العربية

John Chrysostom

Nicene & Post-Nicene · AD 325–500

7,356 passages across 56 books of the Bible · Who was this?

On Genesis

20 of 303
  1. Genesis 24:34-38
    Consider … in this instance, I ask you, the servant’s great prudence. What in fact did he say? “I will not eat until I have said my piece.”“Whereas you have made a show of your resources,” he says, “I, for my part, will not attach any importance to resting until I inform you of the reason why I was sent on this mission, why I arrived here from Canaan, and how I was guided to your house. Thus, by learning everything, you will give evidence of your own good dispositions toward my master.”

    HOMILIES ON GENESIS 48.20

  2. Genesis 24:48
    “Seeing now God’s providence so manifestly in action, I asked whose daughter she was. Learning from what she said that she belonged not to alien people but to the household of Nahor, my master’s brother, I was bold enough to ‘put earrings and bracelets on her. In my satisfaction I prayed to the Lord and praised the God of my master Abraham for bringing my journey to a successful conclusion so as to take the daughter of my master’s brother.’ God’s hand in this has been so manifestly active; as you can see, the prayers offered by my master have been granted. Now you, for your part, if you are to give evidence of your dispositions, ‘show steadfast kindness toward my master; if not, let me know it.’3 Tell me the truth now, I ask you, so that I may be in a position to know what I must do. But if the answer is no, tell me so that I may travel in another direction, ‘going left or right.’ ”

    HOMILIES ON GENESIS 48.24

  3. Genesis 24:50
    Then, since God was conducting everything in the wake of the patriarch’s prayers, the maiden’s father and brother said to him, “This thing has come from the Lord; we cannot deny you, for good or ill.” Your account shows the whole thing has happened by God’s arrangement. So don’t think we oppose the decisions of God; after all, it is beyond our powers to do it. Here, the maid is in your hands; “take her, and be on your way, and she will be wife to your master’s son, as the Lord has said.”

    HOMILIES ON GENESIS 48.25

  4. Genesis 24:52
    Do you see how much care they took in ancient times to obtain wives for their sons? How they looked for nobility ahead of money? None of the agreements, none of the contracts or the other ridiculous things that happen these days, nor those terms committed to writing: If someone dies childless, one says, if this or that happens. Instead, among people of those times things were not like this. Rather, the maid’s behavior alone was the most secure contract—no pomp and circumstance. You will realize this when you see the maid led to her nuptials. “Hearing this from the father and the brother … the servant prostrated himself in worship to God.” Note how in everything that happened he gave thanks to the Lord of all. You see, it was God who prepared everything in advance and in response to the patriarch’s prayer sent his angel ahead of him—he it was who conducted the whole business for him.

    HOMILIES ON GENESIS 48.26

  5. Genesis 24:53
    Why do you hesitate and delay, he is saying, if God makes everything so easy for me?… Observe how even these men in their ignorance suggest to the maid what is going to happen, with God directing their minds to it. You see, they foretell to her both facts, that she would become countless thousands and that her offspring would take possession of the cities of their enemies. Do you see God’s providence emerging clearly in every situation, and how the Lord of all arranges for the future to be foretold even by nonbelievers?

    HOMILIES ON GENESIS 48.28

  6. Genesis 24:53
    Learning now that he had the desired end in view, “he brought out presents of silver and gold and clothing and gave them to Rebekah.” Then he waited on her with confidence, as though she were already betrothed in word to Isaac. He presented her brother and mother with gifts, and, when he saw the matter had worked out in accord with his master’s command, only then was his own refreshment seen to. “They ate and drank,” the text says, remember, “he and the men who were with him, and he slept there the night. Rising the next morning he said, ‘Allow me to go that I may return to my master.’ ” Since everything has worked out well in this way from my point of view, he is saying, and, instead of anything being now left undone, since it also appeared satisfactory to you, “allow me to go that I may return to my master.”

    HOMILIES ON GENESIS 48.27

  7. Genesis 25:21
    One question is worth raising initially: If she and her husband were conspicuous for their good life and both concerned for chaste living, why was she barren? We cannot find fault with their life or say barrenness was the result of sin. To grasp the full extent of this remarkable circumstance, remember that it was not only herself who was barren but also the good man’s mother, Sarah; and not only his mother but also his daughter-in-law—I mean Jacob’s wife Rachel.What is the meaning of this gallery of sterile people? All were good people, all virtuous, all given testimony by God; of them he said, “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” And blessed Paul says, “Hence God is not ashamed to be called their God.” There is great commendation of them in the New Testament; great praise of them in the Old. In each case they were distinguished and remarkable men, yet all had barren wives. They spent a long period in a childless condition. So whenever you see a man and wife of virtuous life experiencing childlessness, whenever you see pious people devoted to religion ye…
    One question is worth raising initially: If she and her husband were conspicuous for their good life and both concerned for chaste living, why was she barren? We cannot find fault with their life or say barrenness was the result of sin. To grasp the full extent of this remarkable circumstance, remember that it was not only herself who was barren but also the good man’s mother, Sarah; and not only his mother but also his daughter-in-law—I mean Jacob’s wife Rachel.What is the meaning of this gallery of sterile people? All were good people, all virtuous, all given testimony by God; of them he said, “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” And blessed Paul says, “Hence God is not ashamed to be called their God.” There is great commendation of them in the New Testament; great praise of them in the Old. In each case they were distinguished and remarkable men, yet all had barren wives. They spent a long period in a childless condition. So whenever you see a man and wife of virtuous life experiencing childlessness, whenever you see pious people devoted to religion yet childless, don’t think it is the result of sin. After all, many reasons for God’s designs are beyond our understanding, and we ought to thank God for everything and brand as wicked only those living in sin, not those without children. It frequently happens, in fact, that God works things for our good without our realizing the reason for what happens. Hence in every case we should marvel at his wisdom and praise his ineffable love.

    HOMILIES ON GENESIS 49.5-6

  8. Genesis 25:21
    These things are told for our benefit so that we may give evidence of much goodwill and not pry into God’s plans. Yet we need to explain the reason why these women were barren. What, then, is the reason? So that when you see the Virgin giving birth to our common Lord you may not be incredulous. Exercise your mind, it is saying, on the womb of these sterile women, so that when you see an infertile and sealed womb opened for childbearing by God’s grace, you may not be surprised to hear that a maiden gave birth. Or rather, feel surprise and amazement but don’t refuse faith in the marvel. So when the Jew says, “How did the Virgin give birth?” say to him, “How did the sterile old woman give birth?” In that case, you see, there were two impediments, her advanced age and the imperfect condition of nature, whereas with the Virgin there was one impediment, her not having experienced marriage. Consequently the barren woman prepares the way for the virgin.

    HOMILIES ON GENESIS 49.7

  9. Genesis 25:34
    Listening to this, however, let us learn the lesson never to neglect the gifts from God or forfeit important things for worthless trifles. I mean, why, tell me, should we be obsessed with a desire for money when the kingdom of heaven and those ineffable blessings are within our grasp, and why prefer blessings that endure forever and ever to those that are passing and scarcely last until evening? What could be worse than the folly of being deprived of the former through lust after the latter and never being able to enjoy them in a pure fashion? What good, after all, tell me, is such wealth? Are you not aware that acquisition of great wealth brings us nothing else than an increase in worry, anxiety and sleeplessness? Do you not see that these people (in particular those possessing great wealth) are, so to say, everyone’s slaves, and day in and day out are in fear even of shadows? This, you see, is the source of plotting, envy, deep hatred and countless other evils. Often you would see the person with ten thousand talents of gold hidden away calling blessed the one behind the shop count…
    Listening to this, however, let us learn the lesson never to neglect the gifts from God or forfeit important things for worthless trifles. I mean, why, tell me, should we be obsessed with a desire for money when the kingdom of heaven and those ineffable blessings are within our grasp, and why prefer blessings that endure forever and ever to those that are passing and scarcely last until evening? What could be worse than the folly of being deprived of the former through lust after the latter and never being able to enjoy them in a pure fashion? What good, after all, tell me, is such wealth? Are you not aware that acquisition of great wealth brings us nothing else than an increase in worry, anxiety and sleeplessness? Do you not see that these people (in particular those possessing great wealth) are, so to say, everyone’s slaves, and day in and day out are in fear even of shadows? This, you see, is the source of plotting, envy, deep hatred and countless other evils. Often you would see the person with ten thousand talents of gold hidden away calling blessed the one behind the shop counter who prepares his own meals by hand.

    HOMILIES ON GENESIS 50.7

  10. Genesis 26:1
    In case you might think he was talking about that previous famine, accordingly he added, “besides the famine in the patriarch’s time,” that is to say, another similar famine beset the land in Isaac’s time as in his father’s time. The scarcity of the necessities of life threw everyone into great apprehension, compelled them to leave their own home and travel to those places where it was possible to find an abundance of resources.Hence this good man too, on seeing the famine, “took the journey,” the text says, “to visit Abimelech in Gerar.” This was where Abraham came too, you remember, after his return from Egypt.

    HOMILIES ON GENESIS 51.5-6

  11. Genesis 26:2
    Now it is likely that Isaac also made for there on account of his intention to continue on from there into Egypt; for proof of this, listen to what Scripture says: “God appeared to him and said, ‘Don’t go down into Egypt.’ ” I do not want you to make that long journey, he is saying, but to stay here. Instead of allowing you to experience that hardship, I am going to put into effect the promise made to your father; the promises to him will be fulfilled in you, and you will experience the pledges to him. “Don’t go down into Egypt but dwell in the land that I show you, and be a sojourner in that land.”

    HOMILIES ON GENESIS 51.6

  12. Genesis 26:3
    Lest the good man think it was out of a wish for him to experience the hardship of famine that God gave this direction not allowing him to go into Egypt, God said, Don’t be distressed; don’t be concerned—stay here: “I will be with you.” You have the supplier of all good things, so entertain no concern. After all, I the Lord of all will be with you—and not only that, but “I will bless you.” That is to say, I will make you prosperous and provide you with blessing from myself. What could be more blessed than this good man in receiving such a wonderful promise from God, “I will be with you and bless you?” … But how will I bless you? “To you and your descendants I will give this land.” You think you are visiting these parts as a stranger and nomad; know that to you and your descendants all this land will be given. That you may have confidence, realize that “the oath I swore to your father Abraham” I will fulfill in you.Observe God’s considerateness; he did not simply say, “The covenant I made with your father, nor the promises I made”; instead, what? “The oath I swore.” “I assured him wit…
    Lest the good man think it was out of a wish for him to experience the hardship of famine that God gave this direction not allowing him to go into Egypt, God said, Don’t be distressed; don’t be concerned—stay here: “I will be with you.” You have the supplier of all good things, so entertain no concern. After all, I the Lord of all will be with you—and not only that, but “I will bless you.” That is to say, I will make you prosperous and provide you with blessing from myself. What could be more blessed than this good man in receiving such a wonderful promise from God, “I will be with you and bless you?” … But how will I bless you? “To you and your descendants I will give this land.” You think you are visiting these parts as a stranger and nomad; know that to you and your descendants all this land will be given. That you may have confidence, realize that “the oath I swore to your father Abraham” I will fulfill in you.Observe God’s considerateness; he did not simply say, “The covenant I made with your father, nor the promises I made”; instead, what? “The oath I swore.” “I assured him with an oath,” he is saying, “and I must put my oath into effect and bring it to fulfillment.” Do you see God’s loving kindness? His words are uttered not with a view to his own dignity but out of considerateness of our limitations.

    HOMILIES ON GENESIS 51.7-8

  13. Genesis 26:4
    Then he teaches Isaac what it was he promised and the things about which God had given him confirmation. “I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars of heaven.” This, you remember, he had said to the patriarch as well, that his descendants would be so numerous as to be compared with the stars and the sand: “I will give all this land to your descendants,” he said, “and in your descendants will all the nations of the earth be blessed.” Hence the promises made to him I will fulfill in you, “for the reason that your father Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my commands, my judgments and my laws.” See God’s wisdom in stirring up the good man’s thinking, making him more enthusiastic and having the effect of rendering him an imitator of his father. After all, God is saying, if Abraham was judged worthy of such a wonderful promise for obeying my voice, on account of his virtue I am about to fulfill it in you, the child born to him. And if you yourself become an imitator of him and tread in his path, consider the degree of favor you will enjoy from me and the care you will be accorde…
    Then he teaches Isaac what it was he promised and the things about which God had given him confirmation. “I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars of heaven.” This, you remember, he had said to the patriarch as well, that his descendants would be so numerous as to be compared with the stars and the sand: “I will give all this land to your descendants,” he said, “and in your descendants will all the nations of the earth be blessed.” Hence the promises made to him I will fulfill in you, “for the reason that your father Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my commands, my judgments and my laws.” See God’s wisdom in stirring up the good man’s thinking, making him more enthusiastic and having the effect of rendering him an imitator of his father. After all, God is saying, if Abraham was judged worthy of such a wonderful promise for obeying my voice, on account of his virtue I am about to fulfill it in you, the child born to him. And if you yourself become an imitator of him and tread in his path, consider the degree of favor you will enjoy from me and the care you will be accorded. I mean, the man destined to prosper for someone else’s virtue will be accorded much greater favor if he himself proves virtuous.

    HOMILIES ON GENESIS 51.9

  14. Genesis 26:5
    But what is the meaning of “for the reason that he obeyed my voice and kept my commands, my orders, and my judgments”? I said to Abraham, “Go forth from your country and your kindred, onward to a land that I will show you.” He left what he had and set off for an uncertain goal. He did not dally or delay; instead, with complete enthusiasm, Abraham obeyed my call and carried out my commands. In turn I promised him things beyond nature and, despite his despair on the score of age and the unsuitability for childbearing on the part of himself and your mother, he heard from me that his descendants would develop into such a great number as to fill the whole land. Yet he did not become deranged in mind or lose faith. Hence it was reckoned as righteousness in Abraham to trust in my power and have confidence in my promises.…After your birth your mother was ill disposed toward her maidservant’s child Ishmael and wanted to drive him out of the house with Hagar so that he should have nothing in common with you. The patriarch had some natural inclination toward him out of his fatherly affection; b…
    But what is the meaning of “for the reason that he obeyed my voice and kept my commands, my orders, and my judgments”? I said to Abraham, “Go forth from your country and your kindred, onward to a land that I will show you.” He left what he had and set off for an uncertain goal. He did not dally or delay; instead, with complete enthusiasm, Abraham obeyed my call and carried out my commands. In turn I promised him things beyond nature and, despite his despair on the score of age and the unsuitability for childbearing on the part of himself and your mother, he heard from me that his descendants would develop into such a great number as to fill the whole land. Yet he did not become deranged in mind or lose faith. Hence it was reckoned as righteousness in Abraham to trust in my power and have confidence in my promises.…After your birth your mother was ill disposed toward her maidservant’s child Ishmael and wanted to drive him out of the house with Hagar so that he should have nothing in common with you. The patriarch had some natural inclination toward him out of his fatherly affection; but when he heard from me, “Do what Sarah wants,” he ignored his natural affection and drove out Ishmael along with the maidservant, obeying my call and keeping my commands in every detail. I mean, when he received the ultimate command from me to offer up as a sacrifice the son he so much desired, the gift of his old age, Abraham did not pry into the reasons. Neither was he disturbed in his thinking; nor did he betray the news to your mother or reveal to you what was about to be done by him. Instead, with steadfast resolve and heightened zeal, he pressed ahead to put my command into effect. So I rewarded his intention by preventing the execution of the deed. Since, then, he had in everything given evidence of complete obedience and observance of my commands, consequently I am making you, his child, the inheritor of the promises made to him. So imitate his obedience, and believe my words so as to be found worthy of a manifold reward for your father’s virtue and also for your own obedience. Don’t go down into Egypt; rather, stay here. Do you see God’s loving kindness in strengthening Isaac’s resolve through the memory of his father’s virtue?

    HOMILIES ON GENESIS 51.10-11

  15. Genesis 26:8
    Now Isaac was there a long time. Abimelech looked out of the window and saw him fondling his wife, Rebekah; he summoned him and said to him, “So she is your wife? Why did you say, ‘She is my sister?’ ” Since the good man was unmasked by this evidence, instead of dissembling any further, he admitted it and gave a clear explanation of why he brought himself to call her his sister. He said, “I was afraid I might be killed on her account; the fear of death drove me to this extreme.”Perhaps, however, he had been forewarned, since Isaac’s father too had saved his own life by devising such a stratagem, and, for this reason, Isaac followed the same path. The king, however, had a lively memory of what he had suffered in the case of the patriarch for abducting Sarah, and at once he admitted his liability to punishment from on high by saying to him, “Why did you do it? Some one of my people could easily have slept with your wife, whereas you would have had us be in ignorance.” This deception, he is saying, we have already undergone at the hands of your father, and in the present case had we not…
    Now Isaac was there a long time. Abimelech looked out of the window and saw him fondling his wife, Rebekah; he summoned him and said to him, “So she is your wife? Why did you say, ‘She is my sister?’ ” Since the good man was unmasked by this evidence, instead of dissembling any further, he admitted it and gave a clear explanation of why he brought himself to call her his sister. He said, “I was afraid I might be killed on her account; the fear of death drove me to this extreme.”Perhaps, however, he had been forewarned, since Isaac’s father too had saved his own life by devising such a stratagem, and, for this reason, Isaac followed the same path. The king, however, had a lively memory of what he had suffered in the case of the patriarch for abducting Sarah, and at once he admitted his liability to punishment from on high by saying to him, “Why did you do it? Some one of my people could easily have slept with your wife, whereas you would have had us be in ignorance.” This deception, he is saying, we have already undergone at the hands of your father, and in the present case had we not quickly come upon the truth, we were on the verge of undergoing the same. “You would have let us be in ignorance.” You see, that time too they were on the verge of sinning through ignorance, and this time you were within a hairsbreadth of causing us to fall into sin out of ignorance.

    HOMILIES ON GENESIS 51.12-13

  16. Genesis 26:11
    See God’s providence; see his ineffable care. The One who had said, “Don’t go down into Egypt; stay in this land, and I will be with you,” was the one arranging all this and putting the good man in such a safe position. I mean, notice the king going to such trouble to ensure that he could live in peace and be free from all concern. After all, Abimelech threatened them all with death, the text says, “if anyone laid a hand on him or his wife.” You see, since it was the fear—of death, I mean—that shook Isaac’s resolve, consequently the loving Lord caused him to be rid of it and from then on to live in complete security. See the strange and remarkable thing in the way God, who is creative and wise and transforms everything according to his own wish and finds means where there are none, brings about in every way the security of his servants.Whence was it, after all … that this king showed such care for the good man, as if proclaiming his merits to all the inhabitants of the city and presenting him as a famous person and much admired by himself? In this way too Nebuchadnezzar, after castin…
    See God’s providence; see his ineffable care. The One who had said, “Don’t go down into Egypt; stay in this land, and I will be with you,” was the one arranging all this and putting the good man in such a safe position. I mean, notice the king going to such trouble to ensure that he could live in peace and be free from all concern. After all, Abimelech threatened them all with death, the text says, “if anyone laid a hand on him or his wife.” You see, since it was the fear—of death, I mean—that shook Isaac’s resolve, consequently the loving Lord caused him to be rid of it and from then on to live in complete security. See the strange and remarkable thing in the way God, who is creative and wise and transforms everything according to his own wish and finds means where there are none, brings about in every way the security of his servants.Whence was it, after all … that this king showed such care for the good man, as if proclaiming his merits to all the inhabitants of the city and presenting him as a famous person and much admired by himself? In this way too Nebuchadnezzar, after casting the three children in the furnace and learning by experience the invincible power of the young men’s virtue, began then to sing their praises and in every way to render them famous by his own tongue. This, after all, is a particular index of the abundance of God’s power, when he causes his servants to be celebrated by their enemies. The man who with relish had the furnace lit and then saw that, on account of help from on high, the children’s virtue survived even the fire’s heat, was all at once changed, and he cried out, “Servants of God the most high.”

    HOMILIES ON GENESIS 51.14-15

  17. Genesis 26:16
    Consider the degree of evil of those inhabitants such as even to begrudge the good man water. Not even the king, despite his having so much wealth, could withstand the impulse of envy but said, “Depart from us, because you have become far too powerful for us.” What terrible malice; why, in fact, are you driving the good man off? Surely Isaac caused your subjects no harm? Surely he did no wrong? But that is what envy is like: It does nothing out of calm reason. I mean, on seeing the good man enjoying such favor from the God of all, Abimelech should rather have respected him, should rather have shown him honor so as himself to win favor from on high because of the honor shown him. But instead of doing that, he even tried to drive him off, saying, “Depart from us, because you have become far too powerful for us.”That is what envy is like, after all: It cannot simply accept others’ success but instead regards the neighbor’s prosperity as a disaster for itself and is devastated by the neighbor’s good fortune. That is precisely what happened here: having authority over the whole city and h…
    Consider the degree of evil of those inhabitants such as even to begrudge the good man water. Not even the king, despite his having so much wealth, could withstand the impulse of envy but said, “Depart from us, because you have become far too powerful for us.” What terrible malice; why, in fact, are you driving the good man off? Surely Isaac caused your subjects no harm? Surely he did no wrong? But that is what envy is like: It does nothing out of calm reason. I mean, on seeing the good man enjoying such favor from the God of all, Abimelech should rather have respected him, should rather have shown him honor so as himself to win favor from on high because of the honor shown him. But instead of doing that, he even tried to drive him off, saying, “Depart from us, because you have become far too powerful for us.”That is what envy is like, after all: It cannot simply accept others’ success but instead regards the neighbor’s prosperity as a disaster for itself and is devastated by the neighbor’s good fortune. That is precisely what happened here: having authority over the whole city and holding everyone in his thrall, the king said to this nomad, this vagrant, wandering hither and yon, “Depart from us, because you have become far too powerful for us.” Isaac really was more powerful, with help from above in every circumstance and protected by God’s right hand.

    HOMILIES ON GENESIS 52.6-7

  18. Genesis 26:35
    See how much can be learned from these few words. I mean, why did it indicate to us Esau’s age? Not idly, but for us to learn from it Isaac’s advanced years and the fact that he was now well beyond his prime. You see, if we recall what was said before, that at the time he married Rebekah he was in fact forty years old, whereas when the children were born he was sixty, we will realize that now at a hundred he had reached the height of old age. Since, in fact, it is next about to recount to us that because of his age he had poor eyesight, accordingly it indicates his age to us so that we might be in a position to know precisely Isaac’s time of life. So it said, “Now, Esau was forty.”Then for us to learn the boy’s indiscretion in taking brides from races he should not have, it revealed to us that one was from the race of the Hittites, the other from the Hivites. Yet knowing as Esau did the pains taken by the patriarch in giving express orders to his servant to select a bride for Isaac from his own tribe and the fact that their mother Rebekah came from Haran, he should not have set his m…
    See how much can be learned from these few words. I mean, why did it indicate to us Esau’s age? Not idly, but for us to learn from it Isaac’s advanced years and the fact that he was now well beyond his prime. You see, if we recall what was said before, that at the time he married Rebekah he was in fact forty years old, whereas when the children were born he was sixty, we will realize that now at a hundred he had reached the height of old age. Since, in fact, it is next about to recount to us that because of his age he had poor eyesight, accordingly it indicates his age to us so that we might be in a position to know precisely Isaac’s time of life. So it said, “Now, Esau was forty.”Then for us to learn the boy’s indiscretion in taking brides from races he should not have, it revealed to us that one was from the race of the Hittites, the other from the Hivites. Yet knowing as Esau did the pains taken by the patriarch in giving express orders to his servant to select a bride for Isaac from his own tribe and the fact that their mother Rebekah came from Haran, he should not have set his mind on any such thing. In order, however, to show from the outset the undisciplined character of Esau’s behavior, he took those wives before seeking advice. And for us to learn their intractable nature Scripture says, “They were at odds with Isaac and Rebekah.” What could be more galling than this antipathy when they were due to show complete respect and not only did not do this but were even prepared for hostility?

    HOMILIES ON GENESIS 53.1-2

  19. Genesis 27:3
    Notice in this, dearly beloved, God’s ineffable wisdom: Whereas the father gave evidence of natural affection by giving these directions to Esau, the wise and resourceful Lord caused his own prediction to be brought to pass by means of Rebekah, thus teaching us the power of virtue and mildness of manner. I mean, one son considered himself to hold pride of place by birthright and by his father’s preference for him, and yet he was suddenly found to be bereft of all this. The other son, on the contrary, being endowed with homely virtues and enjoying the help of favor from above, won his father’s blessing against his will. Nothing is more powerful than the person helped by that mighty right hand.In any case, look carefully at all this so as to learn the extraordinary nature of God’s designs: One man enjoyed favor from that source and was accorded great cooperation in everything so that the father’s blessing was transferred to him. The other lost everything, forfeiting what was his because of the evil of his ways.

    HOMILIES ON GENESIS 53.3-4

  20. Genesis 27:8
    See a mother’s affection, or rather God’s designs: He it was who prompted her to make plans and also made sure all turned out well. Do you see the mother’s excellent planning? See also Jacob’s circumspection in showing his mildness of manner in his reply. “He replied to his mother, ‘My brother Esau is hairy, whereas my skin is smooth. Perhaps my father may touch me, and I will appear ridiculous to him and bring on myself a curse, and not blessing’ ” Remarkable the child’s dutifulness and his respect for his father: “I am afraid,” he says. “My efforts may have the contrary effect. I may seem out of step with my father’s wishes and win a curse instead of a blessing.” So what does Rebekah do, this extraordinary woman of great affection? Since she was not concocting this only out of her own thinking but was also implementing the prediction from on high, she took every care to banish fear from the child and instill courage so as to bring off the plan. Instead of promising him that he would be able to deceive his father and elude detection, what did she say? “Let the curse on you fall on m…
    See a mother’s affection, or rather God’s designs: He it was who prompted her to make plans and also made sure all turned out well. Do you see the mother’s excellent planning? See also Jacob’s circumspection in showing his mildness of manner in his reply. “He replied to his mother, ‘My brother Esau is hairy, whereas my skin is smooth. Perhaps my father may touch me, and I will appear ridiculous to him and bring on myself a curse, and not blessing’ ” Remarkable the child’s dutifulness and his respect for his father: “I am afraid,” he says. “My efforts may have the contrary effect. I may seem out of step with my father’s wishes and win a curse instead of a blessing.” So what does Rebekah do, this extraordinary woman of great affection? Since she was not concocting this only out of her own thinking but was also implementing the prediction from on high, she took every care to banish fear from the child and instill courage so as to bring off the plan. Instead of promising him that he would be able to deceive his father and elude detection, what did she say? “Let the curse on you fall on me, child; just heed my word, and go and fetch it for me.” “Even if anything like this should happen,” she is saying, “you personally will suffer no harm. So don’t be afraid: Take heart, ‘heed my word,’ and do what I advise you.” This really is a mother’s love, readily accepting everything for her child’s sake.

    HOMILIES ON GENESIS 53.5

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