Welcome to a group of women who's goal is to encourage each other to put down some serious roots in the Word of God. This blog is dedicated to reading through the Bible in a year. Hopefully you will find the encouragement and accountability here that you need to push through the tough parts- or when life just gets in the way. The reading plan is located at the bottom of the blog. It contains links to the passages we are reading through biblegateway.com. You can use those links or read your own Bible, whichever you prefer.
We are all members of Oak Hill Baptist Church in Griffin, Georgia and felt the need in our own life for a little bit of the Lord's splendor. Please join us!!

Monday, January 24, 2011

What have I done?!?!?!

I can only imagine this was the sentiment at some point for many of the characters we read about in these chapters.

We learned at the end of Genesis 25 that Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of stew. As eldest son, Esau was entitled to the birthright and his father's blessing, which means he would have receive at least double a portion of inheritance from Isaac. Isaac was a VERY rich man. I wonder if Esau had this thought as soon as he finished his lentil soup and his stomach was full.

In a New Testament book (Hebrews), Esau is used as an example as we are instructed to watch for discontentment. We know from Hebrews that God considered Esau's act immoral and godless. The Message cleverly translates this instruction (Hebrews 12:16-17):
"Watch out for the Esau syndrome: trading away God's lifelong gift in order to satisfy a short-term appetite. You well know how Esau later regretted that impulsive act and wanted God's blessing—but by then it was too late, tears or no tears."
In Genesis 25, this story is just beginning. In Chapter 27, we see Rebekah and Jacob scheme to deceive Isaac. Because of their deception, Isaac gives his blessing (and birthright) to Jacob. This is of course God's plan, but I have to be honest and say that I have a hard time with this. I just want to say to the whole lot of 'em, "That is not fair!" On the other hand, the reality is that Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of soup! I wonder if Esau had any idea of the seriousness of the impulsive conversation he had with Jacob over a bowl of stew.

Here are some things that God brings to my mind as I read this passage:
  1. A seemingly minor act of impulse can potentially have significant, negative impact in our lives. I need to be very careful to consider consequences before acting on my impulses.
  2. Rebekah's manipulative actions challenge me to check my motives in my relationships and dealings with other people. I think women especially have to be careful with the temptation to manipulate and make things happen.
  3. God is gracious and merciful to the undeserving. God chose Jacob for His purposes not based on Jacob's previous behavior and poor choices. God promised Jacob His presence and blessings.
Next we read about Jacob making his way to live with and work for his uncle (Laban). Now, it is Jacob's turn to be deceived. Jacob makes a deal with Laban to work for seven years in exchange for marrying the younger daughter, Rachel. After seven years, Laban tricks Jacob and gives him Leah. This story gets me every time and is another "That's not fair!" story for me. Jacob gets his beloved Rachel after spending the bridal week with Leah, but he has to work another seven years for Uncle Laban.

Leah longed for Jacob to love her. She believed that because she was bearing Jacob's sons that he would love her. After three sons born of Leah, Jacob apparently still did not love her. Finally, after the fourth son was born, Leah chose to praise the Lord instead of waiting for Jacob's love. She stopped having children and I believe that she had finally found contentment in knowing God. What a lesson we can learn from Leah!
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6 comments:

  1. JaybrenaJanuary 24, 2011 at 1:37 PM

    Wonderful points, Terry! This is one of my favorite stories in the Bible...certainly not because of it's fairytale-like ending, but because of the miracle of God's grace we find in it! Liz Curtis Higgs said that Rebekah was a manipulator and underestimated the memory of God. She knew the promise God gave her about the struggle in her belly, and she had a favored son. She took matters in her own hands, and lost her beloved Jacob, never to see him again. She's now alone with a bitter son and a very sad husband. God help us to WAIT ON HIM!

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  2. AngelaJanuary 24, 2011 at 6:11 PM

    Excellent summary, Terry! I see time and time again where people are not very patient with their circumstances (including me). If we will genuinely wait on the Lord (even when we don't like to wait) He does have the best plan for us.

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  3. Althea NanceJanuary 24, 2011 at 10:37 PM

    AS YOU KNOW WE ALL LIVE UNDER THE BLESSING THAT WAS GIVEN TO JACOB AND WE MUST HONOR GOD FOR HIS BLESSING. ALL IS NOT FAIR IN THIS WORLD AND WE WILL DO WELL IF WE SEEK GOD'S DIRECTION FOR OUR LIVES AND BE TRUTHFUL. ALL THE DECITFULNESS THAT WENT ON IN THESE CHAPTERS SHOW THAT YOU GET PAID BACK. POOR LEAH WAS USED AND IT WAS GREAT THAT SHE FINALLY JUST LOOKED TO GOD. I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW THE END OF THE STORY BUT WE WILL NEVER KNOW IF SHE FOUND HER KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR AND LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER.
    GOOD NITE.

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  4. MindyJanuary 24, 2011 at 10:57 PM

    Family strife...it can be one of the most stressful and devastating issues we can experience in our lives. We have a tendancy to think we are the only ones that have experienced certain things. Look how long this has been going on! Since the beginning! The whole multiple wives/concubines that is rampant in the Old Testament just kills me! It caused ALL kinds of problems...for Abraham, Jacob, David and Solomon. And of course was NEVER God's design! What REALLY makes me chuckle is when the wife tries to take matters into her own hands and demands that her husband sleep with a maidservant/concubine and the Bible states that the husband agrees. Well DUH!!! I can just see the husband with his head hanging low and a smirk on his face saying, "Well if I have to and YOU really want me to I guess I can." (MEN!)

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  5. NatalieJanuary 25, 2011 at 6:08 AM

    It is so interesting to me that God actually had Jesus' lineage come through Leah. Guess which son? Judah. :) Gods grace is so so good.

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  6. kellyJanuary 26, 2011 at 12:33 PM

    Chapter 27 makes me want to scream out "Rebekah honey what are you doing?!?!". As wives we are not supposed to manipulate our husbands to get what WE think is best. Rebekah's behavior makes me think back to Gen. 3:16 when God spoke to woman after sinning and told her that she would "desire to control your husband, but he will rule over you". Oh how important it is to wait on Him! Mindy, I am with you on the whole multiple wives/concubines thing....CRAZY.

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