Their possessions were too great for them to remain together; the land where they were staying could not support them both because of their livestock. – Genesis 36:7

Today’s Scripture Reading (June 21, 2015): Genesis 36

I was amazed recently to read an article that argued that “The Eagles” breakup was precipitated, at least in part, by their hit song “Take It to the Limit.” Beyond their personality differences (and much publicized fights between Glenn Frey and Don Felder), as well as diverse visions for the band by the various members, the truth is that “The Eagles” suffered from an embarrassment of riches. Among the members of the Band were some of the most talented musicians of a generation. They were great song writers and vocally they achieved some great harmonies. Sometimes it seemed as if maybe – just maybe – the band was simply too talented to stay together.

But the argument that adds “Take It to the Limit” to the break up dialogue takes us down a different path. The song was one of the most popular “Eagles” songs, and it is one of only three Eagles Top 40 songs not to feature either Glenn Frey or Don Henley as the lead vocalist. The vocalist on “Take It to the Limit” was bass guitarist Randy Meisner. Meisner, who also co-wrote the song, was the only member of the band that could sing it - none of the others were able to reach the high notes of the song. But the problem was that Meisner was shy, and quite content to be “just a member of the band.” He didn’t mind singing the song, but the truth was that when he was nervous, even he couldn’t consistently hit the high note at the end of the song. His request, he would sing the song, but not every night. Glenn Frey disagreed. The song was too popular not to sing every night – and sometimes the song was planned as an encore song. The fight was on – and finally Randy Meisner left the band, apparently so that he wouldn’t have to sing the song again. But when Meisner left, he also took with him part of the distinctive “Eagles” sound. And according to some, the countdown to the end of the band had started.

On the night that Jacob stole the blessing that Isaac had intended to give to Esau, Esau’s cry was “Do you have only one blessing, my father” (Genesis 27:38)? Esau wanted just one blessing from his father. He seemed to believe that without his father’s blessing, he was going to be left destitute while his brother got rich. But what Esau missed was that he was still the grandson of Abraham, and God’s blessing was on all of the children of Abraham. And just as Abraham and Lot had to separate, and Isaac and Ishmael had to separate; Jacob and Esau also could not live in the same region. Yet all of them lived under the blessing – and the riches – of God. They were simply too rich to stay together – they suffered under an embarrassment of riches.

Esau chose the rugged area to the south of the Dead Sea – maybe seventy miles from his brother. It may not have been as hospitable as the land chosen by Jacob, but it was where Esau seemed to want to live – it was where Esau could be rich.

In the end, maybe it was just an embarrassment of riches that broke up “The Eagles,” but each of the members defined riches in a different way, and for the shy Randy Meisner, one hit to sing was simply too many.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Genesis 37