Bible Study Online Article

In the last article we discussed the point of view that dealt with Isaac being blinded by the personal emotions and feelings that he had for his oldest son Esau.

With Isaac allowing his personal emotions and feelings to interfere with his judgement and decision making, when it came to Esau.

He would find himself (unknowingly) falling into a prideful trap that would lead to him coming up with the idea, that dealt with him seeking to speak a special blessing into Esau's life.

Now the problem with this "special blessing" deals with the fact that it would place Isaac in a position of contradiction, that would place him opposite of what God had prophesied to Rebekah while she was pregnant with Esau and Jacob:

"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)

Now keep in mind that Isaac was a great man of faith who was always loyal to the Almighty God. And its for these reasons that I personally believe that his actions weren't meant, to intentionally defy and go against God. But I believe that Isaac's love for his son Esau was so great, that he just wasn't thinking things through when it came to trying to save Esau from his past mistakes.

Now with that being stated, I also hold the viewpoint that God knew that Isaac's love for Esau would lead him down this path when it came to him trying such a foolish thing. The reason why I stand on this belief is for the mere fact, that at this point in his life, Isaac had to endure a physical condition of actually being blind for his remaining years on the earth.

Understand that this "blindness" wasn't necessarily as a punishment, being that Isaac was already losing his sight before this account had taken place. But I believe that God had allowed this natural condition of blindness to come upon Isaac, in order for it to be used as some sort of a blocking tool method. And this "blocking tool method" would be used by God in order to keep Isaac from unknowingly going against and compromising his position with Him.

Be that as it may, we should move forward a bit and begin to take a look at the reaction that Rebekah had to all of this after she had heard what Isaac was intending to do when it came to his oldest son Esau. The first thing she does, is to notify Jacob, the son she loved the most:

"Look I overheard your father say to your brother Esau, 'Bring me some game and prepare me some tasty food to eat, so that I may give you my blessing in the presence of the Lord before I die.' Now, my son, listen carefully and do what I tell you: Go out to the flock and bring me two choice goats, so that I can prepare some tasty food for your father, just the way he likes it. Then take it to your father to eat, so that he may give you his blessing before he dies." -- Genesis 27:6-10

Now there are some things that I would like to briefly point out when it comes to what Rebekah had just told Jacob. For it seems that it gets very little attention when people are preaching and teaching this account. Now when we take a closer look at this passage, and when read carefully, notice how it was Jacob's mother Rebekah who had brought forth the idea that she had already planned out in her head.

For she would add extra pressure to Jacob, by instructing him to do as she says: "Now, my son, listen carefully and do what I tell you." She insisted.

Now it would be at this point within the conversation that Jacob knew, that his mother was leaning towards doing something very wrong. This is why he responded by saying: "But my brother Esau is a hairy man, and I'm a man with smooth skin. What if my father touches me? I would appear to be tricking him and would bring down a curse on myself rather than a blessing." -- Genesis 27:11,12

But Rebekah wouldn't listen to Jacob's wisdom, since she had already made up her mind on what she was going to do in response to Isaac's plans. This is why she responded back to her son by saying: "My son, let the curse fall on me. Just do what I say; go and get them for me."

Now keep in mind, that normally when we are taught the account that deals with Jacob and Rebekah - it would seem that most teach that they were basically two very deceiving individuals, who had wrongfully taken advantage of Isaac and Esau. But I don't hold a viewpoint of such, being that I just don't see it like that, you know, so cut and dry like preachers and bible teachers make it seem.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to indicate that what Rebekah and Jacob were planning to do against Isaac and Esau wasn't wrong, because rest assured, it was. But you have to understand that this thing goes much deeper than what's on the surface of the text. So bear with me, as I try my best to present my case, before we go any further.

First off, I think the one thing that preachers and bible teachers seem to overlook, is the special relationships that Isaac and Rebekah had with Esau and Jacob. As I have pointed out many times, Isaac loved Esau more than Jacob, and Rebekah loved Jacob more than Esau.

Now let's take a brief look at Esau and Jacob for a moment. First off, we have Esau who was very outgoing and ambitious, and on top of this he was very strong and brave. Make no mistake it would be these types of traits and attributes that would allow Esau to become very successful when it came to his craft, which dealt with hunting and the subduing of the land.

At times I wonder, if it would really be too hard for one to imagine, how from time-to-time Esau would bring his many trophies home to his father Isaac in order to impress him with his many accomplishments? And after all, any father would be proud of their son's accomplishments, why should we think that Isaac should be any different?

Be that as it may, let's take a look at Jacob for a brief moment, for he was the one who kept to himself. He didn't have the reputation of being strong and brave like his brother Esau. I mean after all, would it be too hard for one to conceive the idea that Jacob in some way, was jealous and envious of Esau?

Could it also be too hard for one to imagine Jacob being sad and feeling unwanted when it came to his father? Being that when one compares Jacob to Esau - they can easily conclude that Jacob didn't have much to offer, that he didn't do much of anything, or have any very many talents that could bring about high praises from Isaac, like his brother Esau was able to do.

Now imagine this: Rebekah seeing her son Jacob feeling discouraged and rejected. Imagine how she would then come over and place her arms around her son and tell Jacob that she loves him no matter what and how great of a man he was going to be, and how she knew it to be so because the Lord had told her: "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)

Now could it really be that far-fetched to be able to imagine how throughout the years the relationships between the two groups would grow strong? Being that Isaac would develop a strong bond with his favorite son Esau and how Rebekah would develop a strong bond with her favorite son Jacob?

So when Jacob's mother, you know the one who had stood by him for his whole entire life, turns to him and say: "Now, my son, listen carefully and do what I tell you." I just can't see how he could refuse her, even with him knowing that what she was planning was completely wrong. And it's here that we have another indication of the love that she had for her son, for she was willing endure the wrath of God on his behalf: "My son, let the curse fall on me. Just do what I say; go and get them for me."

What would you do, if you were in the place of Rebekah? With me being a parent myself, I cannot honestly say that I would not find myself feeling pressured when it came to finally being able to see my son (who's been discouraged most of his life) get some type of confirmation that he too will be great someday. These are the types of traps and snares that we are easily lured into, by the ones that we love, when it comes to our daily lives.

We can easily become so blinded by our emotions, feelings and fears that we allow ourselves to be led so far into the wrong direction, when it comes to them. And after we have traveled a great distance, and we finally look up to see were we've traveled, we tend to ask ourselves: "What happened, how did I get in this place, how did I get in this situation?" And it's at this time that we tend to blame everybody else, instead of accepting the reality that we did it to ourselves.

As we can see, Jacob is torn between being loyal to his mother, or having enough faith when it comes to doing what's right in the eyes of the Lord. We'll also take a closer look at why I personally think that to some degree, that both groups are at fault when it comes to Isaac and his son Esau - and Rebekah and his son Jacob.

The Introduction of Abraham

The Birth of Isaac

**YOUR CURRENT BIBLE STUDY ONLINE SERIES WOULD BE HERE**

Jacob - The Path of Uncertainty

Jacob - Wrestles with God

Joseph the Favorite Son

Joseph the Overseer of Egypt

The Unveiling of Joseph

28) The Twelve Rulers of Ishmael

29) The Birth of Esau & Jacob

30) Esau & Jacob - The Birthright

31) Isaac and the Canaan Famine

32) Isaac Lied About Rebekah

33) The Envious King Abimelech

34) The Battle of the Wells

35) Esau the Rebellious

36) Esau the Favorite Son

37) God has Checkmate

38) <-CURRENT BIBLE STUDY ONLINE PAGE->

39) Jacob - Loyalty or Deception

40) Deceitful Hearts

41) Esau the Son of War

42) Esau's Heart of Vengeance

43) Jacob - The Path of Uncertainty