We may not always understand why God does things but everything must work in accordance with His will even if we as mere mortals do not approve of it. If we choose to not follow God because we don't like his character then we basically choose no salvation. But we should be happy that He gave us free will.
When Rebekah learned that Isaac was preparing to bless Esau, she quickly devised a plan to trick him into blessing Jacob instead. Although God had already told her that Jacob would become the family leader, Rebekah took matters into her own hands. She tried to do something wrong to bring about what God said would already happen. For Rebekah, the end justified the means. No matter how good we think our goals are, we should not attempt to achieve them by doing what is wrong. Would God approve of the methods you are using to accomplish your goals?
How we react to a moral dilemma often exposes our real motives. Frequently we are more worried about getting caught than doing what is right. Jacob did not seem concerned about the deceitfulness of his mother's plans ; instead he was afraid of getting in trouble while carrying it out. If you are worried about getting caught, you are probably in a position that is less than honest. Let your fear of getting caught be a warning to do right. Jacob paid a huge price for carrying out the dishonest plan.
Jacob hesitated when he heard Rebekah's deceitful plan. Although he questioned it for the wrong reason, he protested and thus gave her 1 last chance to reconsider. But Rebekah had become so wrapped up in her plan that she no longer saw clearly what she was doing. Sin had trapped her and was degrading her character. Correcting yourself in the middle of doing wrong may bring hurt and disappointment, but it will also bring freedom from sin's control.
Although Jacob got the blessing he wanted, deceiving his father cost him dearly. These are some of the consequences of that deceit : (1) He never saw his mother again (2) His brother wanted to kill him (3) He was deceived by his uncle, Laban (4) His family became torn by strife (5) Esau became the founder of an enemy nation (6) He was exiled from his family for years. Ironically, Jacob would have received the birthright anyway. Imagine how different his life would have been had he and his mother waited for God to work His way, in His time!
In ancient times, a person's word was binding, especially when it was a formal oath. This is why Isaac's blessing was irrevocable.
Before the father died, he performed a ceremony of blessing, in which he officially handed over the birthright to the rightful heir. Although the firstborn son was entitled to the birthright, it was not actually his until the blessing was pronounced. Before the blessing was given, the father could take the birthright away from the oldest son and give it to a more deserving son. But after the blessing was given, the birthright could no longer be taken away. This is why fathers usually waited late in life to pronounce the blessing. Although Jacob had been given the birthright by his older brother years before, he still needed his father's blessing to make it binding.
Esau was so angry at Jacob that he failed to see his own wrong in giving away the birthright in the first place. Jealous anger blinds us from seeing the benefits we have and makes us dwell on what we don't have.
When Esau lost the valuable family blessing, his future suddenly changed. Reacting in anger, he decided to kill Jacob. When you lose something of great value, or if others conspire against you and succeed, anger is the first and most natural reaction. But you can control your feelings by (1) Recognizing your reaction for what it is (2) Praying for strength and (3) Asking God for help to see the opportunities that even your bad situation may provide.
When they had 1st approached the Promise Land, most of the Israelites had been afraid to enter because of the giants living there. King Og of Bashan needed a bed over 13 feet long. Now Goliath, over nine feet tall, taunted Israel's soldiers and appeared invincible to them. Saul, the tallest of the Israelites, may have been especially worried because he was obviously the best match for Goliath. In God's eyes, however, Goliath was no different from anyone else.
An army often avoided the high cost of battle by pitting its strongest warrior against the strongest warrior of their enemy. This avoided great bloodshed because the winner of the fight was considered the winner of the battle. Goliath had the definite advantage against David from a human standpoint. But Goliath did not realize that in fighting David, he also had to fight God.
Why would this go on for 40 days without 1 side attacking the other? They were camped on opposite sides of a valley with steep walls. Whoever would rush down the valley and up the steep cliffs would be at a disadvantage at the beginning of the battle and probably suffer great casualties. Each side was waiting for the other to attack first.
What a difference perspective can make. Most of the onlookers saw only a giant. David, however, saw a mortal man defying Almighty God. Goliath was a target too big to miss. He knew he would not be alone when he faced Goliath ; God would fight with him. He looked at his situation from God's point of view. Who or what are the "giants" you are facing? Viewing impossible situations from God's point of view helps us put giant problems in perspective. Once we see clearly, we can fight more effectively.
Criticism couldn't stop David. While the rest of the army stood around, he knew the importance of taking action. With God to fight for him, there was no reason to wait. People may try to discourage you with negative comments or mockery, but continue to do what you know is right. By doing what is right, you will be pleasing God, whose opinion matters most.
David was able to move faster than Goliath because David carried no weapons or heavy armor. David was an expert marksman with a sling, and as he advanced on Goliath, he stayed out of range of Goliath's huge weapons. What made David effective, however, was more than his ability with a sling ; it was his courage and faith in God. To fight like David we need David's kind of fearlessness. David had grown strong in his confidence by trusting God when he had encountered wild animals while guarding his father's sheep. When you face towering problems, recall how God has helped you in the past. Take heart because God gives you strength. Use the skills God has already given you and move forward.
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