Read with Me
Genesis 27:1-13 (HCSB)
When Isaac was old and his eyes were so weak that he could not see, he called his older son Esau and said to him, “My son.”
And he answered, “Here I am.”
He said, “Look, I am old and do not know the day of my death. Take your hunting gear, your quiver and bow, and go out in the field to hunt some game for me. Then make me a delicious meal that I love and bring it to me to eat, so that I can bless you before I die.”
Now Rebekah was listening to what Isaac said to his son Esau. So while Esau went to the field to hunt some game to bring in, Rebekah said to her son Jacob, “Listen! I heard your father talking with your brother Esau. He said, ‘Bring me the game and make a delicious meal for me to eat so that I can bless you in the LORD’s presence before I die.’ Now obey every order I give you, my son. Go to the flock and bring me two choice young goats, and I will make them into a delicious meal for your father—the kind he loves. Then take it to your father to eat so that he may bless you before he dies.”
Jacob answered Rebekah his mother, “Look, my brother Esau is a hairy man, but I am a man with smooth skin. Suppose my father touches me. Then I will be revealed to him as a deceiver and bring a curse rather than a blessing on myself.”
His mother said to him, “Your curse be on me, my son. Just obey me and go get them for me.”
Listen with Me
Even though Isaac would live for many more years, being only about 135 years old at this time and ultimately living to be 180 (Genesis 35:28), he was blind and ill, and he felt like he could die at any moment. He had already lived longer than his mother, who died at 127 (Genesis 23:1). And before he died, he wanted to ensure that the blessing of God’s covenant was passed on to the next generation.
In Isaac’s mind, the natural choice to receive the blessing was Esau. Not only was Esau Isaac’s eldest son and his personal favorite due to their common tastes and passions, but he also already had two wives and several children, whereas Jacob, the younger, was so far a bachelor. As a side note, it must be understood that, despite what is shown in paintings and movies, Esau and Jacob were not teenagers at this time, but were around 75 years old, which would be solid middle age in that line.
Isaac wanted to ensure that the passing of the blessing, the promise of inheriting the land, was an appropriately solemn occasion. Thus, he wanted Esau to hunt some wild game, the deer or wild goats that were available in the area, and to prepare a ritual meal that Isaac could eat before conferring the blessing.
Rebekah was standing outside Isaac’s tent while he explained the plan to Esau. Rebekah’s favorite of her two sons was Jacob, not only because they were similar in temperament and thus could relate well to each other, but also because of the prophecy she had received while pregnant that the eldest of the twins would end up serving the younger (Genesis 25:23). Rebekah shared a bit of her plan with Jacob. He was to go get two young goats from the flock, and Rebekah would prepare them just the way that Isaac liked. Then Jacob would pose as Esau, give his father the food, and receive the blessing. Rebekah knew that once the blessing was given, it could not be rescinded.
Jacob, the supposed deceiver by nature, was against the plan. He and Esau were so different that, even though Isaac was blind, he would easily see through the ruse and would curse Jacob instead of blessing him. But Rebekah assured him that she had an idea that would make the deception work. If it didn’t, then she herself would take the blame.
Pray with Me
Father, it is interesting that Rebekah has never earned the title “deceiver”, even though she was clearly the master planner here, and Jacob had to be persuaded to join the plot. Yet even with people having this kind of questionable character, You worked Your plan to get the blessing to Jacob, and to grow Your chosen people through him. Lord, the way You work is truly remarkable, always seeing Your plan through and keeping Your promise, even though the people You need to use are sometimes far less than they might have been. Amen.