Biblical stories are always interesting because they, ordinary people, open their eyes to the truth thanks to the great wisdom encrypted in them. Thus, God teaches us the main truth of life, through the comprehension of which man will find salvation in eternity.
And now, before analyzing the Old Testament story of Isaac and Rebekah, in which twin boys will be born, we will immediately dwell on the fact that the name Isaac translates as "laughter." He was the son of the prophet Abraham and was born when he was 100 years old. His mother, Sarah, was 90 years old at that time, and she had no children. Once she involuntarily laughed when she heard the prophecy of God about the birth of her son. And he was born, eight days later was circumcised and three years later weaned. Abraham was very happy about this event and even made a big feast, at which the other son of Abraham, born of the servant of Sarah (Hagar) Ishmael, mocked Isaac, after which Hagar and his son were expelled from the house.
Victim and Faith
So God testified to Abraham that the Messiah, the Savior of the world, should come from Isaac. Isaac grew up, and he was already 25 years old, but before his sons were born - two twin brothers, his father Abraham received a command from God that he would sacrifice his only son to Him for a burnt offering. Thus the Lord tested the faith of Abraham, and he worthily passed this test, because he was sure that his God was omnipotent and would raise Isaac from the dead.
When Isaac was 37 years old, his mother Sarah died, she was 127 years old at that time. Abraham was righteous, and the Lord sent him long years of life. When he was old, he called to his elder servant Eliezer and instructed him to find a wife for his son Isaac in Mesopotamia. The servant loaded ten camels with various riches for the bride and went to Mesopotamia to the city where Nahor, brother of Abraham, lived.
Rebekah
When Eliezer stopped near the well, he immediately began to pray to God that He would show him the bride for Isaac. And he immediately decided for himself that which girl would tilt the jug and give him a drink, and then give water to his camels, that would be Isaac's wife.
After a while, a very beautiful girl called Rebekah came to the well. She gave the traveler to drink water from her jug, and then began to draw water for his camels. After this, the servant gave her a gold earring and put two precious wrists on his hands.
Rebekah, having run home, told about everything that happened to her to her relatives. Then her brother Laban went to the source and invited the guest to the house. He invited him to rest from the road, and then he saddled the camels, gave them straw. Before tasting the food offered to him, the servant Eliezer did not waste time and told why he had come to their land. And then he asked Rebekah's parents to let her go with him. The girl agreed. Before they let her go, they asked him to stay with them for at least another ten days.
Isaac, shortly before the meeting, went into the field for thought and suddenly saw his father’s servant and a beautiful girl next to him. So Isaac met his wife Rebekah, whom he fell in love with and who was able to console him in sorrow over his dead mother.
Abraham was 175 years old when he died. His body was buried next to his wife, Sarah, in the field of Efron. At the death of the pious Abraham, God blessed Isaac.
Children of Isaac and Rebekah
Isaac was 40 years old when he married Rebekah, who for a long time remained barren (about twenty years). Then Isaac began to earnestly pray to his Lord, and He heard his prayers, and his wife became pregnant. Two babies immediately crashed into it. God told her that twin boys would emerge from her womb, from whom two nations would descend, one nation would be stronger than the other, the larger would serve the smaller.
Esau, shaggy and red, came first during childbirth. And then his brother Jacob came out, holding Esau by the heel. So the twins Esau and Jacob were born. Their father Isaac was then 60 years old.
Birthright
The first son of Isaac and Rebekah Esau became a skilled hunter and hunter. Unlike his brother, Jacob was a meek man and lived in tents.
Once Jacob was preparing a lentil soup, and at the same time Esau returned from the hunt, who began to ask his brother to eat the "red". In exchange for lentil stew, Jacob asked to sell his birthright. Esau was so hungry that he nearly died, and therefore easily agreed.
The son of Isaac and Rebekah Jacob
Esau was forty years old when he married two Hittites, and they were a burden to Isaac and Rebekah. The time came, and Isaac grew old, his vision was greatly weakened. Then he called his eldest son Esau and asked him to catch game and prepare a delicious dish, so that before the approaching death he would bless him. Rebekah heard everything, but she wanted her husband to bless Jacob. And she said to her youngest son, while the eldest was not in the house, so that he would bring two goats from the herd, from which she would prepare dishes.
The son of Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob, said that he was a smooth man, and Esau was a shaggy man. If the father touches his hand, he will immediately understand who he is, and instead of blessing, he will be cursed. Mother reassured her son, saying that his curse would fall on her. And then, putting on Jacob elegant clothes Esau and tied his hands and neck with kids skin, sent with food to his father. Having tasted the food prepared with pleasure, he blessed his son with the words that God would give him plenty of bread and wine, and the tribes bowed, that he was master over his brothers, and his mother’s sons bowed to him, those who curse him will be cursed, and those who bless him will be blessed .
Hatred and Reconciliation
At the same time, the first son of Isaac and Rebekah Esau returned from the hunt, prepared dishes, came to his father, and then, learning that Jacob had received a blessing by cunning, he became indignant and hated him for it. It was then that he decided that he would kill his brother as soon as his father died. Having learned about this, Rebekah suggested that Jacob flee to her brother Laban in Haran and stay with him for a while, until his brother’s rage passed. And when he forgets the offense, she will send for Jacob. Rebekah was afraid to lose both sons at once.
A lot of things will happen during this time, but in the end, the brothers Esau and Jacob will meet and reconcile with tears in their eyes.