Who were the descendants of Isaac?
Esau and Jacob were twin boys born to Rebecca, Isaac’s wife. But what does the experience show us about GOD?
Preparing the Bride for GOD’s Story
How do we prepare as the Bride of Christ? One aspect is to learn GOD’S STORY. He created us in His image…. Piece by piece, and peace by peace, we learn to walk as He has walked. And we learn His perspective.
Genesis 25:19-23
This is the genealogy of Isaac, Abraham’s son. Abraham begot Isaac. Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah as wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan Aram, the sister of Laban the Syrian. Now Isaac pleaded with the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived. But the children struggled together within her; and she said, “If all is well, why am I like this?” So she went to inquire of the Lord.
And the Lord said to her:
“Two nations are in your womb,
Two peoples shall be separated from your body;
One people shall be stronger than the other,
And the older shall serve the younger.””
Children are so important!
The fact that the beautiful Rebekah was barren was quite extraordinary. Bearing and raising children were the single most important opportunities in the life of most women, in most cultures, throughout history, until the days of women’s liberation in the 1960’s West. We saw in Sarah how difficult it was to be without a child; so too with Rebekah as history seemed to repeat itself. But history did not repeat itself.
Jacob prayed and GOD answered his prayer — more promptly than He did Abraham, and Rebekah delivered 2 boys, twins who were very different in appearance and who would prove to have very different personalities. More to that next time.
The two boys
The boys would not be equal. One would be stronger. One would rule over the other. We’ll look at how this played out more next time. But for now, I just want to emphasise one thing about Rebekah.
Rebekah spoke to the Lord and He replied. He explained the struggle in her womb was to be reflective of the relationship between the two boys and the outcome…
Rebekah had her own relationship with GOD, which demonstrates GOD’s love for women and His willingness to speak to anyone who approaches Him.
The view of GOD
GOD loved Rebekah. Jacob loved Rebekah. It is not easy to suffer nor to watch someone suffer. Oh, how Rebekah must have suffered as she waited to bare a child. But she didn’t suffer in silence. She asked GOD to give her a child.
And He gave her a double portion.
My suspicion is that this family had to wait for their children because GOD had a purpose in their waiting. How grateful the parents must have been when Rebekah conceived. And how blessed and excited to have a double blessing they must have felt.
Blessing turns to competition
We will look at the issues that arose in the family which developed over the years, developments such infighting, competition, deception and favouritism… What does this say to us?
Let’s never take for granted our blessings and work to nurture them.