City Life Starter

Written by Efe Abbe

The Word

When her days to give birth were completed, behold, there were twins in her womb. The first came out red, all his body like a hairy cloak, so they called his name Esau. Afterward his brother came out with his hand holding Esau’s heel, so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them. When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents. Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭25‬:‭24‬-‭28

Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.

Genesis‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility…

Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭ESV

Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.

Psalm‬ ‭133‬:‭1-3‬ ‭ESV

Reflection

Have you ever looked at yourself and a sibling and wondered how it’s possible for two people who are so different to be related? Even though they were twins, the author of Genesis points out how different Esau and Jacob were in their appearance, temperament, and occupations. We also learn that their parents reinforced and exploited their sons’ differences by each picking their favorite son. In this family and between the brothers, there were deep divisions.

Immediately after Adam and Eve are driven out of Eden, we witness the strife among their sons, Cain and Abel which leads to the first recorded act of violence in the Bible (Genesis 4:1-16). Biblical authors use the recurring motif of conflict among brothers (Genesis 13:1-13; 21:8-12; 37) to illustrate 1) the lines of division in humanity at large because of sin and 2) the distinction between people moving towards versus away from God.

But God’s heart from the beginning was for all humanity to be His family and that our created differences would bring Him glory, not division. He promised that one day, there would be One who would restore humanity to Himself. In His wisdom and sheer grace, He chose Jacob whose name meant “one who grabs the heel i.e one who supplants/ cheats” as the brother to inherit that promise. Many years later God fulfilled His promise in His Son Jesus, the perfect blameless human, who gave Himself as our substitute, taking on our sin and death. He was raised to life and “has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility” (Ephesians 2:14) so that all who have placed their trust in Him are united to Him and one another.

Application

In Psalm 133, the Psalmist describes the beauty and fragrance of united brothers like the anointing oil reserved for the High Priest, priests, and holy articles of worship, which was not to be replicated for common use (Exodus 30:22-33). Since the fall we have used our differences to fuel conflict on every scale imaginable but we who now belong to the family of God in Jesus are called to be the counterpoint to the world’s division by our unity (John 17:11). Our unity with Christ and to each other is to be a holy and inviting fragrance that points others to the love of the true God who has dealt with sin’s hostility between us and Him, in Jesus His Son.

Prayer

Thank You God for loving us so much that You gave everything for every nation, tribe, and people to be brought back to You as Your children. Keep me and everyone else united to You through Your Son and by Your Spirit, amen.