Gen. 26:34-27:16
“AND Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite: which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah.” Esau’s pattern of life was contrary to the things of God from the very beginning, and his choice of wives from an idolatrous and godless nation must indeed have been a deep sorrow to his parents.
Isaac had become old and his sight nearly gone. Thinking he would die shortly (although he lived more than 20 years longer) he called Esau, his eldest and favorite son, to his bedside, saying to him: “Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death: Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons,... and take me some venison... and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die.” vv. 2-4. Perhaps in his old age Isaac had forgotten that the blessing was to go to Jacob, or perhaps he was just following the wish of his own heart, but whatever the case, he was determined to give the birthright blessing at this time to the wrong son — Esau!
Esau did not delay in getting underway. Had he too forgotten that he had no right to this blessing, that he had sold it readily enough to his brother many years before? Whether he forgot or purposed deceit in his heart is not revealed, but God had not forgotten His promise concerning Jacob and He would not permit Isaac’s wish to be fulfilled.
Rebekah, near at hand when Isaac spoke to Esau, determined that Jacob should not be cut off, in spite of the aged father’s wishes. “Ant Rebekah spake unto Jacob her so saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother.” She then instructed him to go their flock and fetch two kids of goats. “And I will make them savory meat for thy father, such as loveth: And thou shalt bring it thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death, vv. 9, 10.
But Jacob, raised the question “Behold, Esau my brother is a hair man, and I am a smooth man: 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.” vv. 11, 12. This however, presented no problem to the active and persistent mind of the mother, who would spare no mean to see her son receive the blessing due him. She therefore instructed him to do as she requested and told him she would be responsible for the rest.
After preparing the meat in a savory a manner as possible, she clothed Jacob in Esau’s clothing and covered his arms and neck with portions of the skins of the young goat. Thus if, as Jacob feared, his blind father should be suspicious and place his hands over him, he would feel the hairy likeness of Esau.
It is sad to read of this duplicity on the part of all concerned. Surely dependence on the Lord would have brought about a better way.
ML-07/03/1966