Peacemaker

DEVOTION

GENESIS

Gen 27:1-10

PEACEMAKER

27:1 When Isaac was old and his eyes were so weak that he could no longer see, he called for Esau his older son and said to him, "My son." "Here I am," he answered. 2 Isaac said, "I am now an old man and don't know the day of my death. 3 Now then, get your weapons — your quiver and bow — and go out to the open country to hunt some wild game for me. 4 Prepare me the kind of tasty food I like and bring it to me to eat, so that I may give you my blessing before I die." 5 Now Rebekah was listening as Isaac spoke to his son Esau. When Esau left for the open country to hunt game and bring it back, 6 Rebekah said to her son Jacob, "Look, I overheard your father say to your brother Esau, 7'Bring me some game and prepare me some tasty food to eat, so that I may give you my blessing in the presence of the LORD before I die.' 8 Now, my son, listen carefully and do what I tell you: 9 Go out to the flock and bring me two choice young goats, so I can prepare some tasty food for your father, just the way he likes it. 10 Then take it to your father to eat, so that he may give you his blessing before he dies."

NIV

And so the deception begins. But first we should take a look at the situation of Isaac first. He was well in his years and his eyesight had already failed him. There was no medical practice that could either repair his vision or extend his life expect of course God. Yet God allowed Isaac to grow old, lose his eyesight and seemingly become more or less an old man about to die. But that is not the case as this would be about when he was one hundred and thirty and he lived to be one hundred and eighty. Yet his eyesight was bad and his thoughts were that he would not live much longer so he wanted to give his son Esau, his blessing. Again, we already know that Isaac preferred Esau and Rebekah preferred Jacob. This dysfunctional parenting is what is leading up to this deception and resulting division between Jacob and Esau that will last for years and years. Rebekah surely is not a great role model for women in her instigating this deception by Jacob. Did not Jacob already own the birthright as he had made that deal with Esau? Why would he then need to steal it from his father? Perhaps Isaac did not know about the birthright deal for a bowl of soup. Perhaps Isaac did not recognize that as a proper trade, and still considered his son Esau as his firstborn and worthy of such a blessing. Either way, Isaac intended to bless Esau with the firstborn rights. Rebekah, knowing such a value of this blessing wanted her son Jacob to receive it, after all he was sold this birthright by Esau. Why would it be right for Esau to receive the firstborn blessing which he sold to Jacob? Yet Jacob knew he would not pull this off, that Isaac would know it was him and thus not give the blessing. How mixed up all this is because of the lack of truth within this family. Why didn’t Isaac and Rebekah talk this out? It just may not have been the custom of the family patriarch to take the counsel of their wives. They may have ruled more like the king or head of the clan, their word being the law for all who live in their family and employ to simply obey without question. Yet Solomon, who was the wisest man of all, made note that a wise man seeks the counsel of his wife. But Isaac had not read this proverb of Solomon for he had not lived to write it yet. But Isaac did have the counsel of God, who gave Solomon that wisdom. Why then was this family so fractured that it was going to cause a greater fracture between these brothers? We need to learn from this both as children and parents. We need to put aside any attitudes and settle any differences that might exist between family members. Why is talking things out so difficult? Why do they become heated arguments instead of a melting of hearts and understanding between members? It would seem the reason always boils down to self-centeredness. We always want our own way, even at the cost of  broken relationships. Jacob and Esau are products of their parents and this dysfunctional set of parents cost their sons many years of living as enemies rather than as brothers. We need to learn from this and set aside any hurt feelings, any discord and be the peacemaker God intends us to be. He established the family, giving Adam a suitable helpmate. This was the beginning of great things, husbands and wives walking through life together. True God holds the man accountable for his family, but the wise man attends to the counsel of his wife. They parent together, yet the man has that final authority due to his accountability to God. It does not appear this was the case with Isaac and Rebekah, but it should be the case with us. Let us be that peacemaker.