-
†. Gen 27:43b-45 . . Flee at once to Haran, to my brother Laban. Stay
with him a while, until your brother's fury subsides— until your
brother's anger against you subsides —and he forgets what you have
done to him. Then I will fetch you from there. Let me not lose you
both in one day!
The word for "fury" is from chemah (khay-maw') and/or chema' (khay
maw') which means: heat. The word for "anger" is from 'aph (af) which
means: the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also
(from the rapid breathing in passion) ire.
(chuckle) Ol' Esau was indeed a passionate man. But his was not the
lingering passion of a scented candle, or of a Yule log, which burn slowly for
a long time. His rage burned more like a tumbleweed; a flashing,
momentary flame that would soon pass. Esau might hold a grudge, but he
wouldn't go on red faced and breathing heavy about it for very long.
Moody, introspective people, often stay upset for long periods of time; which
really exasperates the Esau types who usually get over things quickly. The
Esau types are happy to let personal conflicts blow over and then move on.
But the moody types are always wanting to dredge up unresolved hurts and
argue about them again and again for the Nth time until someone finally
listens.
Some lawsuits, like the one between President Clinton and Paula Jones,
often cannot be settled out of court because personalities like hers want an
admission of guilt and an apology. Money is out of the question, and an
insult to boot, because people like Paula Jones are never satisfied with
anything less than a public hanging.
Knowing Esau's nature, Rebecca figured his rage would pass away quickly
and he would soon return to his typical carefree ways. Unfortunately, it was
past twenty years before Jacob came back home, and there is no record that
he ever saw his mom again.
Rebecca's stratagem was indeed costly, but it could have gone much worse
if Jacob had stayed home. Surely any attempt by Esau to kill Jacob would
have resulted in Esau's death; the Lord protecting Jacob for future use. But I
think Rebecca feared Esau might succeed and then become permanently
alienated from the family like Cain was after killing his brother Abel. So she
would, in effect, lose both boys in one day just as grandma Eve did.
Rebecca— the bright, discreet lass that she was —no doubt had counted all
the costs of her scheme; and believed the issue was vital enough to require
her to do what she did. As a matter of fact, later events proved that she was
correct. Esau did soon get over his rage, and he prospered quite adequately
in a material sense. Jacob never did really lord it over him, which was
probably all Esau really cared about anyway.
Both boys survived this calamitous event: hubby Isaac too. And Jacob went
on to spawn the people of Israel, thus making a line to Messiah; by whom
the Serpent's head would be crushed, and the entire world blessed beyond
measure.
They say all's well that ends well. Maybe. Rebecca's family was fractured,
and she lost the companionship of a really good son. Hers was a sacrifice of
the heart. I would really like to see Rebecca compensated for that some day.
NOTE: There's no record in the Bible of Rebecca fetching Jacob from Haran.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
†. Gen 27:43b-45 . . Flee at once to Haran, to my brother Laban. Stay
with him a while, until your brother's fury subsides— until your
brother's anger against you subsides —and he forgets what you have
done to him. Then I will fetch you from there. Let me not lose you
both in one day!
The word for "fury" is from chemah (khay-maw') and/or chema' (khay
maw') which means: heat. The word for "anger" is from 'aph (af) which
means: the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also
(from the rapid breathing in passion) ire.
(chuckle) Ol' Esau was indeed a passionate man. But his was not the
lingering passion of a scented candle, or of a Yule log, which burn slowly for
a long time. His rage burned more like a tumbleweed; a flashing,
momentary flame that would soon pass. Esau might hold a grudge, but he
wouldn't go on red faced and breathing heavy about it for very long.
Moody, introspective people, often stay upset for long periods of time; which
really exasperates the Esau types who usually get over things quickly. The
Esau types are happy to let personal conflicts blow over and then move on.
But the moody types are always wanting to dredge up unresolved hurts and
argue about them again and again for the Nth time until someone finally
listens.
Some lawsuits, like the one between President Clinton and Paula Jones,
often cannot be settled out of court because personalities like hers want an
admission of guilt and an apology. Money is out of the question, and an
insult to boot, because people like Paula Jones are never satisfied with
anything less than a public hanging.
Knowing Esau's nature, Rebecca figured his rage would pass away quickly
and he would soon return to his typical carefree ways. Unfortunately, it was
past twenty years before Jacob came back home, and there is no record that
he ever saw his mom again.
Rebecca's stratagem was indeed costly, but it could have gone much worse
if Jacob had stayed home. Surely any attempt by Esau to kill Jacob would
have resulted in Esau's death; the Lord protecting Jacob for future use. But I
think Rebecca feared Esau might succeed and then become permanently
alienated from the family like Cain was after killing his brother Abel. So she
would, in effect, lose both boys in one day just as grandma Eve did.
Rebecca— the bright, discreet lass that she was —no doubt had counted all
the costs of her scheme; and believed the issue was vital enough to require
her to do what she did. As a matter of fact, later events proved that she was
correct. Esau did soon get over his rage, and he prospered quite adequately
in a material sense. Jacob never did really lord it over him, which was
probably all Esau really cared about anyway.
Both boys survived this calamitous event: hubby Isaac too. And Jacob went
on to spawn the people of Israel, thus making a line to Messiah; by whom
the Serpent's head would be crushed, and the entire world blessed beyond
measure.
They say all's well that ends well. Maybe. Rebecca's family was fractured,
and she lost the companionship of a really good son. Hers was a sacrifice of
the heart. I would really like to see Rebecca compensated for that some day.
NOTE: There's no record in the Bible of Rebecca fetching Jacob from Haran.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=