Genesis
27:1-4, 15-23
Reading
parts of Genesis is like reading a soap-opera! Jacob, grandson of Abraham,
shows a different side in today’s reading. Abraham is the faithful, God-fearing
man who walks away from everything in Ur to live into God’s call and promise.
Jacob, son of promise, is not the one to write home about. He bargains to win
his twin brother’s (Esau) birth-right, he steals Esau’s blessing from their
father Isaac, and then he swindles his uncle for a thousand goats and sheep.
Sheesh! This guy really lives into his name: Jacob… “deceiver.”
The
reading for this week focuses on the “blessing” Esau was to receive and Jacob
steals. What is this idea of “blessing?” In the Old Testament, when a father
confers blessing on his first-born son, he is effectively transferring all his
goods and authority to that son. All other sons and all daughters are left out
of this. So, if you were not the first-born male of your family, there was no
inheritance for you…unless your oldest brother wanted to pass along something
to you.
Blessing—while
off balance in the Old Testament culture—is not a bad thing. I mean, who wouldn’t
want to receive blessing? And, who wouldn’t want to receive blessing from God
whom Jesus calls our “Heavenly Father”? His blessing would be the best, right?
Part of
the Good News is that we can receive God’s blessing—anyone and everyone. Jesus teaches
us in Matthew 5 about how to get in on the blessing—on the “goods and authority”
that God has and wants to pass on to us:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs
is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be
comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for
righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown
mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called
children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of
righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5)
These
blessings are for us—kingdom, comfort, the land, satiety, mercy, glimpses of
God, divine family. All ours, all conferred on us as we embrace attitudes and
actions of poverty, brokenness, meekness, hunger, mercy, purity, peace, and
just persecution. These are the counter-cultural ways of walking in the Jesus
way.
The
story of Jacob, thankfully, ends well. Jacob is changed as God gives him a new
name: Israel. He is reunited with his brother…and his brother not only forgives
him but welcomes him home. We find in this story the truism: Every saint has a
past. We also find in our study today a new truism: Every scoundrel can have a
future. God’s way and God’s blessing can change our lives. This is good news
for us.
Sunday, September 21, 2025
“Scoundrels & Saints”
Watch/Listen: HERE
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