In Human Nature and the Social Order (1902:80), Charles Horton Cooley asserts, “It is not at all uncommon to wrong one person out of affection for another.”
Being a parent is one thing, and being a good parent is another. Rebekah was both. Her actions cause total disasters in the lives of her children. Loving one child more than the other, is absolutely a gateway to catastrophic loss.
Jacob (Israel) was another example. But it seemed that losing Joseph, his son, was an act of indirect divine revenge for what he (Jacob) himself did to Esau, his brother. What goes around comes around. Although Joseph’s story ended well, Jacob has to endure years of torment before he reconciled with his son in Egypt.
As parents, be careful about exhibiting your parental affection for one child in front of your other children unless you want to create lasting troubles.
Shalom.
Ehiyeh-Sh’Ehiyeh 