Author : William Stewart
reprinted from “…And They Shall Become One Flesh”
available on Amazon.com in Kindle format.
So the boys grew. And Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field; but Jacob was a mild man, dwelling in tents. And Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob (Genesis 25:27-28).
Dealing With Changes
“Who is this man walking in the field to meet us?” This was Rebekah’s question for Abraham’s servant (Genesis 24:65) as they came near the end of their journey. It was Isaac, soon to be her husband. The marital relationship is full of changes, the least of which for Isaac and Rebekah included the fact that they’d not met before the time of their marriage (Genesis 24:66-67).
Rebekah, like her deceased mother-in-law, was barren. Therefore, “Isaac pleaded with the LORD for his wife… and the LORD granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived. (Genesis 25:21)
More changes were on the horizon, as children would be added to their family. Later, due to a famine in the land, Isaac and Rebekah moved to Gerar. This would bring with it new challenges and circumstances. Then, eventually, they would be faced with the time for their children to leave home. The one constant in life is change.
Breaking The Cycle
When Isaac and Rebekah went to Gerar, the men of that place asked about Rebekah. Isaac said, “She is my sister” (Genesis 26:7). Abimelech saw Isaac showing endearment to Rebekah (Genesis 26:8-9), and rebuked him for deceiving them. Years before, his father had done the same thing when the land of Canaan was in a famine. Abraham came to Abimelech (presumably the father of the man in Isaac’s generation), king of Gerar, and claimed that Sarah was his sister (Genesis 20:2).
Children often repeat what they see in their parents. Isaac, faced with the same situation as Abraham, did the exact same thing that Abraham did. Good examples invite imitation; bad examples tempt and enslave when followed. The cycle needs to be broken.
Favoritism And Its Fruit
Who is your favorite child? It is a question that invites trouble; especially if it is indulged with an answer. Every child is different, having their own unique personality. Parents are duty-bound to cherish and encourage all their children equally. Not necessarily in the same way (different personalities may require different approaches), but all children are to be loved equally. To do otherwise is to cause problems in your family now, and invite problems even through future generations.
We’re told that Isaac favored Esau and Rebekah favored Jacob. These preferences would lead to a myriad of troubles between the brothers and their parents. Esau took wives for himself that displeased his parents (Genesis 26:34-35). Rebekah conspired with Jacob to steal Esau’s blessing from Isaac (Genesis 27:5-17), which led Esau to despise his brother, even unto death (Genesis 27:41-45). Esau, seeing that his parents were pleased with Jacob, for he was not going to take a wife from the Canaanites, attempted to redeem himself in their eyes by marrying a daughter of Ishmael (Genesis 28:6-9). We see a family in turmoil, part of which was caused by favoritism. Eventually, we see that Jacob would repeat the same with his own children, favoring Joseph above the rest, bringing much tension and trouble to his home also.
Example Of Diligence
During Isaac’s days in Gerar and the surrounding regions, he was a busy man, working to care for his family, servants, flocks and herds. We are told that the Philistines had stopped up the wells that Abraham had dug years before, and so Isaac busied himself reopening the wells of his father (Genesis 26:18). In addition, he initiated the digging of other wells in the region (Genesis 26:19, 21-22, 32).
It is important that fathers and mothers lead exemplary lives for their children to imitate. Isaac showed himself to be a hard worker. As important as demonstrating good work ethic is, it is likewise important that parents demonstrate their love for God and His will before their children (Ephesians 6:1-4; Titus 2:3-5).
Wise Solomon wrote:
My son, keep your father’s command, and do not forsake the law of your mother. Bind them continually upon your heart; tie them around your neck. When you roam, they will lead you; when you sleep, they will keep you; and when you awake, they will speak with you (Proverbs 6:20-22).
