|
My husband, David, recently discovered that he is a direct descendant of the second signer of the Declaration of Independence. It had actually been Lewis family folklore for quite a while – I heard about the connection some 20 years ago when I married into the family. My father-in-law Ken was from New Hampshire, And the prevailing story was that they were related to Josiah Bartlett, a doctor from Kingston, who served as the representative to the Continental Congress and signed the statement of revolution in 1776, and who later become governor of the Granite State. Dave decided to pursue the story, And to become an official member of an organization called DSDI, The Descendents of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence. He had to, as you might imagine, Oobtain copies of marriage licenses, birth records, and death certificates. His aunt June had done a good portion of the legwork already, and he contacted various locales in New Hampshire, completed the paperwork and sent it along to the registrar of DSDI. Here’s what Dave learned about the Bartlett family history: Josiah Bartlett and his wife had 12 children, Eight of whom grew to adulthood. Dave’s family line – which is also now Kathryn and Rose’s family history – comes through Josiah’s first daughter named Mary, and through the generations to his paternal grandmother, A woman named Edith Little. Dave is just beginning to learn the stories of his family ties – Of the men and women who came before him. Since one of his relatives is a famous American, He’s been able to read the stories of Josiah Bartlett – Stories that come primarily through letters between Josiah and his wife and friends and officials in New Hampshire and around the newly formed country. There are the stories about his struggles in being away from his wife, family, and farm for extended periods, and the long hours and hard work of those 56 men who debated and then signed the Declaration. You can learn about Josiah’s enduring of illness and hardship, Including what he called the “plagues of Egypt,” The swarm of flies in the city of Philadelphia, who he was certain were left by the English! There are many letters pleading to send a replacement to the city so he could return home. These stories are interesting and important, And they are recorded for all to read. But I’m just as sure that there are other stories – Stories that are not written down – Or ones that you have to discern through what’s recorded, reading between the lines. Stories of sibling strife and family feuds, Stories of rejection and rivalry, Stories of dysfunction and betrayal. I’m sure there are those stories in Dave’s family, Because there are those stories in MY family, Because there are those stories in all our families. The stories that you speak about in hushed tones, Or the ones you tell away from the picnic table at the summer family reunion. Which makes it surprising, then, That our holy scripture, the living word of God, records such stories for us. That is especially true in the Hebrew Bible, where stories of family ties abound. We might not expect or anticipate finding our faith genealogy to be filled with infertility, struggle, competition, jealousy, trickery, or gluttony, but here it is – for all to read and for all to see. And there it is – here it is! - The story we heard today, And others like them – and there are many – Highlight the fullness of our humanity. They also, I think, can bring to us the fullness of God’s presence in the midst of the struggle and confusion, so that we might learn how to live more fully and faithfully as God’s children. And so over the next three weeks we will explore three stories – Some known, some not so well known – Stories of brothers and sisters, daughters and sons. We’ll look at the stories of Jacob and Esau, Rachel and Leah, and the daughters of Zelophehad. We begin this week with Jacob and Esau, The twin sons of Isaac and Rebekah, And grandsons of the great patriarch and beloved matriarch, Abraham and Sarah. Theirs is a story born of struggle. In the womb, They tangled and tumbled, Rivaled and rebuffed each other, As if they were seeking and searching for the greater place within their family. In their birthing, It seems they battled. Esau is born first, And right behind him comes Jacob is gripping at the heel of his brother, Grasping for breath and grasping for his brothers place in the family. The twins continue their separation as they grow into young men. Easu was strong and bold, a hunter, And was the favorite of his father, Jacob was a quiet man, Staying close at home, and the favorite of his mother And if you haven’t felt the tension in the story yet, Here it is full-blown! Two children, Two parents, Each having a favorite. It could have continued in this manner, Each child basking and living happily in the affections of one parent, But these are not good family dynamics, friends, either today or in some time in the far past. And so we are told the day comes when Jacob, who once grasped Esau’s heel, now grasps Esau’s birth right, that portion of the family inheritance that belonged to the oldest child. Jacob finds Esau at his hungriest, At the end of a long day or days of hunting. Esau smells the freshly prepared meal, Can almost taste its rich flavors, And in a moment – Snap – Trades his birthright, his privilege, his standing, for a bowl of stew. Now, let me tell you, I’m Italian and I understand the power of food, But I’m not sure I’d trade my family inheritance for a bowl of lentils (Okay, a really good eggplant parmesan, then we’d have to talk!) But that’s exactly what Esau does – Trades something precious for a meal. So, friends, Which brother do you identify with? Maybe you’re siding with Esau at this point, Feeling a little bit sorry for him because he got tricked by his younger brother and you’ve been on the receiving end of that experience before. Maybe you’re feeling more affinity with Jacob, because it seems like he’s only looking out for himself, and, after all, That’s what the younger sibling often has to do. We all need to work for what we want, don’t we? I believe the story of Esau and Jacob invite us to face our humanness And the way we sometimes carelessly treat our blessings, take advantage of others Or play favorites. Biblical scholars Ronald Allen and Clark Williamson say there are two questions that should haunt at our minds, settle in our hearts and compel our spirits to move forward as we encounter this story of in our family history. Their first question is: How are we like Esau, Willing to sell our birthrights to satisfy our immediate hungers? It is true as we proclaim each time we gather that Through grace and through the work of Christ Jesus, We are given the birthright and blessing of God’s love and grace. I think of the times I take that reality and privilege not only for granted, but cast it aside way too easily for a moment’s pleasure or daily preoccupations. I’m aware of the moments I’ve wasted turning on the television thinking it will speak to me instead of listening to our still-speaking God or someone in my family. I’m aware of the times I’ve gone shopping for nothing in particular or something I don’t really need instead of visiting someone who needs a reminder that that too, are a child of God. Esau’s story is our story, friends, because in our hunger for love, companionship, connection and communion, We are willing to give up or forget about God, And make choices that we later regret. In the end, We often despise those choice, or even ourselves, just as we are told Esau despised his birthright. Allen’s and Williamson’s second questions is from Jacob’s perspective: How do we, like Jacob, they ask, Exploit others, Even taking from them means of blessing? The Biblical mandate is clear, both in the Hebrew Bible and in the New Testament - we are called to take care, to watch over, and to protect those are the weakest among us, those who are struggling with life, who have been made low by circumstances beyond their control. And yet it is also true, friends, that we sometime take advantage of other’s weaknesses – as individuals and as a society. We encounter someone lacking in resources or self-confidence, And instead of giving a helping hand, We push them away and make their lives harder. There has been for me – And maybe for you, too – times when I have taken advantage of another’s kindness or love, exploiting their good will to get something I thought I wanted or needed. This same dynamic is true for us as a society. We live as in a country and in a world where it seems every day The rich get richer and the poor get poorer, The strong get stronger and the weak get weaker. Part of the reason is that for that I think is we allow governmental policies that diminish access to basic necessities. We take away the means of blessing – Food, shelter, a job. Jacob’s story is our story, friends, Because in our desire to get ahead or secure our place in life, We use our gifts to take advantage of others instead of helping them. Some of you know that the text we hear today is only the beginning of the story of Esau and Jacob’s story. Later, Jacob, with the help of his mother Rebekah, Deceives his father Isaac, And takes the full portion of inheritance and blessing from Esau. Jacob flees from his homeland and heads to his cousin’s because Esau is so angry he threatens to kill him. In his new location, Jacob gets married, Fathers many children and has many adventures. He wrestles with God, Who changes him and changes his name to Israel; Jacob’s progeny will become the twelve tribes of Israel. The Biblical word is kind, God is kind and generous to Esau as well. He, too, is a father to many children and is blessed with abundance to meet his family’s needs. Towards the end of their story, there is a reunion between these two battling brothers. They are a little older and wiser, And have spent many years away from their homeland. In one of the most tender scenes in all of Scripture, Jacob approaches his brother, bowing to the ground like the younger brother he is. Esau runs to meet his younger brother, and like the older brother that he is, Embraces Jacob and kisses him. And the two men weep – Over the years lost in separation, over seeing one another again, and over the ways God has traveled with them up until this point. And because Esau has extended such hospitality to his brother, Jacob can declare to him: “Truly to see your face is to see the face of God!” Friends, I believe that God has planted the seeds of reconciliation in the midst of the struggle and the strife between Jacob and Esau, And I believe that God has planted those same seeds in the midst of our struggles and strife. The good news is that again Jacob and Esau’s story is our story because we can choose to respond to God’s invitation to reconciliation and reunion. We can lay down our past regrets and choices, Let go of the rejection and rivalries, Anger and pride, Exploitation and deception, and our seeking immediate satisfaction. When we do so – When we receive the grace to do so – We know the truest blessing of all – To look into another’s face and declare as Jacob did: “Truly to see your face is to see the face of God!” May it be so and may it be soon for all of us. Amen. |