Genesis 27 is all about Deception, and believe it or not, it was committed by Rebekah - the woman who was chosen by God to marry Isaac - the promised son of Sarah and Abraham. Rebekah heard Isaac, in his old age, tell Esau “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.” Genesis 27:2-4 So Esau went out, with his bow in hand. I’m the meantime, Rebekah devised a plan to have Jacob, receive the blessing instead of Esau. Rebekah said to her son Jacob, “Look, I overheard your father say to your brother Esau, “Bring me some game and prepare me some tasty food to eat, so that I may give you my blessing in the presence of the Lord before I die.’ Now, my son, listen carefully and do what I tell you: Go out to the flock and bring me two choice young goats, so I can prepare some tasty food for your father, just the way he likes it. Then take it to your father to eat, so that he may give you his blessing before he dies.” Genesis 27:6-10 I’m guessing - based on what scripture says, that Rebekah had it with Esau’s Hittite wives - which is why she wanted to Jacob to receive the blessing instead. “When Esau was forty years old, he married Judith daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and also Basemath daughter of Elon the Hittite. They were a source of grief to Isaac and Rebekah.” Genesis 26:34-35 I can only imagine the grief that would grow if Esau was blessed by God. It would have meant that the Haminite culture would have grown stronger in the land of Canaan. Jacob said to his mother, “But my brother Esau is a hairy man while I have smooth skin. What if my father touches me? I would appear to be tricking him and would bring down a curse on myself rather than a blessing.” His mother said to him, “My son, let the curse fall on me. Just do what I say; go and get them for me.” So he went and got them and brought them to his mother, and she prepared some tasty food, just the way his father liked.” Genesis 27:11-14 Later, in the book of Exodus, God will give the command to Moses that His people are to honor their father and mother. I wonder - was Jacob considered a good son? He listened to his mother, and did what she said, but by obeying her - it required for him to deceive his father on his death bed. Obviously, it was part of God’s divine plan. Jacob said 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 give me your blessing.” Isaac asked his son, How did you find it so quickly, my son?” “The Lord your God gave me success,” he replied. Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Come near so I can touch you, my son, to know whether you really are my son Esau or not.” Genesis 27:19-21 So the deceiver moved closer to his father. “Are you really my son Esau?” Isaac asked. “I am,” Jacob said. Genesis 27:24 Isaac blessed him and said, “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.” Genesis 27:28-29 When Esau returned he went into his father to bring him his food. Isaac asked him who he was, and Esau said, “I am your first born son.” “Isaac trembled violently and said, “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!” Genesis 27:33 Isaac said, “Your brother came deceitfully and took your blessing.” Genesis 27:35 Esau said, “Isn’t he rightly named Jacob? This is the second time he has taken advantage of me: He took my birthright, and now he’s taken my blessing!” Genesis 27:36 The name Jacob means “he who deceives” - Jacob was given this name for a reason. I can now see why Jacob spent a long time wrestling with God before getting his new name - Israel. Poor Esau asked his father, "Haven’t you reserved any blessing for me?” “Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me too, my father!” Then Esau wept aloud. Genesis 27:36 His father Isaac answered him, “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.” Genesis 27:38-40 Chapter 27 ends with this - “Then Rebekah said to Isaac, “I’m disgusted with living because of these Hittite women. If Jacob takes a wife from among the women of this land, from Hittite women like these, my life will not be worth living.” Genesis 27:46 All I can think is that deception that came through Rebekah was all part of God's plan. For Rebekah grieved living with women who served pagan gods. Perhaps God grieves humans who under the influence of His fallen sons.
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