A Tale of Two Pities

Will we ever dive into Genesis 27? Yes, and soon. I’m not stalling, honest! I’m just a big believer in getting to know the characters in a story.

Backstory is vital for understanding people.

(That isn’t my main point today, but it’s not a bad take-away!)

The boys grew up,
and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country,
while Jacob was content to stay at home among the tents.
Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau,
but Rebekah loved Jacob.
Genesis 25:27-28

The gap has polarized to opposite extremes.

• Isaac loves Esau, a real a “Man’s Man.”
• Rebekah loves Jacob, a true “Mama’s Boy.”

These parents have picked favorites.

Favorites

You can learn a lot about yourself by figuring out what you “favorite.” (Click to Tweet this.)

In the classroom, my “favorite” students are those who laugh at my lame humor.

My struggles are with those who relentlessly challenge me for the sport of watching me flounder.

Oh, how I prefer the “comfort zone” of students who bring all their supplies to class, read all the pages assigned, and raise their hand to thoughtfully answer discussion questions!

And yet, every major break-through I’ve had has come from challenge, not comfort.

This is true in each aspect of my life–be it teaching, parenting, marriage, friendship, or spiritual growth. Challenge, not comfort, always produces the greatest growth.

Pity 1

The first pity in this soon-to-be family feud is that Jacob receives only his mother’s love while Esau receives only his father’s love. Both boys needed both parents’ love to be strong and central in their lives.

We’re hard-wired to need and receive love from both parents. When Mom’s love or Dad’s love is missing, we deeply feel the lack.

We try to compensate, but it’s not possible.

• Nothing on earth can replace the love of a mother.
• Nothing on earth can replace the love of a father.

Pity 2

The second pity is that Isaac and Rebekah choose the path of comfort rather than challenge.

“Playing favorites” is the easy way out…for now, that is.

They each missed opportunities for God to stretch them and bend them and mold them through the process of learning to fully love their less-easy-to-love son.

They settled.

And the choice to settle always produces the “need” to meddle. (Click to Tweet this.)

(More about that next week!)

Try This Today:

As you’re building your “God Will Provide” family time line, intentionally add times when you (or someone else in your family) chose challenge over comfort.

Your Turn!

When was a time you were glad that you chose to be challenged and grow rather than stay in your comfort zone?