Last Sunday we began our series from the book of Genesis and based upon Abraham and Sarah and their descendants, sometimes known as the Patriarchs. The promise of land, descendants a “blessing that you may be a blessing to all the nations” is given to Abram and Sarai (as they were known then) and this plays out through the 50 or so in the extended family tree of descendants, but more immediately the direct line through which we trace the lineage to David and later to Jesus.
But it is not a smooth ride. Abram and Sarai are already old and without children. And then their son Isaac is without a wife. And so, the promise is carried forward, spluttering and convulsing but still alive. Last week the Family were on their best behaviour – well really it was Abraham’s servant and Isaac’s wife Rebekah who were on centre stage – but this week all the family blemishes are on show. Jealousy, deception, parents playing favourites. It is all there and we are left open mouthed at how this God-anointed family can behave this way and still keep the Promise alive.
Esau and Jacob are the central characters this week and their power play hovering around the family “birthright”. We are left thinking hmm, maybe the Bible is not quite the family values book we sometimes take it for. But more importantly we are left in awe of how God can use and work through even these flawed people. And if that be true then we have hope that even us flawed people can be conveyers of the Divine hope.

Ray G.