Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“Let peoples serve you,
and nations bow down to you.
Be lord over your brothers,
and may your mother’s sons bow down to you.
Cursed be everyone who curses you,
and blessed be everyone who blesses you!’”
NL Daily Devotion for Wednesday, September 23, 2020
by Daniel D. Maurer, Clergy Stuff
I’ve often wondered about those who try to turn every one of the stories in the Bible into a little morality tale. Don’t misunderstand, the Bible is filled with the importance of being a moral, upstanding person. There’s nothing wrong with morality in its own right.
Where it becomes problematic is with stories like today’s.
Jacob is intentionally sneaky (at the behest of his mother, but what good Jewish son doesn’t do what his mother tells him?). Jacob’s sneakiness is blessed, despite his immoral behavior.
It was like, “Ooops! Well, there are no takebacks…” Once a blessing goes out, I guess it must stick somehow on your soul or something.
But that’s the whole point here that I think the moralists miss. Jacob was sneaky, yes. Immoral even. But God still chose to work through this less-than-perfect human being.
That gives me hope. Not that it’s an encouragement to be sneaky or immoral, but that in all my imperfection, God can bless me, too.
Despite my imperfections, God, use my life to further your love. Amen.
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