I feel not qualified to comment on any of the passages from Science and Health, those being so tremendously far above the human level of thinking. But I feel that blessing only the first born eldest son is a bad tribal custom, that caused this family dispute. The Bible teaches that God is no respecter of persons. A father should love his children equally, and have no favorites. Luckily the two son matured, and overcome this ridiculous and imaginary feud. There was no real reason for it. We are all equal before God.
Andrew
1128 posts
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Location: n.a.
02/11/2014 09:42
Re: blessing
This silly tribal thing is still in full swing! Goes along with material existence - "ghastly farce" - but that is not the purpose of the story is it? So what is? Why should Jacob, after all his dishonesty, be blessed as Israel? What qualities did he have that Esau did not? Esau turned out to be a pretty decent fellow.
Florence
737 posts
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Location: n.a.
02/11/2014 15:16
Re: blessing
This silly tribal thing is still in full swing!
It sure is! Many still using that foolish excuse to be deceitful and take what rightfully belongs to younger siblings.
The point of this story though is about what Jacob was willing to go through to see himself right. Jacob was persistent, repentant he was crying out and was answered!
MaryBeth
795 posts
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Location: n.a.
Editor
02/12/2014 07:19
Re: blessing
I remember teaching this story in a Sunday school class a few years ago and a little girl was quite anguished about what happened to Jacob. She put her hands over her heart and said quite passionately, “Jacob was only obeying his mother, he was only obeying his mother – what else could he do?!!” We could argue he didn’t have to obey his mother and that he was a very willing conspirator – but in this child’s eyes he had no choice. Her earnest plea for what she considered to be Jacob’s horrible dilemma was a fresh and innocent observation.
jacob45
370 posts
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Location: puerto limon Costa Rica
02/16/2014 11:00
Re: blessing
It is the age-old lie that good can be attained by doing evil, cheating, killing, etc. It is the story of human history.
