Today’s passage: Genesis 27:30-46
Helpful thoughts:
- In the previous passage, it was evident Isaac had every intention to bless Esau. Today, we see Esau had every intention of receiving the blessing (Though, he had already sold his birthright)!
- From Esau’s perspective, Jacob was a deceiver and a cheater. The birthright and the blessing we Esau’s to have and he had been unjustly deprived of both.
- This wasn’t exactly true (25:23), but Jacob’s decision to take it upon himself to get these things God had already promised sure didn’t help.
- Rebekah has one more trick up her sleeve. Her desire to see Jacob marry from within their people becomes a scheme to have Jacob sent away for his safety.
- Man continues to plot and scheme…all the while God is accomplishing His every purpose.
Questions to consider:
- What kinds of emotions are conveyed in this passage? What would the interaction between Isaac and Esau have looked like (And sounded like)?
- How did Esau intend to “break his brother’s yoke” from his neck? How do Esau and Jacob both continue to try to bring about their desired ends through their own methods? What methods do you tend toward when you desire to see God act?
- Why didn’t Esau inherit the promise (It wasn’t because he was a sinner, because Jacob was too)? Why did Jacob inherit the promise (It wasn’t because he was righteous, because he wasn’t)? To whom do we owe our praise and thanksgiving for our inheritance of the promise of eternal life in Christ (Romans 9:6-18)?