Changing the Rules

Genesis 25:19-34 Changing the Rules 7th Sunday after Pentecost Year A Prelude Greeting Call to Worship Your grace is a lamp for our hearts, O God. Light our way through the shadows of this world. When we struggle with questions and doubts, tell us your stories of hope and grace. When we are about to wander off into the wilderness, show us the paths to your peace and joy. (Lectionary Liturgies, Thom Shuman) Invocation God who gathers us together, we delight to be in community with you and one another. Let your word be proclaimed in truth. Let us burst into songs that reflect the depths of our spirits. May our prayers be formed in your name and granted by your wisdom. May we know you, Divine Mystery, and ourselves better and deeper because we have entered your presence as a community of faithful, questioning, and hope-seeking participants in your kindom. Amen. (United Church of Christ, Cheryl Lindsay) Song Thy Word is a Lamp UMH 601 A Sermon for all Ages Children's Sermon: "God Has Enough Love for Everyone" Scripture: Genesis 25:19-34 Object Lesson: Two toy cars (or stuffed animals) and a small gift box Good morning, boys and girls! Today I brought two toys with me. (Hold up the two toys.) Let's pretend these are two brothers. Can anyone tell me if you have a brother or sister? (Allow a few responses.) Now, here's another question. Have you ever argued with your brother or sister? Maybe you argued about who gets the front seat in the car. Maybe who gets the biggest cookie. Maybe whose turn it is to play with a favorite toy. Brothers and sisters don't always get along, do they? In today's Bible story, we meet two brothers named Jacob and Esau. They were twins! But even before they were born, they were pushing and bumping each other. As they grew up, they became very different people. Esau loved hunting outside, and Jacob liked staying closer to home. One day Esau came home hungry, and Jacob had made some delicious stew. Instead of being kind to his brother, Jacob asked Esau to give him something very important in exchange for a bowl of soup. The brothers were thinking mostly about themselves instead of loving each other. Have you ever wanted something so badly that you forgot to be kind? We all do that sometimes. (Hold up the gift box.) This gift box reminds me of something important. Sometimes we think that if someone else gets something good, there won't be enough left for us. But God's love isn't like cookies in a cookie jar. God's love never runs out! There is enough love, enough grace, enough forgiveness, and enough blessings for everyone. Jacob didn't have to trick his brother because God already had a plan for his life. Esau didn't have to make a quick decision just because he was hungry. He could have trusted God to take care of him. Sometimes we get jealous when someone else gets attention, wins a prize, or gets to do something special. But God reminds us that He has a special plan for every one of us. When we trust God, we don't have to fight to be first. We don't have to be jealous. We don't have to compare ourselves with others. Instead, we can celebrate each other, help each other, and remember that every person is loved by God. The next time you argue with your brother, sister, or friend, stop and ask yourself: "Can I trust God instead of trying to get my own way?" When we trust God, He helps us choose kindness over fighting and love over jealousy. Let's pray. Prayer: Dear God, Thank You for loving each one of us. Help us not to be jealous or selfish. Teach us to be kind to our brothers, sisters, and friends. Help us trust that You have a wonderful plan for each of our lives. Thank You for loving us more than we can imagine. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. (ChatGPT) Responsive Reading Psalm 119:105-112 UMH 840 Passing of the Peace Prayer for illumination Holy Creator, the earth is yours, and all that is in it. We give you thanks for the beauty of the earth, for the creatures that fill it, and for your providence, which stands beneath and above and within it all. Now grant us hearts open to your grace, eyes open to your wonders and ears open to your Holy Word. Let your Holy Spirit dwell with us, that we may be renewed in our commitment to the way, the truth and the life of Jesus Christ. Amen. (Presbyterian Outlook, Aaron Shepherd) Scripture Genesis 25:19-34 Sermon Changing the Rules Jesus tells us that the first be last and that the last shall be first. As disciples of Christ we are told to celebrate the great reversal of life. For many of us, it is the only way that we will get ahead, if God’s grace turns the tables. Even though Jesus teaches us this principle, it is older than him. As a matter of fact, his mother Mary says these exact words when she learns that she will become pregnant with Jesus. She celebrates that the first will be last and the last shall be first. She says that those who are rich will be pulled down, and those who are struggling will be lifted up. Life does not always go as expected. The people who get ahead in this world do not get ahead in God’s world. Life has a way of helping us out. The bible has always told us that God favors those on the bottom, the underdog, the one least expected to succeed. I think we can all relate to being the underdog. We can all celebrate grace in our lives. Unfortunately, we tend to associate grace with God and the old Testament with the law. Yet this important concept goes all the way back to our story today. The story of Isaac’s twins, Jacob and Esau. Esau the hairy one was still the oldest by just a few seconds. His brother Jacob was born grabbing his brother’s ankles – he spent the rest of his life grabbing a hold of his older brother’s life. Even in the womb these 2 brothers fought. They brought a conflict into the world that many say continues even today. This story is important – it is called the reversal of the primogeniture. Primogeniture is just a fancy way of saying that the first son inherits most of his father’s money, title and life. The biblical stories were all about establishing order and the Jewish law. This order, was just how things were done, you didn’t question it, you just knew your place in life. So far in Genesis, we have heard of the stories of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Neither of them were oldest brothers, yet they were the ones who carried on the promises of God into modern times. This is the story of the promise, the order and the law. But it is also the story of how grace works in our lives, our family and in history. In life the only this that you can expect – is the unexpected. In the bible stories it is usually the underdog, the unexpected, that God’s grace works through. Jacob the grabber was the underdog of the story – but he was far from nice. He was a trickster who had to connive for everything that he achieved in life. Paul, the greatest missionary of the Christian era, once remarked that God doesn't always use the wisest, strongest and most moral people to bring his message. Instead God uses the foolish, the weak and the lowly -- just to prove a point (1 Corinthians 1:27-29). That truth certainly holds when it comes to those chosen by God as the patriarchs of ancient Israel. God works through us, in spite of us and even on our behalf. God works in spite of our drama. There is just as much drama in the bible as any soap opera on television. We each have flaws but we are a vital part of the story. Just as each person in this story was a part of the drama. Rebekah didn’t really want kids. She went through 20 years of marriage with children. When she finally got pregnant, it wasn’t one it was twins. She had a very difficult pregnancy. When the twins were born she favored on over the other. She manipulated their whole lives, so that her favorite would come out ahead. Isaac was blind, but he was also spiritually blind. He let his son’s live life with no supervision. Jacob had no right to belittle his brother over a meal intended for the whole family. Esau – gave up his birthright for a meal. He was so entrenched in survival mode that he totally lost sight of the future. Jacob was a trickster. He had not concept of trusting God. He thought he has to outthink everyone to get what he wanted. He lived his whole life looking over his shoulder – even as an adult – he did not trust his relatives. The interesting thing is – God has no part in this story. God is silent in the midst of all of this. In earlier stories, God speaks clearly to tell people what to do. In this story there is nothing. And yet when we read it today, we can see clearly that grace permeates the whole story. The first becomes last and the last becomes first. In spite of the drama, all a part of God’s plan. Jacob grabbed his brother’s birthright. I think at some point we have played a part of each of the characters. Who needs soap operas when you have life, family and church members. But the lesson for us is that in our relationships with one another, to remember our relationship with God. Other lessons – in times of barronness and the feeling that God has forgot us – be careful what you ask for. And be prepared for the drama that comes with it. It is ok to be hungry – just stay hungry for the right things. Hunger for righteousness, for God for grace. Don’t let our hunger rob us of our trust in God’s promises. A minister had a conversation with a fellow in his late 30s who expressed concern about his inability to earn enough money to support his family adequately. "I dropped out of college to get this lousy job. If only I had finished school, my life would be so different. This job has no future." That fellow's lack of present discipline cost him dearly. He sold his birthright for a bowl of soup. That happens regularly in a multitude of ways. Without present discipline, future possibilities are sacrificed. Never sell yourself short. You have enormous potential. We can be grateful that we all inherited the birthright form Jacob, we are all children of God. Like many people, Esau mistook the difference between price and value. Price is what you pay for something. Value is what it's worth. A long time ago, Archbishop Taylor is reported to have said something to the effect, "Life is a display window in a store in which some mischievous person has gotten in overnight and changed all the price tags so that the cheap things are priced quite highly, while the truly valuable things are priced quite cheaply." Therein lies a wonderful lesson. Your birthright is the same. You are the loved child of God. You are worthwhile. Don't relinquish that gift. Circumstances may not be easy. You may have grown up in a dysfunctional home -- like Esau. You may not be a particularly gifted person -- like Esau. Others may take advantage of you -- as they did Esau. Your mother may not like you. Rebekah didn't like Esau. You may encounter one problem right after another -- as did Esau. But you are God's loved child. You are worthwhile. That is your birthright. You can rise above anything. Believe that and live as though you believe it. Finally, be grateful for grace. Many of those strict rules that serve a few and oppress many are still in effect today. Those rules don’t have the final word in life. In history, Jacob became the hero, but I think Esau was also a hero. The story says that he despised his inheritance. It is interesting that if the oldest inherited 50% of his fathers wealth, then Jacob would have gotten the other 50% anyway. But for Esau, inheritance meant nothing without his brother. Both twins went on to have big families. For centuries the Edomites and the Israelites lived side by side. Sometime peacefully, sometimes not. Eventually after the temple was destroyed, the Jews conquered the Edomites and forced them to convert to Judaism. Today they are an integrated part of Israel. Today it is Jacob’s story that remains. Jacob, who was renamed Israel later in life realized that in spite of all of his conniving, he still needed God. And so do we. Our only hope comes from the fact that he who calls us never said, "Be certain that your lives are pure and spotless and your motives beyond reproach, and then you can come and follow Me." If he had, there could be no followers. Most of us can identify with one or the other of these brothers; occasionally, we might even be able to identify with both. Our part, in the whole process of growing in grace, is to recognize our lives are tainted, we are saved by God's grace alone, and - like the sons of Isaac - though we might be dominated by different kinds of sins, none of us can boast of our superior moral character. In our better moments, that realization has a beneficial effect on us, because it helps us to recognize the power and the glory and the redemption of the world are not ours, never ours, but his, always his. Yet, as in the case of Jacob, he chooses to use such flawed instruments to work out his purposes. If we choose to follow him, even though we are weak, half-hearted, and of little faith, he will put us to work for him. And such is his love, his ingenuity, and his power, that even such feeble witnesses as we can be used to lead others to him. CSS Publishing, Lima, Ohio, There is a poem that says To live above with those we love, Well, that will be glory. To live below with those we know, Well, that’s another story. If we plan to live above with those we love Well, here’s the rest of the story. We must live below with those we know Empowered by God’s grace and glory. Thank God for grace and glory. Let us pray……… Song Hymn of Promise UMH 707 Pastoral Prayer Holy God, you are a mystery hidden beyond all sense and understanding, yet you are as near to us as our very breath. As we breathe this word of prayer together, allow your Holy Spirit to enter into the deepest ground of our being, and bind us as one body with you and all the communion of the faithful in every time and place. Lord, we live in a time of great struggle: of nation against nation, of faction and faction, party against party, neighbor against neighbor. So many struggle to put food on the table, or keep a roof over their head, or to provide care to those they love. Meet us in the struggle, and comfort us with your quiet courage to struggle on. Holy Jesus, you know us by name; hear us now as we name those who need your tender care. (Here, the worship leader may add prayer concerns and joys from the community, being sure to address them by name[first name only is suggested].) God, your thoughts are not our thoughts, and your ways are not our ways, yet we abide in your peace for you have given it freely to us. Loosen our anxiously tightened hearts; open our fearfully clenched hands; shake us out of our screen-induced reveries. Let us see the world with a new vision: through the eyes of faith, let us perceive your way of justice in places of injustice. Let us recognize the humanity in those who are treated inhumanely. Let us know that you are God alone, and that in serving you, we are made stronger. Bless these prayers, and those offered in the silence of our hearts, and receive them with grace. (Presbyterian Outlook, Aaron Shepherd) Lord’s Prayer Stewardship Moment In Matthew 13, we hear Jesus’ telling of the parable of the sower and an explanation of the meaning behind the parable. Using everyday language which could be easily understood by those who planted and waited eagerly for the harvest, Jesus uses familiar images to inspire his disciples to be good soil which bears fruit. How do we see and understand these images today? Some of us may find we don’t actually hear or understand anything at all about God’s Realm…like seed scattered on a hard path. Some of us may feel excited as we experience worship, but as soon as we walk out the door, our minds and hearts are focused somewhere completely removed from what we’ve heard or experienced…like seed unable to root into the ground. Yet others find their energies completely absorbed by everyday cares and concerns…like seed in the thorns. However, some of us are like good soil, allowing Good News to take root and flower into lives of justice, love and compassion. When THAT happens, we’re energized to share our time, our talents and yes, even our treasure. Today, I invite you to make an offering. We’re eager to turn your gifts into ministry, so let your desires to work, to lead, to pray, to pay, let your gifts become part of nurturing not only your life but the life of this congregation! Joyfully, let’s share what we’ve been given as we receive our morning offering. Prayer of Thanksgiving Loving God, We freely offer these gifts, eager to be part of your beloved Realm on earth. Accept our finances and the time and talents we offer, eager to translate what’s here into a harvest which is 30, 60 or 100 times greater than what is before us today. In joyful anticipation, we give thanks! AMEN (Disciples of Christ Center for Faith and Giving) Announcements Sending Prayer for YouTube Go forth as God's people. We will sow seeds of love and joy in the world. Go forth as Christ's true friends. We will sow seeds of justice and hope in oppression-strewn paths. Go forth as the Spirit's love. We will sow seeds of peace and reconciliation in every corner of creation. (c) Thom M. Shuman Community Time – Joys and Concerns Benediction May the Spirit who dwells in you bless you with open minds to receive God’s wisdom, open hearts to follow God’s guidance, and open doors that we may together build God’s kingdom of life and peace on earth as it is in heaven. Amen. Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, January 2026. Additional Illustrations But first let me say a word about the birthright itself. In the Hebrew tradition, a birthright was really the right of the first-born son. It included holding “a position of honor as head of the family and a double share of the inheritance.” In this particular case, one would assume it also meant inheriting the promise made to Abraham of a great nation and of a new land. So this was no small thing that Esau traded away in a matter of minutes -- and all for a bowl of lentils! Why did he do so? The easy answer is that he was just stupid. He did not understand the value of the birthright and so he was easily tricked out of it by a cunning younger brother. Jesus evidently was aware of the “birthright blues” syndrome. He even dedicated an entire parable to speak to it. You do remember the story about the talents, don’t you? The master called his servants together and to one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one. When he returned to receive back the money he had entrusted to them, the ones with two and five talents had used them wisely and doubled their worth, but the one who had only one talent had buried it in the ground. If you ask me, he had a bad case of the “birthright blues.” He was ashamed of what had been given to him. He treated it as if it had little value at all. The master was very angry with this ungrateful servant! But I have to admit, it is very easy to slip into those “birthright blues.” It is very easy to feel sorry for oneself. It is very easy to find others who receive “more” or “better.” So when we stand next to someone with a better body, a better brain, a prettier face, why not succumb to a little “birthright blues?” And why not follow Esau’s example? Why not misuse what we have been given? Why not settle for the moment instead of waiting for a future payoff? Why not take something that God gave as special and treat it as though it were worth nothing? This human dilemma is why this Old Testament lesson is so important to us and so relevant. It asks us if we join Esau in hating our birthright. It asks us if we are willing to settle for the moment, if we treat cheaply what has great value, if we pity ourselves when we have been given much. Then, as Buechner would say, "However, if tragedy is inevitable, comedy is unforeseeable. Esau valued his birthright cheaply and paid a high price for a bowl of lentil soup. When you see someone driving a $40,000 car, but they tell you they don't have time to spend with their children or their spouse, you're talking to someone who has sold his birthright for a bowl of stew. When somebody tells you that they don't have the time or the desire to take care of their health--they're too busy to exercise or eat right--you're talking to someone who has sold her birthright for a bowl of stew. When somebody tells you they don't have time for the things of God--to read their Bible or to be in worship--you're talking to someone who has sold his birthright for a bowl of stew. Martha and Mary, Samson, David, Esau –these are all stories of distraction. It is not always by a conscious sin that we turn away from God, but more often from the simple things in everyday life that at the time feel more important than worship, more important than prayer. They make us anxious. They make us turn away. It is in the moment of turning away that we lose sight of God. The word “despised” (bazah) as in “Esau despised his birthright” means to dis-esteem, to scorn, to be reckless or careless with, to disdain.* The birthright of Esau is a sacred right to bear or carry the covenant forward. But Esau doesn’t not seem to care much about that. He easily gives away that honor with God in order to seek that “red stuff.” Whether red stew or vegetables of the field or earth, the word adom (red stuff), Edom (to boil, to act presumptuously) is related also to the word adama. Esau is concerned with the things of the world, the things he can sensorily know. He is therefore easily deceived. Esau came in from the “field” exhausted and was distracted by both his exhaustion and the smell of Jacob’s stew. He was reckless with his right to God’s covenantal line and therefore lost it.** The “deception” later carried out by mother and son Jacob was therefore not a deception but the carrying out of prophecy. The metaphor of “stew” is wonderful in its link to edom (boiling over) and the plot cooked up by Jacob’s mother. As the stew boils, so too does the plot, as prophecy is fulfilled. There are five more verbs that report that rest of Esau's behavior in this incident. They are ate, drank, rose, departed, and despised. The first four tell us that he did not savor his costly meal; he just shoveled it in and left. The last verb, "despised," is the narrator's comment on Esau's awful decision. In trading off his valuable birthright for a meal — and a pretty ordinary one at that — he, in effect, despised his birthright, treated it as though it wasn't worth much. There is a Yiddish folk expression that comes out of this biblical story. When someone is rude at the table or just "stuffs his face," it is said pejoratively that he "eats like Esau."2 In the eighth chapter of the letter to the Romans, the Apostle Paul describes his own experience of coming into relationship with God, and also the relationship with God into which we can come. The chapter starts with the words, "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1). Paul goes on to talk about discovering that we are beloved children of God and about living in a growing, life-shaping relationship with God. And he ends by saying that nothing in the whole creation can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. If we can find our way into that kind of a relationship with God, we will have a new confidence in our own personhood and that can change a lot of things in our lives. It can enable us to deal constructively with conflicts by claiming God's assurance for ourselves and by sharing it with others. That kind of affirmation of personhood can make a difference. We can imagine that it could have made a difference if both Isaac and Rebecca had made a conscious effort to affirm the unique personhood of both of their sons. Could it be that the first step in the resolution of our conflicts is to find our way into that wholeness that takes away our vulnerability? Could it be that the second step is to affirm the personhood of the other so that he or she can also gain the freedom that comes with identity and security? Of course, that will not solve all of our problems and make all of our conflicts go away. But it will set us free to do the hard work of resolving conflicts. The play, 1776, dramatizes the meetings of the Second Continental Congress that eventually produced the Declaration of Independence that made this country a separate nation. The play does a great job of laying bare all of the different kinds of conflict that existed between the people who were delegates to the conference. There were personality differences, differences in disposition, regional prejudices, conflicting economic interests, and differences in personal ambitions. At times, it seemed that the conflicts would prevent the congress from taking any decisive action. But eventually, through long and painful processes, the conflicts were worked through. The Declaration of Independence was signed, and a new nation was born. The story of Jacob and Esau eventually had a happy ending. Jacob lived away from his family for years and learned a lot through interactions with God and with life. The Bible tells us his story. It doesn't tell us much about what was going on in Esau's life at the time, but he must have been doing some learning, too. Finally, Jacob returned to his homeland bringing with him the family and servants and possessions that he had gained. As he approached the border of his homeland, he learned that Esau was coming to meet him leading a large company of men. At first, it seemed that the stage was set for a battle -- or a massacre. But when Jacob and Esau finally met, they fell into an embrace and established a relationship that enabled them to live together in peace. They had both learned a lot during their time of estrangement. We can learn it, too. ________________________________________ 1. Thomas A. Harris, I'm OK, You're OK (New York: Avon, 1967). CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Sermons for Sundays after Pentecost (First Third): Getting in Touch with God, by James L. Killen Esau lost sight of the long-term goals of life under the pressure of present pressing physical needs. He gave up the lasting values to satisfy the present posing need. He traded off a kind of family last will and testament promised to the older son - for a bowl of stew. We cannot walk away from our crossroads of life, but we can face them courageously through prayer, faith, compassion, impartial love of our fellow human beings, and personal esteem. Always walking in the strength of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob we find our way in his Son, Jesus Christ, who said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life." CSS Publishing, Lima, Ohio, They, Isaac and Rebekah, were at one of their crossroads. There was no child; what should be done? First, it is notable that this family possessed some qualities which are just as valuable in today’s family: • A strong prayer life • Faith and trust in the Lord • Compassion for each family member • Impartiality toward each person • A sense of self-esteem and respect for each other • Assistance so that the child might have a meaningful vocation Isaac, as husband, showed commendable reactions. He was sensitive to his wife’s feelings; he was concerned for her because of her inability to become pregnant and therefore, multiply and help people the earth. Consider our scripture lesson for this morning which concerns the brothers Jacob and Esau, children of Isaac. Unfortunately, people still do that sort of thing. You are, after all, a loved child of God. That is your birthright and it comes with enormous possibility. Unfortunately, tomorrow's potential doesn't have much present market value. One of life's most demanding skills is learning to stay hungry today in order to realize tomorrow's possibilities. As much as we might like it otherwise, everything in this life doesn't happen when we want it to happen. Learn to stay hungry in the pursuit of the worthwhile. Accept that you are not going to fulfill every material and professional goal immediately. Understand that most things worth accomplishing take time -- many times they take decades. Learn to stay a little hungry. It can make such a difference in your life. For one thing, stay hungry for knowledge. In fact, develop a deep hunger for knowledge. Too many people want to quit learning when they reach a certain age. Don't do that. Keep on thinking. As the poet plans his life, Let me die thinking. Let me fare forth still with an open mind, Fresh secrets to unfold, new truths to find. My soul undimmed, alert, no questions blinking. Let me die thinking.1 Learn to stay hungry, not only for information, but for God. Unlike other institutions, we never graduate from Sunday school because we never learn all we need to know about our faith. Never let your beliefs harden to concrete. Be open to grow in your faith. You never know when God is going to confront you with a new idea and a new set of circumstances. When that happens, your faith can be stretched to such new limits it can never shrink back to the same size it was before. Stay hungry for God. Staying hungry now leaves us open to future possibilities. Develop a deep hungering for life. Remember this truth: the best time in your life is wherever you are right now. After all, today is the only day of your life over which you have any say. Therefore, believe today the best and make the best of today. Life will, however, get even better wherever it takes you tomorrow, if you continue to believe that possible. God has created us in such a way that every age has its special problems and its special joys. God gives us the strength to deal with the problems as we encounter them. He also provides the grace to make the most of the joys. Don't wallow in guilt over yesterday. It is forgiven. Don't worry about the darkness of what is to come. There will be light enough to get through. Live in the fullness of today and stay hungry for tomorrow. What a difference that attitude can make. Having your life unfold day by day like a beautiful flower is your God-given birthright. Don't sell it for cabbage soup. Develop a deep hungering for life. Remember this truth: the best time in your life is wherever you are right now. After all, today is the only day of your life over which you have any say. Therefore, believe today the best and make the best of today. Life will, however, get even better wherever it takes you tomorrow, if you continue to believe that possible. God has created us in such a way that every age has its special problems and its special joys. God gives us the strength to deal with the problems as we encounter them. He also provides the grace to make the most of the joys. Don't wallow in guilt over yesterday. It is forgiven. Don't worry about the darkness of what is to come. There will be light enough to get through. Live in the fullness of today and stay hungry for tomorrow. What a difference that attitude can make. Having your life unfold day by day like a beautiful flower is your God-given birthright. Don't sell it for cabbage soup. Because Esau couldn't wait for dinner, the history of Israel is traced to Jacob. In many respects, it is a sad, sad story. Obviously, Esau was no rocket scientist. Jacob constantly took advantage of him. Physically he never made it as a male model. His entire body was covered with thick, red hair. I'm sure the kids in school constantly tormented him about that. His mother liked his brother best. This kid Esau had some serious problems. He had every reason to be a miserable failure in life. Surely any failure he experienced could be attributed to circumstances beyond his control. ________________________________________ 1. "Let Me Die Thinking," Anonymous. CSS Publishing, Tenders of the Sacred Fire, by R. Robert Cueni The story begins before our text, in the dim days of primal history, with a promise of God. Before there was Jacob, there was a promise. God told Abraham that a great family, more numerous than the stars of heaven, would arise out of his poor octogenarian loins. From Abraham and Sarah came Isaac and Isaac married Rebekah. But not yet a family. Rebekah could not have children. How then the promise to make a family? Rebekah's barrenness is not a problem of gynecology but of theology. How then the promise? How can God be faithful when there is no child, therefore no future? Will God keep the promise? Isaac prays to God for a child. And with that prayer (people, be careful when you pray!), the trouble begins. "Rebekah conceived," and even in her womb, there was trouble. There, in the mysterious uterine darkness, there is conflict, for there is not one but two fetuses in the womb and they are already in dark struggle. Rebekah feels the conflict even before the children are born. Feeling the rumblings within she exclaims, "If motherhood is this, why do I live?" (verse 22). She demands a refund from her Lamaze Classes. "I thought you said this was going to be painless!" Rebekah inquires of the Lord. The Lord explains, "At first I thought I'd just bless you with a child. Then I decided, while I was at it, to give you twins, just to make it interesting. Not just two boys, two whole nations in your womb, struggling. You thought this birth was a little something sweet to comfort you and the old man in your autumn years? No, I'm doing something cosmic here, big. That kick you just felt was me, kicking at the door of the future of the world!" And Rebekah says, "This is your idea of a blessing?" There is no such thing as "painless birth," particularly if that birth be a gift of God. Sermon point one (write this down): The promises of God, paradoxically, involve pain. So sermon point two: The promises of God subvert the older order. Point one: The promises of God involve pain. A major source of the pain is that God's promises invariably involve the subversion of the way things are in order to create the way things, by God, will be. No social convention was more dear to the people of Jacob and Esau's day than the right of primogeniture. The right of the firstborn ensured order, stability in the Near Eastern world. You knew your place from the day you were born. First born son gets it all. Second born gets leftovers. Neat. Clean. Orderly. It was a secure, stable "Ozzie and Harriet" world where father knows best, Mom is a bit mushy in the head but at least she's at home in the kitchen, and older brother David is thoughtful and stable while little brother Ricky is unpredictable but that's 0.1(. since David is going to inherit it all in the end anyway. Fixed at birth.·Fate determined in utero by the color of your skin, or your gender, or your parent's economic level, the order of birth. It's a story about getting mixed up in our conventions--and destabilizing us in the process. In Rebekah's womb, early, in the primal darkness, cosmic, international purposes are being worked out. In the clash of two all too typical brothers, God is dismantling conventional systems of power distribution. So we find ourselves in the story, surprised as Esau, when little brother Jacob clutches our heel. Is there anyone here who cannot identify with the once self-assured nation, planning to use the same power that our forebears enjoyed, shocked to wake up from our national stupor of instant material gratification to find little brother, once a nobody nation, with the economic birthright that we always thought was ours? Is there a divine upsetting of our arrangements in such a way that, as one has said, the "first shall be last and the last first" (Luke 13:30)? Is there some force behind the lives of ordinary people of the story, one who has chosen, "what is low and despised in the world to bring to nothing the things that are?" To be continued... Duke University, Duke Chapel Sermons, by Will Willimon