Easter: The Aftermath

Easter is over.  The chocolate bunnies are eaten.  The leftovers from Easter dinner are gone.  The new outfits have been dry cleaned and tucked away in the closet.  It's back to business as usual.  But if we celebrate the resurrection then go back to status quo then we've missed the point.   Easter is a new beginning.  For the Jewish people Passover was a significant time.  While the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt the last plague was the Passover.  Everyone who Read more

Passions Need People

Last time we looked at how Nehemiah's passion led him to complete the tremendous undertaking of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem in 52 days, but he didn't do it alone.....   How often have you had an idea, a vision, a passion you wanted to pursue, but it never went beyond an idea in your head because you had no idea how you would make it happen?  Yeah, its sounded like a good idea, but that thought of trying to accomplish Read more

The Power of Passion

Often when we hear the word passion, we think of it in the context of love and romance.  Most people can relate to that feeling of being in love.  You fall for that special someone and they become your obsession.  That special person is all you think about.  You'd do almost anything for them.   You can also get passionate about a goal. Something you feel driven to accomplish.  Something that you're willing to put your all into, make sacrifices for.  Read more

Spring Break the Hunger....A Child's Spark

Last time, I asked for your help in raising money for my church’s current initiative: buy 300 Food Packets to send home with kids over spring break.  Essentially, the food pack is enough stuff for the kids to make themselves a peanut butter and jelly sandwich everyday.   So we’re sitting in church last Sunday, listening to the man explain the initiative and my son (whose 9) leans over to me and says “Mom, that’s all they get?    They should Read more
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Wimps of the Bible: Jacob (part 2)

Posted on February 29, 2012 by ML Smith Posted in Wimps of the Bible | Leave a comment

While we’ve focused mainly on his interaction with his brother Esau, Jacob’s life shows that there is a lot we can learn about consequences….

  1. God has a plan, he doesn’t need our help to make it work.  When Jacob was born, it was revealed to Rebekah that he would be the leader of the family.  Instead of trusting God and letting this prophesy come to fruition on its own, the two of them scheme to force it.  The result?  Jacob has to flee his homeland to avoid the wrath of his brother.  One has to wonder how the story would have turned out if Jacob had been able to prosper at home with his father’s wealth rather than laboring for his uncle.
  2. Favoritism has long-lasting impact on the family.  The story of Jacob and Esau gets off to a bad start with the observation that Isaac and Rebekah each have a favorite child.  Nothing good comes of that arrangement.  Learning nothing from this experience, Jacob has the same scene play out later in his life when he favors the child of his chosen wife (Joseph) over his other children.  In that case we see envy and hatred lead Joseph’s brothers to want to kill him.
  3. You reap what you sow.  Jacob tricked his brother into giving him the rights of the first born and tricked his father into giving him the blessing.  It is not coincidence that Jacob’s uncle tricks him into marrying the older sister before he can marry the one he really wants.  Action…reaction.  Cause….effect.  Everything you do has a consequence, either now or later.  We see two direct consequences of Jacob’s trickery
    1. He’s separated from his family…and his family’s wealth.  Jacob’s father, Isaac, was the son of Abraham.  God had blessed Abraham abundantly.  Abraham had left everything to Isaac.  Jacob’s family was very wealthy.  However, because he fled from home with nothing he had no dowry to secure his wives.  This is why he had to work for his uncle.
    2. Jacob’s own blessing was delayed by over 14 years.  Jacob got Isaac’s blessing, but it was of little use to him when he had to run for his life.  Instead of growing into his blessing, he spent over 14 years of his life working for someone else.

How many of us are making bad choices trying to force a certain outcome?  How often do we use trickery and deceit (whether overtly or through gentle manipulation) to make things go our way?

Wimps of the Bible: Jacob (part 1)

Posted on February 26, 2012 by ML Smith Posted in Wimps of the Bible | Leave a comment

Today’s wimp is a key figure early in the bible: Jacob.  Jacob’s life is covered in 25 chapters in the book of Genesis (Genesis 25 – 50).  That is major coverage for a man who was a thief, a liar, a coward and caused dissension among his children by openly showing favoritism.  But perhaps that is why his life story is covered in such great detail.  Jacob has many of the character flaws that we experience today and yet God was able to use him.

Jacob’s life was turbulent from the start.  His troubles with his twin brother, Esau, began in the womb.

 22 The babies struggled with each other inside her. She said, “Why is this happening to me?” So she went to ask the Lord what she should do.

23 The Lord said to her,
“Two nations are in your body.
Two tribes that are now inside you will be separated.
One nation will be stronger than the other.
The older son will serve the younger one.”

Genesis 25:22 – 23

Even at birth he was not to be outdone; he was the second of the twins to be bone but he came out “holding onto Esau’s heel” (Genesis 25:26).

As the boys grew, they were very different.  Esau was a hunter and his father’s favorite.  Jacob was a home-body and his mother’s favorite.  As their father Isaac became old, it came time for him to bestow his blessing on the eldest.  Remembering the earlier prophesy, Rebekah wanted to ensure that Jacob received the blessing.  She helped her son deceive Isaac into giving Jacob the blessing.  They dressed Jacob in Esau’s clothes and used animal fur to make his smooth skin seem hairy like his brother’s.  Isaac was not easily deceived, but Jacob had no problem lying to be more convincing.

 

18 He went to his father and said, “My father.”

“Yes, my son,” Isaac answered. “Who is it?”

19 Jacob said to his father, “I’m your oldest son Esau. I’ve done as you told me. Please sit up. Eat some of my wild meat. Then 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.

21 Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Come near so I can touch you, my son. I want to know whether you really are my son Esau.”

22 Jacob went close to his father. Isaac touched him and said, “The voice is the voice of Jacob. But the hands are the hands of Esau.”

23 Isaac didn’t recognize him. His hands were covered with hair like those of his brother Esau. So Isaac blessed him. 24 “Are you really my son Esau?” he asked.

“I am,” Jacob replied.

25 Isaac said, “My son, bring me some of your wild meat to eat. Then I’ll give you my blessing.”

Jacob brought it to him. So Isaac ate. Jacob also brought some wine. And Isaac drank. 26 Then Jacob’s father Isaac said to him, “Come here, my son. Kiss me.”

27 So Jacob went to him and kissed him. When Isaac smelled the clothes, he gave Jacob his blessing.

Genesis 27: 18 – 27

When Esau discovered the trickery he was furious.

 41 Esau was angry with Jacob. He was angry because of the blessing his father had given to Jacob. He said to himself, “My father will soon die. The days of sorrow over him are near. Then I’ll kill my brother Jacob.”

Genesis 27: 41

Jacob’s mother sent him away to live with his uncle to avoid Esau’s wrath.

Jacob goes to live with his uncle, who tricks him into working for him for 14 years in order to marry one of his daughters (he had to marry the oldest daughter first, before he could marry the younger one…the one he really wanted).  Still Jacob thrived and become wealthy.  His uncle’s son began to resent him and God directs Jacob to return to his homeland.

As he returns to his homeland, it’s time to face the music…Esau.  Fearing his brother’s wrath, Jacob splits his family and flocks in two so that one group will survive in the event Esau attacks.  He got some gifts together and sent them to his brother via a servant.

Jacob was terrified of what would happen in his reunion with his brother.  Esau on the other hand was happy…

4 But Esau ran to meet Jacob. He hugged him and threw his arms around his neck. He kissed him, and they cried. (Genesis 33:4)