seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Genesis 27:38 Esau said to his father, “Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me too, my father!” Then Esau wept aloud.
39 His father Isaac answered him,
“Your dwelling will be
away from the earth’s richness,
away from the dew of heaven above.
40 You will live by the sword
and you will serve your brother.
But when you grow restless,
you will throw his yoke
from off your neck.”
41 Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. He said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”
42 When Rebekah was told what her older son Esau had said, she sent for her younger son Jacob and said to him, “Your brother Esau is planning to avenge himself by killing you. 43 Now then, my son, do what I say: Flee at once to my brother Laban in Harran. 44 Stay with him for a while until your brother’s fury subsides. 45 When your brother is no longer angry with you and forgets what you did to him, I’ll send word for you to come back from there. Why should I lose both of you in one day?”
46 Then Rebekah said to Isaac, “I’m disgusted with living because of these Hittite women. If Jacob takes a wife from among the women of this land, from Hittite women like these, my life will not be worth living.”
39 His father Isaac answered him,
“Your dwelling will be
away from the earth’s richness,
away from the dew of heaven above.
40 You will live by the sword
and you will serve your brother.
But when you grow restless,
you will throw his yoke
from off your neck.”
41 Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. He said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”
42 When Rebekah was told what her older son Esau had said, she sent for her younger son Jacob and said to him, “Your brother Esau is planning to avenge himself by killing you. 43 Now then, my son, do what I say: Flee at once to my brother Laban in Harran. 44 Stay with him for a while until your brother’s fury subsides. 45 When your brother is no longer angry with you and forgets what you did to him, I’ll send word for you to come back from there. Why should I lose both of you in one day?”
46 Then Rebekah said to Isaac, “I’m disgusted with living because of these Hittite women. If Jacob takes a wife from among the women of this land, from Hittite women like these, my life will not be worth living.”
This family is so much like so many today! Can't you just see this drama unfolding in your neighbors back yard? I really wonder if they were sober when all this was going on.
Studylight.org has these comments.
Esau's somewhat spiritual concern for the blessing of his father quickly vanished in a bitter hatred of Jacob, a bitter hatred that also had murderous intent. Esau planned to kill Jacob as soon as Isaac died, and this was a comfort to Esau .
The few days Jacob was to stay with Laban and Rebekah's family in Haran turned out to be more than 20 years. Yet, God will fulfill His purpose in all of it.
If Jacob takes a wife of the daughters of Heth, like these who are the daughters of the land, what good will my life be to me? Rebekah successfully maneuvered Isaac into telling Jacob to leave. This saved his life, but the mother would never see the son again.
In this tragic story, everyone lost. Each of the man characters – Isaac, Rebekah, Esau, and Jacob – schemed and maneuvered in human wisdom and energy, rejecting Gods word and wisdom. God still accomplished His purpose, yet each of the participants suffered because of they insisted on working against Gods word and wisdom.
Revenge is a comforting thought to those who feel they have been wronged like Esau, but things would not work out as Esau had hoped or planned. He vowed to kill his brother after the death of his father, thinking it was soon (the days of mourning for my father are at hand), yet Isaac lived another 43 years.
Perhaps Esau was going to test just how blessed Jacob was. His intention may have been to kill him in an attempt to defeat Gods revealed will regarding the birthright.
Perhaps Esau was going to test just how blessed Jacob was. His intention may have been to kill him in an attempt to defeat Gods revealed will regarding the birthright.
The few days Jacob was to stay with Laban and Rebekah's family in Haran turned out to be more than 20 years. Yet, God will fulfill His purpose in all of it.
If Jacob takes a wife of the daughters of Heth, like these who are the daughters of the land, what good will my life be to me? Rebekah successfully maneuvered Isaac into telling Jacob to leave. This saved his life, but the mother would never see the son again.
In this tragic story, everyone lost. Each of the man characters – Isaac, Rebekah, Esau, and Jacob – schemed and maneuvered in human wisdom and energy, rejecting Gods word and wisdom. God still accomplished His purpose, yet each of the participants suffered because of they insisted on working against Gods word and wisdom.
The easy English commentary has this to say.
When Jacob came to Isaac, Isaac thought that he was Esau. He did not know which of his sons he was blessing. But he did know things that happened very many years later. He knew because God told him. He said to Esau, ‘You shall escape from him.’ This happened when Jehoram was the king of Judah. (See 2 Kings 8:22. Esau’s descendants are called ‘Edom’. See Genesis 25:30 and the comment.)
Esau hates Jacob
Esau hated Jacob because his father had blessed Jacob. And Esau said to himself, ‘Soon it will be the time to weep for my father’s death. Then I will kill my brother Jacob.’
Then Rebekah said to Isaac, ‘I am very unhappy because of the Hittite women whom Esau has married. Perhaps Jacob will marry a Hittite woman like these. Perhaps he will marry a woman of this country. If he does that, I will not want to live.’
Esau expected that Isaac would die very soon. So he decided to wait until after Isaac’s funeral. Then he would kill Jacob. But Isaac lived for many more years.
Rebekah was wrong when she said ‘a short time’. Jacob stayed with Laban for 20 years. And after that time, Jacob still did not know whether Esau would accept him.
There were two reasons why Jacob went to Haran.
· If Jacob did not go, Esau would kill him. That was the reason that was important to Rebekah.
· At Haran, Jacob could find a suitable wife. That was the reason that Rebekah told to Isaac.
And the second reason was important in God’s plan.
Esau hates Jacob
Esau hated Jacob because his father had blessed Jacob. And Esau said to himself, ‘Soon it will be the time to weep for my father’s death. Then I will kill my brother Jacob.’
Then Rebekah said to Isaac, ‘I am very unhappy because of the Hittite women whom Esau has married. Perhaps Jacob will marry a Hittite woman like these. Perhaps he will marry a woman of this country. If he does that, I will not want to live.’
Esau expected that Isaac would die very soon. So he decided to wait until after Isaac’s funeral. Then he would kill Jacob. But Isaac lived for many more years.
Rebekah was wrong when she said ‘a short time’. Jacob stayed with Laban for 20 years. And after that time, Jacob still did not know whether Esau would accept him.
There were two reasons why Jacob went to Haran.
· If Jacob did not go, Esau would kill him. That was the reason that was important to Rebekah.
· At Haran, Jacob could find a suitable wife. That was the reason that Rebekah told to Isaac.
And the second reason was important in God’s plan.
So God knows what humans will do before they do it. God knows how things will turn out. There's no reason for God to intercede in all this family drama that is going on in this very human drama.... because in the end it all works out.
