Twins

This week we began a two-week unit on Esau and Jacob. Read Genesis chapters 25-36 for an account of these twin brothers.

The tale of these twins is evocative. There is much plausible family dynamic and disfunction -- this feels very human and very real. We chose an inductive approach to this episode by asking a couple of questions: 1) Did you ever do anything shortsighted? If so, what was it, what were the consequences to you, and what did you learn? 2) Have you ever been taken advantage of by anyone -- or yourself taken advantage of another? If so, how, what were the consequences to you, and what did you learn?

Esau and Jacob would be recognized today as fraternal twins, since they are so different in appearance and temperment. Much is made of Esau's red hair, preference for red food, and even his passionate disposition. He is the kind of person who would quickly garner a nickname like 'Red'. He is also called 'Edom' which means 'red' and is a reference to the nation ascribed to his lineage -- a country known by it's prominant red rock and landscape. Jacob emerges from the womb holding on to Esau's heel, so he is given a name which means 'supplanter'. He seems born to trip others.

Esau's birthright was his as the first born. This means he should receive the greater and better portion of his father's estate. Why would he trade this for a bowl of stew? I related how famished I felt after a couple of days backpacking in poor weather. Wet, worn out, stressed by storms and cranky moose, nothing sounded so good to me as a steaming pot of lentil stew. If you've ever been in a state of trembling, starving exhaustion you might not care about anything but feeling fed, either. But Jacob certainly did take advantage of his brother; a kinder person would have just fed him, eh?

For next week finish reading through chapter 36. This covers the incident wherein Jacob, with his mother's help, steals Esau's blessing, as well, and all that comes of this. We will ponder what happens in each brother's life, try to see how God worked through this very human circumstance, and reflect on the story's meaning for ourselves.

Thanks for a great class & hope to see you Sunday morning, 10:00 a.m. in the sanctuary.

PDTA