July 27, 2008 -- "Family"

“A Pillow Unlike Any Other”


Isaac and Rebekah tried to have children, without success, for 19 years. Isaac prayed fervently during that time, and his request was finally granted. At the age of 60, Isaac became a dad – not of a single son but of twin boys. But trouble was brewing even before the births. Their twins, Esau and Isaac, fought in the womb – so much so that Rebekah asked God, “Why is this happening to me?” (Gen. 25:22). God’s reply: “you have two nations in your womb; they shall be divided; one will be stronger than the other, and the eldest will serve the youngest” (25:23). Esau emerged first, Jacob right behind him holding firmly onto his heel.

Isaac and Rebekah did not help matters, as they each had their favorite – Esau was favored by Isaac – Jacob by Rebekah. It was not hard to see why. Esau was active, loved the outdoors and was a skilled hunter, and as such, gained an immediate bond with his Father. Isaac was a homebody and a mama’s boy, as such, Rebekah favored him.

Do any of you feel that there was a favorite amongst your siblings? How did that make you feel? Do or did any of you favor one child over another? I imagine that you are well aware of the trouble that may follow. I have a friend who took a different approach. He had two daughters, and he would, from time to time, whisper in ach of their ears, “You’re my favorite.” They turned out pretty good, too.

The story begins to take its prophetic route very quickly. The bible skips their childhood and relates a story of youth. One day Esau came home from the hunt starving. He found his brother in the kitchen cooking soup. Esau asked him for some; Jacob replied, “It’s all yours; just trade me your inheritance.” Esau was so overwhelmed by his hunger that he seemed to fear for his life. He reasoned, “If I die of starvation, what good is my inheritance to me. OK.” Jacob made Esau swear an oath. He did. It was a done deal.

Jacob took unfair advantage of his brother –playing the hunger card in order to manipulate Esau. Jacob was not content to be second. He in effect bargained to become the first born (this was the heart of the jealousy). Esau was more concerned about his immediate gratification than a lifetime of trouble. By the way, later in Israel’s history, it became illegal for the eldest son to sell a birthright to anyone else.

The story is not over yet. Isaac was fading. He realized that he must give his fatherly blessing to his oldest son before he would be too old to do it. This would consummate the role of Esau as family leader. Before the ceremony, he asked his favorite son to hunt down some fresh game and to prepare a dish for his dad. Rebekah overheard. She told Jacob to get two young goats from the family heard. She would prepare a conunterfeit dish and deceive her husband into giving his blessing to the youngest. What a family!

Jacob objected, “But if father touches me he will know that it is I and not Esau, for Esau is a hairy man and I smooth. Then Father will curse me.” Rebekah retored, “Then let the curse be on me. Do as I say.” Jacob went after the goats. Mom prepared the meal, and she tied the goat skins onto Jacob’s neck and arms.

Jacob went to Isaac dressed in Esau’s clothes, identified himself as Esau, and served his father the meal. Isaac asked him how he was able to get the game so quick. Jacob said, “The Lord your God put it in my path.” That was a stretch of the truth at best! Isaac called him closer, “Are you really my son, Esau?” Isaac touched him and felt his hairy arm, then replied, “You sound like Jacob, but your arm is hairy like Esau.” So, Isaac prepared to bless him, but asked one more time, “Are you really Esau?” Jacob said yes. Lie #2.

Isaac asked for his food and some wine. After he ate and drank, he called Jacob closer and asked him to kiss him. Isaac was going blind, but his sense of smell still worked well. When Jacob drew close, he noticed the smell of Esaus’s clothes which smelled like the outdoors. He was finally convinced and offered Jacob the blessing due Esau.

From the dew of the heaven and the richness of the earth, may God always give you abundant harvests of grain and bountiful new wine. May many nations become your servants, and may they bow down to you. May you be the master over your brothers, and may your mother’s sons bow down to you. All who curse you will be cursed, and all who bless you will be blessed. (27:28-29)

Almost before Jacob left the room, Esau returned from the hunt with wild game. He had prepared the food for his father and went in to serve him saying, “Father, sit up. Here is the food you asked for. I am ready for your blessing.” Isaac asked him, “Who are you?” Esau responded, “It is I, your first born, your son Esau.” Isaac began to shake uncontrollably. He must have been barely able to speak, “Then who just served me the food? I have already eaten it, and I blessed him before you came in. The blessing must stand.”

Esau uttered a loud and bitter cry. You can hear the anguish in the words, “Oh Father, what about me? Bless me, too!”

Isaac, no doubt with much sadness replied, “Your brother was here. He tricked me. He has taken away your blessing.” Esau pleaded, “Don’t you have even one blessing for me, Father? Just one?” Esau, a broken man, wept.

Finally, Isaac spoke:

You will live away from the richness of the earth, and away from the dew of the heaven above. You will live by the sword, and you will serve your brother. But when you decide to break free, you will shake his yoke from your neck. (27:39-40)

From that time on, the Bible says, Esau hated his brother Jacob. He began to plot his brother’s death. Rebekah got wind of Esau’s plans and decided that Jacob should go to live with her brother Laban. She figured that she could send for Jacob once Esau cooled off. Rebekah, knowing that Isaac must approve, Rebekah complained bitterly about the local non-Israelite women. Isaac called Jacob, blessed him again, and sent him to his Uncle Laban’s to find a wife.

Esau heard the news. He found out that his father did not approve of the local ladies, some of whom Esau had already married. So, in what must have been an attempt to gain his Father’s favor, he visited his Uncle Ishmael and married one of his daughters. Ishmael was Abraham’s first son, born of Sarah’s handmaid Hagar. Isaac was Abraham’s second son, born of his wife Sarah. The Muslim people descend from Ishmael. Esau, married Ishmael’s daughter. The family feud goes back millennia and is still being fought today.

This infamous background brings us up to today’s passage.

Genesis 28:10-19a
Jacob left Beer-sheba and went toward Haran. He came to a certain place and stayed there for the night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place. And he dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth, the top of it reaching to heaven; and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.

And the LORD stood beside him and said, "I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring; and your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you and in your offspring.
Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."

Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, "Surely the LORD is in this place--and I did not know it!" And he was afraid, and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven."

So Jacob rose early in the morning, and he took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it. He called that place Bethel;

What does this story tell us? First and foremost: prayer matters! Isaac spent 19 years committed in prayer for a legacy, backed by the promise to his Father that his descendants would be great. Let’s remind ourselves what prayer is; it is an intimate conversation with God that draws us close to our Maker. It changes things – primarily us!

Second, God always comes through! God always keeps His promises! God can not be outdone. His purpose will be fulfilled. His promises are everlasting. What God says, God will do. Here are some great promises in the Holy Bible:

1. God has promised to supply every need we have. The Bible says: "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" Phillipians 4:19. Now notice, God has obligated Himself only to the extent of our needs. That would include food, clothing, shelter, companionship, love, and salvation thru Jesus Christ. It would not include the multiplicity of luxuries that we have come to think of as needs.

2. God has promised that His grace is sufficient for us. (II Corinthians 12:9).

3. God has promised that His children will not be overtaken with temptation. Instead, He assures us that a way of escape will be provided. This promise is recorded in I Corinthians 10:13.

4. God has promised us victory over death. God has promised us that if we trust in Christ Jesus, we will be saved and live forever in heaven.

5. God has promised that all things work together for good to those who love and serve Him faithfully (Romans 8:28). It is better to live in the promises of God than to have the very best material pleasure. Every earthly pleasure is momentary. God’s promises are eternal. Jacob learned this the hard way. He almost died an early death because of it. God offered Jacob a restart. God does the same for us.

Jacob marked the fresh start with a pillow unlike any other. He stood the rock that was his pillow on end, poured oil upon it, and named the place House of God, changing its name, for it was called Luz. The rock became a memorial – commemorating that place where his life changed. He even pledged to make that place a permanent place for worshiping God. He also agreed to present to God 10% of everything he gave him.

What about you? Do you need a fresh start today? Set up your stone. Mark the day as a day of new beginning. God is great in providing such occasions. Don’t miss them. Every Sunday is such a day. Build your altar. Take advantage of this altar. Come and worship. Give God your past. Give him your hurts and fears. Let him give you a fresh start.

Third, human weaknesses help prove the power of God! Divine will, not human ability, is responsible for the fulfillment of God’s purposes. This theme plays over again and again in the Bible. That is good news, you see, because we are all intended to be vessels of God – no matter how pitiful we may be! God is great, and that is lesson number 1.

Fourth: Jealousy brings a whole pack of trouble with it. Isaac and Rebkah were jealous for attention because they both put their children first even before the nurture of their marriage. By picking favorites, Isaac and Rebekah further alienated themselves with each other and even alienated their children. Jealousy drove Jacob to cheat and lie and Esau to plan a murder.

Fifth: Sin can be handed down from one generation to the next. Great efforts are needed in identifying it and eradicating it!

Isaac must have heard about his brother Ishmael and the complaints of his mother about him and Hagar. He must have felt the hurt this father felt over the son he sent away. Somewhere along the line, Isaac learned that looking out for himself was number one. He told a lie about his wife Rebekah, calling her his sister, in order to protect himself from men whom he feared would kill him to take his wife. Rebekah had great beauty. Isaac was afraid that her beauty would cost him his life. Jacob was not the strong, protective type, it would seem. I can’t help but wonder if Rebekah ever forgave his lack of concern for her. Maybe this even fueld her dinner deception. In addition, naming his wife his sister almost created a situation where Rebekah was taken by another man to be his wife. That would have created dishonor for both Rebekah and her suitor. Those events must have haunted Isaac and Rebekah’s relationship for years. When the boys came along, things may not have been all that good between Mom and Dad. Little wonder then, that the boys were more than a handful.

Last, parents, find a way to bless all of your children equally. There are some blessings even better than physical ones: leading your child to Christ (my Dad led me to Christ), honor their mother or father, be as impartial as possible, check your critical spirit at the door, and, just be there!

God is there for us! God supports us in the comfort of His pillow – a pillow unlike any other!