Genesis 27:1-4, 15-23; 28:10-17 “Unworthy Recipients”
INTRODUCTION
There are many Biblical figures that I admire. Jacob is not one of them. Personally, I like the prophet Samuel. He is portrayed in the Scripture as a man of integrity and without guile. I think King David was a great man. Yes, he did have a problem with Bathsheba, but he was a fierce warrior, a compassionate king and David was once described as a, “man after God’s own heart.” Jacob was a liar and a cheat.
Though there is nothing admirable about Jacob, we can learn a great deal by reflecting on his story. It may make us uncomfortable, but when we see God’s relationship with Jacob, we realize that there are many similarities between Jacob and us.
AN IMPOSTER
The writer of Genesis paints an unflattering portrait of Jacob. His brother, Esau, was big, hairy and a great hunter. Esau was a man’s man and his father’s favorite. Jacob had a slight build and smooth skin. He did not like hunting so he decided to become a shepherd. Rejected by his father, Jacob became his mother’s favorite and developed into a “mommy’s boy.”
In order to be accepted by his father and receive his father’s blessings, Jacob had to pretend to be his brother. He covered his arms with goat skins, in order to appear hairy, and lowered his voice.
It’s fun to dress up and pretend we’re someone else when we are children growing up. Putting on a costume and pretending to be a ghoul or a super hero is how we celebrate Halloween. Pretending that we are someone else when we are an adult, though, it not fun. Yet, we have all done it.
We have sacrificed our individuality in order to be part of a group. We did that when we were in high school and we do that now. We find ourselves in a mold that doesn’t quite fit. In the middle of personal turmoil and pain, we put on a happy face. If anyone asks how we are, we reply, “I’m fine, thanks.” We have lost the ability, as a society, to enter into conversation and dialogue. There are times when we find ourselves in groups that do not speak or act in ways that reflect what we believe. We keep silent because we don’t want to rock the boat or start an argument—and we hate ourselves for it.
The good news is that the Lord did not reject Jacob, nor does God turn away from us. God has made us as unique individuals. God has looked at us and said, “I like my creation.” God wants us to be the people whom God made us to be.
AFRAID OF THE DARK
Jacob was a cheat and a liar. He was not a nice person. Jacob had a dark side to him that he was unwilling to recognize, to confess or to change. We too are people with dark sides—thoughts and actions that are destructive to others that do not exemplify the teachings of Jesus and that do not honor our Lord.
Today we are being challenged, as a society and as individuals, to confront our racism. I am amazed at how quickly and adamantly we deny that we are racist. I am reminded of those occasions when I have been involved with helping a person realize that he is an alcoholic. Invariably, the first words out of his mouth are, “I am not.” The person has painted a picture of alcoholism all around himself, yet he will deny it.
I am a prejudiced person—and so are we all. When it comes to people of different color, I am a racist. When it comes to the opposite sex, I am a sexist. When it comes to people of different religious faiths, I am a Christian elitist.
• I don’t want to admit that as a white male I am very privileged. To people of different color I want to say, “We whites made it so can you.” When statues are pulled down I get upset. “That’s my history you’re attacking,” I say. I don’t want to see your history. I don’t want to think that I live in a society where as a white male I have never had to sit my sons down and have “The Talk” about what to do if pulled over by a police officer.
• As a white male I do not see any glass ceiling. I laugh at the actresses who complain about getting a few million dollars less than their male counter parts.
• For millennia that Christian Church has believed that we have a franchise on the absolute truth. I find myself questioning the faith claims of those from other religions.
While touring a refugee camp in Africa, a noted African Christian leader was asked what he thought was the major problem in the world he immediately replied, “Materialism.” When asked why he said, “Because it causes us always to think about ourselves.” Most people assumed the leader would say “war,” “communism,” or “tribal rivalries.” As followers of Jesus, we admit that we live in a materialist society. Few of us, however, face the reality of materialism in our lives. I speak as a person who has a very nice home and a great car with plenty of clothes and delicious food. I think more about wanting more for myself rather than considering what simplification and less would do for those who are struggling to survive.
These are only two items. As the scripture says, “For out of the heart come evil thoughts-murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander” (Matthew 15:19). There is a dark side to us. God did not dessert Jacob and God doesn’t dessert us either. The Holy Spirit can move within us, convicting us of our sin, convincing us of God’s forgiveness and giving us the ability to change and take on more of God’s image.
COMPANION FOR THE JOURNEY
At the end of our text, Jacob has fled his brother’s wrath and headed into the unknown. He has left everything and does not know what the future holds.
God appeared to Jacob, in Jacob’s dream and assured Jacob that “God was with him and would keep him wherever he went.” Broken, imperfect and in need, God made a commitment to Jacob never to leave him.
We make grand plans for the future, but we have no guarantee that those plans will ever come to fruition. Certainly we have no control over the future. We try to convince ourselves that we are invincible, but over and over again we are reminded at how precious and fragile life is. Questioning and somewhat frightened we take are next step into the future. We can do so boldly with the knowledge that God is with us and has promised that nothing is capable of separating us from God.
CONCLUSION
Jacob’s life was not an easy one. He slaved for fourteen years to marry the love of his life, Rachel. A great deal of his life was lived in exile. Eventually, however, he was reconciled with his brother. Through it all, God was constantly by his side.
We step into the future as individuals and as a community of believers. We do not know what the future holds. We do know that we will constantly be challenged to be ourselves while at the same time dealing with the dark side of our lives. We also know that the future hold incredible promise because God is there.
Amen.
