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 consoling himself with the thought of killing you. 43 Now then, my son, do what I say: Flee at once to my brother Laban in Haran. 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. (Genesis 27:41-46)
As we continue with this saga of Jacob and his family we see by now that they have put the fun in the word dysfunctional. Jacob had twice swindled the birthright and the blessing from his brother Esau, which reminds me of the old adage: "Fooled me once, shame on you; fooled me twice, shame on me!"
Esau wailed and cried upon learning of the irreversible blessing conferred upon his younger twin brother by his father, Isaac. After this, Esau plots his revenge, waiting for the day when his father dies and killing the conniving little chiseler- which is what the name, Jacob, means.
Their mother is now in fear for Jacob's life, and urges him to leave and run to her brother's place in Haran in all haste. This is something she has initiated, and pays a bitter price in not being able to see her favored son again. But in verse 46 she makes a statement to her husband,
"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."
Isaac's wife deceives her husband once again, making him think that the cause of her anguish is her daughters in law, the wives of Esau, and their families and not from having her heart torn out by seeing her beloved Jacob leave. It was true that both Isaac and Rebekah were grieved by the women Esau married, but Rebekah had a concern to marry Jacob from among her people as well as to keep her son alive. This lady truly knew what she was doing. To anyone else she may have been a manipulator and a schemer. But God used her wit and determination to preserve His people and their blessing to all the earth.
Isn't it interesting how God will use not only the brightest and the best, but also the less noble among us to bring about His plans and His purposes. This is not to say that God countenances manipulation, guile, or backstabbing. He cannot look upon sin, but He will not be hindered by its consequences. Indeed, Jacob would still learn from some bitter lessons ahead that God would yet use to chisel more of His influence into Jacob's irascible character.
As you look back on your own life today you may see some things that you had wished you had done differently- consequences you have had to endure to set you straighter on the road to life. If so, your journey is not unlike Jacob's.
Prayer: Dear Lord, I am not always proud of the things I have had to learn, especially the hard ways of my life. Teach me Lord to respond better when you lead me, and to be more obedient to your kinder graces as I get older. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Have a blessed day!
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