Session 3
Genesis 27:18-30
Memory Verse: Luke 21:8
In biographies, authors sometimes ignore or cover up the character flaws and mistakes of their famous subjects. In contrast the writers of the divinely-inspired Scriptures present humans with their warts and all. These character portraits teach us that God can work through all kinds of people, as long as they are willing to submit to His discipline.
Jacob is a great illustration from the pages of the Old Testament. His very name means “supplanter” or “deceiver.” And, for many years, he lived up to his name. Yet, God accomplished His purposes through Jacob, as Jacob learned to yield to Him.
As you reflect on the truths to this session, consider your own flaws and how God has used you despite those shortcomings. Spend time praying for the adults in your group, asking God to help them see themselves honestly and to let Him change them from the inside out.
There’s a story about the first mate of a ship who despised the captain. In the ship’s log, he wrote: “The captain was sober today when he was on the bridge.” The truth of the matter was the captain was always sober when he was on the bridge. The first mate’s written words may have been truthful; nevertheless, what he communicated was misleading and deceitful. Deceitfulness is an egregious sin and will always come with consequences. Still, God is able to accomplish His purposes through flawed-and even deceitful-people. (PSG, p. 28)
Genesis 25:19 introduces readers to the story of Jacob. After taking Rebekah as his wife at age forty, Isaac prayed for her because she couldn’t conceive. The Lord heard his prayer, and Rebekah became pregnant with twins. The Lord revealed to Rebekah that the leaders of what would become two nations were present in her womb, and the elder of the twins would serve the younger. The event of the twins’ birth supported the truth of the Lord’s words because the younger, Jacob, came out of the womb grasping the heel of the older, Esau (25:19-26).
Esau loved the outdoors and became an expert hunter, while Jacob was a “quiet man who stayed at home” (Gen. 25:27). The Hebrew term rendered “quiet” can also be translated “complete,” “gentle,” or “having integrity.” These meanings don’t sound much like the person we know as Jacob. One Old Testament scholar defined the Hebrew word as meaning “one whose life revolves around a single center.” That description fits Jacob well because initially his life centered around himself. Later, as Jacob grew spiritually, he allowed the Lord to become the central focus of his life. In his experience of wrestling with God, Jacob learned that we prevail with God by surrendering to Him (see 32:24-32).
A significant interaction between Jacob and Esau occurred after the boys grew up. Esau came home exhausted from the field and found Jacob cooking a pot of stew. In exchange for the stew, Esau sold Jacob his birthright (25:27-34). The birthright consisted of special privileges belonging to the firstborn male child in the family, including a double portion of the family inheritance.
In chapter 26, the focus shifts to Isaac. The Lord confirmed His promise to Abraham with Isaac. The fulfillment of the promise became apparent as Isaac’s wealth steadily multiplied. This patriarch’s peaceable nature reveals itself in the conflict over water rights between his own herdsmen and herdsmen from Gerar. Isaac handled the conflict by moving on and digging another well. He also made a covenant of peace with Abimelech, Gerar’s king.
Genesis 27 recounts the story of Jacob stealing the blessing from his elder twin. Isaac sent Esau out to hunt game and to prepare a meal for him. After the meal, Isaac planned to bestow the family blessing on Esau. Among other things, the blessing formally conferred the right to rule over the clan following the patriarch’s death.
Rebekah had overheard the conversation between Isaac and Esau and took the lead in deceiving her husband. She enlisted Jacob to prepare a meal Isaac loved. She also covered Jacob with animal hides so that his skin felt hairy like Esau’s. With that, a series of events were set in motion that changed the entire family forever.
As you read Genesis 27:18-30 reflect on how God uses flawed and sinful people to accomplish His purposes. (PSG, p. 29)
EXPLORE THE TEXT
18 When he came to his father, he said, “My father.” And he answered, “Here I am. Who are you, my son?” 19 Jacob replied to his father, “I am Esau, your firstborn. I have done as you told me. Please sit up and eat some of my game so that you may bless me.” 20 But Isaac said to his son, “How did you ever find it so quickly, my son?” He replied, “Because the Lord your God made it happen for me.”
(v. 18) Father: The Hebrew word rendered father is written in English as ab. The term is part of various Old Testament names. Abram means “exalted father.” Abraham means “father of a multitude.” The name of Gerar’s King Abimelech means “my father is king.”
In Old Testament times, a father exercised paternal authority over his family. He held responsibility for the religious and moral training of his children. Before the Israelites received the law through Moses, a father also acted as the family priest. Among his other duties, a father assumed the responsibility of giving his daughter in marriage.
(v. 18) Son: The Hebrew term translated here as son can designate a grandson or even children in general (male and female). The word also can refer to the people of a nation, as in the “sons of Israel.” The importance of children, especially sons, in ancient Israel is evident in the law of levirate marriage, which provided for the continuation of the family line (Deut. 25:5-10; Ps. 127:3-5).
Fathers passed on ancient traditions to their sons (Ex. 13:8-9,14). Sons were taught to honor their fathers and their mothers (20:12) and to heed their parents’ instruction as wisdom derived from their life experiences and their relationship with God (Prov. 1:8; 6:20).
Jacob
This colorful personality appears in approximately half the book of Genesis. The younger of Isaac and Rebekah’s twins, he came out of his mother’s womb grasping the heel of his brother, Esau. Thus he received a name meaning “heel grabber” or “deceiver.”
Jacob deceived others, but later reaped deception from his Uncle Laban (see Gen. 29:15-30). As a patriarch, Jacob fathered twelve sons. From those sons the twelve tribes of Israel originated. The Lord eventually changed Jacob’s name to Israel, after he wrestled with God and found victory in surrendering his life completely to the Lord (32:24-32).
(v. 19) Esau: This elder twin of Jacob was born with a hairy and red body (25:25; 27:11,21-23). Jacob’s holding Esau’s heel at birth depicted the struggle that would continue between them and their descendants. Esau became the ancestor of the Edomites, who occupied a region south of the Dead Sea.
Isaac favored Esau, while Rebekah favored Jacob. Having sold his birthright, Esau remained eligible to receive Isaac’s family blessing. However, Rebekah devised a plan whereby Jacob could deceive his elderly father and receive the blessing (27:1-30). To escape Esau’s anger, Jacob fled to Mesopotamia (27:41-45). Years later, the brothers experienced reconciliation after Jacob returned to Canaan (33:1-16).
(v. 19) Firstborn: The firstborn son represented the prime of human vigor (49:3). He was to be dedicated to the Lord and received special privileges and responsibilities. The firstborn son’s birthright included a double portion of the inheritance and leadership of the tribe or clan. Following his father’s death, the firstborn functioned as head of the house and provided for his mother until her death and his sisters until their marriages. The firstborn might sell his birthright as Esau did (25:29-34) or he might forfeit his privileges as Reuben did (35:22; 49:3-4).
In the exodus from Egypt, God preserved the firstborn of Israel. As a result, all the firstborn male Israelites belonged to the Lord. Originally, Israel’s priests came from the firstborn of Israelite families (Ex. 13:11-15). Later the Lord chose the tribe of Levi to carry out this responsibility (Num. 3:11-13).
21 Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come closer so I can touch you, my son. Are you really my son Esau or not?” 22 So Jacob came closer to his father Isaac. When he touched him, he said, “The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” 23 He did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like those of his brother Esau; so he blessed him. 24 Again he asked, “Are you really my son Esau?” And he replied, “I am.” 25 Then he said, “Bring it closer to me, and let me eat some of my son’s game so that I can bless you.” Jacob brought it closer to him, and he ate; he brought him wine, and he drank. 26 Then his father Isaac said to him, “Please come closer and kiss me, my son.” 27 So he came closer and kissed him. When Isaac smelled his clothes, he blessed him and said: Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the Lord has blessed.
(v. 21) Isaac: This son promised to Abraham and Sarah was born when the couple was beyond childbearing ages. The name Isaac means “he laughs.” The designation identifies not only Abraham’s and Sarah’s unbelieving laughter at the Lord’s promise, but also their joy in the promise’s fulfillment (Gen. 17:17-19; 18:11-15; 21:1-7). The Lord’s command to offer Isaac as a sacrifice served as the supreme test of Abraham’s faith. Isaac married Rebekah, who bore the twin sons Jacob and Esau. The patriarch Isaac died at the age of 180 at Mamre near Hebron.
(vv. 22-23) Hands: The Hebrew term primarily designates the appendage at the end of a person’s arm, especially in terms of how hands are used to accomplish an individual’s will. However, the Hebrews also employed the word in a variety of theological expressions. For example, the phrase “into or under someone’s hand” conveyed the idea of that person having authority or power over something or someone.
Also, the term rendered “their strength is gone” (Deut. 32:36) more literally reads “their hand is gone.” The expression “pledged their allegiance to King Solomon” (1 Chron. 29:24) can mean “gave (their) hand under King Solomon.” To act “defiantly” (Num. 15:30) involves acting “with a high hand,” while uplifted hands often symbolize prayer (Ps. 28:2).
(vv. 26-27) Kiss: This kiss may have been part of the blessing ritual or it may simply have been a demonstration of family affection. On the other hand, it may have been another attempt on Isaac’s part to make sure that he was blessing Esau and not Jacob. Esau would normally carry an earthy scent associated with hunting or being outdoors (v. 27).
Jacob’s betrayal with a kiss for personal gain is superseded in Scripture by Judas’s betrayal kiss of Jesus for thirty pieces of silver (Matt. 26:48-49).
(v. 27) Smelled: Isaac depended on his sense of smell to help compensate for his failing eyesight (Gen. 27:1). The patriarch’s nose informed him that the clothing of the son whom he was blessing carried the odor of a man who hunted in the wild.
Blessed
We previously encountered the Hebrew word translated blessed in Genesis 24:27, where Abraham’s servant “blessed” or praised the Lord for leading him to the house of Abraham’s relatives. (See comments in Session 2.) The term occurs in a different context in Genesis 27. Here, it designates the irrevocable blessing a father typically conferred on the eldest son before the father’s death. In the Old Testament context “to bless” means to endow with power for success, including prosperity and longevity. This verbal blessing was normally futuristic.
Additionally, the Old Testament views God as the only source of blessing. It is only in His name that others can confer blessing (see Deut. 10:8). From Genesis 12:1-3 forward, the Lord demonstrated that He alone ultimately has the power to bestow blessing. In the accounts of the patriarchs, blessing is linked specifically to reproductive powers. Thus we see that God alone gives life. This basic understanding of God as the Lifegiver extends throughout the Scriptures to its ultimate expression in John 3:16. Isaac’s blessing on Jacob included prosperity, international respect, and authority over Isaac’s descendants.
28 May God give to you - from the dew of the sky and from the richness of the land - an abundance of grain and new wine. 29 May peoples serve you and nations bow in worship to you. Be master over your relatives; may your mother’s sons bow in worship to you. Those who curse you will be cursed, and those who bless you will be blessed. 30 As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob and Jacob had left the presence of his father Isaac, his brother Esau arrived from his hunting.
(v. 28) Dew of the sky: The great differences in day and night temperatures in biblical Palestine resulted in heavy dews in the morning hours. Such dews were beneficial because they kept vegetation alive during the summer drought. Recognized as a gift from God, He might withhold the dew from His disobedient people (1 Kings 17:1; Hag. 1:7-10).
During the time of the Israelites’ wilderness wandering the Lord sent manna along with the dew (Ex. 16:13-16; Num. 11:9). In a figurative sense, the king’s favor (Prov. 19:12), godly teaching (Deut. 32:2), and the blessings of unity among God’s people (Ps. 133:1-3) are compared with the refreshing dew.
(v. 28) Richness of the land: This phrase more literally means “the fatness of the earth.” In the context of Genesis 27:28, the term is used symbolically to convey the idea of prosperity and well-being.
A related noun is generally designated “olive oil.” Olive oil played a significant role in the daily activities of those living in the biblical world. It was mixed with flour to bake daily bread. Such oil was important in cosmetics, perfumes, medicines, and the lighting of lamps. It also played a role in sacrifices and offerings. Priests and kings were anointed with oil as a symbol of the Lord’s blessings. Thus, the term became synonymous with prosperity.
(v. 28) Grain and new wine: The Hebrew word translated grain does not identify a specific grain. It has been variously translated “wheat,” “cereal,” or “corn.” The word designated a desirable and valuable crop. The Lord expected His people to tithe grain along with other products (Num. 18:8-13; Deut. 18:1-5). The Lord promised to bless His people with such agricultural abundance if they were obedient to Him (Deut. 7:12-13; 11:13-14).
Old Testament prophets predicted the abundance of grain and wine when the Lord restored His people (Jer. 31:12; Ezek. 36:29). Many Bible scholars view the Philistine god Dagon as a grain god because the name is closely related to the Hebrew word for grain (dagan).
(v. 29) Peoples . . . nations: The Hebrew term translated peoples often appears in the Old Testament to identify a group larger than a tribe or clan, but smaller than a race. It predominantly expresses two basic characteristics of a group: (1) relationships such as religious fellowship, family ties, or a king-subject relationship and (2) the unity of the group. The root of the word rendered nations suggests an emphasis on togetherness, a common people considered as a unit. In Genesis 27:29 the two terms appear almost synonymous.
Curse
At least six different Hebrew words have been translated curse. The majority of curse pronouncements using this Hebrew term fall into one of three general categories: (1) declaring judgments or punishments (Gen. 3:14,17), (2) uttering threats (Jer. 11:3; 17:5; Mal. 1:14), or (3) proclaiming laws (Deut. 27:15-26; 28:15-19).
All of these curses result from people violating the demands of their relationship with God. For example, idolatry (Deut. 27:15) and disrespect for parents (27:16) would bring a curse on those who commit such acts of disobedience. While belonging to the Lord and His people brought blessing, being cursed often meant separation from the Lord and from the community of faith. Thus to be cursed resulted in insecurity, as well as physical and spiritual disaster.
The Family
Parents are to teach their children spiritual and moral values and to lead them, through consistent lifestyle example and loving discipline, to make choices based on biblical truth. (See Proverbs 24:3; Ephesians 6:1-4.)
Create a compare/contrast chart to study a passage.
After reading Genesis 25:19-34 and Genesis 27:1-46, develop a chart comparing and contrasting Jacob and Esau. Read Hebrews 12:16-17. Why do you think God inspired the writer of Hebrews to describe Esau as an “immoral or irreverent person”? Reread Genesis 25:27-34. How did bartering his privileges as the elder twin for a single meal demonstrate Esau’s lack of concern for spiritual values? Neither twin exemplified a godly nature, both had character flaws. Therefore, why do you think the Lord could eventually accomplish His purposes through Jacob?