July 8th Reflection by Bill Lynch

Genesis 25:19-34
 These are the descendants of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, sister of Laban the Aramean. Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord granted his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived. The children struggled together within her; and she said, ‘If it is to be this way, why do I live?’ So she went to inquire of the Lord. And the Lord said to her,
‘Two nations are in your womb,
   and two peoples born of you shall be divided;
one shall be stronger than the other,
   the elder shall serve the younger.’
When her time to give birth was at hand, there were twins in her womb. The first came out red, all his body like a hairy mantle; so they named him Esau. Afterwards his brother came out, with his hand gripping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.

 When the boys grew up, Esau was a skilful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, living in tents. Isaac loved Esau, because he was fond of game; but Rebekah loved Jacob.
 Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was famished. Esau said to Jacob, ‘Let me eat some of that red stuff, for I am famished!’ (Therefore he was called Edom.) Jacob said, ‘First sell me your birthright.’ Esau said, ‘I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?’ Jacob said, ‘Swear to me first.’ So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank, and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

Reflection
Two nations and two babies and two men born of God's plan to lead very different lives. Both of the same family yet both so different yet both from the same mother at the same time. One ahead of the other for sure, but both the same yet very very different.

Isn't this how God works with us? Doesn't God treat us in our own unique ways? Both men would struggle and wrestle with God. In each own's way the struggle with God would continue. Yet in the end both would reunite some time later in life and find that they both have so much in common. Both have so much in common and so much different.

It seems a story of the lives of families and siblings and people everywhere throughout time. Yet all of us have something in common. We were all created and formed in the womb of God. We all have been given the gracious gift of salvation through God in flesh, Jesus Christ. We all are so different yet have so much in common.

Why can't we get along? Why do we struggle and grab the heel of another to try to gain upon one another? Why do we take from one another and trick one another? Why does sin overtake what we have in common? Why don't we all see and hear the call of Jesus to come to him? Why did God make us so different? What leads some back to God and others run away? Why?

So, we not only struggle with one another but we also struggle with God. Why? Perhaps the hope of salvation comes in the form of one that God sent. Perhaps the struggle continues as we walk with God by our side. Perhaps our "Why?" questions form the relationship that God wants us to have. Perhaps we wrestle with God to come to know God better and better. Perhaps we grab hold of Jesus not to get ahead but rather to cling to our God and follow him.

Why? and Perhaps... As Rebekah questions  The children struggled together within her; and she said, ‘If it is to be this way, why do I live?’

Why? Perhaps God wants it this way to show us Jesus.

Song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pN6GMQTQksk

Prayer
Lord, as I struggle with family, friends and you, may I hear your voice, may I question why and may I hear your perhaps... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen