Garwood Presbyterian Church

On the Job Learning With Jacob

"You Dirty Rotten Thief!!" - Genesis 27:1-41

Jacob was a real bad boy of the Bible, a double dealing con man and a real rascal.

1. But His Upbringing by His Parents Was Not the Best
   1. A. His father, Isaac, did not love him.
   2. His mother, Rebecca, led him into his deceiving ways.
   3. His parent's marriage could not have been that good.
2. His Mother Convinced Jacob to Steal Esau's Blessing
   1. But Jacob had to agree to it, and he was the one who actually did it, so the fault lies with him.
   2. Jacob was being a very selfish person.
   3. Many people would say that taking care of #1 is normal, and that most people live this way.
3. But Look at the Damage Jacob's Selfishness Produced
   1. To his mother, Rebecca - he encouraged her to con-tinue in her devious ways.
   2. To his father Isaac - he completely disrespected him, and "Isaac trembled violently."
   3. To his brother, Esau - he stabbed him in the back and "Esau wept aloud," and Esau became so angry that he decided to kill Jacob.
   4. To his family - Jacob could have put an end to the de-vious family ways that began with Abraham. Instead it would continue through him.
4. Learning From Jacob For Our Life
   1. Our consumer oriented society encourages us to take care of ourself and be selfish, like Jacob was.
   2. As Christians, we need to be committed to the way of love and giving, like God is.
   3. When we do:
      1. We give a witness of who God is, the God of love.
      2. And we change the world a little bit for the better.
   4. So, today, commit your way to God's way of love.