June 23, 2016 

“These are the descendants of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, sister of Laban the Aramean. Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord granted his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived. The children struggled together within her; and she said, “If it is to be this way, why do I live?”[c] So she went to inquire of the Lord. And the Lord said to her,
“Two nations are in your womb,
and two peoples born of you shall be divided;
the one shall be stronger than the other,
the elder shall serve the younger.”
When her time to give birth was at hand, there were twins in her womb. The first came out red, all his body like a hairy mantle; so they named him Esau. Afterward his brother came out, with his hand gripping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob.[d] Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.” Genesis 25:19-26

“Mike and Ike are oblong fruit-flavored chewy candies that come in several colors and varieties, including cherry, orange, lime, lemon, and strawberry. Popular varieties are Tropical Typhoon, Berry Blast and Jolly Joes. The candy is kosher and gluten-free. They are similar to Hot Tamales, another candy introduced by the same manufacturer in 1950, though they are not spicy. And as to the origin of the name, well Mike and Ike (They Look Alike) was a comic strip by Rube Goldberg, who introduced the identical twin characters in the San Francisco Bulletin on September 29, 1907.” (Mike and Ike website)

“Mike and Ike (They Look Alike) was a comic strip by Rube Goldberg, who introduced the identical twin characters in the San Francisco Bulletin on September 29, 1907.” (Wikipedia)

Now Rube Goldberg was a cartoonist, but he is best known for a series of popular cartoons depicting complicated gadgets that perform simple tasks in indirect, convoluted ways. Goldberg received many honors in his lifetime, including a Pulitzer Prize for his political cartooning in 1948 and the Banshees’ Silver Lady Award in 1959. We might know him best though for the complicated gadgets – someone will often look at a device and say “That looks like a Rube Goldberg device”. “The Rube Goldberg Machine Contest is a contest in which college or high school students build devices to complete a simple task in a minimum of twenty steps in the style of American cartoonist Rube Goldberg. Local contests are held throughout the United States, and local winners are eligible to compete in the national contest.” (Wikipedia)

Jacob and Esau were twins, but they were not alike at all. They were the antithesis of Mike and Ike. Esau was the oldest and therefore the one to receive the birthright and blessing of his father. And Esau was the favorite of his father. But Jacob was the favorite of his mother, and together the two of them would conspire for Jacob to trick his father Isaac into giving Jacob his blessings. And, even though Jacob was a trickster and a liar, he will go on to father the children who will become the leaders of the twelve tribes of Israel.

Once again we are reminded that G-d does not seek out “perfect” people to participate in spreading the good news of the kingdom of G-d. G-d selects those whom, despite their flaws, will trust G-d and follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The sons of Jacob will go on to try to kill their brother Joseph – but again, G-d will use what they devised for evil and turn it into the beginning of the Israelite nation. It is a good thing that we are not all alike – and a good thing that G-d will use imperfect people to continue G-d’s work in the world.

Pastor Dave