Abraham – man of faith but he lied about his wife Moses – leader of Israel and recipient of the Law but disobeyed God David – king and man after God’s own heart but guilty of adultery and murder Peter – leading apostle but denied Christ three times

Claimed he was near death, but lived some forty more years; his rush to action and his secrecy create suspicion about his motives and agenda.

He loved Esau and wanted him to be blessed; “Isaac love Esau because he ate of his game” (Gen. 25:28).

Perhaps he knew of God’s word to Rebekah that the older would serve the younger (Gen. 25:23); therefore, he may have worked against what he feared would come to pass; he wanted what he wanted.

Isaac instructs Esau to bring him a meal at which time he will bless him.

He cooperated with his father; he killed the game, prepared the meal, and brought it to his father, expecting the blessing.

It must be remembered that Esau was already a profane person who had already despised and sold his birthright to Jacob because he did not value its spiritual implications; he was not favored by God (Mal. 1:2-3; Rom. 9:10-13).

Hebrews gives a warning and uses Esau as an example: “Pursue . . . holiness . . . lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears” (12:14, 16-17).

She knew the prophecy regarding the two sons, for the Lord had spoken to her: “Two nations are in your womb, two peoples shall be separated from your body; one people shall be stronger than the other, and the older shall serve the younger” (Gen. 25:23).

Perhaps for this reason, “Rebekah loved Jacob” (Gen. 25:28).

It could be argued that her desire was good but her actions were wrong; she refused to wait on God to accomplish and bring to pass His word; therefore, she calls Jacob and gives him instructions on how to deceive his father and secure the blessing.

He is reluctant (27:12), but he follows his mother’s instructions; he secures the blessing even though he was the younger.

Isaac, the son of Abraham and the heir of the covenant, and his wife, providentially brought to him by a godly servant, were not without fault.

Rebekah lost her favorite son who was forced to flee the wrath of Esau; she died before he returned home some twenty years later.

Isaac lost both of his sons; Jacob fled to Haran, and Esau took a wife of the pagans; perhaps he blamed himself for the entire episode.

Jacob had to leave home in order to save his life; he lived in exile for twenty years, separated from his father, mother, and brother.

Esau was filled with anger and wrath; he determined to kill Jacob, and to spite his father married a woman from the land of Canaan.

At the time of the single episode the family was together; but a week later Esau is plotting revenge, Jacob is travelling alone to a distant land, Rebekah is heart-broken, and Esau is head of a destroyed family.

The consequences literally lasted for a lifetime for each of these four individuals; what they had was destroyed, and they never had it again; what sin had broken could not be fixed.

Present forgiveness does not negate present consequences; Jacob experienced God at Bethel but he continue his journey to a far land.

Life is a struggle to do right; the struggle is unending, and no one is without fault.