Two Doors

 

A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.  Proverbs 15:1

--- The Word of God for us, the People of God ---

Jacob and Esau (for me) are two names that, once said, immediately raise the thought, Oh, I know that story[1].  There’s the deception of their father, Isaac, who is nearly blind and cannot recognize the younger son who is impersonating the eldest, the one entitled to the birthright and double blessing.  Jacob steals both and must leave town because his brother is madder than a hornet’s nest.  So Jacob the trickster sneaks out of town in the middle of the night and runs to his Uncle Laban’s place, spends the next 20 years there manipulating his way into getting rich. 

In time, Jacob meets his cousin, Rachel, and wants to marry her, but she has an older unmarried sister, Leah, who isn’t exactly the prom queen.  Laban agrees to the match, but on the wedding day, he switches the brides; Jacob gets a veiled Leah to marry.  After the wedding Jacob discovers this, and now his Uncle, who is now also his father-in-law, turns the table on the trickster and makes him agree to work for him another 7 years to have the right to marry Rachel. 

Jacob learned a lesson from Laban that he desperately needed:

Those who live by deception eventually get deceived.

So, Jacob has worked twenty years, gotten married twice, and then God instructs him to leave town again, go back home.  Once again Jacob leaves town in the middle of the night because this time his cousins are angry over the way Jacob was getting rich right under their noses, while he’s supposed to be working for Laban. 

Having made just about everyone in the family mad at him at some point, Jacob is a man without a family to call home.  He’s headed back to where he used to call home, but has no idea if Esau is still ticked at him.  The night before crossing the last river (Jabbok), Jacob realizes he’s at the point of no return.  Messengers tell him his brother, Esau, has heard of Jacob’s return, and now, accompanied by 400 men, Esau is coming Jacob’s way to meet his deceiving little brother.  With nowhere else to turn, Jacob lays down his head to try to sleep, and is confronted by an angel of God. 

A wrestling match ensues, lasting until just about daybreak.  The angel tells Jacob to let go, or he would die with the breaking of dawn.  Jacob, now fully past the point of depending on his own wiles and wits, decides to let God be the boss.  He refused to let the angel go until he received the blessing.  That blessing came in the form of two doors. 

This story of two brothers has to do with the two doors we all face.  The back story telling us how, and why, the brothers parted is door #1, anger. 

Then they both spent the next 20 years without seeing each other.  Jacob was busy getting rich, and Esau had time to cool off.  That is like the space between the anger door, and the second door marked reconciliation. 

Both brothers had walked through door #1 steeped in anger in the early part of life, then languished in the unknown space leading up to the reunion.  When confronted with each other after being apart for 20 years, and being faced with door #2, they had to make a decision what was going to govern the end chapters of their life; would they stay controlled by anger, or swallow deeply and reconcile. 

It turned out that both Esau and Jacob wanted reconciliation.  They just weren’t sure about the other until the moment they faced each other.  This fact, that they wanted to be brothers again, never occurred to me in all the times I’d read their story. 

I always knew Jacob didn’t want to die, and so he was somewhat forced to face Esau and the anger he’d escaped 20 years prior.  Being confronted by a Mixed Martial Arts black belt angel, and the throbbing pain of a dislocated hip joint, Jacob got his head handed to him, so he hedged his bets and sent a gift ahead to buy Esau’s favor.  And I figured when Esau heard Jacob was headed his way, he probably wasn’t sure what was on his mind, so he gathered up 400 of his closest friends to accompany him, just in case Jacob didn’t come to shake hands.

Seeing the brother who had sworn to kill him, but now embraced him and kissed him, was as welcome to Jacob as a breath of air to a drowning man, compared to what that wrestling angel could have done to him.  It became clear to Jacob his family meant more to him than all the riches he’d earned the previous twenty years.

For Esau, we’re left wondering exactly what changed his mind about killing Jacob.  But we do see the smile on his face in meeting his long, lost, slinky brother, Jacob.    It was a genuine, heartfelt welcome Esau gave to Jacob; the younger brother said, seeing your friendly smile is like seeing the face of God.

We have a story of two brothers who hadn’t seen each other for twenty years, who had parted company angry and fearful, and now were confronted with what to do with each other…would it be a fight to the death? 

Which door pray tell!

A couple of observations about what had to give way for there to be reconciliation between Esau and Jacob:

          1.   Esau had the easier path

Esau was the eldest of the brothers, and it was Jacob’s deception (on more than one occasion) that had wronged his brother.  Everything about fairness and balance tells us Esau’s anger was somewhat justified.  Except for wanting to murder his brother…that is never acceptable.

But, 20 years is a long time, and Esau somehow had managed to let go of the animus toward his brother.  He may have forgiven Jacob in absentia, or because he never saw him, even for family holidays, his anger just cooled off.  However, it was certain something caused a change in Esau, because he was ready to accept his brother back, even though Jacob had stolen his birthright and blessing.

          2.   Jacob had the harder task

Coming to the place of confession that you were wrong is one of the most difficult changes in human experience.  That was exactly the place Jacob was headed for the night before he was going to cross the River Jabbok. 

I believe God engineered the whole scenario to push Jacob into that corner of decision-making; he needed that wrestling match with the angel to come face to face with his character, and, more importantly, face his disobedience to God.  As stubborn, manipulative, deceptive, and self-centered as Jacob was, it was going to take a lot of travail in rolling around in the dust on the riverbank, and a dislocated hip to convince Jacob to admit he owed Esau an apology.

That’s common in many areas of human interactions.  So many relationships go sour because of stubbornness and pride that just will not admit to being wrong.  Many people refuse to accept Christ and become part of a church, because that means confessing sins, and admitting they’ve been out of place where God’s holiness is concerned.  Nobody does that without some strong convincing by the Holy Spirit to put aside pride and stubbornness.  Some (perhaps many) manage to fight off God’s offer of forgiveness and eternal life, but I’d hardly call that a victory. 

Did Jacob REALLY change?

I think so – in at least 3 ways:

          ·       He went from TAKER to GIVER

Jacob sent a fortune ahead of him as a gift to his brother.

          ·       He went from SNEAK to SERVANT

When Jacob met Esau he didn’t say a word at first, he bowed in the dust to him 7 times, a custom in the Middle East at that time, but the self-centered, win-at-any-cost, in-any-way Jacob was long gone.  He called himself the servant of his brother, and called his Esau my lord, and my brother.

          ·       He went from EVIL to GODLY

By bowing, and respectfully placing himself below Esau, Jacob elevated the need to make things right for his deception of the past.  He put aside any concern for his own safety or needs.  He had learned the lesson of wrestling with God’s angel – you don’t let go until the blessing comes.  In this case, Jacob didn’t let go of the humility he’d learned until Esau ran to embrace him and accept him…they reconciled…brothers once more.

So, what does this mean for the 21^st Century?

We have something of an Esau and Jacob boiling anger pot today.  Just a few examples:

·       The Traditionalist brothers and sisters in the Methodist tribe could certainly be Esau, upset with the actions of the young, upstart Progressive Jacob siblings.  There has been an informal separation for many years, and the pot is once again at boiling temperature. 

·       Esau and Jacob have their counterparts in the racism, threats, riots, violence, and protests that fill our land.  And the hotter it gets in July, the greater the temperature in the boiling pot. 

·       There is even division over whether COVID-19 deserves our discomfort of wearing masks.  We have Jacob freewheelers concerned only for themselves, and Esau cautionaries, not wanting anyone to breathe.

Some people today, perhaps like the 400 who went with Esau to meet Jacob’s return, may have anger in their hearts, just looking for a little payback.  Had Esau showed even a little of that, the story may have been written in Jacob’s blood. 

In just the same way there are those today who are not serious about reconciliation, or doing heart-justice; for them, it’s all about payback for ancient wrongs, and seizing any rope to lynch even a bystander to prove a point. 

There’s no reconciliation in some people’s hearts.  And they are as far from being in tune with God as a twenty-year-old snowball in Hell.

And that’s the whole point.  Whether you’re Esau or Jacob in the story – the one who was wronged, or the abuser, both men came with reconciliation in the heart.  That is a rarity in today’s I want MY RIGHTS culture!

In the unrest and violence we see today across generations, sexuality, gender issues, all the rules, legalities, ordinances, and power stands will never change a thing.  The battle began in the heart, just like it did when Cain got overcome with anger towards his brother Abel. 

The battle for getting people to live in harmony was never about the laws of the land, it’s always been about hate in the heart.

When life gets rough you can get angry or you can get reconciled…but it is much like the choice between walking through two doors…you just can’t do both.

Our Lord, Jesus, Christ said:

“No one can serve two masters.  For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other.  You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.  Matthew 6:24

Jesus said that about love of money, but it’s just as true about loving the hatred we hold in our hearts.

Our Prayer

Father God, you’ve made it clear to us in so many ways that anger and violence will have offspring…and none of it is ever pretty.  Lord, where we prone to be ‘young Esau’, ready to kill our brother when the opportunity comes, help us to remember your cross, and that we’re already guilty of murdering Heaven’s Prince.  And where we would be ‘young Jacob’, deceitful, taking what we can get, showing no respect for others, help us to remember we’re already guilty of standing silent while the crowd yells ‘crucify’.

In all things, and at all times, help us to keep our lives rooted, grounded, and operating in Your love, sensitive to Your Spirit, and ready to run from the anger door, straight to the door of reconciliation.

For the glory, honor, and praise to which You alone are worthy, o Lord, we pray in the Name of the Son, cooperating with the Spirit, to honor and exalt the Majesty of the Father. 

Let it be so in each of our lives…Amen!

Title Image:  Pixabay.com  Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation  Matthew 10:24-39©

Image of Jacob and God's Angel wrestling via Wikimedia Commons

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[1] You can read the story of Jacob and Esau’s Reunion in Genesis 33:1-17

Years Ago - This Year

 

Thursday, July 16, 2020

Isaiah 44:1-5

“But now, listen to me, Jacob my servant, Israel my chosen one.  The Lord who made you and helps you says:  Do not be afraid, O Jacob, my servant, O dear Israel, my chosen one.  For I will pour out water to quench your thirst and to irrigate your parched fields.  And I will pour out my Spirit on your descendants, and my blessing on your children.  They will thrive like watered grass, like willows on a riverbank.  Some will proudly claim, ‘I belong to the Lord.’  Others will say, ‘I am a descendant of Jacob.’  Some will write the Lord’s name on their hands and will take the name of Israel as their own.”

Seven years ago my bride and I were blessed to purchase the first brand new car we’d had in 30 years.  I’d forgotten what that new car smell was like!  Our daughter gave us a set of white fuzzy dice as a funny reminder of the 1950’s fashion statement.  Back then, anybody who was cool had fuzzy dice hanging from the rearview mirror.  Back then, we watched Andy, Barney, Aunt Bea, and Opie on TV; today, we hang our facemasks on the car mirror

The words of Father God through the prophet Isaiah are like soothing balm on sunburn-scorched skin.  It proves one thing, even God’s people are in need of reassurance.  It’s not that we have lost faith today (as opposed to yesterday’s strong connection), but, rather, today the circumstances have changed, and an assault on our faith questions that connection.  It’s normal to run to your parent in times of crisis, or when you’ve been in a struggle.  We see that over and over in the Psalms, David wants to reach out and feel the embrace of his Heavenly Father.  Job, a man of intense faith and Godliness, constantly asks for clarification on the why of his troubles.  Jonah, the “disobedient prophet” tries to hide from his detestable calling from God of bringing the message of blessing to the despised Ninevites. 

When we look around, perhaps especially today, and see anger, protests, division, and hatred, it is more than mildly discomforting; it’s scary!  And we need God’s comforting voice telling us He is with us, and it will be alright.

As a pastor, just one of many thousands of pastors, I am always concerned about how the church is doing, and if we’re doing enough to pass along the faith to the next generation, who will take the reins and help steer the wagon for the generation that comes after theirs.  I don’t think you can be a pastor without that concern.

I first felt that concern as young man, seeing firsthand the results of the God is Dead movement, where the prevailing thought was that God, if ever such a being really existed, must now be dead, and we are on our own in this universe.  Among ministers and the faithful was a deep concern that the church could not survive such an onslaught of unbelief.  The wave of people leaving the church, particularly young people, the so-called future of the church, was astounding.  However, throughout the last half-century, the church has not only endured, it has matured, and changed, and adapted, and ministered, and grown.  In short, the church is still the church, God’s church, His witness, His special creation, and loved family.

Let’s Pray Together:

Father, we’re no different than Israel in Isaiah’s day.  We need Your comfort and blessing.  Abba, in Your mercy…

For You Today

The church, throughout the centuries has seen culture change, rearrange, come unglued, reassembled, knocked to its knees, and get up again.  The church has been there every step of the way because God said so. 

The church you knew in your youth isn’t gone, but today it doesn’t look like you remember it, or like you think it should look.  Rather, it looks like what God is moving it to be.  Our best hope of being faithful to God’s purpose and design is to continually fast, pray, and cooperate with God by serving others.  That is the one constant and calling of those who claim the faith, once delivered to the saints[1]. 

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road today.  Have a blessed day!

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Title Image:  Pixabay.com  Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation©

For another post on this text:  God's Election

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[1] Jude 1:3

When "Saying Nothing" Isn't an Option

[i]

                                                                                                Friday, September 30, 2016

Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act.  Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.  Stop being angry!  Turn from your rage!  Do not lose your temper—it only leads to harm.  For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the Lord will possess the land.  Psalm 37:7-9^(NLT)

Recent and increasing outbreaks of violent confrontations that end in death for black persons are more than a cell phone video phenomenon.  It is a sign of just how grossly-divided Cain and Abel can get.  

Our culture may congratulate itself on granting “rights” to everyone, because we are the land of the free; but if that is so, why the rage?  Why is it that the African-American community feels so disenfranchised and powerless…so much so that the push-back turns deadly?

I wish I knew.  And I wish I had a pill for fixing that would actually work.

I’m white because that is how I was born, and I grew up in the lower middle class.  I’m not a political-science guru, but I watch what happens; I listen and think, long before I get involved.  So, I’m an introverted observer who cares that all people be treated fairly, and do have not a clue as to how to make that happen. 

But, because I don’t want to be complicit in the perpetuation of racism, for me the idea of saying nothing is hardly an option.

The key is to not say too little or too much, neither too softly nor too loudly; many a well-intentioned word, because of anger or impatience, has turned evil because it was not carefully spoken as the truth in love[ii].  As the Psalmist cautions we must stop our anger and turn from our rage, even in the midst of racial outrageousness we witness on the evening news.

Outrage and anger speak from both sides of the firing line.  Black Lives Matter has a strong case against unwarranted brutal treatment at the hands of those charged with the responsibility of protecting people and their rights.  Blue Lives Matter correctly defends the innocence of officers acting appropriately in bad situations.  Some, on both sides, have touched-off more violence with hasty intemperate words. 

It is a flaming mess!

God’s Word cautions us not to take vengeance. [iii]  That is God’s purview, and we are not good at it.  The Psalmist tells us to trust God to do whatever “punishing” needs doing.

But that still doesn’t speak to what we must do in speaking against the evil of racism which threatens to destroy both those who are targets of racial bias, and those who unwisely give racism an undeserved validity with their rage and violent pushback.

Dr. Martin Luther King was a pacifist without question.  If there was to be a protest marking the unfair treatment of people, he was ready to do so without the kind of rage we see boiling-over in our streets today. 

Of course Dr. King was human with all the potential for error and sin that each of us possesses – but I believe he got this right.  We cannot let rage and anger destroy us…and that’s what it will do if we don’t dial it back!

For You Today

Take time to get to know someone with whom you disagree; you might find more common ground than you ever imagined!

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road…have a blessed day!

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NOTES

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[i] Title Image: By Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, via Wikimedia Commons

[ii] Ephesians 4:15

[iii] Romans 12:19

Peace...Be Still!

[i]

Monday, July 11, 2016

Arise, O Lord, in anger!
    Stand up against the fury of my 

       enemies!
    Wake up, my God, and bring 

       justice!
End the evil of those who are 

       wicked,
       and defend the righteous.
For you look deep within the mind 

       and heart, O righteous God.   

Psalm 7:6, 9^(NLT)

When human anger gets out of hand I can barely think. 

And it’s not just my anger; it’s anyone’s anger!

Anger is as paralyzing as fear or first love.

With the emphasis in recent years on media coverage of crowds in an uproar over the most recent shooting of a citizen by a police officer, it has become a routine of mine, when confronted with a new incident to immediately pray for the family of the one who was shot, the officer and his/her family, and their community. 

And then I pray:  peace…be still!

I know I do not control the winds of any storm, but when my mind is reeling from seeing and hearing the anger, I always have that picture in my mind’s-eye of Jesus standing in the boat with his disciples, after having walked on those stormy waters, holding-up his hands, and commanding, peace, be still![ii] 

I’m not commanding; I’m asking Jesus to do it again for our human family, that officer, that family and their community.

To say that we have an anger problem in our culture would be to understate it by as far as east is from west! 

          ·       You see protest upon protest reflecting our 

                   culture’s boiling temperature, and 

                   beating us black and blue over police 

                   shootings 

          ·       Sit-ins, occupying this and that…

          ·       Political debate turning into character 

                  massacre

          ·       Rage on the roads

          ·       Facebook face-offs and melt-downs.

So, where does it stop?  Will there ever be a renewal of peace in the community? 

Will Andy Taylor, Barney Fife, Opie, and Miss Bea ever be heard from again?

And what would or could bring it about?

I fear I have no answers for any of that; only the image of a man…more accurately, a man-god, walking calmly on tempestuous waters, and then speaking the words that change everything:  peace…be still!

And I have hope.

For You Today

There cannot be peace in the community that isn’t in the heart first. 

So, perhaps this is a good start for this morning:  let Jesus speak to your heart those words, peace…be still!

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road today…have a blessed day!

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NOTES

[i] Title Images: By Tony Webster, via Wikimedia Commons and Brett Gustafson, via Wikimedia Commons

[ii] Matthew 14:22-35