In an era of "everybody gets a trophy" and "your all winners" we will find it difficult to understand the favoritism that occurs in today's reading. As a society we try to do all that we can to treat everyone equally. Everyone gets a trophy on sports teams to celebrate their participation. It doesn't matter if that player scored the game winning goal or sat on the bench for the season. Parents do not choose favorites amongst their kids and treat them all equally, in most cases. This was not the case for Esau and Jacob.
Isaac, their father had fully intended to bless his son Esau. Jacob tricked his father and received the blessing that was intended for his brother. Jacob not only successfully received his brother inheritance but also the blessing of prosperity given by their father.
25 Then he said, “My son, bring me some of your game to eat, so that I may give you my blessing.”
Jacob brought it to him and he ate; and he brought some wine and he drank. 26 Then his father Isaac said to him, “Come here, my son, and kiss me.”
27 So he went to him and kissed him. When Isaac caught the smell of his clothes, he blessed him and said,
“Ah, the smell of my son
is like the smell of a field
that the LORD has blessed.
28 May God give you heaven’s dew
and earth’s richness—
an abundance of grain and new wine.
29 May nations serve you
and peoples bow down to you.
Be lord over your brothers,
and may the sons of your mother bow down to you.
May those who curse you be cursed
and those who bless you be blessed.”
At the end of this passage we see an interaction between God and Jacob. After God makes a promise to Jacob, Jacob wakes and says something that cuaght my eye.
20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear 21 so that I return safely to my father’s household, then the LORD[f] will be my God 22 and[g] this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.”
What journey are you afraid to take? God has set up a journey for all of us but we regularly forget that the God of the Heavens will help us along the way. When we step into the will of God and walk faithfully we receive His guidance and blessings. I'm not saying that you will be rich or famous because you are following God. What I am saying is that God has your back and it is time to follow Him where He has lead you.
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