Genesis 27:43
So now, my son, obey my voice and flee at once to my brother Laban in Haran.
So now, my son, obey my voice
This phrase reflects the urgency and authority of Rebekah's command to Jacob. In the cultural context of the ancient Near East, family hierarchy and obedience to parental authority were paramount. Rebekah's directive underscores her role in the unfolding events, as she seeks to protect Jacob from Esau's wrath. This moment also highlights the theme of obedience, which is a recurring biblical principle, seen in passages like Exodus 20:12, where honoring one's parents is commanded.

and flee at once
The urgency in Rebekah's instruction to flee indicates the imminent danger Jacob faces from Esau, who is enraged after being deceived out of his blessing. The concept of fleeing for safety is a common biblical motif, seen in the lives of other patriarchs and prophets, such as Moses fleeing to Midian (Exodus 2:15) and David escaping from Saul (1 Samuel 19:12). This action also foreshadows the future exodus of the Israelites, emphasizing God's provision and protection in times of peril.

to my brother Laban
Laban, Rebekah's brother, resides in Haran, a significant location in the patriarchal narratives. Laban's household represents a place of refuge for Jacob, yet it also becomes a setting for future trials and growth. The mention of Laban connects to earlier narratives, as Abraham's servant found Rebekah in Laban's household (Genesis 24). This familial connection underscores the importance of kinship ties in the ancient world and sets the stage for Jacob's future experiences and marriages.

in Haran
Haran is a city located in the region of Paddan Aram, which is in modern-day Turkey. It holds historical and geographical significance as a center of trade and culture in the ancient Near East. Haran is also where Abraham's family settled after leaving Ur (Genesis 11:31). The return to Haran symbolizes a return to familial roots and God's ongoing covenant with Abraham's descendants. This journey to Haran is pivotal in Jacob's life, as it leads to his encounters with God, the formation of his family, and the continuation of the Abrahamic promise.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Rebekah
The mother of Jacob and Esau, who orchestrates Jacob's escape to protect him from Esau's wrath after Jacob deceitfully receives Isaac's blessing.

2. Jacob
The son of Isaac and Rebekah, who is instructed by his mother to flee to Haran to avoid Esau's vengeance.

3. Esau
Jacob's brother, who is angered by Jacob's deception and plans to kill him after their father Isaac's death.

4. Laban
Rebekah's brother, living in Haran, who becomes a refuge for Jacob.

5. Haran
The place where Jacob is sent to escape Esau's anger, and where he will eventually find his wives and build his family.
Teaching Points
Obedience to Godly Counsel
Rebekah's instruction to Jacob to flee is a reminder of the importance of heeding wise and godly counsel, especially in times of danger or moral decision-making.

God's Sovereignty in Family Dynamics
Despite the deception and conflict within Isaac's family, God's sovereign plan continues to unfold. This teaches us to trust God's overarching plan even amidst family strife.

Seeking Refuge and Safety
Jacob's flight to Haran illustrates the biblical principle of seeking refuge and safety when faced with threats, trusting that God provides places and people for our protection.

The Consequences of Deception
Jacob's need to flee is a direct result of his deceit. This serves as a cautionary tale about the long-term consequences of dishonest actions.

God's Faithfulness in Uncertainty
Jacob's journey to Haran, though fraught with uncertainty, is undergirded by God's faithfulness, reminding us to trust in God's promises even when the path is unclear.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Rebekah's instruction to Jacob reflect the importance of listening to wise counsel in our own lives?

2. In what ways does Jacob's journey to Haran demonstrate God's protection and provision, and how can we apply this understanding to our own life situations?

3. How do the events in Genesis 27:43 connect to the broader account of God's promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?

4. What lessons can we learn from the consequences of Jacob's deception, and how can we apply these lessons to our own ethical decision-making?

5. How does the account of Jacob's flight to Haran encourage us to trust in God's faithfulness during times of uncertainty and transition?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Genesis 28:1-5
Isaac sends Jacob to Paddan-aram to find a wife, further emphasizing the importance of Jacob's journey to Haran.

Genesis 31:3
God instructs Jacob to return to the land of his fathers, showing the completion of his journey and God's faithfulness.

Hebrews 11:20-21
Highlights the faith of Isaac and Jacob, showing the broader account of God's promises through the patriarchs.

Psalm 121:7-8
Speaks of God's protection, which can be related to Jacob's journey and God's providence in his life.
Esau's ResentmentT. H. Leale.Genesis 27:41-45
LessonsG. Hughes, B. D.Genesis 27:41-45
LessonsG. Hughes, B. D.Genesis 27:41-45
People
Esau, Haran, Heth, Isaac, Jacob, Laban, Rebekah
Places
Beersheba, Haran
Topics
Arise, Brother, Flee, Haran, Hearken, Laban, Obey, Quickly, Rise, Thyself, Voice
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Genesis 27:41-43

     5828   danger

Genesis 27:41-45

     5095   Jacob, life
     5834   disagreement

Genesis 27:42-45

     7212   exile

Library
There is a Great Question About Lying, which Often Arises in the Midst Of...
1. There is a great question about Lying, which often arises in the midst of our every day business, and gives us much trouble, that we may not either rashly call that a lie which is not such, or decide that it is sometimes right to tell a lie, that is, a kind of honest, well-meant, charitable lie. This question we will painfully discuss by seeking with them that seek: whether to any good purpose, we need not take upon ourselves to affirm, for the attentive reader will sufficiently gather from the
St. Augustine—On Lying

Epistle Lii. To Natalis, Bishop .
To Natalis, Bishop [1463] . Gregory to Natalis, Bishop of Salona. As though forgetting the tenour of former letters, I had determined to say nothing to your Blessedness but what should savour of sweetness: but, now that in your epistle you have recurred in the way of argumentation to preceding letters, I am once more compelled to say perhaps some things that I had rather not have said. For in defence of feasts your Fraternity mentions the feast of Abraham, in which by the testimony of Holy Scripture
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

The Blessing of Jacob Upon Judah. (Gen. Xlix. 8-10. )
Ver. 8. "Judah, thou, thy brethren shall praise thee; thy hand shall be on the neck of thine enemies; before thee shall bow down the sons of thy father. Ver. 9. A lion's whelp is Judah; from the prey, my son, thou goest up; he stoopeth down, he coucheth as a lion, and as a full-grown lion, who shall rouse him up? Ver. 10. The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come, and unto Him the people shall adhere." Thus does dying Jacob, in announcing
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Letter xxxv. From Pope Damasus.
Damasus addresses five questions to Jerome with a request for information concerning them. They are: 1. What is the meaning of the words "Whosoever slayeth Cain vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold"? (Gen. iv. 5.) 2. If God has made all things good, how comes it that He gives charge to Noah concerning unclean animals, and says to Peter, "What God hath cleansed that call not thou common"? (Acts x. 15.) 3. How is Gen. xv. 16, "in the fourth generation they shall come hither again," to be reconciled
St. Jerome—The Principal Works of St. Jerome

Touching Jacob, However, that which He did at his Mother's Bidding...
24. Touching Jacob, however, that which he did at his mother's bidding, so as to seem to deceive his father, if with diligence and in faith it be attended to, is no lie, but a mystery. The which if we shall call lies, all parables also, and figures designed for the signifying of any things soever, which are not to be taken according to their proper meaning, but in them is one thing to be understood from another, shall be said to be lies: which be far from us altogether. For he who thinks this, may
St. Augustine—Against Lying

Conflict.
"Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the Author and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the Cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him that hath endured such gainsaying of sinners against themselves, that ye
Thomas Charles Edwards—The Expositor's Bible: The Epistle to the Hebrews

First Withdrawal from Herod's Territory and Return.
(Spring, a.d. 29.) Subdivision C. The Twelve Try to Row Back. Jesus Walks Upon the Water. ^A Matt. XIV. 22-36; ^B Mark VI. 45-56; ^D John VI. 15-21. ^d 15 Jesus therefore perceiving that they were about to come and take him by force, to make him king, withdrew again into the mountain himself alone. [Jesus had descended to the plain to feed the multitude, but, perceiving this mistaken desire of the people, he frustrated it by dismissing his disciples and retiring by himself into the mountain.] ^a
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Genesis
The Old Testament opens very impressively. In measured and dignified language it introduces the story of Israel's origin and settlement upon the land of Canaan (Gen.--Josh.) by the story of creation, i.-ii. 4a, and thus suggests, at the very beginning, the far-reaching purpose and the world-wide significance of the people and religion of Israel. The narrative has not travelled far till it becomes apparent that its dominant interests are to be religious and moral; for, after a pictorial sketch of
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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