Hope Beyond Dysfunction: God’s Sovereign Plan in Imperfect Families

And the Lord told her, "The sons in your womb will become two nations. From the very beginning, the two nations will be rivals. One nation will be stronger than the other; and your older son will serve your younger son." -- Genesis 25:23

I know all too well what it's like to grow up in an emotionally dysfunctional home where love is mingled with manipulation. Unfortunately, too many of us can relate to this truth. Often, the homes that raised us were shrouded in anger, arguing, lying, and hurtful words.

The same can be said for the story of Issac and Jacob, his son, who became known as Israel, the father of God's chosen people. A read-through leaves us shaking our heads and wondering, "Is this really the family from which God brought His chosen people and from which all people will be blessed?!"

Just like our own family dysfunction, Israel's origin story leaves us asking: How can God bring about His plan and people from a family ripe with favoritism, lying, deceitfulness, manipulation, and an overall lack of trust?

Before our selected scripture, the previous chapters of Genesis track the ups and downs of Issac's family. This family of four schemes and lies to make their preferred outcome the winning one. While Isaac plans to bless his oldest and favorite son, Esau, Rebekah, his wife, and Jacob go to great lengths to ensure Jacob receives the blessing God gave.

God's word is clear regarding Jacob, Esau, and the two nations that would ensue: "The older will serve the younger" (Genesis 25:23) and "As it is written, Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated" (Romans 9:11-13). Those words sound harsh, and we may not understand them, let alone God's purpose in His plans. But that's the beauty of God's word and will—they're not ours. His plans and the way He chooses to work out His plans will most likely never make sense to us. A powerful lesson lies within this family's scheming and wrestling: God's will always wins, regardless of our plans and hurts.

Rebekah and Jacob successfully deceive Isaac, and the moment Isaac realizes this, we're told he "Trembled violently," as he stated, "...I have blessed him, yes, and he shall be blessed." (Genesis 27:33). Isaac realized his own will was overthrown. Not just because of his conniving wife—there was a greater hand at work. The word "trembled" used here is the Hebrew verb "hared", meaning to quake, be afraid, or be terrified. This is the moment where we witness Isaac go from self-willed to faith-filled. All it took was a reminder that the mighty God of his father, Abraham, would not bow to any will outside His own.

Many years and inspired writers later, we're told that, "By faith, Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob..." (Hebrews 11:20). This story doesn't look as though it should be in the "hero of faith" chapter with Jacob stealing and Isaac determined to do his own will. And yet, here it is, and here they are: a sin-filled family and all their sin-filled choices used for God's will and purpose. Isaac's faith wasn't found in the first deceitful blessing he gave, but faith is what propelled the trembling and humbled second blessing. (Genesis 28:1-5) It was a faith that knew the only option was to bow the knee to the God who painstakingly cared for his father, himself, and now his son. (Genesis 17:1-8) (Genesis 17:19) (Genesis 28:3-5 ) (Genesis 28:13-15)

Through the story of Isaac and Jacob, we can learn that, thankfully, God's favor does not depend on a perfect life, nor is He bound by our sin-stained family roots (Romans 9:11-13). It's a faithful truth that God can use what man contrives in the dark for His glory in the light of day. Even the most sin-scarred scenario is not out of God's reach and will.

Friend, this should leave us with great hope for our own story!

Questions for Reflection:

1. Where do you feel God cannot redeem parts of your family's story? Pray over that specific thing today with the truth that God uses the worst circumstances for our good and His glory.

2. Do you have a family that blesses you or someone in your family? Thank God today for these people. How can you be a blessing to your family today?

3. Which scriptures and character traits of God can you cling to when you need a reminder that through Jesus, you are part of an eternal family?