Soap Opera

Genesis 27:1-9,15-29

         I commented the other day about some of the horrible things that are contained in Holy Scripture along side the poetry, the love stories and the like. I said it's enough to make a person decide not to delve into this story of love between God and his people. In todays passage from Genesis, always a treasure trove, we have a story that rivals any scene from todays soap opera's. Really, it reads like a soap opera.

         What is the basis of this whole story? What's the moral of the story or the take home point?  In this particular case, it appears that a mother and a favored son will do anything to get the blessing of the father. Such a blessing is held in very high regard even if it is obtained by falsety.

           Today we remember Bohemian Jon Hus who railed against the sale of indulgences in the church in the late 1300's to early 1400's. ( and to raise money to wage war no less! ). It seems even in that time, to get a blessing, such indulgences were dearly sought after. Again, even if obtained by falsety. It seems we humans will do almost anything to be justified, blessed and be perceived as Holy.

             The truth is that to be blessed by our heavenly father really is worth everything. If you have God's blessing you know you are loved and that you are looked on as a favored son. What is hilarious is that we need not pay anything! All we need do is accept God's love. Pre-paid if you well. Why would anyone use larceny to obtain something when it is freely given? I suppose to the person or people 'selling' the goods, it gives them a sense of power. It reminds me of the stories of guys trying to sell the Brooklyn Bridge to some unsuspecting person. You can't sell what not yours to sell. You can't get God's love by money or indulgences because God's love is freely given to all.

          All you need do is say 'yes' to God and say thank you. Your blessings are free and beyond measure.

Isaac Blesses Jacob

When Isaac was old and his eyes were dim so that he could not see, he called his elder son Esau and said to him, ‘My son’; and he answered, ‘Here I am.’ He said, ‘See, I am old; I do not know the day of my death. Now then, take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field, and hunt game for me. Then prepare for me savoury food, such as I like, and bring it to me to eat, so that I may bless you before I die.’
Now Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to his son Esau. So when Esau went to the field to hunt for game and bring it, Rebekah said to her son Jacob, ‘I heard your father say to your brother Esau, ⁷“Bring me game, and prepare for me savoury food to eat, that I may bless you before the Lord before I die.” Now therefore, my son, obey my word as I command you. Go to the flock, and get me two choice kids, so that I may prepare from them savoury food for your father, such as he likes; Then Rebekah took the best garments of her elder son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them on her younger son Jacob; and she put the skins of the kids on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck. Then she handed the savoury food, and the bread that she had prepared, to her son Jacob.
So he went in to his father, and said, ‘My father’; and he said, ‘Here I am; who are you, my son?’ Jacob said to his father, ‘I am Esau your firstborn. I have done as you told me; now sit up and eat of my game, so that you may bless me.’ But Isaac said to his son, ‘How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?’ He answered, ‘Because the Lord your God granted me success.’ Then Isaac said to Jacob, ‘Come near, that I may feel you, my son, to know whether you are really my son Esau or not.’ So Jacob went up to his father Isaac, who felt him and said, ‘The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.’ He did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau’s hands; so he blessed him. He said, ‘Are you really my son Esau?’ He answered, ‘I am.’ Then he said, ‘Bring it to me, that I may eat of my son’s game and bless you.’ So he brought it to him, and he ate; and he brought him wine, and he drank. Then his father Isaac said to him, ‘Come near and kiss me, my son.’ So he came near and kissed him; and he smelled the smell of his garments, and blessed him, and said,
‘Ah, the smell of my son
   is like the smell of a field that the Lord has blessed.
May God give you of the dew of heaven,
   and of the fatness of the earth,
   and plenty of grain and wine.
Let peoples serve you,
   and nations bow down to you.
Be lord over your brothers,
   and may your mother’s sons bow down to you.
Cursed be everyone who curses you,
   and blessed be everyone who blesses you!’