What role does parental influence play in shaping children's decisions, as seen here?

A Moment of Maternal Direction

“Rebekah said to her son Jacob, ‘Behold, I overheard your father speaking with your brother Esau…’” (Genesis 27:6)

---

What Rebekah Models—For Better or Worse

• A parent’s words carry weight; Jacob pauses to listen.

• She initiates the plan, shaping Jacob’s immediate decision.

• Her influence is intentional, persuasive, and urgent.

• The episode reminds us that parental guidance can be powerfully formative—even when the motive is mixed.

---

Scripture’s Wider Witness on Parental Shaping

• Proverbs 22:6—“Train up a child in the way he should go…”

• Deuteronomy 6:6-7—Parents are called to impress God’s words on their children.

• Ephesians 6:4—Fathers are warned not to provoke but to nurture in the Lord’s instruction.

• 2 Timothy 1:5—Timothy’s sincere faith traces back to his mother and grandmother.

---

Immediate and Lasting Outcomes

• Jacob obeys and receives the blessing, yet the family fractures (Genesis 27:41-45).

• Years of separation follow; Jacob endures deception himself (Genesis 29:25).

• Galatians 6:7 underscores the principle: “Whatever a man sows, he will reap.”

---

The Tension of Human Agency and Divine Purpose

• God had already foretold the older would serve the younger (Genesis 25:23).

• Even flawed guidance cannot derail God’s covenant plan; He weaves it into His purposes (Romans 8:28).

• Still, individuals remain accountable for their choices (James 1:14-15).

---

Lessons for Today’s Parents and Mentors

• Speak with integrity—children notice consistency.

• Direct them toward obedience, not shortcuts.

• Model faith that trusts God’s timing rather than manipulating outcomes.

• Remember: influence is inevitable; use it to point to Christ.