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PAGE 36
Isaac
As His Days Come to an End
He Begins to Reflect on His Life
And it's at this time, that the Sacred Record informs us -- that Isaac was about 137 years old, when he'd first started thinking about, how his days on this earth were coming to an end.
(Bible Study Online Article Covers : Genesis 27:1-5)
Short Recap?
In the last article, we learned that Esau was probably at a stage in his life where he was found to be in an open rebellion regarding his parents' religious and social beliefs. For the Sacred Record would reveal, that Esau, didn't follow in the ways of the Lord like he was doing:
"See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. Afterward as you know, when he wanted to inherit his blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears." -- (Hebrews 12:16-17)
Nor did he adhere to their concerns when it came to the type of woman that he should consider marrying:
"When Esau was forty years old, he married Judith daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and also Basemath daughter of Elon the Hittite. They were a source of grief to Isaac and Rebekah" -- (Genesis 26:34-35)
Notice how the passage reveals the ancestry of the two women Esau had decided to marry?
We find that Esau's new wives were from the clan of the Hittites.
Now, the reason why this is of great importance is that the Hittites (also known as the Children of Heth) were direct descendants of Heth.
Keep in mind that he was one of Canaan's sons. Remember that Canaan was the grandson of Noah, who ended up being cursed by God:
"Cursed be Canaan! The lowest of slaves will he be to his brothers." -- (Genesis 9:25)
Because of this curse, it wouldn't have been a brilliant idea to marry into a family that had fallen on the wrong side of God. It was during this time that the Canaanites were known and had the reputation of being a civilization full of very wicked and sinful people. Since the Hittites shared the same ancestry as the Canaanites, this association alone landed them a spot on what I like to call the "women who are off limits" list.
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Abraham Was Also Concern?
Remember that Isaac's father, Abraham, had these same concerns? For we had learned, a while ago, that he had sent his chief servant, Eliezer, on a specific wife-finding mission for his son Isaac. At this time, the Sacred Record would also reveal that Abraham had given Eliezer strict instructions regarding the type of woman he should seek out for his son Isaac. These instructions dealt with Abraham telling Eliezer that he wasn't to go and find Isaac, a wife from the land of the Canaanites.
The same wife-finding approach would also hold true for Isaac regarding whom his sons would marry and what households their future wives would belong to. However that may have been, we now find that Esau had decided to go against his parent's wishes by marrying into the Canaanite nation. And this is why Esau's actions irritated both his parents: "[Esau's wives] were a source of grief to Isaac and Rebekah." However, I also know that despite his recent actions, Esau would still hold tremendous favor with his father.
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Isaac Reflects On His Time?
Nonetheless, we now move forward. At this time, the Sacred Record informs us that Isaac was about 137 years old when he first started thinking about how his days on this earth were ending. Perhaps it was also at this time that he was thinking about his brother, Ishmael. We must remember that Ishmael had passed when he, too, was 137 years old. But you know, I have to honestly admit that this is just an assumption on my part.
However, when we look at the other hand (as we would say here in the West), not only did Isaac fear that his time was nearing, but we are also told that his vision was so weak that he could no longer see with them: "My son..." Isaac called for Esau. "Here I am!" Esau answered as he sat by his side.
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Esau Loved His Father?
Now, I like to think that Esau loved his father just as much as his father loved him. I point this out because we should have noticed that the Sacred Record didn't indicate that Esau had to be located. Notice how his father called out to him in his fragile voice? Notice how Esau was right there by his side and how he immediately answered: "My son..." Isaac called for Esau. "Here I am!" Esau answered
One can't help but wonder if, at this point from within Esau's life, he'd stayed constantly by his father's side, perhaps for long hours, as each day passed. However, we now find Isaac telling his son:
"I am now an old man and don't know the day of my death. Now then, get your weapons -- your quiver (sword) and bow - and go out to the open country to hunt some wild game for me. Prepare me the kind of tasty food I like and bring it to me to eat, so that I may give you my blessing before I die." -- Genesis 27:2,3
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God's Message to Rebekah?
Before we move forward, I would like to point out a few more things before closing out this article. For we must keep in mind that the events that are now taking shape from within Isaac's household -- the Lord had already foretold to Rebekah while she was still pregnant with the two boys: "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger." -- (Genesis 25:23)
Understand that this was the response that Rebekah received from God after she was found to be extremely concerned about the uneasiness that she was feeling while she was pregnant with the two boys. Notice that within that particular passage, God would let Rebekah know that the older son (Esau) would serve the younger (Jacob).
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Is Isaac Trying to Out Maneuver God?
So, I want you to understand that what we have going on here is the possibility that Isaac might be trying to circumvent the plan the Lord had already laid out for the two boys. Now, I make this statement based on Isaac planning a special blessing for his favorite son, Esau, despite what the Lord had foretold to Rebekah.
Now, my reasoning for this assumption deals with the mere fact that Isaac had loved Esau so much that he didn't want his son left out of the Abrahamic Covenant that had been placed on his household. I mean, after all, Esau was himself a seed of Abraham.
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To Be Fair to Isaac?
To be fair to Isaac, we're not told if he knew about the prophecy Rebekah had received from the Lord. And honestly, we can only assume that Isaac knew about Esau's selling of his birthright to his younger brother Jacob. Nonetheless, as we take a quick look forward, here's a little peak at the special blessing that Isaac had planned for Esau:
"May nations serve you and peoples bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you." -- Genesis 27:29
Now, I want you to observe something when it comes to this part of the special blessing (which we will go more into in the following article), the one that Isaac had planned for Esau: "May nations serve you and peoples bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you."
Now notice how this special blessing goes against the prophecy that God had foretold to Rebekah when she was pregnant with the boys: "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older [Esau] will serve the younger [Jacob]." -- (Genesis 25:23)
Very interesting, to state the least.
In the next Bible Study Online Article:
Things get more interesting in my next article, for I want you to know that I will try to tie most of this together. After all, did Isaac know about Esau's bad decision regarding selling his birthright? Will Esau be anxious and excited to receive Isaac's special blessing? Will he care? Will God let Isaac outmaneuver Him? We'll see.
May God blessings be upon you, and thank you for your support
Related - Bible Study Online Articles - Links
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The Sons of God - The Daughters of Men
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Jacob - The Path of Uncertainty
Continue Reading - Current Bible Study Online Series:
28) The Twelve Rulers of Ishmael
30) Esau & Jacob - The Birthright
31) Isaac and the Canaan Famine
33) The Envious King Abimelech
Added to Page: 34) Abimelech & Isaac Makes An Oath
36) <-CURRENT - BIBLE STUDY ONLINE - PAGE->
39) Jacob - Loyalty or Deception
40) Deceitful Hearts
43) Jacob - The Path of Uncertainty
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