God’s Dysfunctional Covenant Family

by

Studying through the Gospel Project, we have come to the unique relationship between Jacob and Esau (Gen. 27:1-40).

God is sovereign over all of life, and he will work out his plan of redemption despite and sometimes through our dysfunction.  Jacob’s story is a good example of why humanity needs a Savior.  Like Jacob, we seek a blessing that is not ours, but we can’t life, deceived, or trick to receive it.

Here are some of my notes:

  1. This family displays that the message of the Old Testament is not portraying good people but a good God who keeps his promises to unworthy people.
  2. God’s unmerited love is given to unworthy people.
  3. What kind of man would sell his birthright for a measly bowl of stew (Gen. 25:29-34)?  The kind of man who didn’t need to have it.
  4. Don’t trade the utmost for the urgent.
  5. Don’t trade the ultimate for the immediate.
  6. The good news is that God does not reserve his love for perfect families.
  7. God works despite our dysfunction.
  8. The patriarchal blessing conferred the right to rule over the clan.
  9. Rebekah speaks to “her” son and not “their” son (Gen. 27:6).  That is a great depiction of parents playing favorites.
  10. Her desire for Jacob to be blessed instead of Esau leads her to never see him again (Gen. 28:5; Gen. 35:8).
  11. God’s plan cannot be undone no matter the degree of sin.
  12. Favoritism can cause us to do some very divisive things.
  13. Our desires can serve as justifications for sin.
  14. Gen. 27:27-29 is basically a restating of the Abrahamic promise (Gen. 12:1-3; 17:1-8; 26:3-5; 28:3-4).
  15. This promise echoes the land and the blessing but neglects to mention offspring.  He speaks to families and nations instead.
  16. This nation will both bless and rule all the nations.
  17. Don’t grieve for Esau, learn from Esau.
  18. Choices cannot be unmade and consequences cannot be avoided.
  19. Isaac doesn’t reverse his decision because of the importance of keeping one’s word.
  20. Esau’s tears are from selfishness and not brokenness.
  21. Heb. 12:16-17 reveals that Esau was sexually immoral and unholy.
  22. Jacob’s sin came from a desire of the blessing while Esau’s sin came from a disdain of the blessing (Gen. 27:18-25; Gen. 25:29-34).