Jacob and Esau Week 2

“Then his father Isaac said to him, “Come near and kiss me, my son.” So he came near and kissed him. And Isaac smelled the smell of his garments and blessed him”

Genesis 27:26-27

Introduction

Good morning again and welcome to First Christian Church of Clemmons. We are so honored that you are here with us today. We are in the second week of our series looking at the lives of Jacob and Esau. Last week we looked at the birth of Jacob and Esau, and the promise given to their grandparents Abraham and Sara. We also so that this was continued on through their son Isaac, and his wife Rebekah. Remember, God also tells Rebekah that within her are two nations, and these nations will be at war with each other.

Today we will continue seeing just how divided Jacob and Esau become. We will see Jacob living up to his name, “supplanter”, and how dysfunctional this family is. It will be a great reminder that there is nothing new under the sun, including family dysfunction.

PRAY

In World War 2, a special unit was created to help the Allies as they advanced into Europe, attempting, and ultimately succeeding, to take down Hitler and the Third Reich. This unit was not made up of special unit commandos or elite-trained paratroopers. It wasn’t designed to sneak in and take down the enemy through physical hand-to-hand combat. No, this group was a tactical deception group, known as the Ghost Army.

The Ghost Army was designed to deceive our enemies into thinking that the Allies were going in one direction, marching out of town or staying hunkered down, to distract from the actual movement of the military. In a time before drones and camera phones, skilled artists and actors worked to make inflatable tanks, jeeps, cannons, and more look like an invading army. And guess what? It worked! They had mastered the art of deceiving the enemy through well disguised, and purposely visible, artificial armies.

Deception is something that can almost come naturally to some. Lying, stealing, and manipulation, are some of the fruits that grow on the tree of the unsaved person. People who are allowing their sinful nature to rule and control. Sin craves to be kept in darkness, and to do so we often have to be able to deceive others about our sin.

In chapter 27 of Genesis, we will see how deception plays out in our story of Jacob and Esau.

“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.”

Genesis 27:1–4.

Chapter 27 opens with Isaac reaching the end of his life. He knows, and history would tell us, that part of his responsibilities at this point in life was to give a blessing to his oldest son. He recognizes that he is old, he can’t see, and death may soon be in his future. The right thing to do would be to call in Esau and give him the blessing that the firstborn was destined to receive. Isaac wants to hand off the leadership of the “clan” to Esau and enjoy a meal with his firstborn, and favorite, son.

The fact that Isaac was still giving the blessing to Esau either tells us that he was unaware of the interaction between Esau and Jacob that resulted in the birthright being sold to Jacob, or he was thinking that he could still give the blessing to Esau separately from that birthright. We also have to wonder if Isaac was aware of the promise that was given to Rebekah while she was pregnant.

Isaac has lived his life with the promise and blessing of God. His father, Abraham, was called to leave his home and come to the promised land. Isaac has lived through seeing God continue to honor His word and bless his family. He had not been called to leave his home and walk to the promised land. He had been called to continue to follow after God and trust His promise.

Our faith in God may call us to different things. Abraham was called to come to a land that God showed him. Isaac was in that promised land, and didn’t sacrifice like Abraham did. Our faith will call us to different things. Some of us may be called to be pastors and lead a local church. Some may be called to teach a children’s sunday school class. Some may be called to be deacons and help with the ministry of a church. Some are called to be missionaries and leave their home country, carrying the Gospel with them, to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to a country or people group that have never heard it before. Some of us may never leave the town we were born in, but carry the good news with us to our neighbors, town, community, and raise a family that is rooted in Christ.

No matter what we are called to, no matter what our faith may lead us to or where it may lead us, we are all called to obedience. We are all called to be obedient to what God is calling us to. That will not change. Abraham was called and was obedient to that call from God. Isaac was obedient to what God called him to. And we should be obedient to whatever God has called us to. Even when we are scared about what God is saying. Even when no one in our family has ever done this before. Even when our nerves are high and anxiety is trying to tell us no, we can be obedient to what God has called us to. We should be obedient to God. The Bible is full of everyday people being filled with the Holy Spirit, inspired by God, full of faith in God, and being obedient to what God has called them to. Not so we can place them on a pedestal and worship a person, but to inspire us that if they can do it, so can I.

If we are being obedient to God, that means we must also trust God. Rebekah and Jacob act in a way that does not show this.

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.” 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.

Genesis 27:5–17.

Rebekah has overheard what Isaac tells Esau and immediately comes up with a plan for what needs to be done. She gets Jacob in on the plan as well. Rebekah has been given a promise by God, that her sons would lead nations and that the younger will lead the older. God does not break a promise, and we can trust His word. God had made this promise to Rebekah, all she had to do was trust God to see it through. She had seen Isaac pray for 20 years that they could have a child, and God didn’t just give them one child, but twins. He was trustworthy, but still, Rebekah decided to take things into her own hands.

Rebekah has the promise, but will continually manipulate scenarios for a desired result. God made the promise and he will follow through on the promise, he does not need us to manipulate or deceive to get the result that He has promised to us. Yet, Rebekah and Jacob will do just this. They will twist Isaac, and take advantage of his poor eyesight, to get the blessing that was intended to go to Esau.

Manipulation and deception are not ways to get into the fold of God’s family. You cannot manipulate or deceive God. You cannot hide the truth from God. God sees our hearts, he is aware of all we do. He is not able to be deceived by our own creations. Yet, we often act like God doesn’t know what we are doing. So often we act like God is not aware of our heart. We act like He is blind to our actions, but God is fully aware. He sees us, he sees you, in each moment.

We also should recognize that manipulation and deceit should not be a part of our talk as believers. We should not be people who manipulate or deceive others. Our language should not be used to trick others. In our business practices and in our personal relationships we are to be honest and truthful. Even when the world tells us that we can not be 100% truthful here or there, that is not the case for the believer. Dishonest practices will not bring us the desired result. The relationship between Esau and Jacob is a prime example of what deceit does. It stresses and breaks relationships and trust.

Instead, we need to follow the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:37 “Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.” Our yes and no should be enough. We do not need to add or take away from it. We need to be truthful and honest. It is not even a need, but a must. It is what we should be. We live in an age where everything we see is being manipulated to make it look, feel, and sound pleasing to us. We do not want anything to harm or hurt. But in doing so we have caused everyone to be comfortable being deceived. It is a great trick of the enemy to deceive us into being used to it, so much so that the truth feels harsh and unwanted. Church we are not called to be conformed into the image of this world, but transformed into the image of Christ. We are called to be in the world, but not of it. To be daily choosing to look, act, and think like Jesus would, and that leaves no room for us to be manipulative or deceptive in our thoughts, words, or actions.

We can trust God. We do not have to manipulate God to earn His grace. We do not have to twist words, put on costumes, or fake who we are, to be loved by God. While the deception may have worked for Jacob and Rebekah, God is not deceived.

So he went in to his father and said, “My father.” And he said, “Here I am. Who are you, my son?” 19 Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn. I have done as you told me; now sit up and eat of my game, that your soul may bless me.” 20 But Isaac said to his son, “How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?” He answered, “Because the Lord your God granted me success.” 21 Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come near, that I may feel you, my son, to know whether you are really my son Esau or not.” 22 So Jacob went near to Isaac his father, who felt him and said, “The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” 23 And he did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau’s hands. So he blessed him. 24 He said, “Are you really my son Esau?” He answered, “I am.” 25 Then he said, “Bring it near to me, that I may eat of my son’s game and bless you.” So he brought it near to him, and he ate; and he brought him wine, and he drank.

Genesis 27:18–25.

Jacob puts on animal skins and brings in the food prepared by Rebekah to trick his father. Isaac has some questions but eats and blesses Jacob thinking that it is Esau. Their trick has worked and now Jacob not only has gotten the birthright from Esau but also received the blessing of the firstborn from Isaac. The deception had worked. It may seem like this should glorify deception. Rebekah and Jacob saw an opportunity and pounced upon a moment to get something that was not destined for them. But this should be more of a warning to us. This should be a warning to us that deception may provide a temporary benefit, but it can and will lead to long-term negative consequences. We can see the immediate impact of this as Esau returns.

As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, when Jacob had scarcely gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, Esau his brother came in from his hunting. 31 He also prepared delicious food and brought it to his father. And he said to his father, “Let my father arise and eat of his son’s game, that you may bless me.” 32 His father Isaac said to him, “Who are you?” He answered, “I am your son, your firstborn, Esau.” 33 Then Isaac trembled very violently and said, “Who was it then that hunted game and brought it to me, and I ate it all before you came, and I have blessed him? Yes, and he shall be blessed.” 34 As soon as Esau heard the words of his father, he cried out with an exceedingly great and bitter cry and said to his father, “Bless me, even me also, O my father!” 35 But he said, “Your brother came deceitfully, and he has taken away your blessing.” 36 Esau said, “Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has cheated me these two times. He took away my birthright, and behold, now he has taken away my blessing.”

Genesis 27:30–36.

Esau returns and finds that Jacob has lived up to his name. He has deceived their father and taken the blessing that he should have received. He has now lost out on all that should have been his as the firstborn. His birthright and blessing have been taken away. He is upset and makes a vow in verse 41:

Now Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob.

Genesis 27:41.

Jacob and Esau now have a fractured relationship. Jacob has deceived his father, taken the birthright from his brother for a bowl of soup, and now must flee for his life. Rebekah tells Isaac that she doesn’t want Jacob to marry a woman from that area and gets Isaac to send Jacob back to her brother to get a wife from him. They trick Isaac one last time to protect Jacob from the wrath of his brother Esau.

Why would Esau be so angry though? The birthright and the blessing would be tied to the inheritance. The firstborn normally received a double portion from the other siblings. In this case, Isaac would have split his belongings into 3 parts and given Esau ⅔’s of all he had. Jacob would have been left with ⅓ of the inheritance. The firstborn would have received the blessing and the responsibility of now leading the family. He would have had the proverbial torch passed to him to now be the head of the family. With this gone, Esau loses what he thought he deserved. Jacob is now the future leader and the recipient of the inheritance.

The Bible also talks about another firstborn.

And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,

Colossians 1:17–19.

Jesus is described as the firstborn from the dead. He is preeminent, before, all things. He has received the kingdom from His Father and rules over it as Lord of Lords. But Jesus does not just inherit the kingdom but also brings us who believe in Him up as co-heirs with Christ.

And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.

Galatians 3:29.

We are made heirs according to the promise of God. Here is the thing, we are only brought into this promise when we submit our lives to Christ. When Paul says that we are Christ’s, he means that when we are fully devoted followers of Jesus, when we have made the admission that we cannot save ourselves. We cannot manipulate or deceive God into a relationship with us. When we realize that Jesus is the only way to heaven. When we know that Christ is our Lord and our Savior. It is then that we are made co-heirs with Jesus. We are brought to the table and made a part of the inheritance.

Charles Spurgeon, the great English preacher of the 19th century says it this way:

1555Jacob put on his brother Esau’s clothes, and he obtained the blessing of his father. We, too, have put on the garments of Christ, and have won the blessing.—16.379

Charles Spurgeon

If you do not know Jesus as savior, why wait? Make today the day that you know that you know, that you are a follower of Jesus.