Tag Archive for Esau

Brothers and blessings

Smothers Brothers album

 

And James and John, the sons of Zeb′edee, came forward to him, and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Mark 10:35-45
 

For many of us, our first thought on hearing this passage is “Be careful what you wish for.” James and John, thinking they will receive status and honor, declare themselves able, and receive a cup that even Jesus prayed might pass without his drinking. The disciples, hearing this exchange, become indignant–who wouldn’t? Truth is, we probably get a bit indignant too. We want to ask those sons of Zebedee, “What were you trying to do? Do you think you’re better than the rest of us?”

But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking”  then he asks them a question, “Are you able…” and grants them what he can.

Why does Jesus give them anything? Why doesn’t he just turn them away? They ask for a fish; does he give them a serpent? Is it trick? Is it a lesson? Is it a blessing?

I think again about Jacob and Esau. In that story, Isaac blesses Jacob “Be lord over your brothers, and may your mother’s sons bow down to you.” Esau, who asks his father, “Have you but one blessing, my father? Bless me, even me also, O my father.” is answered with a complicated blessing that does not undo the one that was stolen. Isaac declares that Esau’s life will be one of deprivation and violence, but end in freedom.

Behold, away from the fatness of the earth shall your dwelling be,
and away from the dew of heaven on high.
By your sword you shall live,
and you shall serve your brother;
but when you break loose
you shall break his yoke from your neck.

Gen 27:39-40

Perhaps Jesus’ answer to James and John, and his explanation to the ten can resonate for us as a mirror-like reversal of the blessings of Jacob and Esau. Perhaps that’s why he mentions the way those in power lord it over the Gentiles–Gentiles who are outsiders, not Jews and family like the twelve.

But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.

We grab for Jacob’s blessing and wind up with Esau’s. We think we will be in authority over our brothers and sisters, and find we serve instead. And yet, the yoke is easy, and the burden is light, and there is much to learn.

 

Have you but one blessing?

Law and Grace, 1529 Lucas Cranach the Elder Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Law and Grace, 1529
Lucas Cranach the Elder
Photo: Wikimedia Commons

My musings today are a bit tangled, but I’ll see if I can unravel them at least to the point of semi-intelligibility. Sometimes that’s as good as it gets with me and the Bible.

This morning I read again the story of Esau discovering that Jacob has stolen his blessing (Genesis 27: 30-45).  I felt Esau’s anguish and dismay so keenly today. His voice is especially strong in verses 34 – 38:

When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried out with an exceedingly great and bitter cry, and said to his father, “Bless me, even me also, O my father!” But he said, “Your brother came with guile, and he has taken away your blessing.”  Esau said, “Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has supplanted me these two times. He took away my birthright; and behold, now he has taken away my blessing.” Then he said, “Have you not reserved a blessing for me?”  Isaac answered Esau, “Behold, I have made him your lord, and all his brothers I have given to him for servants, and with grain and wine I have sustained him. What then can I do for you, my son?”  Esau said to his father, “Have you but one blessing, my father? Bless me, even me also, O my father.” And Esau lifted up his voice and wept.

 That last cry “Have you but one blessing, my father?” gave me pause. In my mind “father” became “Father” and I thought about God’s blessings, and how with God there is always more–more grace, more love, more peace and joy. You will never approach the throne of grace to hear, “Sorry, all out of blessings. I gave my last one to the guy in front of you in the line.”

And that led me to another thought. From time to time I hear people express something along the lines of what they call “supersessionism” or “replacement theology,” usually meaning that the Church has replaced the Jews in God’s affection and plans. It all has to do with our trying to sort out the relationship between the Law and Grace (both of which come from God), and our wondering if God ever changes his mind or takes back a promise. These are thorny issues–wicked problems perhaps–or they seem that way whenever we try to figure out eternal mysteries in a temporal world. I’m not equipped to render judgement on such topics, but I do wonder if, while pondering how salvation works, we sometimes think God’s blessings are limited like Isaac’s.

Jacob and Esau. Neither one of them comes out looking like a saint, but they seem so very human. Two brothers, two nations, contending from their birth. Fighting over all the things we always fight over: love, attention, limited resources, power.  Scarcity brings out the worst in us it. May God’s endless love bring us to better than we can ask or imagine.