Who Gets Your Blessing?
One of the most dramatically unqualified biblical heroes I can think of is Jacob. He was a liar, a con, a trickster, a fraud. He spent much of his life haunted by bad decisions and exiled to the chaos of self-inflicted consequences. And yet God called him, chose him, and even blessed him.
There is a part of me that has always despised this. There’s a part of me that has often challenged God on this matter, because nothing in the life of Jacob at least early on, actually suggests that he deserved God’s blessing. Yes, he fought for it. I get that. I’ve preached that. But all and all he was unfit and unqualified in my book. But then, I didn’t write the book and as I examine the own flawed body of work that has been my life, I have come to realize my view is rooted in the fact that I have always held Jacob to a different standard than I have held myself. It is because Jacob in many ways defies any amount of reasoning that may suggests that grace can be earned or good deeds can cleanse us. Perhaps what troubles me most is that I would not have saved Jacob. Despite my attempt to love all, partiality at times has overtaken me sometimes causing me to become judgmental; and yet I see a lot of myself in Jacob.
Yet, Jacob ended up playing a major role in God's plan to redeem the world. He emerged simultaneously as one of the most important figures in Scripture and one of the most screwed up. Perhaps you remember last year’s sermon Moving from Luz to Bethel.
If you want to track the story of Jacob you would have to begin in Genesis 25, but to summarize the entire life of a single man in one sermon is impossible so today we’ll hit the footnotes.
Beyond the character flaws I have mentioned we read that Jacob was a twin. He came out clasping the heal of his brother Esau and the two had a sibling rivalry as fierce as any other.
Esau being the oldest twin was set to inherit as a birthright his father Isaac’s estate. Yet when this hairy skilled hunter was malnourished to the point of near death, Jacob manipulated the situation and offered a bowl of lentil soup in exchange for said birthright.
On top of that as Isaac neared death and desired to bless Esau, Jacob conspired with his mother Rebekah in order to take advantage of his father’s blindness and steal Esau’s blessing while Esau was out hunting for his father. Essentially, Jacob went out of his way to ensure he got everything even if it meant his brother Esau got nothing.
Esau would come back from a long hunt eager for his father’s approval, eager for his praise, and especially eager for the blessing he had waited his entire life to receive and Isaac, thanks to Jacob, would shatter Esau’s heart.
(Genesis 27:30-38 NASB) "30 Now it came about, as soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, and Jacob had hardly gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting. 31 Then he also made savory 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." 32 Isaac his father said to him, "Who are you?" And he said, "I am your son, your firstborn, Esau." 33 Then Isaac trembled violently, and said, "Who was he then that hunted game and brought it to me, so that I ate of all of it before you came, and blessed him? Yes, and he shall be blessed." 34 When 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!" 35 And he said, "Your brother came deceitfully and has taken away your blessing." 36 Then he said, "Is he not rightly named Jacob, for he has supplanted me these two times? He took away my birthright, and behold, now he has taken away my blessing." And he said, "Have you not reserved a blessing for me?" 37 But Isaac replied to Esau, "Behold, I have made him your master, and all his relatives I have given to him as servants; and with grain and new wine I have sustained him. Now as for you then, what can I do, my son?" 38 Esau said to his father, "Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me, even me also, O my father." So Esau lifted his voice and wept."
Now we can deliberate until the sun goes down about the many flaws of Esau, but my momma always told me two wrongs don’t make a right. I was also taught to believe cheaters never prosper.
Scripture says do not repay evil with evil.
(Romans 12:17-18 NASB) "17 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men."
(1 Peter 3:8-9 NASB) "8 To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; 9 not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing."
(Philippians 2:3-4 NASB) "3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others."
And yet this story appears to be about a man who put himself first and prospered.
This deception and heart break would drive Esau to such rage that Jacob would have to flee home, miss his father’s final days and seek refuge with his uncle Laban who himself would manipulate and deceive Jacob into 14 years of labor. Jacob thru the deception would take not one, but two wives, one he loved, one he tolerated.
Ultimately, Jacob would find himself on the run again, in fear of both Esau and his Uncle Laban. Yet in the midst of all the deceptions and fear Jacob at some point found God. In fact, scripture reveals he wrestled with Him. And this is what I find so fascinating.
(Genesis 32:25-30 NASB) "25 When he saw that he had not prevailed against him, he touched the socket of his thigh; so the socket of Jacob's thigh was dislocated while he wrestled with him. 26 Then he said, "Let me go, for the dawn is breaking." But he said, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." 27 So he said to him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Jacob." 28 He said, "Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed." 29 Then Jacob asked him and said, "Please tell me your name." But he said, "Why is it that you ask my name?" And he blessed him there. 30 So Jacob named the place Peniel, for he said, "I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been preserved.""
Last week Jesus said “Who do you say I am?” Notice God asks Jacob, “what is your name?” Surely, God already knew; but you see, God always has a different perception of us than we do. We tend to identify with either our failures or our pride. It’s as if God was saying to Jacob, “tell me how you see yourself?” Remember, Jacob means thief and liar. Jacob had to identify as a sinner before God would bless Him.
As Christians it’s important we continue to repent and acknowledge our short-comings before the Lord so that we remember to praise Him for perfecting us with His grace, less we take it for granted.
Jacob was a poster child for the confusion and complications that weaknesses produce. But he was also a dramatic example of someone who was, at least by the end of his life, able to embrace his insufficiencies, look past them, and trust in God.
And when he did, God took over. He overruled Jacob's limitations and trumped his disqualifications. Jacob was acutely, painfully, spectacularly human. That's probably why I can relate to his failures faster than his feats. But ultimately God redeemed, redefined, and realigned Jacob through his weaknesses, not in spite of them.
(Genesis 48:21 NASB) "21 Then Israel said to Joseph, "Behold, I am about to die, but God will be with you, and bring you back to the land of your fathers."
And that's what He will do for you and me, when we embrace who we really are. He wants to bless the real you, with all your insufficiencies and weaknesses.
1. He is the one who has called you. You no longer have to live in shame. You no longer have to identify with your sin. I know I have sin in my life. I’m working on it. But it no longer defines me, even if others say it should.
(Hebrews 9:13-15 NASB) "13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance."
a. You’ve been redeemed. Because of the spectacular love Christ showed for us in while we were yet sinners, by giving His life on the cross, whosever believes in Him shall be saved.
2. He is the one who has equipped you
a. You’ve been redefined. When you choose to identify with Christ it enables the Holy Spirit to display His glory in you and through you.
i. This is why water baptism is so important
ii. This is why we were commanded to earnestly seek the greater gifts.
1. Be equipped for spiritual warfare, to face temptation, preach the gospel, heal the sick, pray continuously, endure all things, etc.
(1 Corinthians 12:7-11 NASB) "7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills."
(Romans 11:29 NASB) "29 for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable."
3. He is the one who has empowered you. And He is able to open doors of opportunity just for you...just as you are.
a. You have been realigned. No longer are you on the wide crooked path of destruction, pain, and despair. He has placed you on the straight and narrow road and ordained each one of your footsteps.
Closing: God is calling some messed up people to do some big things. We don’t get to determine who gets the blessing. He does. It’s in our weakness He is made strong. He alone is sovereign. He sees the complete picture while we see only the blemishes. Most artists will tell you that it is often those one of a kind blemishes that make something so beautiful and so valuable.
On our recent vacation to Grants Pass, we toured what’s called the Bear Hotel where they had a replica of the Liberty Bell, forged in the same location using the same metal. When they asked to replicate the crack they were told, “absolutely not. That was a one-time occurrence and they will not attempt to replicate it.
Determined, the folks at the Bear Hotel offered the citizens of Grants Pass $500 to whoever could crack it. Countless tried, all failed. It couldn’t be done.
Ironically, it is the weak crack of the Liberty Bell that today reminds us of the strength and freedom of the United States.
So it is with those who place their identity, place their trust solely in Jesus Christ. It is our weaknesses and imperfections that so often reflect His glory greatest serving as a constant reminder of the strength of His unfailing love; how He loves a wretch like me. Simultaneous, pointing us to the freedom we have in Jesus Christ as His light shines so brightly through the once dark holes of our canvas of life.
Others might look upon God’s handiwork that is you and I and say it’s not worth saving. But today I ask, who gets your blessing? I told you how cynical I was with Jacob, but Jesus wasn’t that cynical with me. He set a blessing aside for me and said, “Choose who gets it. Throw it away or keep it, but I give My life so you can keep it.”
(Romans 11:32 NASB) "32 For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all."
Because of Jesus Christ we all have a birthright. There is an inheritance for us all if we want it, but we can’t lay hold of it without the Father’s blessing; and the only way to do that is through Jesus Christ. We have to identify with Him.
(Micah 6:8 NASB) "8 He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?"
