Lesson 14. A Broken Family

Read: Genesis 25: 10 – 28: 9.

In the previous lesson we learned how God directed Abraham’s servant as well as Rebecca and her family to bring Isaac and Rebecca together. They were to bring forth Abraham’s seed so that God’s promises for all creation would be fulfilled in the restoration of the Kingdom of God.

Yet, just because God brings a man and a wife together, this does not mean that sin and Satan cannot mess up this family relationship. Remember, it is a major theme in the book of Genesis: God builds something beautiful, but then humans mess it up. And so it happened here again: soon there will be a serious lack of love that drives a wedge between the parents and between their children. First Isaac and Rebecca were unable to get children, so Isaac prayed to God. Two sons were born when they had been married for twenty years. We don’t know how long Isaac had been praying: did he wait almost twenty years, or did they have to wait for a long time to see the prayers answered? When Rebecca got pregnant, there was more jostling and kicking in her womb than would be expected, so God revealed to her that inside her were the fathers of two separate nations, who were already struggling for domination. God told her that the one born last would end up as the stronger one. This already began to show when the boys were born: the second boy clamped his little fist around the older brother’s heel as if he wanted to prevent his earlier birth. The younger one was not physically the strongest, but as he grew older he tried to use tricks to beat his older brother.

So, the first born was called “Esau”; later “Edom”, which was also the name of the nation that came from him. “Esau” means “hairy”, because at birth already he had somewhat of a monkey-look with his hairy skin. “Edom” means “red” and seems to refer to his fiery, passionate nature. The younger one was “Jacob” which may have meant something like “May God protect or bless”. Yet, the word sounds very similar to the word “heel grabber”, which was later used as reference to his birth and his later tricks to cheat people (as in tripping someone from behind). Later God changed his name to “Israel”, for in Jacob’s struggle of many years he had managed to become successful among people and with God.

God is in control, and although Jacob is not a nice and loving brother, God still chooses him in his big plan. Jacob does not trust in God and wait for Him to fulfill his plans. Rather, he seeks to manipulate people and events by cheating and the use of tricks. Still, God decides to build His Kingdom through Isaac’s seed. Jacob becomes Israel, and Israel will be the father of God’s chosen people. The sons of Israel will be the tribes of the people that are to give the world a picture of the Kingdom of God.

Now we have been introduced to Esau and Jacob, we will see how the struggle continues in their youth. How will God make the younger more important, if the culture of the time and place would give great advantage to the first born son? God does not depend on human actions for the future outcome of events. Sometimes he works with people, but other times he turns their efforts upside down. In Jacob’s life we see this too. Jacob tries hard to control the events by his clever tricks, but in the end the tricks work just as much against him as they appear to work in his favor. God is in control, but it will take Jacob many years before he will submit to this.

Jacob has probably heard from his mother what God had said about the sibling rivalry and the outcome of the struggle. So, Jacob waits for the moment that he can turn events in his favor. He normally stays in and around the house, while Esau is an outdoorsman who likes to go on hunting trips. So, one evening it all seems to work out for him: Esau just got home from a long and tiring hunting trip. He is tired, and he is starving. Meanwhile, Jacob is alert and he has just prepared a tasty dish of lentil stew. So, Esau begs him to give him food; “Oh give me from that red stuff over there!” (Remember the reference to his later name!). And Jacob takes advantage of his brother by demanding an unfair trade. “Ok, but you give me your rights as first-born son”. Esau does not care; to fill his stomach is his first concern, and he is in no mood to bargain over the price. And so, there has been another confirmation that in the end things will work out in the favor of the younger son.

To have Esau’s promise means nothing; Jacob realizes this. To have God’s promise means everything; Jacob does not realize this and neither do his parents. As the boys get older, Esau ignores the culture (of involving the parents in choosing his wife) and God’s warning (for not getting intermarried with the Canaanites), so he takes a wife from the surrounding people. Isaac does not seem to object, and he wants to bless his son in building a family for himself. So, he suggests to Esau that he go out hunting to prepare for him once more a delicious venison steak. Then he will give Esau the proper “first-born- blessing”. Apparently, it was understood that this ceremonial blessing of an old father had great significance and power: it was seen as prophecy- a word of God that would certainly come true.

Isaac is already an old man, and he is blind. He is also blind to God’s word that Jacob will rule over Esau. But his wife has heard his words to Esau, and she knows! Esau may be his father’s favorite, but Jacob is mother’s boy! Yet, Rebecca does not talk to her husband, reminding him of the word of God. Rather, she conspires with Jacob to secure for Jacob the blessing that Esau had despised earlier. She takes the lead and the responsibility in the deceit, but for Jacob it will become an example to follow.

She has it all figured out! Isaac may be blind, but he still has his sense of hearing, smell and touch. She cannot change Jacob’s voice, but she has thought of a way to trick her husband’s other senses. So, Jacob dresses in Esau’s clothes, while his arms and neck are covered with goat skin to resemble his brother’s hairy skin. Rebecca has prepared a meal, just the way that Isaac likes it. And so, Jacob enters his father’s room to deceive him for his brother’s blessing.

Several times Isaac hesitates; something is strange. He had not expected Esau back so soon, and the voice is like his younger brother’s... Yet, all the other perceptions confirm the words: “I am your first- born son Esau!” So, after he has eaten of the food, he gives his son the most excellent blessing. Thinking it is Esau, he gives the highest blessing to Jacob.

Sometime later Esau returns, and he prepares the venison in anticipation for his blessing. Yet, soon his good mood turns to dark bitterness when he and his father recognize the grand deception. Esau now realizes the significance of this event: the future of him and his offspring has been sealed by the tricks of his younger brother! Three times he begs his father to bless him also, but when at last his father speaks, it sounds more like a curse: all the best things have been promised to Jacob, the heel grabber; the cheater!

So, Esau hates his brother for stealing his good fortune, and he plans to murder him after Isaac has passed away. A dead brother cannot rule over him, and so this terrible event may be undone. Yet, once again, Rebecca realizes the danger for Jacob, so she arranges his safe escape. She complains to her husband about Esau’s Canaanite wives. Rebecca does not do so from a godly motive, but God uses her complaint to shake Isaac awake and to remind him of his responsibilities! So finally, Abraham’s son sees clearly: how God wanted to preserve for Himself a Kingdom, and how the seed of blessing had to remain pure and separate from the Canaan’s curse!

Yes, Isaac wants for his son a bride from Haran! So finally Isaac takes the role of patriarch, and in godly leadership he tells Jacob to go at once to find a wife from Haran. Yes, God will bless his younger son to become a great family that is to take possession of the land promised to father Abraham!

When Esau hears what has happened, he seems to think it was all about his choice of wives, so he takes for himself another wife from the daughters of Ishmael.

What does the story tell us?

Well, it shows that Abraham’s children were not wonderful people who always walked with God. The son of Abraham had almost forgotten what their family was all about: God’s chosen people to restore His rule on earth! He was prepared to give his blessing to the son who married Canaanite women, against the word and will of God.

It shows that the father of the nation (Jacob’s name is later changed to Israel) was not a godly young man who trusted God. By trickery and manipulation he tried to get the best for himself! No, when God chose Jacob as father of His people, he did not do so because he was such a good or godly person!

Yet, we also see that –in spite of all the human weaknesses and sins- God continues with his plan. God can and does use the brokenness in creation and humans to heal creation and restore his people! The children of Abraham cannot prevent that one day the Son of Abraham will be born! And Abraham’s Son will be murdered by his own people to give new life to all creation and to save his people!

Jacob leaves home. He will have to grow up into a man. In the land of Laban the deceiver will be deceived, yet God will bless him to build His people: the twelve tribes of Israel! And although Jacob does not seek God, God Himself will seek him and train him to become a different person! When –after some twenty years- Jacob will return, he will be Israel!

Food for Thought

1. 1  Rebecca assures Jacob: the curse is mine. Well, in a way this happened; she lost her beloved son! Also, she is no longer mentioned in the remainder of the story.

2. 2  In the end, Edom will manage to throw off the yoke of his younger brother. Apparently this was fulfilled, as described in 2 Kings 8: 20, 22.

3. 3  Compare the godly characters of Abraham, Jacob, and Isaac. What is happening?

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5. Jacob and Laban by Jean Restout II