Yesterday's reading was Genesis 17-28. God promised an heir to Abraham -- to Abraham AND Sarah. Abraham Laughed. Sarah Laughed. Abraham bargained with God to try to save Sodom and Gomorrah from destruction. Cheeky of him.
Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed, but Lot and his daughters escaped. Isaac (laughter)was born. Hagar and Ishmael were cast out, but God provided for them.
God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac, (Laughter). No backtalk from Abraham this time. I confess I'm a little disappointed in Abraham. If he tries to save Sodom and Gomorrah, why not his own son?
At the last minute, though, God provides for Abraham and Isaac.
Abraham sends his servant to find a wife for Isaac. Her name is Rebekah. She leaves her family (brother Laban -- remember this name!) to go and live with Isaac. For 20 years she is barren, and then:
Esau and Jacob are born. Esau means red, and Jacob means heel. They are twins, but Esau is born first, and so is entitled to a birthright and his father's blessing. Jacob steals both of them, and then flees. He has his mother's help in at least some of this.
Then, on the way to visit his uncle Laban, Jacob sleeps with his head on a rock, and sees a vision of angels.
Two things:
The blessing that Isaac gives to his son -- these are just words, and yet, it is such a calamity that Jacob gets those words, and Esau doesn't. How is it that words are so powerful? Why do words matter so much?
for good or for ill, we got some strong women going on here. Can't help but notice. Sarah and Rebekah, you are not perfect people. But you are interesting people.
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