Some say it's gravity, others dark energy. But what about love? What about a mother's love, strong enough to bind even the most volatile relationships?
The Book of Jubilees, an ancient Jewish text that expands on the stories we find in Genesis, gives us a glimpse of just that with the story of Rebekah, Jacob, and Esau. Remember them? The brothers locked in a lifelong struggle, beginning even before they were born?
Well, in Jubilees 35, we find Rebekah nearing the end of her days. And what's weighing on her heart? Not her own mortality, but the fractured relationship between her sons. She's desperate to ensure peace between them, to heal the wounds that have festered for so long.
So, she calls for Jacob. Imagine the scene: Esau is present, a silent witness to the powerful words about to be exchanged. Rebekah extracts a promise from Jacob. It's not just a casual promise, mind you, but a solemn oath. She makes him swear that he will love Esau, that he will harbor no ill will towards him throughout his entire life, desiring only good for his brother. "And I swear unto thee that I shall love him, and not desire evil against him all the days of my life but good only." These are powerful words!
Then, she commands Jacob directly, repeating the very words she had spoken to Esau himself. It’s a powerful, unifying gesture. She wants to make absolutely certain that Jacob understands the gravity of the situation.
Jacob responds, pledging to fulfill her wish. "I shall do thy pleasure; believe me that no evil will proceed from me or from my sons against Esau, and I shall be first in naught save in love only." He commits himself and his descendants to a path of love and reconciliation with Esau. It's a powerful declaration, a commitment to prioritize love above all else.
That night, they ate and drank together. A final meal of sorts. And then, Rebekah, at the ripe old age of three jubilees, one week, and one year (that's 218 years old!), passed away.
What are we to make of this scene? Rebekah’s death is almost overshadowed by the intensity of her final act. She uses her last moments to try and create a lasting peace, a legacy of love to mend the broken bond between her sons. Even on her deathbed, her thoughts were for her children.
Is it naive to think that a promise, even a sworn oath, can truly erase years of conflict? Perhaps. But Rebekah's actions speak to a deeper truth: that love, and the pursuit of peace, are worth fighting for until our very last breath. It's a powerful reminder that even amidst conflict, the possibility of reconciliation, of choosing love, always remains. And maybe, just maybe, that's the most powerful force in the universe after all.