Genesis 24-27

We read precious little about Isaac in the Scriptures. This passage contains almost all of the details of his life, aside from the time on Mt. Moriah in chapter 22, and the report of his death in chapter 35. What we find out is hardly impressive.

Chapter 24 deals with the finding and bringing back of Rebekah to be Isaac's wife. A nameless servant of Abraham is given the duty, and his specific prayer request is answered as asked. Abraham has apparently heard from God about where to obtain a wife. Either that or he has great confidence that God will approve of finding a wife for Isaac among Abraham's family rather than among the Canaanites.

One of the more interesting characters in chapter 24 is Rebekah's brother, Laban. Of course we know he'll pop up again, but he's already displaying a need to be in charge of the situation.

The servant gave costly gifts to Rebekah, her mother, and to her brother Laban, but not to her father?

It's interesting that we assume the servant is traveling alone until verse 32 when the other men are mentioned, as well as the number of camels.

Abraham's third wife is mentioned briefly in chapter 25. Six more children, but the entire estate went to Isaac. The other children were packed off and sent away from Isaac. At 25:6, the text mentions "concubines." Hagar was a "wife" according the to earlier text, but could it just have been "marital relations"? Keturah is described as a "wife", so I wonder who we're missing. It is possible that Keturah and Hagar are who is meant, but the text as translated is vague.

The twins are born in chapter 25 as well. It's apparent they aren't identical! It's also apparent they won't be getting along well. The account of the birthright seems so odd. How hungry can a person be? If a bowl of stew means that much, then Esau truly did despise his birthright. Of course I wonder what made Jacob think to ask for the birthright in the first place.

In chapter 26, we see Isaac getting the Promise directly from God, as his father had also. Sadly, we read also that Isaac didn't learn from his father's mistakes. Again a patriarch tries the "she's my sister" line to avoid danger, only to narrowly avoid horrible consequences. We also see that Isaac has his father's financial skills, eventually becoming so powerful that he is sent away as too
big of a threat.

At 26:34-35, we read of Esau's two Hittite wives and that "They were a source of grief to Isaac and Rebekah." Certainly an in-law situation is tough, but it seems that these two women really rubbed Isaac and Rebekah the wrong way -- so much so that Rebekah is the one to be sure that Jacob's wife is from the family.

The thievery of the blessing is a well-told story. The deception of Rebekah foreshadows the trickery of her brother, Laban in the next passage. "Let the curse fall on me," says Rebekah when Jacob fears a curse if Isaac discovers the deception. When Jacob brings in the "tasty food" he lies to his father directly three times: "I am Esau, your firstborn," "The Lord your God gave me success," and "I am [really Esau]." The trick is well thought-out, taking into account Esau's hairiness and his scent -- two things a sightless man would instantly recognize. Only the voice is a giveaway, but still Isaac believes his hands and his nose instead of his ears.

The blessing itself seems irrevokable. Isaac cannot take it back, as he admits in 27:33. The cry to "Bless me -- me too, my father!" is heartbreaking in a way, as Esau has nothing left to hope for. Except revenge. The idea of a blessing or a curse seems so foreign to me... especially one that is irrevokable.