VI.
We read here about “Two nations … two peoples … divided…” and “Issac loved Esau … Rebekah loved Jacob.”

Let’s read this week’s Scripture and then talk about how we got to this “twosome”.

V.
Genesis 25:19-34 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

These are the descendants of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, sister of Laban the Aramean. Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife because she was barren, and the Lord granted his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived. The children struggled together within her, and she said, “If it is to be this way, why do I live?” So she went to inquire of the Lord. And the Lord said to her,

“Two nations are in your womb,
    and two peoples born of you shall be divided;
the one shall be stronger than the other;
    the elder shall serve the younger.”

When her time to give birth was at hand, there were twins in her womb. The first came out red, all his body like a hairy mantle, so they named him Esau. Afterward his brother came out, with his hand gripping Esau’s heel, so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.

When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, living in tents. Isaac loved Esau because he was fond of game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was famished. Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stuff, for I am famished!” (Therefore he was called Edom.) Jacob said, “First sell me your birthright.” Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

VI.
In going from last week’s Scripture on the call of Abram to this week’s account of this divided family, we skipped several family stories.

For instance, Sarai’s help in getting the promised heir to Abram by arranging for her slave, Hagar, to be a wife to Abram and her giving birth to a son, Ishmael (Genesis 17). Then Sarai gets angry about it working out “so well.” We do come to the birth of a son to Abraham and Sarai (Genesis 21) but also come to problems that result in Hagar and Ishmael being expelled into the wilderness.

Lots of “family history.” It seems family divisions are not new to the story.

I do not think such divisions are pleasing to God or God’s design.

I do wonder that as we sometimes go about working out what we think God asks for – without seeking enough input from God – we might be creating such fractures in relationships.

Let’s think about a time, or times, we ran ahead of God with less than blessed results.

What might we do about such? What have we learned?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}