Originally posted: 01/26/2019

Predetermination: “the act of predetermining; the act of establishing or deciding in advance.”

Genesis 27 is filled with the bitter fruit of a fallen world: parental favoritism; sibling rivalry; conniving; elaborate underhanded scheming; cheating; stealing; the plotting of revenge; planning the getaway. And I confess, much of it is very perplexing.

God had clearly communicated to Rebekah while the twins were jostling in her womb, that it was to be the younger, Jacob, who would receive the blessing. So why did it come by way of deception? Could it not have come through way of cooperation and obedience?

These answers remain a mystery to me, but I am thankful He has extended an invitation to approach His Word with one focus: to Consider Him in every chapter, to see Him increase, “He must increase, but I must decrease,” (John 3:30).

While intentionally seeking Him, we will also realize traits about others, and yes ourselves, but the main objective is that we see and consider Him. (Remember the definition of consider is “to think carefully about, especially in order to make a decision; contemplate; reflect on.”). Considering Him should always generate a decisive response.

Consider His Predetermination

• His Predetermination established all the days of Isaac’s life before his birth. Isaac could not predict the day of his death. “Isaac said, ‘Behold now, I am old and I do not know the day of my death,'” (27:2). But while Isaac was still in the womb the LORD had predetermined his stay on earth.
  • Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them, (Psalm 139:16).

• His Predetermination elected the recipient of the blessing. Although Rebekah felt the need to help God out, His blessing had already been Predetermined “The LORD said to her [Rebekah]; ‘Two nations are in your womb; and two peoples will be separated from your body; and one people shall be stronger than the other; and the older shall serve the younger,’” (25:23).
  • just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love ⁵ He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself,… (Ephesians 1:4-5).

• His Predetermination expressed the blessing, according to His Word. “May peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you; Be master of your brothers, and may your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be those who curse you, and blessed be those who bless you,” (27:29). Compare Isaac’s spoken blessing to that of the LORD’s Word when He called Abraham.
  • “And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing. ³ And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed,” (Genesis 12:2-3).

How can we respond to His Predetermination?

• Although we, like Isaac, do not know the day of our death, we do know our days are numbered.
  • Let us pray and ask, as Moses did, to live in conscious realization that our days on earth are Predetermined,
    • So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom, (Psalm 90:12).
  • May we be wise and intentional with the days He allows, to make the most of our time and every opportunity,
    • Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil, (Ephesians 5:15-16 NIV).

• Let us examine ourselves to see if we are of the elect, the recipients of His Predetermined blessing.
  • We may have many questions about the doctrine of election, as it is beyond the ability of our tiny, finite minds to fully comprehend. When we don’t understand what we do not know, let us emphatically trust what we do know! We know,
    • God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life, (John 3:16).
  • The “whoevers” who believe in His only begotten Son, are the recipients of His blessing of eternal life; a blessing we receive by faith! When Jesus Christ is in us, His presence in our lives will be detectable. Let us honestly assess the condition of our spiritual lives; do we recognize Jesus Christ in us?
    • Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test? (2 Corinthians 13:5).

• His Predetermination expresses His blessings, according to His Word, not our opinions, feelings or wants.
  • We live in a world system that emphatically rejects His truth and finds His Word offensive. Whether we fully understand His ways or not, He is the standard of truth. Let us acknowledge Him as the One to Whom we must answer; He does not answer to us.
    • …who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, “Why did you make me like this,” will it? (Romans 9:20)
  • And let us not be persuaded by a climate that takes umbrage with His Word. We must adjust our mindset by His Word so that our thinking is aligned to truth.
    • And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect, (Romans 12:2).

• Let us find comfort and security in His Predetermination, for He is Good and Righteous in all He is and does.
  • Let us pray and accept, in complete assurance, His plans are always to accomplish His good and perfect will.
    • The Lord is righteous in all His ways
      And kind in all His deeds, (Psalm 145:17).
      
  • May we always trust His Predetermination and may we pray in faith and without reservation, like Mary,
    • “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word,” (Luke 1:38).

Let’s Grow Together!