Comments on Bible Readings for 1/17/2014

http://www.sljinstitute.net/sermons/old_testament/pentateuch/pages/genesis52.html Good morning. Bill called this morning to tell me the boilers were not working properly and checking on who to call. Things you have do break. I wonder if God has that problem. Ours are under control if we know someone who can fix the problems. God is the ultimate and final voice in fixing and healing. One of our MCYM board members passed this week without my ever having met her. Her name is Claudia Paige. Please pray for her and her family.  In today's reading I got stuck in Genesis 36:1-43. The family record of Esau. As a side you might want to read the sermon you can find with the opening link. I don't know how this works, out of a Blog page. You should be able to copy and paste it in the address box of your browser to find the sermon.  These brothers, Jacob and Esau, are one of the sets of brothers found through out the Biblical stories. It is interesting to me to discern the differences. Why do so many of the stories encompass the lives of brothers? Remember the first ones?..Cain and Abel. Think, who are the others? Ishmael and Isaac, Shem, Ham and Japheth, Moses and Aaron, Saul and Paul (ask me about this one). There is much we can learn by comparing their differences. Don't forget the twelve brothers of Jacob and the twelve apostles. Yes, the apostles are brothers. Some of them are blood brothers.  Anyway, why is this information about Esau (Edom) included in the Bible? What can we learn about God and His story? What can we learn about ourselves? Who all we and why do some seem to be elected to God's saving Grace while others are not? What is the difference? Are we are treated differently by God? Do these stories help your belief or unbelief? Do you relate more with Jacob or with Esau? Which one appeals to you the most? Can you characterize most of your friends by putting them in one of these categories? Are some of us more like Jacob, while others are more like Esau? In God's redeemed world, who is most likely to be included? Who do you want to be like? Does God decide this question for us or are we supposed to choose? I battle that very question all the time. I take that question to God in prayer. I need help. Am I supposed to find the answer? Or, do I just let it alone and trust. Yes indeed there is a mighty struggle going on in the Spiritual realm. Who is going to win? Do you want to be on the winning side?