Jacob’s and Esau’s Blessings!
Genesis 27
Genesis 27 is the story of Rebekah the wife of Isaac talking her son Jacob into stealing Esau’s blessing from their father Isaac. Why?
Isaac was 40 years old when he married Rebekah and she was barren for 20 years; Isaac prayed for her and ADONAI answered his prayer (Genesis 25:19-21). Her pregnancy was difficult and she prayed to ADONAI and He told her: “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from your body will be separated. One people will be stronger than the other people, but the older (Esau) will serve the younger (Jacob).” (Genesis25:20-28)
Jacob and Esau were conceived at the same time, two different sperm and two different eggs and they were two different human beings, not twins. Isaac was 60 years old when his sons were born (Genesis 25:26).
Esau did not care about tradition until it was too late, he sold his birthright to his brother for a bowl of lentil stew because he was hungry and did not want to wait to cook himself a meal (Genesis 25:27-34). Esau was 40 years old when he married two daughters of the Hittites (Genesis 26:34-35), so Isaac was 100 years old.
Now Isaac is over 100 years old and feeling his age he is blind and decides to bless Esau his oldest son while he is able. Rebekah overhears Isaac telling Esau to make preparations so that he can bless him and she tells Jacob to disguise himself as Esau and to get his father’s blessing.
So Jacob disguises himself as Esau and takes the meal that Rebekah prepared and deceived Isaac so that Isaac blessed Jacob instead of Esau. Isaac blesses Jacob with the blessing of the Firstborn which continues the blessing that GOD gave Abraham, it also confirms what ADONAI told Rebekah while she was pregnant with the children.
Jacobs blessing: “Behold, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that ADONAI has Blessed. May GOD give you – from the dew of the sky and from the fatness of the land – an abundance of grain and new wine. May peoples serve you and may nations bow down to you. Be master over your brothers, may your mother’s sons bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed and may those who bless you be blessed.” (Genesis 27:27-29)
Then Esau comes in and presents himself to receive his blessing and Isaac realizes that he has been deceived and given the blessing to Jacob. Esau is hurt and wants his father’s blessing so Isaac blesses him, not a very good blessing.
Esau’s blessing: “Behold, away from the land’s fatness shall your dwelling be, away from the dew of the sky above, by your sword shall you live, and your brother shall you serve. But when you tear yourself loose, you will tear his yoke off your neck.” (Genesis 27:39-40)
The result of these blessings was that Jacob had 12 sons and they became the nation of Israel a little over 400 years later. In everything that has happened to them as a nation they still exist as a people and again as a nation. Esau had 5 sons and also became a nation, Edom (Genesis 36) while the nation of Edom no longer exists his descendants still live in the area and are the enemies of Israel.
Jacob have I Loved, Esau have I hated!
Malachi 1:2-4 “I have Loved you,” say The LORD. “Yet you say, ‘In what way have You Loved us?’ Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” Says The LORD. “Yet Jacob (Israel) I have Loved; but Esau (Edom) I have hated and laid waste his mountains and his heritage for the jackals of the wilderness.” (Romans 9:6-24; Exodus 9:13-14; Romans 8:26-30; Revelation 17:7-17)
So the reality of this message is that GOD is Sovereign over all of His creation! He knows how each person will respond to the issues of their life and to the knowledge of Salvation through JESUS CHRIST. Now we know that GOD give us many opportunities to repent and live for JESUS, but he does not make us (Isaiah 30:18; Ezekiel 33:11; 2 Peter 3:7-10; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19).
So JESUS gave all Believers a Commission: “Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen. And He said to them: ‘Go into all the world and preach The Gospel to every creature. He who Believes and is Baptized will be Saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these Signs will follow those who Believe: In My Name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick and they will Recover.’” Mark 16:14-18
GOD tells some of his Servants to do things that He tells the
rest of His Servants not to do!
Like telling Abraham to sacrifice His son Isaac to Him on a
mountain He tells Abraham to go to. And Abraham in Faith, regardless of what
anyone else would think went to do it. He was at the point of killing Isaac
when GOD stayed his hand and provided a ram that was not on the mountain before
that moment. (Genesis 22)
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