What are you grasping for?

We are moving into one of the most dysfunctional of family stories. Isaac and Rebekah are married, and they have twins. Isaac favoured Esau, the older twin and skilled hunter; his father loved the BBQs Esau cooked, while Rebekah favoured Jacob, the younger son. Division has emerged in marriage.

“When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. ²⁵ The first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau.²⁶ After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob.Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them. ²⁷ The boys grew up, and Esau became a skilful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was content to stay at home among the tents. ²⁸ Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob.” (Genesis 25 v 24-28)

Imagine the scene. Jacob comes out, grasping at his brother’s heel, as if trying to pull him back. He doesn’t want to be second. He obviously doesn’t know he is in the line of the covenant promised child, Christ. Neither do his parents. Their division and his grasping are pointless. For God has a plan.

Most divisions and competitive ambitions are pointless. God has a plan.

Esau, the one you can see and feel the hairs of, is the firstborn. Jacob, the heel-grabber, the one born second but wants to be first, the deceiver, will be the main character of the Bible story.

They grow and follow different pursuits. Then comes the major schism.

“Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob.”

We know that sentence could have been written so much better, fairer, and more loving.

Isaac loved what he was getting from his son (the wild game). Rebekah just loved.

What must it do to a child to know one of their parents doesn’t love them as much as the other sibling?

Do we love conditionally?

Do we love those who feed our ego and satisfy our appetites?

Do we spend our lives grasping at heels, jealous of what was given to others?

The story is beginning. We know the end.

Importantly, we know God has a plan that can navigate the divisions, deceptions, and selfish ambitions within families and friendship circles.