Sunday, September 13, 2009
Day 14 (Genesis 27, 28; Psalm 14)..."Deceit and the Bible"
Jacob stole Esau's blessing. Deceit is used in the Bible by God's leaders. Who does not feel pity for Esau in the story... "When Esau heard his father's words, he burst out with a loud and bitter cry and said to his father, "Bless me—me too, my father!" But he said, "Your brother came deceitfully and took your blessing." Esau said, "Isn't he rightly named Jacob ? He has deceived me these two times: He took my birthright, and now he's taken my blessing!" Then he asked, "Haven't you reserved any blessing for me?" Even Rebeka is involved in the deceit! How do we explain God's people and deceit? (1) Is this just the human condition to be deceitful? 2) Or a testimony of God redeeming the deceitful? (3) Or a matter of God navigating His redemption story in spite of the human condition? I choose the third. What do you think?
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I think it is interesting that a 'manly man' such as Esau all of a sudden turns into a crybaby. After all, didn't he give away the birthright? Jacob shows greater inner strength throughout this story than Esau - Esau is governed by his appetites. Though Jacob is certainly not above reproach - he is going to have to come face to face with his flaws later. Definitely #3.
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