Bible Discussion Thread

...It was Isaac's poor vision that allowed for this deception to be successful. God's will was accomplished despite the sins of many in the family. Esau, in the last hour, desired what he had not cared to have prior to this moment. He wanted the blessing even though he most likely didn't live his life in God's way. It seems that Jacob always had his eye on the prize, knowing its worth and perhaps the responsibility that accompanied it, having seen these in his father's life.

Since Isaac was 60 when the twins were born, the sons were probably at least 40, since that is the age that Esau was when he married the Hittite women and it was said that this plural marriage to non-kin aggrieved both Isaac and Rebekah. Isaac was over 100 years old at this time, but he did not die right away. He lived through all of the years that Jacob served Laban to purchase his wives Leah and Rachel, and for all of Jacob's 12 sons to be born. He lived to be 180 years old.

Esau hated Jacob for receiving the blessing instead of himself. He vowed to kill Jacob after his father has died. Luckily, Isaac lived decades longer after this event. When Esau heard his father instruct Jacob to not take a wife from the Canaanites, but from kin of Rebekah's brother, he went out and married Ishmael's daughter, Mahalath, knowing that his father was displeased with the Canaanite women. I think he tried to please his father by marrying one of Abraham's descendants through Ishmael, even though he kept his Canaanite wives.

Rebekah sends Jacob away to her brother, Laban's home, to escape what she heard Esau say about killing Jacob. She expected Isaac to die very soon and didn't want to lose both Isaac and Jacob together. She is weary, perhaps from trying to keep the family on the path that she knew God wanted for them. She was acting in the flesh, trying in her own strength and wisdom to keep God's plan intact. She was a wonderful, godly woman, but , like all of us, we fail, strive with God at times.