Bibledoorajar Looks at Family Favorites

"Every family has favorites, and I think I am my mother's favorite."

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Turning now to Rebecca's favorite son, Jacob, we find him not in the fields but within the home.  The scripture describes him as a "plain man, dwelling in tents." Do not think that this plainness was "less than manliness", however, for in Hebrew the word plainness is translated as upright or undefiled. It is hard for a mother to accept a physical disability of a child, but a moral disability may be worse to accept. Rebecca would mourn the lack of character in Esau, but she was uplifted by Jacob's basic moral nature. Jacob's nature was one of not looking to the world for his future but rather to waiting on God for that which was to come. And his nature had a seeking component. For me, this is probably the trait that God loved the most about Jacob and what led Him to declare from the beginning that Jacob would be the son to be served.

"Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and its righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you singing Hallelu, Hallelujah. Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God singing Hallelu, Hallelujah."
                                                                Song based on Matthew 6:33

What a joy it is for a mother when she has a son who gets his priorities right. Our Rebecca was no exception. That Jacob appeared to have a keen human insight into the privilege of birthright cannot be denied. Indeed, he had come from his mother's womb holding tightly to the heel of his brother. We will see him maneuvering to get that very birthright. And we will see that his beloved mother, Rebecca, will aid him in his efforts to do so. The Word does not speak of Jacob complaining about his life position, but we do see that God will begin a series of "lessons" that will help Jacob more adequately assess his future to a better city.