Week 3, Session 1: Read Genesis 27: 1-29 Something has always bothered me about this death bed scene with Isaac. Typically in literature, a dying man who knows he’s about to depart this world summons his heirs around him. The Hebrews pronounced blessings over their descendants. But even though Isaac is old and nearly blind, he doesn’t really mention impending death. (And he lived a good many years afterwards.) The other variance from convention? He only summons one son to be blessed—his favorite, Esau. Clearly he wants to leave all his blessing to Esau and none to Jacob. This whole ceremonial blessing idea was flawed from the outset. And Rebekah overhears the plan. Not to be outdone—Rebekah concocts her own plan and brings Jacob in as a co-conspirator. Look at the language. Vs. 5 refers to his son, Esau; vs 7 is about her son, Jacob. Take a minute, read through the verses 5-29 and list all the ways Rebekah and Jacob deceived Isaac. Now here’s a tricky question for you—was anyone NOT at fault? Who was innocent? In this scene, who do you think received what they wanted? You might want to read to the end of the chapter before you answer. It’s hard for me to reconcile in my head that this same Rebekah who is decisively instructing Jacob in how to deceive his father in Genesis 27 is the same woman who comforted Isaac after his mother’s death in Genesis 24. What changed? Family relationships can be difficult and complicated, but this nuclear family appears to leave us with more negative than positive examples. Early on, we saw a couple who comforted each other and sought the Lord for answers to their infertility. They received gigantic prophecies over the children. But somewhere, one child became more important than a spouse. One child became more important than righteous decisions. Selfish ambition crept in. A family is a life time of hard work in every season—not just those first few months. Sacrificial love is hard. And ongoing. The Apostle Paul reminded the Colossians in Chapter 3: 12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. I don’t know about you, but during my quarantine time, when I spent more time around the man I married than I have for years, I learned some things about myself. And let’s just say some of what I noticed was not pretty. We have had to talk about our communication, talk about our finances, and talk about how loud we can be when we first get up in the morning. I have had to ask for forgiveness, grant forgiveness, and re-learn how to live with someone I’ve spent over 40 years with. Maybe you too? I think it is worth it. I pray we love and understand each other more now than before the stay at home order. Maybe for you, it was a child who was suddenly home from college, or a first-grader who needed home-schooling. Wherever that raw place is that has been rubbed and irritated over the last few months, think it through today and ask the Lord for His eyes and His help and healing. Communicate with your family. Get help if you need it. Journaling prompt: Spend some time in prayer today for your family relationships. Write your prayers out if that helps.
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AuthorLoving words written to increase hope. Archives
May 2020
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