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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The children struggled together within her, and she said, “If it is thus, why is this happening to me?” Genesis 25:22 Paranoia was a constant companion in my drug addiction. As I spent a lot of time worrying that others would discover my secret, I always felt like everyone was looking at me with suspicion.…
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Isaac prayed to the LORD for his wife, because she was barren. Genesis 25:21 In marriage two people are meant to become one (Genesis 2:24). As a husband, I must love my wife as Christ loved me and as I love myself (Ephesians 5:25-28). All my significant life decisions should include this thought – How…
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Isaac prayed to the LORD for his wife, because she was barren. And the LORD granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived. Genesis 25:21 Once, after sharing my story of addiction and recovery to a church high school group, one of the kids made an interesting observation – You make it sound as if…
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Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people. Isaac and Ishmael his sons buried him in the cave of Machpelah . . . There Abraham was buried, with Sarah his wife. Genesis 25:8-10 In learning Addiction Medicine, I’ve been…
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Then Isaac brought her into the tent of Sarah his mother and took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death. Genesis 24:67 My wife’s father and my father were both pastors, working for the same organization and so, our parents knew each other long…
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And they called Rebekah and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” She said, “I will go.” So they sent away Rebekah their sister and her nurse, and Abraham’s servant and his men. Genesis 24:58-59 While visiting my daughter in college last weekend, we all attended a football game where I witnessed a…
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