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God will not be thwarted

Do you ever struggle with doubts as you read wonderful promises of blessing in the Bible? We can read those promises but then as we look out on the world their accomplishment seems so very unlikely. How can God keep His promises and grant His blessings in a world that is full of corrupt and wicked people? Do we have any reason for hoping that what we read in the Bible might have something to say to us in the real world in which we live from day to day?

We've heard sad stories again in the news this week – soldiers shot by a policeman they were trying to train in Afghanistan or on that massive military base in the US an army major kills 13 and injures thirty more.

Does this mean that human wickedness controls the agenda and is the driving force in our world? In other words has God let things get out on control and is now helpless in the face of human duplicity and self-seeking?

I've raised those thoughts in your mind because this chapter is dominated by the idea of blessing. A simple word count helps us to see that: the words bless, blessing or blessed are used more than 20 times here.

The background is that the LORD had chosen and blessed Abraham. He then confirmed this blessing to Abraham's son Isaac and now it is time for Isaac to pass on this blessing.

And there is a struggle. There is conflict. There is deceit and deception. Who will be the recipient of Isaac's blessing?

And how does God view it all? Does He approve? Are His plans advanced or hindered by weaknesses and sinfulness of those with whom and through whom He works?

Well one of the reasons why Moses wrote this chapter was to reassure the people of God. He can and does use even human deception to accomplish His divine plan of redemption. Nothing can derail His sovereign purposes!

In a few moments we'll turn to look at some of the different expressions of human failure and sinfulness that are recorded for us. God never approves of sin and is never the author of sin but He is nevertheless able to cause even this to further His work of redemption. There are however consequences for the sin of those involved – they can't hide but are held responsible for their acts.

Let's consider the various actors in turn:

The story begins with a description of old Isaac who is now blind. We have the distinct impression that Isaac thinks he is about to die and he must sort out his affairs. (He will in fact live on for some 40 more years and just why he thought the end was near we're not told.) Isaac must pass on his paternal blessing which is the equivalent in some ways of the making known the terms of a will drawn up with the solicitor.

So far so good.

But it is then that the problems begin. Normal practice would be to gather his sons about him and talk to them together (Cf.Gen.49:1-2 where Jacob does just this with his sons.) but Isaac is trying to act in secret with Esau alone.

Isaac's family life which had begun so promisingly now seems to be in a real mess. We have already learnt that he loved Esau while Rebekah preferred Jacob. This parental favouritism has succeeded in splitting the family into two rival camps and we are soon introduced to plan and counter plan.

The problems begin because Isaac is in the wrong. He is set on blessing Esau – and he is wrong to do so for the following reasons:

·       The LORD had declared that the elder should serve the younger – Isaac should cooperate with the LORD and not plan secretly to act in opposition to Him

·       Esau was unworthy of the blessing and had clearly demonstrated this when he despised his birthright by selling it for a bowl of lentil stew! The blessing that Isaac is preparing to give naturally accompanies the right of the firstborn and Esau had already forfeited that right.

·       Similarly Esau had shown an attitude that was totally at odds with that of his grandfather Abraham to whom the blessings had first been given. Abraham had taken great care to find a suitable wife for Isaac but Esau simply blunders on and takes two local women who are utterly unsuitable. 

We'll have to say a further word about Esau but we'll keep that for later.

·       Isaac's criteria for preferring Esau are so unworthy and demonstrate to what a low condition Isaac has fallen. Isaac's interests have become very material and physical – what matters to him now seems to be the food on his plate! And Esau's food tastes so good!  (The expression "delicious/savoury/tasty food" is repeated 6 times and the word translated game or venison is used 8 times).

So the scene is set. Isaac sends Esau off hunting so he can have some nice food to eat. He then plans to bless Esau even though this is contrary to the right and proper course of action he should be following.

But the private plotting and scheming has been overheard and now it is time for us to consider Rebekah's role in what happens.

Rebekah too acts in ways that are inappropriate.

A case could be made that in seeking to secure the blessing for Jacob she is only seeking what was God's revealed will. And yet her whole attitude and method leaves so much to be desired.

Yes, perhaps she is pursuing God's plan but certainly not in God's ways! This is surely a warning to us to remember that the ends do not justify the means!

What a change has taken place in Rebekah over the years. Do you remember what she did when her pregnancy was difficult? Off to the LORD she went and enquired of Him. No such reaction now – she doesn't even talk to Isaac when she overhears what he says to Esau – she off with a plan and a scheme of her own, plotting against her own husband.

Her plans involve Jacob and she urges her favourite son to undertake a risky and dangerous policy of deception. Any objections that Jacob might raise she quickly sweeps them to one side. She is telling Jacob to act dishonestly with lies and deception while at the same time promising him indemnity – if her plans go wrong she'll bear the responsibility!

And as the story unfolds we'll discover that she's covered all the bases: she'll quickly cook some good food – the doddery old fool won't spot the difference between goat and game! She'll even use the goatskin just in case Isaac wants to touch the boy. Oh yes, one more thing – let Jacob dress himself up in Esau's clothing – he'll smell right in case he gets a bit too close to his father.

Jacob sees at once what his mother's plan is really all about. Let's be in no doubt about it – his father was being mocked and such behaviour was guilty behaviour worthy of condemnation and his father's curse!

Yes, Jacob saw what was morally wrong with his mother's plan. But what bothered him was not the morality but the risk of being caught!

For many people in the world today fear of being caught is the only thing that holds them back from plunging headlong into immorality and other types of wrongful behaviour.

And how many of those would jump at the opportunity of sinning with impunity!

Jacob knows the proposed plan is wrong but he's not bothered about little questions of right and wrong – he can get away it, what's he got to lose? If it all goes pear-shaped then it's his mother who will carry the can and if it works it's all to his advantage – or so he reasons!

And so Jacob colludes with his mother's plan. He hadn't taken much convincing – the twister sees another opportunity of promoting his own selfish self-interest and he's up for it.

The Jews who first read Moses' account of just how Jacob treated his father were fully aware that Jacob was acting despicably and in a way that the LORD thoroughly disapproved of:

We read in

De 27:18 “‘Cursed be anyone who misleads a blind man on the road.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

The description of the deception is excellent and the writer has us on the edge of our seats wondering whether the ruse is going to work or whether Isaac is going to discover what's really going on.

The clock is ticking – will Jacob be able to secure the sought after blessing before Esau returns and the opportunity is lost? Is this desire to be blessed a breaking of the 10^th Commandment - coveting?

Five times it seems as though Isaac is going to grasp what is going on – his suspicions have certainly been aroused:

1.     Jacob enters and calls to his father. Isaac wants to know who it is. And Jacob responds with his first lies – Commandment 5 "honour your father and mother…" Commandment 9 – false witness. Do you hear the note of urgency in Jacob's voice – there's no time to waste – "sit up, eat and bless me". Sometimes, often(?) temptation comes and urges us to do it quickly.

2.     But Isaac isn't ready yet. He's surprised that his dinner is ready so soon. "How can this be?" he asks. And Jacob has to think quickly on the spot and the solution he comes up with is blasphemy – Commandment 3 "taking the LORD's name in vain".

3.     "Come near so I can feel you" says Isaac – something's wrong. He feels the skins on Jacob's hands – they're Esau's hands but the voice is Jacobs.

4.     So the question is repeated – "Are you really my son Esau?" Having just been alerted to the fact that his voice is betraying him Jacob replies with the briefest of answers an-nee "I am". The 9^th Commandment broken again.

5.     But still Isaac is unsure and Jacob has to pass one more test – come near and kiss me. (It's difficult as a Christian not to think of another betrayal that was associated with a kiss.) But here Isaac smells the clothes Jacob is wearing and the deception is complete because Jacob is wearing Esau's clothes.

The blind man is deceived and the blessing is given – a blessing that once uttered depends upon God for its fulfilment and can no longer be called back by Isaac.

With his blessing now secured Jacob leaves his father and not a minute too soon as Esau arrives back on the scene.  Having prepared the food for his father he brings it to Isaac and suddenly what has just taken place comes out into the open.

It would be tempting if we were only reading this chapter to feel sorry for "poor old Esau". But we've already mentioned how he despised his birthright and then how he took those Hittite women. Acting is such ways there is no way Esau deserved any better than he got. His pleading with his father is pitiful. He may have been duped the second time but he knew exactly what he had been doing when he sold his birthright.

And now, understandable as it may appear, Esau's reaction is totally wrong too. He decides that he will kill the brother who has got the upper hand over him. To understand is not to excuse.

What a sad chapter this is and what sad reading it makes as human schemes and deceit seemingly dominate. And yet what is achieved is what God had declared. The promised line of blessing continues – the elder will serve the younger – the line of the seed of the woman will not be interrupted or hindered; the most ambiguous of human acts are no threat to the divine plan but rather incorporated in it as the guilty one (Jacob) becomes the bearer of the promise!

But let's not for a moment imagine that human sin and human waywardness is without consequence – the perpetrators  can't plead that they have somehow done God's will and so excuse themselves. They have indeed succeeded in demonstrating the sovereignty of God but that was not their reason for acting as they did.

Sin brings its consequences: I wonder what the husband-wife relationship was like after these events? Rebekah will shortly disappear from the scene – her cherished son is sent away and she probably never sees him again. Isaac lives on but we read nothing more of him apart from his death – Rebekah's own death is not even recorded!

And what about Esau? Well he continues to demonstrate a total lack of spiritual perception and appreciation – his Hittite wives haven't pleased his father so he takes another wife in addition – a daughter of Ishmael, another outside the line of promise. He will grow and become rich but there will be hostility and tension between him and his brother that goes on well after they themselves disappear from the scene. It will be centuries before Edom manages to shake free from the yoke of Israel!

And Jacob, how does he fare with the birthright and the blessing?  Well he does stand in the line of promise – this is the election of grace that Paul refers to in his letter to the Romans – but his life is not free from the consequences of his actions – well is it written that a man reaps what he sows!

·       Jacob the arch-deceiver will be himself deceived and exploited. Laban will trick him and change his wages time after time.

·       Jacob who deceived even his own father with a dish of goat's meat will himself be deceived by his own sons with the blood of another slaughtered goat as he loses for years his favourite son.

Chapter 27 shows once again what lousy material God had to work with. Sin is evidenced in a whole variety of different ways and reminds us that sin, springing as it does from a corrupt nature, does take many forms. We may not be guilty of all of the sins recorded here but one sin is proof enough that our nature needs changing and that we cannot do for ourselves.

But then that is just what God's plan of redemption is designed to do – to provide a means for dealing with our sin nature. And human sin, deceit and deception – however widespread and obvious it becomes simply is incapable of stopping God doing what He plans to do!

Centuries later Herod and Pilate put an end to their hostilities and colluded in trying to do away with a man who came from Nazareth, a man named Jesus. Caiaphas thought that it would be a good thing for this man to die – the death of one man and the nation would be saved. And so Jesus was rejected and despised and nailed to the tree. He was scorned and spat upon and finally buried in a borrowed grave. How the powers of darkness crowed! How it looked as though human wickedness had triumphed and the plans of God thwarted! And so it seemed Friday night and all day Saturday. But wait Sunday came, third day, and He lives! The tomb is empty. Those fools who had wanted to oppose God and His purposes had only served unwittingly to further His purposes and to accomplish what He had foreordained!

And as we look out on a world that at least in the West seems to have turned so completely against the truth of the Gospel and the claims of Christ we can be tempted to think that things are so bad that those promises of the Bible seem like so many pipedreams.

Let us be reassured my friends that the LORD is the One who sets the agenda.

Pr.21:1 "The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will."

Man may rant and rave and resist and dismiss all the claims of God and yet:

Ps.76:10 "Surely the wrath of man shall praise you; the remnant of wrath you will put on like a belt."

And what He can do on a global scale for His people the church – He can do for you!

Rom.8:31-32 "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

Rom.8:37-9 "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."