Naming My Pain
Then he said, “Is he not rightly named Jacob, for he has supplanted me these two times? He took away my birthright, and behold, now he has taken away my blessing.” And he said, “Have you not reserved a blessing for me?” Genesis 27:36 NASB
Rightly called – Esau is the one who gives Jacob the meaning we usually attach to this name. Deceiver. Manipulator. Schemer. Esau’s expression, hakiy qara’ shemo, glossed as “Is he not rightly named?” reveals Esau’s perception of his brother’s character. That perception has been handed down to us as Jacob’s reality, in much that same way that each of us is given a character based on someone else’s perception. But Jacob didn’t come to Isaac for the blessing by accident. His character was formed through the influence of another. Where did Jacob learn to be deceptive?
The answer is “from his mother.” Rebekah played a significant role in the formation of her favorite son’s character. Of course, Rebekah is the transliteration of the Greek translation. The Hebrew is Rivqah. The meaning of the name is uncertain, but in some contexts it is connected with “a yoke used to join two animals of the same species together, to fulfill a purpose or work together in the fields.” (Hebrew-Hebrew dictionary, Even Shoshan). Further extensions are added by the Mishnah.[1] Other sources suggest that the name means “a snare” or “bound with a rope.” The suggestions have both positive and negative connotations. Bringing animals together to jointly accomplish what one cannot do alone is a good thing. Snaring something in order to capture it is not always a good thing. This is a classic Hebrew approach. It depends.
Of this we can be certain. Rivqah’s influence on Ya’akov was significant. In fact, she is the one who directs the scenes of the charade involving the blessing. One must wonder how much preparation was already accomplished for her to so easily enlist her son in the deception. It certainly cannot have been the first time Ya’akov observed his mother’s actions. Can we not assume that Esau’s complaint is also founded upon his mother’s ability as sculptor of Ya’akob’s character? Isaac seems to have had a hand in the shaping of Esau. Why wouldn’t we assume Rivqah had influence over Ya’akov? Perhaps Esau’s words are just as much an indictment of his mother as there are of his brother.
Your children carry names that you had a hand in sculpting. So do you, by the way. Your name is the product of years of parental influence—for good or bad. And now you have to live with the result. You can complain like Esau, or you can use that influence for yourself like Jacob. Or you can recognize that the name you were given by someone else is just a part of a journey toward the name you will discover about yourself. Most of us bear names that come from emotional inheritance. Like Hagar, we wish to go to the wilderness to escape that pain. And like Hagar and Jacob, the day comes when we are sent back to confront it. Naming that pain is the first expression of personal identity, not inherited character. To be “rightly named” is to recognize who pushed us toward the way others perceive us and do what it takes to change where we’re going. Apparently, God begins “rightly naming” when we go back to the beginning. Perhaps recovering our names is a part of restoring our souls.
Topical Index: name, shem, Rebekah, Rivqah, recovery, Genesis 27:36
[1] Cf. http://www.chabad.org/parshah/article_cdo/aid/651535/jewish/What-Does-the-Name-Rebecca-Mean.htm
Eastern philosophy is all about what is. Fate. The struggle, then, is about attempting to escape fate, and peace is about accepting the fact that you cannot do anything about it. Fate frames reality.
The West is all about determining your own destiny. Fate is a choice, and the struggle is about figuring out what you want. Peace is about getting it.
I think both sides constitute the shell game we are playing with ourselves in order to avoid the obvious alternative, which is to admit that, on one hand, reality is something we must take responsibility for (sorry, fatalists), but on the other, that responsibility consists of joining forces: of choosing (yes, West, choice does determine reality) to subserve our wills to the Will of the Holder of that reality (whoops, self-determiners). I think when the vase of truth shattered, everybody grabbed a piece of it, but the nature of truth is that we must all hold it collectively. We must put the original pieces back together again, and discard the additives.
Reality is what we choose, but it is not what we make. We do not hold the identity of reality: it holds ours, and we get to be who we really are when we CHOOSE to cooperate with the Source of that reality. We don’t get to make the vase of reality: the vase is who we are. Together. But together, reality becomes liquid in our hands; for when self becomes secondary to the connection with all the other selves, is when we get to be real, too. Fate is not solid when we face it together. We are only prisoners to the past when we consign ourselves to the cell of solitary confinement.
Our Prodigal Father
~ Then he said, “Is he not rightly named Jacob, for he has supplanted me these two times? ~ (Genesis 27.36)
~ How good and how pleasant it is for brothers [and sisters!] to live together in unity [shalom]. ~ (Psalm 133.1)
Yes, the Father [again] had two sons. The elder and the younger. This story, this parable has overlooked Someone. We tend to focus upon the erring son, when the real “hero” here is the compassionate heart of the Father. “And when He saw him, He ran to meet him!” The first time ever “the Father” [our Father] is “revealed” to be “in a hurry!” In glorious reality, it is amazing what “repentance” will accomplish. May we all learn to relish repentance.
As the scriptures state, “a broken spirit and a contrite heart, these You will not despise..”
And, again, the Living Word of God says, “by this shall all men know you are My disciples..” [??] “if you have love [if you demonstrate love] one to another..”
Jacob did not remain the same after his “close encounter.” Neither did his name. Jacob became Israel “after” he was broken. First broken, then blessed. That is God’s “order” of things. This is not the only “name change” listed in the Scriptures. We who are His, we who belong to the always Good Shepherd also have a ‘new name!’
~He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the “ecclessia.” To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.”~
So, “what’s my name?” Lol! God knows. And it will certainly be a blessing when and as it is revealed..
I was once a sinner, but I came
Pardon to receive from my LORD:
This was freely given, and I found
That He always kept His word.
There’s a new name written down in glory,
And it’s mine, O yes, it’s mine!
And the white robed angels sing the story,
A sinner has come home.
For there’s a new name written down in glory,
And it’s mine, O yes, it’s mine!
With my sins forgiven – I am bound for Heaven,
Never more to roam.
I was humbly kneeling at the cross,
Fearing naught but God’s angry frown;
When the heavens opened and I saw
That my name was written down.
In the Book ’tis written, Saved by Grace,
O the joy that came to my soul!
Now I am forgiven, and I know
By His blood I am made whole.
(C. Austin Miles 1910)
My name, James, I was told by a messianic rabbi is not the English for Ya akob. James got that distinction from King James in the KJV. Happily my grandson was named Jacob James M. Even without my input.
Thanks Skip! Great insight! Here are a couple of thoughts to throw out to see what you and others might think.
Ya’akov means “hand on the heel” not deceiver. Yes, he did a deceitful act (Gen 27:35) but would he have done it if it wasn’t for Rebekah “commanding” him? (Gen 27:8) It seems he was very reluctant to. (Gen 27:11-12) When Esau says in verse 36 “Is he not rightly named Ya’akov, for he has cheated me these two times? He took away my birthright, and behold, now he has taken away my blessing.”, he is wrong on two counts. Ya’akov doesn’t mean cheated or supplanted, and Ya’akov didn’t take away Esau’s birthright. Esau handed it to him for a bowl of soup. Why should we take Esau’s word for it anyway?
I think that it is very likely that Ya’akov is not a deceiver, and has been wrongly labeled as such.
You need to read my book, Crossing. What you say about his name is true, and there is a lot more.
Is that why Jacob is named Israel as implying chosen or preferred indicating that we need to wrestle until the day breaks / search for truth / study to show approved
While Yeshua is called Emmanuel – God in us something
Yeshua is the gift or given once we uncover what we can through our studies and lifestyle adaptations…
Read Crossing
“Naming that pain is the first expression of personal identity, not inherited character. ” Character is not inherited, is a building process as our walk / journey, that builds up our spiritual understanding and brings us to maturity, bearing fruit of humility, and wisdom to ABBA’s pleasure, to His image.
Like father, like son is an influence, of earthly father, or Heavenly.
Yes, we want to be rightly named- in יהוה ‘s Presence, seen and not just known. 😉
What is in a name? To Greek/Roman thinking people a name is a line of letters with a sound but since I had the grace to understand the importance of a name in Hebrew thinking everything around me changed also in my own life. When YHVH, as I understood it, took me out of a nest of vipers, which was the family I was born in, He gave me a new name that was according to my character and purpose. He chose me as one good seed out of I believe many generations of evil and sinful blood. He chose us from before creation happened which is difficult to understand. And I was remembering the story how I was born, there was no help at all. My mother give birth to me in a little attic room where there was no water and nothing was there to nurse a new born. My umbilical cord was not cut but tied with a shoelace. My mother always said that she was alone but I have found out that there was a neighbor lady that was with her and she was a believer. The story is that when I was born she took me in her hands and raised me up and dedicated me to God saying This one is yours! How are the wonderous ways of God! After when I was 3 weeks old my mother left me with the neighbors and left. But that did not stop God to continue! Our lives are a journey with the Almighty to become an instrument for His purposes only! Whats in a name? EVERYTHING!
Warm greetings and shalom!
“He gave me a new name that was according to my character and purpose.” Amein!!
“He chose me as one good seed”, indeed, a blessed wonderful seed, that is strong, joyful and an inspiration to many.
Thank you for sharing your crossing over, finding your true identity. Shalom with hugs, Dvorah! Chag HaMazot Sameach!
Thank you Ester!