Day 20 – Genesis 25-26

Talking Points

• Abraham remarries and has other children, yet the inheritance is given to Isaac.
• Isaac has two sons, Esau and Jacob. Jacob trades Esau out of his birthright and steals his blessing. Esau and Jacob had probably both heard of the birthright that Isaac would pass down, but Esau did not value it, trading a spiritual blessing for a temporary physical desire. It is hard not to ridicule such a silly decision, until we recognize that we often chase the temporary and neglect the eternal. Same folly.
• Decisions made in haste seldom seem to work out very well. Sometimes even seemingly small decisions bring giant, unforeseen consequences.

Thoughts

Successful or satisfied? What is the best way to conclude your life? Is it to be deemed successful, or is it to be satisfied? Which end would hold the most value? Which one would produce the greatest joy? Should we work to see success or satisfaction?

The Bible says Abraham lived 175 years and died “an old man and satisfied with life” (25:8). The Hebrew word for satisfied means “contented,” “full,” or “agreeable.” Abraham had been through the ups and downs of life, had failed God regretfully, and had received His great grace. He had been witness to unimaginably great times and unspeakably difficult days as well. And, in the end, he could say he was content with it all. He had lived his days and was now full. Wow.

It appears this is the greater goal. Success is subjective. Success is illusive. Success can be overturned, destroyed, snatched away. Contentment, however, is based on more than circumstances or accomplishment — it is a matter of coming to a place of rest.

Isn’t it something that in Christ we find rest — true contentment? In Christ, we can cease striving. There is nothing more to accomplish, nothing else to search for. In Him, there is peace. In Jesus, we can survey the good and the bad, the easy and the difficult, and be content. The good news is: we do not have to reach the end of our days to be “full.” May we end each day in the model of Abraham — satisfied with life!