Tuesday, July 27th

Dad's Approval
(Gen. 28:1-9)

For the first time ever I feel sorry for Esau. Yeah, he was impulsive and made poor decisions. But, under the surface you can see that he's a child desperately seeking his father's approval--and I can relate to that! The sad thing is that Isaac really dropped the ball. He never told Esau not to take a Canaanite woman for a wife. And after Esau took his first Canaanite wife Isaac didn't say anthing. And so Esau took a second Canaanite woman for a wife. Isaac, his father, was so passive. Now, I'm sure it was difficult for him living in the gigantic shadow of his famed father Abraham, but he never stepped up and led. Rebekah had to jump in and stop Isaac from blessing the wrong son. Then she had to prompt him to send Jacob away to marry the right woman. That's something that is so prevalant today. When men don't step up to the plate God raises up women to accomplish his will. And there are women who are definitely doing what it takes these days.

Anyway, back to Esau. Throughout his life he saw Jacob outsmart him for his birthright, and then steal his blessing. Then, he found out that his wives were unacceptable by overhearing his father Isaac giving his brother Jacob advice on where to get a good wife (of course he was sending Jacob back to Arkansas to imbreed with his cousins, but that's a subject for a different day). After all of that what does Esau do? He goes to Isaac's half brother Ishmael to get a wife. Why? Because we guys are hard wired to need our father's approval. We just have to make sure we're seeking the right Father's approval.

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