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Hillbilly
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Date Posted: 18:42:03 10/04/10 Mon
CHAPTER 27
Genesis 27:1-13 And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I. 2 And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death: 3 Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison; 4 And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die. 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 Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man: 12 My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing. 13 And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me them.
Playing favorites with the children is not a good thing to do and as seen in the events of the lives of Isaac, Rebekah, Esau and Jacob it can mean tragic consequences. Isaac favors Esau because he is a "man's man". He is a mighty hunter and can handle himself in any situation whether it be living off the land or defending himself and family. Jacob on the other hand seems to be a "mama's boy". He behaves and obeys.
In the process of time Isaac starts contemplating his death and knows he must issue the blessings to his sons. As is customary the eldest son gets the main blessing. Jacob has already obtained the birthright of his oldest brother and now with the cunning and deception of his mother he is about to steal Esau's blessing.
Rebekah overhears Isaac's words to Esau concerning the blessing and determines to make sure that Jacob receives it. After all, it is Esau that has not stayed at home and worked to provide for family. He is too busy hunting There was also the matter of Esau's disobedient streak and his messing around with the Canaanite girls. While chronologically the events of chapter 26 take place after chapter 27 the character of Esau would have made itself manifest long before the events took place.
Esau goes after the venison his father has requested and Rebekah institutes her plan to fool Isaac. She reckons it will be possible because of Isaac's blindness so she sets forth to cook the savory meat. This would be easy because she had taught Esau how to cook his game.
At Rebekah's words Jacob balks at the scheme. He fears Isaac will find him out and curse him instead of bless him and at this point Rebekah tells him if that happens I will take the curse for you only do as I say and bring me the goat meat..
Before we paint Rebekah with the broad brush of a scheming mother who wanted her little darling to have everything we need to remember something that took place back in Genesis 25 in verses 21-23: "And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22 And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD. 23 And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger."
God had told Rebekah that the younger was to be above the older of the two boys. Surely she would have told Isaac about this and Rebekah saw that Isaac was about to try and go around the revelation that God had given to them. God chose Jacob over Esau before the twins were born. This is very clear from Romans 9:8-12 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. 9 For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son. 10 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; 11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) 12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. We see then Jacob was God's choice for the birthright and blessing before he was born. We may see this as unrighteous and unfair but this is God's order of things. In election God sets aside the first and establishes the second. Isaac was a second son, Jacob was a second son. David was the second king of Israel. Moses was a second son. Jesus was the "second man" (1 Cor. 15:47) and the "last Adam"(1 Cor. 15:45). There was the law which was superseded by grace. There is the 1st heaven and earth and the new heaven and earth. Abel was God's man over Cain his older brother and when Cain slew Abel God raised up another to take his place. All of these things are in God's divine plan and we should be careful about thinking God unfair. Romans 9:21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
With the deception of Jacob and Rebekah in play things are set in motion that will forever change all the players lives. Rebekah winds up "winning" but in the process loses her beloved son for when Jacob leaves it is the last time she will lay her eyes on him. She dies before Jacob returns from Haran. Isaac and Rebekah lose both sons in reality as Esau is so jealous he purposely sets out to dishonor and bring hurt to his parents. Esau in his rage will plot to kill his brother and will nurse this hatred for many years. Events set in motion by man trying to help God (as Rebekah did) out will have unintended consequences. Had Rebekah left things alone and let these things play out Jacob would still have been served by Esau. God had already decreed it.
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