Scripture: Genesis 25:19-34

I. In trouble God answers prayer.

A. Jacob’s parents, Isaac and Rebekah, are in trouble in Genesis 25. God Himself had given Isaac’s father Abraham a promise in Genesis 12:2 that from his family line would come a great nation. But Rebekah was barren (Gen. 25:21). So Isaac prayed for his wife (vs. 21) that she might be able to have a child. And God answered Isaac’s prayer – with twins (vs. 24)! Husbands need to pray for their wives in front of their wives when their wife has some kind of trouble. And all of us need to be prepared for tests of faith and to trust God in those tests.

II. In trouble God is in control.

A. When Rebekah feels the twins struggling inside her (vs. 22), what does she do? She also prays in faith and expects God to answer. God answers Rebekah’s prayer in a surprising way. God tells Rebekah that two nations were in her womb (vs. 23). Those two nations in the form of the twins were fighting a battle for supremacy. Trouble was coming. And then God tells Rebekah something surprising at the end of vs. 23: the elder shall serve the younger. God has a way of surprising us regarding how He answers our prayers. He is the king. He is in complete control.

III. In trouble God is gracious.

A. In this story, we see that is not just Jacob and Esau who need God’s grace, a word which means God’s undeserved favor. Isaac and Rebekah also need God’s grace. Isaac and Rebekah do something incredibly stupid. They pick favorites among their children (vs. 28). Picking favorites in your family leads to trouble so don’t do it. Jacob and his family have a lot to repent of (see Jacob’s sin in vs. 31). And yet God keeps giving grace to Jacob and his family. The good news of the Gospel is that God gives grace to those who approach Him with repentance and faith.

IV. In trouble God keeps His promises.

A. The trouble between Esau and Jacob was foreshadowed at birth (vs. 22, 25-26). Jacob grabbing Esau’s heel (vs. 26) foreshadowed that Jacob would try to grab everything he could away from Esau. He would one day say to Esau in vs. 31, “Sell me your birthright now.” The brother with the birthright received a double portion of the inheritance and would assume family leadership upon the father’s death. Jacob took away Esau’s most precious possessions in taking the birthright from him. Sadly, Esau did not care about the loss of the birthright (vs. 34).

Application:
God kept all His promises to Jacob and his family despite the trouble and sin they got into. And God will graciously keep His promises to you.

Sources:
The Bible
Commentaries by Allen P. Ross, Dale Ralph Davis and Bruce Waltke.