Day 7 to 9: Genesis 25 -37

Day 7 to 9 out of 312, from the Blended Bible Experience reading plan: page 35 to 51 of the Books of the Bible.


Today's reading is about the story of Jacob and Esau. If there's one thing you learn from reading the book of Genesis, it's that family life is tough. Brothers hate each other. Parents favour one child over the other. It never ends well. In literature that is, in real life most adult children just grin and bear it.

And if you thought trouble with the in-laws was a modern-day invention, think again! The foreign wives Esau takes "were a source of grief to Isaac and Rebekah". It seems some things never change!

Rebekah, her brother Laban and her son Jacob, all three are cheaters and all three suffer because of it. Jacob cheats his brother Esau out of his inheritance and has to run for his life to escape the revenge of his brother. Laban tricks his nephew into working for him for 14 years to marry Rachel instead of the seven they agreed upon. Later he also tries to cheat Jacob out of his wages. It all ends in tears as Jacob finally has enough and he and his family flee from Laban. Laban has to let his daughters and grandchildren go. And then there's Rebekah; I feel for her. All that scheming to ensure her favourite Jacob gets the blessing that was meant for Esau and what does she get out of it? Never seeing her beloved son again!

Now I've always had a soft spot for Jacob, I don't know why. True, he's a deceiver, but he gets deceived as well. And he's quite resourceful and never gives up. But there's one thing I find unforgivable. What kind of man never notices he's in bed with the wrong woman? You'd think that after working to win her hand in marriage for seven years he knows what she looks like! The women probably were kept away from the men, but still. And when he finds out the truth he finishes out the week with Leah anyway! Shame on him.