Isaac Plans to Give Esau His Blessing
April 10, 2022
Commentary
In this chapter everyone is doing the wrong thing. It all began when Esau and Jacob were born and when Isaac and Rebekah each chose a favorite son. Isaac, now at the age of 137, was thinking about death and the giving of his patriarchal blessing. This blessing had to be given in accordance with the revealed mind and will of God. Isaac had decided to give the blessing to his favorite son Esau, but the Lord had said this blessing was for Jacob.
Rebecca was a practical, strong-willed woman, and she decided to help favorite son. When she overheard her husband speak to Esau, she called Jacob to share with him what she had heard. She suggested they trick Isaac by killing two goats and preparing it like venison. Isaac was blind, so Jacob’s food would only need to pass the taste test. Then he would give his blessing to Jacob.
Jacob reminded Rebecca that he was not hairy like his brother Esau and the moment his blind father touched him he would realize he was trying to trick him and would put a curse on him instead a blessing (vv. 11-12). Rebekah insisted that he do what she said (v. 13). Dressed in Esau’s workday clothes, his hands and arms covered with rough goat’s hair, and with a mouthwatering dish of spiced up goat in his hands Jacob set out to trick his dad (vv. 14-17).
Application
I need to be very careful not to ever play favoritism in our family. My Children all have different strengths and abilities and I want to complement and help them individually in what they do in life. One is super at discipling others, one is a very good teacher, and one is excellent in marketing skills.
Genesis 27:1– 17 (NET)
1 When Isaac was old and his eyes were so weak that he was almost blind, he called his older son Esau and said to him, “My son!” “Here I am!” Esau replied. 2 Isaac said, “Since I am so old, I could die at any time. 3 Therefore, take your weapons—your quiver and your bow—and go out into the open fields and hunt down some wild game for me. 4 Then prepare for me some tasty food, the kind I love, and bring it to me. Then I will eat it so that I may bless you before I die.”
5 Now Rebekah had been listening while Isaac spoke to his son Esau. When Esau went out to the open fields to hunt down some wild game and bring it back, 6 Rebekah said to her son Jacob, “Look, I overheard your father tell your brother Esau, 7 ‘Bring me some wild game and prepare for me some tasty food. Then I will eat it and bless you in the presence of the Lord before I die.’ 8 Now then, my son, do exactly what I tell you! 9 Go to the flock and get me two of the best young goats. I’ll prepare them in a tasty way for your father, just the way he loves them. 10 Then you will take it to your father. Thus he will eat it and bless you before he dies.”
11 “But Esau my brother is a hairy man,” Jacob protested to his mother Rebekah, “and I have smooth skin! 12 My father may touch me! Then he’ll think I’m mocking him and I’ll bring a curse on myself instead of a blessing.” 13 So his mother told him, “Any curse against you will fall on me, my son! Just obey me! Go and get them for me!”
14 So he went and got the goats and brought them to his mother. She prepared some tasty food, just the way his father loved it. 15 Then Rebekah took her older son Esau’s best clothes, which she had with her in the house, and put them on her younger son Jacob. 16 She put the skins of the young goats on his hands and the smooth part of his neck. 17 Then she handed the tasty food and the bread she had made to her son Jacob.