2 Isaac said, “I am now an old man and don’t know the day of my death.
Isaac is being a wise man. He is doing what we all need to do: plan for our death. We don’t like to talk about it, but our day is coming. The more prepared we are the better. The more our family’s are prepared, the better. So Isaac has a talk with his oldest son. When was the last time you had a talk about your death and your wishes? Do you have a current will? Do you have enough life insurance? Have you talked details, written them down, safeguarded copies? I have to admit that my will is out of date. It would protect my family from the legal wrangling, but it could be made much simpler. My addresses are old. I haven’t changed wives or children, but I do have a son-in-law and a soon-to-be daughter-in-law. I also have a grandson and one in the oven. I need to clean some of these things up. That is exactly what Isaac was doing. The matter of his blessing had not been settled. Unknown to his father, Esau had sold his right to the blessing many years earlier to his younger brother for a bowl of soup. I notice he didn’t speak up and say, “Dad, this blessing should be going to my brother.” Isaac is making preparations for his death. What preparations have you made? You are going to die (unless Jesus returns first). Have those hard conversations. They can bring perspective to your everyday life. They help you focus on the things that are really important, like your golf clubs! Often the most difficult conversations to have are the most important. I urge you to have those conversations. Isaac could have died and just let his sons fight it out. Too many families implode after funerals. They get into fights about money and possessions. Many of those are settled with lawyers involved, costing precious inheritance dollars. If families had regular conversations about these things with everyone included, then much of this would not happen. The problem really is that families often don’t talk to each other. The root of the problem is the problem. Talk with your family. Make the effort.
The Arnold Journey 