God saw that Leah was not loved as much as Rachel so he enabled her to conceive children while Rachel remained childless. As a result, Leah gave birth to a son she christened Reuben saying “It is because the Lord has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now.” Leah gave birth to a
Jacob continued his journey and soon arrived in the land of the “eastern peoples” where he saw a well with three flocks of sheep laying near it. Jacob watched as the shepherds rolled a stone off the mouth of the well when the sheep approached. After the sheep were watered, the shepherds rolled the stone
Jacob’s parents knew that their son, Esau, sought to kill Jacob so they sent him away. Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Harran. Along the way, Jacob stopped for the night to sleep. He placed a stone under his head to use as a pillow. While sleeping, Jacob dreamt of a stairway that reached from
Rebekah told Isaac, “I’m disgusted with these Hittite women. If Jacob takes a Hittite wife, my life will not be worth living.” In response to her complaint, Isaac called for Jacob, blessed him, and commanded, “Do not marry a Canaanite woman. Go at once to Paddan-Aram (where Rebekah’s father, Bethuel lived) and take a wife for
When Esau was 40 years old, against his parents’ wishes, he married two Hittite wives – Judith and Basemath. Marrying outside the extended clan greatly bothered his parents, Isaac and Rebekah. Isaac was old and his eyes were weak. He called for his Esau and told him, “I am now an old man and near death.
After Isaac settled in Beersheba, King Abimelech arrived from Gerar to visit him. Abimelech brought with him Ahuzzath, his personal advisor, and Phicol, the commander of his forces (possibly the same commander that was recorded as dealing with Isaac’s father, Abraham). Isaac asked them, “Why have you come to visit me at my home since previously
After Abimeleh issued orders to the citizens that nobody should harm Isaac or his family, Isaac had a very successful year with his crops (despite a famine in the land). Because God had blessed Isaac – he reaped a hundred times what he had sown. Isaac became rich and his fortune continued to grow until he became very
During a famine in the land of Canaan, Isaac went to Abimelek (aka Abimelech), who was the king in Gerar where the Philistines lived. On his way, God stopped Isaac and instructed him to not go to Egypt (as his father Abraham had done during the last famine). God reminded Isaac that he should live
Jacob and Esau have become grown men. Esau is a very good hunter, a wild sort of man, who loves the outdoors. Jacob on the other hand, is more civilized and mature, preferring to stay within the home. Their father, Isaac, loved the taste of wild game and as a result, grew close to Esau.
After a quick peek at Ishmael’s genealogical record, the Bible now turns back to the family line of Abraham and Isaac. We are reminded that Abraham was the father of Isaac who, at 40 years of age, married Rebekah. After 20 years of marriage, Isaac prayed for a child and God answered the call. Rebekah became