Gen. 26:34-27:40

The disappointing choices of Esau would have been sufficient for Isaac to withhold the blessing from him had Isaac been aware of God’s word to Rebekah before she gave birth to her sons (Gen. 25:23).  One wonders why Isaac went ahead to bless Esau when the prophecy had indicated the younger would be preeminent.  It seems that Isaac did not know, that Rebekah had not told him.  We are told in Heb. 11:20, “By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau.”  That seems to indicate his heart was right in wanting to do things the normal way.  It’s easy to understand why Esau had not told his father about the sale of the birthright; it is hard to understand why Rebekah had not told him of God’s word to her.

If in fact Rebekah had not told Isaac of God’s plan, we then see that she feels she must work out God’s plan in her own strength and ingenuity.  On the one hand we can say that she (and Jacob for that matter) desire God’s will; but she does not trust God to bring it about.  This becomes the life-issue for Jacob.  It is the life-issue for countless Christians.  Having come by faith to Christ, by the grace of God, we then struggle to walk by faith.  

A comparison of the blessings indicates that Esau is not left destitute.  He indeed will enjoy the “fatness of the earth” and “the dew of heaven from above” as does Jacob.  But the difference, of course, is that Jacob will be preeminent in the family and that nations will bow down to him.  What Esau gains in terms of freedom from Jacob’s mastery will come by the sword.

Before leaving this we should note how this worked out in Biblical history. 

·        Esau’s land (Edom, also referred to in Scripture as Mt. Seir and later Idumea) was east of Jacob’s land, extending from the southern part of the Dead Sea to the Red Sea.  God gave Edom this land and would not let Jacob’s descendants have any of that land (Deut. 2:4-6).

·        When the people of Israel returned from Egypt the Edomites refused to let them enter Canaan through their territory (Num. 20:14-21). 

·        Various Kings of Israel engaged in conflict with this people of the sword. 

·        When Judah and Jerusalem were attacked by the Babylonians, Edom joined with Babylon in seeking to destroy Israel.  Ezekiel says Edom did this because of “an ancient hatred” (Ezek. 35:5).  Edom thought that they would be able to take Israel’s land at that time (Ezek. 35:10; 36:2). 

·        From Babylon the captive Israelites prayed that God would remember the sins of Edom (Psalm 137:7).  And indeed God promised He would.  The little book of Obadiah is a prophecy specifically against Edom that Jacob would yet rule over Esau, as promised in Genesis 27.

We see the consistency and faithfulness of God’s word.  What God says He will do.  He can fulfill His purposes without our deceitful help (Rebekah) and in the face of fierce opposition (Edom).  This is the essence of faith: being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform (Rom. 4:21).