Lesson 57 Genesis 27- The birthright/blessing Conspiracy

Isaac Intends to Bless Esau 27:1-5

English Standard Version (Chapter 27)

27 When Isaac was old and his eyes were dim so that he could not see, he called Esau his older son and said to him, “My son”; and he answered, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Behold, I am old; I do not know the day of my death. 3 Now then, take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me, 4 and prepare for me delicious food, such as I love, and bring it to me so that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die.”

The historical and the Bible records are full of good intentions that are somehow thwarted. This is one of those instances. Isaac seemingly had one foot in the grave as he was almost blind and his perception was not very good either. His age is not given, but he at least wants to prepare himself and his oldest son for the inevitable. Isaac wants to give Esau a father’s blessing that also apparently transferred the birthright/ will/ blessing down to this young man. This is a great example of why an individual does estate planning and puts everything down on paper. Family shenanigans can derail what was truly intended. There is the significance of the fathers blessing which seems to be like winning the sweepstakes. Once Jacob procured the blessing, he left town and missed out on getting any of his fathers estate. Interesting, blessing is better than bounty as the story begins.

Let the Conspiracy begin 27:5- 13

English Standard Version (Chapter 27)

5 Now Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to his son Esau. So when Esau went to the field to hunt for game and bring it, 6 Rebekah said to her son Jacob, “I heard your father speak to your brother Esau, 7 ‘Bring me game and prepare for me delicious food, that I may eat it and bless you before the LORD before I die.’ 8 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice as I command you. 9 Go to the flock and bring me two good young goats, so that I may prepare from them delicious food for your father, such as he loves. 10 And you shall bring it to your father to eat, so that he may bless you before he dies.” 11 But Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, “Behold, my brother Esau is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man. 12 Perhaps my father will feel me, and I shall seem to be mocking him and bring a curse upon myself and not a blessing.” 13 His mother said to him, “Let your curse be on me, my son; only obey my voice, and go, bring them to me.”

This discussion is a key to understanding how far gone Isaac really is. Mom is the instigator of this family fraud, even to the point of making an outright oath to take his dad’s curse upon him if Isaac finds out he is being duped. Mom says, “no sweat.” She instructs Jacob on how to go about the fraud by disguising himself as an animal and cooking a great meal of comfort food for dad. Isaac won’t have a clue. After all, this is in the context of “ before he dies.” vs.10.

The discussion of the difference between the skin surface of the twin boys is kind of funny. Jacob says, “but he is hairy and I am smooth.” Mom says, all you have to do is wear animal skins for dad to be fooled. Jacob is fearful, but mom has that covered. The curse is on mom, not on the boy. But not really. Jacob pays for this the rest of his life. Rebekah knows Isaacs time is nearing and end so she will not suffer long under this family curse. The curse is not a magical thing, it is entirely divine harm. That in itself is much stronger than any magic that could be poofed up in an instant.

Mamma’s Boy Gets His Food and Hairy Clothes 27:14- 17

English Standard Version (Chapter 27)

14 So he went and took them and brought them to his mother, and his mother prepared delicious food, such as his father loved. 15 Then Rebekah took the best garments of Esau her older son, which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob her younger son. 16 And the skins of the young goats she put on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck. 17 And she put the delicious food and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.