Conflict and Character – Genesis 25:19-34
/Lectionary Readings for July 12, 2020
Genesis 25:19-34 The Birth and Youth of Esau and Jacob
Psalm 119:105-112 v105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Psalm 25 (UMH 756) Prayer for Guidance and for Deliverance
Romans 8:1-11 v10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.
Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 The Parable of the Sower
Peace Quotes
“Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.” ~ Buddha
“Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.” ~ Mark Twain
Any time I preach or lead a group, regardless of age, I start the same way. I’m going to say three short sentences. Please repeat each sentence, with enthusiasm.
God made me. God loves me. God has plans for me.
Preface to Today’s Scripture Reading
Today verses challenge our value of fairness. Remember, this is not modern journalism, it’s a 4,000-year-old legend – filled with cultural nuances – that’s been handed down to explain our spiritual history as Abraham’s legacy as well as the basic concepts of conflict and character. As you listen to today’s Scripture reading, you might think of your own sibling rivalries or perhaps of a time when someone took advantage of you in a moment when you were weak or not clear minded. You might also think of a time when you saw a perfectly legal opportunity and you took it. Let’s open our ears, minds, & hearts to today’s readings.
Read Genesis 25:19-34
Imagine a 1967 Buick LeSabre two-door, otherwise known as a rolling land yacht. My younger brother and I grew up in that car’s spacious backseat. Since it was painted a medium shade of blue, we called it “Ol’ Blue.”
For those of you unfamiliar with that particular model, Ol’ Blue was huge by modern car standards. I could have parked my little convertible in its trunk with room to spare. But it was great for long trips to see my grandparents. After reading today’s story, two childhood memories flashed back into my mind.
1 – With an equally huge backseat, you’d think my brother and I could remain far enough apart to eliminate fighting. Nope. “He’s looking at me.” “He’s blowing air toward me.” “He’s throwing things at me.” My Dad even went to Sears and bought a battery-powered, black & white 13-inch TV to distract us. We loved it. Our friends were amazed. A TV in the car?!? In 1978?!? Are you kidding?!? And that was terrific… for a day or two, until we fought over which of the 4 channels to watch, volume level, and who had the best view of the screen. Sibling rivalries overcome all spaces, whether it’s a huge backseat or the vast Middle East. Rivals will find a way to fight.
2 – The second memory was how my brother and I described our personal comfort levels during trips. On a hot day like today, it was boiling hot. And on a cold day, it was freezing cold. That’s hyperbole, grand exaggerations that make good stories even better. Today’s story is filled with wonderfully exaggerated details. For example, the way baby Esau is described, you’d think Rebekah had given birth to a redheaded Bigfoot!
I keep talking about concepts each week, so let’s start with the biggest of big pictures.
One concept is cultural history. Today’s “narratives present an ancient belief that the bitter hostility that marked the later relationships between the [kingdoms] of Israel and Edom had its origin in the prenatal experience of their founding fathers, who were twins. … [The numerous references in the Torah to the fractured relationship between the descendants of Jacob/Israel and Esau/Edom indicate a] tradition [that] is so extraordinary, given the long and bitter history of [hatred] between [the nations of] Israel and Edom, that it must reflect authentic historical experience” (The JPS Torah Commentary: Genesis by Nahum M. Sarna, 2001, pg. 177).
Remember another concept: bias, this is a Jewish legend, writing by Jewish authors, to explain the historical and social legitimacy of the nation of Israel. Jacob is the winner, and Esau is the loser. Every story has bias built into it. We just need to be aware of the perspective we’re getting.
I mention that because when Rebekah is having a difficult pregnancy – which she would have perceived as an ominous event – she approaches God for an explanation and/or solution. And when God responds in verse 23, God says a LOT, and what God says foreshadows Israel’s history for centuries!
v23 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.”
That one sentence contains four bombshell revelations / historical explanations.
God never uses the word babies here. First of all, surprise Rebekah, you’re having twins and they don’t like each other. She learns that she is carrying far more than the weight of two babies; she’s carrying the weight of God’s promise to Abraham. No pressure!
And while some sibling rivalries are to be expected within any family, God says “two peoples” (aka tribes which would become nations), “shall be divided.” Rebekah might have thought, “OK, great; my grandkids and great-grandkids aren’t going to get along. Family reunions are going to be rough!”
God’s last comment, “the elder shall serve the younger” indicates that the future will not follow traditional patterns. Normally, the eldest son was primarily responsible for managing an extended family. And the eldest could also expect a double portion of the inheritance… which might create some jealousy among younger siblings. Jacob may have been carrying a lifetime of built-up jealousy knowing that, as a twin, he had missed out on “firstborn status” by just a minute or less. Such cruel fate from his perspective.
As today’s story goes, this last nugget of information absolves our heroes – Isaac and Rebekah – of parental guilt. With their theology in their time, they would have understood that, no matter how well they raised their kids, these boys – and their descendants – were not going to live together in peace.
So what can we modern Christians learn from this, and how can we apply these concepts to our modern theology and daily living? I’m going to work in reverse.
Today’s story ends with Esau not respecting how God had blessed him (i.e. his birthright) and Jacob seizing the opportunity of the moment before him.
Following Esau, we should ask ourselves, “How has God blessed me? And am I tending to those blessings responsibly, or am I denying or disrespecting them?”
Following Jacob, we should ask ourselves, “What blessings are before me for the taking so that I can more fully be a servant-leader in the Kingdom of God and bless others?” In Matthew 7:7, Jesus encourages us to assert ourselves saying, “Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.”
Next, God’s words to Rebekah should give all of us a degree of relief. We can and should do our best to live in ways that reflect God’s love, and we should teach that love to the people around us, both young and old. But we can control only ourselves, we cannot control people or outcomes.
Following Rebekah, when our children, our students, or other people in our care act in ways contrary to our desires and our faith’s values, we are only responsible for saying, “I did my best.”
And when we have not done our best, we can and should always turn to God in prayer saying, “Forgive me for what I have done and for what I have failed to do. Heal the damage I’ve done, and help me be a better person going forward.” We must remain focused on forgiveness, our faith, and the future.
Finally, if you remember nothing else from today’s text and my comments, remember how verse 21 starts: “Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife…” Married or not, we are all in relationships with people – family, friends, and acquaintances. Prayer connects us with God and with each other.
I guarantee you, based on my own experiences, as well as stories shared with me over decades, when we pray for each other – including our enemies – we create opportunities for forgiveness, for healing, and for growth.
Each week our worship service starts with a “Peace Quote” to encourage us to have peace in our lives and create peace for others. Prayer is where that peace starts, grows, and bears fruit – first within us, and then for others.
This week, yes pray for peace, and pray for specific people, friends and enemies alike. Pray they will sense God’s Spirit stirring within them. Pray for the people around them. Pray with a generous heart. Pray for a generous heart. Because those prayers change lives and those prayers will change our community! Amen? Amen!