Connecting Scriptures:  Genesis 21:14, Genesis 15:15, Isaiah 60:1-7, Romans 9:10-16

After the death of Sarah, Issac finds comfort in Rebekah, and Abraham finds comfort in another wife.  From Katurah come six sons who would then also have sons.  God did promise Abraham that he would be the father of nations.  We see that between Isaac, Ishmael and his progeny here, this is coming to pass.  The promise however, is just for Isaac and his offspring.  We will see more of God’s sovereign choice later in the chapter.

Abraham dies at a “good old age”.  I love the way that sounds.  It suggests that he died satisfied and completely spent up on all he was required to do on earth.  He laid down in death assured that God would faithfully keep all His promises.  God was kind to give Abraham the ability to taste a portion of those promises in his lifetime.  He was buried on land that was his, he passed with the knowledge that his promised child was having children of his own and that the same blessings would be on Isaac’s life.  He had many sons who were bearing off into other lands and would become nations.  Notice the connecting scriptures referenced in Isaiah 60.  If you know your bible and world history, the sons of Abraham have not gotten along well.  All the wars and pushes for power in the Middle East have mostly involved distant branches of the nations and peoples born of Abraham.  Isaiah’s vision gives me hope for the people there.  God has a bigger plan for all the people of this place to be blessed by Abraham’s promises—ultimately in Christ.  

The page turns and front and center is another birth.  One that was prayed over by a husband who was torch holder and promise passer.  Rebekah shows that the faith of her husband is now her own as she struggles to bring two boys into the world.  The Lord speaks to her and gives her a prophecy about why there is already turmoil between them in the womb.  It would be a trait that would follow them into adulthood and beyond.  The older would serve the younger.  An affront to cultural norms and patterns of life, God is setting a precedent (as He did by choosing Abraham in the first place) of setting his grace on those he chooses.  We are getting into deep theological waters here.  The truth is elaborated more in the Romans 9 reference above and is worth a deep dive.  

I have a few questions off that rabbit trail though, mostly pertaining to Rebekah and Isaac’s parenting preferences. The message that was shared with Rebekah from the Lord, does she share this with Isaac?  Is this something she keeps hidden in her heart?  Was it her motivation for loving Jacob over Esau?  We can only speculate.  Esau was born first, covered with red hair and the bent to hunt and work outdoors.  He would win the heart of his father who saw Esau as a firstborn son with all the rights and manliness associated.   Jacob (whose name means deceiver) is the little heel grabber that would be his mommas favorite, and would work in quiet spaces.  Enough room and time to plan and conspire.  He kind of has a darkness about him, doesn’t he?  He uses timing and his wits to trick his brother, a man obviously ruled by his stomach and whatever feeling his was feeling at the moment.  Esau sells his birthright for a bowl of lentils.  The birthright was the privileges a first born son was entitled to.  These included a double portion of the inheritance and the position of leadership and authority within the family.  On one hand, how careless was Esau with such a position?  How much did he really understand or care about it to toss it away for a meal?  On the other, did Jacob really need to connive to get what was already his?  God had every intention to make his promise come to pass.  The result of us strong-arming what is already ours is that we can tank relationships fast and cause a heap of unnecessary hurt.  We will see this play out deeper in the chapters to come as two brothers separate, one clinging to a promise and running for his life.

Questions For Reflection:

1.  What would it mean to you to pass at a “good old age”?  Is it just about a number, or the quality of a life lived?

2.  What hope does it bring to you that the true blessing of Abraham isn’t possessions or land, but the doorway to Jesus and his blessing of salvation to a warring and broken world?

3.  How can “playing favorites” with relationships be harmful?

4.  What do the names and motivations of Esau and Jacob tell you about their understanding of God and His sovereign choice?