Devotions for the week of: March 11, 2020
Reading:
Genesis 27:5-17
“Now Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to his son Esau. So when Esau went to the field to hunt for game and bring it, Rebekah said to her son Jacob, ‘I heard your father say to your brother Esau, “Bring me game, and prepare for me savoury food to eat, that I may bless you before the Lord before I die.” Now therefore, my son, obey my word as I command you. Go to the flock, and get me two choice kids, so that I may prepare from them savoury food for your father, such as he likes; and you shall take it to your father to eat, so that he may bless you before he dies.’ But Jacob said to his mother Rebekah, ‘Look, my brother Esau is a hairy man, and I am a man of smooth skin. Perhaps my father will feel me, and I shall seem to be mocking him, and bring a curse on myself and not a blessing.’ His mother said to him, ‘Let your curse be on me, my son; only obey my word, and go, get them for me.’ So he went and got them and brought them to his mother; and his mother prepared savoury food, such as his father loved. Then Rebekah took the best garments of her elder son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them on her younger son Jacob; and she put the skins of the kids on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck. Then she handed the savoury food, and the bread that she had prepared, to her son Jacob.”
In all of scripture it is about how we understand God’s living Word to be in our life. This is my story because 1) my name, too, is Rebecca (modern spelling); 2) I love food; and 3) I also have made a few bad choices in my life.
For much of my life I did not know how I was named. My birth was in a maternity home and “Grandma” was the mid-wife. Even as I was adopted by another family she continued to selflessly love and nurture me as I grew. I learned upon her death “Grandma” was really Rebecca. Rebecca taught me about love.
Anyone who knows me – even a little, knows I love food – cooking, serving, sharing. The word “savoury” is used FOUR times. No low quality, tasteless bounty was to be shared on this day! It was perfection. For Rebekah, the task before her required the best “Martha” day stored in her pantry.
Also, like everyone reading this devotion, I am a sinner. Bad choices, things done and left undone; things that should have been left undone done, etc., etc. I am all of that and more. Yet in my own sinfulness and brokenness a redemption occurred for the Rebekah of our text and the Rebecca of this life. Even in my sinfulness God has called me, this Rebecca, to tell others through ordained ministry of the great gift of life, healing, and forgiveness that comes from God and God alone. It was over a very important meal that I explained to my children about this call I received from God. It is in the meal of perfection, of bread and wine, we receive the visual means of God’s grace; and, it is in God’s calling us by name to grow into the gifts God has given us.
Did Rebekah do what was right? Does this Rebecca always do what is right and good and just? Not hardly. Does God love us anyway? Absolutely! It is God’s promise.
Pastor Becky Senner
Zion, Bridgewater/Immanuel, Canova
Prayer:
Good and gracious God out of your mercy you graciously offer amid the brokenness of life healing by forgiveness, life through the meal and strength by the witness of your love through others around us. We give you thanks. In Jesus name, Amen.
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