Hi, I'm Darrell Beatty. Thank you for tuning in Service for Christ this morning for our Sunday School lesson. When we look at navigating family conflict, you know, among our human relationships, none is more important than the relationships within the family. And by considering both the positive and the negative examples from the book of Genesis, we discover how to build relationships in a positive way that is Christ honoring. We've talked about Cain and Abel's family responsibility in Genesis chapter four, Abraham and Lot's family rights in Genesis chapter 13. Well, here in Genesis chapter 25 and Genesis chapter 27, we look at Isaac and Rebekah with family favorites. We'll be talking about family favoritism and faith here as we look at some practical steps to cultivate a balanced loving environment. And I'm glad that when we look at that, we'll be talking about the root of family favoritism and about manipulation and deception. And we'll be also talking about the consequences of deception and the faithfulness of God. Here, as we get in the wonderful word of God, in the book of Genesis. Amen. As we get into the Word of God, we pray that we'll open up with a time of prayer. Take your Bibles, if you would, to the very first book of the Bible, the book of Genesis. Amen. And we'll be getting into the wonderful Word of God out of Genesis chapter 25 verses 24 down to verse 28. in Genesis chapter 27 verses 5 through 10 and then further on in Genesis chapter 27 verses 11 through 13. But before we go any further, let's open up with a word of prayer and ask the Lord to help us in the areas of looking at family favoritism and faith because each and every one of us as we all have our favorites in our family, whether I'm a daddy's girl or I'm a daddy's mama or vice versa. We all have our favorites from time to time. And so let's open up before we go any further in a time of prayer. Heavenly Father, we come before you with hearts that long to be right in your sight. We ask for your forgiveness, Lord, for the times that we've fallen short and harbored favoritism, jealousy, and resentment in our relationships. Wash us clean as we confess our sins daily. Cover us this morning in your full armor, Lord, the hamlet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth, the shield of faith. Help us, O God, to walk in the shoes of peace, carrying the sword of the Spirit, guided by your holy word. And Lord, strengthen us so that we may stand firm against the schemes of the enemy as we listen and as we learn today in humility and as we look upon the stories of Isaac, Rebecca, Jacob, and Esau. Teach us what it means to honor you above all else, to love without prejudice, and to trust you as the true giver of every blessing in Jesus's marvelous mighty name. Father, watch over our brother in Christ, Brother Darrell Pruitt and Lord Andy Anderson, along with all of our other lists at Bethel Crossroads Baptist Church on behalf of our pastor, Keith and Amy Dempsey, and Lord, I pray also for Rusty and Lynn Lanier and all of our deacons. Lord, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, intervene, save souls, change lives in Jesus' name, we pray. Amen. All right. I thank God. You know, families should be without favoritism. And so each and every one of us, when we look and realize that here in Genesis chapter 25 and Genesis chapter 27, we see, first of all, in Genesis chapter 25, the birth of Isaac and Rebekah's twin sons, Esau, and Jacob. Despite their close relationship, favoritism quickly emerges between the parents and their sons. Isaac favors Esau, the outdoorsman, while Rebecca favors Jacob, the quieter son. And this division in affection leads to a series of betrayals and deception within the family that results in long-term conflict and division. You know, As we begin to look at the wonderful word of God, we're reminded of Alexander Dumas and his wonderful story of the Count of Monte Cristo. André Dumas was born in 1802. He was the son of one of Napoleon's generals, Thomas Alexandre Dumas, just four years old when his father died, that Alexandre grew up in poverty. But as a young man, he became known as one of France's foremost romantic novelist. And I'm glad that when we look at reading his stories, because reading is one of the most important things that young men and women and men of all ages can do. to keep their minds working in the right direction. And so out of all of the wonderful successful novels, The Count of Monte Cristo is a beautiful picture of one of his stories that we look at. And when we look at it, we also try to compare the betrayal of a man by the name of Edmond Dantes in the story of the Count of Montecristo. He was a young man that was betrayed by the people that he considered friends. Driven by envy and favoritism, his friends scheme to have him imprisoned while his fiance is convinced to marry one of his betrayals. And so the story shows the devastation that favoritism and jealousy and betrayal brings tearing apart not only friendships, but also family, loyalty, and trust. Like the story of Isaac's family, when favoritism takes root, it often leads to deception and bitterness. Just as Jacob and Rebecca schemed against Esau, favoritism in our lives can distort our relationships and our actions. And so, you know what? We look and we realize that are there places that are in our lives where we let favoritism cloud our judgment? Well, I'm going to tell you, favoritism can creep into various areas of life, often unconsciously affecting our judgment in ways that we may not immediately recognize. But as we look at favoritism that can cloud our judgment and ideas, I'm glad here are some ways that we can become aware of it. One of them is family and parenting, because how it shows parents might have a favorite child or show preference for one's child's interest, accomplishments or personality. And this can affect how time and attention and resources are distributed. And so the impact can lead to rivalry, resentment, and a sense of inadequacy in the less favored child. The awareness that can take time to intentionally affirm each child's unique qualities and strengths regularly reflect on how we're showing love and support to each child. And so we see family and parity, but also workplace dynamics. Managers might favor certain employees over others based on shared interests or personality fits or perceived likeability. And it can harm team morale, lead to disengagement among employees, create an unhealthy work environment where advancement feels unfairly distributed. And so we've got to establish objective criteria for promotions, rewards, responsibilities, and seek feedback to ensure a fair and a balanced approach to all team members. Not only family and parity, not only workplace dynamics, but we see friendships and social circles because We may give more grace, more time, or support to certain friends while neglecting others, and sometimes because of shared backgrounds or preferences. But you know what? This can create clicks, hurt feelings, and limit the diversity of perspectives in our lives. And so we've got to all make an effort to reach out to different friends consistently, recognizing the unique value that each one brings to our lives. So the family and parenting, the workplace dynamics, the friendships and social circles, but also fourthly, school and education. Teachers, coaches, mentors may show favoritism towards students who are high achievers, they're popular or they're more outgoing. But this can also lead to imbalanced and opportunities with some students feeling overlooked or discouraged. teachers and mentors should strive for equality by giving each student the opportunity to shine and to create a classroom culture where everyone feels value. So we see the family and parenting, the workplace dynamics, the friendship and the social circles, the school and education, but fifthly, community and church involvement. Because when we look at this, Leaders might show preference for certain members, pastors, associate pastors, deacons, Sunday school teachers who are more visible, vocal, or financially supportive. But this can also alienate members who feel unseen or undervalued, leading to division and a lack of engagement from the broader community. And so encouragement, inclusivity by seeking out diverse voices, recognizing contributors from all members and involving a variety of people in leadership roles. And so we look and realize that There's a lot of places that can affect our favoritism and cloud our judgment. It is through family and parity, workplace dynamics, friendship and social circles, school and education, community and church involvement, but sixth, personal relationships and partnerships. Because in romantic relationships, we might favor one partner's interests, opinions, or ways of doing things over our own, or show bias in how that we handle conflicts. Over time, this imbalance can lead to resentment or a loss of individuality. We've got to be able to communicate openly with our partner, check in regularly about each other's needs, and make a habit of valuing both perspectives and decision making. And so, when we look and realize that where we let favoritism cloud our judgment, We see the family and parenting, workplace dynamics, friendship and social circles, school and education, community and church involvement, personal relationships and partnership. But we see also judgment of others' backgrounds and choices. Because I'm glad that we might judge others based on external factors like education, social economic status, race, or religion. This can prevent genuine connection. It can limit opportunities for learning and reinforce the stereotypes. And so we've got to practice empathy, curiosity by seeking to understand different perspectives and challenging our own assumptions. And we look and we see that least, last but not least, that from family parenting, workplace dynamics, friendship and social circles, school and education, community and church involvement, personal relationships and partnerships, judgment of others, background and choices. Lastly, eighth, we see that social media interactions. Because you know what? Online, we may give more attention and support to those whose opinions align with ours, reinforcing echo chambers. But this limits our understanding of diverse viewpoints and can fuel polarization. And so we've got to engage with a variety of voices online. Follow people whose views differ from yours to broaden your perspective. Let me tell you something I did recently. First of all, every one of us likes to read and listen to our own personal things. Well, you know what? Reading is for leaders. That's right. Leaders need to be readers. And one of my points for that is, the other day I let the librarian pick out my choice of book. Well, it was out of my comfort zone. But I continue to get through and read it. In other words, getting out of my box of favoritism of reading because I love to read regularly and I read so many books each month. But by doing this, I took myself out of my box and let somebody else choose a book for me. And it has been challenging, but we're going forward with it. And so we've got to be able to take the time to reflect back, and that is, am I giving everyone a fair chance to contribute? And am I recognizing the value they bring? Because by intentionally seeking self-awareness in these areas, we can make fairer, more compassionate decisions and build healthier relationships. So take the time to reflect. on this. And so Genesis chapter 28, 25 verse 28 warns us of the effects of favoritism can have on family unity. And so Sir Walter Scott said, Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive. And so each and every one of us, as we go through life, favoritism appears clearly in the story of Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, and Esau. In Genesis chapter 25, it reveals the rift that favoritism can cause with Isaac preferring Esau and Rebekah favoring Jacob. Their divided affection set the stage for years and years of family turmoil. And in the words of Sir Walter Scott, as we look at this, you know what? There was a story about two brothers that were identical twins who were so close that they shared everything that they did. They wore matching clothes. They shared the same hobbies, even open a business together. Well, but one day a single dollar bill went missing from the cash register and they argued over who might have taken it. Well, this minor misunderstanding, it grew into a very deep division lasting for years and years as accusations and mistrust split the brothers apart. It was only decades later after hearing the full story that they were reconciled and their bond had been tested by trust and favoritism and only through forgiveness could it be healed. Well, in Genesis, we see another family deeply divided by favoritism and misunderstanding. the family of Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, and Esau. Through this story, we find a powerful example of how favoritism, manipulation, and lack of trust in God can wreak havoc on a family's relationships. Yet, God's purposes still prevail. And so, as we go through life, each and every one of us, we begin to learn a very, very valuable lesson about this. And I'm glad through family favoritism and faith, we're able to explore into the wonderful scenario as we see another family deeper divided by favoritism. Through this story, we can find a powerful example of how favoritism, manipulation, and lack of trust can wreak havoc on a family's relationship, and yet God's purposes can still prevail. As we explore this story together, we can uncover how that it speak to us about faith and the dynamics of our relationship. First of all, we see the root of family favoritism in Genesis chapter 25, verses 24 down to verse 28. And I'm glad that as we begin to read the powerful word of God, when we observe differences in our children, it's human nature to notice, to talk about it, and for the different child to feel left out. And so those are things to discuss when we learn to accept and admire the differences there may be among siblings. Depending upon the parent's temperament, life experience, or even blind spots, one can tend to compensate by showing extra kindness to one with whom they most identify or to the one for whom they have the most sympathy. Over time, that favoritism can grow into dysfunctional through various actions and reactions causing feelings to become perceived realities with a perspective that parents might compensate for what they feel their spouse may fail to understand about their favorite child. And so, compensating repetitively for the child can establish wrong thinking by the enabling a parent as the child ages and consequences and dysfunctional increase. You see, the parents begin resenting each other, and then they begin to develop an increased intensity to protect their favorite one. And so the enabling parent nurtures his or her need to be needed, and your favorite child can waltz through life with an unrealistic sense of entitlement. As the favorite child ages, the circumstances and the consequences grow, and they eventually reach a point of no return. And so it's okay for our children to be different from each other, but it's not okay for parents to show favoritism. And that kind of parental pattern will create a rivalry between husband and wife that will inadvertently spill into their children's lives and put the next generation at risk of lifelong conflict. Jacob and Esau were twins, but they were distinct. And at birth, we read that Esau was reddish and covered with hair. While Jacob came out of the womb, grappling his brother's foot, Esau became an expert hunter and an outdoorsman, but Jacob was a quiet, stay-at-home houseboy. Isaac and Rebecca played favorites with their sons, and Genesis chapter 27 highlights their dysfunction. Now, Rebecca was listening to what Isaac said to his son Esau in verse five that we'll read in a few minutes about giving him his blessing. Well, so she went to her son Jacob and told him how to steal that blessing. They didn't steal with their sons. or they didn't deal with their sons. Instead, we read of his son and her son. And so Isaac had more in common with his son Esau. And Isaac loved Esau because he had a taste for the wild game. And there's no harm in having more in common with one child. That's natural for all of us. But favoritism is a choice to punish by neglecting the other children. We can't prove why Rebecca favored Jacob. But experience suggests she may have favored him simply because her husband preferred Esau. We don't know for sure, but this is for sure. They both had their favorites and their favorite tree fell apart because of their favoritism. Now, Isaac favored Esau for his skill, masculinity, while Rebecca's attachment to Jacob showed a clear family division. This favoritism was a seed of division that would grow into manipulation and deceit. And family favoritism often lays the groundwork for conflict and brokenness. And so when we look at the Word of God, we're reminded of how generations or descendants or lineages of God's sovereign plan for his family can show the flaws that are in there because when we look the Bible says in winter days to be delivered were fulfilled behold there were twins in her womb and the first came out red we see the Hebrew word Adam all over like a hairy garment and they called his name Esau And so in verse 26, And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel. And his name was called Jacob, Yaakovah in the Hebrew word of Jacob. And Isaac was three score years old when she bare them. And the boys grew, and Esau was a cunning hunter. Notice, Tazik, the Hebrew, a man of the field, and Jacob was a plain man, do well and intense. And Isaac loved Esau because he did eat of his venison, but Rebekah loved Jacob. Now when we look, we see that verse 24 recounts the fulfillment of Rebecca's pregnancy. God had told her earlier that she would bear two nations in Genesis chapter 25, verse 23. And here we see the beginning of that prophecy with the birth of twins. The arrival of the twins is very significant as it foreshadows the rivalry and the separate destinies of two sons. And so in verse 25, the first twin, Esau, is described as being red and hairy, which were distinctive physical traits that led to his name. The name Esau may come from the Hebrew root word for hairy, Asah. highlighting his rugged and untamed nature. But in verse 26, Jacob's birth follows immediately after Esau's with Jacob grasping Esau's heel as it symbolically is trying to gain an advantage even at birth. And so the name Jacob, Yaakovah, is derived from the Hebrew word aquav, meaning to follow or to supplant. And when we see this, it sets up a scene of tension between Jacob and Esau as Jacob's life is often marked by the desire to overtake his brother. And so in verse 27, it describes the contrasting personalities of Esau and Jacob. Esau is portrayed as that skilled hunter. and a man of the field, representing a lifestyle of independence and physical strength. Jacob, in contrast, is described as a plain or a quiet man who dwells in the tents, indicating a life centered on family and possibly a deeper focus on spiritual matters. But in verse 28, lastly, It reveals the favoritism in the family with Isaac favoring Esau for his hunting skills and the meat that he provides while Rebecca favors Jacob. This favoritism would later fuel the family conflicts and affect the destiny of both sons. So when we look at Genesis chapter 25, it's the beginning of a division between Esau and Jacob, which foreshadows the future conflict between the two nations they will represent. Edom, the descendant of Esau, and Israel, descendant of Jacob. That introduces the idea that God's purposes may sometimes work against societal norms as they choose Jacob the younger over Esau the elder to carry forward the Abrahamic covenant. And so I'm glad that as we look and see all of this, and as we move forward, the root of family favoritism, amen. And so what do we see? First of all, we look and we see the birthright of beginnings because favoritism led to division as each parent chose a favorite and so this choice undermined the unity and so discord and so how many of us remember the toy story and Woody where he feels threatened by Buzz Lightyear, the new toy who becomes Andy's favorite. And this favoritism leads Woody to jealousy, eventually causing him to act out against Buzz. But however, as the story progresses, Woody learns that every toy has a special place in Andy's heart. And his sense of jealousy fades as he realizes his own unique worth. And so, just as Esau felt displaced by his brother and Jacob, favoritism can foster rivalry and resentment. But God's love reminds all of us that we all have unique worth. And here this morning, favoritism can make people feel lesser or less valued, creating self-doubt and envy. And the Bible reminds us in Galatians chapter 3, verse 28, that there is neither Jew nor Greek, for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. You see, we are each uniquely loved by God and no favoritism can change that for anything whatsoever. Amen. And so, We see also, secondly, family dynamics, because Isaac's partiality shaped Esau's life, just as Rebecca's attachment to Jacob led her to later interfere in God's timing. And so each and every one of us, when we look and we realize that God knows exactly what we need before we need it. But I know That C.S. Lewis said one time, pride gets no pleasure out of having something, only out of having more of it than the next man. You see, favoritism often goes hand in hand with pride. And as we see with Rebecca and Jacob, Rebecca's preference For Jacob not only distorted her view of her children, but drove her to disregard Esau's right to have the blessing. And so here we see that in Genesis chapter 25 verse 28, and the entire chapter of Genesis chapter 27, it reveals the pride and the favoritism that fractured Isaac's family. Here today in society, favoritism can arise from pride or our desires for control, creating tension and rivalry within our families or our communities. And so C.S. Lewis's words remind us to examine our hearts, rooting out favoritism that may arise from selfish motives, amen. And so the birthright beginning, the family dynamics as well that we see, praise God. But also we look and we see that there's God's greater plan. Because through the family, though the family struggled, We look and we see that God had chosen Jacob for his purposes, reminding us that his plan is never hindered by human weakness. And so favoritism is the hand that covers one child's flaws while unveiling another's faults. And so each and every one of us, as we go through life, I'm glad as C.S. Lewis again says, pride gets no pleasure out of having something only out of having more of it than the next man. And so We see family favoritism and faith, amen. As we move on, we look and we see not only that we see the root of family favoritism in Genesis chapter 25 verses 24 through 28, but also we look and we see manipulation and deception in Genesis chapter 27 verses 5 through 10. And when we look and realize how that we can uncover how it speaks to us about faith and the dynamics of our relationship, we look and we begin to realize that through all of this, that through the precious word of God, as we get into it, Amen, we begin to realize that here when one's favorite falls short, The enabling parent is tempted to make excuses for the child. Those excuses grow into lies, lies grow into betrayal, and betrayal grows into hatred, and hatred gives birth to death. With Isaac's old age and distinguishing sight, he asked, of basically his son Esau to hunt wild game and to make him the delicious meat that he loved to eat. Then Isaac promised that he would give Esau his blessing. Well, the blessing was given by a clan patriarch to his heir and was of a great significance since it formally conferred the right to rule over the clan following the patriarch's death. Well, you know what? Rebecca was listening and plotted to trick her husband into giving his blessing to Jacob. With meticulous cunning, she devised an unthinkable scheme for a mother to commit. She betrayed her husband and her firstborn Isaac's blessing was at hers to steal from one son to give to another. Up until a point, this sin was all on Rebecca. It was her idea to eavesdrop on her husband's remarks to their son. It was her idea for Jacob to hurry and get two choice young goats so that she could prepare Isaac one of his favorite meals. And it was her idea for Jacob to impersonate Esau and lie to his father about his identity. And in her favoritism, she robbed her own family of misplaced loyalty because When we look and realize of all that begin to transpire from this, we begin to get into the powerful word of God and what it begins to speak to each and every one of us. You know, the author Steve Lawson wrote in his book Faith Under Fire about how the devil is like the thief that he broke into a jewelry store late one night, but he didn't steal a single thing. Instead, he switched all of the price tags. on everything. And so the next morning, the thief walked right into the store and purchased valuables at prices so low that they were criminals. And so as the burglar left the showroom, the store clerk even thanked him for his business. Unaware of the cost of the deception. Well, similarity Satan has burglarized all of our values and switched the price tags on integrity in America today and the love for hypocrisy and selfishness and Satan thanks all of us for our business across this world. Well, Rebecca switched the price tag. She was now in the deceit business and she pulled Jacob into her plan and she stepped into the darkness of self-deception by loving son over another. Well, for Esau, receiving his father's blessing was a crucial part of his identity. As the firstborn son, to lose his blessing was on par with being cursed in that culture. That's what makes Rebecca's deception so devastating. About a year before my father and all of us as we go through, and we go through all of these things, every one of us can pick out and experience something that has been devastating in our families, whether our father or whether our mother, you know, did something in your family. But I thank God each and every one of us as we go through life, we need to be able to go forward and do the right thing. And so I'm glad as we look and realize that through This manipulation through one's favorite falls short. The enabling parent is tempted to make excuses for that child and those excuses grow into lies and lies, as I said earlier, grow on, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera, until they go all the way down and they cause a lot more trouble in that family. And so when we look and realize that the word of God in Genesis chapter 27, verses 5 through 10, it tells us And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son, and Esau went to the field to hunt for venison and to bring it. And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying, Bring me venison, and make me savory meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before the Lord before my death. And now therefore my son, notice, obey my voice according to that which I command thee, We look at all the Hebrew of the word obey, the Hebrew word shema. And we look at the word for venison and the word for firstborn, fulfilled, all of these that teach us about the power of this story from the Bible. In verse nine, it says, Go now to the flock, fletch me from that's two good kids, which are the goats and of the goats, and I will make them savory meat for thy father, such as he loveth. and thou shall bring it to thy father that he may eat and that he may bless thee before his death. Now, when we look at this, in verse 5, Rebecca overhears Isaac's conversation with Esau in which Isaac asked for venison in preparation to give Esau his blessing. And in this time, blessings given to a firstborn held great significance, often determining leadership and inheritance rights. Rebecca's immediate reaction suggests that she has her own plans for Jacob to receive that blessing instead of Esau. Well, in verse 6, Rebecca informs Jacob about Isaac's intention to bless Esau and her sense of urgency implies that she has long been protective over Jacob and believes that he should be the one to receive the blessing. Well, her favoritism here is evident and it sets the stage for deception. And as we go on in verse 7, Rebecca repeats Isaac's words to Jacob, emphasizing the importance of that blessing. She wants Jacob to understand that this blessing, once given, will shape the future for all of the family. And this scene highlights Rebecca's proactive and assertive role in Jacob's life. Well, in verse 8, Rebecca commands Jacob to obey her plan without question. And the tone here reveals her determination on her belief that she knows what's best for Jacob. And it also shows Jacob's respect and willingness. to listen to his mother's guidance, even if it means deception. Well, in verse 9, Rebekah instructs Jacob to retrieve two goats from the flock. She plans to prepare a meal similar to Esau's venison to deceive Isaac. And the careful preparation shows how involved she is in ensuring Jacob's success and future. Well, lastly, in verse 10, Rebekah tells Jacob to bring the food to Isaac so that he can receive the blessing intended for Esau. Also, Rebecca's plan is driven by her perception of God's will, as she believes Jacob is the rightful heir to the blessing. And her determination on that demonstrates how far she's willing to go to secure Jacob's future. Well, you know what? When we look at Genesis chapter 27, verses 5 through 10, We see the completion for Isaac's blessing and the dynamics of family favoritism, but it captures Rebecca's decisive role in Jacob's life and the lengths that she goes to to ensure that he receives the blessing. Through this deception, the chapter raises very, very important questions about trust, integrity, and the impact of favoritism in families. It also reflects on God's sovereignty as Jacob's receiving of the blessing, despite human manipulation, aligns with God's earlier prophecy about the younger servant, the elder, in Genesis chapter 25, verse 23. So I'm glad the blessing of the Proarch, which is talking about the Bethel rock, and it's the word that signifies the divinely best owed gift or favor, which means the blessing. And so it is that that goes to the firstborn. Amen. And so I'm glad that when we look back at Jewish tradition, the patriarchs bless blessings held both spiritual and material weight, marking the official transfer of family leadership and inheritance. And so this is a very, very powerful thing that transpires. And so we see the manipulation and the deception that transpired in all of this, the scheming that was involved of this. And so what was it? First of all, it was that of a scheming heart that we begin to see, because Rebecca's scheming indicates that she lacked faith in God's promise, trying instead to manipulate the outcome. You know, Max Licato, said one time, God loves each of us as if we were only one of us, as if there were only one of us. And so I'm glad it reminds us of God's impartial love, which contrasts sharply with the favoritism seen in the Isaac's family. And while Rebecca showed favoritism toward Jacob, God's love for each person is without bias in a world where favoritism can damage relationships. And so this scripture in Genesis chapter 27 verses 5 through 10 invites every one of us this morning to mirror God's love, his unconditional, unchanging, and equality available to everyone in the world out there. And so it challenges us to see others as God sees us with love that transcends personal preference or favoritism. And so the scheming heart, but also we see Jacob's compliance. Jacob went along with Rebecca's scheme of things and plan, showing that deception is a learned behavior within families. I wonder how many bad things that rub off from parents onto their children that they begin to show them, especially one of the things of prejudice, that because you're prejudiced, you push that right on into the next generation of your child, and you let them become the same that somebody taught you about that, and we don't need that. Lastly, we see not only the scheming heart, Jacob's compliance, but lasting scars. Because when we look at the manipulation and deception, this act of deceit brought lasting consequences, dividing brothers and creating a life of running for Jacob in the coming future. And so it's very sad when these things begin to transpire. And so you know what? Every one of us, As we have funerals and deaths, sometimes there's a lot of things that can transpire between families, sisters and brothers, when all of those things begin to take place, you know, as we look and realize what God is wanting to do. And so as we look and we realize As family favoritism and faith, we look and we see the root of family favoritism of Genesis chapter 25 verses 24 through 28. We see the manipulation and the deception of Genesis chapter 27 verses 5 through 10. Amen. And thirdly, we see the consequences of deception and the faithfulness of God in Genesis chapter 27 verses 11 through 13 that we'll be getting into in just a minute. You know what? I remember Paul Harvey telling the story about a little boy and his broken toy. And that little boy cherished a toy that his father had given him. And one day that toy broke and he ran to his father asking for help. But the father was busy and he only half listened and favoring his work over his son, distraught, the boy tried to fix that toy himself. But the story, the toy remained broken. Later, the father found his son asleep with a toy clutched to his chest, heartbroken that his father had favored something else over him. Well, you know what? Rebecca's favoritism for Jacob leads her to manipulate circumstances so that Jacob received the blessing meant for Esau. And like the boy in Paul Harvey's story, Esau was left disappointed and hurt. This reminds us to guard against favoritism in our families and in our relationships. In today's world, favoritism can leave scars, driving loved ones away, or causing lasting resentment. Ephesians chapter 6 verse 4 urges fathers not to provoke their children, reminding us of the need to treat each family member with equal love and respect. Praise God. And so I'm glad that as we go forward and realize that all of us, as we go through life today, the consequences of deception and the faithfulness of God, as we get in to the wonderful word of God, whether it's Rebecca or you, me having a favorite child and encouraging him to do something wrong is a failure to love that child. It enables him or her to fall deeper into the consequences of sin. Perhaps Rebecca rationalized or spiritualized her decision. Maybe she gave the impression that she was helping God fulfill his prophecy about the two sons before giving birth to to her twins, the Lord said to her in Genesis chapter 25 verse 23, two nations are in your womb and the older will serve the younger, but it's never right to do wrong, even though Rebecca was willing to assume responsibility, she couldn't protect Jacob from his consequences. And so Jacob was just as guilty. He didn't refuse his mother's deceitful scheme. His only concern was how to eliminate the obstacle that might keep him from completing the fraud, and he was concerned his arms weren't hairy enough. And so we don't know where this behavior started, but it undoubtedly included keeping family secrets. Don't tell your father. Rebecca and Jacob set the table to exploit Isaac's natural weakness in that old age, which was what? His sight. Disguised as Esau, Jacob came to Isaac and asked him to sit up. And when Isaac asked how he got the game so quickly, Jacob lied and falsely invoked the Lord. Because the Lord your God made it happen for me in Genesis chapter 27 verse 20. To better pull off the deception, Jacob wore his brother's clothes so that he would smell like Esau. when he presented Rebecca's prepared goat meat. And when Esau returned with Wild Game, as he and Isaac had arranged, they both realized that they had been betrayed. And so think of Esau, his own mother and twin brother ripping him off. Remember the phrase, that hits a little too close to home. Every emotion seems heightened at home. When things get too close to home, people may experience flashpoints of disappointment. Betrayal or even anger with heightened sensitivity and a lack of restraint. Things can get dangerously quickly. Well, consider the fallout that's caused by the parental favoritism of Isaac and Rebecca. A husband and a wife couldn't trust each other with the rest of their days. Twin brothers were now enemies and Isaac and Rebecca essentially lost both sons because favoritism ripped apart the entire family. Satan uses lies and deception to encourage every one of us to sin because the devil seeks our maximum harm for all of us. God is love and wants us to live in the truth of integrity because the truth sets all of us free. You know, Jacob hesitated that we're going to read about in just a minute. realizing the potential for a curse rather than a blessing. And Rebecca's insistence demonstrated her belief that the ends justified the means. Well, even when families falter, God remains faithful to his promises. Ain't you glad? Say amen. And so I'm glad each and every one of us, when we think about all of the things of life, you know, as we go through life today, look and see. The Bible says in Genesis chapter 27, verses 11, 12, and 13, And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold Esau, my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man. And verse 12, My father for your venture will fill me, and I shall sing to him as a deceiver, and I shall bring a curse upon me and not a blessing. And verse 13, and the mother said to him, look, said unto him, upon me be thy curse, my son, only obey my voice and go fetch me them. And so. When we look at verse 11, Jacob expresses concern to Rebecca about their plan to deceive Isaac. He's aware that his brother Esau is noticeably hair than he is so that Isaac may detect the difference. But Jacob's hesitation here shows his awareness of the potential consequences of deceiving his father as well as his caution. And so Jacob, fears in verse 12 that Isaac will recognize the deception and curse him instead of blessing him. You know, in ancient Israel, blessings and curses were deeply, consequently, believed to hold long-term effects over a person's life. This moment emphasizes Jacob's awareness of the spiritual significance of blessings and cursings. And so in verse 13, Rebecca assures Jacob, telling him to place any potential curse on her. Her willingness to accept the responsibility reflects her determination and commitment to her plan, as well as her deep conviction that Jacob should receive the blessing. And it reveals her strong will and resolve to see Jacob succeed. You know what? Genesis chapter 27 centers on the passing of Isaac's blessing, a significant moment in the lineage of Abraham's descendants. and the chapter explores the themes of deception, family dynamics, and divine purpose. Through Rebecca's influence, Jacob receives that blessings that was meant for Esau. Fulfilling the prophecy from Genesis chapter 25, verse 23, that the elder shall serve the younger and the act of favoritism and manipulation has lasting effects on the family, particularly between Esau and Jacob. How sad. When we look at each and every one of our lives, like Jacob and Esau, family relationships can be complicated with rivalry and misunderstandings. challenging us to look past favoritism, to favor or to value our family's members for who they are. And so Romans chapter 12, verse 10 reminds us to be kindly affection one to another with brotherly love, urging us to cherish our loved ones and appreciate our unique contributions to our lives. And so when we look and realize that here we see in the word of God, first of all, that when we look at the consequences of deception and the faithfulness of God, amen, here in Genesis chapter 27 verses 11 through 13, sorry about that if I have a typo there and did not put that up on the top of my three-point sub points, but it's about, it deals with, as reminding you of the consequences of deception and the faithfulness of God. And one of the first things that we see is choosing obedience over manipulation. And so, True obedience to God waits for his timing and trust his provisions. Amen. And so I'm glad each and every one of us can see that, but also not only choosing obedience over manipulation, but the illusion of control. Because I'm glad that Rebecca and Jacob's choices were an attempt to control outcomes that only God can determine. Amen. And so how many of you remember watching on TV the story of the Godfather? Michael Corleone is the youngest son. He's initially overlooked by his family for not joining the family's business. But after a series of tragedies, he becomes the favored one, trusted to take over the family's crime in power. So this favoritism leads him to make ruthless decisions, distancing himself from his own family and eventually isolating him in his power. Well, like Isaac and Rebecca, who each favored a different son. In Genesis chapter 27 verses 11 through 13, how favoritism can lead to deception. With Rebecca's pushing Jacob into a life of trickery, just as Michael's family favoritism led him into a path of crime and estrangement in the Godfather, favoritism can drive family members to make choices that they otherwise wouldn't consider. In today's society, Favoritism may push people to compromise their values to gain approval or validation reminding all of us of what the New Testament out of the book of James chapter 2 verses 1 through 4 warns against partiality and its impact on our characters. And so choosing obedience over manipulation, the illusion of control, but Oslo, God's unshaken plan. Ain't you glad? Because despite the family's deception, God still fulfilled his promise, using each even their failures for his purpose. You know, in 2 Timothy 2, verse 13, the Bible says, even when we are faithless, he remains faithful. Praise his mighty name. Thank you, Jesus. Hallelujah. Boy, ain't you glad? Even when we are faithless. Timothy chapter 2 verse 13 reminds us he remains faithful. You know what? As we get closer and closer to Christmas, we're all reminded of that Christmas carol of Ebenezer Scrooge that he lived a life marked by favoritism toward wealth, greed, material things over people. This favoritism toward self-gain ultimately isolates him until he learns that the true treasure lies in love, generosity, and family. Favoritism often prioritizes material gain or pride over family unity and well-being, and so Rebecca's favoritism and manipulation In Genesis chapter 27 back in verses 5 through 10 reflect misplaced priorities, but it reminds us to cherish our relationships over the material or temporary gain. Favoritism in today's society can lead to broken homes, fractured friendships, reminding us of the importance of selfless love that's been taught in 1 John chapter 4 verses 7 and 8. in our society where favoritism and rivalry can appear in families, workplaces, our communities. These biblical stories challenge every one of us to value unity, to value love without preference, and to value trust in God's ultimate plan over our own. Amen. And so I'm glad that each and every one of us, as we go through life today, one of the things that we're able to do that we can prevent ourselves from getting into trouble, amen, and that is, praise God, preventing family favoritism starts with being intentional in how we value and treat each family member. Here are some practical steps to cultivate a balanced loving environment in all of our lives that we can do. Each and every one of us as we begin to do this particular thing, we're able to do something because through First of all, the very first thing that we see is through practical self-awareness and check your biases. We reflect on our feelings and actions toward each family member and asking yourself if you gravitate more towards one child or due to shared interest or personality, recognize the natural affinities, but avoid letting them influence how you treat others. Pray regularly for that discernment to love each family member equally as God loves each of us without partiality. Amen. And so I'm glad we see secondly out of this that celebrate individual strengths and differences. because each person is unique with different gifts and personalities and we can celebrate these differences without comparing one to another and express appreciation for each family member's unique strengths and qualities and that approach reduces the competition and it fosters mutual respect. I'm glad, just as Paul said in 1 Corinthians 12, verses 12-27, he speaks about the body having many parts, and we remember that each family member contributes something special and unique. We need to embrace each person's unique role without seeing one as better or more valuable. Amen? And so, we see thirdly, oh so, that we can spend quality time individually with each family member. delicate Pacific one-on-one time with each child or family member to create individual bonds and it helps each of us be able to be valued and understood regardless of our personality or preferences and show consistent love through time spent together following Jesus' example of focusing on each disciple individually despite having a close-knit group. we acknowledge the value of each person through focused attention and personal care. Fourthly, we see also that our practical steps to cultivate a balanced loving environment is communicate openly and equally. Because be clear and fair with all family members, set consistent rules and expectations so that no one feels that they're held to a different standard. Because we can listen to And we can validate each person's feelings and help prevent the resentment or the feelings of inferiority. You know what? The wisdom of Proverbs chapter 18, verse 13 reminds us to listen before we respond and practice patient listening and thoughtful responses, making each person feel heard and equally valued. And then fifthly, we look and we see to avoid comparison. Refrain from comparing family members to one another as comparison can breed insecurity and resentment. Encourage each person to develop at their own pace and according to their own abilities. Just as the parable of the talents of Matthew chapter 25 teaches and recognize that everyone is different with their talents. Appreciate each person's unique strengths without comparison knowing God's measures success by faithfulness, not uniformity. And then we see Oso encourage teamwork and empathy. Amen, in the family, because I'm glad that it is through that teamwork that we're able to do the most, that it teaches us to look out for each other's interests, encouraging us to build a family culture of mutual support rather than competition. Family activities that promote teamwork, like volunteering together, can nurture this spirit, praise God. And then we see, lastly, that we pray for each family members regularity because pray daily for your family asking God to help you show the love impartiality and so I'm glad to give each family member a sense of security and love but we can seek God's wisdom in parenting and relating to family members without any favoritism whatsoever. Jesus prayed individually for his disciples guidance to avoid favoritism and we can apply all of these to every one of our lives each and every day and so as we come to a close amen and I'm glad that when we do Every one of us, the story of Isaac's family reminds us that favoritism and manipulation breed division and pain. We learn that faith is not about controlling our circumstances, but trusting in God's promises and his timings. No matter our flaws, nor our missteps, God's plan will always come to pass because his grace covers even our deepest failures that we can ever imagine. Amen. And so I hope and pray that we can recognize and root out favoritism, practice in love and unity and reflect on our areas where we can release control, trusting in God's wisdom and forgive those who may have wronged us. And we reflect on God's wonderful love that he's given each and every one of us. And so as I come to a close, I hope and pray. that you're able, amen, to do the right thing with your children as we have family favoritism and faith. Let's pray together. Thank you for the truth of your word that shines the light on the need to love without bias and trust in your faithful promises. Forgive us, Lord, for the times that we've tried to control the outcomes and overlook those who need our love. We ask for the release of favoritism and the faith to trust in your perfect timing and the courage to mend broken relationships. Save those who do not know you yet and renew us as your people committed to repentance and walking in your ways in the mighty name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. God bless you.