Esau and Jacob were twin boys, with Esau being born first. Remember he sold his birthright (the birthright was a way of living, a position in society and family, something to be passed on to the next generation). We enter this story as Jacob has just received his father’s blessing, even though that would have rightly been Esau’s if he had not sold it to Jacob.

Esau said to his father, “Do you really have only one blessing, Father? Bless me too, my father!” And Esau wept loudly.

His father Isaac responded and said to him,

“Now, you will make a home far away from the olive groves of the earth, far away from the showers of the sky above. You will live by your sword; you will serve your brother. But when you grow restless, you will tear away his harness from your neck.” Genesis 27:38:40

As the story is told in the Bible, it then moves from Esau to Jacob. It leaves us wondering what happened in Esau’s life? We know he became prosperous because when he went to meet his brother Jacob who came to ask forgiveness, he gathered his gifts and an army of 400 men to go greet and welcome him.

At what point did he “grow restless” and how did he tear away the harness from his neck?

We do not know, but we do know that Esau eventually found his strength and became mature in those twenty years after he left Jacob for a new land. It is that strength and maturity that women have found also. We have begun building up our own herds and gathering our army, not to do harm, but as a witness of whom we have become.

We have grown restless. This is our wealth. These are our gifts.

If you, too, are restless, and are ready to tear away the harness of male headship from your neck, speak up! Now is the time!

See Shirley Taylor in Baptizing Feminism Documentary Trailer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tg5CmgjF2wM

Books by Shirley Taylor
The Biblical Marriage Myth: The Devil Comes Calling
The Power of a Book: The Street Evangelist
From Wife to Widow: What I know Now
Beyond the Grave: A Christian Dilemma
Raising the Hood: A Christian Look at Manhood and Womanhood
Women Equal – No Buts: Powered by the same Source
Dethroning Male Headship: 2nd Edition