Bible Study Online ArticleLocated at the Bottom of Page In the last article we discovered that after Esau had learned that Jacob had deceived their father when it came to his special blessing, Esau would make a "vow of vengeance". This "vow of vengeance" would deal with Esau making a promise to himself, when it came to him killing his brother Jacob over what he had done.
Esau also vowed that he won't kill Jacob while their father was still alive. Their mother Rebekah knew about the vow that Esau had made, but she didn't tell her husband Isaac. Perhaps the reason why she didn't alert Isaac to Esau's plans, probably dealt with her believing that if she would have told Isaac - it wouldn't had made much of a difference. And by doing so, could have placed Jacob on a path that had posed a more immediate danger from his brother. What Rebekah did instead, was to addressed the issue that dealt with her concerns, when it came to the type of wife that Jacob was going to marry: "I'm disgusted with living because of these Hittite women. If Jacob takes a wife from among the women of this land, from Hittite women like these, my life will not be worth living." -- (Genesis 27:46) Now remember that Isaac and Rebekah weren't happy with the fact that Esau earlier, had married two women from the land of Canaan who were in fact Hittite women, also known as -- The Daughters of Heth: "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) Now after Isaac had listen to his wife concerns, he would find himself in total agreement with her. After all, he knew first hand about how important it was for Jacob to be yoked (united) with a woman who feared the Lord just as much as he did, if not more. So he called for his son Jacob. And once Jacob had arrived, Isaac blessed his son again, and gave him some very important instructions. Now this particular blessing that Isaac had spoken to Jacob - deals with the things that Jacob had already acquired, when it came to the "special blessing" that Isaac had spoken into his life earlier. What Isaac did, is basically wished his son Jacob a prosperous and successful journey. But he also pointed out to Jacob the importance of him being adherent to the purpose that God had placed on his life as well: "Do not marry a Canaanite woman. Go at once to Paddan Aram, to the house of your mother's father Bethuel. Take a wife for yourself there, from among the daughters of Laban, your mother's brother." Isaac would continue to instruct his son. May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and increase your numbers until you become a community of peoples. May He give you and your descendants the blessing given to Abraham, so that you may take possession of the land where you now live as an alien, the land God gave to Abraham." -- Genesis 28:1-4 Actually, these blessings were in fact in reference to the two promises that God had made personally to Abraham. Which would make sense, being that Jacob was now the rightful heir to the Abrahamic Covenant, it was only fitting: "Lift up your eyes from where you are and look north and south, east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted. Go walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you." -- (Genesis 13:14-17) After Isaac had said all that he needed to say, he sent Jacob on his way. And it's at this point Jacob would head to Paddan-Aram (Syria), and this is where he was to meet Laban the son of Bethuel the Aramean (Syrian), who was also the brother of his mother Rebekah. Now sometime later Esau would learn of Jacob's departure, and he also knew where his brother was headed. Esau also learned about the conversation that Jacob had with his father before the departure as well. But Esau would not follow and pursue Jacob at this point - instead, it would seem that perhaps, Esau would try to position himself to possibly receive a better blessing from his father Isaac at a later date. The reason why I'm making this assumption, deals with the mere fact that after Esau had learned about his father's concerns when it came to the type of woman that he was supposed to have married. He made a special trip...? Understand sometime ago Esau had indeed married himself two Canaanite women, and this decision didn't sit well with his parents. Know that Isaac and Rebekah was very unhappy, when it came to the wives Esau had chosen. So now we find Esau trying to make amends by heading to his uncle's family - the household of Ishmael. And while there, he would marry once again, in addition to the two wives he already had. The name of his third wife was called Mahalath, who was also known as Bashemath. She was Ishmael's daughter and the sister of Nebajoth who was the eldest son of Ishmael. Be that as it may, thinking that he would make things better, Esau would in fact make things worse. Keep in mind, that first off, Esau had already had one too many wives to begin with, now we find him taking a third. His first two wives were from a civilization that had been previously cursed by God, and had gained a reputation of being known as being a wicked and sinful people, who didn't fear or respect the Lord. Now he goes and takes a third wife from his uncle's household, which was Ishmael the son of Abraham and Hagar. And although Ishmael was Abraham's oldest son, he was not the "promise seed" that God had foretold to Abraham and Sarah. In fact, Ishmael was cast out of Abraham's household along with his mother Hagar, and although God would keep His promise to Abraham - by making Ishmael a great nation, he was still excluded from the divine Abrahamic Covenant that was inherited by his brother Isaac during that time. Now we have Jacob who once had the benefits and the privileges of his father's great estate, who has now been sent on his way all alone and on foot. He has his brother's vengeful anger following behind him and with the path of uncertainty lying before him. Will Jacob have the faith to stay true to his newly discovered purpose, or will he waver and try to take his destiny into his own hands? **YOUR CURRENT BIBLE STUDY ONLINE SERIES WOULD BE HERE** 43) <-CURRENT BIBLE STUDY ONLINE PAGE-> 44) Jacob - The Stone Pillow Dream 46) Jacob - The Love Season of Reaping 50) The Mandrake Plant of Love  |
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