January 11, 2026 - Genesis 27-29

From a couple chapters previous, we read about Esau foolishly selling his birthright.  Now, we read about the trickery and chicanery and flimflam and fraud and deceit and scam and deception (Whew, that was sort of fun writing all that. J) that Jacob pulled and which resulted in Esau selling his birthright.  Jacob and Rebekah, in deceiving Isaac, orchestrated the giving of the father’s blessing to the second born, Jacob, rather than Isaac.  There’s no way we can commend the deceitfulness and selfishness displayed in these events.  Esau certainly found no reason to rejoice:  “As soon as Esau heard the words of his father [i.e., that the blessing had been already given to Jacob], he cried out with an exceedingly great and bitter cry” (27:34).  Furthermore, now “Esau hated Jacob” (27:41), exceedingly so.  Jacob was then sent away to find to find a wife, and he reluctantly returned home, later, fearful that Esau, in his hatred would seek to kill his brother (chapter 32).  Lots of events still to be told as Jacob acquires a family but, for now, this morning, it is good to rehearse this fact, that is, that God intended for the promise, regardless of the prevailing regulations, to go through Jacob.  And, as always, God is able to gather up into the fabric of his plans even the sinful actions of men and to bring about his good and perfect will.  That’s an encouraging thought, isn’t it?  “In order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls—[Rebekah] was told, ‘The older will serve the younger’” (Romans 9:11-12).  And so, as God had his way in this story, let us then sing:

Have thine own way, Lord!

Have thine own way!

Hold o’er my being

absolute sway.

Fill with thy Spirit

till all shall see

Christ only, always,

living in me!   --Adelaide A. Pollard (1906)