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Read: Genesis 25:19-23
Meditation: The twins were a prayer answered. Isaac had been
praying long and hard for babies, and God answered his prayers. There
was something interesting about these babies though. They were actually
fighting in the womb. Before they even knew each other, they didn't
enjoy each other's company. Did they not like each other? Maybe.
Probably however, they were just beginning what would become a life-long
competition.
Have you ever been in something like this? Have you ever found
yourself competing hard with someone you don't even know? Has the
competition created a dislike that is shared among both of you? If so,
don't worry, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The purpose
today, however, is simply to get you relating moments in your life to
that of this moment in Jacob and Esau's life.
Prayer Starter: Lord, show me the things in my life that need
reworking. Show me the relationships that are broken. 
Read: Genesis 25:24-26
Meditation: It was almost as if the infant Jacob didn't want to
allow his brother Esau to get a "head start" on him. Esau came out
first, with Jacob literally right on his heels. Many times, we do not want
to be runner-up. We want the glory of being first. In Jacob's time, the
first-born almost always was the celebrated one; not only at birth but also
throughout life. When we witness someone who is enjoying what we perceive as
our "piece of the pie", we want our slice right away. This is not
always possible. Sometimes, we have to hang back and let others go first.
Many times, we don't have a choice. As we will see however, first doesn't
always come out "victorious". Sometimes, it is those who are
overlooked who get the big slice of the pie.
Prayer Starter: Lord, help me to be patient. Help me to rejoice in
others' success and wait my turn. Father, I know with You, there is not
"first place", rather, it is by finishing the race that I find
favor.
Read: Genesis 25:27-28
Meditation: Jacob and Esau turned out to be completely different
people. Esau was a sportsman; Jacob more of an introvert. People are
different. There is no arguing that. We don't always like the life we're
dealt, but that doesn't mean someone else has it better. Esau was the
"All-American boy", finding favor in his father's eye. Jacob was a
"momma's boy" which would eventually result in, oddly enough, his
father's blessing.
The bottom line is, some people favor one type and others a different
type. We are all special and important in God's eyes, and yet we continue to
argue with each other over who is better. What a world it would be if we
could accept each other for our differences, and work good through them.
Working together, we will most always achieve more.
Prayer Starter: Father, keep me tolerant to those I consider
"different". Grant tolerance to those who would consider me
"different". Help us to all work together for the good of Your
kingdom.
Read: Genesis 25:29-34
Meditation: We are often curious of how God would allow a
deceitful Jacob to deceive his father into giving him the blessing. The
answer is: Esau didn't want it anyway. Esau considered his hunger more
important than his birthright. The same is true for us. We are often blessed
with great things, but we ignore them because we think there are more
important things in life. Like Esau, it is easy for us to just give away
something so important without even recognizing it. God tells us to live for
Him and He will provide us our "Daily Bread". Sounds good, but do
we really accept this care that our Father in Heaven wants to give us?
Prayer Starter: Father, help me use what I have to minister to
those around me. There are things all around me that I want, give me only
what I need. Not my will, but Your will be done. \
Read: Genesis 32:1-19
Meditation: Confrontation usually frightens us. As we near the end
of this chapter in Jacob and Esau's life, we see this fear in Jacob as well.
Jacob is afraid of his upcoming confrontation with Esau. He spends time and
resources trying to prepare for this meeting. In other words, he is trying
to "butter up" Esau. When we are facing confrontation, we often
think the worse. In fact, this fear often keeps us from ever confronting.
However, if we never put our foot forward we will miss out on many blessings
that God wants to give us through reconciling with those whom we have
wronged or have wronged us.
Prayer Starter: Father, give me the strength to reconcile. It is a
hard thing to do, because it often involves some sort of confrontation. Help
me walk in Your steps, and give me the words to speak, as I reconcile the
broken relationships in my life.
Read: Genesis 33:1-20
Meditation:
Wow! What a relief! Isn't it amazing that Esau wants
reconciliation as much as Jacob does? Had Jacob continued to run and
hide from Esau, he never would have experienced this miraculous moment
of reconciliation. When we run and hide, we too miss out on miraculous
things. Many times, we can only think of all the bad things that will
come out of confronting someone we have conflict with, when the truth
is, they probably want reconciliation as much as we do.
Prayer Starter: Father, open the hearts of those to whom I go
to reconcile. I pray that they have a heart for reconciliation that is a
strong and passionate as mine.
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