T HE D YSFUNCTIONAL C OVENANT F AMILY Genesis 27:1-46

T HE D YSFUNCTIONAL C OVENANT F AMILY I. Isaac’s / Rebekah’s Decline vv II. Jacob’s Deception vv, III Esau’s Despair vv

I. I SAAC ’ S / R EBEKAH ’ S D ECLINE VV 1-17 “When Isaac was old and his eyes were so weak that he could no longer see…..” v.1 “Isaac said, ‘I am now an old man and don’t know the day of death. ….” v.2 “Prepare me the kind of tasty food I like and bring it to me to eat, so that I may give you my blessing before I die” v.4

I. I SAAC ’ S / R EBEKAH ’ S D ECLINE VV.1-17 “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose will prevail” Proverbs 19:21 Rebekah’s Manipulation vv.5-17 Isaac: “If it feel right, and it must be good” “Just follow your heart” Rebekah: “The end justifies the means”

II. J ACOB ’ S D ECEPTION VV Jacob’s Web of Deception: “He went to his father and said, ‘My father.” v.18 “O what a tangled web we weave, When first we practice to deceive” Sir Walter Scott

II. J ACOB ’ S D ECEPTION VV Jacob’s Web of Deception 1. He lied about his Name v.19, v He lied about the Food v He lied about the Lord v He lied about his Love v.27

II. J ACOB ’ S D ECEPTION VV The Covenant Blessing vv “Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the LORD has blessed. May God give you of heaven’s dew and of earth’s richness—an abundance of grain and new wine. May nations serve you and peoples bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you, may those who curse you be cursed and those who bless you be blessed”

III. E SAU ’ S D ESPAIR VV “After Isaac finished blessing him and Jacob and scarcely left his father’s presence, his brother Esau came in from hunting.” v.30 “When Esau heard his father’s words, he burst out with a loud and bitter cry and said to his father, bless me—me too, my father!” v.34

III. E SAU ’ S D ESPAIR VV “Haven’t you reserved any blessings for me?” v.36 “Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me too, my father!” v.38

III. E SAU ’ S D ESPAIR VV Hebrews 12:16-17 “See to it that no one is sexually immoral or is godless like Esau who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring no change of mind, thought he sought the blessing with tears.”

T HE D YSFUNCTIONAL C OVENANT F AMILY “The Rest of the Story”: vv Esau vowed to kill Jacob Jacob had to flee for his life Rebekah lost both sons—never saw Jacob again Isaac died shortly after Grave consequences of deception and sin

T HE D YSFUNCTIONAL C OVENANT F AMILY S UMMARY 1. Acknowledge deception is a sin; and confess any deception in our lives “Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against and in whose spirit is no deceit.” Psalm 32: 2

T HE D YSFUNCTIONAL C OVENANT F AMILY 2. The Sovereign Lord is always in control whose purpose cannot be thwarted. “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose will prevail” Proverbs 19:21

T HE D YSFUNCTIONAL C OVENANT F AMILY 3. As member of God’s Chosen New Covenant family: Be a blessings to others / all nations Fulfill the Great Commission “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you…” Matthew 28:19-20