Our readings this week are Genesis 25:19-end Matthew 12:1-9,18-23.  The Genesis story has missed a chapter or two - we've jumped unceremoniously over the death of Abraham (for those who were worried about the schism between Isaac and his older brother Ishmael, you will be pleased to learn that they buried Abraham together - which implies some level of relationship at least! (Genesis 25:9)).

'Like Father, like Son' though, seems to be the adage to sum up this passage.  It turns out that Rebekah and Isaac, like Abraham and Sarah, struggle to have children, and when they do that the relationship between their sons  isn't exactly friendly.

Admittedly this time round both sons are born of the same woman, and, in fact, at the same time - but from birth they are rivals, with Jacob, the younger, born grasping his brother Esau's heel.  That competition continues as they grow, until eventually Jacob, in the famous story, seems to triumph by tricking Esau out of his birth right as the eldest son in exchange for a bowl of stew.

Though on hearing the whole tale again, it's the sense of déjà vu rather than anything else that stands out for me:  two couples who struggle to have children; two sons born;  one of them stays in the camp, the other grows to be a man of the wilderness; and in both stories it is the second one to be born that inherits the 'estate' along with the story from his father...

There's something here about the continuity of the character of God - blessing in the times of challenge, and subverting expectations by coming alongside the 'underdog' of the second born rather than the usually privileged firstborn - both of which are recurring themes through scripture.  Perhaps the challenge to us in that is to remember those things when we worry about being overlooked, 'second best', or in the midst of struggle.  Is it too much to say that God time and again has been shown to be most on our side in and through those moments?

On a human level there's also something perhaps to reflect on around how we pass on our behaviours and experiences to those who follow us.  I know I occasionally see aspects of my behaviours in my children.  Sadly at times it makes me wince, as it's not always my best behaviours they have learned...  It's very easy to perpetuate ideas and attitudes just as unconsciously - how we talk about our places and our experiences become the cultures we live, and the expectations and experiences we beget others.  In our lives, and in our churches, do those inheritable narratives of being match the beliefs we hold?  If we want to be a people of 'good news', surely the stories we tell must be of the glorious things God is doing, not what's going wrong?  Surely we should be focussed on his provision and generosity, not on any sense of loss and diminishing?   What's interesting is that often all of these options open out from the same experience - our choice is how we choose to reflect on them, and amplify them into the world.