The real struggle begins.
From Isaac’s “made in heaven” marriage, there came two sons – two in one go! Twin brothers. I had unidentical twin cousins and often thought that I should have been luckier, i.e., I should have had twins among my siblings. Good thing I never shared this with my parents, because, of course, I gave no thought to how the caring and providing needs intensified when a mother/ parents had two at one go!
Here we meet Rebekah not only with two in her womb, but we read, “the children struggled within her,” to the extent that she asked, “If it is to be this way, why do I live?”
The continuous struggle on her inside caused her to seek an explanation from God. And she learned that this was only the beginning of the struggle, that sibling rivalry would continue down generations.
Some people say that fate is real. The narrative suggests this; but we do not have to be fatalistic. Jacob, for his cheater tendencies from birth, had to come to the point of admitting his tendency to scheme before he could inherit blessings. He was born a cheat, it would seem, but he did not have to remain that way.
Both brothers shared their parents’ genes. How come the two were so different in disposition, in demeanour, in ambition? That is something we must come to terms with as we share in our relationships. People are individuals, even twin siblings. We need to appreciate persons for who they are; and for our own well-being, we need to be aware that like us, they too have strengths and weaknesses. Loving and accepting somebody does not mean that you and I must be oblivious to their darker side. In the same vein, we ourselves must take stoke of just who we truly are.
To thine own self be true
and it must follow
as the night the day
Thou canst not then be false to any man [one].
William Shakespeare
Help us, all-knowing God, to truly know ourselves. Let the light of your Spirit guide us into self-reflection, that we may cooperate with you and become, through grace, the best that we can be, to the glory of your name. Amen.