Genesis 29: 1-30:24. Energized by his divine encounter, Jacob continued on to Padan Aram. As had occurred years before with Abraham’s servant, Jacob made his first contact with his extended family at the village well. One wonders if the male shepherds had been waiting for Rachel to move the heavy stone from the well before watering their flocks! In any case, Jacob greeted Rachel with great emotion and assisted her in watering her sheep.
Jacob was immediately smitten by Rachel’s beauty and negotiated with his uncle to work 7 years to win her hand in marriage. He had not factored in the family tendency to double-dealing. When the day came for his marriage to Rachel, Laban duped him and gave him Leah for a bride instead, stating that in their culture, the second-born did not precede the first in marriage. For an additional 7 years of labour, Laban agreed to give Rachel to Jacob as well.
One is struck by the docile reaction of Jacob to this turn of events. Perhaps his dramatic encounter with God had begun to soften his rough edges. Laban’s treachery would certainly have reminded Jacob of the behavioural patterns that had occurred in his birth family, in which he had played so dominant a role.
Jacob was confronted as well with the rights of the first-born in this incident. The rights of first-born Leah were used by God to hone the man who had so blatantly disregarded Esau’s first-born rights. Interestingly, the deception of disguise was used in both incidents, no doubt further reinforcing the lesson to Jacob.
Jacob’s marriage to two women, one whom he did not love, resulted in fierce competition between the two sisters. The wife with many sons was considered blessed in this cultural context, and God’s compassion toward Leah’s involvement in a loveless marriage is revealed in her ability to bear sons. Leah herself was aware of God’s blessing and responded to it by naming her first two sons, Reuben (He has seen my misery) and Simeon (One who hears).
Rachel, in spite of her status as the beloved wife, was barren, and consequently envious and spiteful toward her sister. After Leah bore Jacob several children (using her servant as a surrogate mother for some), Rachel finally was blessed with a son, Joseph. The line of Jacob was assured, and his children would become the great nation God had promised.
It is interesting that God allowed Jacob to suffer from the same kind of deception which he had used on others. It is encouraging to see how graciously Jacob accepted the lesson; a sign that even the most ruthless character can be changed by the power of a loving God. The rash and self-serving Jacob was becoming responsible and humble under God’s correcting and instruction. “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10)
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
A Shepherd Takes a Wife
Ladder to Heaven
Although Esau tried to shift the blame to Jacob of the loss of his inheritance, he was also at fault. He did not take any of the blame upon himself, although in his cavalier attitude toward the inheritance, he too had been culpable in its loss.
Gen. 27: 41-28:22. In order to protect Jacob from Esau’s rage and expected revenge, Isaac and Rebekah prepared to send him to his Uncle Laban. Rebekah and Isaac had a second reason for wanting to send Jacob to Uncle Laban. They wanted to make sure that he would select a wife from his own people. Isaac and Rebekah had suffered from the intermarriages Esau had made with neighbouring tribespeople and they didn’t want Jacob, the inheritor of the Abrahamic covenant, to marry in the wrong circles. Before sending him off, Isaac again blessed Jacob, this time calling on the name of God Almighty to bestow Abraham’s blessing on Jacob.
Esau reacted to the news of Jacob’s being sent to look for a wife from the extended family by marrying a woman from Ishmael’s tribe. Was he trying to curry favour with his parents? Was he trying to improve a bad situation? Whatever his motives, he dismally failed, since a wife from Ishmael’s family would hardly have been welcomed any more warmly than his previous wives had been welcomed by his parents. I can’t help but feel sorry for Esau who seemed to flounder at every step.
Meanwhile, Jacob on his arduous journey to Laban had an amazing dream of a ladder to heaven and a visitation from God Himself. God came to Jacob with his angels—God’s servant messengers. At a time when Jacob felt particularly lonely and vulnerable, the stairway to heaven would surely have communicated to Jacob that he had access to God’s power and help. At this point in time, God initialized his covenant with Jacob, assured Jacob of his place in the Abrahamic line and also assured him that God would protect and care for him. God enumerated the blessings that Jacob would receive: (1) A relationship with “the God of your forefathers”; (2) land; (3) numerous descendants; (4) they would be a blessing to all the earth; (5) divine protection; and (6) the fulfilment of God’s will in Jacob’s life. It didn’t matter that Jacob had been duplicitous and undeserving; God showed his mercy toward Jacob and affirmed His plans for Jacob.
Jacob’s response to this dramatic incident was: “Surely the Lord is in this place and I was not aware of it.” How many times has God been present and actively working, but I have not been aware of His presence and action? Jacob may have been on the run for his life, lonely, and seemingly unprotected, but God was there all the time, actively working out His purposes in Jacob’s life.
Two lessons stand out in this riveting story. First, I am reminded of the strand of God’s mercy and grace that continues throughout Scripture. We do not deserve God’s mercy anymore than Jacob did, but He wants to shower it on us. “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8). Second, I am reminded that, although I may not immediately see the results of God’s action, He is at work in my life, bringing His purposes for me to completion. “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Family Dysfunction
Genesis 27:1-29. Family dysfunction is a sad, but well-recognized, fact of western culture. There is nothing new under the sun, though, because it would be hard to compete with the dysfunction in Isaac’s Middle Eastern home of centuries ago. One can’t help but wonder what had happened to the love that at least Isaac had for Rebekah (Gen. 24:67) when the details of this story arise.
Blind Isaac prepared to bless his eldest son, Esau, and Rebekah, overhearing the plan, conspired to get the blessing for her favourite son, Jacob. A few questions leap immediately to mind: (1) Since God had already revealed to Rebekah (and presumably she had told Isaac) that Jacob was going to be the heir to the promise (“the older will serve the younger”--Gen. 25:23), was Isaac trying to circumvent God’s plan? (2) If Isaac was not willing to comply with God’s will, what had happened to his earlier close relationship with God? (3) Why would Isaac want to waste the blessing on a son who had previously sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of stew (Gen. 25:33) and actually despised his birthright (Gen. 25:35)? Scripture doesn’t reveal the answers to these questions. From my own experience, though, I realize that I do not always like God’s plan for me and my loved ones, as much as I like the plans I dream up. I too can easily walk at arm’s length from God, rather than side-by-side, and can get my eye off the goals of God. And love is not rational. Most parents will continue loving their children, even when their behaviour may not warrant that love.
As I reflect on Rebekah’s deceitfulness, it’s not too difficult to understand why Jacob was as deceitful and grasping as he was at this stage of his life. Her conspiracy against Isaac reveals how little she respected him, but is also indicative of her lack of faith. God had promised to bless Jacob above Esau, but she, like Sarah before her, apparently felt that she needed to “help God out”. There is no evidence that Rebekah had any love or compassion for her disabled and aging husband.
Rebekah thought of every detail in this act of treachery against Isaac. Jacob demurred against the plan at first, but not, one notes, because it was wrong, or out of love for his father. He feared, rather, that they would be found out. I cringe as I read this story of ill-treatment of an elderly husband and father. Isaac was totally duped and gave the blessing to his younger son. If Rebekah had trusted God to fulfil his plans for Jacob instead of trying to take things into her own hands, I wonder how God would have brought blessing to His chosen heir? The years of hardship and separation that followed this horrific event would probably not have been necessary.
The lessons in this passage are lessons that I’ve seen before (and repetition is generally the only way I learn!). I need to keep trusting what I believe God has revealed, even if fulfilment seems slow in coming. Taking matters into my own hands will result in total failure, and possibly deep and lasting grief. God will never bless relationships where I work against another to bring my own selfish plans to fruition. I need to rest in Him to bring His plans for my life to fruition.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Meek and Mighty
Genesis 26:12-33. Isaac and Rebekah stayed in Gerar, under the protection of Abimelech, and Isaac prospered. In fact, the text tells us that he planted crops in Gerar and the same year reaped a hundredfold. The secret of his success was clear: “…because the Lord blessed him.” His prosperity actually became a source of jealousy and enmity between him and the Philistines. Anxious to stem the seeming avalanche of blessing, the Philistines took to stopping up the wells that Isaac had inherited from his father.
Abimelech himself asked Isaac to move because he was threatened by the wealth and power of Isaac. In my many readings of the Genesis account, I have never viewed Isaac as powerful or threatening. He has seemed rather like a milquetoast in comparison to his father, but when I read between the lines in this account, I realize I must have missed something. Isaac complied with the request, moved and camped in the Valley of Gerar where he reopened wells from his father’s time.
The whole issue of wells must have been a crucial one for survival in this arid land. Looking at it from the perspective of someone who just has to open the tap to get water, I have to remind myself that wells were essential in this climate and culture. Isaac not only opened his father’s old wells, but his servants discovered a new one which the herdsmen in the area claimed was really theirs. Not only did they claim the new well, they stopped out the old wells. Isaac had to dig two more wells, before the herdsman stopped bullying him and let him live in peace.
God appeared to Isaac again and renewed his promise of protection and blessing. This appearance inspired worship, and the digging of yet another well!
Isaac may have moved out of Abimelech’s neighbourhood, but not far enough apparently. Abimelech came with his personal advisor and the commander of his forces and asked for a peace treaty. They declared that they saw that Isaac was blessed by God, and they wanted him to ensure that he would do them no harm—and they would treat him fairly as well. Why they perceived Isaac as a threat is puzzling since he obviously had avoided conflict with them all along. Obviously, the God behind the man Isaac was a God they feared and respected; they did not want to be on the wrong side of such a power-wielding, person-blessing God. Powerful Isaac did not take offence, but graciously agreed to the pact and welcomed them warmly with a feast. Peace finally reigned between Isaac and Abimelech.
Isaac’s response to the irritations of living in Gerar and the constant persecutions of his neighbours is really amazing. Having been promised God’s goodness, care and protection, he felt no need to defend himself or stand up for his rights. I suppose, from our cultural perspective, he looks totally spineless. The truth is much more likely that, since he could rest on God’s promises, he did not need to fight for his rights. God had prospered him already; he could trust that God would continue to care for him and meet his needs. And God did meet his needs, including supplying yet another well after Isaac drew up the treaty with Abimelech.
Donna Jeffries point out a New Testament parallel that may help us understand and respect Isaac even more. In Paul’s instructions for Christian living (Romans 12), we find a pattern which Isaac modelled. He honoured others above himself (Rom. 12:10). He was patient in affliction (Rom. 12:12). He practiced hospitality (Rom. 12:13). He lived in harmony (Rom. 12:16). He did not repay evil for evil (Rom. 12:17). He tried to live at peace with everyone (Rom. 12:18). He did not take revenge (Rom. 12:19). Isaac may have appeared meek, but he was a mighty man in his relations with his neighbours. Resting on the power and promises of God, he had no need to fight for himself, but could live free from the stress and anxieties of putting himself and his interests first.
Sin Repeats Itself
A busy schedule has stalled my blogging, but I also have not found the story of Isaac nor Jacob quite as compelling as that of Abraham. Abraham is the spiritual giant in the family saga, but Isaac's and Jacob's lives are instructive as well. So it's time to get back to work, and take a look at Genesis again.
Genesis. 26. Just as his father had been years earlier, Isaac and his family faced famine, and Isaac went to the Abimelech, tribal king of the Philistines. Apparently, he was thinking of travelling further afield--to Egypt, because God intervened and told him not to go to Egypt. At this time, God renewed the Abrahamic Covenant with Isaac, promising him (1) seed, (2) land, (3) a nation, and (4) blessing and protection.
Do certain sins run in families? The whole concept of generational sin is interesting, since Isaac commited the same sin as his father did in regard to his wife. When the men of Gerar took an interest in Rebekah, he said that she was his sister, in an effort to protect himself from harm and possible death.
Upon discovering that Rebekah was actually Isaac's wife, Abimelech was incensed. (Note: It's not likely this is the same Abimelech that Abraham tried to dupe, but it is a man of the same name.) Abimelech's sense of the horror of the sin that his men could have committed against Isaac and his wife was deep and real. His orders to his people were decisive: "Anyone who molests this man or his wife shall surely be put to death." In an era when lust and adultery almost seem passe, Abimelech's reaction is startling. The pagan king seemed to have a much deeper sense of the consequences of sin and the sanctity of the marital union than God's chosen man, Isaac.
Interestingly, Isaac's stumble into sin occurred after what must have been a momentous spiritual occasion for him--the covenant encounter with God. It would be easy to condemn him out of hand. How, we might ask, could someone who had just met God personally, fall prey to sin so easily? We mustn't miss the lesson though. How many times have we experienced points of spiritual apex and victory, only to fall into sin or despair merely days or hours later? Our times of spiritual high may make us more vulnerable to fatigue, temptation, sin and discouragement. At such times, we need to hold on to the fact that spiritual strength does not come from mighty experiences but from God Himself.
2 Corinthians 12:9,10. Therefore, I will boast all the more about my weaknesses so that Christ's power may rest on me.
