An Excerpt
Rebekah was listening while Isaac spoke to his son Esau. Genesis 27:5
In the next few weeks I will publish a book on the story of Jacob. This is an excerpt from one of the chapters.
Isaac’s life is one of spiritual weakness. In the face of God, Isaac wilts. He is powerless. He doesn’t argue. He doesn’t protest. He doesn’t debate. He is not his father Abraham. What does Isaac do? He runs! But in his son Esau, Isaac finds vicarious power. The power to act as his own man, to be victorious over enemies. To fight back! Esau is Isaac as Isaac wished to be.
It’s not surprising that he marries a woman who also believes in power. Not the power of men. Not spears and swords and physical combat, but another kind of power—the power to manipulate. The power to stand before God and argue. The power of purpose. Rebekah is a woman who knows her own mind, a woman connected to something greater than herself, just as her father-in-law was connected to a purpose greater than himself. Isaac sees in his wife something he must have admired in his father but could not come to believe about himself—the power to obey and to question God.
Schorsch’s comment is helpful.
But the real hero of this ancestral saga is Rebekah, who displays an unfailing religious sensibility throughout. Her quick acceptance of the invitation to marry Isaac from a total stranger bespeaks a full awareness of God’s hand in the remarkable events at the well (Gen. 24:58). In the midst of a difficult pregnancy, with twins in her womb, she turns to inquire of God herself, without benefit of any intermediary (Gen. 25:22). And Rebekah rises to protect Jacob because she alone senses that religious leadership in the family ought not to be the exclusive prerogative of the first-born son. Her advocacy marks a brave first step toward opening the ranks of religious leadership to all who are religiously qualified.[1]
Schorsch’s conclusion that “the divinely guided history of Abraham’s clan is predetermined and quite indifferent to individual virtue or suffering,” reflects Isaac’s conclusion. God’s purposes are fait accompli. You might as well live as best you can since there is nothing you can do about what God does. But this isn’t Rebekah! Rebekah determines that if her husband will not align himself with God’s greater purposes, then she will make sure the eternal plan happens. She knows Jacob is the chosen one. Surely she communicated this to her husband. But he seems determined to avoid God’s calling. So she seizes the opportunity to force it. Rebekah is Sarah without Hagar. Her method is deception, not temptation.
Sarah knew the purpose of God. In her zeal to see God’s promise fulfilled, she determined to assist the plan by creating a human solution to a divine problem. Hagar, the fruit offered to Abraham, was simply the means for Sarah to attain what God promised without God. The pattern set in motion by Havvah is repeated by Sarah and passed to Rebekah. God needs help. Strong women are called to act. The ‘ezer kenegdo[2] is designed to direct a husband in the path God chooses. The line between God’s way and another way to reach the same end is a delicate one, as Havvah discovered. But the temptation is always there. The ‘ezer kenedgo sees what God wants. The ‘ezer kenegdo is designed to know how to accomplish that end. But the path is always lined with the temptations of human solutions instead of trust in YHVH. For a woman who knows what to do, the detour appears to be a sure way to reach the objective.
Rebekah knows Jacob is the one, so she determines to make sure Jacob receives the blessing. We often view Rebekah’s instructions as deceit and conspiracy, but that overlooks the conviction that God’s hand will be served in her actions. From Rebekah’s point of view, Isaac is about to undo what God wants done. How should she respond? Is it reasonable to suggest she should confront Isaac, insist that he alter his intention and align himself with God’s choice? She has lived with the man for decades—decades of spiritual avoidance and vicarious power. Does she have any grounds for believing that he will, at this apparently last moment, alter his life choice? The fact that his second blessing hints at some spiritual reconciliation is not in play here. Rebekah follows what she believes God desires. Her only “sin” is avoiding confrontation with her entrenched husband. Perhaps we can find that one excusable.
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Of course, this part of the story forces us into an ethical dilemma. Should we lie to accomplish God’s will? Should we deceive in order to fulfill His desire? Perhaps our Western ethical categories are not sufficient to capture the ambiguity that surrounds Semitic spirituality. We want an absolute ethics, one that gives us precise behavioral directions. We want an ethical code that relieves us of personal responsibility. But the truth is that life comes in all kinds of colors and gray is one of the predominant ones. It is often virtually impossible to tell what to do when it is time to do something. The fact that the story does not condemn Rebekah, or even Jacob, is some indication that there is a lot more flexibility in the fuzzy math of Semitic observance. Today’s world pushes us toward insistence on certainty, but perhaps that is simply a reaction to the fear and shame we have ingested in a world distinctly devoid of the awareness of God. Perhaps we need to be certain so that we can justify our actions instead of feeling our relationships. A therapist might encourage Rebekah to engage her husband in early childhood trauma resolution. A counselor might discuss alternatives to deceit. But in the moment of crisis, when it looks like the eternal plan will be put at risk, human beings tend to take the eternal burden on themselves and act in God’s place. We might question Rebekah and Jacob in hindsight, but it is more than likely that we would have done the same. Therapy is usually an after-the-fact analysis.
Rebekah is the spiritual head of this home. She listens to the Lord despite the spiritual vacuum in her husband. Are we to condemn her for this? Or are we encouraged to see a woman who uses her strength to construct a solution to a very pressing concern? What does the ‘ezer kenegdo do when her man refuses the clear calling of God? We might be inclined to treat Rebekah with some degree of equivocation. We don’t want to endorse her duplicity but it is obvious that God used her actions to further His plans. That leaves us in a quandary—right where we are supposed to be. Answers to life’s real tensions are not always black and white.
Topical Index: Genesis 27:5, Rebekah, Isaac, Jacob, Esau, ‘ezer kenegdo, ethics
[1] https://www.jtsa.edu/prebuilt/ParashahArchives/5754/toldot.shtml
[2] ezer kenegdo is the Hebrew phrase used by YHVH to describe the design and role of the woman in Genesis 2. It is a role of power, spiritual sensitivity and guidance. I have explored and elaborated this role in my book, Guardian Angel.
God isn’t that small. Of course He would have marvelously worked out His will if Rebekah had not interfered. God doesn’t need our manipulation to achieve His plans! Rebekah portrays a controlling woman who lacks faith in God. Such a woman almost always resorts to manipulation which has hundreds of different faces (from being super sweet, generous, helpful to being a raging lunatic), and when she is unsuccessful in her attempts to control, she will either resort to force or she will feel hopeless and trapped which leads to depression. These are the two things mentioned yesterday. “And what you do about it now can add to the load. You can have ‘double trouble.’ All it takes is the two things Paul notices in Romans 1: failure to acknowledge the sovereignty of God and ungratefulness. Here is the mathematics of trouble.” Manipulation and force are woman’s display of her failure to acknowledge the sovereignty of God, and depression is her display of lack of acceptance which is ungratefulness. Lying is an example of lack of trust in God, and it is primarily grounded in fear of consequences. We’re either afraid we’re not going to get what we want (so we lie) or we’re afraid we’re not going to keep what we have (so we lie). Rather than allowing God to be our provider and sustainer, we attempt to control the outcome by lying which is one of those hundreds of different faces of manipulation I mentioned earlier.
Perhaps you are a bit too hard on Rebekah. She is dealing with a lot more than simply a lack of faith in God’s sovereignty. Yes, she repeats a previous pattern of intervention, but the story (which is in the new book) is much richer and much more complicated. It’s nice to think that all we need is more faith in YHVH, but human experience says we often think that means acting on His behalf. Read the book when it comes out and let me know what you think.
Dear Skip,
I thank you for bringing to us this ‘ezer kenegdo’ concept and for devoting a whole book to elaborating on it.
When I first met my husband, Michael (through this blog), his expectations of me was influenced by many teachings contained in this concept. Oy vey!! So, I ‘quickly’ read the book but complained that you never spoke of the expectation of the man! Of course that expectation is well-documented in the Covenant Writings. But, being a strong-headed woman, and in many ways spoilt really – being accustomed to having my own way, I appreciated the concept yet absolutely resisted it. However, I had several negative traits in my character to confront and dismantle before I would have the right disposition to ‘ezer’ my husband. Yah suffered long with us as we ‘tormented’ each other… gradually learning to walk in the love and respect for each other which we had to learn. [You see, we got married as strangers following a Isaac-Rebecca pattern, but missing several cultural underpinnings!] Today we have come a far way and I have had the joy of seeing Michael respond to counsel I give that has brought blessing to him and to us. Of course he has had his battles too, but praises to Yah, we are growing in love and embarking on another phase in our life together.
This very day Michael leaves Florida, where he has been for the past 15 years, for Kentucky, (adjoining his home state of Indiana and closer to his 8 children and 20 grandchildren), where we are looking to settle. I hope to join him from my old home in Jamaica to our new home in Kentucky. We feel a little like Abram and Sarai… but are trusting Abraham’s God to direct our course. For both of us, this community has been our virtual home. We appreciate you. Thanks Skip and thanks to you all!
Arnella, your personal life story sounds fascinating. I hope you are keeping a written record of it. I wonder if we all might learn something useful for our own lives, from your story. Blessings to you!
Thank you Gayle! Yes, fascinating and challenging…
We have come into a lot of changes but only after a lot of pain and disappointment for both Michael and me.
We each had our notions of what we wanted, we each had to learn to die (a process indeed – perhaps never ending), while clinging to Yah’s faithfulness as we allowed Him to turn the spotlight on each of us. We each wanted to run away many times, afraid of what we saw in each other! We are where we are because of Yah’s chesed and forbearance, but also because of our fear, reverence and acknowledgment of Yah as we could see Him at work in each individual’s life and in our changing behavior (for the better!) toward each other. This constrained us and prevented us from ‘deciding’ to ‘throw in the towel’. I had to overcome distrust but also KNEW I needed a close relationship such as marriage to help me see myself and save me from self deception; Michael REALIZED he needed to overcome ‘somethings’ in himself, after two failed marriages and the possibility of a third. It has been perhaps Yah carrying us more than we being faithful… until He began getting results by way of helping us see the particulars in ourselves, leading to confession and repentance; bringing about changed hearts, dispositions, paradigms… After 4 years and 4 months, we are still on the journey and JUST beginning to have shalom in it.
Written records? We have some forthright letters! But I still need to do some recording. Thanks for the encouragement. In the meantime I’ll be happy to share with you or anyone else from my personal life and experiences. Thankfully, life is no one-way street since as a body we grow by learning from each other. I may be contacted at 4arose3@gmail.com
Thoughtful and thought provoking as usual! Looking forward to your new book.
We see God’s grace and mercy in that he continues to keep covenant and work with these very flawed people. But I feel like we see his justice in that Jacob himself was later deceived by Laban, and the whole experience seems to soften him toward Esau, who he himself deceived, ultimately setting the scene for their reconciliation. Some might call that “karma”. But if you believe in the sovereignty of God… what better way to teach Jacob how it feels to be deceived?
“What does the ‘ezer kenegdo do when her man refuses the clear calling of God?”
I have never seen a portion of scripture that (convincingly) gives the answer for this question.
I am grateful that I am disinclined to do what Sarai did or what Rebekah did, and enable the lies of a husband who acted cowardly. And the silence of Adam, was it a lie or not? I find this to be the “bottom line” of so many issues. Facing the truth, and dealing with it openly, or pretending that if we don’t talk about it, the problem will go away.
I fear self deception.
As I have mentioned on this blog, the story is far more complicated than what we read in the translated text. With most Hebrew stories, the plot lies between in the lines. I’m afraid that we as humans spend a lot of time in the gray spaces but keep pretending that life is black or white.
Your comment reminds me of my philosophy professor. Actually, it is probably the only thing from that class that stayed with me. He warned us to be very careful of what he called “light-switch mentality”, i.e., seeing things as either “on” or “off”, black or white, as he believed that the world is a wonderful shade of gray.
So commentaries we read and the opinions we share are the gray?
Yes or no?
😉
Maybe 🙂
Flashbacks to Israel trip!
I think we only received ONE definitive yes or no answer in spite of all the pointed questions.
Obviously, our questions needed reforming.
I’m in to gray more these days.
Can’t wait to read the book!
Adam lied about touching the fruit
Abraham kind of lied about Sarah being his sister
Naomi kept quiet about a kinsmen redeemer
Jacob and David did a more than just lying
Rachel sat quietly on Laban’s idol
the 10 Brothers did their bit of concealing the truth
Joseph lied about the cup being stolen –
and Peter also had a hick-up or 3
and the consequence of each situation is different
I think we tend to think that gray equals “lukewarm”
May I offer some thoughts? Here I go anyway: “Isaac’s life is …”
There is a lot of context here.
Ribqah was probably used to getting her way because of her beauty (and as her name indicates). Elevating her to a role of … may be reading too much into the text. She was assertive and know the drill (cultural protocol) as can be seen by her formally and sovereignly proclaiming married status: “… And she took her veil, and covered herself (25:65).
Yitzachak, a miraculous conception, born into destiny, luxury and riches. And protected: when his half brother fondled (Yitzachaked) him, both mother and child were banished.
What need was there for him to argue, protest or debate. Life was a laugh and even when he was offered for atonement it did not phase him. A grown man of about 37, he supported his father beyound human understanding:
“And Abraham answered his son Isaac, saying, YHWH has made choice of thee my son, to be a perfect burnt offering instead of the lamb. And Isaac said unto his father, I will do all that YHWH spoke to thee with joy and cheerfulness of heart. And Abraham again said unto Isaac his son, Is there in thy heart any thought or counsel concerning this, which is not proper? tell me my son, I pray thee, O my son conceal it not from me. And Isaac answered his father Abraham and said unto him, O my father, as YHWH liveth and as thy soul liveth, there is nothing in my heart to cause me to deviate either to the right or to the left from the word that he has spoken to thee. Neither limb nor muscle has moved or stirred at this, nor is there in my heart any thought or evil counsel concerning this. But I am of joyful and cheerful heart in this matter, and I say, Blessed is YHWH who has this day chosen me to be a burnt offering before Him… And Abraham approached to build the altar in that place, and Abraham was weeping, and Isaac took stones and mortar until they had finished building the altar… And he took his son Isaac and bound him in order to place him upon the wood which was upon the altar, to slay him for a burnt offering before YHWH. And Isaac said to his father, Bind me securely and then place me upon the altar LEST I SHOULD TURN AND MOVE, AND BREAK LOOSE FROM THE FORCE OF THE KNIFE UPON MY FLESH and thereof profane the burnt offering; and Abraham did so. And Isaac still said to his father, O my father, when thou shalt have slain me and burnt me for an offering, take with thee that which shall remain of my ashes to bring to Sarah my mother, and say to her, This is the sweet smelling savor of Isaac; but do not tell her this if she should sit near a well or upon any high place, lest she should cast her soul after me and die. And Abraham heard the words of Isaac, and he lifted up his voice and wept when Isaac spake these words; and Abraham’s tears gushed down upon Isaac his son, and Isaac wept bitterly, and he said to his father, HASTEN THOU, O MY FATHER, AND DO WITH ME THE WILL OF YHWH OUR ELOHIM AS HE HAS COMMANDED THEE. And the hearts of Abraham and Isaac rejoiced at this thing which YHWH had commanded them; but the eye wept bitterly whilst the heart rejoiced. And Abraham bound his son Isaac, and placed him on the altar upon the wood, and ISAAC STRETCHED FORTH HIS NECK UPON THE ALTAR BEFORE HIS FATHER, and Abraham stretched forth his hand to take the knife to slay his son as a burnt offering before YHWH. (Yasher 23:51-65)
Is this the conduct of one of spiritual weakness; who wilts in the face of God; who is powerless; who runs; who needs vicarious power.
I contend that his understanding and observance surpassed that of his father Abraham. Therefore he rescued and empowered his father to succeed in the test, and in addition irrevocably secured the Covenant for all mankind (!): “ By Myself have I sworn, says YHWH, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son: That in blessing, I will bless you, and in multiplying, I will multiply your seed … And in your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, BECAUSE YOU HAVE HEARKENED TO MY VOICE. (22:16-18)
Final proof of Yitz’chak’s patriarchal earthly blessing supremacy – He lived longer (180) than both Abraham (175) and Yakob (147).
Apologies for the length. I will submit to Shalom for now;-)
The extra material you add is, of course, not in the biblical text. I am not sure where it comes from. Perhaps you could add the source. As I mention in my book, there is a lot of speculation and reading between the lines since Hebrew provides just the barest outline of the events. But I don’t think we are justified in discounting the potential trauma to Isaac. His subsequent behavior indicates not embracing God, as you have suggested from your text, but fleeing from Him. I give references in my book.
The only material not in scripture is the quote from Sefer HaYasher, as I indicated: Yasher 23:51-65. It is from Dr James Trimm’s first translation (apparently he has done a revised one, which I cannot find).
There is a lot of speculation indeed, especially from Rabinic “sages” who proposed that Yitz’chak was actually sacrificed and then resurrected just before he married Ribkah (Apologies… I do not have the reference at hand). In the interim he was accommodated in one of the heavens.
[I would like to postulate that the correctness of Yitz’chak’s Torah expression is the reason why his life’s details was not deemed that useful for instruction and to include in Torah.]
Alternatively, there is the interpretation that Abraham, at the crux, resisted YHWH and refused to perform the sacrifice.
In any case, from a human perspective, we can have a field day dissecting Yitz’chak’s psychological trauma and subsequent pathology. Except, if my understanding is correct that the Spirit can overrule Instinct and having an abundance of the former, negates death terrors from the latter.
Is he “not embracing God” and “fleeing from Him”, or does he have a comfortable cosy relationship with YHWH? More so than any since Chanoch?
So many clues to work through, and so little actual text to sift. Anyway, I cite several rabbis whose view is strikingly different than the spiritualized “good” Isaac view. And I think there is justification, given how Jacob describes his father’s relationship with YHVH. I am sure you will enjoy the book. Out in about 2 weeks now.
I can’t wait for this upcoming book. The excerpt is amazingly appetizing!
I usually don’t read or respond because I am one of the 16000 that come to web w/o a donation. I apologize. This subject is deep………………Many views on this; today we may say one son thrown under the bus to give advantages to the favorite son. Genesis hints to mother and father relationship with children (?). God’s will be done.
I need to read the biblical text from historical points of references. Women paid pivotal roles in the Bible. When reading, I try to come to the printed page with clear and refreshed patterns of thought.
Dear EM,
You can fix the visitor to the web problem with a couple of keystrokes. 🙂
EM, Yes, you have written correctly on “this subject being deep!”
I have been with Skip almost from the beginning of his writing this web site, and I have never seen any bitterness from him toward those that do not give; or him to be coercive in any manner! And for that the Lord will surely bless him.
For the New Year, let us all pray that the Lord will bring forth more people who can give, and will do so. We can all pray that! We never know when people will come into an abundance of money, and want to give. I am blown away every so often at people who make an abundance of money, with very unusual honest ways, although my husband and I were never among them.
Skip, how about an excellent study from the Bible on that subject at some point? May the Lord bless every person with their provisions, and give us all wisdom in using well what we do have. Sincerely, LaVaye Billings
“Her quick acceptance of the invitation to marry Isaac from a total stranger bespeaks a full awareness of God’s hand in the remarkable events at the well (Gen. 24:58).” Truly, she was not simply a gutsy young lady, was how I felt when reading that in the Scriptures, but more than that, she definitely had a shalom, or confirmation in her spirit/heart from YHWH, and she obeyed trusting in her faith. Wow!
And she was surely a seeker, as she inquired from YHWH what was going on in her belly? And she heard from Him! And that was not just firmly implanted in her memory, she was also a keen observer, or witness, of the events taking place between her two sons, that one was definitely not the one to receive the double blessings of the firstborn, by his attitude and wild ways.
She was His Co-worker, and not passively sitting idly by, waiting for YHWH. Perhaps, YHWH Himself was watching, knowing she will respond well to His message that the elder shall serve the younger!
Very interesting! Will wait for the book! Shalom!