Genesis 27 - 28
What a dysfunctional family! Consider the characters. You've got Rebekah the manipulative mom who shows so little regard for her dying husband that she uses her son to literally blind side him just before his dies. You've got Isaac, the pushover, gullible dad who is so distant from his two sons that he cant even tell the difference between one son and the other wearing a disguise. Then, there's the twin sons. Jacob is a heartless, selfish, opportunist who will cheat and deceive his brother and his father out of birth-right and blessing. Esau, the underachieving elder son who thinks he's entitled to something just for being the first-born son. Yikes! What a mess.
I cant help but look at this story and compare these characters with that of my own family, my own up-bringing, my own relationships over the past. I had all of these charcters in my house, and even a few more. While each situation is different and unique with each household harboring its own unique characters and flaws, there's a kind of hope that this text gives to us. This crazy, mixed up, dysfunctional family is in the bible---even more, this family carries with it God's blessing of hope for all people. Jacob will later be blessed by God and re-named Israel, from which Jesus will come. The hope for all of us came out of this dysfunctional family.
God is so amazing like that! :-)
He takes sinfulness, pain, hurt, all the junk of dysfunctional families and weaves it into the tapestry of His eternal plan, giving us hope that is beyond our capacity to comprehend.
Today, let's consider all the junk inside us from our dysfunctional families. Then, let us commend these things into God's amazing grace; trusting that God has the ability to weave it into his eternal plan.
Lord God, thank you for this work you have done with me and my life. With practically nothing you have raised up gifts and talents from within me for your purpose and joy. You have blessed me and set me on the sure foundation of hope in the saving grace of your Son, my savior. Bless my family, bless all families with your sure confidence that comes from your love alone. As I go about my day, remind me that you have brought me to this day with all that I need to face whatever is in front of me, and keep me humble and hopeful in the faith that you are not yet finished with me. In Jesus name. Amen
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