From Our Brokenness
- Jul 9
- 3 min read
21 Isaac prayed to the LORD for his wife because she was barren, and the LORD granted his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived. 22 The children struggled together within her, and she said, "If it is to be this way, why do I live?" So she went to inquire of the LORD. 23 And the LORD said to her, "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples born of you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other; the elder shall serve the younger." 24 When her time to give birth was at hand, there were twins in her womb. 25 The first came out red, all his body like a hairy mantle, so they named him Esau. 26 Afterward his brother came out, with his hand gripping Esau's heel, so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them. (Genesis 25:21-26)
Isaac and Rebekah were married for twenty years before Isaac prayed for God to open Rebekah's barren womb. God then, seemingly immediately, enabled Rebekah to conceive. Then, during her difficult pregnancy, Rebekah called out to God, and God informed her that two nations were struggling within her - and the eldest would serve the younger one. Indeed, when the twins were born, the second child came out grasping the heel of his brother. Once the couple got through the difficult conception and delivery, they seem to have decided there was no further need to turn to God, and it showed! It's possible that God's pronouncement played a role in Rebekah choosing the younger, Jacob, as her favorite. We aren't told that she shared this information with Jacob, but his actions suggest that he considered everything of value that his brother, Esau, had to be rightfully his. Jacob, first, used a moment of Esau's weakness to acquire his birthright - the rights to two-thirds of their father's wealth. Later, Jacob would trick his, by then, elderly and blind father into thinking he was Esau so his father
would give him the eldest's blessing.
It's very easy to view Jacob negatively, and wonder why God didn't step in to right the injustices that he was perpetrating - or at least reprimand him. But God is not constrained by human traditions or actions. God has enough blessings for everyone. Much like God blessed Ishmael, despite Sarah sending him and his mother away, God would go on to bless Esau with many descendants and great wealth of his own. As for Jacob, his choices (as we will see in the coming week) would eventually shape in him the humility and reverence needed for him to truly step into the role God always intended for him. God doesn't need our help to fulfill God's promises, yet God will use every choice - even every seemingly "wrong" turn or poor decision - to mold our hearts, minds, and souls into the vessels of blessing we are intended to be. We don't need to fret over the things others do, or don't do, any more than we need to be perfect ourselves. God's got it and God's got us! Always.
10 For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose and succeed in the thing for which I sent it. 12 For you shall go out in joy and be led back in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. 13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle, and it shall be to the LORD for a memorial, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
(Isaiah 55:10-13)
Enjoy this original song by yours truly!
...And this beautiful worship song!
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