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Genesis 25:19-34

This is the account of the family line of Abraham’s son Isaac. Abraham became the father of Isaac, and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan Aram and sister of Laban the Aramean. Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was childless. The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the Lord. The Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.” When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. The first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau. 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. The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was content to stay at home among the tents. Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob. Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom.) Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.” “Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?” But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright.

By: The Rev. Craig Stephans

Rebekah voices her struggle of carrying twins in her womb. Her plea seems relevant to so many who have an unexpected pregnancy or who face suffering from illnesses or injuries. The answer that comes from the darkness often is something like, “It would be better to be dead.” Or, “Everything is ruined.” Or, “There is no hope now.” I wonder how many in our congregations are facing or will face a life dilemma that leads them to wonder, “Why do I live?”

Rebekah responds by coming out of herself and inquiring of the Lord. The Lord reveals the truth of the twins, Esau and Jacob, and shares a vision of their lives. This prophetic insight from the Lord must have encouraged Rebekah with the awareness that God heard her cry and was aware of her plight. She must have been strengthened to know God was involved in her children’s lives already and would be in the future.

There are two mindsets demonstrated in the story of Rebekah. We see her mind-the mind of the flesh; we also see the mind of the Lord-a sovereign, loving and caring mind of the Spirit that gives a higher, eternal perspective. Paul sums up this dichotomy by saying, “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” (Romans 8:5-6)

Even in a person’s most trying, overwhelming moments, like when we face the consequences of a foolish decision or a terminal illness is diagnosed, the mind set on the Spirit will have “life and peace.” This mind of peace comes from the word God speaks to us. Scripture tells us that His word is life to us. He speaks peace to his people. For those who come to Him in Christ, no matter from where, He accepts them, because, “There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1) What a great promise to offer those who feel like they have ruined their life or done something terrible.

Let us always be praying that those who listen to our preaching, teaching, or counseling will have soft, fertile hearts that will accept and guard God’s word, so that it will accomplish its purpose and produce a harvest of life and peace.