Reading: Genesis 25:19-28

Verse 23: “Two nations are in your womb… the older will serve the younger.”

Similar to the story of Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah find themselves without children. Rebekah is barren and unable to bring any children into their lives. Sitting on his dad’s knee Isaac must have surely heard the promise of God making Abraham and Sarah into a great nation. And yet no children for Isaac and Rebekah. So Isaac prays to the Lord and God answers. Rebekah becomes pregnant, bearing twins. Almost from the get-go, these twins “jostled each other,” even in the womb. Rebekah asks why. God responds, “Two nations are in your womb… the older will serve the younger.” This also parallels the Ishmael-Isaac story found in Genesis 21.

God is at work in this situation too. Esau, the older, is born hairy and red, a “man of the open country.” Esau is tough and rugged, a skilled hunter. Isaac, the father, favors Esau. Jacob comes out second, already grasping at Esau’s firstborn status. Jacob is an indoorsy kind of person. Rebekah, the mother, takes a liking to him.

The rivalry and favoritism will play out tomorrow in the readings in the weeks to come. Both are evidence of God’s guiding hand, even at work in spite of human decisions and actions. Through the twists and turns and in the hard-to-believe moments, God remains at work, orchestrating, redirecting, leading and guiding, even wrestling. This love of God remains at work, in the world and in our lives. Thanks be to God.

Prayer: Lord God, you hear our cries and you answer our prayers. You lead and guide, you direct and redirect when necessary. Thank you for a love that never gives up on us, even when we don’t walk according to your plan. Thank you for that grace. Amen.