ensure Jacob’s rightful place

She schemed and plotted

She put a lot of energy and creativity into the plan

She even took responsibility if anything were to go wrong (v. 13)

Some want it all, assuming God will bless them no matter what

Jacob knew about the prophecy

Like his mother, he was not content simply allowing God to take the lead

He had to make sure the prophecy would come true by whatever means necessary

He stole his older brother’s birthright

He went a long with his mother’s hair brain scheme (expand - chapter 27)

He repeatedly lied to Isaac in order to received his blessing

Genesis 27:22–29 ESV

So Jacob went near to Isaac his father, who felt him and said, “The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” And he did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau’s hands. So he blessed him. He said, “Are you really my son Esau?” He answered, “I am.” Then he said, “Bring it near to me, that I may eat of my son’s game and bless you.” So he brought it near to him, and he ate; and he brought him wine, and he drank. Then his father Isaac said to him, “Come near and kiss me, my son.” So he came near and kissed him. And Isaac smelled the smell of his garments and blessed him and said, “See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field that the Lord has blessed! May God give you of the dew of heaven and of the fatness of the earth and plenty of grain and wine. 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!”

What Now?

Where is your struggle?

On a scale of 1-10...

Are you an avoider, sidestepper or truth-denier?

In other words — in your heart, you know how God wants you to live — you know that some of your decisions and thoughts are not God’s will for your life — but you have allowed yourself to become blind to the truth?

“God wasn’t really serious about Esau serving Jacob! That makes no sense!”

Instead of running from God’s plan-trust that He’s got this and He’s got you!

Isaiah 55:8–9 ESV

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

On a scale of 1-10...

Are you impatient, wanting what you want now? “Who cares about consequences?”

Isaiah 40:31 ESV

but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

On a scale of 1-10...

Are you anxious and uncertain? Sometimes you try to make things happen, only to have them blow up in your face?

Rebekah got her way — but she paid the price — she would never see Jacob again

2 Peter 3:9 ESV

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

On a scale of 1-10...

Do you assume God will bless you no matter what, even when you choose to cut corners in how you serve Him and live life?

John 14:15 ESV

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

John 14:21 ESV

Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”

Instead of trying to force God's hand...have faith, wait, and trust God to fulfill His promises