February 20th | Fair But Not Equal?
- CoachJasonMays
- 11 hours ago
- 3 min read
Today's devotion draws from Genesis 26:34–28:9, the account of Jacob deceiving his father Isaac to steal the blessing originally intended for his older brother Esau. This passage follows Esau's marriages to Hittite women, which grieved his parents, and then unfolds the dramatic scheme: Rebekah overhears Isaac planning to bless Esau (the oldest twin), prompts Jacob (her favorite and the youngest twin) to disguise himself as Esau, and tricks the nearly blind Isaac into bestowing the patriarchal blessing on Jacob instead. Esau is devastated, and Jacob flees to escape his brother's wrath.
Humanly speaking, Jacob's actions were sinful—full of deception, manipulation, and moral compromise. God had already promised that the older would serve the younger (Genesis 25:23), and Jacob was destined to father a great nation through the covenant line. Yet God's plan didn't require or endorse Jacob's scheming. Jacob took matters into his own hands, creating family division, heartache, and years of exile and hardship.
Still, God sovereignly blessed Jacob and fulfilled His promises to Abraham and Isaac through him. Jacob became Israel, the father of the twelve tribes. God later disciplined Jacob—through Laban's deceptions, family struggles, and personal wrestling—but He never abandoned His covenant. This shows that even in our failures and disobedience, God remains faithful to His word. He works through flawed people and messy situations to accomplish His purposes. When we try to "help" God or force outcomes our way, we often invite pain, but He redeems it all.
This story ties directly to Romans 9, one of the Bible's most profound chapters on God's sovereignty. Paul addresses the question of fairness in light of God's election, using Jacob and Esau as the prime example:
"What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For he says to Moses, 'I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.' It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy." (Romans 9:14-16, NIV)
"Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden." (v. 18)
"One of you will say to me: 'Then why does God still blame us? For who is able to resist his will?' But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? 'Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, "Why did you make me like this?"' Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?" (vv. 19-21)
God has sovereign freedom in showing mercy in His purposes. Esau, though not deceitful in the same way as Jacob, lost the blessing—not because of one act, but in line with God's electing choice before their birth, independent of works or merit. This was fair, but not equal.
This raises timeless questions: Why do "bad" things happen to "good" people? Why do some with questionable character seem to advance with riches and opportunities, while others who live more honorably struggle? Is God unfair? Unjust?
No—God is perfectly fair, but not equal in distribution of blessings, roles, or circumstances. It's like coaching basketball: Playing time is assigned fairly based on the coach's wisdom, strategy, and what's best for the team—not equally to every player regardless of effort, talent, personality, or background. Some get more minutes, some less, but the decisions serve a greater purpose.
We can't earn God's special favor or judge His choices. We can only trust His sovereignty, obey His will, and rest in His mercy. He gave us free will, which makes life interesting (and sometimes messy), but ultimately, His promises stand firm. He accomplishes them even when we get in our own way.
Key takeaway: Trust God's plan over your own schemes. His mercy isn't based on our deserving it—it's based on His character. In obedience and faith, we align with His purposes and avoid unnecessary heartache. When we fail, He still redeems and works for good.