Generations

One thing I really appreciate about the Bible is that it is
unvarnished. What I mean by that is that the Bible tells us about
our ancestors without making them out to be superheroes that
were always righteous and never made mistakes. Just look at the
families of the Patriarchs and David. They were all dysfunctional.
Right? Or, were they just regular families with difficulties,
struggles, heartaches similar to our own?
The story of Jacob and Esau is a problematic one. Rebecca was
barren for 20 years before she conceived. She received an
oracle from God that one twin would be stronger and that the
older would serve the younger. It did not say whether the strong
one would be the first born or second born. We need to resist the
temptation to paint Jacob as some weak, mama’s boy.
Remember, he later wrestled a heavenly being and prevailed.
But the birth order and the weak, strong description was
confusing. And certainly, the way it all played out is worthy of an
Agatha Christy novel. But in the end, God’s plan came to fruition.
Sometimes, our own lives mirror those of Isaac’s family. There
may be conflict, confusion, or corruption. Each one of us has a
unique personality that was formed in the womb. Look at your
own children. Whether you have just one or a dozen, no two are
the same.