Hello Roadblock #1

          Well it took me all of five days to encounter my first Bible reading roadblock which led to a week long time out from the blogging.  I did read at least a little bit on most non-blog days but just couldn't seem to find the time or motivation to write about what I read.  Christmas shopping, mixed with legal researching and trying to prepare for a three week long across the country trip are not the ingredients needed for following this plan of mine. However, my head is now back in the game so let's continue with where I left off last week and go on to what I read on my hiatus from the writing world. ~ Genesis 24-27 ~
          The story of Abraham, Sarah and Isaac is one that I have heard on more than one occasion (in reality it's probably been more than 50 occasions).  Nevertheless it is one that I love to hear.  As we read about earlier, these two were on the far end of the age spectrum when they conceived and brought a son into the world.  They tried without success for decades to have a child and were starting to think that it just wasn't in the cards for them.   I can't imagine wanting a child that badly and going through decade after decade with an empty uterus.  This is a great reminder to us that God's timing is always perfect even when we just don't believe it at the moment.        
          Fast forward several years.  God had promised Abraham and Sarah a son even though they were well past child bearing age and he delivered (no pun intended I swear).  Just think about the pure joy they must have felt when Sarah finally gave birth to their son.  I'm sure they called him their miracle baby.  I'm sure he was as spoiled as a child could be several thousand years ago.  And I'm sure that Abraham was devastated when God asked him to sacrifice him as a burnt offering.  The processing of that thought must have been horrific.  It takes Abraham and Isaac all of two verses to make the trek up the mountain to the place God wanted it to take place.  In real time it took them over two full days to get there.  Two full days to think about exactly what he had to do.  Two full days of looking for any excuse to turn around and go back home.  Must have been the most difficult two days of Abraham's life.  Yet he didn't doubt God and proceeded to obey him fully and without hesitation.  Because of that blind, unyielding obedience Isaac's life was spared and a ram was sent as a substitute offering. 
          Years later comes another account of sibling rivalry proving that it must be something as natural to us humans as sin.  Issac and his wife Rebekah had twin sons, Esau (the older one) and Jacob (the younger one).  When he was old and ill Isaac asked Esau to go out into the field, catch some game to make him a meal, and come back to receive his blessing.  While Esau was gone hunting, Rebekah helped Jacob fix Esau's favorite meal and sent him into Isaac cleverly disguised as his brother. (To anyone not familiar with this story, Isaac was very old and could not see.  Esau was very hairy so Jacob was covered in animal hair making Isaac believe it was really Esau if he touched him).  Isaac was in fact deceived and gave Jacob Esau's blessing.  I don't know about anyone else but the fact that Rebekah aided this scheme made me angrier than the fact that Jacob actually carried it out.  I don't understand how a mother can play favorites that blatantly.  Come on woman! 
          Sorry to you and myself that I have taken so long of a break.  With God's motivation I plan to stay on track from here on out with much shorter breaks if a break is needed.  Happy reading everybody.