Again we see the formulaic opening phrase, “These are the
generations of…” Now we will hear the
story of Isaac, the narrative will change focus from Abraham to his son. Like Sarah, Rebekah is barren but her husband
Isaac prays for her and the Lord opens her womb. This time, there will be a double “blessing”,
not one child but two. There will,
however, be difficulty in this blessing, they will struggle with one another
for much of their lives. The parents
love is divided between the boys, never a good thing. The word of the Lord was sure concerning the
boys, the elder would serve the younger.
What would their lives have looked like if Rebekah and Jacob had trusted
that word? Instead, we see Esau selling
his birthright because he is hungry.
That Jacob was unwilling to provide for his brother’s hunger reveals
something of his character and desires as well.
Esau’s hunger is immediate while Jacob’s hunger is for the inheritance
and is willing to wait for gratification.
On the last day of the feast the liturgy involves pouring
out water as a symbol of their trust in the Lord to provide. In the wilderness water was a scarce commodity
but now in the land they trusted the Lord to provide the rains regularly so the
pouring out of water was a sign that they had no fear concerning this
provision. During this liturgy Jesus
“cried out” an offer to believe in Him to receive living waters of the Spirit
much like the promise He offered the woman at the well. When He hears them speaking of His coming
from Galilee after all they have seen and heard you have to believe He wanted
to bang His head against the wall and tell them the story of His birth in
Bethlehem but He doesn’t set that record straight. The guards are making a right judgment but
the leaders are only interested in where Jesus lives. Nicodemus, who has had a private audience
with Jesus, knows there is something more, he is haunted by the words Jesus
spoke to him that night, he knows there is more to life than the material and
that there is more spirit than flesh in Jesus’ words. He is thirsty for the right things.
The writer sees that our biggest problem is our desires. He
warns against sexual immorality, the love of money, and other desires of the
flesh. Much of the “strange teaching”
that leads us astray simply appeals to our fleshly desires. Today we are offered the promise of health
and wealth, that we can have everything we want in this life and that is
proclaimed as the Word of the Lord. The
Gospel offer is to take up our cross and follow Jesus, blessed are you who are
persecuted, when you are slandered, that we will be hated just has He was
hated, to seek first the kingdom of God rather than concerning ourselves
primarily with things of earth. Do we
sell our own birthright as children of God for a mess of pottage to satisfy our
hungers? Do we concern ourselves more
with physical thirst and neglect the spiritual thirst?
But let your hand be
on the man of your right hand,
the son of man whom you have made strong for
yourself!
Then we shall not turn
back from you;
give us life, and we will call upon your
name!
Restore us, O LORD God
of hosts!
Let your face shine, that we may be saved!
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