Gods Sabbath

T HE B ATTLE FOR THE B IRTHRIGHT

175

“Now then, get your weapons—your quiver and bow—and go out to the open country to hunt some wild game for me. Prepare me the kind of tasty food I like and bring it to me to eat, so that I may give you my blessing before I die.” Genesis 27:3–4. Isaac was definitely in the wrong for taking these steps. While Esau was, in fact, the older, and from this point of view entitled to the birthright, he had totally disqualified himself for it by the way in which he lived. His marriage to his two heathen wives had provided conclusive evidence of his attitude to the Lord’s work. But the patriarch had permitted his emotions to rule over his reason, confirming his determination to give the birthright to his godless son. Isaac trusted to his feelings instead of allow ing God His way. Because of her intense love for Jacob, Rebekah desired him to have the birthright, but there appears to be a stronger motive driving her. Like Sarah, Abraham, and her own beloved hus band, Isaac, she loved the cause of God and desired nothing more than its prosperity. Furthermore, she feared for her hus band who was in danger of incurring the divine displeasure. These are fine qualities in Rebekah which led her to react as she did, but while the motivation was above reproach, the actions which resulted from it were entirely wrong. When the anxious mother heard Isaac instructing their elder son, she knew that the critical hour had arrived and that she must do something. Before her were two possibilities. The first was to fall for the temptation to take over the role of problem solver herself, which is the course she chose. The second possibility was to recognize God as the only Prob lem Solver to whom she should turn, and thus commit the entire matter into His hands, being very careful to avoid forming any solutions or making any plans herself. She had God’s promise that Jacob would be the heir, and it was her privilege to rest in that word. Her responsibility was to claim the promise, surren der the problem into God’s hands, and then calmly wait for Him to accomplish what He had assured her He would do. If there Rebekah’s Mistake