The Bible is clear, Genesis is clear, that God doesn't need our help in order to fulfill his promises, right?

We saw that with the story of Abraham and Hagar in Genesis 16.

So I think if we're reading with the grain of Genesis, we wouldn't see Rebecca's act here as an act of faith, but an act of faithlessness.

She's looking at her favorite son, Jacob, and she's allowing her favoritism to outweigh her

commitment.

Welcome to episode nine of Bible Talk, a new podcast brought to you by Nine Marks.

Nine Marks exists to equip church leaders with a biblical vision and practical resources for building healthy churches for more. Visit nine marks.org.

I feel like I just said the number nine a lot.

My name is Alex Duke, and with me are my two friends.

Sam I'mati.

Jim Hamilton. There we are. Guys, last week we got a love story, you know. When Isaac meets Rebecca,

we might call it. Well, this week we get something more like a soap opera. Days of their

lives, we might call it. Bad people act badly. Deceptive people deceive.

Genesis 27 tells us a well-known story of Jacob stealing the blessing from his brother Isaac.

Now, this theft is initiated by his deceptive mother, Rebecca, and they try to take advantage of their senile father, Isaac.

The chapter, Genesis 27, it begins by fast forwarding.

Genesis 27 versus 1 to 4 tell us, Isaac, who honestly, I feel like we just met, he is now about to die.

And before he dies, he wants to bless his son, Esau.

And so he sends Esau on a journey to go kill some stuff and to make that delicious food that he loves, his one last meal before he goes.

But unfortunately, that is not what happens.

So I want to break this chapter down in four parts, corresponding to the four sort of major characters in this chapter.

We've got Rebecca's deceptive trick, and then we've got Isaac's

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