Author: Tyler Eggers
Reading Plan: Genesis 27
Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn. I have done as you told me. Please sit up and eat some of my game, so that you may give me your blessing.” Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. He said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob.” Genesis 27:19, 41
I absolutely love reading the Old Testament. It is full of many stories about God’s faithfulness and miracles, but also, a lot of drama. This story is one of those that is more on the dramatic side of things. Jacob, the deceitful brother, and slightly younger twin lies to his dying father in an effort to receive the birthrights of his firstborn brother.
Jacob was operating like a lot of us – a hyper-busy person of the 21st Century. In his effort to receive a fast track of blessings, he takes bad advice from his mom. He then lies to his father and cheats his brother out of his rightful blessing. In other words, Jacob was more concerned with what he thought he needed than with holding on to the promise that God would supply his every need.
When Jacob deceived his father to inherit his brother’s blessing, he was faced with an unfortunate outcome. He fled his home out of fear for his life because Esau wanted to kill him following the death of their father. Jacob went from living a peaceful life in his hometown surrounded by his family and community to being forced to flee his home in hopes of finding refuge from his vengeful brother.
With one decision, Jacob circumvented the moral process in hopes of expediting his blessing, and in return, he makes matters worse. Whatever he hoped to gain through the stealing of the birthright did not happen. The desire to take matters into our own hands through an immoral route will always fail us – if not immediately, then eventually...
Reflection & Response:
- Pinpoint a time that you wanted to rush God’s timing. How did that go for you?
- How do you need to wait on the Lord in this season of your life?
- Take a few moments to reflect on this verse: “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways when they carry out their wicked schemes.” Psalm 37:7
- Prayer: Lord, I am impatient more often than not. I am prone to act fast and take matters into my own hands. Please, teach me to slow down when I need to, and teach me to always trust in you and your perfect timing. You and you alone are my provider. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
- Challenge: Spend the next two minutes in silence and stillness before the Lord.
HAVE KIDS?
Use the content below to dive deeper into the Bible Reading Plan with your family.
Family Application: Honesty is always the best policy.
- When we read about Jacob and Esau in Genesis 25, we see that Jacob was someone that acted untrustworthily and told lies. Jacob tricked his dad into giving him a gift that was meant for Jacob’s brother Esau. Jacob got this gift because he told his dad a lie.
- At first, Jacob thinks he is getting something great, but lying actually made things much worse for Jacob. Has there ever been a time that you told a lie? How did that go? What could have been different if you had told the truth from the start?
- Is there someone you have told a lie to who you could tell the truth to now?
- Prayer: God, thank you for being the truth. Thank you for always telling the truth. Lord, I love you and I want to follow in your footsteps. Help me to be honest even when I do not want to tell the truth. Father, give me the courage to tell the truth to someone who I have told a lie. Help me say sorry when I need to. Amen.