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Hear the Narration here: https://bit.ly/2AJlKwE
19 These are the descendants of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham was the father of Isaac, 20 and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, sister of Laban the Aramean. 21 Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord granted his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived. 22 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. 23 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." 24 When her time to give birth was at hand, there were twins in her womb. 25 The first came out red, all his body like a hairy mantle; so they named him Esau. 26 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. 27 When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, living in tents. 28 Isaac loved Esau, because he was fond of game; but Rebekah loved Jacob. 29 Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was famished. 30 Esau said to Jacob, "Let me eat some of that red stuff, for I am famished!" (Therefore he was called Edom. ) 31 Jacob said, "First sell me your birthright." 32 Esau said, "I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?" 33 Jacob said, "Swear to me first." So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank, and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright. (Genesis 25:19-34 NRSV)
A good day to you, Friend, with prayers for a day filled with joy and peace and gracious blessings from the Lord. I continue to ask prayers for Mr. Chet Marko, his wife, Paige, and his father, Dr. Marko; all three continue to battle Covid-19. We also got word of a death within the Gonzales community of Mr. Lee Baker. Please pray for his family as they mourn his death. Please also keep in your prayers, The Rev. Maribel Vazquez, pastor of Emmanuel UMC in San Antonio, who is having exams on her kidneys. Also, prayers for Mr. Larry Ehrig, who is undergoing exploratory surgery on Tuesday (the time of this writing) evening in the Gonzales Hospital. Pray for one another, and pray for yourselves.
Most parents of two or more children will attest to the truth of verse 23, that each child at one time or another will be his/her own nation, and/or divided as different people. The most classic example is the first family of Genesis; Adam and Eve had two sons, and both were as different as night and day; and sadly, one brother rose up and killed his brother because of the differences.
The grandfather of the twins born to Isaac, is the "Father of the Faith," Abraham. This made this family the prime target of the attention, distraction, and destruction, by the Evil One. The same was true of Adam and Eve and every family touched by the hand of God. My mother would always tell us as we grew up, "The closer you get to God, the more the devil wants you back." The drama played out in this family may resemble the drama you may have played in your own life or in the lives of your children. I remind us that there is no perfect family. Try as we might, many seek only to have their children equip themselves enough to face life on their own.
In this family, Mom longed for a child. Her husband married her when he was forty, and the story says it was his prayer that was answered, and Rebekah conceived. She probably felt very thankful that she was carrying a baby, not truly knowing that she was to be the mother of twins, but once they started moving the pain was more than she can take as we read her prayer in verse 22! Most telling is the way the story says that "Isaac loved Esau," and "Rebekah loved Jacob." This may have been because of the way the boys grew up. One chose the outdoors, hunting, being truly a hunter/provider. The other stayed indoors, close to mother, and sought to learn indoor things, like cooking, and became quite the cook. And it was his cooking skills that allowed him to cheat his brother out of his birthright.
Esau, remember, was born first. But, right on his heels, literally, that the second born, Jacob comes out holding his brother's heel. As the firstborn, in that culture, he was entitled to many things, including the father's blessing, which in those days and among that people, counted for the fullness of life for the rest of his days on the earth. And that was the main thing on the menu for that day.
Jacob makes his famous lentil stew, and baked some fresh bread. I can only imagine the aroma of both items cooking reached the fields where big brother was hard at work. He may have even thought that Mom was busy doing the cooking. As he arrived home, he discovered that lil brother was the chef of the day. And, he was making his extra-special lentil stew and fresh baked sourdough bread. "Let me eat some of that red stuff, for I am famished!" Sounds like a typical brother to brother stuff. And, not typical brother to brother stuff is what Jacob says, "First sell me your birthright." Gulp. What a price for one meal. Jacob was saying, sell me your future wellbeing for a bowl of soup and a healthy serving of bread. Esau is so hungry that he doesn't want to think about anything; his stomach as doing the thinking. And the deal is done. Jacob now owns the birthright, and Esau is now full. And empty.
One prays to have within one's home, a haven; a place for rest and a place for peace. One learns that within the family, lines get drawn for the simplest things. One's clothes, if they fit another family member, are best left in the owner's closet. This holds true for shoes. In olden days, music was more tangible; vinyl record albums, plastic cassettes, and plastic compact discs. The machines for playing those also become territorial items. And so, the haven becomes a battleground rather quickly. If not careful, one's love for things could damage the love one should have for each other.
We go back to the extravagant spreading of God's love that we studied on Monday. It's the same love that helps us win the battles over material things versus the true love we should have towards one another, especially our siblings, our spiritual siblings at church, and towards our fellow human beings on the street, at work, at school, and at play. Seek it to use it!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we pray asking for strength and forgiveness for those times we have given preference to things instead of people. Bless us to be a blessing. We pray for those reading this who need courage and boldness to make amends with family. This we pray in Christ Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Be bold in your love which shows mercy and forgiveness.
Receive my blessings of peace and love,
Pastor Eradio Valverde
