GENESIS 27: The Blessing

In our previous study we read about the struggle between the twins, Jacob and Esau, to obtain the blessing of the firstborn.  In Genesis chapter 25 we read that Jacob purchased the birthright from Esau with a plate of lentil stew. Esau was the first one to emerge from his mother’s womb, but God had revealed to Rebecca that the older would serve the younger (Genesis 25:22-23).

Led by his mother Rebecca, Jacob disguised himself as Esau to obtain the blessing of the firstborn.

This is the blessing Isaac bestowed upon Jacob, believing he was Esau.

(Genesis 27:28-29)  May God give you of the dew of heaven and of the fatness of the earth and plenty of grain and wine.  (29)  Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may your mother's sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be everyone who blesses you!" 

This is precisely what God had revealed Rebecca, when he told her that the elder would serve the younger.

THE TRUTH IS MADE EVIDENT

Meanwhile, Esau was hunting for deer, ignorant of what was going on at Isaac’s house. When he finally gets back and comes to his father, he had already given the blessing to Jacob.

(Genesis 27:30-31)   As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, when Jacob had scarcely gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, Esau his brother came in from his hunting.  (31)  He also prepared delicious food and brought it to his father. And he said to his father, "Let my father arise and eat of his son's game, that you may bless me."  

Isaac’s reaction at that moment is very revealing…

(Genesis 27:32-33)   His father Isaac said to him, "Who are you?" He answered, "I am your son, your firstborn, Esau."  (33)  Then Isaac trembled very violently and said, "Who was it then that hunted game and brought it to me, and I ate it all before you came, and I have blessed him? Yes, and he shall be blessed." 

The normal reaction would have been for Isaac to become angry and curse Jacob for deceiving him… but he did not. On the contrary, he confirmed the blessing he gave Jacob: “Yes, and he shall be blessed” (27:33).  Clearly, something happened when Isaac was blessing Jacob that convinced him that he was doing the right thing. Maybe God opened his blinded eyes at that moment so that he could see His divine will.

ESAU’S REACTION

However, Esau was not as understanding as his father Isaac. He became very upset when he heard that his brother Jacob had “stolen” his birthright (even tough he had already sold it to him when they were younger).

(Genesis 27:34-36)  As soon as Esau heard the words of his father, he cried out with an exceedingly great and bitter cry and said to his father, "Bless me, even me also, O my father!"  (35)  But he said, "Your brother came deceitfully, and he has taken away your blessing."  (36)  Esau said, "Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has cheated me these two times. He took away my birthright, and behold, now he has taken away my blessing." Then he said, "Have you not reserved a blessing for me?"

Here it is made evident that Esau had not forgotten the fact that he had sold his birthright for a plate of lentil stew. Maybe Isaac did not know about it, but Esau did remember. It this respect, Esau was also deceiving his father, wanting to keep a blessing that did not belong to him.

TWO KINDS OF BLESSING

Throughout the Bible we read about two kinds of blessings parents would give their children:

1.  The Blessing of the Firstborn (Hebrew Bechira)

This is the especial blessing given to the firstborn son (Bejor). It included the following privileges:

a. Being the authority among all the siblings

b. Inheriting the Father’s name

c. Getting a double portion of the inheritance

However, they did not only receive privileges, since they also were left with the responsibility to look out for the wellbeing of the whole family.

2. The Paternal Blessing (Hebrew Bracha)

These are the words the father would give to each of his children in special moments or as a blessing before he passed away. This blessing is given to all the sons, not just the firstborn. This is a blessing that includes words revealing what the father sees in his son, that reveal his potential and God’s calling for his life. These words have the power to point out a destiny in their lives.

In the book of Hebrews we read that Isaac blessed both of his sons with the paternal blessing (Hebrew Bracha).

(Hebrews 11:20) By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau.

The question was which of the twins would keep the blessing of the firstborn?

A BLESSING FOR ESAU

The Bible tells us that Esau was Isaac’s favorite son. That is why he was going to give him the blessing of the firstborn. Later, however, it seems that Isaac understood that this blessing belonged to Jacob, just as God had revealed Rebecca when she was carrying the twins in her womb. When Isaac realized that he had been deceived, he did not withdraw the blessing, but he confirmed it. This did not mean that Esau would be left without a blessing (Bracha) – However it would not be the blessing of the firstborn (Bechira).

(Genesis 27:37-40)  Isaac answered and said to Esau, "Behold, I have made him lord over you, and all his brothers I have given to him for servants, and with grain and wine I have sustained him. What then can I do for you, my son?"  (38)  Esau said to his father, "Have you but one blessing, my father? Bless me, even me also, O my father." And Esau lifted up his voice and wept.  (39)  Then Isaac his father answered and said to him: "Behold, away from the fatness of the earth shall your dwelling be, and away from the dew of heaven on high.  (40)  By your sword you shall live, and you shall serve your brother; but when you grow restless you shall break his yoke from your neck." 

Isaac confirmed the blessing given to Jacob as the firstborn, and Esau had to live under the authority of his brother. Nevertheless, at the end, Isaac inserted a clause under which he could get away from under his brother’s dominion. This happened during the times of Jehoram king of Judah (approximately around the year 890 BC).

(2 Chronicles 21:5-10)  Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.  (6)  And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for the daughter of Ahab was his wife. And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD.  (7)  Yet the LORD was not willing to destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and since he had promised to give a lamp to him and to his sons forever.  (8)  In his days Edom revolted from the rule of Judah and set up a king of their own.  (9)  Then Jehoram passed over with his commanders and all his chariots, and he rose by night and struck the Edomites who had surrounded him and his chariot commanders.  (10)  So Edom revolted from the rule of Judah to this day. At that time Libnah also revolted from his rule, because he had forsaken the LORD, the God of his fathers.

Jacob’s descendants lost their spiritual authority when they sinned.

WHO IS EDOM?

Esau’s was nicknamed “Edom”.

This word is related to several Hebrew words:

Esta palabra está relacionada con varias palabras:

Adom =         “red”

Adam =         “man”

Adamá =       “land”

He was nicknamed Edom, not only because he was red haired or carnal, but also because of the red stew he ate in exchange for his birthright.

(Genesis 25:29-34)  Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted.  (30)  And Esau said to Jacob, "Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!" (Therefore his name was called Edom.)  (31)  Jacob said, "Sell me your birthright now."  (32)  Esau said, "I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?"  (33)  Jacob said, "Swear to me now." So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob.  (34)  Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

He was nicknamed Edom ever since he despised his birthright.

SEED OF RESENTMENT

Ever since the day when Jacob received the blessing of the firstborn, a seed of resentment was planted in Esau’s heart against his brother Jacob. However, this resentment grew into hatred, even to the point of desiring the death of his own brother, just like Cain.

Esau’s plan was to kill Jacob as soon as Isaac died.

(Genesis 27:41)   Now Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said to himself, "The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob."

Esau’s wrongdoing was not to be offended by what had happened, but to let hatred build up in his heart. We read about this in the book of Hebrews:

(Hebrews 12:15-17)  See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no "root of bitterness" springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;  (16)  that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal.  (17)  For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.

Just like Cain had done, Esau never repented. He left open the door to sin and never turned away from it.

Esau was not interested in knowing God’s will, nor was his intention to submit to Him. All he wanted was to do his own will and to obtain immediate satisfaction.

REBECCA’S INTERVENTION

We may have possibly seen Cain and Abel’s story repeated if it wasn’t for Rebecca’s intervention.

(Genesis 27:42-45)   But the words of Esau her older son were told to Rebekah. So she sent and called Jacob her younger son and said to him, "Behold, your brother Esau comforts himself about you by planning to kill you.  (43)  Now therefore, my son, obey my voice. Arise, flee to Laban my brother in Haran  (44)  and stay with him a while, until your brother's fury turns away--  (45)  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 bereft of you both in one day?" 

Rebecca knew that Esau’s hatred was not going to ease, and the only way out was for Jacob to run away. However, his departure would also serve another purpose…

IN SEARCH OF A WIFE

This chapter’s message began by mentioning the negative effect that Esau’s matrimony with the daughters of Het had (Genesis 26:34-35) and it ends by referring to this again:

(Genesis 27:46)  Then Rebekah said to Isaac, "I loathe my life because of the Hittite women. If Jacob marries one of the Hittite women like these, one of the women of the land, what good will my life be to me?"

Rebecca could not bear the thought of Jacob marrying women like these. Therefore, she wanted to sent Jacob to their relatives in Haran so that he may find a wife from among them. 

Isaac confirmed Rebecca’s wishes regarding Jacob:

(Genesis 28:1-2) Then Isaac called Jacob and blessed him and directed him, "You must not take a wife from the Canaanite women.  (2)  Arise, go to Paddan-aram to the house of Bethuel your mother's father, and take as your wife from there one of the daughters of Laban your mother's brother. 

At that moment Isaac once more confirmed the blessing he had given Jacob. Not only that, but also transferred unto him Abraham’s blessing – to receive land and offspring.

(Genesis 28:3-5)  God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, that you may become a company of peoples.  (4)  May he give the blessing of Abraham to you and to your offspring with you, that you may take possession of the land of your sojournings that God gave to Abraham!"  (5)  Thus Isaac sent Jacob away. And he went to Paddan-aram, to Laban, the son of Bethuel the Aramean, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother. 

This blessing would be later confirmed directly to Jacob by the Lord himself…

ESAU REMARRIES

In the following chapter we will read about Esau’s reaction to his parent’s decision to send Jacob to Haran to marry a woman related to them.

(Genesis 28:6-9)   Now Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Paddan-aram to take a wife from there, and that as he blessed him he directed him, "You must not take a wife from the Canaanite women,"  (7)  and that Jacob had obeyed his father and his mother and gone to Paddan-aram.  (8)  So when Esau saw that the Canaanite women did not please Isaac his father,  (9)  Esau went to Ishmael and took as his wife, besides the wives he had, Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham's son, the sister of Nebaioth.

It may seem that Esau, out of spite, married the daughter of his father’s half brother’s, whom had given him so much trouble. With this union, Esau’s and Ishmael’s descendants were joined together.

EDOM VRS. ISRAEL

The hostility between Esau and Jacob had consequences that have been reflected throughout Israel’s history. From Esau’s lineage we have seen individuals emerging to persecute the people of Israel:

*  AMALEK

Amalek was Esau’s descendant from his union with one of Het’s daughters (Genesis 36:12) and he was one of the chiefs among Esau’s family (Genesis 36:16). Amalek was the first to attack the Israelites after they came out of Egypt, just as they were about to get to Mount Sinai (Exodus 17:8).

*  HAMAN

Haman was a descendant of the Amalekites. He persecuted the Jews in Babylon, during the time of Queen Esther.