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.” (27:41)
The Bible certainly isn’t a dull book. Promises, plots, deceit, love – all there, because that is what we human beings are like.
Esau is understandably upset that his brother has deceitfully obtained the blessing of the firstborn. He is so upset that he plans to kill Jacob when their father dies. (His father, Isaac, ends up living more than another two decades, which seems to be far longer than anyone, Isaac included, thought he would live).
Rebekah, being informed of Esau’s plan to kill Jacob, tells Jacob he should go back to where her brother lives, to get a wife from their relatives. This is a good thing, as we read a few chapters back that Esau’s Hittite wives made life miserable for Isaac and Rebekah (Genesis 26:34-35).
Rebekah talks to Isaac about the matter, resulting in Isaac sending Jacob to Rebekah’s relatives, and blessing him with the blessing that God gave to Abraham – to multiply his descendants and give him the land God promised to Abraham.
God is at work through, even despite, human interference. It is comforting to know that He will prevail and He will do all that He sets out to do. But we will certainly have an easier time of it if we don’t get in the way. As far as Jacob’s being sent to the relatives to get a wife, that likely would have happened anyway, as the Hittite wives were certainly not a blessing. But going there for a positive reason, rather than to escape his brother’s hatred, would have been better for all.
Prayer: Help me not to interfere with what you are doing. Keep me from controlling people and from controlling things that I shouldn’t control. May I cooperate with You. Amen.
