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Notes on Genesis 27
- Genesis 27:1 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
savory meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat;
that my soul may bless thee before I die.
Isaac favored his son, Esau and wanted him to
inherit the blessing. Sometimes our own desires and wants hinder us
from seeing the will of God. He was a good man and faithful to God
in all ways but he failed to understand that the blessing and
inheritance was to go to Jacob. We sometimes have to overcome our
own desires to see the will of God.
Rebecca was the one to receive the word of
God concerning Jacob and remembered this. She favored Jacob. She
tried to help God's will come to pass though with deception. This
came back to haunt Jacob later. Although it was the will of God for
Jacob to receive the blessing, He would have worked it out some
other way. The law of reaping and sowing caused plenty of trouble
for Jacob later on as we see when we study Genesis.
We can't blame Rebekah too much here for she
was told by the Lord that the inheritance would be Jacob's.
Here is the account of this in Genesis 25:
- Genesis 25:22 And the children
struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am
I thus? And she went to inquire 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.
- 24 And when her days
to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her
womb.
- 25 And the first came
out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his
name Esau.
- 26 And after that
came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and
his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old
when she bore them.
Here is what Hosea says about Jacob.
Like Sarah before her, Rebecca felt like she
should help God's will come to pass. This parental favoritism also
comes back to haunt Jacob when his favoritism for his son, Joseph
caused him much grief.
- Genesis 27:6 And Rebekah spoke
unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak
unto Esau thy brother, saying,
- 7 Bring me venison,
and make me savory 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 savory 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.
- 14 And he went, and
fetched, and brought them to his mother: and his mother made
savory meat, such as his father loved.
- 15 And Rebekah took
goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in
the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son:
- 16 And she put the
skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the
smooth of his neck:
- 17 And she gave the
savory meat and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand
of her son Jacob.
- 18 And he came unto
his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I; who art
thou, my son?
- 19 And Jacob said
unto his father, I am Esau thy firstborn; I have done according
as thou biddest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my
venison, that thy soul may bless me.
- 20 And Isaac said
unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my
son? And he said, Because the LORD thy God brought it to me.
Jacob even brought the Lord into the
deception. This clearly is wrong and Jacob paid for that wrong later
by being deceived by his father in law, Laban. Yet it was God's will
to bring the Messiah, Jesus Christ through the seed of Jacob.
Jacob's name was changed later to the name of Israel. Israel is the
father of the nation that exists today after disappearing for almost
2000 years. It is a miracle that Israel exists but the will of God
cannot be stopped.
God's promises will come to pass no matter
what we do. His promise to restore Israel will be fulfilled in full
and there is nothing the world can do to stop it. Jacob as we see
was not perfect. He did many things that were wrong but the promise
of God to use him to fulfill the purpose of God, did not change
because of Jacob's failures. Although it caused him much trouble
later in life, the promise of God didn't change concerning him. The
nation of Israel sinned and turned their backs on God many times.
Because of this they lost their nation for many years. Yet the
promise given to Abraham is still in effect. It can't be changed.
Israel is still God's chosen people and we can see today what is
taking place.
Israel as a nation still rejects Jesus Christ
as their Messiah but thousands of Jews have come to believe in Jesus
as the Messiah. We can see that the time of the Gentiles is drawing
to a close and the gospel is going back to the Jews to whom it was
given first. The Gentiles need to stay humble before God and not try
to supplant Israel and teach the ungodly unbiblical replacement
theology that so many are teaching today. Before 1948 we may excuse
this a little but after 1948 there is no excuse for teaching that
theology. The church has never replaced Israel as the people of God.
We can be part of the blessing given to Israel by faith in Jesus, but
we never replace them.
Israel is not perfect. They do things that
are wrong but they also pay for that sin just like the church has
done wrong also. If we read church history, we see sometimes the
leadership went into apostasy. The church had the truth of Jesus Christ and the gospel
but begin to hide it and cover it up with doctrines and commandments
of men. Later they began to persecute, kill and even burned bibles
to keep people from finding out the truth of the gospel. Actually
anyone that does that is not the true church. God always has a
remnant that stays true to Him.
No way does any church replace Israel. There
is no way we can justify any teaching of replacement theology.
Here is what Paul writes about Israel and the
Gentile believers.
- Romans 11:11 I say then,
Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather
through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to
provoke them to jealousy.
- 12 Now if the
fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of
them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fullness?
- 13 For I speak
to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I
magnify mine office:
- 14 If by any
means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and
might save some of them.
- 15 For if the
casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall
the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?
- 16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be
holy, so are the branches.
- 17 And if some
of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive
tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the
root and fatness of the olive tree;
- 18 Boast not
against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the
root, but the root thee.
- 19 Thou wilt
say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted
in.
- 20 Well;
because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by
faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
- 21 For if God
spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare
not thee.
- 22 Behold
therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell,
severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his
goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
- 23 And they
also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in:
for God is able to graft them in again.
- 24 For if thou
wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert
grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more
shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into
their own olive tree?
- 25 For I would
not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest
ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part
is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be
come in.
- 26 And so all
Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of
Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
- 27 For this is
my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
- 28 As
concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as
touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.
- 29 For the
gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
If we really love God and are filled with His
spirit, we would rejoice that Israel will be saved. We would rejoice
when we hear of the many Messianic believers that are increasing all
over the world. Every time we pass by a Messianic place of worship,
we should rejoice. We don't have to become a Jew and worship the
same as they worship. We don't have to keep the festivals and
traditions but we
do have to love them as brethren and not think ourselves higher or
superior to them. In fact, we should rejoice along with the angels
in heaven every time anyone is born again and comes to the knowledge
of Jesus Christ as savior.
- Genesis 27:21 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.
This blessing came upon Jacob and it still
stands. Jacob as we will see will pay dearly for this deception but
the promise of God concerning him still came to pass.
- Genesis 27:30 And it came to
pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and
Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his
father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting.
- 31 And he also had
made savory meat, and brought it unto his father, and said unto
his father, Let my father arise, and eat of his son's venison,
that thy soul may bless me.
- 32 And Isaac his
father said unto him, Who art thou? And he said, I am thy son,
thy firstborn Esau.
- 33 And Isaac
trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that hath
taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before
thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed.
- 34 And when Esau
heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and
exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even
me also, O my father.
- 35 And he said, Thy
brother came with subtlety, and hath taken away thy blessing.
- 36 And he said, Is
not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two
times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath
taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a
blessing for me?
- 37 And Isaac
answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him thy lord,
and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with
corn and wine have I sustained him: and what shall I do now unto
thee, my son?
- 38 And Esau said
unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless
me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and
wept.
- 39 And Isaac his
father answered and said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be
the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above;
- 40 And by thy sword
shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come
to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break
his yoke from off thy neck.
- 41 And Esau hated
Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him:
and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father
are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.
Of course God would not allow this to happen
and he protected Jacob from the wrath of his brother.
The prophecy concerning Esau did come to
pass. Although Esau overcame this hatred, the hatred he did have was
inherited by his descendants. This is similar to the hatred the
descendants of Ishmael has toward Israel today. Ishmael and Isaac
were reconciled long enough to bury Abraham their father. Perhaps
Ishmael recognized the will of God in the matter but the hatred he
must have had at the beginning effected his children.
If our children see us hate someone, they
will inherit this hate even if we repent later and they do not see
us repent. If we wait until we are old before we repent and get
right with God, we are saved but our children may be lost because we
failed to train them up in the way they should go. The best time to
give our hearts to God is before we ever have any children and then
bring them up in the faith. Look at the wars and lack of peace in
the Middle East because of hate inherited from those that went
before them.
Only the miraculous power of God through His
Son, Jesus can take away this hate. It is sad that some in the past who knew the
gospel and have had access to this love through the gift of the Holy
Spirit have wasted this knowledge by covering up the gospel and
rejecting the power of the Holy Spirit for centuries. We still can
fail today by neglecting the spreading of the gospel and doing other
things. The things may be good things but if the gospel is not being
preached we are failing in the main mission that God wants us to
fulfill. Feeding the hungry is a good work of God but it doesn't
save the soul. Having church dinners and outings is great but it
doesn't preach the gospel to the lost. Making quilts for the poor is
wonderful and commendable but it still is not the message of the
gospel that Jesus told us to preach. Let the gospel always be the
main part of any good deeds we do to help the poor.
- Genesis 27:42 And these words
of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah: and she sent and
called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him, Behold, thy
brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort himself, purposing
to kill thee.
- 43 Now therefore,
my son, obey my voice; and arise, flee thou to Laban my brother
to Haran;
- 44 And tarry with
him a few days, until thy brother's fury turn away;
This mistake of Rebecca cost her dearly for
the bible doesn't record her ever seeing Jacob again after he went
away.
- Genesis 27:45 Until thy
brother's anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which
thou hast done to him: then I will send, and fetch thee from
thence: why should I be deprived also of you both in one day?
- 46 And Rebekah said
to Isaac, I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth:
if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these
which are of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life
do me?
Rebecca found a good excuse to send Jacob
away before Isaac died. She could not do this without Isaac's
approval. It was true though that they didn't want their sons to
marry heathen women who did not acknowledge the true and living God.
Jacob now goes to another place to find a wife. The troubles ahead
for Jacob show that we do not get away with sin but the promises of
God still will come to pass. DC
Genesis 28
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