We’ve been studying Genesis in Sunday School. I’m not going to be able to make it to church this morning, because my littlest child does not think that Mommy needs a full night of sleep. and since I haven’t gotten a full night’s sleep in oh, 3 weeks… I don’t trust myself enough to get behind the wheel and drive the distance to church. I almost fell asleep at the wheel last time I drove. My precious cargo, aka three beautiful intelligent children, are way to precious to risk like that. So… you all get to benefit. Here’s my thoughts on this week’s study of Genesis 25 -28 (and more, because I love this passage and just can’t seem to stop reading once I get into it!):
I find it interesting that in Gen 25:6 Abraham sends the sons of his second wife east, away from Isaac. Interesting because east, puts them out in the Middle East, heading into Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia. The study notes in my Bible (a Ryrie Study Bible Expanded Edition, New American Standard, just in case you were wondering), say that the names of Keturah’s sons have all been associated with Arab tribes, and that it fits God’s promise that Abraham would be the father of “many nations”. Ishmael even went East, down toward Yemen, according to the Study notes in my Bible. To this day, the Arab nations want to wipe out the Jews. And it all started back in 21:9-10, When Sarah found Ishmael mocking Isaac, and insisted he be driven out of the camp along with his mother. Ishmael was 14 years old when Isaac was born. Old enough to understand that with the birth Isaac, his hope for inheriting everything was shattered. 14 can be an ugly age to begin with. Throw in a nasty mom (Hagar felt she was better then Sarah in Chapter 5. She is probably very bitter about the treatment Sarah gives her back in chpt 5, verse 5, and still believes herself better than Sarah because of Ishmael.) It proves how much effect the mother has on her children. We see a completely different Sarah after Isaac is born. Up till now, she’s been very bitter about her lack of children. She even takes it out on Hagar after the birth of Ishmael. But in 21:6-7, Sarah is rejoicing in God, because she knows He gave her Isaac. I believe that’s why God waited so long to give Isaac to Abraham. Abraham was a man of faith. He knew it would happen when God was ready for it. Sarah had trouble believing. If God gives her a child when she is younger, it’s “look what I have done, I have given you a son.” Now that she’s way to old for this, it’s “Wow! Look what God did! He gave me a son. Who’d thunk that at my age this would be possible? Has to be God!” At that point, the faith that she has seen in Abraham becomes her own. Ishmael grows up being fed bitterness and hatred by Hagar. He’s 16-ish when Sarah demands they be kicked out because of how he treats Isaac. He knows why, and it will only serve to feed the hatred and bitterness. Yet Isaac grows into a man of faith himself. Because by the time he is a young man, he has such faith in God and his father, that he allows himself to be bound and placed on the altar. Abraham was the same Daddy to both boys. But the difference was their mothers. Interesting.
**Sidebar, I find it interesting that Ishmael is considered the father of the Arab nations, and he was brought up in hatred and bitterness. The same hatred and bitterness lives on to this day in Arab world. You will always hear that the Arab nations want to drive the Jews into the Sea. Yet you don’t hear that same sentiment from the Jewish people. Instead they continue to carve up and giveaway portions of the tiny bit of land they have in an attempt to make peace. True, there are those on either side who are the opposite of typical, but… I just find the parallels interesting. Peace in the Middle East will never happen, least not until the events of Revelation come to pass.
But beyond that. Moving on to Jacob and Esau. The problem in that house stems from the birth of the twins. God told Rebekah that the older would serve the younger. Thus Rebekah favors Jacob because he’s the one God said would eventually rule. Isaac favors Esau, because this is the firstborn, the one who will inherit. Rather then letting God handle things, Rebekah takes matters in her own to ensure Jacob gets the firstborn’s blessing. Rebekah does not come from a household of Godly faith like Isaac did. We see that later in Jacob’s dealings with her brother Laban. It’s no wonder that she uses deception and trickery against Isaac. I’d wager this isn’t the first time. I don’t think Isaac knew that Esau swore to kill Jacob. Esau’s vow to kill Jacob is reported to Rebekah. I think Esau figures this the way to “break his [Jacob’s] yoke from your [Esau’s] neck.” (vs 40) Whatever the reason, the vow is reported to Rebekah, not Isaac. Rebekah sends Jacob to Laban, then tells Isaac that she wants him to find a wife from their people, not like Esau, who married locals and brought heartache to his parents (26:34-35). Isaac probably knows his wife pretty well at this point. Well enough to know Jacob needs to leave. And I’m sure he’s smart enough to put 2 & 2 together and realize that this sudden need for Jacob to find a wife in Haran comes on the heels of the theft of the birthright. But I do not think that anyone tells him the extent of Esau’s anger. But he’s smart enough to know, if Rebekah says the boy needs to leave, he needs to go, now.
Interesting that while the birth of Isaac changed Sarah, the birth of the twins put a division in the house of Rebekah. I would think that she would have told Isaac what the Lord told her about the boys. She probably got frustrated with him when he treated Esau like the firstborn that he was. Think about it, if you are given a glimpse of the future, and know that for example, further down the road, your dog will save your life, your going to start treating that dog a lot better now. I think Rebekah saw the boys the same way. Isaac, however, would trust that God would handle the situation and continue on in the traditions of that time with faith that God will fulfill His Word. After all, Isaac himself is the fulfillment of a promise to Sarah and Abraham, and you can bet he was taught all about it. Rebekah, however, was not brought up with the same faith that Isaac had. That is evidenced in her boys. They both want to take matters into their own hands. Jacob by selling soup to Esau for a birthright, and Esau by killing Jacob for the trick he and his mom pulled off. Rebekah’s deceptive nature was passed down to Jacob, in that he deceived Laban about leaving. He also shows that he is not the man of Faith his father and grandfather were when he wrestles with God for a blessing, instead of just trusting God. He had to physically wrestle with God before he would believe.
Further evidence that the mother shapes the child, is Jacob’s sons. Both Leah and Rachel grew up in a house of deceit and trickery (Laban is evidence of that.) Rachel uses deceit to hide the idols she stole from her father. Leah’s sons use deceit and trickery when they slaughter Shechem for the assault on Dinah, their sister. Jacob’s upbringing in a house of favorites is evidenced when he treats Joseph better then the others just because of who his mother was. But Joseph has the most faith of all the boys, his mother died when he was probably a teen, but since he was the favored child, he probably spent more time with Jacob then any of the other boys. The boys deceive their father when they sold Joseph.
Deep stuff. If you love fiction, and want to read a fictional version of Jacob, Rachel, & Leah, check out Liz Curtis Higgs’ books here.