Genesis 25

Bible Passage: Genesis 25

The stereotype of identical twins is that they are exactly alike: they look alike, they dress in matching outfits, they share the same likes and dislikes.

But in today’s chapter, we know that despite their shared genetic component, both Esau and Jacob are highly different individuals.

They look different and their characters are poles apart.

THE VERY EXPENSIVE BOWL OF SOUP

This story helps us zero in on what Esau treasured.

In a way, Esau was like the go-getters in the world, always outdoors hunting for the next big game.

However the immediate cravings and yearnings of the world served as a stumbling block. Esau threw away something so valuable in order to gain immense and immediate satisfaction.

Before we judge Esau so readily let us stop and think whether this cavalier disregard mirrors our attitude today.

Unfortunately, most of us are just like Esau. We are blinded by present concerns dominating our lives such that living by faith would be difficult.

The last verse of this chapter tells us that Esau “despised his birthright”.

Despise is a very strong word, meaning to “treat with contempt”, to brush his birthright aside as though it is common.

Do we also treat church services, partaking of holy communion, prayer etc etc as something common?

I must admit that I am guilty of this at times.

Sometimes, I fail to attend Tuesday night or youth services.. other times I am “too tired” to pray during the 2pm prayer on Saturdays, yet I have the energy to mill about and chat with people at the dining area.

Most of the time, I would rather spend hours catching up on my Korean drama than use a fraction of that time to catch up on my bible reading.

I find myself constantly reading books that I have read a million times, but I have to force myself to read one chapter of the bible everyday.

Sounds familiar?

Whenever we hear sermons about believers from other parts of the world persecuted for attending church, or even believers from our own Singapore church who have to keep their unbelieving families from knowing that they’re Christians, do we stop to think just how blessed we are?

God has given us an easy way out yet we treat his grace as something so easily attainable that we find it a burden to go to His house for as little as once a week.

Yes God has given us His grace freely, but it is priceless and to be cherished.

May God guide us to treasure this great grace.

While Esau discarded something so precious, this did not make him any worse than Jacob.

Although Jacob was a mild person and a homebody, he schemed, lied and took advantage of people to obtain what he wanted.

Last week Shalom commented in his writeup on Genesis 20 about Abraham who resorted to lying about his wife when faced with uncertainties.

Before that we also read about Sarai who, in her desperation to have a child, got Abraham to impregnate Hagar, their servant.

In Jacob, we saw this taking-matters-into-own-hands syndrome occurring once more.

Again, before we so readily judge Jacob for being such a cheater, let’s search within ourselves.

Instead of relying and trusting in God, do we try to take control and do what we think is beneficial for us?

Do we also trick or lie by omission in order to attain our hearts’ desires? I can think of several instances when I did that L.

Despite all these, God’s grace is so abundant and is beyond our comprehension. He knows we are only human and are weak.(Ps 103:14)

Like Abraham and Jacob, we are his chosen people. His abiding grace envelopes us despite our rotten cores. In our weaknesses and transgressions God’s grace shines through.

I do feel a sense of shame as I wrote this blog today and I hope that all of us, myself included will take some time to search ourselves, whether there is a tiny bit(or big bit) of Esau and Jacob in our hearts.

Let us work towards erasing that bit to let Jesus in.

主耶穌, 今天我要为你活, 所需要的力量你每天賜給我, 你恩典夠我用

Is your soul burdened down with the load of sin?

Place your hand in the nail scarred hand

Throw your heart open wide, let the Saviour in.

Place your hand in the nail scarred hand