“The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the Lord.” Genesis 25:22 NKJV

Is there a parallel between Rebecca’s womb, the turmoil within our homes, and our divided nation? Jacob and Esau’s fight in the womb carried into adulthood, with one threatening to kill the other. Yeshua warned the spiritual divide in the end times would be so great that brother will betray brother. (Matthew 10:21a) Families and nations are roiling. Are we ready to ask, “Lord, why is this happening?”

This week’s Torah portion, Toldeot, begins with Isaac’s answered prayer for his new bride. The opening of the wombs of the Biblical matriarchs Sarah, Rebecca, and Rachel was the prelude to closing their past and an open door for their family’s future. But for Rebecca, her once silent womb was now a war zone.

Two Kinds of Prayer

There are several words for prayer in Hebrew. Two appear in the opening words of our portion. First, Isaac’s prayer in the presence of his wife is described with the word “v’yeater” וַיֶּעְתַּ֨ר meaning to heap up words; some translate it as “pleaded.”

“Now Isaac pleaded with the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived.” Genesis 25:21 NKJV

The Lord answered Isaac’s prayer, opening her womb, but the result was not what she imagined. Every mother can identify with Rebecca’s fears as she said, “Why is this happening to me?” Perhaps she thought she was miscarrying, or the baby was in distress? There were no ultra-sounds in her day. And so, she privately went to pray!

Have internal tensions ever been so great you cried, “Why is this happening to me?!” Then you can certainly identify with Rebecca. What did she do? Without Isaac, she “inquired” of the Lord. That is a powerful word that God hears you individually. Mom, the Lord hears your private prayers, and will speak to you personally! This brings us to the second Hebrew word for prayer, “lidrosh” לִדְרֹ֥שׁ, meaning to seek, inquire, pursue. Rebecca is the first woman mentioned as praying and was personally given a prophetic word for her family.

“And the Lord said to her: “Two nations are in your womb, Two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people shall be stronger than the other, And the older shall serve the younger.” Genesis 25:23 NKJV

Just as Mary treasured the words spoken concerning her son Yeshua, so Rebecca guarded this prophecy from the Lord concerning her twin boys.

The parallels between Jacob and Esau, “two nations” and “two peoples,” reverberate today. From her body, they were separated, implying before birth. Thus from her womb, their battle for dominance began. However, Rebecca remembered that the older would serve the younger. In other words, the younger would overcome.

Not So Fraternal Twins

“So when her days were fulfilled for her to give birth, indeed there were twins in her womb.” Genesis 25:24 NKJV

The Hebrew calls them twins, but it is written with a defective or unusual Hebrew form without the letter aleph. Is the text hinting at their imperfect match? Esau was ruddy and covered with hair, while Jacob was smooth. Esau was a hunter and outdoorsman, while Jacob was a man of the tents who made a mean soup.

These were fraternal twins and not genetically identical. Each inherited unique markers of DNA from their parents, which they did not share in common. Most significant, however, was the differences in their spirit. Esau craved the lust of his flesh (Hebrews 112:6), while Jacob inclined his heart to serve the Lord. (Genesis 28:10, 35:2)

Jacob I Have Loved, But Esau I Hated

“I have loved you,” says the Lord. “Yet you say, ‘In what way have You loved us?’ Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” Says the Lord. “Yet Jacob I have loved; But Esau I have hated.” Malachi 1:2-3 NKJV

How could God either love or hate someone from birth? Because the Lord knew the heart of Esau and Jacob before birth, He preordained that Jacob would prevail over the older. And though Rebecca initially thought she was carrying one child, there were two.

It is human nature to want to see ourselves in Jacob. I hope no one identifies with Esau. But here is the reality, though Jacob loved God, he still carried a bit of Esau’s DNA and actions. And though Esau was wicked, he sometimes wanted to be like Jacob. Spiritually, we all feel this struggle of inherited sin nature. What is the answer? We must be born again, inheriting the nature of Yeshua, the Messiah of Israel.

The writer of Hebrews admonishes us to examine our lives for the sinful traits of Esau.

“Lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright.  For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.” Hebrews 12:16-17 NKJV

Overcoming Esau

Before we examine the divided house of our nation, we should root out the divided loyalties of our own hearts. In truth, there is a bit of Jacob and Esau battling within many. Esau does not savor the things of God. Esau wants to sell short and sell out. Esau harbors resentment. Esau and Jacob CANNOT dwell peacefully together, and sin and righteousness cannot live in the heart of a follower of Messiah. James gives insight into this kind of internal struggle.

“Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?” James 4:1 NKJV

What is the answer? Esau cannot dwell in the Promised Land; he must be driven out! How do you drive him out?

“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” James 4: 7-8 NKJV

Nation Against Nation

It is hard not to see parallels between the “two peoples” of Rebecca’s womb and the equally divided U.S. electorate jostling for political power. I am not espousing the virtue of either party. I do believe, however, that, like Jacob and Esau’s conflict, the current divide in America is spiritual.   Individually, a person’s choices will reflect whether the God of Jacob or the cravings of Esau are more predominant.

Revival, humility, and repentance are needed. And it must first begin with the people of God. (I Peter 4:17) Yes, Esau sold his birthright for a pot of lentil soup, but Jacob fed it to him! So, according to James, the first step to overcoming is to resist the devil – stop feeding the appetites of “Esau”.

Conclusion

“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” II Chronicles 7:14 NKJV

Rebecca asked, “Why is this happening to me?” We might also wonder, why am I experiencing this jostling? Rebecca did not expect an Esau, yet he was birthed alongside Jacob. However, she treasured the prophetic promise that the older (Esau) would become subservient to the younger (Jacob).

In Messiah, you are destined to win. You received a new nature to overcome the old in the new birth. And our families’ restoration is key to our land’s healing. So, if you are facing a struggle, “intreat” the Lord as to why, and believe Him for the victory! Rebecca’s example shows us the way to seek (lidrosh) the Lord.