February 5, 2010
IRJ Reflection #21
Counting Your Blessings: Almost a Daily Procedure
*Reflection Idea: the story of Jacob buying Esau’s birthright, from Esau’s point of view
Alright, I admit it. It was a stupid thing to do. But I was starving! Death itself was looking me in the face! What else was I suppose to do? I go and get his dinner, and he so graciously repays me by stripping away my pride. Gee, thanks a lot, brother.
Let those people talk behind my back and call me dull – I don’t care. Am I not the breadwinner of the family? The man who provides his mother and father’s meals every night? Without me, they would be the ones dying! If you ask me, they should be thanking and worshiping me, not this Lord guy that father seems to be so crazy about. If he was so great and almighty, wouldn’t he have prevented me from feeling the pangs of hunger that terrible day when Jacob tricked me to selling my birthright to him?
Without me, Jacob would never have been able to make the lame soup in the first place. In fact, he would be nobody if it weren’t for me! Who knows? Maybe if he didn’t pop out holding my ankle, he would never have made it out. But even if he has my birthright, I’m still father’s favorite, and I always will be. Nobody can take that away from me. Nobody! For I am Esau, a proud man of the field, a master at the art of hunting! Plus I actually look like a man, unlike little Jacob who resembles a pale worm. That’s all that really counts in the end: appearance. It certainly works for the ladies, or at least it did for my two wives! Or are there three? Four? Hold on, I’ll be right back…
February 4, 2010
IRJ Reflection #20
Hypocrisy: A Way of Life
When the two angels arrive and spend the night at Lot’s house, the men of Sodom surround the house and order Lot to bring his guests out so they can rape them. Lot comes out and tells them, “I beg you, my brothers, do not 
act so wickedly” (Gen. 19.7).
If people were given this story up to this point, many would agree that Lot’s reaction is commendable, ethical, and, well, just plain good. How can anyone go wrong with speaking out against male homosexual rape? Oh, look! He even gets rewarded for it: the Lord spares his life while the rest of Sodom and Gomorrah is demolished and turned into pillars of salt. Do you hear that, children? You do something good, and you are rewarded for it. What a concept.
However, Lot goes on to offer his two virgin daughters for the men to violate instead of the two strange angels he had just met hours before. The idea of giving up his only daughters to the dangerous and violent men should be agonizing for Lot, even unthinkable.
On the other hand, Lot’s decision is not entirely his fault. His choice is partly controlled by society, which dictates that personal sacrifices are necessary for humanity to benefit as a whole. Of course, humanity in this case is, ironically, the two angels of the Lord. Not to mention that the Lord Himself is up there watching Lot and judging his every move: one false step, and he dies. Literally.
It’s also strange that in order to save his family, Lot must place them in jeopardy so he can gain favor with God, who will hopefully return the favor. Once, of course, you kill a ram or two (which He so generously supplies in 22.13) so He can smell the pleasing aroma of burning flesh.
Stealthy 