MEMORY VERSE

Have you ever been tempted to cheat? To bend the rules just a little? Then you should meet Jacob.

Jacob and Esau were twins, but Esau was born first. Before the boys were born, the LORD told their mother, Rebekah, that he had an amazing plan for Jacob’s life. Now there were very specific rules for families to follow at the time Jacob lived.  Jacob knew the rules, and he knew that because Esau was technically the older brother, the rules favored Esau….and Jacob didn’t like that at all. Jacob knew two things: God said he had a special plan for Jacob and the rules gave Esau most of the power. Which was more important to Jacob?

When Jacob’s father decided to give his blessing (and inheritance) to his oldest son, Esau, Jacob and his mother decided that playing by the rules would not work. So they tricked Jacob’s father into giving Jacob the blessing that was meant for Esau. Jacob cheated, but he now had his father’s blessing—he won!

Or did he? Jacob broke his own father’s heart by lying to him. Esau was so furious he vowed to kill Jacob, so Jacob was forced to run for his life. Jacob would spend the next twenty years living in a foreign land.  Jacob’s cheating destroyed his family.

But what about God’s original promise? God never needs to use cheating to make his promises come true. God used Jacob’s separation from his family to get Jacob’s attention. Jacob had a lot of growing up to do during those long years before he was ready to let God take control. God worked in Jacob’s life and through him created the nation of Israel in which God’s own son would be born.

What about you? The next time you are tempted to cheat, remember Jacob. The next time you are tempted to think that following rules won’t help, remember Jacob. His cheating cost him his family. It’s not worth it!