We're pretty sneaky

I have often pondered how two people can come from the same genetic stock, grow up in the same background, and have the same parental experiences, and yet be so completely different. Even in the case of twins, where you for the most part would look identical, for the most part be treated identically, you still end up with different people.


Genesis 25:21-34
"Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. 22 The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, "Why is this happening to me?" So she went to inquire of the Lord. 23 The Lord said to her, "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger." 24 When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. 25 The first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau.   26 After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau's heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them. 27 The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was a quiet man, staying among the tents. 28 Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob. 29 Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. 30 He said to Jacob, "Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I'm famished!" (That is why he was also called Edom.) 31 Jacob replied, "First sell me your birthright." 32 "Look, I am about to die," Esau said. "What good is the birthright to me?" 33 But Jacob said, "Swear to me first." So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright." 

In this story, I always identify with Jacob. Growing up, I was never much of an outdoors kind of kid. I lived always in my head. I loved playing inside, and didn't really care to get dirty all that much. I was also sneaky like Jacob, and full of jealousy and deceitful like Jacob as well. It amazes me that God chose Jacob over Esau. 

By all accounts, Esau should have been the hero of this story: first born, the "man's man," and all that. But Esau despised his birthright, meaning he didn't a darn about his status in the family. He probably thought Jacob wasn't serious when he made this deal. But Jacob was crafty. Watch out for us indoorsmen........ ;)