THURSDAY July 18, 2024
The Consequences of Favoritism
The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was content to stay at home among the tents. Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob.
Genesis 25:27-28 NIV
Fathers and Mothers, it is never wise to favor one child above another. In the Bible there are several stories that relate to the foolishness of favoritism. One of them was when Isaac favored Esau, and Rebekah favored Jacob––it completely divided the home.
When Jacob, with the help of his mother, connived to get the blessing––the eldest son’s birthright––from his father, the family became divided. When Esau found out, he became enraged. Favoritism caused Esau to hate his brother. Taking his mother’s advice, Jacob fled from him:
So Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him, and Esau said in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then I will kill my brother Jacob” (Genesis 27:41).
Rebekah thought Esau would cool off after a few days, and her son Jacob would be able to come home (Genesis 27:44). That did not happen! Imagine, Jacob stayed away from his home for 20 years because of Esau’s anger. In fact, when he was on his way home with his family, he was still fearful of his brother’s anger and prayed to the Lord:
“Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, lest he come and attack me and the mother with the children. For You said, ‘I will surely treat you well, and make your descendants as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’ ”
God did go before Jacob, and the brothers had a wonderful reunion. Sadly, there is no record of a reunion with Rebekah. It is thought she died before Jacob returned. Rebecca was a mother who decided to meddle in her son’s affairs. The consequences were terrible––she never saw the face of her beloved son again.
To have regard for one person over another and to show favoritism is not good....
~Proverbs 28:21 AMP~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
