Faith Over PerfectionSample

Read: Genesis 26:34–27:29; Romans 9:6–18

SOAP: Romans 9:14–15

What shall we say then? Is there injustice with God? Absolutely not! For he says to Moses: “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”

Despite the promises or commands of God, we often create situations through deception and manipulation that destroy our relationships. Isaac’s family’s actions offer us a warning: Regardless of what we think we deserve, it is always better to trust God’s provision over our own.

In the pursuit of the blessing, Isaac’s family fragmented. Isaac knew Jacob, his younger son, was to be the one to inherit the blessing. When Rebekah was pregnant, God chose Jacob, not Esau, to be the one to carry on God’s promise to Abraham. But Isaac loved Esau, and he disregarded God’s proclamation and planned to bless Esau. Esau agreed and sought to receive the blessing from Isaac despite selling his birthright to Jacob. At the same time, Rebekah and Jacob sought to attain the blessing for Jacob through deception. Instead of confronting the confusion with love or faith, Rebekah and Jacob proceeded to deceive Isaac in order to attain the blessing. 

God was clear in His choice to bless Jacob. Romans 9 explains how God intentionally chose to bless Jacob and not Esau, Isaac’s firstborn. Instead of believing in God’s promise that he would rule over his brother, Jacob trusted his own means. He deceived his father and his brother and effectively shattered the family relationships. 

God indeed had a plan to bless Jacob that didn’t include a moral failure. Yet even in his failure, God blessed Jacob. God allowed Jacob to attain the blessing this way, choosing to show mercy and compassion to Jacob. God is working in all aspects of our lives, even through our sin and failure. Even in our failure to trust Him, He can (and does) accomplish His purposes, but we create heartache and pain when we go our own way. May we step out in faith, trusting that when God makes a promise, He already has a plan to fulfill it, regardless of how our circumstances look. 

Prayer

Lord God, increase my faith and my patience. I believe that when You make a promise You have already fulfilled it. There is no injustice with You, and You always make a way to show mercy. I believe You have a plan, even in my pain. Amen.