I was really impressed this week by the honesty of the Bible and the weakness - even predictability - of mankind.
Isaac and Rebekah had twin sons, Esau and Jacob. Their favoritism was apparently obvious - Isaac loved Esau the most, Rebekah loved Jacob the most. Both of the sons grew up with their own problems. Jacob, at Rebekah’s urging (Gen 27), tricked their father into giving him the blessing meant for Esau, the oldest son. When Esau found out he blamed Jacob for not only tricking him out of his blessing but for also tricking him out of his birthright (the larger portion of his inheritance as the oldest son). Genesis 25 tells of how he willingly sold his birthright to Jacob in return for a pot of beans - so Jacob did not trick him out of it. Apparently, Esau wouldn’t take responsibility for his own actions and blamed others for them.
Jacob is sent into exile to keep Esau from killing him in revenge. After 20 years in exile with Rebekah’s relatives, Jacob finally heads home. He is really worried when he hears that his brother Esau, with his army, is coming to meet him.. The night before he meets Esau Jacob gets into a wrestling match with an angel of God. They wrestle all night long, then the angel changes Jacob’s name to Israel. That day Jacob is reunited with Esau. The reunion goes so well that they make plans to go to Esau’s home in Seir. Esau wants to travel with Jacob but Jacob talks Esau into going ahead while Jacob travels more slowly. Esau takes off for Seir. Jacob, fresh from an encounter with God, reverts back to his old habits and tricks his brother, Esau, by going to Succoth instead.
I think that if the Bible had been written by men rather than God, the weakness, deceit and sinfulness of mankind - particularly the founding patriarchs - would have never been recorded. Nobody but God would be that honest about their heros of the faith.
Here is our reading plan for this week:
Sonday, January 15th Gen 37, 38 Psalm 7 Luke 15
Monday, January 16th Gen 39-41 Luke 16
Tuesday, January 17th Gen 42, 43 Psalm 5 Luke 17
Wednesday, January 18th Gen 44-46 Luke 18
Thursday, January 19th Gen 47, 48 Psalm 10 Luke 19
Friday, January 20th, Gen 49, 50 Psalm 8 Luke 20
Saturday January 21st Exodus 1,2 Psalm 88 Luke 21
Posted by Valerie at January 15, 2006 11:37 PM