Crumbling of the Family

Genesis 27. Today we see the crumbling of the family. Isaac knew he was going to die, and yet his greatest desire was to enjoy a good meal at the hand of his favorite son and cook, Esau. When Isaac's father Abraham prepared for death, his concern was to get a bride for his son and maintain the covenant promise. When King David came to the end of his life, he made arragnements for the building of the Temple. Someone has well said, "The end of life reveals the ends of life." When sideshow promoter P.T. Barnum was dying, he asked, "What were today's receipts?" Instead of seeking healing in his hurting family, all Isaac wanted was a savory meal. Isaac's philosophy was "If it feels good, it is good!"

His wife Rebekah, knowing that Jacob was chosen to receive the covenant blessing, immediately took matters into her own hands. She lived by the philosophy "The end justifies the means!"

Jacob's concern wasn't "Is it right?" but "Is it safe?" He was worried about the eleventh commandment: "Thou shalt not get caught!" That was his philosophy.

I see Esau as an impatient, pragmatic kind of guy. Back in chapter 25, he "came in from the field, and he was weary", thus he sold his birthright for a bowl of stew. See his own words in Gen.25:31-34. Esau's philosophy was: "It's all about the here and now!" He had no concern, whatsoever, for the future.

Four characters. Four tragic philosophies on life. What's your philosophy? How about we make Paul's philosophy our philosophy? "And He [Christ] died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again." 2 Cor.5:15. Let's make that our philosophy: "Christ died for me; Now I shall live for Him!"