June 5 | Genesis Part 13
Discussion Guide
Stolen Blessing
June 5 | Genesis Series Part 13
Overview
Genesis 25 & 27 are a pair of stories about Abraham’s son Isaac and his family. Rebekah, Isaac’s wife, was barren but God answered their prayer with twins. Before they were born Rebekah received an oracle explaining that the older would serve the younger.
From the beginning Jacob and Esau were in competition, and they couldn’t be more different. In the first story Esau trades his birthright for a bowl of stew. In the second, Jacob and his mother trick Isaac to give him blessing that was supposed to be for Esau. Jacob receives the blessing and Esau is left broken.
This story is not a morality tale about an all-too-human family, it is a theological tale about a God who will use complicated family drama and broken personalities to subvert the system. What happens to Jacob begins a pattern of God choosing the low and unrecognized, preparing us for Jesus.
With Jesus blessing comes to those who don’t deserve it. God’s people find themselves as children of the promise not by merit but by grace. God’s purpose comes to those without power, ability, intelligence, a godly family, a house, reputation, or resume. It comes as sheer unexpected, unmerited, disruptive grace.
And so we boast in Christ. We are invited to stop focusing all our attention on the older brothers of the world, but to choose the younger consistently, break the system, and consider those in the community that we tend to overlook and avoid.
“That we would all dance together under the unmerited grace of God.”
Questions for Discussion
What from this teaching stuck out to you the most? Was anything interesting or new? Was anything challenging or confusing?
Is there a context in your life (work, school, home, church, etc.) where you feel like the older brother of the social system—the recipient of privilege or power? Is there a context where you feel like the younger brother?
In the areas of your life where you are the older brother, what could it look like for you to choose the younger consistently and break the system?
The story of Jacob and Esau is an origin story for the people of Israel that would have been told and retold year after year, helping God’s people remember that God’s promise comes not by merit but by disruptive grace. What stories or practices do you (or can you) rehearse that help you remember this same truth?
The phrase “boast in Christ” is pretty heavy Christianese. What does it mean to you? What does it look like to do this in every day life?
Discussion: Summer Rhythms
If you didn’t last week, please take a few minutes tonight to have a short discussion on your groups rhythm for this summer. The Genesis series will continue through the end of June, and discussion guides will be provided. During July and part of August there will be a Psalms series, and David will create a generic template for that series. Then we will start back up with a series called Everyday Spirituality on August 21st.
Do you want to continue meeting each week? Change up the rhythm for summer? Take a break altogether?
Do you want to schedule any events? Park nights, BBQs, trips, etc.?
Leaders, please email David your groups plans.
Close in Prayer
Before you end your time, pray, asking for the Spirit’s presence in the big and small stuff of life. Take some time to pray for other prayer requests as they come up.
