Forward Movement is an official, non-profit agency of the Episcopal Church whose mission is to create compelling content for Christian living. Since 1935 we have published the quarterly devotional Forward Day by Day, as well as pamphlets, booklets, and books that encourage and nourish people in their lives of prayer and faith.
WEDNESDAY, February 10
Genesis 27:1-29. Perhaps my father will feel me, and I shall seem to be mocking him, and bring a curse on myself and not a blessing.
The story of Jacob stealing Esau's blessing is one of the hardest in all scripture to understand from a moral standpoint. Like the banishment of Hagar and Ishmael, it presents a morally reprehensible act as a vehicle of God's purposes. Jacob will have to flee to escape his brother's wrath, but there is little question that it is God's will being acted out here. The people of God see themselves, after all, as Jacob's and not Esau's descendants.
Issues of personal guilt and selfish motives do not seem to apply. Whatever happened to fairness? Does the end justify the means?
We must remember that we are dealing here not with "pleasant old tales" but with real people like us. How many of us have benefited by taking advantage of others, unfairly? We need not be moral monsters to have done so, just sinful human beings.
Our fear is that we will have to be responsible for those black marks on our record. Our hope, on the other hand, is that God still does seem able to use "tainted" lives for his purposes and to overrule the cruelty and deceit to which sin so often leads. (1980)
PRAY for the Diocese of
Ps 119:97-120 * 81, 82; Romans 12:1-8; John 8:12-20
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This year, I am following the chronological plan for reading through the Bible. Already, I am amazed at how alive the Bible is for me as I slosh through this time called middle age. I'm sure there are others who are more learned and understanding of the Bible, and it is my goal to achieve that for myself. For today, however, there are questions still unanswered in my mind about what I read, but I am also coming to a better understanding of the love that God has for us. For that, I am thankful.