"The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter... while Jacob was a quiet man, staying among the tents. Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob."
(Genesis 25:27-28)

Genesis 25:19-34
The problem of parents favoring one child over another is as old as the Bible. Isaac loved Esau more than Jacob. When he grew older, Jacob should have remembered what it felt like to be loved less, yet he loved Joseph more than his other sons.


Even today, parents may play favorites. Sadly, if we feel unloved or loved less by our parents, we can carry insecurity into our relationship with God. Doubts about God’s love may overshadow the promises of His Word. One result is that we may strive to earn God’s approval, just as we may have worked to earn our parents’ love. But God’s salvation can never be earned. It is freely given because of Christ’s sacrifice for us.


The children in our life watch us more closely than we might think. Do we favor attractive children over plain ones? Athletes over the uncoordinated? Smart children over ones who struggle academically? Let’s be careful not to treat children in a way that will cause them to doubt God’s love. As someone has said, in God’s eyes, we are all His favorite!



Scripture Focus

Genesis 25:19-34

Insight

Have you struggled to feel truly accepted by God? Rest in the assurance that you are, indeed, precious to the Lord!

Bible In A Year

  • Jeremiah 31-32
  • Psalm 119:1-64
  • 1 Corinthians 11

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