Whose agenda?

As I read today’s passage, I wondered, “Whose agenda was Isaac following?”

Did he know what God had told Rebekah about Jacob and Esau? (Genesis 25:23)

Surely he knew that Esau had sold his birthright to Jacob.

And yet he seemed determined to bless Esau over Jacob.

Whose agenda was Jacob following?

He might have argued, “Of course, I’m following God’s agenda. He promised that Esau would serve me.”

But I was thinking about King David.

He could have made the same argument. God had promised to make him king. And yet, though David twice had opportunities to kill Saul, he refused to do so.

Instead he waited on God and his timing.

I was praying through Psalm 25 today, and David’s words show his attitude.

Lord, I appeal to you. My God, I trust in you…
No one who waits for you will be disgraced;
those who act treacherously without cause
will be disgraced. (Psalm 25:1, 3)

Because Jacob refused to wait for God and his timing and acted treacherously against his father and Esau, he was disgraced.

He had to run for his life and never saw his mother again. Esau eventually forgave him, but that was after years of heartache and fear.

And yet, there was grace for Jacob. David’s prayer could have been Jacob’s.

Do not remember the sins of my youth or my acts of rebellion;
in keeping with your faithful love,
remember me because of your goodness, Lord. (Psalm 25:7)

And that’s exactly what God would do for Jacob.

But all this made me think: Whose agenda am I following? My own? Or God’s?

And so I was praying David’s prayer this morning.

Make your ways known to me, Lord;
teach me your paths.

Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
I wait for you all day long. (Psalm 25:4-5)