Read Online The Gate of Heaven by Gilbert Morris - Free Book Online

reward.”
    â€œThe firstborn must be the head of the clan,” Isaac insisted. “I’ll talk to Esau. He’s a good man. Just a little rough.”
    Jacob knew it was useless to say any more. “Father, I’ve been thinking of going away and starting over. Perhaps you could give me just some of the flock.”
    Isaac shook his head. “Your brother will take care of you,” he said.
    Jacob stared at his father, then turned to his mother. But he saw only the helplessness in her expression. “I wish Grandfather were alive,” he muttered quietly, then rose to his feet and left the tent.
    â€œThat boy is wrong,” Isaac said. “Isn’t he, Rebekah?”
    Rebekah loved Isaac, but she loved Jacob fully as much. “No, he’s not wrong. You’ve got to show more concern for him.”
    â€œEsau is the firstborn. Now, let’s have no more talk about it!”

Chapter 5
    Standing outside the tent, Rebekah felt a calm possess her as the night passed away and the new day was born. She sighed deeply, for the last month had been hard. Jacob had been restless, and it had taken all her persuasive powers to keep him from leaving home. Esau had been hard on his younger brother—arrogant and constantly harping on Jacob’s shortcomings. As for Isaac, there was nothing to be said. His appetite was good, but he usually kept to his bed and rarely ventured more than a few yards outside his tent. His blindness had dimmed his appetite for the outdoors he had always loved, and it was all Rebekah could do to persuade him to get a little exercise.
    The camp was beginning to wake up with the usual morning vigor. The sky was still dark and Rebekah stared up at the stars, which looked like sequins on black velvet. As she turned to face the east, she saw the horizon crack apart as if a fissure had divided earth from sky.
    Pleasure came to her as the light of morning broke, and for a long time she stood there, simply drinking in the birth of a new day.
    The noises of the camp gradually became more pronounced, the voices of children with their treble cries, men from the outskirts shouting at the cattle, and the singing and chattering of the women as they began the morning meal. The air was soon filled with the smell of woodsmoke, and the heat of the sun began to warm the camp. With a sigh Rebekah turned and began her day. She entered the smaller tent, which adjoined the large one where she and Isaac slept and spent most of their waking hours. The smaller tent held the cooking supplies, and she began, after a moment’s thought, to select ingredients for the morning meal.
    As she worked, her mind went back to the problem with Jacob. She ground corn into fine flour to make the mush that Isaac liked so much without thinking about her labor. She was good at blocking out everything except what was in the center of her thoughts, and now this was Jacob and his brother, Esau.
    She had always striven to be fair to Esau, but he had been a hard child to love. Whereas Jacob was affectionate, often showing his love with caresses and pats, Esau was never demonstrative toward her. At first Rebekah had tried to share her caresses equally between the two boys, but Esau had early drawn away or laughed at her. As her sons had reached manhood, the differences between the two had become more pronounced. Rebekah sighed and shook her head at the thought.
    Maoni, the sixteen-year-old servant girl, came in yawning and rubbing her eyes.
    â€œStart preparing that fruit, Maoni,” Rebekah commanded.
    The girl was attractive and was already drawing the attention of young men. Rebekah was making plans for the girl, selecting which of the suitors would be best. Even as she thought of this, she was suddenly disgusted with herself. Why do I think I have to manage everyone? Maoni’s old enough to know which man she likes the best. As long as he’s suitable, I’ll have nothing to say about it .