What Did Rebekah Lose?

by Mary Vee

Genesis 27:41-28:5

As Rebekah pulled thread through the patch on Isaa'c tunic, a servant ran to her. "The most distressful news, Lady Rebekah. Esau said he'll kill Jacob after the days of mourning for Isaac. What should we do?"

Rebekah sighed. "It's worse than I thought. Go find Jacob. Tell him to meet me in the stable then return to your duties. Now, don't worry, I'll take care of the problem."

She folded the cloth and set it aside. "The man isn't sick, yet Esau has him dead and mourned. That boy has always had a temper worse than a hungry lion."

Rebekah smoothed her skirt. May as well get this settled. Let's see, I could send him to my brother's home. Yes, that should work. Now what should I tell Isaac. She held her hands togetherin front of her lips. I know! I'll tell him Jacob should not marry a girl from here. Jacob needs to go back to the home where I grew up to find a wife.

She opened the stable door and found Jacob brushing a camel's coat. "Good, your here. Esau has spoken with Isaac."

Jacob's eyes went wide. "What did he say?"

"Your brother Esau comforts himself after he learned you received the family blessing from your father. He intends to kill you."

Jacob ran his fingers through his hair. "You see, Mother, I told you the plan wouldn't work. What good is the blessing if I'm dead?" He paced in front of the stall. "What am I suppose to do?"

Rebekah placed her hand on his shoulder. "Listen to me, Son. Your only hope is to flee to my brother Laban's home in Haran. Stay with him a few days, until your brother's fury turns away. You must stay there until your brother's anger turns away from you and he forgets what you've done to him."

"Leave? I have to leave?"

She looked at his eyes. "Only for a short time. I'll send for you after Esau calms down."

"But, I don't know the way."

Rebekah yanked his arm. "Follow me. We'll speak to your father. I'll go in to speak with him first then call you."

Jacob stood near the doorway outside Isaac's room. Rebekah smiled at him then walk to her husband's chair. "Isaac, I am weary of my life. If Jacob takes a wife from one of the daughters who live here in this land, what good will my life be to me?"

Isaac smiled at his wife then nodded. "You're right. If my father, Abraham, found a wife for me in the land where his family lived, then I shall do the same. Would you ask Jacob to see me?"

Rebekah kissed him on the head. "As you wish, my husband." She ran to the doorway and spoke softly. "Jacob, go speak with your father." She gazed into his eyes. "Don't worry. Everything will be fine."

Jacob walked to his father's side. "You called for me, Father?"

Isaac reached his hand toward his son. "Jacob, my son, you shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan. Go now to the house where your mother's father lives and find a wife from the daughters of Laban, your mother's brother." Isaac set his hand on Jacob's head. "May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you that you may be an assembly of peoples, and give you the blessing of Abraham to you and your descendants with you, that you may inherit the land in which you are a stranger, which God gave to Abraham."

So Jacob packed his things and left with his servants.

Rebekah wanted Jacob to get the family blessing. Her plan seemed successful. But in the end she lost something very special.

What did Rebekah lose?

Sometimes people who make wrong choices get good things. What wrong choice did Rebekah make? What did she want? In the end, those who do wrong will be punished while those who obey God will be rewarded. Rebekah had to send her son away to protect him. She may never see him again. How did Rebekah's heart feel?

Think of a time when you chose to obey God. Maybe everything turned out well. How did your heart feel? Maybe things did not go well. How did your heart feel?

When something did not turn out well for me, I felt sad, but at the same time I felt good because I knew I obeyed. My sadness didn't last long, but the good feeling in my heart did.