God Answers Our Questions.

Isaac married Rebekah but she couldn't get pregnant so they prayed and God gave her not one, but two babies in her pregnancy. But Rebekah had trouble as the babies grew:

"The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, "Why is this happening to me?" So she went to inquire of the LORD."

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

When Rebekah conceived, the children struggled together in her womb. In this she saw an evil omen, that the pregnancy so long desired and entreated of Jehovah would bring misfortune, and that the fruit of her womb might not after all secure the blessing of the divine promise; so that in intense excitement she cried out, "If it be so, wherefore am I?" i.e., why am I alive? cf. Genesis 27:46. But she sought counsel from God: she went to inquire of Jehovah. Where and how she looked for a divine revelation in the matter, is not recorded, and therefore cannot be determined with certainty. Some suppose that it was by prayer and sacrifice at a place dedicated to Jehovah. Others imagine that she applied to a prophet - to Abraham, Melchizedek, or Shem (Luther); a frequent custom in Israel afterwards (1 Samuel 9:9), but not probable in the patriarchal age.

"The LORD said to her, "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger."

Genesis 25:23

Thus she gave birth to twins: Jacob and Esau. This was twenty years after she had married. It was a long wait, but God did give the couple the children they wanted. Not only that, when Rebekah was upset and confused, she went to God and asked Him what was wrong. He answered her - how we are not told. But I know in my own life, when there is something I don't understand and ask God to explain things to me, he always does; one way or another. :)

I'm so glad we have such a wonderful God to go to when we are confused.

Wait For the Lord.

Isaac and Rebekah asked God for children, and when Rebekah was pregnant she felt the babies move so much that she asked God what was happening. God told her she would give birth to two nations. He also said, "The older shall serve the younger."

Esau and then Jacob were born to Rebekah. The Bible records, "Now Isaac loved Esau, because he had a taste for game, but Rebekah loved Jacob." It is never a good thing to love one child over another. This was perhaps the beginning of the trouble in this household.

In those days the oldest son received the greatest share of property and also became the spiritual head of the house. Esau, as the oldest, was the one to whom these blessing would go. But Esau had sold his birthright blessing to Jacob in exchange for food. Jacob also wanted the spiritual blessing.

When Isaac was ready to give this blessing, Rebekah decided to trick him into giving the blessing to Jacob. Isaac had asked Esau to go hunt game for him and make him a meal, so Rebekah did this quickly and sent Jacob into the tent. Jacob lied and said he was Esau. Isaac believed him and spoke the blessing over him. When Esau came in later Isaac said, "Who was he then that hunted game and brought it to me, so that I
ate of it all before you came and I blessed him? Yes, and he shall be blessed."

Esau was furious and decided he would kill Jacob after their father was dead. Rebekah heard of his plan and sent Jacob away to stay with her brother.

Jacob and Rebekah believed it was God's will for Jacob to be the head of the family, and they were right. But they didn't wait for God to do this himself. They cooked up a plan of their own which separated them for the rest of their lives. They never saw each other again.

Waiting for God is a testing time. He does not want us to force issues, lie to people, or hurry things along with our own big ideas. Abraham was to wait patiently for a son, he did not do this and it caused heartache and pain. Rebekah and Jacob did not wait patiently either; this resulted in the fracture of a family and great sorrow.

"Wait for the Lord;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the Lord." Psalm 27:14