I don’t know how I feel about this passage. I try to give Jacob the benefit of the doubt because he is only being obedient to his mother’s wishes. Yet, he is the one going through the motions and not being truthful. Is there no shame? Did the blessing he received nullify his feeling guilty over how he got it? The one saving grace is the message Rebekah had gotten from God before the boys were even born.
I suppose Rebekah felt it was her duty to make sure God’s prophecy came true. How else would her younger, favorite son get the blessing and be in charge of the others brothers? Even though only a few minutes younger, he was still younger. God had intended Jacob to be the one to carry the family legacy so it would seem. But for that to happen Isaac had to be deceived. Continue reading “Genesis 27:1-40”
What is your take away from today’s reading? Isaac was minding his own business, and yet the Philistine King paid him a visit. Why? Isaac had gotten noticed. His faithfulness to God and God’s blessing was obvious. King Abimelech felt threatened by the potential power Isaac would have with all this good fortune. He had to see for himself and make sure Isaac was not already plotting against him.
Have you ever had to bite your tongue to hold yourself back from saying something that was not helpful? Maybe you have had a time in your life when you had to look the other way just to keep the peace. Isaac gives us a great example here of how you can really choose your battles.
It’s like deja vu, isn’t it? The names have been changed, but the story is similar. There is a drought. We have a husband and wife pretending to be brother and sister. The king of the Philistines is also present. Interesting, the King Abimelech in this story is not the same one who had dealings with Isaac’s father, Abraham. It is believed Abimelech may have been more of a kingly title.
We get a glimpse into the nature of the twins today. Interesting how each parent felt a particular connection to one of the boys. We hear that Isaac’s love was in part due to Esau’s great skill at hunting and all the good meat he would bring home. While Rebekah enjoyed having Jacob near her, working with her around the house. As a parent, I can say that I don’t prefer one child over the other. I have enough love for all. But there are certain things I prefer in each of them. It’s how God gifted them, to be unique, and that is a beautiful thing.
