Ø What kinds of relationships does God intend
for us to have and maintain?
Ø What kind of relationship-partner does God
call us to be?
Ø How can we be faithful to God in the way
that we live out our relationships?
We begin this series
by looking at relationships within the family.
Usually, when we hear “family relationships,” we think about the
relationship between parents-and-young children, or the relationship between
parents. These are definitely important
family relationships. However, I would
like to point out there are other important family relationships as well. Consider, as illustrations, the relationship
between grandparents-and-grandchildren, the relationship between
parents-and-grown children, or the relationship between adult siblings.
In order to broaden our scope in
thinking about family relationships, I’ve decided to base my message on the
biblical story of two adult brothers in the book of Genesis: Jacob and Esau. The story of Esau and Jacob is one of
betrayal and estrangement, before they reconcile and accept one another.
The betrayal occurs when the two
brothers were young men and Isaac, their father, was old with failing eyesight. Rebekah, the boys’ mother, initiates an
underhanded scheme. Through this scheme Jacob
purposely deceives Isaac and gains a special blessing which bestows all of Isaac’s
accumulated property and power upon Jacob—even though Isaac had intended to
give this special blessing to Esau. When
Esau discovers that Jacob has betrayed him, he becomes so enraged that he
threatens to kill his brother. Fearing
for his life, Jacob moves to another country, far away from Esau’s wrath.
Years go by. The two brothers live separately, but each
prospers in their setting and each become rich, affluent men. Although Jacob stole Esau’s blessing, each
brother is blessed by God. Eventually,
Jacob decides to move his family and all of his possessions back to his
homeland. My biblical text for the proclamation is Genesis
33: 1-17, which is the story of Jacob and Esau’s reconciliation. As he approaches his homeland, Jacob sends a
sizable peace offering to his estranged brother, Esau. This peace offering includes much livestock,
including goats, cattle, camels, and donkeys.
Meanwhile, Esau goes out to meet Jacob with 400 men.
After years of estrangement, the two
brothers are reconciled when they see each other again. Esau, the
brother who was betrayed, runs to Jacob and embraces him, weeping with
joy. At first Esau refuses Jacob’s gifts
of livestock, but eventually he accepts them when Jacob explains that they are
gifts of thanksgiving for their reconciliation as brothers. Jacob also explains that God has richly
blessed him in his life, poignantly saying:
“No, please; if I find favor with you, then accept my present from my
hand; for truly to see your face is like seeing the face of God—since you have
received me with such favor.” (Genesis 33:10)
Ultimately, the two brothers decide to settle in different regions, but
the important point is that they have accepted each other for who they are.
When we think about family
relationships and the three questions I delineated above, it seems to me that
the story of Esau and Jacob underscore the importance of two vital
commitments. First, in any family web of
relationships, there is likely to be relationship-partners who find themselves
in conflict, if not actual estrangement.
When that happens, God calls upon us to forgive and reconcile.
Secondly, members of our family sometimes will be different from us,
with different ideas, different opinions, and different commitments. Rather than trying to re-shape these family
members into our own expectations, we must learn to accept them for who they
are—not whom we would like for them to be.
Come, join us this Sunday, August 31st, at Meriden United Methodist
Church. Our church is located at
the corner of Main and Dawson Streets in Meriden, Kansas. Our classic worship service starts at 10 am
on Sunday mornings.
Everyone is welcome and accepted because God loves us all.
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