We will begin this lesson in Genesis 27:30 “And it came to pass, as
soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce
gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came
in from his hunting.” Genesis 27:31 “And he also had made savoury meat, and
brought it unto his father, and said unto his father, Let my father arise,
and eat of his son’s venison, that thy soul may bless me.”
There are many things in all of this to see. We must still remember
that God told Rebekah at the beginning; the younger would rule over the
older. We, also, must remember that Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for a
bowl of soup.
God had to help Rebekah and Jacob in this, or Esau would have returned
earlier, before Isaac blessed Jacob. You see, Jacob had just shortly before
left the presence of Isaac. It is difficult to understand the seemingly
underhanded scheme that Rebekah and Jacob performed to get the birthright,
but it seemed God allowed them to complete it before the return of Esau. We
must remember God was angry with Esau for taking his birthright so lightly.
This incident gets into the old argument of predestination, or
foreknowledge. I believe foreknowledge, or else we would not have the
opportunity to exercise our free will.
At any rate, here was Esau back from the hunt with the food, standing
before his father with the meat prepared. Why did Easu, by his own words, go
after the venison and prepare it? It was so Isaac would bless him, not
because he wanted to see to the needs of Isaac, his father. He had a very
selfish reason.
Genesis 27:32 “And Isaac his father said unto him, Who [art] thou? And
he said, I [am] thy son, thy firstborn Esau.”
You see, Esau, here, reminded Isaac that he was the first-born.
Genesis 27:33 “And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who?
where [is] he that hath taken venison, and brought [it] me, and I have eaten
of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, [and] he shall be
blessed.”
You remember, Jacob was Rebekah’s favorite, and Esau was Isaac’s
favorite. Isaac was saying here, I have blessed him and there is no taking
it back. “Jacob”, which means the trickster, had the blessing.
Isaac trembled because he realized he blessed the one he had not
intended to bless with an oath. The best blessings were gone. Isaac was
telling this son, I was not aware that it wasn’t you, and I gave your
blessing to someone else.
Somewhere in here, Easu had to be remembering back to the terrible
thing that he did, when he traded his birthright to Jacob.
Genesis 27:34 “And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried
with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me,
[even] me also, O my father.”
There was no repentance seen here, by Easu. He was bitter at someone
else for his own sins. He knew his father loved him best. He wanted what did
not belong to him. He pled for his father to bless him. Suddenly, the
birthright (blessing) was important to him. Not the obligation of the
birthright was important, only the blessing.
Genesis 27:35 “And he said, Thy brother came with subtlety, and hath
taken away thy blessing.” Genesis 27:36 “And he said, Is not he rightly
named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my
birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said,
Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?”
Esau was feeling sorry for himself. He even began to call Jacob names.
“Supplanter” means take by the heel, or restrain, or an extended word,
“trick”. You see, Esau, as I said, was trying to blame someone else for his
downfall. He was not tricked; he knew full well what he was doing, when he
sold his birthright. The blessing he missed was an extension of the
birthright. He was still petitioning his father to bless him, in spite of
what he had done.
Genesis 27:37 “And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have
made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants;
and with corn and wine have I sustained him: and what shall I do now unto
thee, my son?”
It is very important to see all of this. Had Isaac not been blind, Esau
would have obtained the best blessing. In the flesh he was his father’s
favorite. The blessing was his until he refused it by counting it as nothing
when he traded it to Jacob.
We can see, here, symbolisms of God having a favorite. (The Israelites)
They, also, took their heritage too lightly, and refused the blessing that
would come through Jesus Christ. The firstborn refused to accept, and the
Gentiles got the blessing. Note though, that after the fact, Esau wanted to
be blessed.
Genesis 27:38 “And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one
blessing, my father? bless me, [even] me also, O my father. And Esau lifted
up his voice, and wept.”
Never, in all of this, did Esau say, I am sorry I traded my birthright
away, and I deserve this punishment. His tears were for himself, feeling
sorry for self, not repentant tears.
Genesis 27:39 “And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold,
thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven
from above;” Genesis 27:40 “And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt
serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the
dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck.”
You see, Esau’s blessing had to do with the flesh. God would prosper
his work. In the spirit realm, he would be subject to his brother. He did
say that sometime later this yoke would be removed, but for then he was
subject to his brother.
Genesis 27:41 “And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith
his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for
my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.”
Esau had murder in his heart. Esau knew that Isaac would not approve of
him killing his brother. Esau was assuming a quick death for Isaac. And then
he would seek Jacob and kill him.
Genesis 27:42 “And these words of Esau her elder son were told to
Rebekah: and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him,
Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort himself,
[purposing] to kill thee.” Genesis 27:43 “Now therefore, my son, obey my
voice; and arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran;” Genesis 27:44
“And tarry with him a few days, until thy brother’s fury turn away;”
Genesis 27:45 “Until thy brother’s anger turn away from thee, and he forget
[that] which thou hast done to him: then I will send, and fetch thee from
thence: why should I be deprived also of you both in one day?”
This mother had one thing in mind. She wanted to save her son’s life
and to keep her other son from committing a terrible crime. She knew he
would be safe in her family home. After a long while Esau’s anger would be
gone, and Jacob could return safely.
Genesis 27:46 “And Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary of my life because
of the daughters of Heth: if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth,
such as these [which are] of the daughters of the land, what good shall my
life do me?”
God did not want His people to marry heathens.
Rebekah needed a very good reason for Jacob to leave home to avoid
being killed by his brother. The father, Isaac, knew that his father,
Abraham, had sent to another land for a wife. Isaac was aware that God would
not be pleased with the boys marrying heathen women. This plan would
certainly be acceptable to Isaac.
Study chapter 28 for the next lesson