Living in the Spirit

July 10, 2023

Scripture Reading: Genesis 25:19-34

Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was famished. Esau said to Jacob, ‘Let me eat some of that red stuff, for I am famished!’ (Therefore he was called Edom.) Jacob said, ‘First sell me your birthright.’ Esau said, ‘I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?’ Jacob said, ‘Swear to me first.’ So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank, and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright. Genesis 25:29-34

I am a fan of some of the English mysteries available on PBS, particularly among the wealthy. They often portray family intrigues like the one described in the above scripture. The tribe of Abraham had a very well-defined culture regarding families. The firstborn was the heir apparent to take over as head of the family when the father died. This story, however, is the first one outlining the sly ways Jacob soon mastered to enrich himself. Conning his brother out of his birthright was just the first of many.

We live in a different culture at a different time, but we remain as human as Esau, Jacob, and their parents. As Christ-followers, we are challenged not to think in terms of hierarchies of people but that we are to love all people for who they are and who they are becoming.  Still, we differentiate among people for their wealth or their talent. I read a book a few years ago that made a compelling argument that the USA operates in a caste system, Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, by Isabel Wilkerson. I cannot envision a world where we are all the same. We need to work toward a world where everyone has enough and feels loved and cherished.

Prayer: Lord, help us guard against being caught in the clutches of greed and enable us to build the beloved community to support that vision.  Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.