Enough Grasping

What’s Vital? By Jan Wilson

Enough Grasping

“Behold, I am with you and will Competition for finite resources is not keep you wherever you go, and will uncommon in healthcare. Anxiety about QUESTIONS FOR bring you back to this land. For I finding clean linens or having enough NURSES TO CONSIDER will not leave you until I have support staff has given way to concerns • What aspects of Jacob’s story done what I have promised you.” about PPE, ventilators, and trained per- speak to the conditions in which Genesis 28:15, ESV sonnel in the face of a pandemic. we practice nursing today? Esau hated Jacob so much for • What characteristics of God acob’s wrestling with his brother, extorting his birthright and then bring the peaceful assurance Esau, began in the womb. He cheating him out of his blessing that we need in times of great need entered the world grasping Esau’s he planned to kill him. His mother and limited resources? What J promises in Scripture steady heel and as the brothers grew, so did wanted to ensure Jacob’s safety, so she our minds so we can face the their contention. Their parents had prompted Isaac to send him to Paddan- unknown? favorites, with Isaac preferring Esau and Aram (Genesis 28:2) to find a wife. He • How can nurses be channels of Rebekah favoring Jacob. Jacob’s ambi- blessed Jacob as he departed. En route, blessing during times of wide- tion played out later in life when Esau God appeared to Jacob in a dream. He spread uncertainty? returned famished from a hunting trip. promised Jacob his presence and pro- Jacob exploited his brother’s weakened tection before there is any evidence that blessing his brother. Because Laban’s condition by withholding food from Jacob’s grasping, deceitful heart had household worshipped other gods, it him until he surrendered his birthright changed (Genesis 27:41, 28:17). is unlikely this family helped him in as payment for some stew (Genesis Jacob met his uncle Laban in this transformation (Genesis 31:19). Yet, 25:19-34). Paddan-Aram and agreed to work for on his journey to Paddan-Aram, even Time passed, and Isaac, their father, him. Although the cheater is tricked, before Jacob’s heart had changed, God old and going blind, intended to bless deceived, and exploited by Laban, promised to be with him. Twenty years Esau before he died. But Rebekah, Jacob doesn’t retaliate. Eventually, he later, he acknowledged God’s presence, their mother, incited Jacob to imper- heard the word of the Lord to return telling his wives that God had been sonate his brother and trick his father to the land of his fathers. Jacob, who with him and not allowed their father into blessing him instead (Genesis 27). had entered that land with only his to harm him, despite his maltreatment He donned Esau’s clothing, covered staff, departed with a large family and of Jacob during that time. Jacob attrib- his smooth skin with animal fur to much livestock (Genesis 31:17-18). uted the growth of his family and his resemble his brother’s hairy arms, and Jacob anticipated a violent reunion increase in wealth to the favor of God lied outright to his uncertain father: with his brother, Esau. He sent an ex- under harsh, unpredictable conditions. “I am Esau, your firstborn” (Genesis travagant gift to appease his brother, to Jacob confessed being “unworthy of 27:19, ESV). So Jacob received the which Esau responded, “I have enough, the least of all the deeds of steadfast love double-portion blessing traditionally keep what you have for yourself.” But and faithfulness” that God had shown reserved for the firstborn (Deuter- Jacob insisted, “Please take this gift I him (Genesis 32:10, ESV). His humble onomy 21:15-17). It seems Jacob never have brought you, for God has been recognition of his unworthiness in the had enough! very gracious to me. I have more than light of God’s mercy and kindness made enough” (Genesis 33:11, NIV). And all the difference in his heart. It changed Jan Wilson, MSN, RN, FNP, a nearly retired family nurse practitio- because Jacob insisted, Esau finally ac- him into a man through whom “in you ner, now invests her time studying cepted the gift. Jacob had found enough and in your descendants shall all the the Bible and sharing her love for (kol: all, the whole, everything; Strong’s families of the earth be blessed” (Genesis the Word with women. She lives in western Massachusetts. Concordance with Hebrew and Greek 28:14, NASB). The author declares no conflict of interest. lexicon, n.d.). Strong’s Concordance with Hebrew and Greek Lexicon. Copyright © 2020 InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA. Jacob, once a grasping swindler, (n.d.). Strong’s #3605: kol. http://www.eliyah.com/cgi- DOI:10.1097/CNJ.0000000000000754 had become a man who insisted on bin/strongs.cgi?file=hebrewlexicon&isindex=3605

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