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Tag: Rebekah’s curse

Rebekah’s Curse

When Rebekah told Jacob to listen to her and go to his father Isaac, as if he was his brother Esau, so that he could be blessed, he was concerned and told his mother, that just in case, his father detects their deception, then he would be cursed by his father, instead of being blessed. To this, Rebekah, responds to Jacob that may the curse be upon her. (Genesis 27:13). From the recorded account, we learn that heeding to his mother’s voice, Jacob deceives his father and brother. This angers his brother Esau, who intends to kill Jacob. Fearing for the loss of her younger son, Rebekah, now tells Jacob to flee to her brother Laban for a few days. Little did she realize then that the few days would turn into years (about two decades) and she would never ever again see her son on earth, for she passes away before Jacob returns from her brother’s place.

Points to ponder:
Rebekah’s sin (deception) had consequences. In this case, for Rebekah, it was the curse of being separated from the one she loved.

Our sin has consequences too. Since the wages of sin is death, we will be eternally separated from God if we choose to sin and deceive ourselves (James 1:22). Rebekah’s curse would be our curse, but praise be to God, that Jesus was made a curse for you and me and when we believe in him, we do not have to be separated from God. Are you cursed and being separated from God?

Genesis 27:41-45 (KJV)
41 And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.
42 And these words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah: and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him, Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort himself, purposing to kill thee.
43 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran;
44 And tarry with him a few days, until thy brother’s fury turn away;
45 Until thy brother’s anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him: then I will send, and fetch thee from thence: why should I be deprived also of you both in one day?

Upon me be thy curse

As Rebekah deceitfully schemed to trick her husband, Isaac into blessing her favorite son, Jacob, her son realized that what his mother was asking him to do, could land him in a lot of trouble, should Isaac figure out their deceitfulness. He expresses to Rebekah that if his father detects that he is not Esau and is robbing Esau of his blessings as the firstborn son of Isaac, Isaac would curse him instead of blessing him. To this Rebecca responds by saying foolishly, “Upon me be thy curse, my son” urging him to play along in her scheme.

This mother-son scheme leads to discord and separation of Jacob and Esau, for Esau in his anger of being robbed of his blessings expresses that he would kill Jacob. Overhearing this, Rebekah sends Jacob away to her brother’s place and we learn that this was the last time she sees her favorite son, Jacob. She dies when Jacob is away and we can extrapolate that upon her was the curse laid, of being separated from her son for the rest of her life.

Points to ponder:
It is important to recognize that our actions, especially those of deceit, have serious consequences. We may be able to trick men and women, but we cannot trick the omniscient God over all. Though it was God’s plan for the elder Esau to serve the younger Jacob, Rebekah’s actions are not justifiable.

Taking a different perspective – Jesus willingly laid down his life for all of mankind (John 10:18). Jesus was a made a curse for us so that we could become the righteousness of God and not be separated from him (Galatians 3:13). Taking these facts into account, in a sense, you could say that when man was cursed (for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God), Jesus stepped in and said “Upon me be thy curse.”  Jesus Christ became a curse for you and me so that we will not be separated from the love of God, for the rest of this life and the life to come.

Genesis 27:11-13 (KJV)
11 And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man:
12 My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing.
13 And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me them.

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