# Jacob and Esau: The Deception and the Blessing **Cross Reference**: #Jacob, #Esau, #Isaac, #blessing, #deception ## Scripture Reference: [Genesis 27:1-2](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+27.1-2&version=AMP) Genesis 27 recounts the story of how [[Jacob]] deceives his father [[Isaac]] in order to receive the blessing that was intended for [[Esau]], the firstborn son. This chapter is filled with themes of [[deception]], the significance of the [[blessing]], and the consequences of human actions within the larger framework of God’s sovereign plan. Despite the moral ambiguity of Jacob’s actions, the chapter underscores the idea that God’s purposes are not thwarted by human sinfulness, and His promises remain secu... ### Isaac’s Desire to Bless Esau **Scripture Reference**: [Genesis 27:1-4](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+27.1-4&version=AMP) The chapter begins with Isaac, now old and nearly blind, expressing his desire to bless Esau, his firstborn son. Isaac calls Esau to him and asks him to prepare a special meal of wild game, saying, "I am now an old man and don’t know the day of my death. Now then, get your equipment—your quiver and bow—and go out to the open country to hunt some wild game for me. Prepare me the kind of tasty food I like and bring it to me to eat, so that I may give you my blessing before I die." Isaac’s intention to bless Esau is significant because, in the ancient Near Eastern culture, the father’s blessing was more than just words; it was a formal declaration of the inheritance, authority, and future prosperity of the family. By seeking to bless Esau, Isaac assumes that Esau, as the firstborn, will carry on the covenant promises and family leadership. However, this plan is at odds with the divine prophecy given to Rebekah in [Genesis 25:23](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+25.23&version=AMP), which foretold that the older son would serve the younger. ### Rebekah’s Plan and Jacob’s Deception **Scripture Reference**: [Genesis 27:5-17](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+27.5-17&version=AMP) Rebekah, overhearing Isaac’s plan to bless Esau, devises a scheme to ensure that Jacob receives the blessing instead. She instructs Jacob to bring her two young goats, which she prepares in the way that Isaac likes. She then dresses Jacob in Esau’s clothes and covers his hands and neck with the goatskins to mimic Esau’s hairy skin. Jacob is hesitant at first, fearing that Isaac might recognize the deception and curse him instead of blessing him, but Rebekah assures him that she will take the blame if thin... This act of deception raises significant moral questions, as both Rebekah and Jacob are complicit in a scheme that involves lying and trickery. However, the narrative also suggests that Rebekah’s actions are motivated by her desire to see God’s earlier prophecy fulfilled. Despite the unethical nature of their actions, Rebekah and Jacob are operating within the belief that the blessing rightfully belongs to Jacob, as God had ordained. ### Jacob Receives Isaac’s Blessing **Scripture Reference**: [Genesis 27:18-29](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+27.18-29&version=AMP) Disguised as Esau, Jacob approaches Isaac with the food. Isaac, suspicious at first because of how quickly Jacob returned from hunting, asks, "How did you find it so quickly, my son?" Jacob responds with the lie, "The Lord your God gave me success." Isaac then asks to feel Jacob’s hands, and upon touching the goatskin-covered hands, he remarks, "The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau." Still unsure, Isaac asks Jacob directly, "Are you really my son Esau?" to which Jacob lies ... After being convinced, Isaac eats the meal and blesses Jacob, saying, "May God give you heaven’s dew and earth’s richness—an abundance of grain and new wine. May nations serve you and peoples bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed and those who bless you be blessed." This blessing, full of covenantal language, includes both material prosperity and the authority to rule over his brothers, as well as invoking God’s prot... ### Esau’s Anguish and Isaac’s Second Blessing **Scripture Reference**: [Genesis 27:30-40](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+27.30-40&version=AMP) Shortly after Jacob leaves, Esau returns from hunting and prepares the meal for his father. When Esau enters and asks Isaac to bless him, Isaac realizes that he has been deceived and that he has already given the blessing to Jacob. The text describes Isaac as trembling violently, saying, "Who was it, then, that hunted game and brought it to me? I ate it just before you came and I blessed him—and indeed he will be blessed!" Esau’s anguish is palpable as he cries out, "Bless me—me too, my father!" But Isaac responds, "Your brother came deceitfully and took your blessing." Esau pleads for another blessing, asking, "Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me too, my father!" But Isaac’s hands are tied; the blessing has already been given to Jacob, and it cannot be revoked. Isaac does, however, offer Esau a secondary blessing, saying, "Your dwelling will be away from the earth’s richness, away from the dew of heaven above. You will live by the sword and you will serve your brother. But when you grow restless, you will throw his yoke from off your neck." This blessing acknowledges Esau’s future struggles but also holds out the possibility of eventual freedom from Jacob’s dominance. ### Esau’s Hatred and Jacob’s Flight **Scripture Reference**: [Genesis 27:41-45](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+27.41-45&version=AMP) Esau, filled with anger and hatred toward Jacob, vows to kill him after Isaac’s death. When Rebekah hears of Esau’s plans, she warns Jacob and instructs him to flee to her brother Laban in Haran, where he will be safe until Esau’s anger subsides. Rebekah’s protective instincts once again come into play, as she works to ensure Jacob’s safety, even though it means sending him away from his home and family. Rebekah’s actions also serve to preserve the covenant line, as Jacob is the one through whom God’s promises will be fulfilled. Although Jacob’s journey to Haran will take him away from the promised land for a time, it is necessary for his survival and for the continuation of God’s plan. ### Theological Reflections on Deception, Blessing, and God’s Sovereignty Genesis 27 presents a complex and morally challenging narrative. The actions of Jacob and Rebekah, while successful in securing the blessing, involve deception and dishonesty, raising questions about the ethics of their behavior. Yet, despite the flawed actions of the characters, God’s sovereign plan continues to unfold. The blessing that Jacob receives is in accordance with the prophecy given to Rebekah, demonstrating that God’s purposes are not thwarted by human sinfulness. The chapter also highlights the significance of the [[blessing]] in the ancient world. The blessing was seen as a powerful and binding declaration of one’s future, and once it was given, it could not be taken back. Isaac’s blessing of Jacob, even though it was obtained through deception, stands as a pivotal moment in the biblical narrative, as it solidifies Jacob’s role as the heir of the covenant promises. Esau’s anguish and the subsequent conflict between the brothers serve as a reminder of the far-reaching consequences of sin and deception. The tension between Jacob and Esau will continue to shape their relationship, and the fallout from this event will have lasting effects on their descendants as well. ### Call to Action: - Reflect on the significance of God’s sovereignty in your life, trusting that His plans are not dependent on human perfection. - Consider the importance of honesty and integrity in your actions, recognizing that deception can lead to broken relationships and long-lasting consequences. - Embrace the reality of God’s grace, knowing that He can work through even flawed people and situations to accomplish His purposes. **Related Concepts:** - [[Blessing]] - [[Deception]] - [[God’s Sovereignty]] - [[Family Conflict]]