GENESIS 25 THE TWINS In my observation of the patriarch Abraham, I could see he never deviated from God's instruction that Isaac was the son of the promise through whom blessing would come to all the earth. There were other sons but he provided for them and sent them to the east, away from the promised son, Isaac. By the time Abraham was buried, all over the Middle East he had descendants who were going to be a problem to the Jews down through the centuries - and they still are. "Jealousy is as cruel as the grave."
After Ishmael and Isaac buried their father, Abraham in the same cave as Sarah, they went their separate ways. Isaac had inherited everything that was his father's - except he had no children. Ishmael had many. Isaac had learned the value of prayer and he had learned by his earnest prayers for children, that prayer deepens our insight into what we really need. He knew the promise of God would come through a son he did not have as yet, so he prayed in faith. When his prayers were answered after twenty years, Rebekah could feel the struggle of the twins before they were born. The Lord explained to her in prophetic insight the struggles that would come in the future from these twins, including the fact that the older one would serve the younger.
Twenty years after Isaac and Rebekah were married, the twins were born, with Jacob, the second one born, hanging on to the heel of Esau, the firstborn.
Isaac wasn't an aggressive man, but seemed to be the quiet type who minded his own business. His wife, Rebekah, though was different. She was the "take-charge" kind of person who had ambition for her youngest son. Isaac liked to avoid confrontation. I did learn from watching this family, that even though one has great patience, we cannot always avoid confrontation. There are times when we should stand up for what is right in spite of who we might offend. Also, when a person plays favorites, you are promoting conflict even though you thought you could avoid it. Family conflicts will come if the father and mother are not committed equally to all of their children. If we have children who are very different in personality, it is up to the parents to adapt to those differences and maintain a balance between them, or there will be conflicts between siblings in the future.
Isaac seemed to be an acquiescent type of person who yielded without resistance to his father at the time of the sacrifice on Mount Moriah, and accepted with gladness the wife chosen for him without any question. He had learned in his own way, how to let God guide him and lead him. He knew that through his seed would come the blessing of God to many, so he was willing to let God's will go ahead of his own and he would follow as God would lead him.
When there are obvious differences in children, there is not really anything much we can do to change that. But we can recognize and help each one to use what God gave to full advantage. It is not wise when a father is partial to one personality and the mother to the different personality, or to let those preferences be known to the children. We have the responsibility to teach our children how to get along together and how to blend their distinctive personalities into family harmony. A divided family is a grief to all. Parents must not show partiality to individual children.
When one is headstrong like Esau appeared to be, he needs to be tempered by the pressures of a father's strong hand, rather than allow him to go unchecked. When another one is quiet, subtle and sly, he needs to be taught to be more open in order to accommodate to the family dynamic as a whole. When one is hot- headed and the other is cold and calculating, there will be trouble ahead unless parental pressure is applied when they are young to bring those two different temperaments into line.
The first open example of the conflict between Jacob and Esau came when each was following his own inclination as far as living was concerned. Jacob must have liked to cook and Esau to explore and spend time in the country. It is possible for us to overlook the value of our spiritual blessings for some quick get-rich scheme or some instant gratification without considering the long-lasting effect of a quick decision. Carelessly spoken words or quick reactions to a situation, may leave us ruined for life as far as God's things are concerned.
When there is a first impulse to get something we want, and we go for it; at first, we may feel gratified and very satisfied. Short-term satisfaction can lead to long-term regret. We may actually get what we want and may even feel powerful because we got it, but the later consequences we will have to live with, often to our life-long remorse.
The wise person will weigh up a matter and determine to keep their perspective, even though the momentary gratification seems so attractive. The wrong push of a button, the wrong turn of a dial, the wrong opening of a door can lead one to lose everything that is of value in a mere moment of time. Getting past the initial pressure-filled moment of temptation is the most difficult part of overcoming sin.
I must keep control of my mind or I may fall, even me!
When grace is needed grace is there for me to reach out and take. In times of pressure and temptation each decision I make
'Has a lasting effect on me that may not ever go away. So, it is wisdom that I take time to consider what I do and say.
For I am not immune to temptation as long as I am in this flesh. It is possible for me to fall in a moment and be entwined in Satan's mesh. I am aware of some of my failings and what can make me fall. But there are temptations that may come on me that I have never heard of at all.
I am not sure what I could have done different as I look back in time. The vows of God were on me, the decisions in life were not all mine. I have thought a lot about my children and if I was to them fair. They probably learned a lot of things from others because I wasn't always there.
It seems to me hard to accept what we know is best when it is too late To change things that are already done because I did not want to wait To think of the consequences and the effect they would have on others. What kind of advice can I pass on that would be a help to new fathers?
I would say take time to pray a lot even though you must be away. Listen well to your children as to what they do, or do not say. Watch them to see their strengths, and be aware of their weaknesses too. The molding of their decision-making process is often up to you.
Be sure they know what is important and what not to pay attention to. Help them to understand the satisfaction when they finally see a project through. Give them opportunities to apply themselves to meaningful labor. Let them see the value of lending a hand to a friend and neighbor.
Give them praise when praise is due, they know what is right and wrong. Lend them your strength when they are weak, let them alone when they are strong. Don't criticize them too much, but do not settle for a job half done. Be ready to give well-deserved praise even when they are out on their own.
"Father, I know my children are grown and I don't have the right to dictate anything to our grandchildren. But I also know grandparents do have some influence. So please help me to be to these young people what I should be as a guide and example. And not only for these of our own flesh, but for any we can influence to walk in Thy ways. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."
GENESIS 25:33. "…he sold his birthright to Jacob." Genesis 27:34. "…he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry."