While Gary and I were in Florida last winter, the pastor of the church we attended had a sermon series dealing with Jacob.  The pastor admitted that he didn’t like Jacob very much.  This chapter illuminates why it’s hard to be a Jacob cheerleader.  However, it demonstrates the sinful nature of man and that even in our human frailties God will accomplish His plan.  We must remember that sinful actions bear consequences.  That is why I particularly asked if each study participant would write down the four names of these family members and share, in your own words, the consequences each one faced for his/her actions.  First, I’ll outline the actions presented in this chapter.

Let’s begin with Isaac.  Isaac, I’ve always admired.  The one incident that was the origin of my admiration was Isaac’s reaction when he found out he was to be the sacrificial offering at Moriah.  Scripture does not verify he fought with his father verbally or physically, but Genesis does document Abraham bound Isaac and laid him on the altar!  That is obedience, my friends.  Then Isaac, without question or disgruntlement, marries the woman brought to him from his native homeland by order of Abraham.   Isaac is never recorded to have had concubines or additional wives in a time when most men were pursing this lifestyle.  Isaac exemplifies the characteristics of a stellar man of faith.  As this chapter begins Isaac is old and no longer able to see clearly.  In fact, he can’t tell his sons apart except by touch and the sound of their voices.

Rebekah is Isaac’s wife and the mother of Esau and Jacob.  Where do I begin?  She seemingly has been a good wife and one that was unable to bear children for quite a while.  I imagine when she found out she was with child, she was ecstatic!  But she should have shared with Isaac the prophecy given about the twins when the Lord explained the reason for their noticeable activity within her womb.  Would it have changed the outcome?  I don’t know, but Isaac definitely should have been in the loop with this information.  Did this information impact the favoritism she possessed for Jacob?  It would seem that way when Rebekah determined, after eavesdropping on Isaac and Esau’s conversation, that Jacob should get the first blessing from his father.  Remember, Jacob was the owner of the birthright after withholding a bowl of soup from Esau until this rite of passage was traded.  Rebekah was unwavering in her mission for Jacob to have it all.

Esau, the oldest son.  This man is a bit of a mystery to me.  Before he was born Jacob was grabbing onto his heel as he tried to come into the world.  Prophecy was given while all the “jostling” within Rebekah’s womb was going on, that he would serve his younger brother.  Some commentaries say he despised his birthright of the firstborn son; therefore, he gave it away the first chance he got.  I truly don’t have a comment concerning this statement.  But Esau did give his verbal oath to Jacob for a bowl of stew and the birthright became Jacob’s.  A verbal oath was all that was needed to make the transaction between the two legal and forever binding (according to my Bible's footnote).  Nothing else is written about Esau until this chapter when Isaac asks Esau to go out hunting, prepare the fruits of his labor, bring the meal to him and he would give his firstborn a blessing.  Esau goes immediately out and obeys his father. 

Jacob, the youngest of the boys.  Seems to me that Jacob is a “let’s make a deal” kind of guy.  Although God has given the outcome, Jacob went about deceitfully obtaining that birthright.  (As I mentioned before, Esau would hunt and Jacob would cook, what gave Jacob the upper hand by cooking Esau’s offerings that he could withhold that bowl of stew from his brother?)  Now we read about this little maneuver suggested by his mother to gain the final blessing.  Did he once say, “Mom, this really isn’t what God would want us to do!”  Or maybe, “Mom, Dad can’t even see, I feel very badly about deceiving him.”  Nope, none of the above.  They have a plan and every question Jacob has about implementation, Rebekah has covered with more deceit.  And the plan goes into effect.

Consequences for the above actions will continue to follow these individuals for several chapters.  But for now, Isaac realizes that Jacob has tricked him into obtaining Esau’s blessing.  Instead of getting these sons together (which should have been done years before), Isaac is told by Rebekah that Jacob needs to be sent to her brother, Laban.  She just can’t bear the thought that Jacob would marry a Hittite woman.  Esau, as you might remember from last week, married two of these Hittite women at the age of 40.  Hittites were pagan believers.  After hearing Esau state that he will kill his brother for tricking his father into the blessing, Rebekah uses the marriage excuse to send Jacob to her brother Laban’s home far away from Esau.  Isaac agrees to her request.

Rebekah thinks all will be well.  Although Esau is mad now, it will pass…or so she thought.  In verse 45 she explains to Jacob that he has to go away for a while, but after Esau’s anger subsides she’ll send for him and he can come back home.  Guess what?  Rebekah never sees Jacob in the flesh again.  That little anger episode with Esau lasted a bit longer than she anticipated.  Consequences, my friends.  Only two sons and her “favorite” will walk out the door forever.

Esau is becoming a man full of hate and desires to kill his own brother.  I can actually understand Esau’s anger problem.  First the jostling in the womb, then the birthright/stew situation and now the final blessing is taken from him.  I could hear him as he cried out to his father, “Bless me—me, too, my father!”  Followed by, “Haven’t you saved a blessing for me?”  It breaks my heart that this man has been ousted.  Maybe the circumstances surrounding his life up to this point have caused him to marry Hittite, pagan women.  After all, he didn’t marry until he was 40.  Was he waiting for guidance or words of instruction?  It appears Esau didn’t have anything to lose and that can be a very dangerous place to be.  He wants Jacob to die and he plans it after Isaac’s death.

Jacob will leave his home and his parents.  The mother/son bonding will come to an end.  Jacob travels to Haran and works for Rebekah’s brother, Laban and the series of events surrounding Jacob will unfold numerous consequences for the rest of his natural life.  Yes, Jacob has the covenant blessing given to Abraham’s descendents; yes, he carries his father, Isaac’s blessing; but the consequences he will have to suffer might bring to remembrance time and time again how these blessings were obtained.

In conclusion, the fact that God gave Rebekah the prophecy about the twins and the older will serve the younger before they were even born has been a question in a lot of minds as to “why”?   I’d like to think that since God is all knowing, He knew what choices would be made by each son before one baby drew breath.  Free will is a gift from God this side of heaven.  As humans we get to choose our actions, our path of career, the words we speak and if we will be followers of Christ.  What we do with information and insights God has given us is up to us.  Since God gave Rebekah the prophecy before her babies were born, she was given the option of what to do with the information.  Her childrearing had to play a part in the way each boy lived his life and conducted his actions.  As I stated before, if she had included Isaac in this “nugget” owould it have made a difference in their feelings toward each son? 

Still the fact remains, friends, God is sovereign.  God knows what He’s doing. 

Father, thank you again for teaching us.  Although the lessons aren’t as clear as we’d like them to be, you demonstrate for us that consequences unfold as we take situations into our own hands without consulting you through prayer.  Prayer is an important tool for us to utilize as we lay our requests and concerns before you.  Show us how we should live that others will see Jesus in us.  In His name, I pray, Amen.

Next week’s assignment:  Read Chapter 28.

1.      Once again Isaac blesses Jacob and sends him away to find a wife.  When Esau learned of the additional blessing and the reason for sending Jacob to Northwest Mesopotamia, he takes an action of his own.  Describe what Esau does. 

2.    Jacob stops on his journey for an overnight and has a dream.  Explain the dream.  What does God tell him that ensures us as study participants that this is the covenant promise given to Abraham?  What words are used?

3.    Interesting in verse 20 Jacob wants God’s protection.  What is of importance to Jacob according to verse 21?  Consequences, my friends, are happening.