| Subject: Genesis 27 vss. 41-45 Post 143 |
Author:
Hillbilly
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Date Posted: 08:25:23 12/31/10 Fri
Genesis 27:41-45 And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob. 42 And these words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah: and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him, Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort himself, purposing to kill thee. 43 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; and arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran; 44 And tarry with him a few days, until thy brother's fury turn away; 45 Until thy brother's anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him: then I will send, and fetch thee from thence: why should I be deprived also of you both in one day?
That Esau felt he got shafted in the blessing goes without saying. He becomes so furious that he decides to kill his brother. Esau believes his father has one foot in the grave already so he decides to bide his time and not act immediately. His love and respect for his father will prevent the murder from taking place until after Isaac dies but Esau fully intends to carry out the threat. His anger at his brother is not hidden. He evidently boasts openly because "these words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah". Esau's actions are those of a bully. A bully can't stand not having his way and normally he will boast of what he is going to do to get even. This is Esau. Never admitting that his own actions might have contributed to the situation. Proud, boasting, confident in his own abilities and often bringing shame to himself and family Esau lashes out. Esau probably didn't know that God had chosen Jacob and he would not have realized how it would be futile and foolish to try to carry out his plan.
When Rebekah gets wind of Esau's threats to her favorite son she goes to Jacob and urges him to flee to her brother. She tells him that she will send word when the "coast is clear" and he can safely return. She assures him that it will only be for a few days at the most and Esau will get over it. Life is full of unintended consequences. The few days turns out to be more than 14 years and there is no evidence that Jacob ever sees his mother again. What takes place from here on out in Jacob's life changes the history of the world. What is set in motion is the nation of Israel and the catalyst is the danger to life and limb. Truly if ever there was an omen of the impending danger that Israel would always be under it is shown in Jacob's flight from death.
Reading the exhortation to Jacob from his mother is revealing in how it exposes human nature. Notice the words of Rebekah to Jacob: "And tarry with him a few days, until thy brother's fury turn away; Until thy brother's anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him". Rebekah is not acknowledging her conspiracy which led to this entire episode. Too often we want to shift blame away from self and not acknowledge our own actions. Everything about Jacob's nature up to here shows a man that reacts and does not instigate. Had Rebekah not prodded Jacob to deceive Isaac this would not have taken place and Jacob would not have to be fleeing. This is human nature at it's base point. "Get the monkey off my back and put it on someone else". Back up a few centuries and we see it play out in the garden with Adam and Eve. Adam: "The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat." It's her fault. Eve: "And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat." It's the serpents fault. Neither wanted to accept the responsibility of their own actions. Each purposely chose their own course and did what they wanted to do regardless of the prodding from the serpent. God did not ask the serpent why but had He done so I'm sure the serpent would have replied: "Hey, I was just doing my job!"
Man often thinks he can generally know what lies ahead but as this episode in the lives of Esau, Jacob and Rebekah we can see that no one knows for sure what the next moments hold. Esau knew he was going to kill his brother. What took place was reconciliation. Esau felt sure his daddy was about to die. This belief came to him because of the words of his father to him back at the beginning of this chapter. In reality everything was set in motion through the words of Isaac who said: "Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death:--make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die." (Gen. 27:2,4) In reality Isaac does not die until several years after the return of Jacob from Haran. The power of life or death is in the hands of God and although we may think death is near we can never be sure as God may have planned otherwise.
Rebekah believes Esau's fury will subside in a few days and sends her son away. He is gone for more than 14 years during which time evidence points to her dying while he is away. Jacob thinks he will be gone for a few days and come back home to dad and mom. In reality while he is away he winds up with 2 wives, 2 proxy mothers and 12 kids. (Benjamin was born after the return from Haran; Dinah, daughter of Leah, made 12) No crystal ball could have foretold all that was taking place but everything was in God's foreknowledge and plan. God doesn't need a crystal ball!
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