RTW January 9

The 3 R’s to Good Decision Making

What good is my birthright to me now?
Genesis 25:32b

 

 

My Takeaways

Something Old

Nothing is worth the sacrifice of my inheritance.

https://www.gotquestions.org/inheritance-in-Christ.html

I’ve been as foolish as Esau

Good decisions are made when we are:

  • Esau was exhausted (25:29)
  • Realistic in our thinking. Was Esau really “starving.” (25:30,32)
  • Reflective on the impact the decision will have on our future. (25:32)

Something New

Genesis 26:24
I love that God keeps repeating His promise to Isaac.

Something to Do

Don’t sacrifice future blessings for immediate pleasures.

 

 

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4 Comments

  1. I have always felt a little sorry for Esau-as if he was getting the short end of the stick. And I always read this story hoping to find a key to absolve him somehow.
    With this read, I think I found it: famished.

    Esau wrongly described hunger (from missing a meal or two) as being famished and sold his birthright for some stew.

    A few lines later and we find out that his father Isaac encountered a real “famine” and responding by seeking protection from a people not his own and lying about Rebekah ( essentially disallowing his claim to her as wife) to keep himself safe.

    Both men-in some sense- turned away from what God gave them to get something less from a mere human being. It was just a matter of degree.

    Have I done this? Have I lied at a bosses direction to keep a job? Did I really need to? Would my family have gone hungry before I found another one?

  2. Well girls I just realized I read today’s lesson yesterday, lol. You know, yesterday as I was reading, I thought it was longer then usual. Oh, well there was much in today’s reading so I shouldn’t have a problem taking away more from these chapters.

    My Takeaways:
    I wonder if Jacob knew God’s promise like his mother knew (Genesis 25:23)? If he did, why did he buy what God had already promised to give him, why did he and his mom scheme together to steal Esau’s blessing? That darn sin nature we all inherited from Adam sure gets in the way of our thinking.

    Something Old:
    Poor Esau, his life was filled with bad choices. He acts on impulse instead of thinking about long-term consequences.

    Something New: So much happened as a result of this sin. How sad that Rebecca sent Jacob off for a few days, but those days turned into years and Rebekah dies before she ever sees her favorite son again. I know Rebekah knew in advance that Jacob would become the family leader. Still she felt the need to take things into her own hands. Doing wrong – for what God had already worked out – had she only been patient. Jacob went along with it, his only fear was of being caught, how sad. This reminds me of a quote from John Wooden that I often share with my students, “A true test of a man’s character is what he does when no one is watching.” Right is right – wrong is wrong regardless if you get caught or not. Jacob and Rebecca both suffered much for carrying out this deceitful plan. Just think how different the outcome would have been if Jacob and Rebecca had waited for God to work out this blessing his way instead of their way.

    Something To Do:
    I must remember to be patient and think before I act. I must remember a sin is never right even if I don’t get caught. Sin are sins and consequences do come as a result but not always immediately.

  3. I can’t imagine loving one son so much that you plot against the other.I have two sons and they are 12 years apart. They often compete and the older son feels like I’m playing favorites. My younger son says “It’s because I’m the baby!” I also have to remind the older son that I’m doing for the younger son exactly what I did with him, and why should he get less love?
    Back to Rebekah and her twins, again I say I couldn’t imagine not loving one or plotting against one of my children.

    Also, I wonder why Esau would show contempt for his firstborn rights? (Gen 25:34)

  4. My Takeaways – This story about Jacob and Esau has always bothered me. On one hand, I see God rewarding devious behavior. On the other hand, God knows well in advance what’s in people’s hearts and perhaps Esau doesn’t quite meet the standard that God needs to do what He will do. And, I for one am grateful that God still rewards those of us who do things wrong, especially since I mess up all the time. I am thankful for God’s unconditional love and acceptance!

    Something Old: Jacob and Rachel scheme to “help God’s plan along,” they are rewarded. Esau is cheated, by not thinking things through.

    Something New: Did Isaac know the story of Abram telling others that Sarai was his sister and not his wife? Because, Isaac does the very same thing! Both men knew that the promise would be fulfilled through them, but perhaps, since they both loved their wives dearly, they were afraid that protection would not be afford to their wives. Yet through the deceptions of both the father and the son, God is still faithful to His promises.

    Something to Do: Just as God was faithful to Abraham and Isaac, through the sacrifice of Jesus, God is forever faithful to me, even if I mess up.

    Think things through before acting rashly, especially before making a big decision. There are consequences for every choice we make, sure God will forgive us over and over, but we still face consequences.

    I like Wendy’s three R’s, When making a decision be:
    Rested
    Realistic
    Reflective

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