1. BE SEPARATE 1-2 At the end of chapter 27, Rebekah files her complaint with Isaac that if Jacob were to marry one of the women of the land her life would be worthless. Isaac has now come to his senses and has given up his foolish and disobedient desire to see Esau be the chosen of God. He has repented of his actions and now takes leadership of the family as he rightfully should. Isaac pulls his son aside and gives him three commands. a. No Canaanite Women. We have talked about this idea before. This command has roots in the spiritual. Abraham and Isaac are not racists. There is nothing physically wrong with women of that area. The problem is that those women were descendants of Noah’s son Ham and grandson Canaan. They were a people cursed by God. God told Abraham that one day the iniquity of this people would come to its end and his wrath would be poured out on them. These people had turned away from the God of their father Noah and had turned to false gods and demon worship. Paul picks up this idea in the New Testament when says, “What partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols?” (2 Corinthians 6:14-16.) So there he is comparing the two sides to show that these two things ought not to be linked together because, in reality, they cannot be. They must be separate from the Canaanites. b. Live in Your Grandfather’s House. Now, this was the command that Rebekah gave to Jacob back in chapter 27. Esau was breathing murderous threats and Rebekah told Jacob that he should flee to her brother Laban until Esau had a chance to calm down. She tells him that Jacob needs to stay there until she sends for him. Unfortunately, for Rebekah, that day never came. And so, Isaac tells his son that he should go to Rebekah’s family, to the house of Bethuel her father. But his command is not tied to Esau or the need to flee for safety. No, it is tied to his third command. c. Marry a Cousin. Isaac says that Jacob should take a wife from one of the daughters of Laban his mother’s brother. Apparently, Isaac and Rebekah have had more communication from the homeland than Abraham did. Isaac knew Rebekah’s family were still in Paddan-aram and that Laban had multiple daughters. The journey that Jacob is being sent on is a mission to marry one of his cousins. That’s the goal.