When God Meets Us in Our Mess

When God Meets Us in Our Mess

08 February, 2026

Thesis: God sovereignly meets people in their deep dysfunction and mess, offering redemption and healing through the gospel and the community of the church.

Summary: This sermon, titled "When God Meets Us in Our Mess" (Part One), focuses on Genesis chapter 27 and introduces the concept of dysfunctional families, drawing parallels to the brokenness observed in various aspects of life since the Fall. The speaker details how the patriarchal family of Isaac, Rebekah, Esau, and Jacob exemplifies such dysfunction, highlighting Isaac's spiritual passivity and parental favoritism towards Esau based on personal taste rather than God's prophecy. Rebekah's manipulative scheme to secure the blessing for Jacob, involving deception and lies, further illustrates the marital disunity and lack of communication within the family. Jacob's complicity and Esau's subsequent bitter regret, stemming from a desire for the benefits of the covenant without God himself, are presented as consequences of their actions and selfish pursuit of blessings. The sermon also touches on the snowball effect of sin, leading from minor deceit to thoughts of murder, and the endless pursuit of approval as seen in Esau's later attempt to please his father. Ultimately, the speaker emphasizes God's sovereignty, showing how He accomplishes His purposes even through sinful individuals, and connects the narrative to the gospel through Jacob's wearing of Esau's clothes to receive the blessing, symbolizing believers being clothed in Christ's righteousness. The sermon concludes with practical applications for overcoming dysfunction, including direct communication, forgiveness, breaking cycles of favoritism, finding identity in Christ, and seeking community within the church.

Sermon

Alright, well, good morning everyone. It's been a while, so I hope you all brought lunch. I mean, I'm not joking. You did bring lunch, right? Did you miss the memo on that?

In this three-week series, we're exploring how God meets us in our dysfunction. And let me tell you, there's no better place for Him to start than at a table with His people, sharing a meal together. So if you forgot your lunch today, don't worry. Consider it an opportunity for God to remind us that He's right here with us, even in our forgetfulness.

I asked them to send out the reminder for everyone to bring lunch because we've got three weeks' worth of preaching coming up. I was just joking about there being no memo.

You didn't miss our announcement last week: we're diving into Genesis chapter 27 this morning. This is a fascinating passage, like most in Genesis. Today, we'll focus on part one, which deals with dysfunctional families. Now, who's ever heard of or experienced that? Don't be shy to raise your hand.

If you did miss it, that's okay. But we understand that since the fall, harmony between God and man has been broken, and harmony among ourselves has been broken, right? We see brokenness on a global scale, resulting in political tensions and wars. We see it in everyday life: fighting, bitterness, gossip, lying, scheming, manipulation. It's evident even at the grocery store. Have you ever seen someone fight over milk or bread lately? We see it in the workplace, but we also see it at home. Brokenness often leads to betrayal, dishonesty, and selfishness. There can be conflict between spouses that results in a lack of trust and intimacy, sometimes leading to broken homes and households that feel like battlegrounds instead of places of peace.

Now, how common is this dysfunction? It's so common that we read books about it, watch dramas and comedies about it on TV, and even find ourselves drawn to these stories. Deep down, we know that we're just like the people we read about or watch—broken ourselves. So if you find yourself a broken person today, maybe because you grew up in a broken home, had parents who played favorites, or experienced lying, manipulation, rivalry, and secrets, remember this: you are not alone. You are in good company. And that's good news, because God uses dysfunctional, broken people for His purposes. He invites them into His family—the covenant family from which the Messiah will come. So let's explore the anatomy of family dysfunction together in Genesis chapter 27.

But deep down, we know, man, I'm broken. I'm just like this person I'm reading about in this book, or I'm just like this person I'm watching on TV. So this morning, maybe you find yourself a broken person. Maybe you grew up in a broken home. Maybe your parents played favorites, or there was lying and manipulation, rivalry, secrets that everybody knew but nobody talked about. Maybe this morning you're carrying scars from your past, dealing with hurt and betrayal, perhaps from a close friend or spouse. If that's you, I want you to know something this morning: you are in good company.

We're going to see all these things, all of these facets and aspects of dysfunction play out here in Genesis chapter 27. And what we need to know this morning is that this isn't just some family tucked away in the pages of Scripture. This is the family, the covenant family, from which the Messiah will come. That should tell us something about gospel grace: God uses dysfunctional, broken people for His purposes. He invites them to be part of His family, and that's the kind of news that can change everything.

So, to give you a roadmap this morning of where we're going, we're going to walk through Genesis 27. We'll explore the anatomy of family dysfunction, but we'll also see how God works in the midst of it all. We're going to look at God. We'll see a God who pursues sinners, works out His sovereign purposes despite sinful choices, and keeps His promises despite our faithlessness. The Bible offers us practical tips on how we can live out the gospel in the midst of brokenness, transforming our own hearts so that we might begin to heal as broken people living among other broken people.

We're going to see how the gospel transforms our own hearts so that we can begin to live out the gospel in the midst of brokenness, so that we can begin to heal as broken people living among broken people. Now, let's look here at chapter 27, beginning in verse 1. The Bible says, "Now it came to pass when Isaac was old, and his eyes were so dim that he could not see, that he called Esau his older son and said to him, 'My son.' And he answered, 'Here I am.' And he said, 'Behold, now I am old. I do not know the day of my death. Now therefore, please take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt some game for me. And make me savory food such as I love, and bring it to me that I may eat, so that my soul may bless you before I die.'"

Notice how Rebekah overhears this conversation. She then speaks to Jacob her son, saying, "'Indeed, I heard your father speak to Esau your brother, saying, Bring me this game and make savory food for me, that I may eat it and bless you in the presence of the Lord before my death.' Now therefore, my son," she says to Jacob, "'obey my voice according to what I command you. Go now to the flock. Bring me from there two choice kids of the goats, and I will make savory food from them for your father, such as he loves.'"

Jacob then has questions; he's getting suspicious. Jacob said to Rebekah, his mother, "Look, Esau, my brother, is a hairy man, and I am smooth-skinned. Perhaps my father will feel me instead of seeing me, and I'll seem like a deceiver to him. Then I'll bring a curse on myself instead of a blessing." But Rebekah replied, "Let your curse be on me, my son. Just do as I say and go get the kids for me." Jacob did as he was told, bringing them back to his mother. She prepared the savory food, dressed Jacob in Esau's clothes, and put the goat skins on him. Then she handed Jacob the food and bread, saying, "Now go to your father and say, 'I am Esau, your firstborn. I've done as you asked. Please sit up and eat so that my soul may bless me.'"

As Jacob entered his father's presence, he said, "Father?" Isaac replied, "Here I am. Who are you, my son?" Jacob answered, "I am Esau, your firstborn. I have done just as you told me. Please arise, sit up, and eat of this game so that my soul may bless you."

Let's pause here for a moment to reflect on how even in Jacob's deception, God is at work, meeting him in his dysfunction just as He meets us in ours. Father, we thank You for Your word today. We see the plot thickening, manipulation and lying exposed, but also grace and mercy. Help us to see our own brokenness and desperation, Lord, and find hope in the gospel. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

And Lord, we find ourselves, like the patriarchs, desperate sinners in need of a Savior. We're reminded of God's sovereignty even in Jacob's deception. Lord, open our eyes to see and ears to hear Your truth through Scripture. In our brokenness and dysfunction, may we find hope in the gospel. Today, Lord, let Your name be hallowed as we focus on Christ and His work. Convict us, challenge us, change us, Lord, for Your glory. In Jesus' name, amen.

So, first of all, before Jacob steals the blessing, I want us to note something about Isaac. This anatomy of family dysfunction, number one, we have spiritual passivity and parental favoritism. Notice how chapter 27 begins. When Isaac is old and his eyes are dim so that he cannot see, he calls Esau, his older son, to him so that he may bless him. But first, he needs some food, right? He says, "I am old and hungry."

Now, we need to understand who Isaac is at this point. Isaac is a righteous man, but he falls short of Abraham's faith. Isaac is over 100 years old now, yet he thinks he's on the verge of death. His spiritual eyes are dim; he can't see God's will clearly anymore. He lives passively through life, and his favoritism toward Esau blinds him to God's true choice for the blessing. This is a stark reminder that God's sovereignty in redemption isn't determined by our preferences or passivity but by His divine plan.

He seems to live passively through life, with nothing notable occurring. Moses notes here that his eyes were dim physically; he could not see. But I would also believe they were dim spiritually. He's old, hungry, desiring some of his favorite son's venison. Yet another factor motivates him: he's about to pronounce the patriarchal blessing upon Esau, a blessing carrying God's covenant promises made to Abraham, determining who will carry forward His redemptive plan. Isaac has already decided it will be his favored child, Esau. This verse should give us pause. It reveals a divided family, with Dad loving one son and Mom the other, not based on character but personal taste, treating people like commodities rather than persons to love. Troublingly, Isaac knew God's prophecy yet chose to favor Esau over what God had said, setting his patriarchal authority above God's.

Because we see that the patriarchal family is divided right down the middle. Dad loves one son based on what he can provide for him, valuing people as commodities rather than loving them for who they are. This is favoritism based on personal taste, not character or calling. It's troubling because Isaac knew the prophecy but still chose to disregard it, setting his patriarchal authority over God's. Esau's actions are motivated by self-interest, further exacerbating this dysfunction. Friends, this should make us wince, as it highlights how our own sinful nature can lead us astray from God's sovereignty and plan.

And in doing so, he manipulates these circumstances. But he's not the only manipulator in the family, is he? In fact, there's someone much more shrewd than him, and that is his wife. Let's pause here to consider how this favoritism affects the children, who grow up with a deep sense of insecurity and learn to scheme against each other.

Let's pause there and let's talk about favoritism. What does favoritism do in a family? It breeds resentment. It causes manipulation. It causes children to grow up with a deep sense of insecurity. And when children grow up competing for parental love or approval, they don't learn to trust God. They don't learn to trust their family. And they can't trust anyone else. They have natural defenses that come up, and they learn to scheme. They learn to position and pit themselves against other people.

And they think that love is conditional and must either be earned or stolen. That's exactly what favoritism does. So parents, listen. Your children are not rivals for your affection. They're not tools for your enjoyment. They're not extensions of your ego. They are image-bearers of God, entrusted to you to love them equally, spend time with them equally, shepherd them, disciple them, and make them know that their love is not something they have to compete for or earn. It's freely given, just as the Father's love is freely given to us.

But here's what we need to know this morning as well: favoritism didn't start with Isaac and Rebekah. Isaac himself was the favored son of Abraham. Now, we learn a little more about the family dynamics because we learn that Esau married Canaanite women back in Genesis 26, verses 34 and 35, and they were a grief to Isaac and Rebekah. So imagine this: mom loves one son, dad loves the other, but dad's favorite son marries Canaanite women, causing tension at family dinners.

And he brings them home, and Isaac and Rebekah can't stand them. Imagine the family dinners. Talk about awkward, right? They're a grievance to Isaac and Rebekah. Isaac is grieved, but he doesn't seem to be grieved enough to have raised his sons better. He just kind of coasts through life, doesn't he? He lets Esau do whatever he wants, even marry Canaanite women. Now, compare that to Abraham. Isaac, he's just passive. He's not leaving a legacy behind; he's just surviving.

So we need to ask ourselves the question: Are we spiritually passive like Isaac? Are we just going through life until we die? Or are we leaving a legacy behind? Are we just surviving or are we truly thriving? Can our children look at us and see what a Christian is supposed to be? Will we be remembered as people who instructed our children in the ways of the Lord, or will we just be those who exist until the Lord calls us home?

Let's ask ourselves: What would our kids think if they saw how we live out our faith? Would we be remembered as parents who taught them the ways of the Lord, or just as those who existed until the Lord called us home?

Notice also that there's marital tension due to competing agendas. Rebekah, with her sharp ears, overhears Isaac's plan, but instead of trusting God or discussing it with him, she hatches a scheme involving Jacob and two goats. She dresses Jacob up in Esau's clothes and covers his skin with goat hair to make him smell and feel like Esau. This is more than just a cooking challenge; it's an elaborate deception, revealing the deep dysfunction within their family.

She overhears Isaac's plan. Instead of discussing it with her husband and trusting God to work out His purposes, she immediately devises a scheme. Verses 5 through 10 detail this plot. She goes to her favored son, Jacob, instructing him to kill two goats and bring them to her. She'll prepare the meat in a way Isaac particularly enjoys, then dress Jacob in Esau's clothes and cover his smooth skin with goat hair to make him smell and feel like Esau. Now, Rebekah was no ordinary cook; she had a knack for making even goat meat taste delicious. But more importantly, she was a master manipulator, orchestrating this elaborate deception. She dresses Jacob up in Esau's clothes so he smells like his brother, puts goat hair on him to make him feel like Esau—remember, Esau was indeed a hairy man. This wasn't just a simple scheme; it was a deep dysfunction that revealed much about Isaac and Rebekah's marriage. There was no communication, no unity, no trust between them. They were playing their children against each other, a psychological tactic known as triangulation. Instead of fostering family unity, they created alliances based on manipulation and selfishness. Both Isaac and Rebekah were prideful, had selfish desires, showed favoritism, and acted out of self-interest. Rebekah wasn't just disrespecting her husband; she was also cheating one of her own children out of a blessing.

This reveals about Isaac and Rebekah's marriage. There's no communication, no unity, no trust. They're pitting their children against each other, which psychologists call triangulation. They use one person to manipulate the other, creating alliances within the family instead of fostering unity. Both Isaac and Rebekah are prideful, have selfish desires, show favoritism, and are self-serving. Rebekah is not only willing to disrespect her husband but also to cheat one of her own children out of a blessing.

This family is deeply broken. In Ephesians 5, husbands are called to love and cherish their wives as Christ loves the church—selflessly and sacrificially—and wives are called to revere their husbands as the church reverences Christ. However, when these principles are absent in a marriage, dysfunction is inevitable. Rebekah is a master deceiver, and Jacob, it seems, has learned from her. In verse 12, he expresses his concern: "My father will curse me instead of blessing me if he realizes I'm tricking him." He's not worried about deceiving his father but about the consequences if caught—a matter of risk assessment rather than moral objection.

He's worried about the consequences of his actions if he gets caught. That's not a moral objection. That's risk assessment. Notice verse 13. Rebekah says, "Let your curse be on me, my son." What a mother to put that kind of responsibility and guilt complex on her own son should he fail. Well, Jacob agrees. Jacob's an accomplice to his mother's scheming. And notice what happens in verse 19. Jacob comes in with the goat meat. It tastes like venison, he claims, approaching his blind father wearing Esau's clothes. "Who are you?" Isaac asks. Jacob responds, "I am Esau, your firstborn." A bold lie indeed, deceiving not only his father but also invoking God's name to authenticate his falsehood. "The Lord, your God, granted me success," he says, using God's name to lend credibility to his story. Loved ones, this is a gross misuse of God's name, a vain taking that goes beyond mere profanity. It's confessing Him with our lips while dishonoring Him with our lives, bringing disrespect to His holy name.

Isaac grows suspicious. "Are you really my son Esau?" he queries again. Jacob persists in his deceit, replying, "I am." Then comes the most intimate betrayal: Isaac reaches out, and Jacob leans in for a kiss of deception, echoing the future betrayal of Judas with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Understand this about the dysfunction of deception—it never stops at just one lie.

They do that by abusing religion, using it as a weapon to harm others. They twist Bible verses and misuse positions of authority to justify cruelty. They invoke God's name to manipulate people, exploiting their trust for personal gain. This too is taking God's name in vain, and He will not hold anyone guiltless who does so. We must be careful never to misrepresent Him. Isaac becomes suspicious, asking his son, "Are you truly my son Esau?" Again, Jacob lies, responding, "I am." Then Isaac says, "Come near and kiss me, my son," and Jacob complies. This intimate betrayal foreshadows Judas' kiss of betrayal against Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. We must understand that deception never stops at one lie; it grows like a cancer, destroying trust in relationships. But notice, Jacob has learned this deceitful behavior from someone—his mother, Rebekah. Our children learn from us, for better or worse.

The question is, who is discipling them? They are learning from someone. And they are either learning from us to be godly, pursuing Jesus, living exemplary lives, or they are learning to lie and scheme and manipulate. Now, consider Isaac's situation. Yes, Isaac was wrong to favor Esau. He acted in the flesh by trying to bless Esau against God's revealed will. But that does not justify Rebekah and Jacob's actions. Jacob fails to honor his father and mother, breaking the fifth commandment: "Honor your father and mother." This isn't conditional; we are to honor them regardless of their treatment toward us.

For instance, think about a child who grows up with difficult parents. Despite any hurt or resentment, they can still show respect, have boundaries, and forgive. They can extend the same grace and mercy that God has shown them through Christ. So if you harbor resentment toward your parents, ask the Holy Spirit for grace to forgive. The gospel is like a healing balm, enabling us to honor even imperfect parents.

God commands us to honor our parents, even when they're imperfect. It's because honoring authority reflects the order God has clearly established. So what happens for those of us who may have grown up with difficult parents? How do we honor them? How do we honor those who have hurt us? Friends, honoring parents doesn't mean enabling abuse or ignoring past hurts. Instead, it means setting boundaries and maintaining standards while still showing deference and respect. We can forgive them, pray for them, love them because they are our parents, and extend to them the same grace and mercy that God has extended to us through Christ. So if you have resentment toward your parents or things you just can't let go of, ask the Holy Spirit for grace to forgive. The gospel brings sweetness into bitterness and healing into brokenness.

It brings sweetness into our bitterness. It brings healing into our brokenness. That's the power of the gospel. Notice in verses 30 through 38, we see a display of false repentance and deep-seated hatred. In verse 34, Esau cries out with intense anguish, begging his father, "Bless me too, my father!" He realizes he has been tricked, that Jacob has received the blessing meant for him. Now he wants it back. But here's where we must pause and consider: what is truly driving Esau's tears? Is it genuine repentance, or is it a selfish desire to reclaim what he believes was stolen from him? As we'll see later, his tears are not born out of a changed heart but rather a realization of what he has lost. He traded his birthright for momentary gratification and now wants the blessings without the responsibility. This is not the repentance that leads to true restoration; it's a cry for personal gain, not genuine change.

It will make sense; we'll come back to it. And he says in verse 38, "Have you but one blessing, my father? Bless me—even me also." Oh, my father," Esau cries out, lifting up his voice and weeping. He realizes he's been duped; he knows that Jacob has been blessed, and now he wants the blessing too. He's filled with anguish; Esau is devastated.

But here's the crucial question: what is Esau crying about? We remember that he had his birthright stolen from him, and now he has his blessing stolen as well. Well, how did he lose his birthright? Because he lived for immediate gratification, right? He sold his birthright for a bowl of stew, trading eternal privileges for instant pleasure. He despised his birthright, but now he wants the blessings of it.

Why? Because he realizes what he's lost—not because his heart has changed, but because the consequences of years ago have finally caught up with him. Hebrews 12:16-17 says, "See that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau who sold his birthright for a single meal. For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected—for he found no chance to repent though he sought it with tears." Yes, he cried; yes, he had regret—but he never truly repented. He wanted the blessings of God, the benefits of the covenant without the God of the covenant.

And how many people are like that today? They weep and cry because the consequences of their sins have caught up with them, but yet their heart is unchanged. They want the blessings of God without God Himself—that is the type of repentance he wants: a self-sufficient repentance, not one from the heart. Let us see; let's learn one from Genesis 27 by Lewis B. Williams who turns to God. Esau's tears—they were selfish tears.

He wants prosperity. He wants power. He wants position. But does he want them for the right reasons? He shows regret, but not true biblical repentance. And when he tried to gain the blessing, when he begged his father to bless him, it was too late. Isaac had already given the blessing to Jacob. Friends, don't wait until it's too late to repent of your sins. Don't be like Esau, who waited until it was too late to truly seek God.

Notice the struggle for power in this family. Everyone is jockeying for God's blessing, but no one is seeking God Himself. They're all wanting God to do good things for them, but no one wants to be the type of person that God can bless. So we need to ask ourselves, are we seeking God for God, or simply seeking Him for what He can give us?

Everyone wants God's blessing, but no one is seeking God. Have you noticed that? They're all wanting God to do good things for them, but no one wants to be the kind of person that God can bless. Friends, we need to ask ourselves, are we wanting God for God, or are we simply seeking Him for what He can give us? There's a big difference between seeking God's hand—what He can do—and seeking God's face for who He is. All the members in this family are jockeying for God's blessings. They want the benefits of the covenant without submission to the God of the covenant. But friends, the greatest gift that God can give us is Himself. So may we ask ourselves, do I desire the gifts, or do I desire the Giver?

Notice the snowball effects of sin. Verses 41 through 46, Esau is filled with rage. He says, "The days of mourning my father are approaching, then I will kill my brother Jacob." That's what an unrepentant heart produces—hatred and violence. Esau hates his brother; he doesn't grieve his sin. He plots revenge. But notice, he says, after my father dies, when I'm the patriarch, when I'm in control, I will kill Jacob. And there's nothing anyone can do to stop me. You see how things have progressively gone from bad to worse? Esau displays the same cold, calculated plotting that his brother displayed years ago when he manipulated him out of his birthright. Now Esau himself begins to scheme, but this time it's not manipulation—it is murder he's plotting. They've gone from not communicating to jealousy and strife, to lies and manipulation, and now they're ready to kill each other. That's the snowball effect of sin. He has murder in his heart, as 1 John 3:15 tells us, "Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer." Even though Esau hasn't physically harmed Jacob yet, Jesus teaches us in Matthew 5 that whoever is angry with his brother without cause has murdered him in his heart. We know this.

We notice another aspect of family dysfunction in verse 46, where Rebekah says she's weary of her life because Esau has married women from the family of Heth. She can't stand that Jacob might marry someone from the same family Esau did. So when Isaac sends Jacob away to find a wife in Padan Aram, he gives him a command: "You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan." But why does Esau then go and marry Mahalath, Ishmael's daughter? Because he's desperate for his father's approval. He thinks, "I know my previous wives displeased you, so maybe if I marry someone from Ishmael's family, you'll finally approve of me. Father, will you bless me now?" But Esau never gets that blessing because he's still focused on gaining approval rather than being the man God wants him to be.

Friends, that's another aspect of dysfunction: when children try to do everything to please their parents. It never changes guilt. It never changes bitterness. What does that mean? What does that look like today? Trying to get their approval with good grades, with being good at sports, with being the best at everything. It's a never-ending cycle of trying to earn love and acceptance through performance. It's a broken system that leads to exhaustion, disappointment, and a deep sense of inadequacy. Spouses who try to rekindle the flames of romance by losing weight, by changing their appearance, by being more attentive, by doing more for their partner. It's a desperate attempt to fix a relationship that's already broken. It's a cycle of trying to earn love and approval through performance, through effort, through sacrifice. It's a broken system that leads to exhaustion, disappointment, and a deep sense of inadequacy.

You find your identity and your satisfaction and your acceptance in Jesus. Whether other people accept you or approve of you, it matters not. Because your worth is not determined by what you do, but by who you are in Christ. Your identity is secure in Him. Your satisfaction is found in Him. Your acceptance is guaranteed in Him. Because He is the only one who can truly satisfy your deepest needs. He is the only one who can truly accept you, no matter what. He is the only one who can truly love you, no matter what.

If you're the one who has been betrayed and lied to, maybe you're the one who is hurting. Friends, the gospel is hope for hurting people. Go to the one who Himself was betrayed, go to the One who Himself was rejected by His own, who came to His own and His own received Him not. Go to the One who understands your pain like no other. We must trust in God's faithfulness despite our faithlessness. Jacob didn't deserve those blessings yet God gave them to him anyway. When we are faithless, even when we fail, God is faithful. So if you're struggling and you feel like, "Lord, I'm just failing again and again," remember: when you are faithless, He is still faithful. He cannot deny His own. He will never give up on you. He will pick you up, clean you off, say, "Alright, go and sin no more," right? And He will give you power to overcome.

We must also know that we're all trophies of grace. He takes cowards like Peter and makes him a preacher of the gospel. He takes persecutors like Paul and makes him an apostle. Friends, we are all works in progress. We are all trophies of grace. Remember Paul in 1 Corinthians 6: he lists all kinds of sinners—the sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, thieves, greedy, drunkards, swindlers. Paul says, "And such were some of you." But now you're washed. Now you're justified. You know, the church is filled with dysfunctional people. There is no perfect family and there are no perfect churches. You look around this morning; we're looking at dysfunctional, broken people who God loves, who have been redeemed by the power of the gospel.

And who have been united in this one family, called to bear with one another, to love each other, to forgive, to be patient. We're all in process, healing from our brokenness. Praise God for that.

Lastly, things you must do to overcome dysfunction. You must know these things, and here's what you must do. I'd encourage you: cultivate direct, honest, open communication. Why did they have so many problems? Because they didn't talk to each other. When they did, it was often deceitful. So put away falsehood, speak truth with love, because we are neighbors, members one of another. Stop manipulating, stop gossiping, start talking openly and honestly.

Many issues could have been resolved if Isaac and Rebekah had simply talked openly with each other. Jacob and Esau could have avoided their strife by engaging in direct conversation instead of harboring bitterness and keeping secrets. Therefore, let us put away falsehood and speak truthfully to one another as neighbors and members of the same family. Stop manipulating each other, stop speaking behind backs, and start talking openly and honestly. Let us prioritize open communication in our own lives.

Secondly, let's talk about forgiveness. We need to extend it to others, just like we've been forgiven ourselves. And sometimes, we're not so great at either giving or getting that forgiveness, are we? So Colossians 3:13 tells us, "Bear with one another." If someone has hurt you, and you're holding onto that grudge, it's time to let it go, just as God has forgiven you. Make a list of those people who've wronged you, and this week, reach out to them, offer your forgiveness. And while you're at it, maybe there are some things you need to receive forgiveness for too. Let's be honest with ourselves and extend that same grace we've been shown.

People whom you need to forgive. This week, it is crucial that you go and extend forgiveness to that person. Perhaps you also need to receive forgiveness yourself. Maybe you need to apologize. Because you can't worship God and have bitterness in your heart. Jesus says, Leave your gift at the altar. Reconcile to your brother. Then come and worship.

So if somebody's name pops into your head, that's probably a good indication that you need to go apologize to that person. But then, when they forgive you, you need to have the grace to be able to receive that forgiveness. And to show yourself some grace too. Stop carrying guilt around with you.

We must break cycles of favoritism with intentional love. Parents, how do we do this? We spend one-on-one time with each child. We let each child know that you don't have to earn my love. It's yours already. You don't have to perform in order for me to accept you. You are my child. And I love you for who you are, not for what you can do for me. Your children need to hear that. They're like Esau. They crave your attention. They are longing for your approval. Spend time with them. Sit down on the floor and play with them if they're little children. If they're older, have a conversation with them. Take them out and do something that they like to do even if you don't like to do it.

It's not about you. Have intentional gospel conversations with them, letting them know they are loved. They are loved. Now, let me say this clearly: find your identity and security in Christ. Friends, if you're in Christ, you are already accepted. God is your Father. You are made heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ. You don't need to manipulate circumstances to secure His blessing. You don't have to wear anybody else's clothes or pretend to be someone you're not. In Jesus Christ, you've already got love, acceptance, and approval. So pause for a moment and rest in who you are in Him. Show grace as you've been given grace. And finally, find your family in the church.

Find your family here, not because we're perfect or whole, but because God has chosen us, purchased us with Christ's blood, and set us apart. This family is messy and dysfunctional, like all of ours are, yet it's filled with people who love each other despite our differences. It's a family that spans ethnicities, races, colors, and backgrounds, bound together by grace, not genetics. In this family, you'll find unconditional love, support in times of need, and companionship through life's highs and lows. You'll find mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers—a true spiritual family. I've realized just how much I need each one of you, despite our imperfections. That's what makes us a family: loving and needing one another as we are, not as we wish to be. So find your family here, where God meets us in our brokenness and unites us in His love.

Now, do you remember our sheet? We discussed it quite some time ago when we were last here. This is our new and prospective members class. If you've filled it out, I would greatly appreciate it if you could turn it in today. I'd love to discuss with you what it truly means to be a family, which is the expression of the body of Christ here at Jesup Grove. You see, part of being a Christian involves being part of a family. But perhaps this morning, as we prepare to sing our hymn of invitation, you're not yet part of God's family. You haven't been saved. So what steps do you need to take to become a member of this family?

You come to Jesus Christ who is the big brother, the older brother. You repent of your sins, place your faith in Him because He lived a perfect life, died on the cross for your sins and mine. He was buried and rose from the dead on the third day. And you know what He does? He says, "Here are the clothes of big brother. They'll get you the Father's approval and blessing. He'll give you all His righteousness, and you'll be adopted into this family called the church." If you want to meditate, take some time to come and pray. You can do so up here or in your pews. If you'd like one of the family members to pray with you, that's welcome too.

Now, when we walk with the Lord in the light of His word, what a glory He sheds on our way! Let us do His will; He abides with us still. Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey. It's not a burden we bear, nor sorrow we share, but we know that our toil He doth richly repay. Not a grief or loss, not a frown or cross, but it's blessed if we trust and obey. Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey. But remember, we never can prove the delights of His love until all of ourselves we lay on the altar. For the favor He shows and the joy He bestows are for those who will trust and obey.

Amen.

Thank you for that hymn of invitation. I'm certainly glad to be part of this family here at Jesup Grove. You know, I'm so proud of each one of you. The love and warmth in our church family is truly something special.

Be reading the last portion of chapter 27 and chapter 28, we will cover next week. It will be part two of "When God Meets Us in Our Mess." Jacob has made a mess of things and he is on the run. But God has an intervention; God meets him in the most unexpected place, in his lowest and most broken—that's where God finds Jacob, that's where God finds us. So be reading on. Thank you guys so much for being here. I hope you enjoy the Super Bowl tonight, hope you enjoy the snacks—I'm just going for snacks, right? I love you guys. If you have filled out one of these sheets, please see me at the end of service if you want to talk about baptism, church membership, or if you ever just need to meet for prayer or counsel—know that I am always available. Alright, I love you guys, and I pray the Lord bless you and keep you. May He make His face shine upon you, may He be merciful to you, be gracious to you, and give you His peace. Amen. Alright, guys, go and be a blessing to someone else.