Family tensions today often come to a crisis when there is a decision as to 'who gets what'. Here is the same situation, almost 2,000 years before Christ. Father Isaac caused the crisis when he said, 'Esau, it's time for me to bless you.' But there was no word from God to bless anyone. Isaac said, 'I'm going to die soon.' As far as we can tell, he lived about another 80 years! It is as wrong to act without a word from God as it is to refuse to act when He does speak. We ourselves can be guilty of that, can't we? To continue the story: Esau went away to hunt for wild game as his father had asked. But Mother Rebekah had been listening. Her favourite son was not going to miss out, if she could help it. Then follows the sad story - instead of prayer there were planning and manipulating. There was lying instead of honesty, scheming instead of submission. Watch the younger twin go into his father's tent with goat meat dressed up as venison. The food was a lie. His clothes were a lie. His words were lies. But Isaac accepted him and blessed him. Yes, it was God's will that Jacob should receive the blessing. How would God have brought it about? We may never know. But God didn't need Rebekah's help. He didn't need Jacob's lies. He had promised the blessing to Jacob, but Rebekah couldn't wait. Waiting is not easy. But simple faith in the promises of God will always see their fulfillment. God doesn't need our help except when He asks for it. A VERSE FOR TODAY: 'Blessed are those who wait for him.' (Isaiah 30:18) |
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