1.10.08

Genesis 25-26; Romans 9:1-15

And here we are back at the connection between Genesis and Romans. Today's Genesis reading introduced Jacob and Esau and in Romans Paul was referring back to them. That's just cool. God is awesome.

A statement stuck out to me in Genesis 25. Last verse. "That's how Esau shrugged off his rights as the firstborn." We often hear of Jacob being deceitful and stealing Esau's blessing. And he was deceitful in his dealings with his father (tomorrows reading?) and he did take advantage of his brother trading stew for birthright. But Esau was in the wrong, too. We seldom hear or think about that (I think I've heard it in a sermon once or maybe it was a book or class) - but my point is that it is not thought of as much as "Jacob the deceiver." Esau disregarded his birthright, he was overly dramatic ("what good is a birthright if I'm dead?" when he was simply - though I'm sure exceedingly - hungry). He didn't hold important that which should have been. And the Message version points us back to that, "Esau shrugged off his rights as the firstborn."

Also, note how part of chapter 26 feels like reading chapter 12 and again like reading chapter 20. Twice Abraham lied and called Sarah his sister (she was his half-sister and wife) and twice he got called on the carpet for it (and God intervened so that Sarah was not taken by another man). In chapter 26 we find Isaac doing the same thing. Same fear. Same lie. Like father, like son.

What bad habits will I leave my children?