THE K I N G ' S BUS I NE S S
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that no way could be found to change Isaac’s mind. The birthright blessing had been besto.wed and could not he recalled, no matter how much Isaac and Esau might have wished otherwise. And so there comes a day when it is “ too late” for those who have persist ently rejected God’s Son and God’s sal vation. Though Esau could not have the birth right blessing, he got another blessing from his father (vs. 39,40), It was a good blessing, but it was not the best. Sometimes God’s children by their fail ure hinder God from bestowing His richest blessing upon them, and they have to go on with a second best. That God did not at all approve of Jacob’s conduct in the matter is very plain from what follows: the separa tion from his mother, the years of hard servitude in a far off land, the deceit practiced upon him by his uncle Laban, the enmity of Laban’s family, the jeal ousies and bickerings in his home life, his never seeing his mother again, these were all a part of the crop that Jacob reaped from the deception that he sowed. And yet in spite of all this a real work of grace had been begun in him, and the Jacob of this period is going to turn out to be the Israel of a later date (Phil. 1 :6). The Scriptures give us no hint of any improvement on Esau’s part. Here is a scene under the paternal roof. Heje is an opportunity for char acter study—-Isaac, Rebekah, Esau, Jacob. Thè whole chapter affords an interesting study HEART OF THE with the follow- LESSON ing outline: PRACTICAL POINTS (1) Planning the Plot. (2) Putting on the Clothes.
His heavenly people and the coming of the Messiah. You would expect to find a home of devoted followers of Jehovah, but alas, alas! Isaac was 137 years old, and fast failing in health. He is occupied with his fleshly desires. He wants a feast, at which time he proposes to bestow the paternal blessing upon Esau who had sold out, but yet was willing to take what did not belong to him. Rebekah has overheard the proposi tion, and plans to outwit her husband. Jacob becomes a party to the plot. Can you imagine a more contemptible quar tette than these? Let us look at this sin of deceit: The plot is based upon the fact that the promise of God was given that Jacob should rule. Jacob and Rebekah were guilty of unbelief in God’s ability to make good His promise and sought to aid Him, as Sarah did in giving Hagar to Abraham. The theory that “ the end justifies the means” so pre valent in Roman Catholic teaching, is fatal. David waited upon God and would not remove Saul but left Saul in the hands of God. Abraham was ready to offer up Isaac and break, the chain which bound God by His promise. You cannot bring about God’s plans except ing in God’s way. Rebekah sinned in seeking to force an issue. She lied to Isaac and to Jacob. She wronged her husband, both sons and God, and her own soul. She was prejudiced and wil ful and unbelieving. Jacob sinned in effecting a bargain under such pressing circumstances and in allowing his mother to influence him in carrying out a devilish plan by which his father was deceived; by his pious fraud in bring ing God’s name into it. Esau sinned in placing such a slight value upon the most valuable birthright; dishonored his parents; disobeyed God in marrying a heathen; demaned himself by plan ning to murder his brother. Isaac sin ned in the raising of his family; in
(3) Playing the Part. 4) Paying the Penalty.
We are in the home of the head of the nation of Israel, in which home is vested the promise of God concerning
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