A Mother's Disapproval - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Genesis 36:2-3,

"Esau took his wives from the women of Canaan: Adah daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Oholibamah daughter of Anah and granddaughter of Zibeon the Hivite—  also Basemath daughter of Ishmael and sister of Nebaioth."

We have already been given an estimation of the wives of Esau, at least some of them, in Genesis 27:46. There, Rebekah (Esau's mother) complained bitterly to Isaac (Esau's father) about the wives of Esau. "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." That is first-class, grade A disgust. Rebekah says she would rather die than to have to live with Esau's wives - particularly if Jacob married any!

It has always seemed to me that Rebekah's complaint was actually a ruse, a ploy, to get Isaac to allow their son Jacob (and Esau's twin) to flee from Esau. Rebekah and Jacob plotted against Esau by deceitfully getting Isaac to give his blessing (that was due Esau) to Jacob- which was quite consequential. Having done that, Esau was now plotting to murder Jacob.

Rebekah's complaint about the Hittite women provided the pretext for Jacob to go find a wife from her home town where her brother, Laban, lived.

On the other hand, I have to think there must have been truth behind her complaint for it to work. Might it be that God used Esau's selection of wives from the Hittites the very thing that turned her against her own son, Esau?

In any event, somehow Esau earned his mother's disapproval and disfavor while Jacob earned the opposite. Here are a few proverbs that speak to the importance of maintaining a mother's approval as well as what it means when a son does not:

"Listen, my son, to your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching." Proverbs 1:8.

"My son, keep your father's command and do not forsake your mother's teaching." Proverbs 6:20.

"A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son brings grief to his mother." Proverbs 10:1.

"A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to the mother who bore him." Proverbs 17:25.

"Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old." Proverbs 23:22.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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