Genesis 25:19-34, 26
What is your story? Is it filled with contentious relationships? The following story is about two brothers and their contentious relationship.
Isaac and Rebekah, were the parents of twin boys. Isaac was 40 when he and Rebekah wed. Isaac was 60 when the twins were born. While Rebekah carried the boys in her womb, they were quite active and she went to the LORD, Who told her, two nations are in your womb; two boys will be born, one will be stronger and the first born will serve his younger brother.
The first born was red, and they named him Esau. The second son had hold of his brother’s heel when he was born. They named him Jacob.
Esau was Isaac’s favorite. Esau became an outdoorsman and liked to hunt. Isaac liked to eat what his son brought back.
Jacob was his mother, Rebekah’s favorite. Jacob liked to be home and was a peaceful man.
Both parents loved their favorites over the other twin. Do parents really help their children when they have decided favorites? It will lead to contentious relationships with the children.
An example: one day, Esau came in from hunting. He was very hungry and he felt like he was starving… makes me wonder if his hunt was fruitless.
Jacob was making a stew, it smelled wonderful. And Esau walked by, smelled the stew, and asked for a bowl. Jacob said, sure, if you sell me your birthright as the oldest son. Esau was so hungry, he thought, if I die from starvation, my birthright won’t do me any good. Esau agreed. And got a bowl of stew.
Esau despised his birthright for a bowl of stew.
How often do we want instant gratification without caring about the consequences? Esau did and he lost out, big time!
God’s Word ~ Alive!
Hebrews 12:15-16
“See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God;
that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble,
and by it many be defiled;
that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau,
who sold his own birthright for a single meal.”
Are your relationships filled with contention?