Tag: Isaac

The Word “Love”

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וַיֶּאֱהַ֥ב יַעֲקֹ֖ב אֶת־רָחֵ֑ל וַיֹּ֗אמֶר אֶֽעֱבׇדְךָ֙ שֶׁ֣בַע שָׁנִ֔ים בְּרָחֵ֥ל בִּתְּךָ֖ הַקְּטַנָּֽה׃

Jacob loved Rachel; so he answered, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.”
Genesis 29:18 (The Contemporary Torah, JPS 2006)

Don’t get caught up with this word “love.”

The first two times the word shows up in Genesis, it’s about the love a father has for his son, and the love a man has for his wife.

The next four times it shows up, it’s about how much Isaac loves venison.

When we read that Jacob “loves” Rachel, we don’t need to assume that this is a reflection of the love God has for us.

A Kind of Sickness

Posted on by jovial_cynic
In Genesis 28, when Esau saw that Isaac blessed Jacob and that Isaac was displeased he had taken Canaanite wives, Esau went and took a wife from the family of Ishmael, thinking he might earn his father’s favor back.

His wife’s name is מַחֲלַת (Mahalath), which is linked to music and singing. But the word is actually rooted in “sickness.”

Perhaps this desperate attempt at earning his father’s love is like that; it’s a sickness that cannot be cured by our efforts.

The Intended Blessing

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We know the story of Isaac giving Jacob the blessing instead of giving it to Esau. But do you recall that there are two blessings given to Jacob?

The first is in Genesis 27, where the blessing is primarily about material abundance and position among his brothers, and among the nations:

Now may God give you of the dew of heaven,
And of the fatness of the earth,
And an abundance of grain and new wine;
May peoples serve you,
And nations bow down to you;
Be master of your brothers,
And may your mother’s sons bow down to you.
Cursed be those who curse you,
And blessed be those who bless you.”
Genesis 27:28-29 (NASB)

The second blessing is in Genesis 28, where Isaac pronounces God’s blessing over Jacob. It’s a much bigger blessing. It’s the IMPORTANT one.

May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, so that you may become a multitude of peoples. May He also give you the blessing of Abraham, to you and to your descendants with you, so that you may possess the land where you live as a stranger, which God gave to Abraham.”
Genesis 28:3-4 (NASB)

Here, Isaac is not deceived. He knows exactly who he is giving this blessing to.

So I wonder if Rebekah’s intended deception was unnecessary. Perhaps she was so worried about material possessions and status of her son, she forgot that God had already promised to bless Jacob.

Perhaps Isaac was always going to give this bigger blessing to Jacob.

Your God, not My God

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Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau, your first-born; I have done as you told me. Pray sit up and eat of my game, that you may give me your innermost blessing.”
Genesis 27:19 (The Contemporary Torah, JPS 2006)

The rabbis debate Jacob’s words in Genesis 27:19. Some say he lied, similar to “she is my sister.” Lies about identity is a theme.

But some say the phase can be read, “I am; Esau is your firstborn,” being technically not a lie, but maybe a “good” kind of deception, if there is such a thing.

Isaac said to his son, “How did you succeed so quickly, my son?” And he said, “Because your God יהוהgranted me good fortune.”
Genesis 27:19 (The Contemporary Torah, JPS 2006)

On the other hand, the phrase, “because YOUR God,” in verse 20 may be the key to the story. Jacob has no relationship with God, yet.

His intention isn’t to honor God, so we shouldn’t try to reconcile righteousness and deception. It is only deception at this point in the story.

Honor your Mother and Father

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When Jacob is advised by his mother to deceive his father, we see the singular act of dishonor: Jacob vs his father Isaac. But if Jacob ignored his mother, he would be dishonoring her.

There’s a dilemma we are supposed to notice. How does a righteous son proceed?

I suspect it is easier for Jacob to honor his mother simply because he knew that she loved him. The text clearly states that Rebekah favored him, and that Isaac favored Esau.

Perhaps there is wisdom in this.

Never Thirst Again

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But when Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and found there a well of [a]flowing water.
Genesis 26:19 (NASB)

[a] Lit living water

If it’s true and good, it can be found in Genesis.

When Jesus tells the woman at the well about “Living Water” in John 4:10, this isn’t a new phrase. It comes from Genesis 26.

May you read and understand.

May you never thirst again.

Wells of Living Water

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Now all the wells which his father’s servants had dug in the days of his father Abraham, the Philistines stopped up by filling them with dirt.
Genesis 26:15 (NASB)

One rabbinical teaching: a well is a metaphor for the heart. Abraham digging wells is an allegory of God’s living water flowing within us when one is converted by God into belief.

The Philistines filled the wells with worldliness; dirt is cursed ground.

Then Isaac dug again the wells of water which had been dug in the days of his father Abraham, for the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham; and he gave them the same names which his father had given them.
Genesis 26:18 (NASB)

When Isaac digs the wells, he digs up the same ones that his father had already dug, and gives them the same names that his father did so the same living water could flow.

Isaac resembles Abraham, doing the work of his father so his father’s work is remembered.

Blessing in Famine

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Now Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundred times as much. And the Lord blessed him.
Genesis 26:12 (NASB)

The importance of Genesis 26:12 is only understood in the context of Genesis 26:1.

The text starts off telling us that there is a famine. But also, this blessing doesn’t happen until Isaac tells Abimelech the truth about his wife.