Genesis 27:30-40 – God’s plan must be fulfilled His way

Jacob, in his disguise, managed to steal the blessings that Isaac was so bent on giving to Esau. And just as Isaac had finished his last word, Esau appeared with the meal he had prepared. When he told the father to sit up and eat, Isaac was in shock and unbelief. For he had just blessed him or so he thought. And now here he was again asking for the blessing. The obvious question was, “Who are you?” When told then he was Esau his firstborn, he trembled. He had put his love for Esau above the will of God. Loving our children is a good thing. But our love must not supersede the plan that God has for their lives. No matter how much we love our children, we must help them to align their lives with God’s Word. We must never hinder them from fulfilling the will of God for their lives.

Isaac knew that the blessing he had just released upon Jacob can never be revoked. He conclusively asserted in the last part of verse 33 saying, “Yes, and he shall be blessed.”  What he said was an admission that he could not come against God’s will. He must accept that God had chosen and would bless Jacob. Esau realized that he was beaten to it again by Jacob. So he bitterly cried out imploring the father to bless him. Isaac’s response was that Jacob came deceitfully and took away the blessing he wanted to bestow on Esau. So in bitter sarcasm, Esau called Jacob a cheat as he also mourned the loss of his birthright. As he implored his father for a blessing, he was told it was impossible to reverse the blessing he had given to Jacob. Looking at what Isaac pronounced over Esau, we can see that it was an anti-blessing. His destiny was not dew, land or abundance. He was to have the opposite. He and his descendants would live by violence and the sword. He and his descendants would be subservient to Jacob and Israel. 

Everyone in this chapter did not look good. They all sinned: Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob and Esau. All of them, without exception, revealed their flaws. Isaac resisted God’s word that said the older shall serve the younger. He was forcing his way to bless Esau, despite knowing what God had decreed. Rebekah’s flaw was her scheming manipulating way. She was trying to ensure that the promise given to Jacob would be kept at all cost, even if it was underhanded. Jacob of course was conniving and he was a willing party to Rebekah’s scheme. Esau, on the other hand, was irresponsible with his position as the firstborn. He refused to honor God’s word, so he despised the promise. They all missed out in the one important exercise in this all important moment. They failed to pray. Hence what they created were bitter jealousy, lies, envy, deceit, covet and much more.  

This episode tells us that God has His timing concerning His plan for our lives. We must never resort to deceit to accomplish God’s plan. To do so would invite needless miseries upon ourselves. It will invariably result in conflict and exploitation. In this account we also see something beautiful. God keeps His word. He will do it His way despite man’s objection, manipulation or indifference to His plan. God’s plan can never be thwarted by our lack of sense. He who began a good work in us will surely complete it. Amen!