Reflection from Daily Reading, Jan 13th

Yesterday I read the familiar story of Jacob tricking his father Isaac into giving him the blessing that, by all rights, belonged to his elder brother Esau. Esau was, obviously, a bit angry. Genesis 27:41-42 says, “He said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob.” 42 When Rebekah was told what her older son Esau had said, she sent for her younger son Jacob.” Here’s what struck me for the first time: Esau ‘said to himself’ sound like he was carrying on an internal conversation with himself (don’t judge, we all do it). The next verse tells us ‘Rebekah was told what her older son Esau had said.’  If it was an internal conversation, who overheard it and warned Rebekah?  I believe it was the Lord or an angel of the Lord.  The line of promise ran through Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob (Gen 25:23).  Jacob’s scandalous behavior doesn’t negate God’s promise nor God’s protection. That’s good news for all of us! DW