Isaac had many stalwart and godly qualities.

Our God, the God of the Bible, not only reveals admirable characteristics of men and women, He also shows their weaknesses and stumbles.

Isaac’s weakness is revealed when he showed favoritism for his first born son, Esau.  Esau’s mother showed favoritism to Esau’s younger twin, Jacob.  Showing favoritism is never, ever a good thing… in a family or on the job.

Think about it, favoritism sets people at odds with one another.  One upmanship comes into play.

Favoritism is unkind to the one receiving special attention.  It is also selfish – it does not consider who is being slighted, left-out or ignored.

(NASB) Genesis 27:1-2 “Now it came about, when Isaac was old and his eyes were too dim to see, that he called his older son Esau and said to him, ‘My son.’  And he said to him, ‘Here I am.’
2 Isaac said, ‘Behold now, I am old and I do not know the day of my death.”

True – Isaac didn’t know that the day of his death was years in the future (at least 20 years and probably much more).  Isaac used that as an excuse!  He wanted his favorite son to receive the blessing God intended for Jacob.

(NASB) Genesis 27:3-4 “Now then, please take your gear, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me;
4 and prepare a savory dish for me such as I love, and bring it to me that I may eat, so that my soul may bless you before I die.”

Favoritism expects returns and it is usually conditional, ‘if you do this… then I will do that.’
Another way to express favoritism: ‘you scratch my back and I will scratch yours.’

Isaac was like you and me – he had godly characteristics.  And he had ungodly characteristics.  The Lord God reveals another side of Isaac, his human frailty.  His wife and both of his sons were affected by all of his characteristics, good and bad.

Our characteristics are a mix, followers of Christ; we haven’t “arrived” at perfection – yet.

~ Take it to heart ~

  Our imperfections and our flaws are why the living, loving God sent His only begotten Son to die in our place.  Jesus paid for our sins there at the time of His crucifixion – on the cross.

Uh-oh, do I have “favorites?”