Back at it Again

When Rebekah was told what her older son Esau had said, she sent for her younger son Jacob and said to him,

“Your brother Esau is planning to avenge himself by killing you.

Now then, my son, do what I say: Flee at once to my brother Laban in Harran. Stay with him for a while until your brother’s fury subsides. When your brother is no longer angry with you and forgets what you did to him, I’ll send word for you to come back from there.

Why should I lose both of you in one day?”

Then Rebekah said to Isaac, “I’m disgusted with living because of these Hittite women. If Jacob takes a wife from among the women of this land, from Hittite women like these, my life will not be worth living.”

Genesis 27:42-46

When I immersed myself in the story of Rebekah and her three menfolk back in January, I got to these verses and blurted out, “You have got to be kidding!”

What is wrong with this woman?

How does she not see what she has done and is still doing?

Has she learned nothing?

She’s Back At It

Rebekah doesn’t miss a beat. She’s already busy with Plan B.

“Now then, my son, do what I say…”



Oh, because it worked so well last time he did what you said? Hello!?! You need a Plan B because your Plan A was so awful!

“Stay with him for a while until your brother’s fury subsides.”

And how long are you thinking that’s going to be?

“When your brother is no longer angry with you and forgets what you did to him, I’ll send word for you to come back from there.”

You really are living in an alternate universe, aren’t you, girlfriend.

“When he forgets what you did to him?”

Do you know nothing about men and betrayal? About the human heart and violated trust?

Broken Trust Leaves LONG-Lasting Memories

When I was four, my older brother held out a bottle of red liquid and asked me, “Cheri, would you like some cherry juice?”

I trusted that the letters t-a-b-a-s-c-o spelled “cherry” and took a big gulp.

Fire exploded out my nose and ears, and my little sister heart broke.

That was 42 years ago, and I re-tell this story every opportunity I get! (My favorite use was in a 50th birthday poem I wrote for John; I’m still thrilled how well “tabasco” rhymes with “fiasco”!)

My brother is never gonna live this one down.

The Heart of the Problem

“Why should I lose both of you in one day?”

Oh, Rebekah. Your husband’s been betrayed, Esau’s frantic, Jacob’s in trouble and who are you thinking about?

“Why should I lose both of you in one day?”

As if this is all about you.

All you’re thinking about is the three most important people in your life, but they aren’t your husband and two sons.

You’re too focused on the trinity at the heart of every meddler: me, myself, and I.

Try This Today:

As you’re building your “God Will Provide” family time line, include a situation in which God broke through someone’s focus on that unholy trinity of me, myself, and I.

Your Turn!

When have you suddenly become aware that the only perspective you were considering was your own? How did expanding your point of view to include others’ change the situation?