Jacob's Deception (9AM)

This morning is the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend. In our services we remember those who have paid an ultimate price on battle fields near and far. This weekend we also remember all of those we have loved who have passed this previous year. This is a weekend of tears, of gratitude, of laughter and memories, of the awareness of the blessings of God and the frailty of human life.

In the Bible story for this morning’s sermon we read about choices made that tore a family apart: deception, favoritism, theft, pride and power all converge in a moment in a family’s life. Dad’s eyesight was failing. He wanted to bless his oldest son. Mom had a plan for the younger of her two sons, her favorite one, to receive the blessing instead. Most could predict how that would play out. All of this, I believe, because those in the story failed to trust God. When we take matters into our own hands and try to instruct God, or force God to act in a certain way, chaos, division, heartache, sorrow, regret follow. May we trust God here at Grace, and in our own lives too.