When We Try to Take Control
Genesis 27:28–29 (ESV)
“May God give you of the dew of heaven and of the fatness of the earth and plenty of grain and wine. Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be everyone who blesses you!”
Genesis 27 is a complicated chapter. It is filled with tension, deception, and broken trust. Isaac is preparing to give the blessing, Rebekah intervenes, Jacob deceives, and Esau is left devastated. What should have been a sacred moment becomes a fractured one. And underneath all of it, there is something deeply human happening. People are trying to take control.
God had already spoken about Jacob’s future. The promise was not unclear. But instead of trusting God’s timing and process, Rebekah and Jacob step in and try to make it happen themselves. They manipulate the situation, forcing what they believe God has already said. The result is messy. Relationships are damaged, trust is broken, and there is division within the family that will carry on for years. Even though the promise still stands, the path to it becomes far more painful than it needed to be.
That is what happens when we try to force what only God can fulfill.
If we are honest, this hits close to home. We may not disguise ourselves like Jacob, but we often try to control outcomes. We rush decisions, push doors open, or move forward even when something inside of us is telling us to slow down.
I remember early in my marriage with Erica, there was a moment where I needed to purchase a car. As I was moving toward it, there were three or four obstacles that showed up in a row. At the same time, I had a sense in my spirit that this was not the right move and that I needed to wait on God to provide. But instead of listening, I pressed ahead on my own initiative. I moved forward anyway.
What followed was frustrating but clear. The car ended up having multiple unknown issues, and before long, I had to get rid of it. It became obvious that I had pushed something forward too quickly instead of trusting God’s timing.
That moment stuck with me.
There is a difference between faith and control. Faith says, God, You will do what You said You will do. Control says, I need to make it happen. And when we move from faith into control, we often create unnecessary difficulty along the way.
The encouraging part of this chapter is that even in the middle of the mess, God’s plan is not undone. His promise still moves forward. That does not excuse the actions, but it does reveal His sovereignty. God is faithful, even when we are not.
So today, if there is something you are tempted to force, something you are trying to push forward, take a step back. Ask yourself, am I trusting God, or am I trying to control the outcome?
Because what God has spoken will come to pass. And it is always better to walk there in faith than to fight your way there in control.
Prayer
Lord, thank You that Your plans are not dependent on our ability to control outcomes. Teach us to trust You, not just in what You have promised, but in how and when You fulfill it. Give us patience, wisdom, and peace as we wait on You. In Jesus’ name, amen.