The Parent Trap #2 Series

It seems that broken families and dysfunctional families are everywhere. Great things can come from broken families.

Jacob’s life works like a Russian nesting doll, for his life has conflict inside conflict inside yet another, conflict. What begins as a conflict with his twin brother Esau, moves to his quarrel with his eventual father-in-law Laban, to continual run-ins with his two wives (yes, he was a polygamist). Jacob’s family life is almost continual strife. As great as Jacob was, he will transform before our eyes in the weeks to come. From a scheming manipulator to a humbled man, Jacob transforms by the grace of God.

There are seven different conversations in Genesis 27 as the story of deception develops. We break into today’s story around the 3rd conversation between Jacob and his father, Isaac.

Today’s Scripture

“So he went in to his father and said, “My father.” And he said, “Here I am. Who are you, my son?” Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn. I have done as you told me; now sit up and eat of my game, that your soul may bless me.” But Isaac said to his son, “How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?” He answered, “Because the LORD your God granted me success.” Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come near, that I may feel you, my son, to know whether you are really my son Esau or not.” So Jacob went near to Isaac his father, who felt him and said, “The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” And he did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau’s hands. So he blessed him. He said, “Are you really my son Esau?” He answered, “I am.” Then he said, “Bring it near to me, that I may eat of my son’s game and bless you.” So he brought it near to him, and he ate; and he brought him wine, and he drank. Then his father Isaac said to him, “Come near and kiss me, my son.” So he came near and kissed him. And Isaac smelled the smell of his garments and blessed him and said, “See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field that the LORD has blessed! May God give you of the dew of heaven and of the fatness of the earth and plenty of grain and wine. Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be everyone who blesses you!” As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, when Jacob had scarcely gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, Esau his brother came in from his hunting. He also prepared delicious food and brought it to his father. And he said to his father, “Let my father arise and eat of his son’s game, that you may bless me.” His father Isaac said to him, “Who are you?” He answered, “I am your son, your firstborn, Esau.” Then Isaac trembled very violently and said, “Who was it then that hunted game and brought it to me, and I ate it all before you came, and I have blessed him? Yes, and he shall be blessed.” As soon as Esau heard the words of his father, he cried out with an exceedingly great and bitter cry and said to his father, “Bless me, even me also, O my father!”” (Genesis 27:18–34)

The book of Genesis hovers over this family because this is the one family that God has chosen to change all humanity through. The first part of Genesis teaches how humanity spirals downward but as you approach Genesis 12, the remainder of the book focuses on this family. This family is the hope of the world. There is a lot here and I won’t be able to touch on everything.

We have the aging father, Isaac, who we met last week and who’s eyesight is failing him. And we have his wife, Rebekah, who is willing to take advantage of a blind man. Lastly, here are twin boys, Jacob and Esau.

Jacob is cold, calculating, manipulating, and even insecure person. But Look at Esau for a moment. From what we can tell, he’s sort of a happy-go-lucky person. He’s a much more likable person than Jacob, but he’s shallow and impetuous and temperamental and spoiled. He makes poor decisions and rarely consults God on any matter in his life. If this family didn’t exist approximately 3,700 years ago, they would make terrific candidates for a reality TV show.

1. Dysfunctional Families are Self-Centered and Insecurity Filled

1.1 Family Rifts