What's stew got to do with it?

Today I read the very next passage in the Bible that mentions "Love".  Genesis 27:4, ironically, talks about food.  (You remember that we are taking this study "one bite at a time"?)  The Scripture reads, " and prepare a savory dish for me such as I love, and bring it to me that I may eat, so that my soul may bless you before I die."  This was Isaac talking to his son, Esau.  Isaac knew that his days on this earth were short and holding true to Hebrew tradition, he needed to pronounce his blessing on his firstborn son.  Esau was that firstborn, so the blessing went to him, right?  WRONG!  Rebekah, Isaac's wife, had been listening to Isaac give Esau the task to go hunting, shooting the game and bringing it back to prepare for him the "savory dish" that he loved.  As Esau left to do as his aged father asked, Rebekah started scheming for the son she loved most, Esau's twin brother, Jacob.  Jacob, at his mother's command, was to play a game of "dress-up" and pretend to be his brother.  Jacob was to go into his father and receive a blessing that didn't belong to him.  Jacob, blinded by greed no doubt, obeyed his mother and did exactly that.  

After reading this passage, I asked the Lord repeatedly to show me what this has to do with Love other than have the word in the passage.  To get my answer I needed a little background:

While Rebekah was pregnant with her twins, she felt a struggle within her womb.  She inquired of the Lord as to why this was happening.   "The LORD said to her, "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger." (Genesis 25:23)  She knew that the last born of the twins was to be served by the first.  This was a oracle from God.  Had she forgotten this on the day of the masquerade?  Had her abounding love for her second born (Genesis 25:28) clouded her judgement?  

And let us not forget Jacob.  There is no doubt that he wants to live up to the meaning of his name -- Deceiver.  Had deceit clouded his memory of the fact that he had already "purchased" the blessing with a bowl of lentil soup?  (Genesis 25:31-34).

Now, for "Bite #2.  Although Isaac LOVED his stew, the lesson is not about food at all.  Remember we previously talked about Abraham's love for God.  A love that compelled him to take his beloved son to a place of sacrifice.  Abraham some how knew that God would provide another sacrificial lamb.  His love for God put his faith in God to action.  That's it!!  Action!!  Love has to have a component of action.  Unfortunately, walking in a flesh that always has "self" as its centerpiece, our actions, although meant for "love" can become clouded, jaded, self-seeking.   

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."  
1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Lord, may I not be like Rebekah and Jacob.  May I always strive to act in love!  Help me to be patient and kind.  Take greed from me that I may not envy, boast or be filled with pride.  I don't want to be rude or self-seeking, easily angered.  Help my memory be short and help me to rejoice in truth.  May I be a protector, always trust, hope and persevere.  May I cement in my mind that your love NEVER FAILS!!  Amen.