Weird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in Genesis- Day Twenty-Two
Weird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in Genesis
Weird – “of strange or extraordinary character.”
Normal – “conforming to a type, standard, or regular pattern”
Wow! What’s going on here, besides Rebekah being super dramatic? Yesterday, we left Esau wailing and crying about being deceived by Jacob (conveniently forgetting the Brunswick stew incident). And Isaac gives Esau his own blessing, the one that is fitting for him, in Gen. 27: 39-40. How will Esau react to this? Will he be humble, and try to learn from his mistakes? Will he take ownership of the blessing that Isaac has given to him, and do his best with the hand that he has been dealt? Nope.
“Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. He said to himself, ‘The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob.’” (Gen. 27: 21) Rebekah found out about the murderous intent of Esau. Mothers always know. She called Jacob in for a campfire meeting. She tells Jacob something like, “Your brother is counting the days until he can kill you. After your father dies you will be toast! I can’t stand the thoughts of losing both of my sons in one day.” Both her sons? Yes. Either Esau would kill Jacob, or vice versa. The one left would be the target for blood revenge. Rebekah’s solution? She tells Jacob, “Here is what I want you to do: Go to my brother Laban’s place and stay there for a while. When Esau’s temper calms down, and he has time to forget this, I will send for you and you can come back here.”
Now Rebekah had to figure out a way to get Isaac to think it was HIS idea to send Jacob off to Paddan Aram. I’m reminded of a line from the movie, “My Big, Fat, Greek Wedding,” Maria Portokolos tells her daughter, Toula, “The man may be the head of the house, but the woman is the neck. And the neck can turn the head any way she wants it.” This is the case for Rebekah, who says to Isaac, “I’m disgusted with living because of these Hittite women.” Now comes our question for today – which is not really a question, but a manipulation: “If Jacob marries one of these Hittite women…why should I go on living?”
Isaac takes the bait. He calls for Jacob, gave him a blessing, and sent him off to find a wife. (Gen. 28: 1-2) Rebekah was manipulative and sneaky to be sure, but God works through her free choices, both good and bad, to accomplish his purposes. God does the same for us.
Reflection: Has God ever worked something good out of a bad choice you made?
Action: Read Romans 8: 28. Write in your journal what it means to you.
Weird – “of strange or extraordinary character.”
Normal – “conforming to a type, standard, or regular pattern”
- Merriam Webster
Wow! What’s going on here, besides Rebekah being super dramatic? Yesterday, we left Esau wailing and crying about being deceived by Jacob (conveniently forgetting the Brunswick stew incident). And Isaac gives Esau his own blessing, the one that is fitting for him, in Gen. 27: 39-40. How will Esau react to this? Will he be humble, and try to learn from his mistakes? Will he take ownership of the blessing that Isaac has given to him, and do his best with the hand that he has been dealt? Nope.
“Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. He said to himself, ‘The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob.’” (Gen. 27: 21) Rebekah found out about the murderous intent of Esau. Mothers always know. She called Jacob in for a campfire meeting. She tells Jacob something like, “Your brother is counting the days until he can kill you. After your father dies you will be toast! I can’t stand the thoughts of losing both of my sons in one day.” Both her sons? Yes. Either Esau would kill Jacob, or vice versa. The one left would be the target for blood revenge. Rebekah’s solution? She tells Jacob, “Here is what I want you to do: Go to my brother Laban’s place and stay there for a while. When Esau’s temper calms down, and he has time to forget this, I will send for you and you can come back here.”
Now Rebekah had to figure out a way to get Isaac to think it was HIS idea to send Jacob off to Paddan Aram. I’m reminded of a line from the movie, “My Big, Fat, Greek Wedding,” Maria Portokolos tells her daughter, Toula, “The man may be the head of the house, but the woman is the neck. And the neck can turn the head any way she wants it.” This is the case for Rebekah, who says to Isaac, “I’m disgusted with living because of these Hittite women.” Now comes our question for today – which is not really a question, but a manipulation: “If Jacob marries one of these Hittite women…why should I go on living?”
Isaac takes the bait. He calls for Jacob, gave him a blessing, and sent him off to find a wife. (Gen. 28: 1-2) Rebekah was manipulative and sneaky to be sure, but God works through her free choices, both good and bad, to accomplish his purposes. God does the same for us.
Reflection: Has God ever worked something good out of a bad choice you made?
Action: Read Romans 8: 28. Write in your journal what it means to you.
Posted in Lenten Devotionals
Posted in blessing, good, bad, choice, accomplish, Purpose, make, decision
Posted in blessing, good, bad, choice, accomplish, Purpose, make, decision
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Lenten DevotionalsWeird is the New Normal: Day OneWeird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in GenesisWeird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in GenesisWeird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in GenesisDay 5: Weird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in GenesisWeird is the New Normal: Day SixWeird is the New Normal: Day SevenWeird is the New Normal: Day EightWeird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in Genesis Day NineWeird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in Genesis: Day TenWeird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in Genesis, Day ElevenWeird is the New Normal: A Lenten Walk Through 40 Questions in Genesis, Day Twelve
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