By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.

The Story of Jacob and Esau is a fascinating one and worth reading, starting in Genesis 25. They could have made a movie or TV show out of this story, there were so many twists and turns. First, Isaac’s wife Rebekah was childless. And so he prayed to God and she gave birth to twins, Esau first, then Jacob. God revealed to her that they would start two opposing nations, and the older would serve the younger. Then, Jacob took Esau’s birthright from him, by withholding food from him while he was super hungry (nice brother), until he promised it to him. Then when Isaac called for Esau and asked him to go kill some meat, in preparation for a feast where he was to give his blessing to him, Rebekah overheard him. Isaac was old and had poor eyesight at this time. So she conspired with Jacob to pretend to be Esau to gain his blessing, which Jacob did. When Esau found out that Jacob had taken his birthright and his blessing, he was angry and planned to kill him.

All of this animosity and competition among brothers. All of this drama! And still Isaac blessed both Jacob and Esau. While Esau’s blessing was much more diminished — that he would eventually break free from servicing his brother — Isaac had blessed him.

What I find interesting in the midst of these family dynamics, is that God worked with all involved and blessed them as they called on him. He worked with Isaac and Rebekah to grant them children. He worked in the midst of the brothers, giving Jacob an advocate in Rebekah when Esau was Isaac’s favorite. And he worked the plan out that he had for Jacob to rule, even though Rebekah and Jacob lied to Isaac.

God can also rework his plan in my family, even though we sin, may treat each other poorly at times, and may have fought, stolen, and/or lied to get our way. God’s will for righteousness and his plan for redemption and salvation is greater than our topsy turvy lives.

And no one is beyond the touch of his grace, unless they reject it.

Lord, give me patience and grace with my family — my parents, my uncles and aunts, my brothers and sisters, my cousins, my children, my nieces and nephews, and my future grandchildren. May I look for ways to lead them to you, and to bless them in their lives. This blessing is not just a wish, but a purpose statement of how I will help them achieve the things that you have in store for them. Let it be so by the power of your Holy Spirit.