The Sons of Isaac(113)

“And if you talk to your mother …”

“She can only warn me to wait. ‘If you marry the wrong person,’ she says, ‘you could lose the blessing.’”

“Then you want this blessing that much?”

“It means everything to me.”

In this way an understanding grew between Reuben and Bilhah. She who had been given to Jacob to bear him sons had no claim on his affections. Now suddenly, she was flattered to find this young, handsome man interested in her. It was not long until the exchange of mutual grievances grew into a bond, and then into a forbidden sexual intimacy.

Joseph was the one to discover their secret. One evening, coming to his mother’s tent looking for Bilhah, he discovered the two together. They were so engrossed in each other that they neither heard nor saw him. He staggered back, letting the tent flap fall quietly in place. He was careful not to make any noise. Then, while struggling to control the choking, tearing waves of shock, he hurried to a secluded place under the wide limbs of an ancient fig tree.

Dark clouds of loneliness engulfed him. Reuben had been his friend and Bilhah an important part of his world. Now to the grief over his mother’s death was added the burden of this terrible revelation. He saw it as an affront to his father. Young as he was, he knew that to lie with the wife of a tribal leader was to lay claim to his position. Reuben, his friend and big brother, was not just committing a great sin but was challenging his father’s leadership.

He was also aware of his father’s continuing grief. Jacob, now called Israel, moved among them in a daze. He didn’t eat and there were dark circles under his eyes from lack of sleep. What would the knowledge of this treachery do to his beloved father?

At first he determined to shield his father from the knowledge. Then he changed his mind. If Reuben, by this action, was trying to displace his father, then his father must be warned.

That night, when Jacob was alone, Joseph crept into his tent and as gently as possible told him what he had seen. It was dark, with just a small oil lamp burning, so Joseph could not see his father’s face but heard the groan. He felt his father’s hand stiffen then withdraw from his shoulder. He heard him mutter, “It is too much. First Simeon, then Levi, and now Reuben. Where will it all end? Who will be worthy of my father’s blessing?”

Joseph was surprised that his father made no move against Reuben. The subject was never mentioned, but Reuben, who must have felt his father’s displeasure, made no more trips to Bilhah’s tent. Instead Joseph noticed that his father set his face, now hard as flint, toward the Oaks of Mamre and Isaac’s camp.

* * *

Though Jacob was numb with grief and disturbed by the actions of his sons, he managed to observe the expected niceties of one coming home. He sent runners with rich gifts and shepherds with some of his prize goats. Remembering his father was blind and could not read, he singled out a young boy who had the talent of chanting poetry suited to the occasion. The boy was quick to size up the situation and weave gracious, rhyming phrases in honor of the dignitary chosen.

As Jacob approached the oak grove, he had to stiffen his resolve to return to his father. He was not at all sure of his reception. So much had gone wrong and he felt he could not endure one more disappointment.

He had thought everything would be easy after wrestling with the stranger at the Jabbok and getting the new name. He had bought the land at Shechem, dug the well, and was ready to build a new life for himself and his family. He had been so sure that nothing but blessing was about to be heaped upon him.

Then there had been the tragedy of Shechem, their burying the idols, and then going up to Bethel. Once again at Bethel, everything had felt so right. The dark stain of Shechem could never be wiped away, but they had settled things with Elohim. Building the altar and making the sacrifice had made it possible for them to make a fresh start and try to forget their dark and devious mistakes. They had feasted and sung the old songs, put on the new garments; they were all ready to start over again. Everything was going to be right from that time on.

As he left Bethel with his new name firmly in place and a glow of excitement for the expected blessings he now felt worthy to receive, he was suddenly confronted with the greatest trial of his life. In one terrible blow Rachel was taken from him and his firstborn son had committed the terrible, unthinkable sin that would forever cut him off from the blessing.

Now he fully expected some terrible disaster to await him at the Oaks of Mamre. Perhaps Esau would regret their reconciliation. Maybe his father would renounce him for the old deception, turn him out, take away the birthright and the blessing.