Gen. 27:33-40
“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 earnest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed.” v. 33.
Perhaps Isaac’s trembling “very exceedingly” was not only the discovery that his son had deceived him, but also the sudden awareness that he himself had been very close to opposing God’s will about the blessing. It would seem that something of this nature must have immediately spoken to his conscience before he spoke again to Esau. There is no doubt that the father was angry with Jacob for his subtlety, yet anger alone would have made him recall the blessing and bestow it on Esau as he had originally purposed. No, the aged man, who a few mites before had been near tragic failure, now exclaimed forcefully “Yea, and he shall be blessed.” God had ordered this chain of events and Isaac bowed to the consequences as he rightfully should.
The whole affair seemed too much for Esau to immediately grasp. “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.” v. 34. He was in a sorry situation, was he not? Yet he was reaping the result of so lightly esteeming what he should have valued in years past. The blessing he now sought was closely connected with the birthright he had so readily given up for a pittance. Having willingly given up the one, he was now deprived of the other. In another scripture we learn that he repented of his earlier carelessness, but his repentance came too late.
Esau inquired: “Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?... Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father.” vv. 36-38. But, alas, Isaac had to tell him: “Behold I have made him [Jacob] thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants... Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above; 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.” vv. 37, 39, 40. The promise that he would some day break Jacob’s yoke from his neck was small comfort to Esau who could only see complete ruin to his hopes and expectations that had, a few hours earlier, been so high — so nearly achieved.
Esau’s tragedy was connected with earthly blessing, but God warns today of a greater loss: “See that ye refuse not Him that speaketh! for if they escaped not who refused Him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from Him that speaketh from heaven.” Heb. 12:25. Beloved reader, if you are despising God’s grace while He offers it to you, consider with utmost solemnity the consequences and the sad day of coming judgment when you too may seek a place of repentance but find none, for the door will be closed. God faithfully warns: “Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.” Heb. 4:7.
Memory Verse: “THE FEAR OF MAN BRINGETH A SNARE: BUT WHOSO PUTTETH HIS TRUST IN THE LORD SHALL BE SAFE.” Prov. 29:25.
ML-08/07/1966