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“If you’re able...” Reading Genesis 25:19–34. “....Thanks be to God.”
Look at this image (tapestry back): A mess. No observable order. Colors but in no apparent design.But...a matter of perspective.
Next image (tapestry front): You see the design. You see the majesty. You see the King reigning. A matter of perspective.
Picture of sovereignty: Life is lived in a very daily way. We experience the mess. Tragedies and sins. But...there’s another side to things.
The sovereignty perspective:
In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will. (Eph 1:11)
Genesis gives us these two perspectives: (1) The messiness and dailiness of life; and (2) The sovereign plan unfolding.
Our passages this morning will be a vivid illustration: (1) The mess and (2) the plan. We’ll see this in the life of Isaac.
Our series in Genesis: Right from the Start. This morning, our God is sovereign. But sin and obedience still matter. This will reverberate all through our Bible. God is sovereign; we aren’t passive.
In some ways, Isaac is the Forgotten Isaac: Sandwiched between the spiritual father of a multitude Abraham and the fascinating Jacob, it’s easy to pass over Isaac. Think more about the miracle of his birth to parents who were 99 and 100. Or the kid on the altar at 13 or so. His adulthood can feel like an afterthought in the storyline of the Bible.
But God identifies himself not just as “the God of Abraham.” Not just as “the God of Abraham and Jacob.” But God said to Moses, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob” (Exod 3:6).
Isaac has much to teach us. Here and throughout the Old Testament, you want to see two things. One is the big story, the storyline of the Bible. God’s unfolding plan of redemption. This great saga that begins in the Garden and ends in the new creation.
But the Bible is also written to teach us how to live—and how not to live. Paul reminds us of this side of things in 1 Corinthians 10:4
Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. (1 Cor 10:6)
Isaac reveals both to us: God’s plan and how to live. He teaches us about life lived before a sovereign God.
Not a Christian: I’m guessing you’ve struggled with issues like finding meaning or purpose for your life. Wondering whether your life can make sense at all. You’re aware of the BACK of the tapestry. Consider this morning the reality that God is sovereign. All things are happening according to his plan. Knowing this God and this plan will help you find meaning and purpose. Help you to see the FRONT of the tapestry.
Sermon: (1) God’s sovereignty and prayer; (2) God’s sovereignty and sin; (3) God’s sovereignty and submission.
But God said to Abraham, “Be not displeased because of the boy and because of your slave woman. Whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for through Isaac shall your offspring be named. (Gen 21:12)
Isaac and not Ishmael shall be the son of promise. At the sacrifice of Isaac this was spoken again, that through Isaac would the promises be fulfilled (22:17–18).
In Abraham’s old age he sent a servant to Abraham’s brother’s family (Nahor). Rebekah was Nahor’s grand-daughter (24:15). A cousin once-removed of Isaac. Isaac and Rebekah married when Isaac was 40 (25:20).
Abraham dies at 175 years old (25:7), Isaac was 75 years old. Which means the twins were about 15 when he died, since Isaac had them when he was 60 (25:26).
But like Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah couldn’t have children for many years. 20 years of childlessness.
Isaac prayed (25:21). Abraham himself would have been praying along with them. Abraham was with them through all these years of childlessness.
Verse 21 – “The LORD granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived.”
But even in the womb all was not well between these twins. “The children struggled within her” (verse 22). Can be translated “kicked and shoved one another” (HALOT, 1285).
Rebekah is feeling more desperate and “went to inquire of the LORD” (verse 22).
Somehow Yahweh “said to her” (verse 23) two things.
First is “two nations...peoples” who are “divided.” Not just two sons but “two nations...peoples.”
Echo of Genesis 3:15 where two peoples are at “enmity” – offspring of the woman and the offspring of the serpent.[1]
The history of Israel and Edom will confirm this. Israel and Edom will be divided with Edom not sharing in the promised land and ultimately being judged for the way it treated Israel (Exod 15:15; 2 Sam 8:12-14; 1 Kgs 11:14-16; Obadiah 1)
But the second thing Yahweh told Rebekah is that “the older shall serve the younger” (Gen 25:23).
Then the twins are born.
The names given to the boys: Esau/Edom = “red” (25:25). Even “hairy” sounds like Mt. Seir, the mountain of Edom (Deut 2:5; Ezek 35:15). Jacob = “heel,” “grasps the heel” (25:26).
These names will remain with them in various ways. Esau is the father of the Edomites (Red-ites). Jacob’s heel grabbing will mark so much of his life, so much of the plotline of his life.
God’s sovereignty continues to reveal itself in the lives of the patriarchs.
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thess 5:16-18)
Read Genesis 25:27–34.
Now the prophecy begins to be fulfilled, the division between the “two nations” begins to take root.
First we learn something of the family dynamic: Esau “a skillful hunter” and “man of the field” vs. Jacob “a quiet man, dwelling in tents” (verse 27).
And then we learn the parents’ favorites, and the character of Isaac begins to come out. He’s not drawn to Esau because of some preferred strengths in Esau. He’s drawn to Esau, because he liked game. The Hebrew is something like, “Isaac loved Esau, because he put game in his mouth.”
Whereas Moses says simply, “Rebekah loved Jacob” (verse 28).
At this point human weakness is beginning to accomplish the division prophesied. But it gets worse.
In the next scene—Genesis 25:29–34—Esau’s famished and Jacob is “cooking stew” (verse 29).
It’s a “red stew” Jacob is cooking and Esau wants it: “Let eat some of that red stew!” (verse 30).
Jacob the heel-grabber sees an opportunity and goes for it: “Sell me your birthright now” (verse 32).
The birthright: More land and wealth generally passed to the firstborn. In law of Moses, the oldest is to receive a “double portion of all that he has” and is given “the right of the firstborn” (Deut 21:17). The firstborn generally represented the family and spoke for the family.
Jacob wants it—Esau in a moment of weakness gives it to him.
Not clear what the actual impact is of what’s happened. But it’s presented to us to reveal who these men are.
Neither are painted in a flattering light, but their sins are very different. Jacob the heel grabber.
But Esau? “Thus Esau despised his birthright” (verse 34). He took something precious, valuable, and gave it away for something of vastly less worth.
He took something with huge long-term consequences and traded it away for a moment of pleasure.
If Jacob’s conniving is immoral, Esau’s response is breathtaking for its folly.
Rick Phillips, Genesis[2]
Read Genesis 26:1–5.
In chapter 25 Isaac is in Beer-lahai-roi (25:11), very southern part of Israel, The Negeb. This is where Hagar ran away and was found by the LORD. There was a famine in that land, so they traveled north a bit to Gerar (which is near Gaza on the coast).
Here Yahweh “appeared to” Isaac and once again spoke his promises. This is God’s sovereign plan.
But now the promises are being spoken to Isaac, and not his father. By this point Abraham his father had died. Now it is the next generation that needs to receive and personally own the promises and plans of God.
God’s promises and plans in verses 3–5:
And then in Genesis 26:24 Yahweh will appear again to Isaac and make his promises:
His response in Genesis 26:25: Built an altar and “called upon the name of the LORD.”
At this point we have heard these great promises of God. We know God’s sovereign plan. He is establishing a people to occupy the land of Canaan, who will be a people of his blessing. Distinct from all the peoples of the earth.
But the question is, what does Isaac think of this? Building an altar and calling on the name of the LORD is an encouraging sign. God’s statement, “I am with you,” is an encouraging sign.
Knowing God is sovereign and working his plan is one thing. Having a heart at rest in his plan is something different. One dimension of true faith is that it bows to God’s sovereign plan.
Where is Isaac really in his heart toward God’s plan?
Chapter 27 gives us a vivid picture.
Gen. 27:1 – “When Isaac was old and his eyes were dim...”
Gen. 27:4 – “Prepare for me delicious food, such as I love...” (REMEMBER Gen. 25:28!)
Gen. 27:4 – “...that my soul may bless you before I die.” But—Gen. 25:23!!!
The whole scene represents a covert plan of Isaac. An attempt to undercut God’s plan. Secretive and sinister.
His fleshly weakness undoes him. If he hadn’t wanted “delicious food,” he could have blessed Esau without delay. But the delay allowed time for Rebekah and Jacob to act.
Gen. 27:28–29 – Over-the-top blessing from Isaac, even commanding submission from “your mother’s sons.” As if he had Rebekah and Jacob in mind and spoke deliberately to see Jacob bow down to Esau.
But this whole time he was blessing Jacob!
When he realizes it — go to Gen. 27:33 — “Then Isaac trembled very violently.”
Fear or faith or even anger? All fit the moment. Here he realizes that God is sovereign. His plan will be accomplished. Jacob will be blessed, and not Esau.
Gen. 27:33 – “I have blessed him. Yes, and he shall be blessed.” Isaac knows. And Isaac submits. He bows his knee before the sovereign God.
The clue to his change is in Gen. 28:1–5. Now acts as he should have all along. Now he takes care of Jacob’s marriage. Now he speaks a lavish blessing to Jacob with full awareness of what he’s doing. Now he even calls it “the blessing of Abraham.”
34 At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; 35 all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?” (Dan 4:34-35)
[Note: On the secretive nature of chapter 27 and the self-indulgent aspect of Isaac’s character, I pulled from Bruce Waltke. See his commentary on Genesis and also his article for Crux, “Reflections on Retirement from the Life of Isaac,” Crux 32 No 4 (Dec 1996): 4–14.]
Living before a sovereign God:
Humanity’s sin and yet God’s plan. Vivid in the crucifixion:
22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. (Acts 2:22-23)
What people intended for evil—Judas, Jewish Council, Roman Soldiers—God meant for good.
Our salvation depends upon a sovereign God working his plan. Taking the mess of the BACK of the tapestry, and turning it into his GLORIOUS DESIGN.
Amen!
Prayer and Closing Song (“All I Have is Christ”)
[1] See Rick Phillips, Genesis, REC, 2:135.
[2] Rick Phillips, Genesis, REC, 2:143.
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