Faith&Friends
BAD TO THE BONE?
Jacob and Esau: Double Trouble The twins’ relationship had seemingly been shattered forever. But God doesn’t know the word “impossible.” by Jeanette Levellie
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saac was old, blind and near death. He asked one of his sons, Esau, a hunter, to kill some game and prepare him a stew for his final meal. Isaac promised to bless Esau after he’d eaten. In the ancient Jewish culture, a father’s blessing meant success and favour. When Isaac’s wife, Rebekah, overheard Isaac’s promise, she started to scheme. Esau’s twin, Jacob, was Rebekah’s favourite, and she wanted him to receive Isaac’s blessing. Rebekah instructed Jacob to bring her two young goats to cook for Isaac, so Jacob could present his dad the meal and receive the blessing. Rebekah then disguised Jacob to feel and smell like Esau. Fooled by the ruse, Isaac gave Jacob his blessing. When Esau returned from the fields and brought his father the stew he’d prepared, Isaac told him, “Your brother came deceitfully and took your blessing” (Genesis 27:35). Esau’s heart burned with hatred toward Jacob, and he made plans to kill Jacob
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after their father died. On the outside, this situation seemed impossible for both Jacob and Esau. Jacob had to leave his homeland to avoid his brother’s rage. Esau lost his father’s blessing because of Jacob’s deceit. What good could possibly come from this family feud? Decades-Long Anger Hearing of his brother’s anger, Jacob fled north to live with an uncle until Esau’s anger subsided. One night during his travels, God spoke to Jacob and promised that He would return Jacob to his family’s land, and that he and his descendants would one day own it. When Jacob awoke, he experienced a new awe of God and named the spot Bethel, which means “house of God.” Jacob lived with and worked for his uncle, Laban, for 20 years. By that time, he was an extremely wealthy man who owned huge flocks of cattle, sheep, goats, camels and donkeys.
