May 2: The Fifth Sunday of Easter
And Isaac prayed to the LORD for his wife, because she was barren. And the LORD granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived. The children struggled together within her, and she said, “If it is thus, why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the LORD. And the LORD said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger.” –Genesis 25:21-23
Like Sarah, Isaac’s mother, Rebekah conceived not merely by natural means (if there are any!), but by the Lord’s direct intervention. Like Abraham, Isaac’s father, God announced beforehand the outcome of the lives of the children. This outcome is downright shocking.
One of these boys would have his blessing and be the blessing bearer of God’s people going forward. The other one is under curse. Malachi 1:2-3, “I have loved you,” says the LORD. But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the LORD. “Yet I have loved Jacob but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert.” With tongue-in-cheek apologies to our brothers and sisters at one parachurch ministry, God did not love Esau, nor did God have a wonderful plan for his life.
Jacob got the blessing before he had done anything good or bad. It was God’s choice by God’s grace for God’s glory. God blesses and protects and prospers Jacob in spite of Jacob’s sins: the deceptions, the scheming, the betrayals that Scripture apparently doesn’t hide one bit. Jacob was not worthy of blessing. From his perspective, he stole it: he seized the advantage of his older brother’s weakness and he lied and cheated his father. From God’s perspective, he is granted the blessing.
Sometime people get angry about this. It just seems so unfair. But that is because we don’t quickly acknowledge our sin and utter unworthiness to be accepted before a righteous and holy God. God loved Jacob not because of Jacob’s loveliness; God loved Jacob because of God’s loveliness. He’s God and he gets to call the shots and he loves his people in spite of their unloveliness. He loves people who must rely on the righteousness of another since their own righteousness is foul. And that other, perfectly righteous one is Jesus Christ, the lamb who takes away the sin of the world. He’s the one who has promised that those he washes will share in the Kingdom of Heaven, like Jacob.
And that’s the gospel! Come hear it preached and enacted in the supper with Jesus this Sunday.
The related hymns we’ll sing are:
Christ the Lord is Risen Today!
Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah, O My Soul (Psalm 146)
Be Thou My Vision
MEN’S PRAYER BREAKFAST
Calling all men: this Saturday, May 1 is our next prayer breakfast. It starts at 8:30 (the food is great!) and we’re done around 10. Enter at the northeast corner of the building (we have signs posted).
Sunday school for children (in Genesis) and adults (in Galatians) is up and running! Coffee and other treats are served at 9:15, teaching begins at 9:30, and we break to get ready for worship at 10:15.Â
Visitors are always welcome!