Genesis 27:5-29
Genesis 27 is the sad account of a family falling apart when they focused on their own interests instead of God’s will.
Look first at Isaac, the son of Abraham, husband of Rebekah and father of Esau and Jacob. Scripture tells us, “Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see.” One more time, perhaps the last time, Isaac would have the “savory meat, such as I love” that Esau had made so often and so well.
The Lord made clear His will for Esau and Jacob, that the “elder shall serve the younger.” Isaac loved Esau more than he loved Jacob, and his feelings overruled his obedience to the Lord.
Look next at Rebekah, the wife divinely discovered for Isaac. Jacob was her favorite son, so she was quite disturbed, even panicked, when she heard Isaac say he wanted a meal of venison and then he would bless Esau before his death.
Rebekah quickly took action, telling Jacob to bring in “two good kids of the goats” and she would make a meal for Isaac. It would be Jacob, not Esau, who would deliver the meal Isaac desired.
Consider Jacob, who followed his mother’s scheme. She would disguise Jacob’s smooth hands and neck with the goat skins so he would appear to be Esau when he was in his father’s presence. Rebekah even gathered Esau’s clothes for Jacob to wear.
He could have respectfully objected to her plan. Could they reason with Isaac? They could remind him that the Lord had a plan for Jacob. Perhaps he would listen and willingly give Jacob the blessing.
Rebekah and Jacob were only interested in carrying out their plot, not the truth. It was their abandonment the led to a series of lies by Jacob.
He lied to his father about his identity. “I am Esau thy firstborn,” Jacob said to Isaac. He lied about the venison when he said, “sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me.” It most definitely was not “my venison” that he brought to his father.
Jacob lied about how he brought the food to his father.
“How is that thou hast found it so quickly, my son?” Isaac asked.
“Because the Lord thy God brought it to me,” replied Jacob.
He spoke with Jacob’s voice, but to Isaac he smelled and felt like Esau.
“Art thou my very son Esau?” the father asked.
“I am,” said Jacob. And Isaac gave Jacob the blessing that he and his mother sought in their scheme.
Did the Lord need help in fulfilling his plan? Of course not. These family members were unwilling to wait on the Lord, and their distrust had consequences they would have to deal with in the future.