When You've Been Wronged
Conflict in relationships is inevitable, but healing and reconciliation often is not. Time and again after we've tried every option …
Buy this book >God is not obligated to honor contract deals by liars and schemers. Also, I don’t believe there was a mystical birthright Isaac could give to whomever he wanted, like he could give a piece of property.
Asked by: Edward, Arizona
It’s there in the Bible, as you correctly noted, and Isaac had the right to give a birthright—normally it was given to the oldest son, who, in this case, would have been Esau instead of Jacob. But you know the whole story. It’s not a superstitious story, nor was this a superstitious ritual.
The firstborn was recognized as having special privileges, so when Isaac gave the birthright to Jacob, this had significance among the family and among the whole matter of inheritance issues. No, it wasn’t like a piece of property—this was a special blessing and responsibility instituted by God.
Yes, it’s true that Jacob was a schemer and yet he received the blessing. You called him a liar. I’m not sure if that’s exactly right, but at any rate, sometimes God uses crooked sticks to make straight lines.
If you look at the life of Isaac and Jacob, and even Rebecca, who was in on the scheme, you see that God is greater than the failures of human beings. He had chosen this family, and He continued to use this family for His honor and glory. And by the way, Edward, aren’t you glad He is a God of grace?
Conflict in relationships is inevitable, but healing and reconciliation often is not. Time and again after we've tried every option …
Buy this book >Human relationships can be both a great blessing and a great burden. These messages are intended to deal with the …
Buy this book >Things are not what they appear to be. Behind the world of our senses—the world we see and touch—there is …
Buy this book >God can use people whose lives aren’t as upright as they should be.
Listen to this sermon >God may unexpectedly show up in your life, just like He did with Jacob.
Listen to this sermon >Jacob wanted a blessing, but God wanted a confession first.
Listen to this sermon >