'''CHAPTER THIRTEEN: JACOB AND ESAU'''
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
JACOB AND ESAU
After twenty years of blissful marriage, Isaac and Rebekah were still childless. In ancient times, this was considered shameful.
Without an heir to inherit the family wealth, the family name would die out and its possessions would be passed on to strangers.
Isaac turned to God, pleading with him to give Rebekah a child.
God answered his prayers. Rebekah was soon with child (Genesis 25:20-21).
But as the months passed and her time of giving birth drew near, she felt great discomfort.
Praying to God for relief, Rebekah said, “It is as though a great war wages within my womb.”
In a way, she was correct. God told her, “Two nations are within your womb. Two peoples shall be separated from your body. One shall be stronger than the other, and the firstborn will serve the younger” (Gen 25:22-23).
Rebekah realized that she was carrying twins! And from her twin sons would come two nations of people who would constantly be at odds with each other.
On the big day, Rebekah gave birth to a hairy, reddish son. He was named Esau. Immediately after he was born, out came his younger brother Jacob, holding on tightly to Esau’s heel (Gen 25: 24-26).
Esau Sells His Birthright
Esau grew up to become a skilled hunter. He roamed the land, searching for wild game. Jacob, on the other hand, became a shepherd. He stayed near home and tended flocks of sheep.
As many parents still do, Isaac and Rebekah made a big mistake: each favoured one son over the other. Instead of showing both sons the same amount of love and attention, Isaac favoured Esau, because he loved to eat the wild game his son brought to him.
And Rebekah favoured Jacob, because he stayed close to home and was gentler than his older brother (Genesis 25:27- 29).
Isaac and Rebekah’s mistake caused Esau and Jacob to compete against each other. This created harsh feelings between them.
One day, while Jacob was cooking a lamb stew, Esau stumbled in from the wilderness and fell to the ground.
Smelling the hearty stew bubbling before him in a pot, Esau said, “Brother, please give me some of your stew. I’m so tired, I feel like I’m about to die.” Esau had spent the entire day hunting for game. Now he was hungry and weak. He would do anything to fill his belly with Jacob’s stew.
When Jacob considered his brother’s request, a wrong thought popped into his mind: “Esau is the firstborn. He will inherit the family wealth and its blessings. Yet God has told our mother that I will rule over my brother and receive the rights of the firstborn. How can this possibly happen?…Unless God has just handed me my chance.”
Giving in to his human nature rather than trusting in God to work things out, Jacob took matters into his own hands.
He told Esau, “You may have my stew—but first you must sell me your birthright!”
Esau did not consider what he was about to so easily give up.
Failing to rely on his Creator to provide food for him, Esau relied upon himself.
“I’m about to die,” he said. “Go ahead, take the birthright! What good is it to me now?”
“Swear to me, then.”
Esau swore an oath to Jacob and sold his birthright for a bowl of hot stew. Esau’s actions showed God that he despised the birthright and did not appreciate the great and wonderful blessings that were tied to it (Gen 25:29-34).
Years later, Esau made even more mistakes, such as marrying two local women—foreigners who worshipped idols and did not fear or obey the God of Abraham (Gen 25:34-35). Esau’s foolishness caused his parents to grieve. Though they had raised him to follow God’s ways, Esau continued to decide for himself right from wrong, good from evil.
Isaac Blesses Jacob
As the years went by, Isaac became very old and nearly blind. Afraid that he would soon die, he decided that it was time to bless Esau with the birthright blessing. Isaac was unaware that Esau had already sold it to Jacob.
He called out to his firstborn son and said, “I am old and my death may be near. Before I die, I will bless you.”
Noticing that Jacob was not around, Esau thought he could break his oath and steal the birthright blessing from his brother.
Isaac said, “Before I bless you, take your bow and arrows and hunt a deer for me. I want to enjoy some wild game before I die.”
So Esau left to hunt game in the wilderness (Genesis 27:1-5).
Meanwhile, Rebekah had been secretly listening in on their conversation.
Because she favored Jacob over Esau, Rebekah came up with a plan. She found her youngest son and told him about the situation.
“Listen to me, Jacob. While your brother is away, go to your flock and pick two choice goats.”
“What will you do with them?” he asked.
“I will make a tasty stew, and I will make it so that your father shall not be able to tell the difference between goat and wild game. After he is finished eating, your father will bless you. Just pretend that you are Esau and all will be well.”
Jacob said, “But Esau is hairy and I am smooth-skinned. What if father decides to feel my skin? He will say that I’m a deceiver and will
curse me!”
“Let your curse be on me. Now listen to me and do as I say. You will be blessed.”
Jacob obeyed his mother and gave her two goat kids. After cooking them, she clothed Jacob in Esau’s clothing and then put the skins of the goats on Jacob’s hands and neck.
When he was ready, Jacob brought the food and some bread to Isaac (Gen 27:5-17).
Too blind to see who had just entered his tent, Isaac said, “Who are you, my son?”
Jacob lied and said, “I am Esau, your firstborn. I have done as you have asked. Please eat so that you may bless me.”
Isaac was not to be so easily fooled. He said, “How is it that you have found wild game so quickly?”
Beads of sweat appeared on Jacob’s brow. One false move and his deceit would be discovered.
Quickly, he told another lie: “The Eternal your God brought it to me.” Like all lies do, Jacob’s lies were beginning to grow and pile up.
Life is so much easier when people just tell the truth.
Still, Isaac was not convinced. He wanted more proof. He said, “Come near me. I want to feel you and see whether you are truly my son Esau.”
Cautiously, Jacob drew close so that his father could touch him. But all that Isaac could feel were hairy goatskins, which felt like Esau’s hair.
“Your voice is like Jacob, but your hands are like Esau. Are you really Esau?”
Again, Jacob lied. “Yes, I am.”
Isaac asked him to bring the food near and then he ate. When he was finished, Isaac said, “Come near and kiss me, my son.”
Jacob trembled as his father kissed him and smelled his clothing. But Isaac was now convinced that this was truly Esau (verses 18-27).
He gave this blessing: “May God give you and your descendants rich, fertile farmlands and plenty of fresh water. May He also make you rich in grains, fruits and vegetables. Let the nations bow down to you and serve you. May your brothers and their descendants bow down to you and may you rule over them. Anyone who curses you shall be cursed. And anyone who blesses you shall be blessed” (Gen 27:27-29).
Jacob’s Deceit is Uncovered
As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, Esau came in from the hunt. After he cooked the food and brought it before his father, Esau asked to be blessed (Genesis 27:30-31).
Isaac was puzzled. “Who are you?”
“Esau, your firstborn son.”
Isaac trembled from shock. “Who? If you are Esau, then who brought me the food I just ate? I gave your blessing to that man—and he shall be blessed.”
Hearing this, Esau screamed and cried. “Father, what about me?
Bless me also!” he wept.
Both men realized that Jacob was the one who posed as Esau.
Isaac said, “Son, I am sorry but your brother deceived me. He has taken away your blessing.”
“I should not be surprised,” Esau said. “He is called Jacob for good reason.” Jacob meant “deceitful” or “supplanter.”
Then Esau said, “First my brother took away my birthright, and now my blessing. Have you no blessing left for me, father?”
Sadly, Isaac had only one blessing left to give. Jacob had already taken the best.
Isaac said, “You shall live far from rich soil and well-watered farmlands.
You and your descendants will fight and make war to get the things you desire. And you shall serve your brother. But some day, you will break free from his rule.”
Like a spoiled child, Esau did not appreciate his blessing. He hated Jacob with all his heart. He longed for the day Isaac would die.
“Then I will kill my brother Jacob,” he said, when Isaac was not listening (Gen 27:32-41).
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