Good morning, everyone!In today's readings we continue to hear the story of Jacob and Esau.
When the boys grew up, not only were they rivals, but their parents also played favorites. It says that Esau was the hunter and the farmer, and his Isaac loved Esau because he was the “manly man.” But Jacob was the quieter, more introverted brother stayed indoors more often, and because of this Rebekah loved Jacob more. But let’s face it: in that day and age, it was better to be loved by the father because that child would be given the inheritance.
So Jacob had enough of being the underdog and he wanted to get his brother once and for all. He made it happen one day when Esau came in from the fields. Maybe it sounds weird, but I have this image in my mind of him looking like the Brawny paper towel guy with the mustache, the red hair, dressed in flannel with an axe. When he arrived, Jacob was cooking some stew. Esau was starving and he said, “Could I have some of that red stew?” Now was Jacob’s chance to shine, and if it was like a scene from my childhood, Jacob probably held up the steaming bowl right in front of Esau’s face, and says, “Mmm. Smells good doesn’t it. I’ll bet you want some.” And Esau said, “Uh, yeah, I want some. Give it to me.” “FINE.” Jacob said, “If you want it so bad, promise me your birthright.” Well, Esau, whose stomach was overpowering his brain, said, “What do I care about my birthright? I’m dying of starvation here – give me something to eat!” So Jacob gives him the soup, and Esau eats, drinks and goes away. That was not one of Esau’s finer moments. Esau may have had the bodacious body, but Jacob had the brains.
I suppose that one of the strange parts of this passage is that God condones Jacob's cunning attitude and trickery. But, on the other hand, Esau should have been responsible enough to know how valuable a birthright was in that time and place. To sell it for stew was rather irresponsible, and in my estimation, he therefore did not deserve to keep it. How often are we entrusted with gifts from God that we do not use? How often have we let our desires override our sense of responsibility? How might we be more responsible with and better stewards of our gifts?
Then there is a famine in the land. Although Isaac wishes to go to Egypt, God instead tells Isaac to simply sojourn through the land to the places where they can find food, for God will make his descendants as numerous as the stars, and this land will be given to his descendants forever. This is because God made the promise to his father Abraham. Notice again, God is keeping his covenant promises to his people, and rather than have them go to Egypt, he would prefer to keep them safe in the land he promised. How often are we doing what God desires of us, and feeling like we just don't have the support we need. Yet, if we continue to hold fast to God, and sojourn with Him, He will provide for us and guide us.
Then they have to pretend that Rebekah is Isaac's sister so the king will not take Rebekah away from him, but the king finds out one night when Isaac and Rebekah were laughing together. So I had never noticed this before: "laughing together” was a sign that they were married? I wonder if that's for real or just a euphemism - I don't know. Notice also that the king of the Philistines, Abimelech, is the king in the story who finds out and he’s not happy that Isaac lied to him. What’s funny is that this is the one of the same kings that Abraham had earlier tricked into thinking Sarah was Abraham’s sister and not his wife. I guess Abimelech didn’t learn to do background checks before summoning women to his private quarters the first time, did he?
Back to the birthright - apparently Isaac never knew about this birthright switch, and so there is the scene where Jacob pretends to be Esau. He receives the birthright and the blessing from Isaac, which again were both to be conferred upon the oldest child. One interesting passage is when Isaac asks how Jacob got the food so quickly, and he answers, "Because the LORD your God made it happen for me." It seems that God is at work in this situation even though it does seem tricky. It might seem like God is being unjust, but I think it also shows us that God does not always operate by the cultural norms of our day, or any day. The birthright thing is cultural, and not necessarily God's design. God desires to work through all of His children, and he often has other plans for us than what we have for ourselves, that others have for us, or that our society has for us. We can be truly fulfilled as humans when we seek to do what God will have us do, and to be content wherever God leads us, no matter what others might think or say. That doesn't mean we will always have a clear answer, or that human opinion plays no role (it does play a huge role - God does speak through us humans to one another), but it does mean that we should seek to do the will of God.
So Esau gets very angry and intends to kill Jacob once his father dies. Upon overhearing this, Rebekah warns Jacob and sends him off to her brother Laban for protection. Before he goes, Abraham orders him not to marry a Hittite, but to marry one of Laban's daughters - that is, one of Rebekah's nieces (i.e. his cousins). As weird as that is, the desire was to keep the lineage pure.
Well, this passage is all over the place. So I just thought I'd share some thoughts for the day. Have a great Saturday!
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