Shadowy Grace: Monday, 5th Week after Epiphany

Today, we see the shadow side of grace in God’s choice of the younger twin, Jacob, over the older twin, Esau. The birthright of the eldest was a basic way of organizing the division of wealth in ancient societies. And of course, the birthright of Abraham’s grandson involved far more than possessions. “All the families of the earth will be blessed because of you,” God had said to Abram (Gen. 12:3). And however human beings decide who inherits what, God decides for God, thank you.

And even though Esau might have proven that he didn’t deserve the birthright he sold to Jacob for a bowl of stew (19:27-34); their mother Rebekah had no way of knowing that when she received this strange oracle from God: “the older will serve the younger” (19:23). This is the shadow side of grace. The sunny side says that we are favored with God’s love and mercy beyond our deserving. The shadow side says that God’s grace comes even to those who don’t deserve it, like Jacob, whose name basically means, “cheater.” The sunny side of grace says that we receive God’s grace even though we haven’t earned it. The shadow side of grace says that other receive God’s grace even though they haven’t earned it.

God’s grace isn’t fair. God’s grace doesn’t respect human ways of deciding who deserves the favors of this world. But God’s favors are so much greater than anything we can earn. Particularly in a country that prides itself on what it has earned by its own bootstraps, the shadow side of grace just might be the side we really need to see.