What does Genesis 27:43 mean?
Earlier, Rebekah overheard her husband's plan to bless their oldest twin son, Esau (Genesis 27:1–6). Since she preferred the younger, Jacob, she hatched a plot (Genesis 27:7–14). Working with Jacob, she creates an elaborate disguise which fools the elderly, blind Isaac into blessing the wrong son (Genesis 27:15–17). Esau, of course, is distraught when he finds out that he's been cheated by his brother (Genesis 27:30–35). That despair rapidly turns to white-hot rage, and an intent to murder (Genesis 27:41).Luckily for Jacob, word of this vengeful hate makes it to Rebekah, who again compels her son Jacob to action. She uses the same language she had employed earlier. Rebekah tells Jacob to "obey [her] voice," as when she compelled him to participate in the scheme to deceive Isaac. Now she commands his obedience again, this time to run away from his murderous brother.
Specifically, she commands Jacob to flee to her brother Laban's house, in Haran, in Mesopotamia. We last saw Laban when Abraham's servant went to Abraham's people looking for a wife for Isaac (Genesis 24:1–4). He found Rebekah (Genesis 24:23–28). Her father and her brother Laban agreed to allow her to travel back to Canaan and marry Isaac. That had been many, many years ago.
Now Rebekah is counting on her brother to provide Jacob a place to stay away from Esau. In addition, we will see that she may also want Jacob to find a wife of his own from among her people. At least, that's what she will tell Isaac.
When Abraham and Sarah tried to scheme a solution, they created heartache and a split family (Genesis 16:1–5; 21:9–14). Rebekah's deception of Isaac may have fulfilled a prophecy (Genesis 25:23), but it also created a rift between brothers. And, in her own case, it will mean saying goodbye to her favored son; after this passage, Scripture only mentions Rebekah in reference to her death (Genesis 49:31).
