Sarah dies, and Abraham buys the cave of Machpelah to bury her. Then Abraham sends his eldest servant to find a wife for Isaac among his own kindred. The servant prays for a sign: the young woman who offers water to him and to his camels will be the one. Before he has finished speaking, Rebekah comes out with her pitcher.
Rebekah's brother Laban welcomes the servant, and Rebekah agrees, “I will go.” Isaac loves her, and he is comforted after his mother's death. God's guidance is woven through ordinary moments of prayer and kindness.
Rebekah is barren, but Isaac entreats the LORD for her, and she conceives twins. The LORD tells her that two nations are in her womb and that the older shall serve the younger. Esau is born first and grows into a skillful hunter; Jacob is a mild man, dwelling in tents. One day Esau comes in faint from the field and sells his birthright to Jacob for bread and stew of lentils. “Thus Esau despised his birthright.”
When Isaac is old and his eyes are dim, Rebekah and Jacob plan a deception. Jacob covers his hands and neck with the skins of the kids of the goats and pretends to be Esau, and Isaac blesses him. God's purpose stands, but the family is torn apart, and Jacob must flee from Esau's anger. God's plans move forward even through broken people — yet sin always has a cost.