Fourteen year itch

The Story of Jacob and Rachel

As Jacob is out wandering around, he comes to the home of Laban. Laban is a relative. There Jacob falls deeply in love with Rachel. It was love at first sight. When Jacob asks for Rachel’s hand in marriage, Laban agrees as long as Jacob promises to work for seven years first. Jacob does so. At the end of the seven years, a wedding was planned.

Rachel had an older sister named Leah. Lean was not as beautiful as Rachel. It was also not common for the younger sister to be married first. On the wedding night, Laban sent Leah into Jacob; it wasn’t until morning till Jacob realized what has happened. When Jacob addresses Laban, Laban makes one more promise, if Jacob will continue the traditional marriage week with Leah, Laban will give Jacob Rachel as well. And by the way, Jacob would have to work seven more years.  Jacob agrees and he and Rachel are married, followed by seven more years of labor.

I’ve heard this story since I was a child. Although, the story I knew was that Jacob was forced to work the additional seven years before he married Rachel, not before. That always seemed so wrong. Today, as I re-read the story I caught by surprise to see that they were allowed to marry before the additional seven years. Something else jumped out at me today. Laban’s great switch-er-roo, was the same as Rebekah had done to Isaac. It’s a great example of what we sow, we reap.

God changes Jacob’s name. Jacob becomes Isreal. Jacob becomes the father of the twelve tribes of Isreal.

 

Good stew!

The Story of Jacob and Esau

Years have passed; Isaac is old and almost blind. Isaac tells his son Esau to go hunt game and bring it to the tents and prepare his father’s favorite meal. Isaac informs Esau that when he does this, Isaac would have a blessing to leave with Esau. Blessings and birthrights were similar to our inheritance and wills. Rebekah hears Isaac’s instructions. While Esau is out, Rebekah prepares Isaac’s favorite meal and disguises Jacob so Isaac will think he is Easu. The plan works and Isaac blesses Jacob with Esau’s blessing.

When Easu arrives, he prepares a meal for his father. When he takes it in to him, Isaac realized what has happened. Isaac does not rebuke Jacob or removes his blessing. He does give Esau a different blessing, but it is a lesser blessing.  Easu is angry at Jacob, so angry that Rebekah instructs him to leave for fear of his life. Jacob does so.

So…was Rebekah wrong in tricking Isaac? OR was she just part of the plan that allowed God’s promise to come to pass? I’m clueless…just asking.

Genesis 26 – 28

Isaac Marries

The Story of Isaac and Rebekah

Abraham sends a servant to find Isaac a wife. The servant has a few instructions on where to go and how he will know that he has found the perfect woman. All goes as planned and Rebekah returns with him. She and Isaac are married. Rebekah is unable to conceive until her husband, Isaac prays for her. She then becomes pregnant with twins. God speak to Rebekah as He had done to her father-in-law, Abraham.

25:23  Two nations are in your womb; And two peoples shall be separated from your body; And one people shall be stronger than the other; And the older shall serve the younger.

Esau is born first, closely followed by Jacob. Jacob is actually holding on to Esau’s heel when Esau is delivered.

Esau grows to be a skillful hunter and is Isaac’s favorite. Jacob is described as a peaceful man living in tents and clearly his mother’s favorite. Apparently,  Jacob is also a great chief. On a particular day, Esau comes in from hunting and sees a pot of stew that his brother has prepared. Jacob offers him lunch in exchange for Esau’s ‘firstborn birthright’. Esau agrees.  This simple story shows us so much about these two brothers. One is controlled by his physical wants; one is controlled by his intellect.  It is also the first sign that God’s promise is real.

Genesis 25