JACOB FLEES TO LABAN

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Esau planned to kill his brother Jacob as soon as his father would die and the period of mourning would end.

When Rebekah learned of this, she told Jacob to head for her brother Laban’s home in Haran.

She feared not only that Jacob would be killed but that Esau would run away or be killed in a blood feud, and she would lose two sons at once.

However, to explain Jacob’s departure to Isaac, she said she was afraid Jacob might marry a Hittite, as Esau had done. Jacob expected to return soon, but it was not to be for more than twenty years.

His father would still be living, but his mother would have passed on.

Genesis 27:41-46 KJV

[41] And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.

[42] And these words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah: and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him, Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort himself, purposing to kill thee.

[43] Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; and arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran;

[44] And tarry with him a few days, until thy brother’s fury turn away;

[45] Until thy brother’s anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him: then I will send, and fetch thee from thence: why should I be deprived also of you both in one day?

[46] And Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth: if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these which are of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me?

Genesis 27:41 KJV

And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.

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• Esau bore malice to Jacob on account of the blessing he had obtained.
• Thus he went in the way of Cain, who slew his brother, because he gained that acceptance with God of which he had rendered himself unworthy.
• Esau aimed to prevent Jacob or his seed from having the dominion, by taking away his life. Men may fret at God’s counsels, but cannot change them.

Genesis 27:42 KJV

And these words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah: and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him, Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort himself, purposing to kill thee.

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• To prevent mischief, Rebekah warned Jacob of his danger, and advised him to withdraw for his safety.
• We must not presume too far upon the wisdom and resolution, even of the most hopeful and promising children; but care must be taken to keep them out of the way of evil.
• When reading this chapter, we should not fail to observe, that we must not follow even the best of men further than they act according to the law of God.
• We must not do evil that good may come.
• And though God overruled the bad actions recorded in this chapter, to fulfil his purposes, yet we see his judgment of them, in the painful consequences to all the parties concerned.
• It was the peculiar privilege and advantage of Jacob to convey these spiritual blessings to all nations.
• The Christ, the Saviour of the world, was to be born of some one family; and Jacob’s was preferred to Esau’s, out of the good pleasure of Almighty God, who is certainly the best judge of what is fit, and has an undoubted right to dispense his favours as he sees proper, Romans 9:12-15.

Genesis 27:43 KJV

Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; and arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran;

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• Here again we see Rebekah taking things into her own hands.
• She tells Jacob, “You are going to have to leave home.”
• Little did she know that she would pay for her part in this, her sin.
• We must remember that Jacob is her favorite.

She wants Jacob to go to her brother, Laban, and that is where she will send him.

This is where Jacob is going to learn his lesson.

This is where the chickens will come home to roost.

Old Uncle Laban is going to put him through school and teach him a few things.

Jacob thought he was clever, but Uncle Laban is an expert at cleverness.

Poor Jacob will find he is just an amateur, and he is going to cry out to God in desperation before it is all over.

Genesis 27:44 KJV

And tarry with him a few days, until thy brother’s fury turn away;

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• Notice that she says she will send him away for a few days.

Genesis 27:45 KJV

Until thy brother’s anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him: then I will send, and fetch thee from thence: why should I be deprived also of you both in one day?

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• We can picture the life of Rebekah during those years when we consider that Esau probably did not think much of his mother after that little episode.

Genesis 27:46 KJV

And Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth: if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these which are of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me?

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• She expects Isaac to agree and solve her problem
• Rebekah expected her plan would ensure she kept Jacob by her side.
• But by her plan, she loses her favored son, Jacob.

I hope that you have really enjoyed this post,

 

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