16. WHO CAN WE TRUST? |
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In a sense, you could say that agreements are the backbone of society. Businesses, relationships, and even religions are founded upon agreements. On a daily basis we agree to buy things at a specific price, work out our problems with other people, and live according to certain rules. But sometimes people and countries break agreements. A broken agreement can end a friendship and start a war. Have you ever made an agreement with somebody, but later found out that they had lied? Would you still honor the agreement? And could you ever forgive someone who deceived and stole from you? For most of us, these questions would be answered with a resounding “NO”. But from God, it wouldn’t be shocking for the answer to be “YES”. First, let’s take a look at how humans would deal with this kind of situation.
Some of the world’s most famous companies have been operating in Turkey for over 80 years. They have a good working relationship with Turks and highly value their relationship with this country. Several years ago, a company was looking for a new plant manager for one of their factories in Bursa. After an extensive advertising campaign and sifting through the many applicants, they decided to interview several candidates.
The committee of seven executives spent one week interviewing, taking notes, and asking questions about each applicant. Just like any company looking to fill an important position, they wanted the new employee to have certain qualities. At the top of the list were competency, technical knowledge, and good communication skills. But the most important thing was that the new plant manager had to be trustworthy. When visitors, inspectors, government agents, and potential customers came to the plant, it was the plant manager’s responsibility to represent the company in a positive manner. Upper management needed to know that the manager could be trusted to do all these things.
The committee narrowed the list of prospective employees down to two: Ahmet and Yilmaz. They found both applicants to be very well qualified and were having a hard time choosing one. They were unable to base their decision solely on the resumes and interviews, so they began to contact each of the four references they had provided. However, the committee was only able to contact a few of them. Based on their conversations and the need to hire someone within the week, they were tentatively leaning towards hiring Ahmet. They decided to contact him and give him the news.
“Hello Ahmet Bey. How are you?
“I am fine thank you. How are things at the plant?”
“We are getting by, but it is very important that we hire someone soon. We wanted to fill you in on where things are. We were really impressed with your interview and the information provided on your resume was more than sufficient. Unfortunately, we haven’t heard back from all of your references.”
“I assure you that all my references are good. My work record is spotless and I have never been in the wrong,” declared Ahmet.
“That is good to hear. Ahmet, we will give them one more week to contact us; but at this point we can’t find any reason not to move forward. We would like you to come in next Tuesday for a final interview. In short, we would like to offer you the job and discuss salary and benefits.”
Ahmet was pleased to hear the news and excited to start a new job.
Unfortunately, the afternoon before the interview, the last two of Ahmet’s references called and did not give good feedback. They said that while Ahmet was working for them, the company went through some major changes and he was unable to adapt to the new work environment. Furthermore, one month before he left the company “something strange happened”. Apparently some funds were misallocated and the company lost a major contract. After a complete investigation, there was inconclusive proof that Ahmet was to blame. But suspicions remained high that Ahmet, if not directly involved, played a key role in trying to cover up the situation.
The committee wasn’t about to gamble the factories future and reputation on a man who had a questionable background. And they knew that Yilmaz was very capable of performing at a high level. But how would they handle this situation? They had already told Ahmet that they were going to hire him. If they didn’t hire him it would appear like they broke a verbal agreement. The committee decided to give Ahmet a chance to explain what happened.
When Ahmet arrived they filled him in on the most recent developments and told him that they wanted to ask him a few more questions. During the interview, Ahmet became very defensive and began to berate his former company. It seemed that he had an excuse for everything that happened and in his eyes all the blame rested on their shoulders. It became very clear to the committee that Ahmet was not their man. They thanked him for coming in and told him that they were hiring someone else.
“But the job is mine. You said we were going to negotiate salary and benefits! You agreed to hire me and I agreed to work. Are you breaking our agreement?” He proclaimed.
“Ahmet Bey, the only agreement that was broken occurred the moment you withheld this information from us. At that time, you gave us your word and agreed to uphold the integrity of our company. Right now you are not handling yourself in a way that makes us comfortable. How do we know this won’t happen again? Our company has a reputation and our integrity is our biggest asset. Have a good day!”
It is very clear from this story that the company had no obligation to hire Ahmet. He engaged in deceptive behavior and couldn’t be trusted. It makes sense that they would choose to work with someone else. At that point it was clear to the management team that Yilmaz would be the new plant manager.
As we have seen in previous stories, Abraham was God’s man. He was chosen because of his belief and willingness to follow God at all costs. God had made a covenant, or agreement, with Abraham and promised to transfer that covenant to his descendants if they lived according to specific guidelines. It was important to God, just like the company, that his representative be upright and trustworthy. And he always had the right to end the agreement if conditions weren’t met.
After Abraham and Isaac were tested by God and succeeded, Isaac came of age and it was time for him to marry. It was very important that he marry someone of like mind and religious convictions; a woman who would fulfill her role in the continuing covenant with God. He found that woman in Rebekah the daughter of his uncle Nahor. Unfortunately, and like Sarah had been, Rebekah was unable to have children. So Isaac prayed for her and God, remembering his covenant with both Abraham and Isaac, answered him.
As Rebekah’s pregnancy progressed, she found herself in great distress. It seemed like the baby was moving too much. So she also went to the Lord in prayer. In our day, we tend to run to the doctor when we have a problem. But maybe sometimes we should be more patient and seek counsel, like Isaac and Rebekah, from the One who created us. Let’s pick up the story in Genesis 25 verses 23-26:
23 And the LORD said to her, two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger. 24 When her days to give birth were completed, behold, there were twins in her womb. 25 The first came out red, all his body like a hairy cloak, so they called his name Esau. 26 Afterward his brother came out with his hand holding Esau's heel, so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.
Rebekah probably wasn’t expecting the news she received! She wasn’t suffering from illness nor was she going to die. In fact, she was blessed to be having two children. But with the good news came something disturbing. For some reason, the younger of the two would be more important. It is apparent from the text that the boys were not identical twins and as we continue to read we will see that they also were not identical in character! Let's see what kind of men they became in verses 27 and 28:
27 When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents. 28 Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.
As time passed the older boy, Esau, became a man of the field, a strong hunter; while the youngest, Jacob, chose to stay closer to home and accompany the flocks. It also became apparent that Jacob was more interested with spiritual things. He spent a lot of time protecting and caring for the livestock. He probably spent the quiet hours of the day contemplating the lessons that his father Isaac had taught him and the stories of his grandfather Abraham. And he knew the importance of his family's covenant with God. Esau, on the other hand, was mesmerized by the excitement and adventure of the chase. He had grown accustomed to depending on his own skills and abilities. It is clear that from a physical standpoint, Esau had the upper hand. But Esau’s impatience would eventually get the better of him. Let's see what happened next in verses 29-34:
29Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted.30And Esau said to Jacob, Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted! (Therefore his name was called Edom.) 31 Jacob said, Sell me your birthright now. 32Esau said, I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me? 33Jacob said, Swear to me now. So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.
Jacob, much like little brothers tend to do, seized the moment and used this opportunity to get the very thing that he desired. He asked Esau to trade his birthright for the stew. Esau, overcome by the emptiness in his stomach and overlooking the importance of his birthright, agreed to the trade. But the birthright was not some trivial thing. Let us not forget that the birthright in those days held both spiritual and temporal importance. God had made a covenant with Abraham and his descendants. That same covenant was renewed with Isaac and would pass to one of his children. It makes sense that Esau would be next in line, but his disregard for spiritual things and the lightheartedness he felt towards the covenant caused him to make a hasty decision.
Perhaps Esau could have recognized his folly, changed his ways, and fulfilled his role as the elder sibling and heir apparent. But he sealed his decision by breaking another stipulation of the covenant. He married two Hittite women. The Bible says that these marriages caused great distress to Isaac and Rebekah because they knew what types of cultural and spiritual problems Esau would face. These two actions showed that Esau was not interested in living the same life as that of his father Isaac and grandfather Abraham. Esau, just like Ahmet, forfeited his right to the covenant by consistently ignoring it and engaging in behavior that didn’t conform to God’s standard. And just like the company giving the job to Yilmaz because of his qualifications, God was left no other recourse than to let the covenant pass to Jacob. But the story doesn’t end there! Isaac was old and nearly blind; and before he died he wanted to bless his two boys. Jacob, after being urged by his mother, disguised himself as Esau and approached his father. Isaac, unable to differentiate between the two young men and thinking Jacob was Esau, placed his hands on his head and blessed him. When Esau found out, he was irate and wanted to kill his brother Jacob. Rebekah knew this, so she advised him to go stay with his uncle Laban and find a wife.
Now Jacob had received both the birthright and the blessing, but at the cost of dividing his family. It is after all these events that Jacob leaves on his own journey. Albeit filled with remorse, regret, and shame. He knew God didn’t like deceit and treachery. And yet it was through those two things that he obtained what God could have given him rightfully. Jacob was probably despondent and had no doubt that God would reject him too. He must have asked himself,
"Why would God want to renew the covenant with a liar and thief?"
Let's move ahead to Genesis chapter 28 verses 10-15:
10 Jacob left Beersheba and went toward Haran. 11 And he came to a certain of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place to sleep. 12 And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! 13 And behold, the LORD stood above it and said, I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. 14 Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 15 Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.
It is so good that God doesn’t think or act like we do! If He did, Jacob would probably be punished or killed. We can’t explain away Jacob’s deception, nor will we attempt to contemplate what God thought. We can only assume that God knew what the future held for both Jacob and Esau. And that He knew Jacob’s faith was strong and that he was regretful for what he had done. Jacob wasn’t the man he needed to be at the moment, but with time and God’s help one day he could be. By speaking to Jacob in this dream, God reassured him that the covenant would continue and he would never be left alone. The very ground that he laid on would be his and given to his offspring.
But what about this dream, what did it mean? It must have related to the covenant! And what of this ladder that bridged the gulf between heaven and earth, what did it represent? Could it be a symbol of the blessing that God continually spoke of? What will Jacob’s future be like, will he ever find a wife, and what will happen if he meets his brother again? We can be sure that the answer to these mysteries, just like many others, will be revealed as we continue our journey through the Bible. Let’s return to the story in Genesis chapter 28 verses 16-22:
16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it. 17 And he was afraid and said, How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. 18 So early in the morning Jacob took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it. 19 He called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of the city was Luz at the first. 20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, 21 so that I come again to my father's house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God, 22 and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God's house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.
God made a promise to Jacob and Jacob responded with a vow; the covenant was established and an agreement had been made. God agreed to guide Jacob and Jacob agreed to follow him. Jacob also agreed to give a tenth of all his blessings back to the Lord, just as his grandfather Abraham gave a tenth to Melchizedek.
Perhaps our own stories, at least in principle, aren’t very much different than Jacob’s. There have been times when we have disappointed our parents, not lived up to their expectations, and even disgraced them. But they are always there for us! They make sure we have food, clothes, and an education. They work hard to provide us with the things they never had. In short, they keep their promises and love us regardless of whether or not we "earn" their love. God is the same way; He is always there and willing to forgive us when we show remorse for our wrongdoing. And when He makes a promise, He will always keep it!
Based solely on their behavior, neither Jacob nor Esau deserved the covenant; and God had a right to render it null and void. But God, in his mercy and grace, allowed the covenant to continue. If he could forgive a sinner like Jacob and continue the covenant, we know that God is able to show us the same grace. We simply need a willing a heart.
Questions for Discussion
1) If a fortune 500 company had made the decision regarding Jacob and Esau, what do you think they would have done?
2) Why do you think Jacob deserved the covenant more than Esau?
3) Do you see yourself more like Esau or Jacob?
4) Is there anything you have done or are doing that you think God can't forgive?
5) In your opinion, if God says that one boy will rule over another boy before they are even born, do you think it means that God already wrote their fates or that God simply knows everything that will eventually happen?
6) Pertaining to fate, was happened to Esau the result of fate or choice?
Some of the world’s most famous companies have been operating in Turkey for over 80 years. They have a good working relationship with Turks and highly value their relationship with this country. Several years ago, a company was looking for a new plant manager for one of their factories in Bursa. After an extensive advertising campaign and sifting through the many applicants, they decided to interview several candidates.
The committee of seven executives spent one week interviewing, taking notes, and asking questions about each applicant. Just like any company looking to fill an important position, they wanted the new employee to have certain qualities. At the top of the list were competency, technical knowledge, and good communication skills. But the most important thing was that the new plant manager had to be trustworthy. When visitors, inspectors, government agents, and potential customers came to the plant, it was the plant manager’s responsibility to represent the company in a positive manner. Upper management needed to know that the manager could be trusted to do all these things.
The committee narrowed the list of prospective employees down to two: Ahmet and Yilmaz. They found both applicants to be very well qualified and were having a hard time choosing one. They were unable to base their decision solely on the resumes and interviews, so they began to contact each of the four references they had provided. However, the committee was only able to contact a few of them. Based on their conversations and the need to hire someone within the week, they were tentatively leaning towards hiring Ahmet. They decided to contact him and give him the news.
“Hello Ahmet Bey. How are you?
“I am fine thank you. How are things at the plant?”
“We are getting by, but it is very important that we hire someone soon. We wanted to fill you in on where things are. We were really impressed with your interview and the information provided on your resume was more than sufficient. Unfortunately, we haven’t heard back from all of your references.”
“I assure you that all my references are good. My work record is spotless and I have never been in the wrong,” declared Ahmet.
“That is good to hear. Ahmet, we will give them one more week to contact us; but at this point we can’t find any reason not to move forward. We would like you to come in next Tuesday for a final interview. In short, we would like to offer you the job and discuss salary and benefits.”
Ahmet was pleased to hear the news and excited to start a new job.
Unfortunately, the afternoon before the interview, the last two of Ahmet’s references called and did not give good feedback. They said that while Ahmet was working for them, the company went through some major changes and he was unable to adapt to the new work environment. Furthermore, one month before he left the company “something strange happened”. Apparently some funds were misallocated and the company lost a major contract. After a complete investigation, there was inconclusive proof that Ahmet was to blame. But suspicions remained high that Ahmet, if not directly involved, played a key role in trying to cover up the situation.
The committee wasn’t about to gamble the factories future and reputation on a man who had a questionable background. And they knew that Yilmaz was very capable of performing at a high level. But how would they handle this situation? They had already told Ahmet that they were going to hire him. If they didn’t hire him it would appear like they broke a verbal agreement. The committee decided to give Ahmet a chance to explain what happened.
When Ahmet arrived they filled him in on the most recent developments and told him that they wanted to ask him a few more questions. During the interview, Ahmet became very defensive and began to berate his former company. It seemed that he had an excuse for everything that happened and in his eyes all the blame rested on their shoulders. It became very clear to the committee that Ahmet was not their man. They thanked him for coming in and told him that they were hiring someone else.
“But the job is mine. You said we were going to negotiate salary and benefits! You agreed to hire me and I agreed to work. Are you breaking our agreement?” He proclaimed.
“Ahmet Bey, the only agreement that was broken occurred the moment you withheld this information from us. At that time, you gave us your word and agreed to uphold the integrity of our company. Right now you are not handling yourself in a way that makes us comfortable. How do we know this won’t happen again? Our company has a reputation and our integrity is our biggest asset. Have a good day!”
It is very clear from this story that the company had no obligation to hire Ahmet. He engaged in deceptive behavior and couldn’t be trusted. It makes sense that they would choose to work with someone else. At that point it was clear to the management team that Yilmaz would be the new plant manager.
As we have seen in previous stories, Abraham was God’s man. He was chosen because of his belief and willingness to follow God at all costs. God had made a covenant, or agreement, with Abraham and promised to transfer that covenant to his descendants if they lived according to specific guidelines. It was important to God, just like the company, that his representative be upright and trustworthy. And he always had the right to end the agreement if conditions weren’t met.
After Abraham and Isaac were tested by God and succeeded, Isaac came of age and it was time for him to marry. It was very important that he marry someone of like mind and religious convictions; a woman who would fulfill her role in the continuing covenant with God. He found that woman in Rebekah the daughter of his uncle Nahor. Unfortunately, and like Sarah had been, Rebekah was unable to have children. So Isaac prayed for her and God, remembering his covenant with both Abraham and Isaac, answered him.
As Rebekah’s pregnancy progressed, she found herself in great distress. It seemed like the baby was moving too much. So she also went to the Lord in prayer. In our day, we tend to run to the doctor when we have a problem. But maybe sometimes we should be more patient and seek counsel, like Isaac and Rebekah, from the One who created us. Let’s pick up the story in Genesis 25 verses 23-26:
23 And the LORD said to her, two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger. 24 When her days to give birth were completed, behold, there were twins in her womb. 25 The first came out red, all his body like a hairy cloak, so they called his name Esau. 26 Afterward his brother came out with his hand holding Esau's heel, so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.
Rebekah probably wasn’t expecting the news she received! She wasn’t suffering from illness nor was she going to die. In fact, she was blessed to be having two children. But with the good news came something disturbing. For some reason, the younger of the two would be more important. It is apparent from the text that the boys were not identical twins and as we continue to read we will see that they also were not identical in character! Let's see what kind of men they became in verses 27 and 28:
27 When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents. 28 Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.
As time passed the older boy, Esau, became a man of the field, a strong hunter; while the youngest, Jacob, chose to stay closer to home and accompany the flocks. It also became apparent that Jacob was more interested with spiritual things. He spent a lot of time protecting and caring for the livestock. He probably spent the quiet hours of the day contemplating the lessons that his father Isaac had taught him and the stories of his grandfather Abraham. And he knew the importance of his family's covenant with God. Esau, on the other hand, was mesmerized by the excitement and adventure of the chase. He had grown accustomed to depending on his own skills and abilities. It is clear that from a physical standpoint, Esau had the upper hand. But Esau’s impatience would eventually get the better of him. Let's see what happened next in verses 29-34:
29Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted.30And Esau said to Jacob, Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted! (Therefore his name was called Edom.) 31 Jacob said, Sell me your birthright now. 32Esau said, I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me? 33Jacob said, Swear to me now. So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.
Jacob, much like little brothers tend to do, seized the moment and used this opportunity to get the very thing that he desired. He asked Esau to trade his birthright for the stew. Esau, overcome by the emptiness in his stomach and overlooking the importance of his birthright, agreed to the trade. But the birthright was not some trivial thing. Let us not forget that the birthright in those days held both spiritual and temporal importance. God had made a covenant with Abraham and his descendants. That same covenant was renewed with Isaac and would pass to one of his children. It makes sense that Esau would be next in line, but his disregard for spiritual things and the lightheartedness he felt towards the covenant caused him to make a hasty decision.
Perhaps Esau could have recognized his folly, changed his ways, and fulfilled his role as the elder sibling and heir apparent. But he sealed his decision by breaking another stipulation of the covenant. He married two Hittite women. The Bible says that these marriages caused great distress to Isaac and Rebekah because they knew what types of cultural and spiritual problems Esau would face. These two actions showed that Esau was not interested in living the same life as that of his father Isaac and grandfather Abraham. Esau, just like Ahmet, forfeited his right to the covenant by consistently ignoring it and engaging in behavior that didn’t conform to God’s standard. And just like the company giving the job to Yilmaz because of his qualifications, God was left no other recourse than to let the covenant pass to Jacob. But the story doesn’t end there! Isaac was old and nearly blind; and before he died he wanted to bless his two boys. Jacob, after being urged by his mother, disguised himself as Esau and approached his father. Isaac, unable to differentiate between the two young men and thinking Jacob was Esau, placed his hands on his head and blessed him. When Esau found out, he was irate and wanted to kill his brother Jacob. Rebekah knew this, so she advised him to go stay with his uncle Laban and find a wife.
Now Jacob had received both the birthright and the blessing, but at the cost of dividing his family. It is after all these events that Jacob leaves on his own journey. Albeit filled with remorse, regret, and shame. He knew God didn’t like deceit and treachery. And yet it was through those two things that he obtained what God could have given him rightfully. Jacob was probably despondent and had no doubt that God would reject him too. He must have asked himself,
"Why would God want to renew the covenant with a liar and thief?"
Let's move ahead to Genesis chapter 28 verses 10-15:
10 Jacob left Beersheba and went toward Haran. 11 And he came to a certain of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place to sleep. 12 And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! 13 And behold, the LORD stood above it and said, I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. 14 Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 15 Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.
It is so good that God doesn’t think or act like we do! If He did, Jacob would probably be punished or killed. We can’t explain away Jacob’s deception, nor will we attempt to contemplate what God thought. We can only assume that God knew what the future held for both Jacob and Esau. And that He knew Jacob’s faith was strong and that he was regretful for what he had done. Jacob wasn’t the man he needed to be at the moment, but with time and God’s help one day he could be. By speaking to Jacob in this dream, God reassured him that the covenant would continue and he would never be left alone. The very ground that he laid on would be his and given to his offspring.
But what about this dream, what did it mean? It must have related to the covenant! And what of this ladder that bridged the gulf between heaven and earth, what did it represent? Could it be a symbol of the blessing that God continually spoke of? What will Jacob’s future be like, will he ever find a wife, and what will happen if he meets his brother again? We can be sure that the answer to these mysteries, just like many others, will be revealed as we continue our journey through the Bible. Let’s return to the story in Genesis chapter 28 verses 16-22:
16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it. 17 And he was afraid and said, How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. 18 So early in the morning Jacob took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it. 19 He called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of the city was Luz at the first. 20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, 21 so that I come again to my father's house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God, 22 and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God's house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.
God made a promise to Jacob and Jacob responded with a vow; the covenant was established and an agreement had been made. God agreed to guide Jacob and Jacob agreed to follow him. Jacob also agreed to give a tenth of all his blessings back to the Lord, just as his grandfather Abraham gave a tenth to Melchizedek.
Perhaps our own stories, at least in principle, aren’t very much different than Jacob’s. There have been times when we have disappointed our parents, not lived up to their expectations, and even disgraced them. But they are always there for us! They make sure we have food, clothes, and an education. They work hard to provide us with the things they never had. In short, they keep their promises and love us regardless of whether or not we "earn" their love. God is the same way; He is always there and willing to forgive us when we show remorse for our wrongdoing. And when He makes a promise, He will always keep it!
Based solely on their behavior, neither Jacob nor Esau deserved the covenant; and God had a right to render it null and void. But God, in his mercy and grace, allowed the covenant to continue. If he could forgive a sinner like Jacob and continue the covenant, we know that God is able to show us the same grace. We simply need a willing a heart.
Questions for Discussion
1) If a fortune 500 company had made the decision regarding Jacob and Esau, what do you think they would have done?
2) Why do you think Jacob deserved the covenant more than Esau?
3) Do you see yourself more like Esau or Jacob?
4) Is there anything you have done or are doing that you think God can't forgive?
5) In your opinion, if God says that one boy will rule over another boy before they are even born, do you think it means that God already wrote their fates or that God simply knows everything that will eventually happen?
6) Pertaining to fate, was happened to Esau the result of fate or choice?