Today's readings from the Chronological Plan are from Genesis 25:27 - 28:5. Click here to read online.
One of the first things that stuck out for me in in the opening verses of today's reading was the whole idea of sibling rivalry. Of course, this started as early as Cain and Abel but for some reason the story of Jacob and Esau spoke to me about this while I was reading through it today. More on that later... Our readings begin when Jacob convinces Esau to trade his birthright for some stew and some bread. I know we are not in the place that Esau was and maybe he truly was starving... but really?! Trading it all for 1 meal?? I think the lesson that stood out for me was that when we are most vulnerable, it is easy to make foolish mistakes. Whether it is going to the grocery store hungry and then choosing items that are not the most healthy for us or whether it is choosing to place ourselves in situations that tempt us to act in a way that is contrary to God's plan. It is when we are desperate that we can act foolish and make decisions that we may regret.
Another thing that caught my attention was the classic 'like father, like son' when Isaac repeats the same lies that Abraham told. I wonder if they did not have a discussion about this. Was there no 'When I was younger, I told everyone that your mom was my sister' kind of story with the moral being that it was not a good idea? Yet, just like his father, Isaac is blessed by God so richly and is just another example of how even our lack of trust in God does not mean that he gives up on us and the plan for our lives.
Our readings today conclude with Jacob stealing his father's blessing from his older brother with the help of his mother. Which brings me back to the whole sibling rivalry thing I was talking about earlier. I grew up in a household that definitely played favourites (though both me and my sister will say the other one was the favourite!) and it just makes life so unbearable. There was a double standard for almost everything and many inconsistencies in rules for me and for my sister and it created a tension between us that exists to this day. (You can pray for me about this!) Now Rebekah, despite all of her good qualities as a wife and her admirable decision to come instantly after receiving an invitation and marrying a man she did not know, she played favourites with her children and caused great pain to her family. Even though Jacob seemingly cooked up the scheme to swap Esau's birthright for a dinner all on his own, the plot to take the blessing was credited to Rebekah. It's hard to tell if Jacob's excuses to Rebekah were in an effort to not go along with the plan or if they were given to make sure all the kinks were worked out so that the plan would surely succeed. You have to hand it to them, it was a well thought out plan. The conditions were ideal-Isaac was half blind, and Rebekah thought of everything from the perfectly cooked meat and bread to even covering Jacob's hands and neck so that he would not be discovered as the smooth skinned twin. This does not seem to fit the first impression we got of Rebekah. Why would she purposely choose to deceive her husband, teach her son how to lie, and deny her other son what was rightfully his? Did she believe that is was her duty to fulfill the message she received from God while she was pregnant?
"Two nations are in your womb,
and two peoples from within you will be separated;
one people will be stronger than the other,
and the older will serve the younger." (Gen 25:23)
I often wonder what conversations took place after this event that we do not get to read. Did Issac find out it was Rebekah who helped Jacob deceive him? What did Rebekah say to Jacob after he had succeeded in their plot? Did they do a little happy dance or give each other a high five ;)? What was Esau's first conversation with Jacob after the event? Did Esau discover his mother's role in the deception? What do you think about these things?
I also wonder if it was worth it in the end? Creating such a rivalry between her children that one wants to kill the other and having to send Jacob away because she feared for his life, was it worth it? Would she have done things differently if she could stop and rewind?
It is because of my experience growing up that I am very aware about how I treat my kids and I strive to be consistent with rules and expectations. Today's readings were a reminder for me to continue to work in this area to keep harmony in my home. What spoke to you today?
Tomorrow's readings are Genesis 28:6-30:24. Click here to read online.
9 comments:
And the curse of that sibling rivalry still exists today ~ SO much strife and bloodshed over the centuries. All because these people weren't content to wait on God. Makes one consider the impact WE might have on future generations, and suddenly, establishing and passing on a legacy of faith so much more important and urgent.
"...when we are most vulnerable, it is easy to make foolish mistakes." Great observation, Pam! SO true!!
Sibling rivalry is very difficult. My husband always felt that his youger brother was favored over him. I know he wasn't by his mother, but through the years we've been married I can see that his father does give special treatment to his brother. It's a shame, because it does pin one child agains the other and that's not right. With having two boys and two girls, I have to watch what I do x3. I have to keep things even between the girls, even between the boys and even between them all!
I can see where Rebekah would lose her patience. Esau was not a strong man of faith as we see in several passages especially when he takes two heathen women for wives. And he didn't even care about his birthright. Once it was sold to Jacob, Esau despised his birthright instead of longing to have it back. If I saw a son of mine, who was more capable and deserving of something, and was promised it already, I'm sure I'd want my say so in him getting it. But it saddens me greatly that she stooped to lying and deceiving. Had she already talked to Isaac about it? Did she not feel it was her place to try and change his mind? And if that isn't bad enough, later she lies to Isaac again about why she wants Jacob to leave, when Esau wants to kill him.
What really makes me upset in this passage, is that Jacob drags the Lord into his lie. Telling his father that "...the Lord thy God brought it to me.", when Isaac asked how he got the meat so quickly. That's low. God had already promised all these things to Jacob and yet he and his mother lied and deceived many times to take it. Took matters into their own hands. I do it too of course, but it would have been so nice to be able to read this passage, and this special blessing in a different light! I know Rebekah loved Esau too, but she really did him an injustice her.
I thought the same thing when Esau traded his birthright for a meal. Seriously, could he really have been THAT hungry? The only conclusion I could come to is that the birthright didn't mean as much to him as it could or perhaps should have. But you make a very good point when you say that it's easy to make foolish mistakes when vulnerable! I like your grocery store example, too. I've sure been there!
I find myself pretty disappointed with Rebekah for tricking her husband and one of her sons in favour of the other. I'm not familiar with the customs of that time - was Isaac blessing Esau because he was firstborn son, or simply because he favoured Esau over Jacob? And why could he not give Esau some of the same blessing - v.28 - May God give you of heaven's dew and of earth's richness— an abundance of grain and new wine. Could that blessing not have been for both sons? Obviously you can't bless both of them with being lord over the other, but why can't both benefit from abundance?
I wonder too about what followed these events. Did Isaac not confront his younger son for having tricked him? My instinct would be to say that he didn't find out Rebekah was behind it, or he may not have been so willing to listen to her when she suggested Jacob leave to find a wife. But I'm just speculating.
Now it does say that Esau's wives gave Isaac and Rebekah grief and I can understand them both not wanting Jacob to marry someone like that, so perhaps they would have sent him to his uncle Laban anyway, but it irks me that she manipulated Isaac by using that as an excuse to protect Jacob from his brother.
That's one thing that always really gets under my skin - when I see or hear of a situation where a woman tricks or manipulates a man in order to get her way. Normally I'm not a particularly judgmental person -- I'm inclined to live and let live -- but that really pushes my buttons.
The beginning of this passage had me thinking how important a birthright was to everyone back then? To Esau, it was worth a bowl of food, something that would possibly suffice for that day, and he had no problem giving it up. But to Jacob it was worth so MUCH more. Enough to barter with his brother for it.
I looked up a bit about it and this is what I learned (from here) - birthright, in ancient times, was a very important and sacred thing. It belonged to the firstborn, family name and titles would pass along to the eldest son, a spiritual position, and in Jacob and Esau's case "meant the one to whom belonged the birthright was the one through who the covenant promise made to their grandfather, Abraham, would be realized." He failed to appreciate it's worth and sacredness. Perhaps, through his hunger, and as Pam said, vulnerability he made a very foolish mistake. Esau had a lack of respect like so many in our time today. Like me. This lesson makes me want to appreciate everything so much more. The little things, the BIG things. Everything. God has given so much and for that, I am thankful... The next time I am in position of bargaining something as comparable as my birthright (that last for a lifetime and passes on through the ages, a GREAT legacy) for a serving of food that is only temporary and will nourish me for such a short amount of time...
Thanks for that insight, Pam. Light bulb moment! When we "trade" our relationship with God and place other, immediately gratifying but temporary, "fillers" in its place, we are giving up something much more precious than a birthright. Hmm. Suddenly I'm more irritated with myself than I was with Esau.
Great comments and insights! I was annoyed with both parents, because Isaac played favourites too, not just Rebekah, although Rebekah lied and decieved for her favourite.
Something I had thought about was obviously Isaac didn't know about Esau giving up his birthright. If he had known then they wouldn't have had to trick Isaac.
I guess in all things God can use the mistakes that we make and others make to bring about His will in the end and His purpose which becomes clear in the following chapters.
I agree with all your insights here!
One thing I thought too was that perhaps Isaac did know about the birthright "trade", I'm sure Rebekah told him about God's promise to her that the older would serve the younger - but Esau was his favourite, and I think he thought that he knew better than God, and he was determined to bless his firstborn anyway.
I would love to know how God would've worked in this situation if Jacob & his mom would have put their trust in God for the promise to come true. Would He have miraculously intervened? Or would He have allowed Isaac to exercise his free will and choose to disobey by blessing Esau? Or...?
Huge reminder on making a concerted effort to avoid showing any type of favouritism to any of our children.
Pam - I know, when reading the account of Isaac passing Rebekah off as his sister, my thoughts were "Are you serious?! Have you learned NOTHING from the mistakes of your father?!" We need to learn from our own past mistakes, as well as from the mistakes of others, so as not to repeat them!
Kristi - I too was very disturbed by Jacob not only lying, but dragging God's name into his lie. In other parts of the Bible we see people receiving fatal consequences for even less disobedience, and I wonder why God didn't punish Jacob for that sin. Although perhaps He did and it simply isn't recorded. But if not, was it because he was the child of the promise?
Well I suppose having to flee for your life would be consequence enough in itself. I can't help but feel that God did give Jacob some kind of consequence or at least deep conviction about bringing His name into his lie and deception. None-the-less, Jacob was the child of promise and was blessed. God is just so gracious. His mercy never ceases to amaze me!
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