Genesis 27:11-17

2008.Aug.22 18:00

Almost Thinking About It

Read Genesis 27:11-17 | Full Chapter

"My brother Esau is a hairy man," Jacob reminded her. "And I am not. If my father touches me and realizes I am trying to trick him, he will put a curse on me instead of giving me a blessing." Rebekah insisted, "Let his curse fall on me! Just do what I say and bring me the meat." So Jacob brought the meat to his mother, and she cooked the tasty food that his father liked. Then she took Esau's best clothes and put them on Jacob. She also covered the smooth part of his hands and neck with goatskins and gave him some bread and the tasty food she had cooked.
(Genesis 27:11-17, CEV)

I like that Jacob almost thinks about his mother’s plan. It at least occurs to him that something could go wrong. His concern is that his father, discovering the plan, will then curse him. It’s a good concern as far as that goes, but he’s still missing the point. Jacob is deceiving his father, and the kicker is, so that he can receive a blessing witnessed by Yahweh! Um, can we please think all this through?

Rebekah is not swayed. In fact, she’s willing to accept on herself whatever curse may otherwise come upon her son. This whole thing just seems absurd. If I hadn’t seen families who play these kind of games, I’d say this is allegory. And yet, I have seen this kind of absurd behavior within families. I guess, after all, humans are human.

One other comment, though, is the contrast between Rebekah/Jacob and Esau. The former two, especially Rebekah, are prepared. Indeed, the little I see of Rebekah’s life, being prepared and ready to deal with even totally unexpected is her norm. That’s a strength, but like most (all?) strengths, it can be misused. Esau’s appearances have indicated a man who is never prepared, best illustrated that he was managed to get hungry enough to sell his birthright; indeed the selling shows a lack of forward thinking. But, is it better to have the strength with the temptation of misuse or not to have it. I suppose it depends on the strength of the temptation, reminding me of something Jesus says:

If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than, having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire. If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame, than, having your two feet, to be cast into hell. If your eye causes you to stumble, throw it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be cast into hell…
(Mark 9:43-47, NASB)

Genesis 27:5-10

2008.Aug.15 18:00

Rebekah’s Plan

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Rebekah had been listening, and as soon as Esau left to go hunting, she said to Jacob, "I heard your father tell Esau to kill a wild animal and cook some tasty food for your father before he dies. Your father said this because he wants to bless your brother with the LORD as his witness. Now, my son, listen carefully to what I want you to do. Go and kill two of your best young goats and bring them to me. I'll cook the tasty food that your father loves so much. Then you can take it to him, so he can eat it and give you his blessing before he dies."
(Genesis 27:5-10, CEV)

I don’t get why Rebekah so seems to favor Jacob. Is this just because God had told her that Esau would be subservient to Jacob? Does she feel it’s her responsibility to make that happen? I find that hard to believe. My guess is this is two parents playing favorites, each picking the child they get along better with as a tool to…well, fight whatever battles they have by proxy. Too bad for Esau and Jacob.

Rebekah and Jacob do appear to share a talent for strategy/scheming. Jacob has already managed to buy Esau’s birthright for a trifle, but the plan to get the first born blessing is launched by Rebekah. Indeed, she intends to actively participate. Now, I admire a good plan as much as the next person, but WTF?! This act seems purely spiteful or something of the sort. Or does Rebekah really think that God’s plans are going to be bound based on who receives this blessing?

It’s reassuring, I suppose, to know that the patriarchs and matriarchs would a good deal messed up.

These sort of situations lead to those questions of how does such deception fit in God’s plan? Did he desire this lie? I don’t think that’s in his character. I think it’s fair to say that God’s plans are not guaranteed to be understandle by humans, at least in this life. Although, I do feel comfortable proposing that he accepts the reality of human’s sinning and works his plan through that, while it’s also clear that the sin displeases him.

Somewhat off-topic: is part of this story a testament for herding instead of hunting? It would make sense, from what I know of Hebrew history (which, admittedly is not that much) that the ‘winner’ in their story would be one who cares for flocks, not a hunter-gatherer.

Genesis 27:1-4

2008.Aug.08 18:00

Food for a Blessing

Read Genesis 27:1-4 | Full Chapter

After Isaac had become old and almost blind, he called in his first-born son Esau, who asked him, "Father, what can I do for you?" Isaac replied, "I am old and might die at any time. So take your bow and arrows, then go out in the fields, and kill a wild animal. Cook some of that tasty food that I love so much and bring it to me. I want to eat it once more and give you my blessing before I die."
(Genesis 27:1-4, CEV)

I can’t say that Isaac’s best decision, if he really intended to give his blessing to his eldest son, was in first requiring Esau to make him a meal. Has he not yet figured out that Jacob is willing to use such opportunities to his advantage, and happens to be much better at doing so that Esau? My impression of Esau is that of the “dumb jock”, but without the motivation (By the way, is it just me or are the an uncanny number of bookish and artistic heros in the Bible?).

Still, I’m sure there’s plenty of significance, well-meant of Isaac’s part, in having Esau first prepare a meal for his father. If nothing else, it’s likely that a good meal will put Isaac in a better mood, thus enhancing the quality of said blessing. For Isaac, this event is probably much more significant than for any of the other players. He is about to die, he is losing his eyesight, at least, and likely feels like he is no longer capable of independent action. This blessing represents his last foray as a powerful patriach; the meal he requests may be the final acknowledgement of his waning power. Of course, as it turns out, the attempted bless more demostrated his failing health and strength.

In other words, this should have been a big moment, and one particularly focused on Isaac. It would have been nice to see the family gathered together, celebrating Isaac’s life. Ha ha. Instead, it’s family politics.

So, my wife is pregnant. Which is wonderful. I read this story, think about my future, my family’s future. Family politics is something I want to be a wall against. What a shame for the last moments of your life to be filled with rivals positioning to gain from your death. And maybe Isaac and Rebekah did make an effort to stop this earlier. But I don’t see any evidence thereof. Indeed, it appears they actively participated.