“Genesis 28:6-9”

Friday, January 31, 2020

“Now Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Paddan-aram to take to himself a wife from there, and that when he blessed him he charged him, saying, 'You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan,' and that Jacob had obeyed his father and his mother and had gone to Paddan-aram. So Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan displeased his father Isaac; and Esau went to Ishmael, and married, besides the wives that he had, Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, the sister of Nebaioth.”

---End of Scripture verses---

“The account of Jacob's flight from home suddenly breaks off, and a note about Esau's marriage follows. This note acts as a literary device that slows the pace of the narrative. It also has another function. In the same way that mention of Esau's Hittite wives preceded the story of Jacob's purloining the paternal blessing, so the report of Esau's further marriage, this time to a daughter of Israel, concludes it. The entire episode is thus provided with a literary framework.” (Nahum Sarna)

“Now Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Paddan-aram to take to himself a wife from there...” (verse 6) Esau made a connection between the blessing given to his brother and his choosing a wife from among his own kinsmen.” It finally dawned upon the elder brother that his marriage to “the daughters of Canaan displeased his father Isaac” (verse 8). It is hard to fathom that Isaac had not related this critical information to his favorite son time and again, so, unless Isaac had just been overly indulgent and permissive because of his great affection for him, Esau's decision to now marry within the clan was a completely self-serving move.

“Esau went to Ishmael, and married, besides the wives that he had, Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, the sister of Nebaioth.” (verse 9) While this may have seemed to Esau like a logical and beneficial thing to do under the circumstances, it no doubt introduced more problems than blessings into his already volatile life. In addition to of all his other troubles, he had now become a serial polygamist. Since Mahalath is not mentioned among Esau's wives recorded in Genesis 36:1-3, she is more than likely one in the same with Basemath. It is also said of her that she was “Ishmael’s daughter, the sister of Nebaioth” (Genesis 36:3).

“Jacob...obeyed his father and his mother...” (verse 7) For all of his weaknesses and shortcomings, this important character trait worked greatly in Jacob's favor. He obeyed his mom and dad. While it is true that he had shamelessly deceived his own father at the behest of his manipulative mother, he was largely an obedient son. If we fail to learn the importance of obeying our earthly parents, it is highly likely that we will never see the value and necessity of giving our heavenly Father the respect, submission and reverence that He so greatly deserves and demands. Jacob grew to be a great man of faith, and his deference to his parents proved to be strong underpinnings for that eventuality.

“Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord.” (Colossians 3:20) “My son, observe the commandment of your father and do not forsake the teaching of your mother.” (Proverbs 6:20) “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.” (Ephesians 6:1-3) “Listen to your father who begot you, and do not despise your mother when she is old.” (Proverbs 23:22)

Please read Genesis 28:10-17 for tomorrow.

Have a blessed day!

- Louie Taylor

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