Genesis 25:19-34
This text is used for the Lectionary Year A on July 16, 2017.
As the mother of three young boys, my house is filled with wrestling, hugging, shouting and laughing. Like most Christian parents, I pray over my children. My husband and I do our best to teach our kids to love God and love others. One of the hardest things for me to accept is that at the end of the day, we do not control their behavior now and certainly not in the days to come. Parents have been praying for children and praying that they would walk in the ways they were instructed since the beginning of time. This particular subject is extremely personal and should be handled carefully.
The story for today is about the promise of God, prayer, family conflict, and the grace of God working through flawed people. The Bible is filled with examples of children who have grown up in homes of faithful parents but have chosen a different path. Consider Noah and how quickly his sons turned to sin or David and the rebellion of his sons, Amnon and Absalom. There are numerous examples from modern day of minister’s kids and missionary kids walking away from the faith of their parents. Ultimately the heart of the story is about Esau and his rejection of his spiritual heritage.