My wife of 42 years is a lot like the wife of Alexander Bruce MacRae.
Bruce MacRae was an airplane-designer-turned-farmer who sowed and reaped for several decades just outside the city limits of Coldwater, Michigan.
And, Bruce MacRae was my father-in-law...now in heaven with the Savior.
And, Bruce MacRae was my father-in-law...now in heaven with the Savior.
His wife, Lois, and my wife, Lois' daughter, are much alike. Mom MacRae loved standing for long stretches of time on the furnace grate in the dining room of the farmhouse, with her robe on, just trying to stay warm. Similarly, Pamela likes to stand with a robe on near our gas fireplace for the same reason.
When one of her kids did something funny or unusual, Mom MacRae would tell the story of the incident over and over again. She'd giggle just as heartily the 5th time of telling as she did the first. Mom MacRae's daughter does the same. Odd family stories never lose their luster.
GRASPING IN THE WOMB...
There's a short story that must have been retold in every generation of Israel's offspring. The story of what happened in the womb of Rebekah, Isaac's wife. The Lord had said to her, "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples within you shall be divided. The one shall be stronger than the other, (yet) the older shall serve the younger" (Genesis 25:23).
Centuries later, Hosea reminded God's people what happened in the moments when the fraternal twins were exiting the womb.
"In the womb, Jacob took his brother (Esau) by the heel, and in his manhood, he (Jacob) strove with God" (Hosea 12:3).
Before he could crawl, talk, or walk, Jacob wanted more than 2nd place would afford him. In Old Testament times, to be firstborn --out front of all your brothers and sisters -- meant two things. You would eventually receive a double portion of inheritance from your father, and you would be considered the head of the family when your father died. A unique position of privilege and blessing and influence.
By order, Esau was Isaac's firstborn. But even as he came out of the womb ahead of Jacob, the younger had his fingers wrapped around his brother's heel. "Not so fast!" as it were. "I want the double blessing!!" In time, indeed, he would get it with the help of his mother and deceitful maneuvering. He never released his grip on the heel ahead of him.
GRAPPLING WITH GOD
For all his faults (and there were many), Jacob's core orientation was to fight for what he wanted. Even when he was deceived by his father-in-law over which of Laban's daughters he would first marry (Genesis 29...fascinating read), Jacob would scrap and persevere and hang in there until he could marry the younger daughter, Rachel.
He never lost sight of what he wanted. He grabbed and and grasped and grappled until it was his.
Despite Jacob's shortcomings, God like this about Jacob. Enough to Himself wrestle with Jacob one long night. True to his nature, even though losing the wrestling match, Jacob didn't let go. He simply would not loosen his grip on God until the Lord God blessed him (Genesis 35).
A TENACITY TO REMEMBER AND RETELL
Why did Hosea remind God's people of their forebear's tenacious bent? "So you, by the help of your God, return. Hold fast to love and justice, and walk continually with your God" (Hosea 12:6).
God loves when people return to Him with passion, and walk in godliness with Him every day with a never-quit attitude. Those who realize that clinging to God is how "I will bless you" happens in your life.
So, tell your kids the family story of the boy who would not let go of his brother's heel...
"In the womb, Jacob took his brother (Esau) by the heel, and in his manhood, he (Jacob) strove with God" (Hosea 12:3).
Before he could crawl, talk, or walk, Jacob wanted more than 2nd place would afford him. In Old Testament times, to be firstborn --out front of all your brothers and sisters -- meant two things. You would eventually receive a double portion of inheritance from your father, and you would be considered the head of the family when your father died. A unique position of privilege and blessing and influence.
By order, Esau was Isaac's firstborn. But even as he came out of the womb ahead of Jacob, the younger had his fingers wrapped around his brother's heel. "Not so fast!" as it were. "I want the double blessing!!" In time, indeed, he would get it with the help of his mother and deceitful maneuvering. He never released his grip on the heel ahead of him.
GRAPPLING WITH GOD
For all his faults (and there were many), Jacob's core orientation was to fight for what he wanted. Even when he was deceived by his father-in-law over which of Laban's daughters he would first marry (Genesis 29...fascinating read), Jacob would scrap and persevere and hang in there until he could marry the younger daughter, Rachel.
He never lost sight of what he wanted. He grabbed and and grasped and grappled until it was his.
Despite Jacob's shortcomings, God like this about Jacob. Enough to Himself wrestle with Jacob one long night. True to his nature, even though losing the wrestling match, Jacob didn't let go. He simply would not loosen his grip on God until the Lord God blessed him (Genesis 35).
A TENACITY TO REMEMBER AND RETELL
Why did Hosea remind God's people of their forebear's tenacious bent? "So you, by the help of your God, return. Hold fast to love and justice, and walk continually with your God" (Hosea 12:6).
God loves when people return to Him with passion, and walk in godliness with Him every day with a never-quit attitude. Those who realize that clinging to God is how "I will bless you" happens in your life.
So, tell your kids the family story of the boy who would not let go of his brother's heel...
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