Old Testament Genesis 26:17-27:46
New Testament Matthew 9:1-17
Psalm 10:16-18
Proverbs 3:9-10
Rivalry
There are numerous rivalries in this life. These rivalries vary in lore, depth, intensity, and emotion. Many will quickly think about their favorite sports team and their rival. Like the college football rivalry between Alabama and Auburn. (Auburn nation must be in mourning today after Alabama’s crowing again last night). There are other rivalries between nations as between the United States and Russia. In today’s reading we read about a rivalry between the growing descendants of Abraham and the Philistines. There is contention between the herdsman of Gerar (the land of the Philistines) and Isaac’s servants. Throughout Israel’s (the descendants of Abraham) history the Philistines are a perpetual rival in the land that was given to the seed of Abraham.
These passages also include another rivalry between a husband, wife, and their sons. Isaac loves his first born son Esau. Rebekah loves her younger son Jacob. This makes for some rivalry in the home. Chapter 27 tells the story of where Jacob and mom devise a plan to deceive Isaac and steal the family birthright/blessing from Esau. The birthright was similar to an inheritance and the majority of the inheritance went to the oldest son. Back in chapter 25 Esau sold his birthright to Jacob in a time of desperation minus wisdom. At that point he forfeited his birthright, and assumed that as time passed Jacob would forgive his short-sightedness and do what is right. Here in chapter 27 Jacob had not forgotten and is fully intent on getting what was verbally committed to him. Jacob deceives his aged father Isaac, and receives the birthright and blessing. When Esau finds out about the deception he is furious and the rivalry escalates between the brothers. The rivalry is so intense now that Esau wants to kill his brother Jacob. Rebekah advises Jacob to flee to her brother Laban in the distant land of Haran and wait until Esau’s anger subsides.
Rivalries in game and sport can be fun times filled with amusing chatter between the two sides, but rivalries between nations and families can be terribly destructive and even deadly. Protect your heart from allowing a bitter rivalry to take up residency in your heart.