Week 2 Day 3- Rebekah, Esau, and Jacob

Abraham sends his servant to find a wife for Isaac from his kindred in his homeland of Haran.  God had favor on the servant, and he found Rebekah upon entering the country.  
Rebekah proved to be unselfish that day when she met Abraham's servant at the well, for she served a servant.  She drew water for him and his camels (there were 10 of them), each camel could drink up to 20 gallons of water.  Her willingness speaks volumes of her good character.

Jesus called us to be servants, he said that he 

"did not come to be served, but to serve."(Matt. 20:28)

Rebekah left with the servant to be the wife of Isaac, who was 40  years old at the time.  She was barren, so he pleaded with God for a child.  She became pregnant 20 years later with twins.  The babies struggled as she carried them, and God told her that there were two nations within her womb- one will be stronger than the other and the older shall serve the younger.  They named the boys, Esau and Jacob.

As the boys grew, Esau was a skillful hunter and Isaac loved him because he ate of his game, but Jacob was a mild man, dwelling in tents and Rebekah loved him.

The oldest child would receive the birthright and blessing from the father.  One day, Jacob had cooked a stew and Esau came in from the field, hungry and weary.  He asked for the stew and Jacob asked for his birthright, which meant headship of the family and a double share of the inheritance.  Jacob was tricky, but Esau's lust for the present and tangible is obvious.

When Isaac was old and his eyes were dim, Rebekah overheard him telling Esau to prepare a meal for him and he would give him the blessing.  While Esau is out hunting game for this meal, Rebekah concocts a plan.  She has a goat killed and prepares a meal, then tells Jacob to trick his father out the blessing.  Jacob fears that he will bring a curse upon himself and not a blessing, but his mother tells him to let the curse be upon her.  She put the skin of the goat on Jacob's hands and the smooth part of his neck because Esau was a hairy man, and sent him into his father's room.

Isaac asks him if it is really Esau because he said it was the voice of Jacob, but he felt of his hand and was tricked into giving the blessing to Jacob.  The blessing from the father is similar to a last will and testament, except it goes to the oldest son and it transfers material property, aspirations, and spiritual promises.

From the very beginning, Jacob fought to be first- he was grabbing the heel of Esau when he was born.  Author Angie Smith asks, "how many of us have had 'Jacob moments'- times when we manipulated or lied to get what we wanted."

Jacob flees after the deception and has a dream of a ladder that reaches to heaven.  God stood at the top of it and promised him that his descendants would be as the dust of the earth and that He would keep him wherever he goes and will not leave him.

He travels to find a wife.  He sees Rachel, a shepherdess, and as he talks with her he finds out that she  is the daughter of his mother's brother, Laban.  He stays and works for Laban for a month.  When asked what his wages should be, Jacob asked for Rachel as a wife.  Laban said that he could have his daughter if he would work for him for seven years. 

At the end of the seven years, they made a feast and was ready for the marriage.  Jacob is tricked at the wedding.  He discovers the morning after the ceremony that he married Leah.  When confronted, Laban explains that the custom in their country is for the oldest daughter to marry first.  He agrees to give Rachel to Jacob for another seven years of work.  So, Jacob is married to the two sisters, but he only loves Rachel.

Rachel may have the love of her husband, but she is barren.  When God saw that Leah was unloved, he opened her womb and she bore children.  This part of the story shows God's overwhelming love for His children, for He saw Leah's pain and showed favor to her.

Leah has four sons, the fourth one is Judah- and this is the line from which Jesus, the Messiah would come.

Rachel gives Jacob her handmaiden so she can have children for her, and then Leah does the same with her handmaiden.  God finally opens Rachel's womb and is gives him a son, Joseph.

At this point, Jacob leaves his father-in-law.  He hears word that his brother, Esau is coming to find him.  Jacob is terrified, because of the deception and he fears for his life.  At first, Jacob reacts in fear, but then he prayed a prayer that was full of faith, humbleness and thanksgiving. (Gen. 32:9-12)  This is where Jacob's change begins.  He realizes that God had blessed him and asks Him for deliverance from Esau.

God meets Jacob that night- or an angel- and wrestles him until morning.  Jacob would not stop until he blessed him.  He asked Jacob what his name was, and then her said, "Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel, for you have struggled with God and men, and have prevailed." (Gen. 32:28).

Angie Smith asks if we are willing to wrestle through what we've been?  

None of us deserve God's mercy and grace, 

but God loves us through our mistakes- 

through the failures- 

through it all.