Here's a typical Hollywood love story: Guy and girl meet, fall in
love, run into a problem, restore relationship, live happily ever
after. I have been tracking Isaac and Rebekah under a Disney theme.
But they run into two problems, not just one.
After waiting 20 years for children, their twin boys grew up and clashed with each other. And for Rebekah's big life mistake, in what "Bernard Walton" in Adventures in Odyssey calls "one of the worst acts of treachery and cheating in the Bible," she used her favorite son, Jacob, to deceive her other son and her husband.
Second Roadblock
As an old man, Isaac sought to give his elder son Esau the best blessing he could before he died. According to custom, only one son could receive such a blessing, and it could not be revoked. When Rebekah learned about it, she convinced Jacob to disguise himself as Esau so that Isaac, who was nearly blind by then, would bless him instead.
Their conspiracy worked! But when Esau discovered it, just a few moments too late, he flew into a rage and vowed to kill his brother after their father passed away. We do not know if Isaac and Esau ever ascertained Rebekah's role in the plot, which is recorded in Genesis 27. Yet we see no change in Isaac's respect toward his bride, even after she deceived him. Consider her request at the end of chapter 27 and Isaac's reply at the beginning of chapter 28.
Rebekah wanted to prevent Esau from killing Jacob, so she asked her husband to send Jacob to live with her brother's family far away. She told Isaac that because their neighbors had a different culture and / or religion, she wanted Jacob to find a wife among her relatives.
Did Isaac appreciate or resent her request? Did he want Jacob to marry from among his own relatives? Did he need Jacob's help with his property or possessions? Did he want Jacob nearby during his last years? Did he fear for Jacob's spiritual growth far from home? Did he fear for Jacob's physical safety? Did he know of Rebekah's trickery? Did he argue with Rebekah over the matter? Did he feel compelled to grant her desire? Did he doubt Rebekah's claim decades earlier, when she was pregnant, that God had told her "the older shall serve the younger"?
Happily Ever After
Genesis answers none of these questions. A "yes" answer to any of them could have embittered Isaac to his wife. A "yes" to all of them could have ended a lesser marriage. And importantly, any "yes" might have been perfectly justifiable for any spouse to offer. But if Isaac wrestled with these or other questions, his answer to his wife's wishes was one of respect.
First, he listened...again. Twenty years into their marriage, Isaac listened to his wife's pleas for children. And probably 40 years later (see the end of Genesis 26), he was still listening. Can you pay attention to someone for 60 years without respecting them? We men might congratulate ourselves for heeding our wives' needs for 60 minutes!
Second, Isaac went all out in fulfilling his bride's request. Note that we still do not actually know if he agreed with her. But in giving her what he wanted, he did not hold back or second guess. Genesis 28 states that he instructed Jacob to do exactly as Rebekah had asked. Then he went the extra mile in re-blessing Jacob. He resolved to remind his son about God once more, while likely re-strengthened himself in God, too (see Psalm 131). As a man, do you feel respected -- as well as appreciated and trusted -- when a coworker does extra work for you with a cheerful attitude? Your wife likely feels the same when you exceed her expectations. At the very least, recall how many extra miles God has tread on our behalf, such as in Romans 5?
Third, Rebekah's last recorded words were those of her petition to her husband. Although she died later, we men would do well to ponder that every chance we get to respect our wives could be our last. Shall our final effort be negative and halfhearted (free tip: those words are synonymous)? Or shall we imitate Isaac? Better still, Romans 8 shows the Trinity pursuing us dramatically all our days. Let us imitate Him!
After waiting 20 years for children, their twin boys grew up and clashed with each other. And for Rebekah's big life mistake, in what "Bernard Walton" in Adventures in Odyssey calls "one of the worst acts of treachery and cheating in the Bible," she used her favorite son, Jacob, to deceive her other son and her husband.
Second Roadblock
As an old man, Isaac sought to give his elder son Esau the best blessing he could before he died. According to custom, only one son could receive such a blessing, and it could not be revoked. When Rebekah learned about it, she convinced Jacob to disguise himself as Esau so that Isaac, who was nearly blind by then, would bless him instead.
Their conspiracy worked! But when Esau discovered it, just a few moments too late, he flew into a rage and vowed to kill his brother after their father passed away. We do not know if Isaac and Esau ever ascertained Rebekah's role in the plot, which is recorded in Genesis 27. Yet we see no change in Isaac's respect toward his bride, even after she deceived him. Consider her request at the end of chapter 27 and Isaac's reply at the beginning of chapter 28.
Rebekah wanted to prevent Esau from killing Jacob, so she asked her husband to send Jacob to live with her brother's family far away. She told Isaac that because their neighbors had a different culture and / or religion, she wanted Jacob to find a wife among her relatives.
Did Isaac appreciate or resent her request? Did he want Jacob to marry from among his own relatives? Did he need Jacob's help with his property or possessions? Did he want Jacob nearby during his last years? Did he fear for Jacob's spiritual growth far from home? Did he fear for Jacob's physical safety? Did he know of Rebekah's trickery? Did he argue with Rebekah over the matter? Did he feel compelled to grant her desire? Did he doubt Rebekah's claim decades earlier, when she was pregnant, that God had told her "the older shall serve the younger"?
Happily Ever After
Genesis answers none of these questions. A "yes" answer to any of them could have embittered Isaac to his wife. A "yes" to all of them could have ended a lesser marriage. And importantly, any "yes" might have been perfectly justifiable for any spouse to offer. But if Isaac wrestled with these or other questions, his answer to his wife's wishes was one of respect.
First, he listened...again. Twenty years into their marriage, Isaac listened to his wife's pleas for children. And probably 40 years later (see the end of Genesis 26), he was still listening. Can you pay attention to someone for 60 years without respecting them? We men might congratulate ourselves for heeding our wives' needs for 60 minutes!
Second, Isaac went all out in fulfilling his bride's request. Note that we still do not actually know if he agreed with her. But in giving her what he wanted, he did not hold back or second guess. Genesis 28 states that he instructed Jacob to do exactly as Rebekah had asked. Then he went the extra mile in re-blessing Jacob. He resolved to remind his son about God once more, while likely re-strengthened himself in God, too (see Psalm 131). As a man, do you feel respected -- as well as appreciated and trusted -- when a coworker does extra work for you with a cheerful attitude? Your wife likely feels the same when you exceed her expectations. At the very least, recall how many extra miles God has tread on our behalf, such as in Romans 5?
Third, Rebekah's last recorded words were those of her petition to her husband. Although she died later, we men would do well to ponder that every chance we get to respect our wives could be our last. Shall our final effort be negative and halfhearted (free tip: those words are synonymous)? Or shall we imitate Isaac? Better still, Romans 8 shows the Trinity pursuing us dramatically all our days. Let us imitate Him!
No comments:
Post a Comment