Sent Away For His Safety

Genesis 27:41-28:5

“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.” (Genesis 27:41)

Esau had counted his birthright, God’s promises as of little value initially and had traded them off for immediate pleasure. Like most people who focus on their desires and feelings, later he regretted his decision but it had been his choice. When Jacob took the blessing by trickery, however, the sense of having been taken advantage of was renewed and anger resulted. After hearing what the blessing entailed, that his family would be subject to Jacob’s, it turned to hatred.

His father’s concern about his impending death convinced Esau that it would be soon and he decided to wait until his father was dead before killing Jacob. He didn’t realize that the focus on death was primarily a result of depression and that Isaac would live more than twenty five more years. In his frustration, he told someone his plans.

“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. Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; and arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran; And tarry with him a few days, until thy brother's fury turn away; 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?” (Genesis 27:42-45)

Esau’s plan was overheard and repeated to Rebekah, and she took action to protect Jacob, sending him to stay with her brother near Haran, in present day Syria until esau would forget about his anger. Fortunately Esau was not one who held grudges forever, and would eventually forget, although while angry, he would willingly kill someone.

“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 27:46)

Rather than telling Isaac openly what was going on, Rebekah again used trickery to manipulate Isaac. It was a trait she had learned from her family, as we see later, and Jacob had learned it from her. The attitude will be very hard to eradicate.

Both Isaac and Rebekah had been upset by Esau’s marriages to Hittite women, and the conflict had only worsened. Rebekah told Isaac that if Jacob marries one of them, her efforts to teach her children properly will have been wasted. If Jacob stays in the area, he is unlikely to meet any suitable girls. After all, they had had to send to Haran to find her for Isaac.

“And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan. Arise, go to Padanaram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother's father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother. And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people; And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham.” (Genesis 28:1-4)

Like most people who develop the habit of manipulating others, Rebekah didn’t realize she didn’t need to do so. Manipulation implies only the manipulator is capable of making good decisions, and is very degrading. Isaac was already concerned that if Jacob was to receive the promises God had made, he would need a wife who would teach his children to follow God’s commands. He may well have been holding off suggesting it simply because he suspected she would resist the idea. When it was suggested, he wasted no time sending Jacob on his way, reminding him of the birthright and God’s promises.

“And Isaac sent away Jacob: and he went to Padanaram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother.” (Genesis 28:5)

Like Abraham had done with his servant, Isaac sent Jacob to the area of Haran, to the city of Padanaram, where Rebekah’s family lived. Their attitudes were at least familiar and there was a familial incentive to help him find a proper mate. Rebekah probably never admitted it was her effort to manipulate Isaac into blessing Jacob that caused Esau’s hatred. Most manipulative people never recognize the effects of their actions, looking only at the immediate results.