An exposition of Genesis 27:41-28:9. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, October 11, 2009.
Introduction:
I have to admit it – nothing surprises me anymore. I’ve really become jaded. I used to blush and be shocked – but just when I thought it couldn’t possibly get worse – it did. Sometimes I get the feeling you and I are the only sane folks left on the planet – and some of you are suspect! I don’t watch it, and I hope you don’t either, but do you see these commercials for The Jerry Springer Show? “My best friend’s mom is my girl friend on the next Jerry Springer show!” There are sure some warped, twisted folks out there. Things are outrageous and extreme today but it has been heading that direction for some time now. Do you remember the movie Ordinary People? Hailed as a wonderful movie, a compelling drama – several academy award nominations. The movie was about a “typical” family living in the suburbs of Chicago. The film begins after the older of the two sons has been killed in a drowning accident caused by his own foolishness. The younger son is racked with guilt, so much so, that as the movie progresses he increasingly is unable to cope with life. The mother is domineering. The dad is weak in character. In the end the younger son attempts suicide and the father leaves home. It’s just your typical family – just ordinary people.
It was depressing! Utter helplessness. No hope. Nothing made sense. “This is real life” we were told. This is what is happening in the “real world”. I really couldn’t identify. It was pretty much Leave It to Beaver around my house! The bad things were – you messed up dad’s best shirt and your brother said, “gee dad’s gonna kill yeh!”
The buzzword today is “dysfunctional”. “Oh he’s that way because he comes from a dysfunctional family.” No one is responsible for anything anymore – it is someone else’s fault. I’ve got news for you – we all come from dysfunctional families – because we are all warped by sin!
It’s nothing new – dysfunctional families have been around since the beginning (remember Cain and Abel?).
And if there was ever a poster family for the dysfunctional it would have to be that of Isaac and Rebekah. You talk about one mixed up family – that was it. Twin boys. Mom and dad each had their favorite and openly demonstrated it. Plotting, lying, scheming, stealing, hating – you name it – it went on inside that home. And yet God’s hand was on that family. God, sovereignly, providentially, directed the history of that family. It is an incredible story and this evening we’ll explore another chapter in the life of a highly dysfunctional and yet blessed family.
Text: Genesis 27:41-28:9
It is increasingly clear to me that the dominant note sounded throughout the Genesis account is that God is indeed sovereign. He is in charge. He is in control of history – it is His story. God is moving the story along to His determined end and nothing is going to stop His sovereign purposes. It is also clear to me that the only thing keeping Him from wiping the human family off the face of the earth is that He is indeed gracious and merciful.
At this point in the story Jacob, thanks to his mother’s scheming nature, has just “stolen” the blessing belonging to his brother Esau.
Don’t forget God had already declared that the older would serve the younger (25:23). Why was this so? Because it pleased God to do so (Romans 9:10-15). Isaac sought to defy the revealed will of God. Rebekah remembered God’s word but sought to achieve God’s purpose through trickery. Isaac trembled in fear when he realized what had happened. That’s where we pick up the story – think there’s a little tension in the family about now?
As we reflect on this passage we’ll learn some lessons from a dysfunctional family. There are three abiding principles I want us to leave here with.
- God’s will ultimately prevails.
- Deception produces a bitter crop.
- There is a better way.