1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:03,680 Speaker 1: Pray thee sit and eat of my venison, that thy 2 00:00:03,760 --> 00:00:09,680 Speaker 1: soul may bless me. Genesis twenty seven nineteen. Dear Hemley, 3 00:00:09,720 --> 00:00:13,520 Speaker 1: Father to day, I am choosing to break generational cycles 4 00:00:13,880 --> 00:00:18,360 Speaker 1: that no longer serve my purpose or my destiny. I 5 00:00:18,480 --> 00:00:22,120 Speaker 1: do not use deception to try to protect myself at 6 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:25,520 Speaker 1: the risk of my loved ones. Like Isaac and like 7 00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:31,160 Speaker 1: his father before him, Abraham, I declare that integrity and 8 00:00:31,320 --> 00:00:35,879 Speaker 1: uprightness of heart will be my guiding compass. I decree 9 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:39,800 Speaker 1: and declare that as I move with integrity, you will 10 00:00:39,880 --> 00:00:45,760 Speaker 1: multiply my life. Then shower me with your blessing. I 11 00:00:45,880 --> 00:00:49,279 Speaker 1: confess that I don't have to use manipulation and trickery 12 00:00:49,320 --> 00:00:53,840 Speaker 1: as Jacob did to get what you have for me. Rather, 13 00:00:54,360 --> 00:00:57,480 Speaker 1: I will stay in my lane and keep my eyes 14 00:00:57,560 --> 00:01:01,400 Speaker 1: towards you and your word, because what you have for 15 00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:05,520 Speaker 1: me is mine, and no one can take what's mine 16 00:01:05,680 --> 00:01:09,520 Speaker 1: out of your hand. Lord. In my life, when others 17 00:01:09,520 --> 00:01:12,600 Speaker 1: seek to hinder my blessings, I don't have to panic 18 00:01:13,080 --> 00:01:17,440 Speaker 1: or worry because you will continually protect and cover all 19 00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:23,120 Speaker 1: that I have. Thank you Jesus that because you bless me, 20 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:32,399 Speaker 1: I am blessed. Indeed, in Jesus name, Amen. Thank you 21 00:01:32,560 --> 00:01:35,760 Speaker 1: for praying with me to day. Continue listening for an 22 00:01:35,760 --> 00:01:39,160 Speaker 1: incredible Bible story brought to you by Bible in a 23 00:01:39,240 --> 00:01:46,440 Speaker 1: Year dot com. 24 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:52,800 Speaker 2: Jacob and Esau. Before this story, we learn of Abraham's death. 25 00:01:53,440 --> 00:01:56,400 Speaker 2: The father of Nations went to be with his Lord. 26 00:01:57,160 --> 00:02:00,160 Speaker 2: He was buried by Isaac and Ishmael beside him his 27 00:02:00,160 --> 00:02:05,600 Speaker 2: wife Sarah. Isaac and Rebecca had twins named Jacob and Esau. 28 00:02:06,280 --> 00:02:11,040 Speaker 2: The two, even from the womb, warred against one another. Esau, 29 00:02:11,200 --> 00:02:14,400 Speaker 2: the older twin, was tricked by his younger brother and 30 00:02:14,520 --> 00:02:18,640 Speaker 2: sold his birthright. Now we will learn about Rebeccah and 31 00:02:18,800 --> 00:02:23,440 Speaker 2: Jacob tricking Isaac into giving Jacob his blessing inspired by 32 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:24,600 Speaker 2: the Book of Genesis. 33 00:02:26,880 --> 00:02:30,520 Speaker 3: Hello, I'm Jack Graham with today's episode of the Bible 34 00:02:30,560 --> 00:02:33,960 Speaker 3: in a Year Podcast. Today we begin with a famine 35 00:02:33,960 --> 00:02:36,960 Speaker 3: that takes Isaac and his family to another land. And here, 36 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:39,880 Speaker 3: just as his father did, Isaac tells a lie about 37 00:02:39,919 --> 00:02:44,000 Speaker 3: his wife to protect himself. Fear has once again ruled 38 00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:47,880 Speaker 3: in the heart of one of God's chosen people. History 39 00:02:47,960 --> 00:02:52,120 Speaker 3: is repeating itself in a new generation. You'll once again 40 00:02:52,200 --> 00:02:55,080 Speaker 3: hear how despite a lack of faithfulness on their part, 41 00:02:55,680 --> 00:03:00,200 Speaker 3: God continues to bless and protect Abraham's family and his 42 00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:04,480 Speaker 3: son Isaac. Listen to how Isaac prospered in this new 43 00:03:04,560 --> 00:03:07,520 Speaker 3: land and how he was met with disdain and distrust 44 00:03:07,560 --> 00:03:10,800 Speaker 3: by others who resented him for the blessings he was reaping, 45 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:15,200 Speaker 3: blessings God was giving him. You will also hear how 46 00:03:15,240 --> 00:03:18,960 Speaker 3: Isaac followed the model of his own father, created remembrances 47 00:03:19,000 --> 00:03:22,880 Speaker 3: of God's faithfulness and monuments to the God who provides. 48 00:03:23,600 --> 00:03:26,639 Speaker 3: And in this passage we'll return to Jacob and Esau 49 00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:30,120 Speaker 3: and the conflict that began to brew in yesterday's story. 50 00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:35,280 Speaker 3: You'll hear of hidden intentions, heartbreak, and hatred. Watch how 51 00:03:35,360 --> 00:03:39,800 Speaker 3: Jacob's craftiness and cleverness and deception finally strike a blow 52 00:03:39,880 --> 00:03:43,800 Speaker 3: to both Esau and Isaac that will forever alter the 53 00:03:43,880 --> 00:03:48,840 Speaker 3: course of this family and history. In today's passage, he 54 00:03:48,880 --> 00:03:51,640 Speaker 3: is not acting alone, but his teeming with Rebecca, his 55 00:03:51,720 --> 00:03:56,360 Speaker 3: mother who favors him over Esau. Together they will trick 56 00:03:56,520 --> 00:03:59,400 Speaker 3: Isaac into giving Jacob what is meant for his older brother. 57 00:04:00,200 --> 00:04:03,600 Speaker 3: The family conflict will come into an explosive climax, and 58 00:04:03,600 --> 00:04:06,960 Speaker 3: you'll hear echoes of two brothers. We've heard of long ago, 59 00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:11,280 Speaker 3: one accepted and the other rejected. Will all be lost? 60 00:04:11,880 --> 00:04:14,720 Speaker 3: Is there any way for this family to heal? These 61 00:04:14,760 --> 00:04:17,000 Speaker 3: are the questions you'll be left with as you listen 62 00:04:17,080 --> 00:04:20,520 Speaker 3: to today's passage. So let's hear the story now. 63 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:25,719 Speaker 2: There was a great famine that plagued the land. The land, 64 00:04:25,880 --> 00:04:30,240 Speaker 2: once adorned with fertile fields, ceased its growth. The land 65 00:04:30,279 --> 00:04:33,359 Speaker 2: would soon return to its former glory, yet for the 66 00:04:33,440 --> 00:04:38,080 Speaker 2: time being, Isaac needed to escape to healthier planes. They 67 00:04:38,240 --> 00:04:42,080 Speaker 2: escaped to Ghirrar, a hostile land in which Isaac had 68 00:04:42,120 --> 00:04:46,240 Speaker 2: never ventured before. When his family settled there, the men 69 00:04:46,240 --> 00:04:49,279 Speaker 2: in the city were asking about his wife, Rebecca, for 70 00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:52,920 Speaker 2: she was pleasing to the eye. Isaac, out of fear 71 00:04:52,960 --> 00:04:55,760 Speaker 2: that they might kill him to take his wife, claimed 72 00:04:56,080 --> 00:04:59,640 Speaker 2: she was his sister. As his father Abraham had done 73 00:04:59,640 --> 00:05:05,200 Speaker 2: before him and Adam did generations before him. Isaac compromised 74 00:05:05,240 --> 00:05:09,080 Speaker 2: the integrity of his wife to protect himself. Yet it 75 00:05:09,120 --> 00:05:11,800 Speaker 2: did not take long for Isaac to get found out, 76 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:15,799 Speaker 2: and a great distress was put upon their leader, a Bimelech. 77 00:05:16,440 --> 00:05:20,600 Speaker 2: Once again, the family of Abraham had underestimated the integrity 78 00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:24,960 Speaker 2: of foreigners and had created strife amongst them, and yet 79 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:29,640 Speaker 2: Isaac worked the ground well. The Lord had instructed Isaac 80 00:05:29,680 --> 00:05:32,840 Speaker 2: to remain in Ghirrar instead of fleeing to Egypt, and 81 00:05:32,880 --> 00:05:37,040 Speaker 2: he was fruitful for it. Isaac grew richer during the famine, 82 00:05:37,279 --> 00:05:40,520 Speaker 2: and his influence reached far beyond the land of Ghiraar. 83 00:05:41,200 --> 00:05:44,880 Speaker 2: The Philistines who dwelled in the land grew envious of him, 84 00:05:45,240 --> 00:05:50,440 Speaker 2: and Isaac became villainized for his success. Abimelech sent him away, 85 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:53,640 Speaker 2: for they did not want him growing even more rich 86 00:05:53,760 --> 00:05:57,560 Speaker 2: off of their land. Isaac and his family wandered for 87 00:05:57,640 --> 00:06:00,800 Speaker 2: many weeks, and they were met everywhere they went with 88 00:06:00,920 --> 00:06:06,120 Speaker 2: disdain in conflict. Yet God remained faithful and reminded Isaac 89 00:06:06,160 --> 00:06:10,159 Speaker 2: of his promise to him. God blessed him, saying, I 90 00:06:10,240 --> 00:06:14,240 Speaker 2: am the God of Abraham, your father. Fear not, for 91 00:06:14,400 --> 00:06:17,120 Speaker 2: I am with you and will bless you and multiply 92 00:06:17,240 --> 00:06:21,880 Speaker 2: your offspring for my servant Abraham's sake. And Isaac dugwells 93 00:06:21,880 --> 00:06:26,280 Speaker 2: as a monument to God's faithfulness. During this time, Esau 94 00:06:26,360 --> 00:06:29,839 Speaker 2: had married a Hittite woman named Judith. The two of 95 00:06:29,880 --> 00:06:35,320 Speaker 2: them made Rebeccah and Jacob's life miserable and openly mocked them. Both. 96 00:06:36,400 --> 00:06:40,520 Speaker 2: Isaac grew old and his eyes began to fade. He 97 00:06:40,600 --> 00:06:43,080 Speaker 2: could no longer open his eyes to see the fruit 98 00:06:43,120 --> 00:06:46,760 Speaker 2: of his labor or the ones he loved. Isaac, knowing 99 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:50,960 Speaker 2: that his time was drawing near, called to his oldest son, Esau. 100 00:06:51,920 --> 00:06:57,200 Speaker 2: My son, he said, here, I am, Esau replied, go 101 00:06:57,320 --> 00:07:01,000 Speaker 2: into the countryside with your beau and hunt me an animal. 102 00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:04,200 Speaker 2: Prepare me a meal, and you and I will sit 103 00:07:04,279 --> 00:07:09,120 Speaker 2: together to eat. Afterwards, I will bless you before I depart. 104 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:14,720 Speaker 2: Esau left immediately to hunt for his father, anticipating the 105 00:07:14,760 --> 00:07:19,840 Speaker 2: blessing that would come afterwards. Rebecca overheard Isaac and Esau 106 00:07:19,960 --> 00:07:24,240 Speaker 2: and immediately grabbed her son, Jacob. Rebecca told Jacob what 107 00:07:24,400 --> 00:07:28,040 Speaker 2: Isaac was planning on doing, and together they devised a 108 00:07:28,080 --> 00:07:32,640 Speaker 2: plan to steal away Esau's blessing. Jacob killed a goat 109 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:37,080 Speaker 2: and made his father a delicious stew. Rebecca then dressed 110 00:07:37,200 --> 00:07:41,520 Speaker 2: Jacob in Esau's clothes. Since Esau was a hairy man, 111 00:07:41,840 --> 00:07:46,520 Speaker 2: Jacob covered himself in goat fur. With Esau's clothes, fur 112 00:07:46,640 --> 00:07:51,200 Speaker 2: and stew. Jacob entered into his father's tent, determined to 113 00:07:51,240 --> 00:07:55,120 Speaker 2: come out with a blessing. Slowly Entering into the tent, 114 00:07:55,800 --> 00:07:59,400 Speaker 2: Jacob lowered his voice and spoke, here, I am father. 115 00:08:01,160 --> 00:08:05,600 Speaker 2: Isaac blind looked towards Jacob and said, who is here. 116 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:10,120 Speaker 2: It is Esau, your first born. I have done what 117 00:08:10,240 --> 00:08:13,840 Speaker 2: you asked. Please get up and eat so that you 118 00:08:13,920 --> 00:08:19,480 Speaker 2: may bless me. Isaac, perplexed, inquired how Esau was able 119 00:08:19,520 --> 00:08:23,280 Speaker 2: to kill the animal so quickly. The Lord guided my 120 00:08:23,440 --> 00:08:28,200 Speaker 2: hand and gave me success. Jacob lied, come here so 121 00:08:28,320 --> 00:08:30,560 Speaker 2: I can touch you, son. I must know if you 122 00:08:30,640 --> 00:08:35,040 Speaker 2: are truly Esau. Jacob drew near to Isaac and allowed 123 00:08:35,080 --> 00:08:38,800 Speaker 2: him to feel his arms and clothes. The trick had worked. 124 00:08:39,320 --> 00:08:44,400 Speaker 2: Isaac was convinced he was speaking to Esau. The two 125 00:08:44,679 --> 00:08:48,320 Speaker 2: ate together, and Isaac placed his hands on Jacob with 126 00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:52,079 Speaker 2: love and excitement. Isaac spoke over Jacob with the same 127 00:08:52,200 --> 00:08:56,640 Speaker 2: adoration he would have given Esau. The tender and intimate 128 00:08:56,679 --> 00:09:01,240 Speaker 2: moment between father and first born son stolen by Jacob. 129 00:09:02,520 --> 00:09:06,000 Speaker 2: Isaac spoke his blessing over Jacob, reciting a type of 130 00:09:06,080 --> 00:09:10,640 Speaker 2: ancient poetry, one that would echo throughout all of Jacob's life. 131 00:09:11,280 --> 00:09:14,120 Speaker 2: See the smell of my son is as the smell 132 00:09:14,160 --> 00:09:17,120 Speaker 2: of a field that the God has blessed May God 133 00:09:17,200 --> 00:09:20,280 Speaker 2: give you of the doe of heaven, the sustenance of 134 00:09:20,280 --> 00:09:23,880 Speaker 2: the earth, and plenty of grain and wine. Let all 135 00:09:23,960 --> 00:09:27,840 Speaker 2: people serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be 136 00:09:28,040 --> 00:09:31,240 Speaker 2: king over your brothers, and may they bow down to you. 137 00:09:32,480 --> 00:09:36,120 Speaker 2: Cursed be every one who curses you, and blessed be 138 00:09:36,280 --> 00:09:40,920 Speaker 2: every one who blesses you. As Isaac was finishing his 139 00:09:41,000 --> 00:09:46,320 Speaker 2: blessing over Jacob, Esau returned from his hunt. Esau tirelessly 140 00:09:46,400 --> 00:09:49,880 Speaker 2: worked as he skinned the deer, butchered it, and prepared 141 00:09:49,920 --> 00:09:53,760 Speaker 2: his father's favorite meal. Blessing was in reach, and he 142 00:09:53,840 --> 00:09:57,280 Speaker 2: hurried to his father's tent with a meal. Jacob had 143 00:09:57,360 --> 00:10:02,120 Speaker 2: left Isaac's side, and Esau approached him. Father, I have 144 00:10:02,200 --> 00:10:05,240 Speaker 2: come back from my hunt. Here, take and eat so 145 00:10:05,320 --> 00:10:10,079 Speaker 2: that you may bless me. Who are you, he answered crossly, 146 00:10:10,880 --> 00:10:13,960 Speaker 2: I am your firstborn son, Esau. I have come back 147 00:10:13,960 --> 00:10:18,640 Speaker 2: from my hunt. Isaac trembled and became violent. In a rage. 148 00:10:18,720 --> 00:10:21,960 Speaker 2: Isaac raised his voice, saying, who was it then that 149 00:10:22,080 --> 00:10:25,640 Speaker 2: brought me food? I have blessed him and he will 150 00:10:25,679 --> 00:10:30,040 Speaker 2: be blessed. As soon as Esau heard this, he bellowed 151 00:10:30,040 --> 00:10:34,880 Speaker 2: a deep and bitter cry, sorrow, rage and anguish. Welled 152 00:10:34,960 --> 00:10:38,320 Speaker 2: up in Esau's heart. His brother had tricked him into 153 00:10:38,320 --> 00:10:41,320 Speaker 2: giving up his birthright, and now he had stolen what 154 00:10:41,480 --> 00:10:47,640 Speaker 2: mattered most, his father's blessing. Frantically and with tears filling 155 00:10:47,679 --> 00:10:53,040 Speaker 2: his eyes, Esau begged his father bless me also, my father, 156 00:10:53,320 --> 00:10:57,120 Speaker 2: have you not reserved any blessing for me? Please do 157 00:10:57,240 --> 00:11:01,720 Speaker 2: not leave me here alone. I was enraged at Jacob, 158 00:11:02,320 --> 00:11:05,920 Speaker 2: yet could not recant his blessing over him. I have 159 00:11:06,080 --> 00:11:10,400 Speaker 2: made him lord over you, Isaac said, I have blessed 160 00:11:10,480 --> 00:11:13,199 Speaker 2: him as an inheritor of all God has given me, 161 00:11:13,720 --> 00:11:19,320 Speaker 2: and you will serve under him. He saw wept bitterly. 162 00:11:20,040 --> 00:11:23,000 Speaker 2: His face fell into his hands as he managed to ask, 163 00:11:23,720 --> 00:11:27,760 Speaker 2: is there any blessing you can give me? Anything at all? 164 00:11:29,400 --> 00:11:33,800 Speaker 2: Isaac spoke again in ancient poetry. Welling up with sadness 165 00:11:33,840 --> 00:11:38,640 Speaker 2: for his son, he spoke saying, behold, away from the 166 00:11:38,760 --> 00:11:42,120 Speaker 2: richness of the earth you shall dwell, and away from 167 00:11:42,160 --> 00:11:45,199 Speaker 2: the dew of heaven on high you shall live by 168 00:11:45,240 --> 00:11:49,240 Speaker 2: your sword, and you shall serve your brother. But when 169 00:11:49,240 --> 00:11:52,880 Speaker 2: you grow restless, you shall break his yoke from your neck. 170 00:11:54,760 --> 00:11:57,680 Speaker 2: A dark part of Esau's heart was awakened that day. 171 00:11:58,520 --> 00:12:01,880 Speaker 2: Thousands of generations had passed since Cain had killed his 172 00:12:01,960 --> 00:12:05,840 Speaker 2: brother Abel, Yet that same hatred lingered, seeking whom it 173 00:12:05,920 --> 00:12:09,880 Speaker 2: may take hold of. When Isaac had breathed his last 174 00:12:10,440 --> 00:12:13,760 Speaker 2: and went to be with his father Abraham, he saw 175 00:12:14,000 --> 00:12:17,800 Speaker 2: sighed a deep breath and said, the days of mourning 176 00:12:17,880 --> 00:12:22,800 Speaker 2: my father are approaching. After I mourn, I will kill 177 00:12:22,840 --> 00:12:28,120 Speaker 2: my brother Jacob. Esau spoke these words to himself, Yet 178 00:12:28,160 --> 00:12:31,400 Speaker 2: they caught the ear of his mother, Rebeccah. She sent 179 00:12:31,480 --> 00:12:34,400 Speaker 2: for Jacob and said to him, your brother plans to 180 00:12:34,480 --> 00:12:37,679 Speaker 2: kill you after he has mourned your father. Gather your 181 00:12:37,679 --> 00:12:40,640 Speaker 2: things and flee to my brother Laban. He will take 182 00:12:40,679 --> 00:12:44,560 Speaker 2: care of you until your brother's fury subsides. So Jacob 183 00:12:44,600 --> 00:12:47,679 Speaker 2: fled in the dead of night and waited there until 184 00:12:47,720 --> 00:12:51,240 Speaker 2: his brother's anger dimmed and he could return to claim 185 00:12:51,280 --> 00:12:53,320 Speaker 2: what was now rightfully his. 186 00:12:56,120 --> 00:12:59,120 Speaker 3: As we begin today's passage, there is a famine sweeping 187 00:12:59,160 --> 00:13:02,560 Speaker 3: across the land. Isaac and his family are unable to 188 00:13:02,559 --> 00:13:05,439 Speaker 3: stay where they are, and the Lord speaks to Isaac 189 00:13:05,520 --> 00:13:07,760 Speaker 3: to tell him where not to go and where he 190 00:13:07,840 --> 00:13:11,120 Speaker 3: should settle. This was not a case of Isaac fleeing 191 00:13:11,160 --> 00:13:14,400 Speaker 3: in fear and not trusting God. He was following God's 192 00:13:14,400 --> 00:13:17,760 Speaker 3: direction and taking his family to a better place for 193 00:13:17,840 --> 00:13:21,760 Speaker 3: a season. Sadly, his trust only went so far, because, 194 00:13:21,840 --> 00:13:26,480 Speaker 3: just like his father Abraham, on two separate occasions, Isaac 195 00:13:26,640 --> 00:13:28,840 Speaker 3: feared for his life in the land of Pagans, and 196 00:13:28,880 --> 00:13:32,959 Speaker 3: he told people that Rebecca was his sister, rather than 197 00:13:33,000 --> 00:13:36,440 Speaker 3: being the leader and protector she needed. Isaac thought of 198 00:13:36,480 --> 00:13:40,200 Speaker 3: his own safety more highly than that of his wife's, and, 199 00:13:40,400 --> 00:13:43,080 Speaker 3: just like his father, his lives found out by the King, 200 00:13:43,640 --> 00:13:47,360 Speaker 3: Isaac discovers that he has underestimated the righteousness of those 201 00:13:47,400 --> 00:13:52,760 Speaker 3: around him, but worse, he failed to trust God. Nevertheless, 202 00:13:52,880 --> 00:13:56,880 Speaker 3: God blesses Isaac in his planting efforts, and Isaac bears 203 00:13:57,040 --> 00:14:00,800 Speaker 3: much fruit from this land. Eventually, this does not sit 204 00:14:00,840 --> 00:14:04,840 Speaker 3: well with the locals, who become envious of him. Soon, 205 00:14:04,960 --> 00:14:07,880 Speaker 3: Isaac and his family are forced to leave and wander, 206 00:14:08,320 --> 00:14:12,400 Speaker 3: meeting opposition and conflict at every turn. But once again 207 00:14:12,440 --> 00:14:16,120 Speaker 3: we see God remaining faithful to his promise. He protects 208 00:14:16,160 --> 00:14:20,600 Speaker 3: and blesses Isaac and his family and provides for them. Isaac, 209 00:14:20,800 --> 00:14:24,240 Speaker 3: following the good example of his father, this time, digs 210 00:14:24,280 --> 00:14:29,400 Speaker 3: wells as a form of remembering God's faithfulness. There is 211 00:14:29,440 --> 00:14:32,760 Speaker 3: a great importance in setting up ways of remembering what 212 00:14:32,840 --> 00:14:35,960 Speaker 3: God has done. You may not build an altar, or 213 00:14:35,960 --> 00:14:38,760 Speaker 3: dig a well, or erect a monument, but you can 214 00:14:38,840 --> 00:14:42,120 Speaker 3: still do things that help you remember what God has 215 00:14:42,200 --> 00:14:45,600 Speaker 3: done in your life and your family. The next thing 216 00:14:45,640 --> 00:14:48,280 Speaker 3: we find in our story is Esau, who has grown bitter, 217 00:14:49,600 --> 00:14:52,760 Speaker 3: likely as a result of giving up his birthright. He 218 00:14:52,840 --> 00:14:55,640 Speaker 3: is married, and he and his wife show utter contempt 219 00:14:55,680 --> 00:14:58,920 Speaker 3: for his parents. And yet even as he grows old 220 00:14:58,960 --> 00:15:02,480 Speaker 3: and blind, Isaac can continues to choose Esau as his favorite. 221 00:15:02,960 --> 00:15:05,320 Speaker 3: It is to him that Isaac intends to give his 222 00:15:05,400 --> 00:15:11,440 Speaker 3: paternal blessing, but Jacob wants that blessing. It's worth noting 223 00:15:11,480 --> 00:15:14,400 Speaker 3: that Jacob wasn't wrong to want the blessing. He was 224 00:15:14,400 --> 00:15:18,840 Speaker 3: seeking God and his favor. The intention, the desire itself 225 00:15:18,920 --> 00:15:20,760 Speaker 3: was not wrong. In fact, it was a good thing 226 00:15:20,840 --> 00:15:24,920 Speaker 3: to want the blessing of God. The problem was how 227 00:15:24,920 --> 00:15:28,920 Speaker 3: he went about getting it. Jacob, prompted by his mother Rebecca, 228 00:15:29,080 --> 00:15:32,320 Speaker 3: schemes with her to take this blessing away from his brother. 229 00:15:33,200 --> 00:15:37,680 Speaker 3: They take advantage of Isaac's frailty and inattention and trick 230 00:15:37,760 --> 00:15:41,160 Speaker 3: him into thinking Jacob as his older brother this was 231 00:15:41,200 --> 00:15:45,160 Speaker 3: no simple deception. They went to great links to ensure 232 00:15:45,200 --> 00:15:49,080 Speaker 3: it was Jacob and not Esau who would get the blessing. So, 233 00:15:49,200 --> 00:15:51,360 Speaker 3: while Esau is out hunting to make a meal for 234 00:15:51,400 --> 00:15:54,360 Speaker 3: his old and dying father, we see here in this 235 00:15:54,440 --> 00:15:58,640 Speaker 3: passage a total severing of the family bond. The deceit 236 00:15:59,440 --> 00:16:04,560 Speaker 3: and bitterness and jealousy and rivalry has reached maturity. Esau 237 00:16:04,640 --> 00:16:07,040 Speaker 3: is consumed with anger and hatred towards his brother and 238 00:16:07,120 --> 00:16:09,640 Speaker 3: vows to kill him, and echo of the first two 239 00:16:09,720 --> 00:16:14,120 Speaker 3: brothers in history, Cain and Able, Jacob, despite having received 240 00:16:14,160 --> 00:16:16,560 Speaker 3: the blessing, is terrified and forced to run away to 241 00:16:16,640 --> 00:16:20,280 Speaker 3: Rebecca's family, where he will live for many years. There's 242 00:16:20,320 --> 00:16:23,000 Speaker 3: so much to be learned in this story. Once again 243 00:16:23,040 --> 00:16:28,120 Speaker 3: we see the destructiveness of favoritism, but there's something even deeper. 244 00:16:28,680 --> 00:16:31,360 Speaker 3: Rather than getting his house in order, as his life 245 00:16:31,400 --> 00:16:34,840 Speaker 3: near to an end, Isaac was interested only in filling 246 00:16:34,960 --> 00:16:38,440 Speaker 3: his stomach. Listen to the words of Genesis twenty seven, 247 00:16:38,720 --> 00:16:43,760 Speaker 3: two three and four. Isaac said, behold, now I am old, 248 00:16:43,760 --> 00:16:45,840 Speaker 3: and I do not know the day of my death. 249 00:16:46,520 --> 00:16:49,280 Speaker 3: Now then please take your gear, your quiver, and your bow, 250 00:16:49,360 --> 00:16:51,240 Speaker 3: and go out to the field and hunt gain for 251 00:16:51,400 --> 00:16:54,520 Speaker 3: me and prepare a savory dish for me, such as 252 00:16:54,560 --> 00:16:57,360 Speaker 3: I love, and bring it to me that I may eat, 253 00:16:57,440 --> 00:17:01,840 Speaker 3: so that my soul may bless you before I die. Isaac, 254 00:17:01,880 --> 00:17:03,880 Speaker 3: knowing that he would soon die, could have brought his 255 00:17:03,960 --> 00:17:06,560 Speaker 3: sons together along with his wife and charge them with 256 00:17:06,680 --> 00:17:10,960 Speaker 3: maintaining unity and love and continuing trust in God. Instead, 257 00:17:11,480 --> 00:17:14,879 Speaker 3: all he wanted was dinner. It would take years for 258 00:17:14,960 --> 00:17:19,080 Speaker 3: this family conflict to resolve, and by then so much 259 00:17:19,280 --> 00:17:23,439 Speaker 3: had been lost. While Abraham was a shining example of 260 00:17:23,440 --> 00:17:26,560 Speaker 3: how to carefully order one's last days to ensure a 261 00:17:26,640 --> 00:17:30,560 Speaker 3: legacy that honors God, Isaac's life shines as a light 262 00:17:30,640 --> 00:17:35,520 Speaker 3: on the danger of selfishness and self indulgence. May we 263 00:17:35,600 --> 00:17:39,040 Speaker 3: seek to be more like Abraham and less like Isaac 264 00:17:39,359 --> 00:17:42,560 Speaker 3: in our old age. Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for 265 00:17:42,600 --> 00:17:45,400 Speaker 3: this story and how you continue to show yourself faithful 266 00:17:45,480 --> 00:17:48,720 Speaker 3: and true to Isaac even as he stumbled and failed 267 00:17:48,760 --> 00:17:52,040 Speaker 3: to trust in you. Thank you also for the valuable 268 00:17:52,119 --> 00:17:56,560 Speaker 3: lesson about family and the warnings about dishonesty, favoritism, and 269 00:17:56,640 --> 00:18:00,320 Speaker 3: being passive in our leadership with our children. Help us 270 00:18:00,359 --> 00:18:04,040 Speaker 3: to honor you with our families in Jesus' name. Amen. 271 00:18:04,840 --> 00:18:07,919 Speaker 3: Thank you for listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast. 272 00:18:08,480 --> 00:18:12,480 Speaker 3: I'm pastor Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. Download thepray dot 273 00:18:12,520 --> 00:18:16,360 Speaker 3: com app and make a priority in your life. If 274 00:18:16,359 --> 00:18:18,800 Speaker 3: you enjoyed this podcast, share it with someone you know, 275 00:18:18,960 --> 00:18:22,600 Speaker 3: someone you love, because by sharing this podcast, you can 276 00:18:22,680 --> 00:18:25,560 Speaker 3: make a big difference in someone's life. And if you 277 00:18:25,640 --> 00:18:29,000 Speaker 3: want more resources as to how to live the Christian life, 278 00:18:29,080 --> 00:18:32,119 Speaker 3: how to know God and experience His presence in your life, 279 00:18:32,640 --> 00:18:36,240 Speaker 3: be sure to visit Jack Graham dot org. God bless you. 280 00:18:41,359 --> 00:18:45,160 Speaker 1: This episode is sponsored by Meta Share, an innovative healthcare 281 00:18:45,200 --> 00:18:49,320 Speaker 1: solution for Christians to save money without sacrificing quality.