Of the flesh

Isaac was now blind and he felt old and close to dying. It now was time to give Esau his blessing as the first borne. Isaac believed in his God, however he was very much a man of the flesh, of his five senses. He called Esau and told him to go hunting and make him a tasty meal so Isaac could feel good and then bless him.

The witness

Esau went hunting to get his blessing; he didn’t bother to mention that he had sold his birthright to Jacob, and that the blessing did not belong to him anymore. It was no problem to Esau, because this deal with Jacob had no witnesses, however, Esau forgot about God, God sees and hears everything that goes on.

Crafty

Rebekah heard it when Isaac talked to Esau, and she knew what to do because God had told her that the older should serve the younger. I believe that she had learned to be crafty when she grew up alongside of Laban her brother. Rebekah called Jacob and told him what to do to con his father to gain his blessing as the rightfully firstborn.

The Holy Spirit

Jacob went to his father disguised, and said he was Esau, but Isaac doubted, “The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” And later he asked, “Are you really my son Esau?” Isaac didn’t know what to believe, but The Holy Spirit must have been there too, and convinced Isaac that this son of his was the first borne, entitled to his blessing. 

Blessing and curse

Isaac blessed Jacob, not just for Jacob, but most important for his descendants, Jacob was the son of promise and his blind father said,

“Now may God give you of the dew of heaven
And of the fatness of the earth,
And an abundance of grain and new wine;

²⁹ May peoples serve you,
And nations bow down to you;
Be lord and master over your brothers,
And may your mother’s sons bow down to you.
May those who curse you be cursed,
And may those who bless you be blessed.”

Questions

1. How would you describe Rebekah’s personality?
2. Who in this small family had faith in God?
3. Where does the blessing come from?