GENESIS 27
39 Then Isaac his father answered and said to him: “Behold, away fromthe fatness of the earth shall your dwelling be, and away from the dew of heaven on high. 40 By your sword you shall live, and you shall serve your brother; but when you grow restless you shall break his yoke from your neck.”41 Now Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob.” 42 But the words of Esau her older son were told to Rebekah. So she sent and called Jacob her younger son and said to him, “Behold, your brother Esau comforts himself about you by planning to kill you. 43 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice. Arise, flee to Laban my brother in Haran 44 and stay with him a while, until your brother’s fury turns away— 45 until your brother’s anger turns away from you, and he forgets what you have done to him. Then I will send and bring you from there. Why should I be bereft of you both in one day?”
46 Then Rebekah said to Isaac, “I loathe my life because of the Hittite women. If Jacob marries one of the Hittite women like these, one of the women of the land, what good will my life be to me?” – Genesis 27:32-46
GENESIS 27 ESAU THREATS TO KILL JACOB
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
After Esau heard his unfortunate blessing from his father
He was furious with the outcome of that deception of his brother
He threatened to kill Jacob once their father passed on
Rebekah heard this threat and warned Jacob to flee to Haran.
Rebekah was concerned that Jacob would also marry a Hittite woman
She asked Jacob to move to Haran and stay with his brother Laban
Up until the wrath of Esau subsides, he will stay there to be safe
Rebekah showed much concern for both her sons to stay alive.
What a mother’s heart Rebekah had. She didn’t want her sons to fight over their received blessing and end up being killed by one. She probably was already suffering from Esau’s choice to take Hittite wives. To protect Jacob from being killed by Esau, she told him to go and stay with her brother Laban until Esau’s anger subsided.
REFLECTION
- Why do you think Rebekah told Jacob to flee from Esau aside from being killed?
