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Latest revision as of 21:00, 23 April 2012
Back to Genesis~
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Back to Bridgeway Bible Commentary
Jacob receives Isaac’s blessing
(Gen 26:34-28:9)
The custom in ancient times was for the father of the household to confirm the birthright on his firstborn son by giving his special blessing just before he died.
People considered this blessing to be more than just a promise; they saw it as a prophecy that carried God’s favour. Isaac knew that God’s will was for Jacob, not Esau, to receive the firstborn’s blessing (see Gen 25:23).
Yet he was determined to give the blessing to Esau, even though Esau, by taking wives from among the Canaanites, confirmed his own position as being outside God’s covenant blessings (Gen 26:34-27:4).
Rebekah and Jacob were also at fault, because of their deceit and lack of trust in God (Gen 26:5-24).
In spite of these failures, Jacob received the blessing that God intended for him. He was to be the head of God’s promised people, who would live in a prosperous land and have victory over their enemies (Gen 26:25-29).
On finding that his scheme had not worked, Isaac accepted the fact that God’s will for the blessing of Jacob could not be changed (Gen 26:30-37).
The only blessing Isaac could give Esau was the promise that he too would be father of a nation (to be known as Edom; cf. Gen 25:30); but that nation would live in a barren region where it would be in constant conflict with its neighbours, particularly Israel (Gen 26:38-40; cf. Num 24:18; 1 Sam 14:47; 2 Sam 8:13-14; 1 Kings 11:15-16; 2 Kings 8:20-22; 14:7,22).
In bitterness Esau planned to kill Jacob, so Rebekah decided to send Jacob to her brother Laban for safety (Gen 26:41-45).
However, knowing Isaac’s feeling concerning Jacob’s deceit, she gave Isaac a different reason for sending Jacob away. Jacob needed a wife, and Rebekah knew that Isaac would not want a third Canaanite daughter-in-law, as Esau’s existing Canaanite wives created enough trouble (Gen 26:46; cf. Gen 26:34-35).
Isaac therefore agreed to Rebekah’s suggestion to send Jacob north to find a wife among Rebekah’s relatives. He sent Jacob off with the blessing of the covenant, this time giving his blessing knowingly and willingly. As for Rebekah, she gained what she wanted, but as far as we know she never saw her favourite son again (Gen 28:1-5).
When Esau learnt that his parents did not approve of his Canaanite wives, he married again, this time to one of Ishmael’s daughters. By such a marriage, Esau gave further confirmation that he was outside God’s covenant blessings (Gen 26:6-9).