Reading 12 • September 25
Today's Scripture
Genesis 25:19–34
These are the descendants of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, sister of Laban the Aramean. Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife because she was barren, and the Lord granted his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived. The children struggled together within her, and she said, “If it is to be this way, why do I live?” So she went to inquire of the Lord. And the Lord said to her,
“Two nations are in your womb,
and two peoples born of you shall be divided;
the one shall be stronger than the other;
the elder shall serve the younger.”
When her time to give birth was at hand, there were twins in her womb. The first came out red, all his body like a hairy mantle, so they named him Esau. Afterward his brother came out, with his hand gripping Esau’s heel, so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.
When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, living in tents. Isaac loved Esau because he was fond of game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.
Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was famished. Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stuff, for I am famished!” (Therefore he was called Edom.) Jacob said, “First sell me your birthright.” Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright. (NRSVUE)
Reflection
My wife and I have four sons, the youngest two, Christian and Julian, born three minutes apart. I don’t know if Julian came into the world gripping his twin Christian’s heel, but the thought makes me smile.
With four sons within four years, I know much about sibling rivalry and being your “brothers’ keeper.” I can’t count the number of times my wife stepped between two sons just before (or right after) a punch or harsh word. Thankfully, now that our oldest is twenty-eight, this is behind us (mostly).
There were many more occasions they stood together — playing, working, and protecting one another. They love each other and have each other’s backs.
That’s what makes the story of Jacob and Esau so striking. While I understand the meaning behind Esau “trading” his birthright to Jacob for tasty stew, I imagine a potentially different outcome. What if Jacob had shared his food freely? What if Esau shared his hunting prowess with Jacob? Together, they could have shown their parents — and God — what brotherly love looked like.
Of course, that type of ending provides less drama and may sell fewer Bibles. It also may change a lesson in this reading: we often make rash choices between immediate satisfaction and eternal fulfillment. We frequently trade our “birthright” — our relationship with God, our integrity — for something quick and fleeting, a bowl of stew.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if, instead of making a life-changing decision for a meal, we had a brother or sister generously offer us food and help us make a good long-term choice?
Prayer
Dear God, please help me resist “stewy” bargains. Thank you for loving me and encouraging me to live in communion with brothers and sisters. Amen.
Written by Phil Calian, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church
Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church
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