BETTER TOGETHER NIGHTS — 22nd and 29th
SERIES: The Gospel in Genesis
TEXT: Genesis 27:1-8; 14-34
MESSAGE: “The Blessing of God”
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“In the womb he took his brother by the heel, and in his manhood he strove with God.” — Hosea 12:3
“Search #blessed on Instagram, and you will find more than 100 million posts. The hashtag highlights pictures of beautiful places, toned bodies, new babies, graduations, successes, and abundance. Scrolling down, you’ll see recent business startups, wonderful technology, new marriages, and fancy cars.”…and then she says, “Imagine, instead, opening your Instagram feed and reading a story about a woman who has just lost her job. In her post she wonders how she’ll cover her next mortgage payment, how she’ll get school supplies for her children, and how she’ll pay for the repair her car desperately needs. What should her hashtag be? #notblessed?”
— Christine Gordon
“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man!” — Luke 6:20–22 To understand God’s blessing, we must ask three questions: (1. What is the blessing? 2. Why is blessing needed? 3. How is blessing given?)
- What is the blessing? (v. 1-8)
“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.” 2 He said, “Behold, I am old; I do not know the day of my death. 3 Now then, take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me, 4 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.” 5 Now Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to his son Esau. So when Esau went to the field to hunt for game and bring it, 6 Rebekah said to her son Jacob, “I heard your father speak to your brother Esau, 7 ‘Bring me game and prepare for me delicious food, that I may eat it and bless you before the Lord before I die.’ 8 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice as I command you.”
“When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents. 28 Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.” — Genesis 25:27
- Why is blessing needed? (v. 14-19)
“…his mother prepared delicious food, such as his father loved. 15 Then Rebekah took the best garments of Esau her older son, which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob her younger son. 16 And the skins of the young goats she put on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck. 17 And she put the delicious food and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.18 So he went in to his father and said, “My father.” And he said, “Here I am. Who are you, my son?” 19 Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn. I have done as you told me; now sit up and eat of my game, that your soul may bless me.”
- “It doesn’t matter whether you’re the chosen child or not, the perception of unequal treatment has damaging effects for all siblings.” — Dr. Karl Pillemer
- “I see patients who, even well into their 50s, carry feelings about being the favored or unfavored child. I have a patient in his 60s whose mom is still alive. He still feels slighted when his elderly mom needs something and turns to his sister. He still wants to be seen as special to his mother.” — Dr. Ellen Weber Libby
- How is God’s blessing given? (v. 30-34)
“As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, when Jacob had scarcely gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, Esau his brother came in from his hunting. 31 He also prepared delicious food and brought it to his father. And he said to his father, “Let my father arise and eat of his son’s game, that you may bless me.” 32 His father Isaac said to him, “Who are you?” He answered, “I am your son, your firstborn, Esau.” 33 Then Isaac trembled very violently and said, “Who was it then that hunted game and brought it to me, and I ate it all before you came, and I have blessed him? Yes, and he shall be blessed.” 34 As soon as Esau heard the words of his father, he cried out with an exceedingly great and bitter cry and said to his father, “Bless me, even me also, O my father!”
Genesis 25:23: “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.”
“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.” — Proverbs 19:21
“Isaac’s yea, and he shall be blessed expresses more than mere belief that the spoken word is self-fulfilling: he knows he’s been fighting against God, as Esau has, and he accepts defeat.” — Derek Kidner
“Keep me as the apple of your eye…” (Psalm 17:8)
Takeaways: Let me ask three questions to help apply this…
- Are you living authentically?
- Do you believe God works through grace?
- Could you believe that God is pleased with you?
“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree…” – Galatians 3:13
