Isaac

It has been said of Isaac that he was the son of a great father and the father of a great son. Not much is said of Isaac regarding his character. We don’t walk away with any sense that he was man of great conviction. His main place in biblical history is that he was the fulfillment of the promised seed.

The main character flaw in Isaac, as was also true with his wife Rebekah, was that he favored one son over another. Isaac loved Esau because he was a hunter and fixed him great venison. Small and insignificant as this might seem, it created great controversy and jealousy within the home. God had made it clear that Jacob, the younger son, was to receive the blessing. The blessing meant that the covenant promised to Abraham was to be fulfilled in Isaac and then in Jacob. Because Isaac loved Esau more, he decided to bypass Jacob and give the blessing to Esau. Rebekah, Isaac’s wife, joined in and decided to reverse the blessing back to her favorite son, Jacob. The mess that was created caused enormous problems, including a desire on Esau’s part to kill his brother.

We have no idea how much rage can be built up in family members because of favoritism. This can also show up at the office or on a sports team. It is wise to be aware of potential hostility caused by perceived favoritism. Though there may be no real display of leaning toward one child or employee over another, it may be viewed as such. Always look for signs, particularly within the family, that would indicate favoritism. Stay close to your children and allow them to express how they feel, so they will not grow up with a sense of feeling like a second-class citizen. Good, healthy, and consistent communication will prevent such a crisis. That's the way I see things.