Join the iBible Revolution!

After Esau sold his birthright to Jacob, years went by, and many events happened: Isaac's tribe traveled, settled in various places, and Esau even married two local women. As time went by, Isaac was so old that he became nearly blind. He began to get his affairs in order, and it was time for him to pass on his blessing. Blessings would be given to each of his children, but the most important blessing was always given to the firstborn.

In our last iBIBLE "Behind the Scenes," we looked at the marriage of Isaac and Rebekah. We know that Rebekah was unable to bear children, so Isaac cried out to God for help. After nearly 20 years of marriage, by the grace of God, Rebekah became pregnant with twins. However, the children struggled in Rebekah's womb. She said, "If it is thus, why is this happening to me?" (Gen. 25:22, ESV) and went to the Lord in prayer. And the Lord said to her: "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger." —Gen. 25:23

Isaac was 37 years old and without a wife when his mother Sarah passed away. After her death, Isaac's father Abraham sought to obtain a wife for him. Abraham did not want Isaac to marry one of the Canaanites (they were not God's chosen people), but wanted him to take a wife from his father's family that had remained in Haran instead.