Norwegian 2018 (Bibelen - Guds Ord Hverdagsbibelen (Hermon Forlag))
Esau hatet Jakob for at han hadde lurt til seg farens velsignelse. Esau sa til seg selv: «Så snart sørgedagene for min far er over, skal jeg slå i hjel Jakob.» Men Rebekka hadde fått høre hva Esau, hennes eldste sønn, hadde i tankene. Derfor sendte hun bud på Jakob, sin yngste sønn, og sa til ham: «Broren din trøster seg med tanken på å drepe deg. Hør derfor på meg: Reis bort og flykt til min bror Laban i Karan! Bli hos ham i noen dager, til broren din har roet seg ned. Når han ikke er sint på deg lenger og har glemt hva du har gjort mot ham, da skal jeg sende bud på deg så du kan komme tilbake. Hvorfor skulle jeg miste dere begge på én og samme dag?» Rebekka sa til Isak: «Jeg er lei av livet på grunn av disse svigerdøtrene våre, Hets døtre. Hvis Jakob også finner seg ei kone herfra, fra samme slekt, hva er da livet verd for meg?»
What Does This Mean?
This verse shows Esau feeling angry and jealous because his father blessed Jacob instead of him. He plans to kill Jacob when their father is dead. The key message is about the danger of jealousy and revenge.
Explained for Children
Imagine you and your sibling both want the last cookie, but your mom gives it to your sibling. You feel really upset and want to take it from them. But that's not a good way to handle it. The verse tells us a story like this, but it's much more serious.
Historical Background
Genesis was written by Moses around 1400 BC. It was written for the Israelites to remind them of their history and God's covenant with their ancestors. The story reflects the common theme of sibling rivalry and the consequences of jealousy.
Living It Out Today
In a modern context, think of a situation where you feel jealous of a coworker who gets a promotion you wanted. Instead of plotting revenge, the verse encourages resolving feelings in a healthier way, like improving your own skills or talking it out.
Esau hated Jacob because he felt betrayed and jealous that Jacob received the blessing that was supposed to be his. This shows how deep feelings of jealousy can lead to hatred and dangerous plans.
What does this verse teach us about revenge?
This verse shows that revenge is a dangerous path filled with negative emotions. It teaches us to handle our emotions and conflicts in a healthier way, avoiding harmful actions.
How can we apply this verse to our daily lives?
We can apply this verse by being mindful of our feelings of jealousy and taking steps to manage them before they lead to destructive actions. It's important to resolve conflicts through communication and forgiveness.
Are there other stories in the Bible about sibling rivalry?
Yes, the Bible has other stories like the rivalry between Joseph and his brothers or the conflict between Cain and Abel, which also teach lessons about jealousy and reconciliation.