Meddling Makes It Messy Jane Irmler Genesis 27:8-9 and 41-46 NLT 8 Now, my son, listen to me. Do exactly as I tell you. 9 Go out to the flocks, and bring me two fine young goats. I’ll use them to prepare your father’s favorite dish. 10 Then take the food to your father so he can eat it and bless you before he dies.” 41 From that time on, Esau hated Jacob because their father had given Jacob the blessing. And Esau began to scheme: “I will soon be mourning my father’s death. Then I will kill my brother, Jacob.” 42 But Rebekah heard about Esau’s plans. So she sent for Jacob and told him, “Listen, Esau is consoling himself by plotting to kill you. 43 So listen carefully, my son. Get ready and flee to my brother, Laban, in Haran. 44 Stay there with him until your brother cools off. 45 When he calms down and forgets what you have done to him, I will send for you to come back. Why should I lose both of you in one day?” 46 Then Rebekah said to Isaac, “I’m sick and tired of these local Hittite women! I would rather die than see Jacob marry one of them.” Genesis 49:31NLT 31 There Abraham and his wife Sarah are buried. There Isaac and his wife, Rebekah, are buried. And there I buried Leah. "When we drift from surrender, we start to meddle — and that’s when the mess begins." Mama, let God work. Rebekah’s Journey: Faith That Moved (Gen. 24:10-61, Gen. 25:21-23) She served without knowing she was being watched. “She quickly emptied her jar into the trough, ran back to the well to draw more water, and drew enough for all his camels.” (Gen. 24:20) She followed without full information. Genesis 24:58 “I will go,” she said. She God when things got hard. Genesis 25:22 “She went to inquire of the Lord…” Family That Manipulated (Gen. 24, Gen. 12, Gen. 26) Like Brother, Like Sister. Like Father, Like Daughter. Like Father, Like Son. “Your children will become what you are; so be what you want them to be.” Fear That Meddled (Gen. 27:1-17) She feared God’s plan wouldn’t happen so she forced it. She favored Jacaob–and feared what would happen if Esau got he blessing. Genesis 25:28 Isaac loved Esau… but Rebekah loved Jacob. Rebecca didn’t just love Jacob more–she trusted God less. She manipulated her son to go along. "Now, my son, listen to me. Do exactly as I tell you." 9 Go out to the flocks, and bring me two fine young goats. I’ll use them to prepare your father’s favorite dish. 10 Then take the food to your father so he can eat it and bless you before he dies.” 11 “But look,” Jacob replied to Rebekah, “my brother, Esau, is a hairy man, and my skin is smooth. 12 What if my father touches me? He’ll see that I’m trying to trick him, and then he’ll curse me instead of blessing me.” 13 But his mother replied, “Then let the curse fall on me, my son! Just do what I tell you. Go out and get the goats for me!” Fear that meddles will often drag others into our . She remembered God’s promise–but feared it wouldn’t come to pass. Fear says, “What if God forgets?” Faith says, “God never fails.” She didn’t trust Isaac’s spiritual discernment. She created a plan to deceive her own husband, Isaac. God can work through imperfect men–just like He works through imperfect women. Future That Missed the Mark Jacob ran for his life. 41 From that time on, Esau hated Jacob because their father had given Jacob the blessing. And Esau began to scheme: “I will soon be mourning my father’s death. Then I will kill my brother, Jacob.” 42 But Rebekah heard about Esau’s plans. So she sent for Jacob and told him, “Listen, Esau is consoling himself by plotting to kill you. 43 So listen carefully, my son. Get ready and flee to my brother, Laban, in Haran. 44 Stay there with him until your brother cools off. 45 When he calms down and forgets what you have done to him, I will send for you to come back. Why should I lose both of you in one day?” Her household fractured. Control may feel comforting in the moment–but it rarely leads to long-term peace. Favor That Met the Mess God’s Promise Still Stood. God Met Jacob in the . (Bethel) runs deeper than failure. God Family Wounds. doesn’t ignore the mess–it works through it. Stories Still Fit in God’s Plan. God doesn’t just work in our highlight reels–He works in our hardest chapters. “Surrendering doesn’t mean giving up; it means letting God do the impossible.” – Mark Batterson Mama, let God work.