When someone decides to live life by taking from others, in the end the person from whom they take the most is themselves. In order to pull off the deception of Isaac his father, Jacob and Rebekah contrived to override all five of the old man’s senses. The goat would be spiced to disguise it […]
Like a stone thrown across the surface of a lake, actions we take today can ripple across many generations. Careful! A trail of trickery follows the line of Abraham from his half-truths about Sarah through Isaac’s similar ploy, and on through Jacob and Laban and Jacob’s sons to Joseph himself. Only one of these (Joseph’s […]
The Lord said, “Open your mouth wide and I will fill it,” but like any good parent, He will only fill it with what’s good for us. Because there are significant periods of time between the recorded interactions of God with the human race, we may make false assumptions if we’re not careful. In our […]
No wonder the Hittites were “hit and miss.” They believed their gods were as uncertain as the weather, as uncaring as nature. At the end of Genesis 26, we see that Esau, the man enslaved by his own appetites, has set for himself a downward path. He has already sold his birthright for a bowl […]
Read More… from June 22, 2021 — Esau And Twenty-First Century Hedonism
The world is a fickle lover. It will push you to the pinnacle of success, and then push you over to make room for someone else. Isaac seems like a peaceful, verdant valley between the thunderous heights of Abraham and Jacob. It’s true he has his challenging times, but his life generally is marked by […]
Read More… from June 21, 2021 — A Changeless God And A Capricious World
The old wells are filled with rubble. New wells needed? Or dig out the ones our fathers dug? Abraham was known for his altars. It is said he built them at Shechem (Gen 12:6-7), Bethel (v 8), Hebron (13:18), and Moriah (22:9). Later, Jacob will be known for his four pillars: at Bethel (28:18), Mizpah […]
Does God really “[visit] the iniquity of the fathers on the children?” Is that fair? Every new generation seems to feel superior to the old fogies, don’t they. We’re more tech savvy, they think, and more relaxed about our parents’ old hang-ups. Less judgmental, too (except about the old fogies, of course). But, as my […]
Watch out! Hard times can lead to desperate choices that lead us entirely the wrong way. Genesis 26 begins with a weather and crop report: “There was a famine in the land.” And lest we think this is old news, the Holy Spirit clarifies, “besides the first famine that was in the days of Abraham.” […]
Have you ever met people like this, where every interaction ends up a wrestling match? It’s amazing what you can tell about a child’s personality right from the start. Are they neat or messy? Analytical or creative? Quiet or noisy? From the very moment of Jacob’s birth, he let people know what he was about. […]