Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Genesis 27: 11-20
11 Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, "But my brother Esau is a hairy man, and I'm a man with smooth skin. 12 What if my father touches me? I would appear to be tricking him and would bring down a curse on myself rather than a blessing." 13 His mother said to him, "My son, let the curse fall on me. Just do what I say; go and get them for me." 14 So he went and got them and brought them to his mother, and she prepared some tasty food, just the way his father liked it. 15 Then Rebekah took the best clothes of Esau her older son, which she had in the house, and put them on her younger son Jacob. 16 She also covered his hands and the smooth part of his neck with the goatskins. 17 Then she handed to her son Jacob the tasty food and the bread she had made. 18 He went to his father and said, "My father." "Yes, my son," he answered. "Who is it?" 19 Jacob said to his father, "I am Esau your firstborn. I have done as you told me. Please sit up and eat some of my game so that you may give me your blessing." 20 Isaac asked his son, "How did you find it so quickly, my son?" "The LORD your God gave me success," he replied.
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3 comments:
i concur with m's questions and comments from yesterday's passage. i need to meditate more on this story because frankly i don't get it. in today's passage, jacob -- at the urging and facilitation of his mother (similar to the role of eve?) -- intentionally deceives his old and ailing father for his own gain. i've heard people explain that this zeal is understandable because it's caused by wanting God's blessing. but since when does the bible condone the "means justifies the ends" approach (ala robin hood) to seeking God's favor?
it just seems that jacob's behavior and actions are "unchristian"-like any way you slice it.
Again, Jacob's action states he is not a Godly man. Jacob should have said "but mother that is clearly wrong I can not allow such act under the Lord" or something similar to that.
One thing we can again observe is that whatever anger/hatred Rebekah had towards Esau, she is clearly taking this issue with her own will without God.
How often do I take things into my own hands?
Surely, Jacob's actions don't show that he is a godly man, but deep within him he still has the fear and awe for the Lord and God of his father and ancestors (vs. 20).More importantly, we must ask why God lets this deception happen within this household. Without doubt, passing on the blessing of the Lord was and is probably the best gift parents could ever bestow upon their children....Maybe Jacob was more ready to receive God's blessing and mission to continue the legacy of his ancestors in the eyes of the Lord. I am not sure about the ultimate reason why God chose Jacob over Esau, but God must have His own reasons.. Similarly, we sometimes don't understand the actions of the Lord in our own lives. We just have to entrust Him with our lives and just hope to be used by Him.
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