Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“Then on the day when he wills his possessions to his sons, he is not permitted to treat the son of the loved as the firstborn in preference to the son of the disliked, who is the firstborn.”
NL Daily Devotion for Monday, March 8, 2021
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
All parents say they don’t have a favorite child. I’m not sure that’s possible. There are just some people who are easier to be around, who we connect with on a deeper level. And that can be the same with our children as with others in our lives. I don’t think parents should feel guilty if they prefer their relationship with one child over another. The practice of favoritism on the other hand is entirely harmful. I don’t care how much one of your children pushes your buttons. That child deserves the same loving treatment as the “easy” one.
Deuteronomy is clear on this. The law says the oldest son inherits (we can go into the moral ramifications of that some other time). If you like the younger one better, tough toenails. You don’t get to play favorites.
What’s ironic, of course, is that Israel (Jacob) himself was a younger son, and he got the older son’s portion of everything. I wonder about that, and, of course, I read into it with New Testament hindsight, knowing that Jesus completely leveled the playing field. No longer was God’s love and favor to be reserved for the chosen favorite: Israel. It was for all humanity. Period. So what does that tell me? I can’t support any practices that favor one person or group of people at the expense/harm of another. Each of us is equally worthy, valued, and beloved. Even if I like one better than the other. End of story.
Do I find myself favoring certain people or groups of people at the expense of others?
