Genesis 27

CHAPTER 27

Jacob Gets Isaac’s Blessing (27:1–40)

1–4 In biblical times, it was the custom for an aged father to give specific blessings to each of his sons; these blessings were binding, much as a written will is legally binding today. In giving these final blessings, the father usually took into account the special privileges due the eldest son, but he was ultimately free to bestow his blessing on whomever he pleased.

Isaac clearly favored Esau over Jacob (Genesis 25:28), so much so that he evidently intended to give his entire blessing to Esau and nothing at all to Jacob (verse 4).

5–13 Rebekah, who favored Jacob, overheard Isaac’s words to Esau and immediately formed a plan to thwart Isaac’s wishes and trick him into giving his blessing to Jacob instead. Such parental favoritism always leads to strife within a family.

Jacob feared that his blind father might discover the deception and curse him instead of blessing him. But Rebekah, the instigator of the plan, assured Jacob that she was ready to accept the curse if their plot was discovered (verse 13).

14–20 Rebekah’s plan went smoothly; Jacob entered fully into the deception. When Isaac asked him who he was, he answered with an outright lie: “I am Esau” (verse 19)—thus demonstrating the appropriateness of his name Jacob, which means “deceiver.”⁹⁹

Isaac was surprised that “Esau” had been able to obtain the “wild game” so quickly—Jacob had simply fetched two young goats from Isaac’s flock (verse 9). Again Jacob lied. Notice that in speaking to his father, Jacob referred to God as “the Lord your God” (verse 20), which suggests that Jacob at that time didn’t look on God as being his own personal God. Only later did he begin to address God as my God (Genesis 28:20–21). Here once again we are reminded that the God we worship is not some distant and impersonal Creator but rather is a personal and loving heavenly Father who has promised to be our God and to be with us always (Genesis 17:8; 26:3).

21–29 Jacob and Rebekah’s deception worked perfectly. Isaac was at first suspicious (verses 21–24), but the goatskins on Jacob’s hands and the smell of his brother’s clothing convinced Isaac that he was giving his blessing to Esau. Isaac’s blessing included the wish that Jacob be granted prosperity (verse 28) and power (verse 29), especially power and dominance over surrounding nations and over his brother. Isaac told Jacob: “. . . may the sons of your mother bow down to you.” Thus Isaac unknowingly fulfilled the Lord’s word to Rebekah that her elder son would serve the younger (Genesis 25:23).

Finally at the end of the blessing Isaac repeated the promise, made originally to Abraham, that God would take Jacob’s side and bless those who blessed him and curse those who cursed him (Genesis 12:3).

30–33 As soon as Jacob secured the blessing that had been meant for Esau, Esau arrived with his tasty food. Suddenly Isaac realized he had been deceived; he trembled violently (verse 33). The blessing, once given, could not be revoked. It was now beyond Isaac’s control; the blessing given to Jacob would come to pass. “I blessed him—and indeed he will be blessed!”

But we must understand that in one sense the blessing had never been in Isaac’s “control”; it was God who determined which son would get the birthright and the blessing. God was working out His sovereign plan; He was even using the selfish and deceptive plans of sinful humans to accomplish His purposes. The covenant blessings bestowed by God upon Abraham and then upon Isaac would now pass on to Jacob and his descendants (Genesis 28:3–4).

34–40 Esau saw that he had been cheated a second time—first out of his birthright and now out of his blessing. But no amount of crying and pleading could change Isaac’s mind (Hebrews 12:17). There was no blessing left to give; Jacob had gotten it all. Isaac told Esau that he and his descendants would live in a dry wilderness area (Edom), far different from the rich and fertile land of Canaan. And once again the judgment came that Esau would serve his brother (verse 40).

Perhaps Esau’s greatest grief came from knowing that he himself had been responsible for losing his father’s blessing when he gave up his birthright for a bowl of stew. It’s hard enough to suffer for righteousness sake; it’s much harder to suffer for stupidity’s sake. Like Cain, Esau felt remorse, but did not repent.¹⁰⁰

Esau Threatens to Kill Jacob (27:41–46)

41–46 The impetuous Esau, who was to live by the sword (verse 40), decided to regain his birthright and blessing by killing his brother Jacob (verse 41). Rebekah learned of Esau’s intention and realized that Jacob must flee. Furthermore, Rebekah had been given much grief by Esau’s two Hittite (Canaanite) wives, and so she wanted to make sure that Jacob didn’t marry a Canaanite woman (verse 46). Therefore, she and Isaac sent Jacob to her brother Laban in Haran, both to find protection from Esau and also to find a wife from among Laban’s daughters (Genesis 28:2). Rebekah thought Jacob would only have to stay with Laban for a while (verse 44), but twenty years would pass before he returned. Rebekah never saw Jacob again. The plans of schemers seldom lead to happiness in the end.

In all this, we see two elderly parents, Isaac and Rebekah, failing to seek God’s will for their children. Even before their birth God had indicated to Rebekah what His will was regarding her two sons (Genesis 25:23). Nevertheless, Isaac remained determined to give the blessing to his favorite, while Rebekah was equally determined to get the blessing for hers; neither consulted with God. As a result, both parents caused long-lasting trouble and grief for both their sons. Today parents benefit from the guidance of Scripture and the Holy Spirit, but still they cannot know what is ultimately best for their children; only God knows that. We need to trust our children to Him.