It's been so long since I actually read the stories in Genesis from the Bible, as opposed to children's books. What a difference. I'd forgotten what a mess all these people were. Lying, cheating, stealing, killing, and the list goes on.
And this isn't just Cain and Lamech and the other ne'er-do-wells. This is Abraham! And Isaac! And Jacob!
But that's good because I'm a wreck too, and it's ever so nice to know that God will use me just as he used these people. I used to think that because it is in the Bible, it was part of God's plan, and I never could quite make all that reconcile in my head. That's just not the case at all. I read it this time with an attitude of look at all the stuff these people did by their own plans, and look how each and every time God made it work out for his glory through people as messed up as I am.
Praise the Lord for that!
Just because God will make the fruit of my sins work for his glory does not at all mean that is what he wanted for me! I messed up, and despite that God makes it work. The good parts are absolutely part of his plans. The sin parts? That's just me. God never wanted or planned on that for me. The point in all the lying, cheating, stealing, and killing is that God will find a way even when we mess things up with our own sinful nature.
Also, Esau may be one of the most underrated persons in the Bible. From my POV, this guy was seriously wronged by the machinations of his brother and even his own mother. When Jacob returns home, he is scared (rightly so!) of his brother's vengeance. But it is all for naught, as it appears Esau forgave his brother ages ago and has been living a blessed life of his own. What a lesson in forgiveness.
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