God Never Deserts Us

Genesis 27: 18-24

18 He went to his father and said, “My father.”  “Yes, my son,” he answered. “Who is it?”19 Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau, your firstborn. I have done as you told me. Please sit up and eat some of my game, so that you may give me your blessing.”20 Isaac asked his son, “How did you find it so quickly, my son?”“The Lord your God gave me success,” he replied. 21 Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Come near so I can touch you, my son, to know whether you really are my son Esau or not.” 22 Jacob went close to his father Isaac, who touched him and said, “The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” 23 He did not recognize him, for his hands were hairy like those of his brother Esau; so he proceeded to bless him. 24 “Are you really my son Esau?” he asked. “I am,” he replied.”

Even though Jacob’s mother hatched the plan to deprive Esau of his blessing, as soon as Jacob said, “ I am Esau your firstborn” Jacob was as guilty as his mother in this lie.  Before he uttered those words, Jacob had a choice, to walk the path of truth or to walk the path of the lie.  He chose to lie.  

As a result, he had to flee; to leave his mother and his possessions behind; to journey to a foreign land that he had never seen.  Jacob met God on this journey and his life changed. He was transformed from a conniving mama's boy to a man who walked with God.

We may think that our sins cause God to desert us, or that they make us beyond the reach of God.  Neither of these is true.  

God touched Jacob’s heart.  He can touch ours.  

May the love of Christ be with you

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)