Post by Mark on Nov 29, 2008 6:26:59 GMT -8
One of the fascinating things about Father Isaac is that we know so little about him. He’s painted as somewhat of the introspective sort, quiet; but also the man’s man, loving his oldest son’s venison. He strikes me as the typical guy: diligent in business, responsible, ethical; but Monday night is for football without exception.
Guys often don’t say what is on their mind, at least that’s the conclusion of their wives. Guys typically don’t communicate well. Rebecca likely presumed that Isaac just kept it all to himself. The truth is, ladies, that guys often sit literally in a mindless state of experience. There are no cognitive gears turning at every moment of consciousness. In fact, the man’s most comfortable state of existence is intellectual neutral. That’s why when she snuggles up close to him, nuzzles in his ear and whispers, "What are you thinking?" He has to dive quick to come up with something… hopefully appropriate to the moment.
Guys, women are intellectual machines. Every moment of every day, conscious or unconscious is receiving, processing and (we think) usually feeding out information. Their minds are woven together in such a strange dynamic way that they are often thinking about several different things at one time. This is why it doesn’t seem any insult to her when you slip into bed with that familiar look in your eye and she asks if you remembered to get the pot roast out of the freezer. She can be juggling several issues on an intellectual level without compromising any of them. We guys only process one thought at a time. That’s why when your son walks in front of the television, your first thought is literally, "Who is that kid?"
Isaac loved both of his sons. There was a special place in his heart (and stomach) for Esau. Esau had a love for the moment that any guy can relate to. The fact that it was a problem for him, that he lived it out in every expression of his life, was something that an old father could easily look past.
Rebecca had a special love for Jacob because he was there. He was available, responsible and reliable. He considered and listened and responded to the things that needed to be done at home while his brother Esau was out being a guy.
Isaac knew that the covenant blessing was to go to Jacob; but because he was a guy, he and Rebecca probably never spoke of it. Rebecca only saw that Isaac watched his older son with admiration. When Isaac declared that he wished Esau to bring him a feast whereby he could bless him, Rebecca went into intellectual overdrive.
And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the LORD hath blessed: Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine: Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.
(Genesis 27:27-29 KJV)
We read the blessing and often gasp. Is Isaac attempting to over rule the prophecy that came from Adonai? Rebecca was told, while the children wrestled in her womb, that the older would serve the younger. (Genesis 25:23).
But, when we read the blessing that was intended for Jacob, we may understand more clearly:
And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people; And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham.
(Genesis 28:3-4 KJV)
Esau was a man of the moment. He saw no value in his birthright because it was not of use to him at that time. Isaac’s blessing would not be able to abrogate the transfer of birthright. Had he been speaking to Esau and not Jacob when the blessing was given, this would likely have been understood. Isaac loved Esau and wanted to retain for him a status of honor still in his community, though by his own impetuous nature he had already given away it all. The blessing to Esau was a blessing of informal status, as an honorary in the court of Jacob.
The blessing that was given to Jacob in Genesis 28 was the intended blessing for him. It was the covenant blessing of Abraham, the fulfillment of the prophecy to Rebecca. It is and was always understood that Jacob would inherit the land.
It is so easy for us to see what others are getting and presume that we deserve it just as much, or that it should really be given to us. It’s so easy to misinterpret what guys are thinking (when they are) because rather than pouring over it, discussing and evaluating, they make a decision and don’t even refer it to it again until the moment it is time to act. It drives women absolutely nuts.
It is often questioned why that Adonai should allow these events to take place in this way, presuming that Isaac is acting in defiance to God’s known will. The reasoning of Rebecca and the conduct of Jacob is defended as undermining the will of Isaac in order to actuate the will of Adonai. I wonder how things may have been different, had they left well enough alone.
Guys often don’t say what is on their mind, at least that’s the conclusion of their wives. Guys typically don’t communicate well. Rebecca likely presumed that Isaac just kept it all to himself. The truth is, ladies, that guys often sit literally in a mindless state of experience. There are no cognitive gears turning at every moment of consciousness. In fact, the man’s most comfortable state of existence is intellectual neutral. That’s why when she snuggles up close to him, nuzzles in his ear and whispers, "What are you thinking?" He has to dive quick to come up with something… hopefully appropriate to the moment.
Guys, women are intellectual machines. Every moment of every day, conscious or unconscious is receiving, processing and (we think) usually feeding out information. Their minds are woven together in such a strange dynamic way that they are often thinking about several different things at one time. This is why it doesn’t seem any insult to her when you slip into bed with that familiar look in your eye and she asks if you remembered to get the pot roast out of the freezer. She can be juggling several issues on an intellectual level without compromising any of them. We guys only process one thought at a time. That’s why when your son walks in front of the television, your first thought is literally, "Who is that kid?"
Isaac loved both of his sons. There was a special place in his heart (and stomach) for Esau. Esau had a love for the moment that any guy can relate to. The fact that it was a problem for him, that he lived it out in every expression of his life, was something that an old father could easily look past.
Rebecca had a special love for Jacob because he was there. He was available, responsible and reliable. He considered and listened and responded to the things that needed to be done at home while his brother Esau was out being a guy.
Isaac knew that the covenant blessing was to go to Jacob; but because he was a guy, he and Rebecca probably never spoke of it. Rebecca only saw that Isaac watched his older son with admiration. When Isaac declared that he wished Esau to bring him a feast whereby he could bless him, Rebecca went into intellectual overdrive.
And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the LORD hath blessed: Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine: Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.
(Genesis 27:27-29 KJV)
We read the blessing and often gasp. Is Isaac attempting to over rule the prophecy that came from Adonai? Rebecca was told, while the children wrestled in her womb, that the older would serve the younger. (Genesis 25:23).
But, when we read the blessing that was intended for Jacob, we may understand more clearly:
And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people; And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham.
(Genesis 28:3-4 KJV)
Esau was a man of the moment. He saw no value in his birthright because it was not of use to him at that time. Isaac’s blessing would not be able to abrogate the transfer of birthright. Had he been speaking to Esau and not Jacob when the blessing was given, this would likely have been understood. Isaac loved Esau and wanted to retain for him a status of honor still in his community, though by his own impetuous nature he had already given away it all. The blessing to Esau was a blessing of informal status, as an honorary in the court of Jacob.
The blessing that was given to Jacob in Genesis 28 was the intended blessing for him. It was the covenant blessing of Abraham, the fulfillment of the prophecy to Rebecca. It is and was always understood that Jacob would inherit the land.
It is so easy for us to see what others are getting and presume that we deserve it just as much, or that it should really be given to us. It’s so easy to misinterpret what guys are thinking (when they are) because rather than pouring over it, discussing and evaluating, they make a decision and don’t even refer it to it again until the moment it is time to act. It drives women absolutely nuts.
It is often questioned why that Adonai should allow these events to take place in this way, presuming that Isaac is acting in defiance to God’s known will. The reasoning of Rebecca and the conduct of Jacob is defended as undermining the will of Isaac in order to actuate the will of Adonai. I wonder how things may have been different, had they left well enough alone.
