God’s choices
by Verena Johnson
Click here to download your printable verse to carry with you today.
‘The Lord your God gave me success,’ he replied (Genesis 27:20b).
Read Genesis 27:1–29
Isaac was 137 years old, and blind. He didn’t know how much time he had left to live. So, he decided it was time to give the blessing that would usually belong to the eldest son.
The problem was that Isaac favoured Esau, while Rebekah favoured Jacob. So began the sneaking around, trickery, lying and deception.
Tents are not very soundproof, so Rebekah overheard Isaac telling Esau to hunt some wild game and prepare his favourite stew, after which Isaac would bless Esau. This wasn’t right. She knew that wasn’t God’s plan; however, rather than trusting that God would somehow fulfil his promise. She took matters into her own hands and hatched a plan to deceive Isaac and trick him into giving the blessing to Jacob.
What happened to that innocent, faith-filled woman Isaac married? The lengths Rebekah and Jacob went to deceive Isaac are astonishing.
Isaac didn’t trust God’s plan either. Notice the secrecy and the conspiracy. Usually, the father’s blessing would be given before the entire family because it was like a will, distributing the family wealth and headship. Also, if you read Isaac’s blessing, you will see that he did not intend to give Jacob anything. It should have been a two-thirds, one-third split. (The eldest son usually got twice as much.)
Isaac knew God had determined that the older would serve the younger. He knew Esau had sold his birthright to Jacob. He also knew Esau had disqualified himself from spiritual leadership when he took two Canaanite women as wives, yet he resisted God’s plan.
Amid all the deception and lying, there was one unintentionally true thing Jacob said. ‘The Lord your God gave me success.’
God was still in control, regardless of the plotting and scheming of his chosen vessels. Despite their sinfulness and character flaws, God still chose them even though they didn’t deserve it. God gave Jacob success because it was part of God’s plan – not Rebekah’s or Jacob’s.
It never ceases to amaze me who God chooses to be part of his plans.
It never ceases to amaze me that God chooses me to be part of his plans. I certainly don’t deserve it. He chooses you, too, even though you don’t deserve it.
Almighty God, I am amazed that you chose me to be part of your plan. Thank you for not giving up on me despite my sinfulness and character flaws. Please help me to live today for you. Amen.
Verena is a Church Worker Support Officer for the LCA’s Church Worker Support team, through which it is her privilege to support congregations, pastors, lay workers, employees and volunteers of the LCA. In her spare time, she is involved in drama ministry, women’s ministry and prayer ministry. She has three children and nine grandchildren in three different states.
- Click here to read previous devotions.
- We are also posting them on LCA Facebook, making it easy for you to share them with family and friends.
- Sign up to receive Daily Devotion in your inbox every morning. If you’re already doing that, please encourage others to sign up. Click here for the link.
