Let's go back toward the front of the book again, this time to Genesis 27 and we'll look at another one of those heroes of faith—this time, Jacob. Jacob was not converted at this time, but again we see a man fleeing.
Jacob brought this on, but still he fled with God's blessing. You know the blessing and the birthright both went to the one who fled. God preserved him because of the purpose He was working out through Jacob. Remember what it says in the book of Romans—how that God chose Jacob, that God loved Jacob, but He hated Esau, so that it might be by election. God's purpose was going to be worked out through Jacob—not Esau—even though we find here that Jacob was a scoundrel and he fled.
God allowed him to flee with His blessing because His purpose was being worked out through the one who was to blame and the one who was fleeing. You see God's purpose is what really counts here. So, again, we see a combination of God's purpose and wisdom working together. Rebecca apparently felt that Jacob wouldn't be gone all that long, but Jacob was gone for an excess of twenty years. Let's go to Genesis 5. Now the subject is Enoch.
