Tricksters and Power and Blessings, Oh My!

All of my first-born, rule-following instincts are troubled by this story of a younger son employing devious and conniving tactics to “steal” the blessing of his elder brother. But how was this story liberative to the people who remembered, told, recorded, and passed it down? Looking at the story again, with that question at the fore, reveals the subversion of power structures, within a trickster motif, and the ultimate blessing of ALL.

Sermon begins at minute 4:10

• Scripture: Genesis 27:1-4, 15-23; 28:10-17 
• Image: Isaac blessing Jacob, Esau returning from his hunt. From the Haggadah for Passover (the 'Sister Haggadah'), from the 14th century. [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Isaac,_Jacob_and_Esau.jpg] 
• Hymns:
  • Voices Together 440 - Ask the complicated questions, Joan Norris

Music - ©1989 MennoMedia Inc. [Permission to podcast the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-726929. All rights reserved.]

• Bibleworm podcast: Episode 303 - The Blessing of Jacob, Amy Robertson and Robert Williamson, Jr.