Category: Faith in the Struggle

But when Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and found there a well of spring water, the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac’s herdsmen, saying, “The water is ours.” Genesis 26:19-20 When my son ran cross-country in high school, he and his team had a perpetual debate that lasted several seasons. Could a grain of…
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He had possessions of flocks and herds and many servants, so that the Philistines envied him. . . And Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us, for you are much mightier than we.” Genesis 26:14-16 At the gym, we’re in perpetual competition with each other, pushing one another to become better than we’d be…
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And Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold. The LORD blessed him, and the man became rich, and gained more and more until he became very wealthy. Genesis 26:12-13 Often, as I’ve observed other Christians whom I’ve put on a pedestal, I’ve been surprised and hurt when they’ve turned…
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Abimelech said, “What is this you have done to us? One of the people might easily have lain with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us.”  Genesis 26:10 I’ve developed a bad habit of using somewhat coarse language at the gym. I probably do it in other places as well, but it’s…
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So Isaac settled in Gerar. When the men of the place asked him about his wife, he said, “She is my sister,” for he feared to say, “My wife,” thinking, “lest the men of the place should kill me because of Rebekah,” because she was attractive in appearance. Genesis 26:6-7 Modern medicine accepts that addiction…
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And the LORD appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; dwell in the land of which I shall tell you. Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you and will bless you . . .” Genesis 26:2-3 Working in addiction medicine, I often wish that I could simply assume…
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Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” Genesis 25:32 I’ve previously written about that primitive part of our brain – the nucleus accumbens – that seeks and produces a dopamine high from immediate gratification. Give me donuts now. Balancing that impulsive part of our brain is the…
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Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright. Genesis 25:34 When I was a kid, I felt picked on for my weight. Yes, I was a little chubby and yes, my mom had to buy me husky jeans. Honestly,…
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Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright now.” Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” Jacob said, “Swear to me now.” So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. Genesis 25:31-33 It’s a story I’ve heard many times over – I knew the consequences but…
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When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents. Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob. Genesis 25:27-28 Like my wife and I, our two children have very different personalities. Due to their remarkable…
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