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You know that saying, "cheaters never prosper"? In Toldot, we get a story of a cheater who
did seem to prosper but at what price?
Isaac, the long-awaited son of Abraham and Sarah, is now 40 years old, takes a wife,
Rebecca.
They love each other and try for a baby.
When Rebecca finally becomes pregnant she is very uncomfortable, she's scared, and decides
to consult with God. "Then, why me?" she asks. God's answer is mysterious.
"Two nations are in your womb, two peoples from your loins shall issue. People over people
shall prevail, the elder, the younger's slave."
Rebecca gives birth to twins: the first baby boy is Esau. The second is Jacob, born grasping
his brother's heel.
Each parent loves a different twin. Isaac relishes the tasty wild meat that Esau brings
him. But Rebecca loves Jacob—with no reason stated.
Two scenes in Toldot zoom in on the characters of the twins. First, Jacob is stirring a boiling
pot of red stew. Esau comes in from hunting, so hungry he can't even think straight. He
is so famished he agrees to Jacob's suggestion that he buy the food, but has no money, so
instead, Esau sells his birthright—after all, he can't eat the birthright, can he?
The second cheat scene is worse: old Isaac, now blind, thinks he will die soon and therefore
wants to bless his first-born son. He asks Esau to prepare some venison. Meanwhile, Mom
overhears, worries that the wrong twin will get the special blessing, and decides to play
a cruel trick--she figures out how to pass off Jacob as Esau. The trick works.
Jacob enters his father's tent with goatskins on his hands and says something like, "Hi
dad, here's your venison."
Isaac can't see but can hear, and is surprised and he says, "the voice is the voice of Jacob
and hands are the hands of Esau"
Might Isaac be aware that something fishy is going on?
It doesn't end well. Esau comes in with the requested meal, totally confusing old Isaac,
who asks, "who are you?"
"Bless me too Father...have you not reserved any blessing for me?" Heart-breaking.
It's hard NOT to play favorites and it's hard NOT to cheat to get what you think is right,
even lying to get your way.
Ultimately, the price is too high, love lost between the closest of family members—even
between twin brothers.