Blessing of the Father

GEN 27:1-28:9

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Genesis 27:1–2 “Now it came to pass, when Isaac was old and his eyes were so dim that he could not see, that he called Esau his older son and said to him, “My son.” And he answered him, “Here I am.” Then he said, “Behold now, I am old. I do not know the day of my death.”

Isaac knowing he is getting up in years

As calculated 137 years, putting sons at 77 years

Isaac declares he does not know the actual day

God knows the number of our days

James 4:14–15 “whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.””

Psalm 139:16 “Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.”

Recognizing and accepting that our days are in the Father’s hands

Expresses faith and trust in God.

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Genesis 27:3–4 “Now therefore, please take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me. And make me savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die.””

Isaac desires to bless his oldest before he dies

Probably did not expect to live another 43 years (Gen 35:28-29)

A common practice seen throughout scripture of blessing the birthright son which normally is the oldest, the firstborn.

FIRST BORN/PATRIARCHAL BLESSING

Exodus 4:22–23 “Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Israel is My son, My firstborn. So I say to you, let My son go that he may serve Me. But if you refuse to let him go, indeed I will kill your son, your firstborn.” 

Ex 11-13 - Firstborn killed in Egypt, firstborn of all the Israelites consecrated (13)

Numbers 3:11–13 “Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “Now behold, I Myself have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of every firstborn who opens the womb among the children of Israel. Therefore the Levites shall be Mine, because all the firstborn are Mine. On the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I sanctified to Myself all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast. They shall be Mine: I am the Lord.””

Deuteronomy 21:15–17 ““If a man has two wives, one loved and the other unloved, and they have borne him children, both the loved and the unloved, and if the firstborn son is of her who is unloved, then it shall be, on the day he bequeaths his possessions to his sons, that he must not bestow firstborn status on the son of the loved wife in preference to the son of the unloved, the true firstborn. But he shall acknowledge the son of the unloved wife as the firstborn by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his.”

Genesis 9:26–27 (Noah blessing his sons) - “And he said: “Blessed be the Lord, The God of Shem, And may Canaan be his servant. May God enlarge Japheth, And may he dwell in the tents of Shem; And may Canaan be his servant.””

Gen 32:24-30 - Jacob seeking God’s blessing

The patriarchal blessing has been also recorded of blessing the younger.

Gen 48:8-49:28 - Jacob, called Israel, uniquely (knowingly blesses the younger of Joseph’s sons Ephraim (Gen 48:14-20), Jer 31:9

1 Chronicles 5:1–2 “Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel—he was indeed the firstborn, but because he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph, the son of Israel, so that the genealogy is not listed according to the birthright; yet Judah prevailed over his brothers, and from him came a ruler, although the birthright was Joseph’s—” - Reuben’s birthright given to the sons of Joseph

1 Chron 28:5-7 - Solomon succeeds David to the Throne, not the first born (1 kings 2:1-4)

Hebrews 11:20–21 “By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.”

Christ, firstborn from the dead

Col 1:15-18, Rom 8:29, Heb 1:6, Ps 89:27, 1 Cor 15:20-23

However there are somethings being neglected here by Isaac:

1.He ignored God’s word to Rebekah - (Genesis 25:23 “And the Lord said to her: “Two nations are in your womb, Two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people shall be stronger than the other, And the older shall serve the younger.”” )

2.He forgot or ignored that Esau bartered his birthright - (Genesis 25:33 “Then Jacob said, “Swear to me as of this day.” So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob.” )

3.He overlooked Esau’s grievous marriages - (Genesis 26:34–35 “When Esau was forty years old, he took as wives Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite. And they were a grief of mind to Isaac and Rebekah.”

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Genesis 27:5–14 “Now Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt game and to bring it. So Rebekah spoke to Jacob her son, saying, “Indeed I heard your father speak to Esau your brother, saying, ‘Bring me game and make savory food for me, that I may eat it and bless you in the presence of the Lord before my death.’ Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to what I command you. Go now to the flock and bring me from there two choice kids of the goats, and I will make savory food from them for your father, such as he loves. Then you shall take it to your father, that he may eat it, and that he may bless you before his death.” And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, “Look, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth-skinned man. Perhaps my father will feel me, and I shall seem to be a deceiver to him; and I shall bring a curse on myself and not a blessing.” But his mother said to him, “Let your curse be on me, my son; only obey my voice, and go, get them for me.” And he went and got them and brought them to his mother, and his mother made savory food, such as his father loved.”

1.Rebekah overheard the conversation between Isaac and Esau

2.Rebekah wanted preserve the birthright for Jacob- Scripture does not say why, we can only speculate

3.Deception took root in Rebekah, any deception is not the way God would have things done, but that does not mean He cannot use our deceptive actions to accomplish His Good and Perfect Plan

Rebekah challenged Jacob to obey her command

“command” - sava 6680 - to charge, give orders- Same word used when God commanded Adam and Eve in the garden and Noah (Gen 2:16, 3:11, 3:17, 6:22)

This word had some weight and meaning to Jacob

Probably would have made it very difficult for Jacob to ignore or resist his mom’s command

Jacob expressed concern of being a deceiver and then not receiving any type of blessing from his father, Isaac. Seeming to have issue with the deception his mom was conjuring up.

Rebekah assumed all responsibility if this whole deceptive plan were to fall apart.

Jacob first expressed his concerns then went and did as his mom, despite the deceptive plot

Rebekah’s deception - made savory food similar to what Esau would prepare, making domesticated goats taste similar to wild game, and helping Jacob to resemble Esau in smell and touch, since Isaac couldn’t see

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Genesis 27:15–29 “Then Rebekah took the choice clothes of her elder son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob her younger son. And she put the skins of the kids of the goats on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck. Then she gave the savory food and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob. So he went to his father and said, “My father.” And he said, “Here I am. Who are you, my son?” Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn; I have done just as you told me; please arise, sit and eat of my game, that your soul may bless me.” But Isaac said to his son, “How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?” And he said, “Because the Lord your God brought it to me.” Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come near, that I may feel you, my son, whether you are really my son Esau or not.” So Jacob went near to Isaac his father, and he felt him and said, “The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” And he did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau’s hands; so he blessed him. Then he said, “Are you really my son Esau?” He said, “I am.” He said, “Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son’s game, so that my soul may bless you.” So he brought it near to him, and he ate; and he brought him wine, and he drank. Then his father Isaac said to him, “Come near now and kiss me, my son.” And he came near and kissed him; and he smelled the smell of his clothing, and blessed him and said: “Surely, the smell of my son Is like the smell of a field Which the Lord has blessed. Therefore may God give you Of the dew of heaven, Of the fatness of the earth, And plenty of grain and wine. Let peoples serve you, And nations bow down to you. Be master over your brethren, And let your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, And blessed be those who bless you!””

Jacob continued the deception to ensure the blessing:

Called himself Esau at Isaac’s questioning (v18-19)

Further lied by saying God had provided (v 20), half truth, but still a lie

3. Jacob lied again upon Isaac confirming it was Esau (v 24)

Isaac’s interaction:

Who are you my son? (v 18)

How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son? (v 20)

The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau. (v 22)

He did not recognize him. (v 23)

Are you really my son Esau? (v 24)

He smelled the smell of his clothing and blessed him. (v 27)

Isaac questioned several times if it truly was Esau

Didn’t easily recognize his own son, because of the deception

Conflict between touch with smell against hearing

Smelled and felt like Esau, but sounded like Jacob

Did they ever consider that beforehand???

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Genesis 27:30–40 “Now it happened, as soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, and Jacob had scarcely gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting. He also had made savory food, and brought it to his father, and said to his father, “Let my father arise and eat of his son’s game, that your soul may bless me.” And his father Isaac said to him, “Who are you?” So he said, “I am your son, your firstborn, Esau.” Then Isaac trembled exceedingly, and said, “Who? Where is the one who hunted game and brought it to me? I ate all of it before you came, and I have blessed him—and indeed he shall be blessed.” When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with an exceedingly great and bitter cry, and said to his father, “Bless me—me also, O my father!” But he said, “Your brother came with deceit and has taken away your blessing.” And Esau said, “Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has supplanted me these two times. He took away my birthright, and now look, he has taken away my blessing!” And he said, “Have you not reserved a blessing for me?” Then Isaac answered and said to Esau, “Indeed I have made him your master, and all his brethren I have given to him as servants; with grain and wine I have sustained him. What shall I do now for you, my son?” And Esau said to his father, “Have you only one blessing, my father? Bless me—me also, O my father!” And Esau lifted up his voice and wept. Then Isaac his father answered and said to him: “Behold, your dwelling shall be of the fatness of the earth, And of the dew of heaven from above. By your sword you shall live, And you shall serve your brother; And it shall come to pass, when you become restless, That you shall break his yoke from your neck.”

Esau enters and Isaac wanting to confirm asks, “Who are you?”

His son responds, “it is Esau, your first born?” (v 31-32)

I think Isaacs response is just comical. “trembled exceedingly”. (v 33)

Esau’s response - “cried with an exceedingly great and bitter cry.” (v 34)

Esau - “bless me, me also.” - I hear what about me father. Me too. Don’t forget me. (v 34)

Isaac confirmed the deceit

Esau acknowledges:

“Rightly named Jacob.” (v 36)

Jacob - “heel holder” or “supplanter”

supplanter - someone who takes the place of another, often through trickery or strategy

symbolically shown : at birth comes out holding Esau’s heel, acquired birthright for a bowl of stew, receives paternal blessing

All with strategy

No indication that Isaac could or would reverse his blessing

He blessed Esau, but still indicated he will serve his brother

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Genesis 27:41–42 “So Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him, and Esau said in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then I will kill my brother Jacob.” And the words of Esau her older son were told to Rebekah. So she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said to him, “Surely your brother Esau comforts himself concerning you by intending to kill you.”

Esau’s response

Similar to Genesis 25:34 “And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.”

despising his birthright

But now, more intense.

Hates his brother and wants to kill him.

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Genesis 27:43–28:5 “Now therefore, my son, obey my voice: arise, flee to my brother Laban in Haran. And stay with him a few days, until your brother’s fury turns away, until your brother’s anger turns away from you, and he forgets what you have done to him; then I will send and bring you from there. Why should I be bereaved also of you both in one day?” And Rebekah said to Isaac, “I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth; if Jacob takes a wife of the daughters of Heth, like these who are the daughters of the land, what good will my life be to me?” Then Isaac called Jacob and blessed him, and charged him, and said to him: “You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan. Arise, go to Padan Aram, to the house of Bethuel your mother’s father; and take yourself a wife from there of the daughters of Laban your mother’s brother. “May God Almighty bless you, And make you fruitful and multiply you, That you may be an assembly of peoples; And give you the blessing of Abraham, To you and your descendants with you, That you may inherit the land In which you are a stranger, Which God gave to Abraham.” So Isaac sent Jacob away, and he went to Padan Aram, to Laban the son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, the mother of Jacob and Esau.”

Specific concerns for Jacob

Expressed negativity of Jacob taking a wife from the Canaanites (remember that God directed Isaac to Rachel, not of the Canaanites)

Even instructed him to not take a wife of Canaan

Instructed to take a wife of Rebekah’s family

God’s blessing, fruitful, and multiply

Assembly of peoples

Blessings of Abraham extended to Jacob, confirming Isaac’s blessing

Blessings extended to Jacob’s descendants

Reaffirming and extending the blessing of the land to Jacob, as first promised to Abraham

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Genesis 28:6–9 “Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Padan Aram to take himself a wife from there, and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying, “You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan,” and that Jacob had obeyed his father and his mother and had gone to Padan Aram. Also Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan did not please his father Isaac. So Esau went to Ishmael and took Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife in addition to the wives he had.”

confirming Jacob’s obedience to Isaac and Rebekah

Esau realized that his current wives displeased Isaac

3. Esau seeing the special treatment and instruction

4. Esau tries to earn Isaac’s favor, but seeming only partial by not going to Rebekah’s family.

5. Esau went to the family of Ishmael, who is a son of Abraham, but not of the seed, regarding the specific promise to Abraham to be extended to his descendants according to the seed.

This is a lesson to remember and apply. Even though this situation was foreseen by God it did not thwart or hinder His plan. God still accomplishes all as He intends.

However, that does not mean that we follow the actions of those we read about.

Romans 5:20–6:2 “Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?”

Ephesians 4:20–32 “But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”

Colossians 3:1–17 “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”