November – 11 – Jacob’s Deception

Sunday School Lesson

November 11

Jacob’s Deception

 

Devotional Reading: Psalm 24:1–6

Background Scripture: Genesis 27:1–28:5

 

Genesis 27:5–10, 18, 19, 21–29

5. And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.
6. And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying,
7. Bring me venison, and make me savoury meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before the Lord before my death.
8. Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee.
9. Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury meat for thy father, such as he loveth:
10. And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death.
11. And he came unto his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I; who art thou, my son?
12. And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy firstborn; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me.
13. And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I

pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not.

 

22. And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.
23. And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau’s hands: so he blessed him.
24. And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am.
25. And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son’s venison, that my soul may bless thee. And he brought it near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine, and he drank.
26. And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son.
27. And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the Lord hath blessed:
28. Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine:
29. Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother’s sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.

 

Key Verse

He discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau’s hands: so he blessed him.

—Genesis 27:23

 

Lesson Aims

After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:

 

1. Recount how Isaac was deceived into blessing Jacob rather than Esau and what the blessing consisted of.

 

2. Tell why human beings resort to deception so often instead of telling the truth.

 

3. Identify and correct one thought processthat tends to produce words and actions intended to deceive.

 

HOW TO SAY IT

badest	bad-est.
chicanery	shi-cane-ree.
Edomites	Ee-dum-ites.
Esau	Ee-saw.
Hittite	Hit-ite or Hit-tite.
Jacob	Jay-kub.
Obadiah	O-buh-dye-uh.
Philistines	Fuh-liss-teenz or Fill-us-teenz.

Introduction

1. Dress-Up for Grown-Ups

One of the games children often used to play was “dress-up.” (Today it has lost much of its appeal, a casualty of our digital, high-tech age.) A little boy would try to wear what Dad wore, especially if some kind of special clothing or uniform was involved. A little girl would dress up like her mother, possibly using some of Mom’s makeup without her permission. The parents laughed at how “grown-up” the child looked.

Jacob was a grown man, not a child, when he (with his mother Rebekah’s help) dressed up like Esau. But this was no game for Jacob and Rebekah. The stakes were enormously high; the patriarchal blessing, associated with future prosperity and security, was on the line. The outcome of Jacob and Rebekah’s deception of old, blind Isaac was not laughter, the meaning of Isaac’s name. Rather, it was anger, sorrow, and the eventual self-exile of Jacob.

1. Lesson Context: Family Dynamics

Last week’s lesson covered the birth of Jacob and Esau, their parents’ favoritism, and Esau’s willingness to sell his birthright to Jacob to satisfy his hunger. Genesis 26 then chronicles Isaac’s dealings with the Philistines, during which time God came to him at Beersheba and reaffirmed the covenant promises (26:23, 24).

Nothing is said in Genesis 26 about Jacob. For Esau’s part, he is mentioned only at the end of the chapter: when Esau was 40 years old, he married two Hittite women (26:34). This hurt both Isaac and Rebekah greatly. Once again (as he did with selling his birthright) Esau demonstrated contempt for his heritage, this time by marrying outside the covenant people.

1. Lesson Context: Patriarchal Blessing

By the time Genesis 27 begins, Isaac had grown old and nearly blind. Believing it was time to set his house in order, he called son Esau to come before him. He expressed his desire to give Esau the special patriarchal blessing. Such blessing is essentially a prophecy of what the future holds for the individual or people being blessed. Near the conclusion of Genesis, Jacob blessed his sons in a similar fashion just before his death (Genesis 49:1–28).

It is also important to note that a blessing (or a curse for that matter) once spoken cannot be reversed, even if that blessing was given unintentionally to the wrong person. This is especially so in a solemn setting such as the one in our text.

Blessing should not be confused with birthright. The birthright (already obtained by Jacob; see last week’s lesson) dealt primarily with passing down the greatest share of the family’s material wealth to the oldest son. The blessing involved the family patriarch’s (in today’s case, Isaac’s) participation more directly as he requested divine favor on the person being blessed so that future prosperity and abundance would be his.

1. Deception Suggested

(Genesis 27:5–10)

The preface to today’s lesson is Isaac’s sense that his time is short. His plan is to grant Esau, elder of the two sons, his blessing. Surely Isaac is aware of the words that the Lord spoke to Rebekah when her twins were jostling within her: “The elder shall serve the younger” (Genesis 25:23). Yet in spite of that declaration, he attempts to ensure that Esau (his older and favored son) receives the blessing. But first Isaac desires a favorite meal from Esau’s hands (27:1–4).

1. Overhearing Isaac (v. 5)
2. And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.

 

If Isaac believes his meeting with Esau is private, he is badly mistaken. Wife Rebekah is eavesdropping. Perhaps she has seen Esau go into Isaac’s tent and is curious as to what is going on. Once Esau has gone out to fulfill his father’s wishes, she knows she must act—and quickly.

As in last week’s lesson, the Hebrew word translated venison refers to any kind of game obtained by hunting. It need not refer only to deer meat as modern English designates.

1. Advising Jacob (vv. 6–10)
2. And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying.

It is interesting to consider the description of Esau as “his [Isaac’s] son” in verse 5, while here Jacob is referred to as her [Rebekah’s] son. This may highlight the favoritism noted in last week’s lesson (Genesis 25:28). Reference to neither son is in terms of their. Rebekah now proceeds to tell Jacob what she has heard.

 

7. Bring me venison, and make me savoury meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before the Lord before my death.

 

When Isaac had spoken to Esau earlier, he had requested him to bring savoury meat “that my soul may bless thee before I die” (Genesis 27:4). Rebekah, however, includes a sacred element in her version of Isaac’s words: she depicts Isaac’s plan as being to bless Esau before the Lord before my death. Perhaps this use of the Lord’s name is intended to heighten the sense of urgency with which Jacob must carry out his mother’s unfolding plan. He must be sure to do whatever is necessary to obtain the blessing. Jacob himself will use the Lord’s name in a deceptive way later (27:20).

 

8. Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee.

 

Just as Esau has gone out to fulfill Isaac’s wishes, Jacob is now ordered to carry out the plan devised by Rebekah.

 

What Do You Think? How should we handle a situation where someone in authority attempts to include us in an unethical plan?   Digging Deeper How would your response change, if at all, if the unethical plan requires only your passive acceptance rather than active participation?

9, 10. Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury meat for thy father, such as he loveth: and thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death.

 

Many cooks try to prepare a dish “just like Mother makes.” Rebekah’s plan is to duplicate what son Esau intends to make. Jacob is to secure the ingredients by which Rebekah will make Isaac’s favorite dish. Food will be the tool to trick Isaac, in something of a repeat of food being used by Jacob to nab Esau’s birthright.

What Do You Think? What are some ways to determine whether someone’s kind words, gifts, or acts of service are selfless or self-seeking?   Digging Deeper How do we avoid Pilate’s error of correctly recognizing wrong motives but reacting wrongly anyway (Mark 15:9–15)?

Parenting Pathology

“Mom always liked you best.” That famous line from a Smothers Brothers TV skit became a continuing theme—either spoken or implied—in their comedy routine.

In the original interchange, Dick, supposedly the more intelligent of the two, ran through a litany of criticisms of Tommy, who played the role of a dense, socially inept fellow. Dick would say something like “You’re stupid; you’re dumb” in a series of put-downs. Running out of insults, he paused, and Tommy (in an unscripted moment of inspired comedic genius) said, “Yeah, and Mom liked you best.”

The audience roared. In addition to giving voice to the ongoing undercurrent of the act, it also touched a nerve in audience members. Every person who has had a brother or sister has probably entertained an occasional thought that the other sibling(s) was treated better.

The struggle between Jacob and Esau is only one in a series of sibling rivalries in Genesis. But their story portrays most vividly the negative power of parental favoritism. Isaac and Rebekah’s greatest parenting fault was the failure to see Esau and Jacob as “ours” rather than “my son,” etc. They were part of a multigenerational parenting pathology. We can learn an important lesson from their failure!

—C. R. B.

1. Deception Starts

(Genesis 27:18, 19)

In the intervening verses not in today’s lesson (Genesis 27:11–17), Jacob’s reaction to Rebekah’s scheme is understandable. Normally the pronouncement of a blessing involves some kind of physical contact. The food Rebekah prepares may resemble what Esau fixes; but if Isaac touches Jacob in the process of blessing him, he won’t need eyes to know this isn’t Esau!

But as Rebekah cooks food, she also cooks up a plan: she covers Jacob’s smooth skin with the skins of the goats. She also provides him with some of Esau’s clothing to wear. Jacob is now prepared to see his father, though he must be the proverbial nervous wreck.

1. Addressing Isaac (v. 18)

18a. And he came unto his father, and said, My father.

 

Another part of the ruse must involve convincing Isaac that Jacob sounds like Esau. Part of the plan may be for Jacob to speak as little as possible. Jacob’s short my father is only one word in Hebrew. Some suggest that since Jacob and Esau are twins, their voices are somewhat similar.

 

18b. And he said, Here am I; who art thou, my son?

 

Although Isaac’s vision is gone, his sense of hearing seems to be in good working order—‌perhaps more so than Rebekah and Jacob realize. Isaac’s ears tell him something is amiss, thus he questions the identity of the son before him, as if asking, “Which of my sons are you?”

1. Lying to Isaac (v. 19)
2. And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy firstborn; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me.

Jacob continues the deception in making the two claims we see here. Then Jacob immediately throws in the proofs of requested food and expected blessing. As long as Isaac doesn’t suspect eavesdropping, he will assume that those two subjects are known only to him and Esau.

 

What Do You Think? What can you do to ensure proper motives when seeking blessing or approval of someone you respect?   Digging Deeper How do you know when it’s time to stop striving for unreceived approval?

III. Deception Succeeds

(Genesis 27:21–29)

Jacob then uses the Lord’s name as part of the cover-up (Genesis 27:20, not in today’s lesson text) to assuage Isaac’s doubt. But it isn’t enough.

1. Isaac’s Doubt (vv. 21–24)
2. And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not.

 

Now comes the part of the ceremony that Jacob must be dreading the most (see again Genesis 27:12). Isaac is not convinced that the man before him is indeed Esau. So he shifts from the senses of seeing and hearing to that of touch.

 

22. And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.

 

Isaac may be blind (Genesis 27:1), but he is not deaf! Yet his sense of touch now contradicts what his sense of hearing reports.

Jacob’s degree of anxiety at this point is easy to imagine. It must be all he can do to keep from trembling with fear of being discovered as an impostor.

23. And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau’s hands: so he blessed him.

 

The scheme apparently works as Isaac resolves the contradictory evidence by trusting his sense of touch over his sense of hearing. Almost.

 

24. And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am.

 

Still doubting, Isaac again questions the identity of the individual before him. Jacob seems to perceive that a short response at this point is better than a long one, and his I am is just a single brief word in Hebrew. He speaks as little as possible, trying not to create any further doubt in Isaac’s mind. This is the final time Jacob speaks in the blessing procedure.

Not a “Little White Lie”

Evaluate this situation: A friend’s loved one is gravely injured or deathly ill. You know the truth, but your friend doesn’t. Are you tempted to hedge the truth when you call your friend to report the injury or illness? Do you diminish the seriousness of the person’s condition with a “little white lie”?

We’re occasionally tempted to tell such lies. That designation makes them sound so innocent. But lies by their very nature are attempts to deceive. Many people rationalize a supposed difference between little lies and big lies by appealing to the difference in consequences. We may assume that the results of so-called little white lies are relatively harmless. Or we may think that a little lie is justified because harmful consequences of telling the truth will be greater than harmful consequences of telling the lie. This appeal to good intentions is an easy one.

When Rebekah conspired with Jacob, she probably convinced herself of her good intentions. Perhaps she thought “her” son was far more worthy of Isaac’s blessing than “his” son was. But as the further record of Genesis reports, the consequences of the birthright exchange and blessing deception were quite profound. Relationships and history changed courses. We feel those aftershocks yet today. Unintended consequences put the lie to the idea of “little white lies.”

—C. R. B.

What Do You Think? What can Christians do to prevent succumbing to temptations to “stretch” or “spin” the truth in difficult situations?   Digging Deeper At what point, if ever, is “stretching the truth” with good intentions acceptable?

1. Isaac’s Declaration (vv. 25–29)
2. And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son’s venison, that my soul may bless thee. And he brought it near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine, and he drank.

What we might call the “identity confirmation phase” is over—Isaac is convinced. But the “chance of getting caught phase” is still underway. Esau can return at any moment. It’s easy to imagine Jacob trying to hurry the meal along in subtle ways.

 

26. And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son.

 

Jacob must again come before Isaac to be touched, so the anxious moments drag on. A kiss is a common part of greeting someone or saying farewell in Bible times (Genesis 31:28, 55; 33:4; 48:10; Ruth 1:9; Mark 14:44; 1 Peter 5:14; etc.). Here it may be part of the ceremony of blessing.

 

27a. And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him.

 

All five of Isaac’s senses (or lack thereof) have come into play in this account. His sight is gone (which affects how the deception is carried out), he hears a voice, he touches the imposter, he tastes the food, and now he smells the clothing (raiment) of Esau that Jacob is wearing.

27b. And said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the Lord hath blessed.

 

These words are certainly appropriate for a “man of the field” such as Esau (Genesis 25:27), so the deception is solidified. Isaac proceeds to pronounce the blessing the imposter desires to have so badly. Regarding credit to the Lord for agricultural blessing, compare Psalm 65:9–13.

 

28. Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine.

 

The contents of the blessing include the promise of material abundance. In a few minutes, Isaac will mention these same things in something of an anti-blessing to Esau (Genesis 27:39, 40).

 

29a. Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee.

 

The blessing then turns to matters of authority and influence. This promise may indicate how Jacob’s descendants (the Israelites) will at times dominate the surrounding nations (as during David’s reign).

 

29b. Be lord over thy brethren.

 

Isaac is unintentionally fulfilling the prophetic word the Lord gave to Rebekah: when she was still expecting: “the elder shall serve the younger” (Genesis 25:23).

 

29c. And let thy mother’s sons bow down to thee.

 

Jacob’s mother’s sons may refer to Esau’s descendants (although Isaac doesn’t intend it that way), which will be the Edomites. Their demise before God’s covenant people will be foreseen particularly by the prophet Obadiah (Obadiah 1–4, 15–21; see also Genesis 27:40; 2 Samuel 8:14).

 

29d. Cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.

 

The final statement in Isaac’s words of blessing reflects the final statement in God’s original covenant with Abraham (Genesis 12:3).

We do not read of any further exchange of words between Isaac and Jacob after Isaac offers the blessing. Jacob has likely been wishing that the ceremony will end as soon as possible, aware that Esau can return at any moment.

As it turns out, Jacob scarcely leaves before Esau returns, prepares a meal for his father, and enters the tent—expecting a blessing from him. One cannot fathom the degree of sadness and despair that Isaac feels and the degree of anger and bitterness that Esau experiences when they realize what has happened.

 

What Do You Think? How should we react to situations where we discover that someone has consciously deceived us?   Digging Deeper Does the amount of time that has elapsed make a difference? Why, or why not?

But God’s sovereign purpose is still being carried out. His plan is moving forward, even in the midst of the deception and heartbreak that we see in the events of this chapter of Scripture.

Conclusion

1. Two Laws

Sociologists have identified a concept called the law of unintended consequences. Unintended consequences are outcomes that are not foreseen or intended by a certain action. According to Wikipedia, these consequences fall into three categories:

1–Unexpected benefits (when positive results exceed expectations); this has also been referred to as a windfall

2–Unexpected drawbacks (which can occur in addition to any benefits gained from an action); this is also known as doing more harm than good

3–Perverse results (when the consequences of a course of action make a given problem worse); this is also known as a backfire in some contexts

The difference between number 2 and number 3 can be hard to see. But it’s easy to see how both descriptions of doing more harm than good and backfire can certainly be applied to what happened in the aftermath of Jacob and Rebekah’s deception of Isaac when the unfolding events of Genesis 27:41 and following are considered. While God’s higher purpose was carried out in spite of the chicanery, this series of events brought further havoc into a family where sibling rivalry and parental favoritism had already created significant friction.

The law of unintended consequences is both a sociological and spiritual concept. It is grounded in scriptural principles such as “Be sure your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23); “He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity” (Proverbs 22:8); and “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Galatians 6:7). This is known as the law of sowing and reaping.

The two laws are similar but not identical. The similarities seem more profound than the differences, however, and we’ve all experienced those negative similarities. Lying begets more lies as we dig ourselves deeper and deeper into a hole. Eventually the avalanche of sin catches up with us.

1. One Solution

The solution starts with recognizing the problem. And that problem is one of taking the short view instead of the long view. When we focus on the potential long-term effects, the temptation to grab shortsighted, short-term fixes will diminish. The Bible has the correct long-term view for everyone: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

1. Prayer

Father, may we extend hands not to grab another’s heel but to lend genuine assistance. May we be the hands and feet of Jesus to our broken, hurting world. We pray this in His name. Amen.

1. Thought to Remember

The law of sowing and reaping applies to both crops and character.^[1]

 

 

Kid’s Corner

Despite Deceptions, God Keeps His Promises

November 11, 2018

Genesis 27:5-10, 18-29

 

 

Genesis 27:5-10, 18-29

(Genesis 27:5) Rebekah was listening while Isaac spoke to his son Esau. So when Esau went to the field to hunt for game to bring home,

Because Isaac was almost blind and thought he was dying, he told Esau he wanted to give him the blessing that belonged to the firstborn son. It seems unthinkable that he did not know about (or believe?) Rebekah after the LORD told her that the older son would serve the younger son (Genesis 25:23). The LORD’s words indicated that Jacob would receive Isaac’s blessing instead of Esau. The Bible does not tell us how often they discussed the meaning of the LORD’s words to her and what Isaac should do about what the LORD had told her. Isaac may or may not have known that Esau had sold his birthright and the corresponding blessing to Jacob, but Isaac’s blessing was not Esau’s to sell. In any event, Isaac asked Esau to bring him a dinner of wild game to eat before he blessed him. Hearing this conversation, Rebekah took the matter into her own hands. Despite what Rebekah or Isaac did, the LORD achieved what He had foretold Rebekah.

(Genesis 27:6) Rebekah said to her son Jacob, “Behold, I heard your father speak to your brother Esau, saying,

Rebekah decided that she would do all she could to ensure that what the LORD had revealed to her about Jacob would be fulfilled. Rebekah’s goal, purpose, or end may have been worthy — that the LORD’s will be done — but the means and methods she chose were sinful and wrong. In Christian ethics, the end does not justify the means. A good goal will not make the wrong means and methods right. Furthermore, she involved her son in her deceptive, sinful behavior, but perhaps to honor his mother, Jacob did what was wrong in obedience to her. The Bible does not tell children to honor and obey their parents by doing wrong when their parents tell them to sin.

(Genesis 27:7) ‘Bring me some game and prepare a savory dish for me, that I may eat, and bless you in the presence of the LORD before my death.’

Isaac loved Esau because of the game he brought him. If he had consulted the LORD or believed his wife and chose to ignore God’s will to uphold tradition and bless the son he loved for his good food, he put his stomach before his head and obedience to the LORD. The blessing was to be official because the LORD was to hear the blessing. The blessing could not be retracted once Isaac gave it. The blessing involved what Isaac hoped the LORD would do for his son, and God did do what Isaac asked in his blessing, but the blessing went to Jacob instead of Esau.

(Genesis 27:8) “Now therefore, my son, listen to me as I command you.

Rebekah wanted Jacob to impersonate Esau and pretend to have done what Isaac had requested of Esau. When Jacob objected, he did not object on the basis that what she wanted him to do was dishonest and deceptive. He objected on the basis that Isaac might catch him in the deception, but Rebekah said that if he did catch Jacob in the deception that the curse would fall upon her and not on him – she truly loved Jacob and wanted the blessing for her son according to the LORD’s promise to her. In some sense a curse did fall up on her after Jacob received Isaac’s blessing, for after she and Isaac sent Jacob away to find a wife, she never saw Jacob again.

(Genesis 27:9) “Go now to the flock and bring me two choice young goats from there, that I may prepare them as a savory dish for your father, such as he loves.

Rebekah decided that she could prepare two goats (perhaps choosing the best parts of each one) in a tasty way that would make Isaac believe it was wild game that he was eating. So, one of her lies involved “fake food.” We do not know if she had prayed before she began her deceptive ways, but it is not likely. If she had prayed, the LORD could have shown her the right way to change Isaac’s mind and bless Jacob instead of Esau, or the LORD could have changed Isaac’s heart and mind in answer to her prayers according to the will of the LORD as He foretold her.

(Genesis 27:10) “Then you shall bring it to your father, that he may eat, so that he may bless you before his death.”

She prepared Jacob’s hands and neck to be hairy using skins from the goats he brought her (perhaps that is why she chose goat’s skin instead of sheep’s wool). She dressed Jacob in Esau’s best clothes and gave him the food to take to Isaac before Esau returned. Because Jacob received the LORD’s blessing even though his mother and he deceived Isaac indicates that the LORD can use human evil and sin and overrule evil deeds to achieve His good purposes without doing evil or approving evil. The LORD achieved what He told Rebekah would be done without approving their evil means. Indeed, both Rebekah and Jacob suffered in different ways because of the sins they committed. They were separated never to see each other again in this life.

(Genesis 27:18) Then he came to his father and said, “My father.” And he said, “Here I am. Who are you, my son?”

Having been prepared to go to his father with his dinner, Jacob went and called to his father, and Isaac replied that the person must be his son because he had called him “My Father.” However, even though the voice was that of Jacob, Isaac asked him “Who is it?” At any point along the way of this deception, the LORD could have intervened and stopped the deception, but as far as we know God does not often stop people from committing sins and receiving the unhappy consequences as a lesson.

(Genesis 27:19) Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn; I have done as you told me. Get up, please, sit and eat of my game, that you may bless me.”

Jacob lied when he claimed to be Esau, and he compounded the lie when he claimed to be Isaac’s firstborn son. He also did not do what Isaac had told Esau to do; he did what his mother told him to do. He lied when he said his prepared goat was game. He said he wanted the blessing he had been promised, but Isaac had promised the blessing to Esau. Isaac did not suspect the deception or think about the fact that his conversation with Esau could have been overheard so that Rebekah and Jacob could have plotted to deceive him. However, the LORD intended for Jacob to receive Isaac’s blessing, and He intended for Jacob and Rebekah to learn hard lessons from their lying that might make them avoid that sin in the future.

(Genesis 27:20) Isaac said to his son, “How is it that you have it so quickly, my son?” And he said, “Because the LORD your God caused it to happen to me.”

From experience, Isaac knew how long it could take to hunt, prepare, and cook a meal from wild game, so he asked a normal question, perhaps also wanting assurance that even though he was hearing Jacob’s voice he was in fact talking to Esau. Jacob then sinfully invoked the name of the LORD in his deception by giving God the glory for having found the game so quickly. Despite their deception, the LORD had intended from before Esau and Jacob were born that Jacob would receive Isaac’s blessing and the LORD would have worked the situation out for good without doing wrong except for Rebekah’s and Jacob’s sinful interference that still achieved God’s will.

(Genesis 27:21) Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come close, that I may feel you, my son, whether you are really my son Esau or not.”

Doubting that it was his son, Isaac continued talking to Jacob. Knowing that Esau was a hairy man, Isaac wanted to touch his son. He made it clear that he was doubting what Jacob was claiming and that he wanted to give this test. Perhaps he knew the LORD’s will from discussions with Rebekah over the years and planned to circumvent the LORD’s will. We do not know.

(Genesis 27:22) So Jacob came close to Isaac his father, and he felt him and said, “The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau.”

Probably with some trepidation, Jacob went close to his father. Again, Isaac expressed his reason for caution and testing, for the voice was Jacob’s, which might have led to Jacob’s tearful confession and forgiveness by his father if he had been found out. But Jacob was probably thankful that the goat skins were a good enough substitute for Esau’s hair that he passed the test — as his mother had said he would.

(Genesis 27:23) He did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau’s hands; so he blessed him.

The Bible repeats the fact that in his blindness Isaac could only distinguish Esau from Jacob by voice, touch, and smell. The son pretending to be Esau had Jacob’s voice, but Isaac mistrusted his ears, and he instead chose to follow his feelings. Sometimes people follow their feelings to overcome their doubts instead of following the voice of God in the Bible.

(Genesis 27:24) And he said, “Are you really my son Esau?” And he said, “I am.”

Isaac kept questioning Jacob and Jacob kept lying to him. We have no indication that Isaac prayed to the LORD for guidance before telling Esau that he would bless him or during the time he thought he was talking to Jacob. He surely would have known the LORD’s will from having talked to Rebekah before Esau and Jacob were born, but it seems he never prayed to the LORD for guidance in how to achieve the revealed will of God. If he had prayed to the LORD, his family situation would have ended differently.

(Genesis 27:25) So he said, “Bring it to me, and I will eat of my son’s game, that I may bless you.” And he brought it to him, and he ate; he also brought him wine and he drank.

As he ate and drank, Isaac had the opportunity to continue thinking about whether or not the voice he heard each time he talked to him was Jacob’s or Esau’s voice. Isaac probably wanted to believe that the son he was talking to was Esau and probably had no reason to think Jacob would ever lie to him, so he ignored the meaning of the sound of Jacob’s voice that he heard.

(Genesis 27:26) Then his father Isaac said to him, “Please come close and kiss me, my son.”

In one last effort to determine who he talked to, Isaac asked for his son to come near and kiss him. Once again, he would depend on his physical senses instead of the voice he was hearing that was so clearly Jacob’s voice.

(Genesis 27:27) So he came close and kissed him; and when he smelled the smell of his garments, he blessed him and said, “See, the smell of my son Is like the smell of a field which the LORD has blessed;

When Isaac smelled the clothing of Esau’s that Jacob was wearing, he blessed him, not thinking that Jacob might be wearing Esau’s clothing. Esau was wrong to sell his birthright, and Jacob was wrong to deceive his father. Isaac was wrong to try to thwart the LORD’s will, and Rebekah was wrong to try to deceive her husband and involve her son in telling lies. Each one suffered the consequences of their wrong choices. Jacob would be away from home for twenty years, be deceived by Laban, and never see his mother alive again. Esau would hate his brother and want to kill him. Isaac trembled when he learned that he had blessed the wrong son, perhaps knowing that he had disobeyed the LORD and might never see Jacob again. Despite everyone having done wrong and suffering the consequences, the LORD fulfilled His word to Rebekah about Jacob receiving the blessing.

(Genesis 27:28) Now may God give you of the dew of heaven, And of the fatness of the earth, And an abundance of grain and new wine;

Isaac’s blessing of Jacob included receiving many worldly blessings from the LORD, including all that would give him an abundant produce from the land. Jacob would have all he and his family needed to eat and drink as the Lord provided good farmland and water for his crops. Jacob would continue in his preferred way of life as a shepherd and farmer. Remember: Esau enjoyed hunting wild game, not staying at home, so the blessing was more fitting for Jacob than Esau. Esau would not have been a good head of the family. With Rebekah’s help over the years, Jacob had prepared himself to care for the family in the future, but he was not given that opportunity for twenty years and Rebekah died before he returned from Haran.

(Genesis 27:29) May peoples serve you, And nations bow down to you; Be master of your brothers, And may your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be those who curse you, And blessed be those who bless you.”

Jacob would be lord over his brother and nations. Nations bowed down to the descendants of Jacob which happened in the reigns of King David and King Solomon. After Jesus Christ, a descendant of Jacob, returns, all nations will serve Him and all peoples will bow down to Him. Later, Paul wrote: “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse” (Romans 12:14). All those who bless Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior will be blessed. All those who listen to and believe the Bible will be blessed.

 

 

Despite Deceptions, God Keeps His Promises

November 11, 2018

Genesis 27:5-10, 18-29

 

“Jacob went close to his father Isaac, who touched him and said, ‘The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau’” (Genesis 27:22). Before Esau and Jacob were born, the LORD told Rebekah that the oldest twin, Esau, would serve his younger brother, Jacob. Later, Esau sold his birthright inheritance as the oldest son to Jacob, but it was not his to sell, it was Isaac’s to give. Isaac loved Esau because Esau was a hunter and brought him game to eat. Rebekah loved Jacob because he stayed home. Ignoring what the LORD had told Rebekah, Isaac determined to bless Esau as the oldest twin. Rather than trust the LORD to keep His promise, Rebekah resolved to deceive Isaac by having Jacob pretend he was Esau to receive Isaac’s blessing. It appears neither Isaac nor Rebekah prayed to discern the LORD’s will, while Rebekah and Jacob sinned to ensure that the LORD’s will would be done. When Jacob lied to him, Isaac refused to believe his ears when he heard Jacob’s voice; instead, he trusted in his senses of taste, touch, and smell and gave Esau’s blessing to Jacob. The LORD did not approve of the sins of Rebekah and Jacob, but despite the evil they did, the LORD kept His promise. Esau and Jacob could not both be in the line of the Messiah, and before they were born, the LORD had chosen Jacob to carry on His promises to Abraham and Isaac. Since Jacob stayed home, he was prepared to carry on the family traditions and livelihood as shepherds. However, after Jacob left home to find a wife, Rebekah never saw him again, and Jacob latter suffered from the deceptions of her brother, Laban.

 

Thinking Further

Despite Deceptions, God Keeps His Promises

November 11, 2018

Genesis 27:5-10, 18-29

Name __________________________

 

1. For what sins were Rebekah and Jacob guilty?

 

2. As far as we know, what did Isaac refuse to do?

 

3. Which son do you think was prepared to receive Isaac’s blessing? Why?

 

4. What kind of a person was Esau?

 

5. How was the blessing of Jacob ultimately fulfilled.

 

Questions for Discussion and Thinking Further

1. For what sins were Rebekah and Jacob guilty? For lying and deceiving Isaac and for stealing Esau’s blessing. Rebekah influenced Jacob to lie and deceive his father, involving her son in sin. For refusing to pray for the LORD to show them what to do, if anything, regarding Isaac’s blessing of Esau. For not trusting the LORD to do what the LORD told Rebekah He would do before her sons were born: the older son would serve the younger son, the result of a blessing of the oldest son.
2. As far as we know, what did Isaac refuse to do? He refused to heed what Rebekah told him about his sons, and the fact that Esau would serve Jacob. He refused to pray and ask the LORD if He wanted him to bless Esau; and is so, when. When he followed tradition, he refused to follow the LORD. He refused to pray for the LORD’s guidance during the time Jacob was deceiving him. He trusted only in his feelings or senses.
3. Which son do you think was prepared to receive Isaac’s blessing? Why? Jacob, because he stayed at home and learned many spiritual and historical lessons from his family that would help him in the future to carry forward the work of the LORD in the lives of his ancestors (grandfather and father). He stayed at home and watched over the livestock and the fields. Isaac’s blessing was suited to his way of life.
4. What kind of a person was Esau? He was a man who loved to hunt game and supported the family from his hunting. Isaac loved him for he was a man of the outdoors. Isaac even loved the smell of him.
5. How was the blessing of Jacob ultimately fulfilled. Jesus the Messiah descended from Jacob, and all nations and peoples will bow before the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Word Search

Despite Deceptions, God Keeps His Promises

November 11, 2018

Genesis 27:5-10, 18-29

Name __________________________

 

X U L B A D V P W C H L X W O

F P O O O I U J M P Q A F L A

T G R C S V O Y T K I S S E D

O M D A Z A E B R O T H E R N

R Z A J G S P R T K Z A J B U

H C F K U H K O H H I M K T X

N W B S N R U P A E Q L S L E

R D E A Z C J K S U A Y G I Q

O J Z M H N E V Z M F R O S Y

B U R J A B F A L D E G D T R

T H T W E G E C I O V L W E Z

S L V R N S N A E C H Q L N O

R X K U B L E S S I N G K I M

I L C I V W X N A Y U B R N E

F E T Z M Y B Y U W A F D G Q

 

Rebekah

Listening

Isaac

Esau

Jacob

Overheard

Brother

Game

Blessing

LORD

Firstborn

Touch

Voice

Kissed

Smell

 

True and False Test

Despite Deceptions, God Keeps His Promises

November 11, 2018

Genesis 27:5-10, 18-29

Name __________________________

Circle the true or false answers. Correct the false statements by restating them.

1. After Rebekah overheard a conversation between Isaac and Esau, she conceived a plot involving Jacob to deceive them. True or False
2. The LORD needed Rebekah and Jacob’s plot to achieve His will for Jacob. True or False
3. After Jacob stole Esau’s blessing, the LORD said to him, “Well done! Good and faithful servant!” True or False
4. Despite the sins that Rebekah and Jacob committed, the LORD did what He told Rebekah He would do regarding Esau and Jacob. True or False
5. Neither Rebekah nor Jacob suffered any bad consequences for deceiving Isaac. True or False
6. Isaac did not seem to believe what he was hearing, so he trusted in his sense of touch and smell for assurance he was talking to Esau. True or False
7. Isaac could have easily taken away his blessing from Jacob and given it back to Esau if he had really wanted to. True or False
8. Isaac could not tell the difference between the goat skin hair on Jacob and the hair of Esau. True or False
9. Isaac loved the smell of Esau’s clothes on Jacob. True or False
10. Immediately after Isaac blessed Jacob, Esau bowed down to him. True or False

 

True and False Test Answers

Genesis 27:5-10, 18-29

 

1. True
2. False
3. False
4. True
5. False
6. True
7. False
8. True
9. True

      10.False

 

Prayer

Father, may we extend hands not to grab another’s heel but to lend genuine assistance. May we be the hands and feet of Jesus to our broken, hurting world. We pray this in His name. Amen.