The Gate of Heaven Read Online Free PDF Page B

could boast of perfect vision from his deep-set eyes and was able to see farther than anyone else among their people. His hands were delicately fashioned, with long, tapered fingers, well-suited for skillfully playing the harp. Even though he still enjoyed solitary pursuits, he had also become a fine herdsman. No other man in the tribe knew more than Jacob about protecting, breeding, and raising livestock. Rebekah had never been able to conceal her favoritism for Jacob over Esau. It made her feel better to tell herself that Isaac had made a favorite of Esau, so it was only right that she should favor Jacob.
    â€œWhy isn’t Esau here?” Jacob asked suddenly. “He should be helping us unpack.”
    â€œOh, he’s out hunting.”
    â€œHe’s always hunting.” Jacob scowled and continued with his task. “I wish we hadn’t had to come to the land of the Philistines.”
    â€œSo do I, but your father insists that God warned him not to go to Egypt.”
    â€œTo Egypt?! I didn’t know Father was even thinking of going there.”
    â€œYes, he was. Water is plentiful along the Nile, but the Lord said we were to come here.”
    â€œI don’t know why. The Egyptians are more civilized than these Philistines,” Jacob argued. His eyes narrowed as he added, “They’re a violent people.”
    â€œI said the same thing to your father, but he was so certain that God told him to come here he wouldn’t listen to me.”
    Jacob faced his mother. “You know, Grandfather talked so much about the many times God spoke to him out in the desert. And God has spoken to Father too. Has He ever spoken to you?”
    â€œWhy do you ask, son?”
    â€œBecause He never speaks to me,” Jacob said petulantly, “even though I ask Him to.” Seeing that his mother was upset, he asked, “What’s wrong?”
    â€œWell…I’ve never told you this, my son, but God did speak to me once.”
    Jacob’s eyes lit up, and he gave Rebekah his full attention, firing questions at her. “Tell me about it. When was it? How old were you? What did He say?”
    â€œI shouldn’t have even mentioned it.”
    â€œWell, you did, so now you’ll have to tell me.”
    Ever since the birth of her twin sons, Rebekah had kept God’s prophetic words about them to herself. She had told Isaac of the vision immediately afterward, but he had been so disturbed by it that she had never mentioned it again. Now she hesitated at first, then relented and nodded. “All right. I think maybe you should know—but you must promise never to tell anyone else.”
    â€œOf course I promise. Now, what happened, Mother?”
    â€œI still remember God’s visit to me so clearly! It was the night before you were born—a very hard time for me, son. In those final months of my pregnancy, when I was carrying you and your brother, there seemed to be a war going on inside of me, and that night was particularly bad. I remember lying alone in the darkness. Your father had gone out to check the flocks, and I was afraid. So I cried to the Lord and asked Him for help, and…and then He came to me.”
    â€œWhat did He look like?” Jacob’s eyes were intent, and he leaned forward breathlessly, awaiting her answer.
    â€œWhy, I didn’t see Him, Jacob. There was a strange light—stranger than anything I’d ever seen before—but no form of a man or any other created being.”
    â€œWell, what did He say?”
    â€œI’ve never forgotten His words. ‘Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.’”
    Jacob stared at his mother, his lips parted in wonder. “The older will serve the younger? Are you certain God said that?”
    â€œI couldn’t mistake it. I’ve thought about