Seder 26: Genesis 27, Hebrews 12, and Matthew 25---Don't Miss the Big Deadlines

 When Esau came back with the meat that his father had requested, he was chagrined to learn that he had missed out on the blessing for which he had hoped (Gen 27:30-38).  

A lesson is drawn from Esau's example in Hebrews 12:16-17.  Esau had undervalued his family's special calling and figured out too late what he was missing.  

There are other scriptures that tell us there are some important deadlines that are not to be missed.  For example, in the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25, the bridesmaids fall asleep when the bridegroom's coming is delayed, and some are too late to meet the bridegroom.  

Seder 26: Genesis 27---Isaac's Prophetic Blessing on Jacob

 The ruse planned by Rebekah and Jacob was successful.  Isaac laid his hands on Jacob (thinking he was Esau) and pronounced the following blessing:

"May God give you the dew of heaven and of the fatness of the earth and plenty of grain and wine.  Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you.  Be lord over your brothers, and may your mother's sons bow down to you.  Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be everyone who blesses you!" (Gen 27:28-29)

One detail that catches our attention in verse 29 is Isaac's reference to "your brothers" and "your mother's sons"---both plural, when Jacob had only one brother, and his mother had only one other son.  This detail suggests the possibility that Isaac was referring not just to Jacob himself, but also looking ahead to a special descendant of Jacob whom peoples would serve and to whom nations would bow down---the future Messiah!  (A similar blessing is given to Solomon---and ultimately to the Messiah---in Ps 72:11.)  

 Christian scholar Kevin Chen discusses Gen 27:28-29 as a Messianic prophecy in his recent book The Messianic Vision of the Pentateuch (IVP 2019).

Even though Isaac had intended the blessing for Esau, he and his family were confident that God would confirm this blessing upon Jacob.  "Yes, and he shall be blessed," Isaac says of Jacob in v. 33.

Looking back, it appears in hindsight that God's will was worked out by a circuitous means in Gen 27.  Esau did not seem to value or be in tune with his family's special mission, as evidenced by his lack of concern for the family birthright.  

This does not mean, however, that Esau did not figure in God's plan.  Esau and his descendants would have much to contribute, and Esau would have additional time to learn and grow.  His choice of wives changed when he finally became aware of his parents' preferences in the matter (Gen 28:6-9).  

In a sermon at Church of the Messiah on Sept 12, 2020, Kyle Kettering reflected on Esau's life.  

Seder 26: Psalms 121 and 133---Faith and Fellowship on the Journey

 Psalms 121 and 133 are two of the "psalms of ascents", the psalms from 120-134.  These psalms are traditionally associated with the journey to Jerusalem for one of Israel's pilgrimage festivals---Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles.  A number of books have been written about these psalms, and these books often reflect on the guidance these psalms give for people at various stages of life's journey.  

Two such books are Eugene Peterson's A Long Obedience in the Same Direction and Walter Kaiser's The Journey Isn't Over.

In Psalm 121 the pilgrim looks up to the hills (the journey to Jerusalem was uphill), perhaps with a mixture of anticipation (of coming into God's presence at the festival) and anxiety (of what dangers may lie ahead on the journey).  At this point the pilgrim either (a) states that the source of his help comes from those hills (as in the KJV); or (b) asks (perhaps rhetorically) about the source of his help.  Either way, the psalm makes clear that the pilgrim puts his faith squarely in God as the source of help.  The same God who is in covenant with Israel is also the creator and ruler of everything.    The Psalm goes on to poetically state that God's help is available at all times and places, now and forever. 

At the festivals people came together from many places to worship God in unity, celebrating a common heritage of redemption.  Psalm 133 reflects upon how sweet and refreshing that unity is.  It looks back to a time when Israel enjoyed great unity, at Mt Sinai when Aaron was anointed Israel's first high priest (Lev 8).