Essentials Of The Faith / Sunday Morning Sermon Series / Genesis

Genesis 26:34-28:9 10/13/02

These phrases are called the 'Lexicon of Intentionally Ambiguous Recommendations' or LIAR.

* To describe an inept person  'I enthusiastically recommend this candidate with no qualifications whatsoever.'

* To describe an ex coworker who had problems getting along with others 'I am pleased to say that this candidate is a former colleague of mine.'

* To describe an unproductive person 'I can assure you that no person would be better for this job'

* To describe an applicant not worth consideration 'I would urge you to waste no time in making this candidate an offer of employment'

* To describe one who is habitually lazy 'You will be lucky if you can get this person to work for you'

     Lying seems to be a way of life for many people. The book 'The Day America Told the Truth' revealed these staggering statistics. Of those surveyed:

     Although not mentioned, I bet the percentage of parents who lie to their children is also high. Is it any wonder there are problems in families today?

     Isaacs family was torn in four pieces. Each family member wanting what they want at the expense of the other, and not holding anything back in order to get it. This is a tragic, pathetic story and yet one that rings true to life and reveals much about what we are like today.
 
    You see, the family that PREYS together, doesn't stay together. Once again, we will examine the life of these four family members in hope that we will learn to have families that flourish....instead of families that fail.

Let's Pray

     Isaac is the spiritual leader in this family. At least he is supposed to be. So I will start by examining how he preyed on his family.

Read: Gen. 26:34-27:1-4

    Isaac:
        Isaac is going to die, or so he says. Yet, we know that he lived another 40+  years. Saying he was about to die...was a lie.
 
    Next, notice the secrecy. This conversation was between Isaac and Esau. When a father was about to die in that culture, he would call all his family to his side for the giving of the blessing. Why the secrecy? Because Isaac was conspiring against God and his family. At this secret meeting, Isaac told Esau that he was going to give him the Blessing.

    Even though Isaac knew it was God's will for Jacob to get it.
    Even though Isaac knew and was grieved that Esau had sinned against God and married Canaanite women.
    Even though Isaac knew Esau had foolishly given up his birthright.
    Even though he knew Esau was not a godly man.
    He didn't care. Esau was his favorite.

     This was open, well secret, rebellion against what Isaac knew to be God's will. Isaac wasn't being honest with himself, his family or with God...and he knew it.

     Don't feel bad for Isaac here. Yes, he was deceived, but he was not innocent.  Isaac is the one most responsible for leading his family down the path of sin. He is chiefly the blame for his families failure.  Men, husbands and fathers, learn form Isaac.

Read: Gen. 27:5-17; 27:42-28:5

Rebekah:
    Rebekah, like her late mother-in-law Sarah was skilled at eavesdropping.  It seems her relationship with Isaac, her husband was already at odds as they seem not to be speaking to each other about the things that really matter in life...obeying God, the future of their children. Communication broke down between Isaac and Rebekah and she had to eavesdrop on her husband to know what was on his heart and in his mind. That is sad.

     Rebekah used what she overheard to devise a scheme to deceive both her husband and oldest son. And by doing so she set father against son and brother against brother.

     Later, when it all fell apart, she just wanted everyone to forget about what happened. No confession of sin, no reconciliation based on repentance and forgiveness, just let time cause us to forget and all will be OK. Well, all will not be OK where there is no repentance and forgiveness.
 
    And later in Ch 28 Rebekah lies again to her husband. She was not concerned about finding a wife for Jacob as much as she was concerned that Jacob flee the consequences of his sin. (an angry and vengeful brother)

     It is said that a home's chief characteristic is given by the mother. How sad this family inherited and perfected the ability to prey on one another through deceit.

     Ladies, wives, mothers..what characteristic of your life is most evident in your home? Learn from Rebekah.

Read: Gen. 27:18-29

Jacob:
     Jacob was a willing participant in his mother's sinful scheme to deceive his father and brother. Remember, Jacob was a full grown man, over 40, who didn't confront his mother by saying what she planned to do was wrong and sinful. He didn't display any love for his father or brother. Nor was he concerned about his  integrity.  He was just concerned his mothers plan wouldn't work and he would get caught and receive nothing.

     But, convinced by his mother, he goes through with the plan and continues to compound the lies to his father.
 
    He lied to his father about his name. He was not Esau.
    He lied to his father about obeying his wishes. He didn't hunt and prepare the food. His mother did.
    He lied to his father about the Lord. God did not help him get the animals. Imagine, pulling God into the lie.
    He lied again to his father about his identity.
    He lied to his father about his love for him when he kissed him.

     Isaac was impatient. He believed God's will but not God's timing. He rationalizes what he does saying it will achieve the desired end...the blessing. But for Jacob and for the Christian, the end does not justify the means. In the end, Jacob runs away. He thought he could avoid the consequences of his sin. He was wrong!

Read: Gen. 27:30-41; 28:6-9

Esau:
     After Isaac, many people see Esau as an innocent party.  But Scripture reveals that Esau was a godless man who was only concerned about himself...not spiritual things.

     When he found out what Jacob had done, the text says he wept..bitterly and loudly. He then begged for a blessing of his own from his father.

    Esau had already given up his birthright for a bowl of stew.
    Esau had already married two Canaanite women he knew upset his parents.
    Esau had agreed with and participated in a plan to secretly be blessed by his father who he knew was being disobedient to God.

     And still Esau cries...But know that these were not tears of repentance or remorse for his sin. They were tears of regret, regret that he got caught and that he didn't get what he wanted. How do I know they were not tears of remorse for his sin? Because of the attitude of his heart. Vs 41 says that he held a grudge against Jacob in his heart and planned to kill him when his father died so that he would get the inheritance.

     Later, he tries to get into his parents good graces by marrying one of Ishmael's daughters. A descendant of Abraham.
However, had he spoke to them, he would have known that Ishmael's family was not the family God chose to bless. Not the place to find a wife.

     In the end, Esau wanted the blessing of God but didn't want to be the kind of man God blesses.

     What a family! To sit at the table of Abraham...even Lot was to be afforded hospitality and protection. But to sit at the table with Isaac and his family was to face the dangers of deception and being their next prey.

Conclusion

     For anything to stand it needs a solid foundation. Isaac's family had this, which is more than can be said for many families today. But they still failed as a family. This should be a warning to us that nothing in a family should be taken for granted.

How Are Families Founded?

     They are made with care. Marriages must be based on knowing and doing God's will. Seeking God's face and His Word when decisions need to be made. And seeking it together.

     They are bathed in prayer. Isaac prayed for his wife even before they were married. They prayed with each other after they were married. They each prayed to God in times of difficulty. And they prayed for their children.

     It must be true in our family life as well. We must be a praying family. For the family that prays together, stays together.

Why Do Families Fail?

     When each one does what is right in their own eyes.
     When the needs of one come before the needs of others in the family.
     When deceit is present.
     When people stop talking to one another.
     When there is an absence of sincere confession and repentance of sin.
     When the ends justifies the means, irrespective of who gets hurt or abused in the process.
     When they teach one another to sin, by direct or indirect means.
     When they teach that lying is OK in any circumstance, others learn it is OK in all circumstances.
     When they no longer trust God and His Word.

     Listen, we don't know what God would have done if Rebekah and Jacob hadn't schemed to deceive Isaac and Esau. BUT, God would have done something: Jacob would have gotten the blessing and I believe God would have kept the family together.

     Families fail when they take their eyes off God.

When Do Families Flourish?
 
     When they support one another, not scheme against one another.
     When love, not lying is the chief characteristic of the home.
     When parents teach their children self control and restraint against the power of their own selfish desires.
     When parents refuse to show favoritism to their children.
     When prayer, and obedience to God's will is displayed in the home.
     When family members confess and repent of their sin in front of and to each other.
     When families speak honestly to one another.
     When families, especially husbands and wives talk to one another about the important things in life.
            And remember the important things in life..aren't things!
     When families confront one another, in love, concerning sinful attitudes and behaviors.
            Not to say I got cha. But to come beside them and nurture them in their faith.
     When family members give glory to God by living lives according to the principals set forth in God's Word.

     That's the one central key to families and individual who flourish in life. In whatever situation they may find themselves, they live to give glory to God. That is the challenge this morning.