BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY….. “From that time on, Esau hated Jacob because their father had given Jacob the blessing. And Esau began to scheme: “I will soon be mourning my father’s death. Then I will kill my brother, Jacob.”  Genesis 27:41 NLT

Two brother feuds stand out in the Bible. Cain and Abel and Jacob and Esau. It is interesting to see the similarities and the differences between the two. Cain was successful in his plan to kill his brother. Esau planned to kill his brother Jacob in revenge for being deceived and the loss of his birthright which was his own doing.

However, the words of the Lord to Cain, seem to echo down through the ages, “…..You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.” (Genesis 4:7 NLT)

Esau was not able to kills Jacob, because of his mother’s intervention, but we see his anger and desire for revenge took some unusual measures.

“…It was now very clear to Esau that his father did not like the local Canaanite women. So Esau visited his uncle Ishmael’s family and married one of Ishmael’s daughters, in addition to the wives he already had.” (Genesis 28:8,9 NLT)

Even before Jacob stole Esau’s firstborn blessing we read of his choices of a wife. “Esau married two Hittite wives: Judith, the daughter of Beeri, and Basemath, the daughter of Elon. But Esau’s wives made life miserable for Isaac and Rebekah.” (Genesis 26:34,35 NLT)

Esau saw that Jacob had obeyed his parents in returning to the home of Rebecca to find a wife and he knew that his father did not like Canaanite women, so he intentionally went to the house of Ishmael to get a wife. All of this was obvious planned revenge.

We can observe in scripture and in life that the emotions of the moment do not make for wise choices. However, the ensuring years reveal a change in both Esau and Jacob. Jacob returns to Canaan with wives, children and livestock after some challenging years in the house of Laban. Esau comes out to meet Jacob, which was a cause for great fear and concern. Regardless of the years that transpire, we tend to remember and feel about relationships at the point we left them.

Two things of importance happened. Esau experienced the Lord’s blessing, in spite of his poor choices. It appears that over the years his attitude toward Jacob changed. Jacob had his infamous encounter with the Lord and met Esau as one who wrestled with the Lord and now walked with a limp. Finally their reunion took place….

“Then Esau ran to meet him [Jacob] and embraced him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. And they both wept.” (Genesis 33:4 NLT)

Jacob sent gifts ahead of arriving to meet Esau and insisted that Esau accept them. Esau finally consented even though he said, “My brother, I have plenty…Keep what you have for yourself.” (Genesis 33:9 NLT)

We read later that Esau joined Jacob in burying Isaac when he died. Instead of killing his brother after his father’s death as he vowed, we see a restored relationship. Patience, time and refusing to respond based on anger and rejection can go a long way to experiencing greater peace and contentment in life and relationships.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY….  ^“When Esau heard his father’s words, he let out a loud and bitter cry. “Oh my father, what about me? Bless me, too!” he begged….Esau pleaded, “But do you have only one blessing? Oh my father, bless me, too!” Then Esau broke down and wept.”    Genesis 27:34,38

Regrets….we all have them. Some are a result of quick decisions that we would like to “have back.” Others are a result of choices, habits or a lifestyle. Esau stands out in scripture as one who made a decision to sell his future for a bowl of stew. Later that decision along with Jacob’s deception to receive the blessing that would normally accompany the oldest son set the course for Esau’s life.

I was reading in Proverbs lately and these verses stood out to me. They are some challenging and “tough” words of scripture. They are harsh words. They are words of consequence for those who reject the Lord’s wisdom and snub their nose at His correction. When we fail to learn wisdom, when we need wisdom it will not always be as easy to attain as we would like.

“When they cry for help, I will not answer. Though they anxiously search for me, they will not find me. For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the Lord. They rejected my advice and paid no attention when I corrected them. Therefore, they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way, choking on their own schemes.” (Proverbs 1:28-31 NLT)

In the New Testament the writer of Hebrews reflects back on the life of Esau as a challenge to be wise in conduct and choices is presented.

“See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God…See that no one is…godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done.” (Hebrews 12:15-17 NIV)

Esau did receive a blessing from Isaac. But is was an inferior blessing, it actually carried the character of a curse,

“You will live away from the richness of the earth, and away from the dew of the heaven above. You will live by your sword, and you will serve your brother. But when you decide to break free, you will shake his yoke from your neck.” (Genesis 27:39,40 NLT)

We see in the years to come that Esau was a leader men of men and accumulated possessions. The Lord did prove Himself gracious and faithful. But it was not the life that the Lord intended.

Some one once observed, “we make our choices and then our choices make us.” Those are sobering words, those are true words. We must know what matters most. We must seek to live in the fear of the Lord and to be people of wisdom that keep our focus on the eternal instead of the temporal.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…..  ^“But God had listened to Abraham’s request and kept Lot safe, removing him from the disaster that engulfed the cities on the plain.” Genesis 19:29 NLT

The history of Abraham and Lot is an interesting one. It is a study in contrasts. We see the faith and righteousness of Abraham and the conflicted compromise of Lot.

When Abraham leaves Haran, he takes Lot, his nephew with him. Abraham finds himself constantly looking out for Lot’s well being. As the Lord blessed Abraham a conflict arose between the herdsman of Abraham and the herdsman of Lot. Abraham tells Lot it is better for them to separate. But the separation would not change Abraham’s commitment to his nephew.

Lot is given the choice of where to go and chooses the best looking area for his flocks and family. Scripture says, “he pitched his tent near Sodom” choosing the well water plains. Abraham eventually finds himself rescuing Lot and his family and possessions from some marauding kings.

Eventually Lot and his family are fully integrated into the culture of Sodom. It seems Lot maintains his personal righteousness, but fails to make wise choices and becomes “at home” with the conflict between his personal faith and the environment he chose to live in. Peter would describe Lot as “… a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless…” (2 Peter 2:7 NIV)

When the angels told Lot to pack his bags and flee the city, he hesitated. His warning to his daughter’s fiance’s was not taken serious and Lot’s wife disobeyed the angel’s instructions and looked back on the destruction of the city. The angel’s tell Lot to flee to the mountains, he asks instead to go to a nearby city. Lot then leaves that city and goes to the mountains where he becomes the father of two men who would become the father’s of nations that would be hostile to Israel.

This account of biblical history provides some important background to the development of nations and people that would factor into Israel’s history. But there are some spiritual lessons for us to observe.

We can observe Abraham’s faith and commitment to the Lord. He had his questions and reservations about how God’s promise would be fulfilled, but through it all chose to believe and obey. Lot while described in the New Testament as “righteous” struggled with compromise and making an impact on others. His “personal” righteousness did not impact his wife or daughters let alone others around him.

Abraham’s faith and commitment to Lot allowed him to intercede for Lot regardless of past conflicts.

We see Jesus in teaching about the last days issue a warning to “remember Lot’s wife.” (Luke 17:12) We are not to be so tied to this world, that we fail to be willing to leave it behind when Christ returns.

Abraham and Lot are both described as “righteous” but their histories are vastly different. In our lives we can make a choice to embrace the Lord’s promise and impact the lives of others like Abraham, or to compromise and experience conflict, distress and escape judgment by the “skin of our teeth” like Lot.