stolen blessing

Good morning brothers and sisters,
Tonight we begin vacation Bible school at Laurelton. We have opportunities for all ages, so come on over at 6:30 this evening. Whether you're taking part in the adult or kid's learning opportunities, helping out with the program, or not I hope you'll pray for us and for the participants. Pray that God would work through us to touch hearts during these five weeks.

The story of Jacob and Esau comes to a climax in this reading. Esau returns from hunting to find his blessing stolen. All that is left for him is the blessing of eventually rising up against his brother's yoke. Esau and Isaac both weep about Jacob's deception, but the damage is already done. May we always seek to build peace where people are in conflict and look out for the interests of others as well as ourselves.

God bless,
Sam

Genesis 27:30-40

30As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, when Jacob had scarcely gone out from the presence of his father Isaac, his brother Esau came in from his hunting. 31He also prepared savory food, and brought it to his father. And he said to his father, “Let my father sit up and eat of his son’s game, so that you may bless me.” 32His father Isaac said to him, “Who are you?” He answered, “I am your firstborn son, Esau.”



33Then Isaac trembled violently, and said, “Who was it then that hunted game and brought it to me, and I ate it all before you came, and I have blessed him? —yes, and blessed he shall be!” 34When Esau heard his father’s words, he cried out with an exceedingly great and bitter cry, and said to his father, “Bless me, me also, father!” 35But he said, “Your brother came deceitfully, and he has taken away your blessing.” 36Esau said, “Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has supplanted me these two times. He took away my birthright; and look, now he has taken away my blessing.”



Then he said, “Have you not reserved a blessing for me?” 37Isaac answered Esau, “I have already made him your lord, and I have given him all his brothers as servants, and with grain and wine I have sustained him. What then can I do for you, my son?” 38Esau said to his father, “Have you only one blessing, father? Bless me, me also, father!” And Esau lifted up his voice and wept. 39Then his father Isaac answered him: “See, away from the fatness of the earth shall your home be, and away from the dew of heaven on high. 40By your sword you shall live, and you shall serve your brother; but when you break loose, you shall break his yoke from your neck.”