Chapter 27
Isaac is already old by this chapter. We aren't really told very much about his life up to this point. We know that Esau's choice in wives caused them much bitterness, but other than that, not a whole lot. We know that despite the bitterness, Isaac is very fond of Esau, and Rebecca of Jacob. Surely by this time they all know that Esau sold his birthright to Jacob. Likely some family bitterness about that too.
Here is a good verse from today's reading. Fits in with the current situation in the world:
2 He said, "Behold, I am old; I do not know the day of my death. [Gen 27:2 ESV]
Spoken in a time when there wasn't a virus around. This is always the case. We are all acting like death has walked up on the porch and started knocking insistently. This is NOT the case. There was always something there, and we never know the day!
Isaac sends Esau to hunt and cook, before he blesses him. The intent is clearly to bless Esau, not Jacob. I expect this blessing is a completely different thing than birthright. (As it turns out, no, this is not the case. They are part and parcel.) MSB says that though Isaac seemed to think his death was imminent at this point, he actually lives another 43 years. So he had to live with the consequences of his actions for that much longer in his old age. How blind was he for that 43 years? Surely he was confined to a very small area.
As to Isaac sending Esau, and planning to give him the blessing, MSB notes that this is opposition to God's words in 25:23 where God said the older would serve the younger, ignoring that Esau sold that birthright - so trying to circumvent for him the consequences of his actions, and then also not considering the rebellion of Esau against his parents, and all the grief he'd caused them over the years, by marrying the Hittite women.
Rachel and Jacob plot to steal the blessing. Premeditated theft accomplished by deceit. Circumvention of God's plan by Isaac leads to deception after deception. This family is imploding.
But Isaac said to his son, "How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?" He answered, "Because the Lord your God granted me success."
Genesis 27:20 ESV
Jacob refers to God as Isaac's God, not as his own. Further, he "includes" God in his deception of Isaac.
He said, "Are you really my son Esau?" He answered, "I am."
Genesis 27:24 ESV
A flat out lie. Intended for Jacob's gain at Esau's expense. Why? Because Esau was a profane man, disdaining his birthright for a bowl of red stew.
2021 - Isaac "tests" Jacob four times about his identity. Isaac was old and blind, very handicapped in this situation, and yet he was obviously still sharp of mind. He was suspicious. Something just wasn't right, and he did all in his power to uncover a fraud. Even at the end, when he called Jacob near, he smelled Esau's smell on the clothes that Jacob was wearing. Five times Isaac tried to validate his suspicions, but he failed. The deceivers "won" because they anticipated Isaac's suspicion and they accounted for it. So it is with us. We may be suspicious, but we are sometimes deceived. This is what Satan does. This is why we need forgiveness for our whole lives. At the same time, God wanted Jacob to receive those blessings for his own purposes. We could almost say that God set up this deceit. Let's just be honest, that is what this looks like. And then we have to go still one level deeper...Why was Isaac trying to bless Esau when he knew that Jacob was the son of promise? Why Esau when Esau had taken Hittite wives, bringing much bitterness on Isaac and Rebekah? Esau had spurned his birthright, and then spurned the tradition of his Father's Father and intermarried with pagans. Esau, by his own hand, had rejected all that God offered and was actively working against God's plan. Yet Isaac was going to bless him. God didn't arrange a "deception". God preserved the promised line. (apparently I was already clued into this last year, per next paragraph.)
Isaac blesses him in vvs 28,29. Note this part of the blessing:
29 Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may your mother's sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be everyone who blesses you!" [Gen 27:29 ESV]
By saying that his brothers will bow to him, Isaac is deliberately ignoring all the previous indications that Jacob would be in charge. These came from God, and from Esau's profane treatment of the birthright. Isaac knew all this, yet he would have over ridden them. So Rebekah and Jacob's deceit accomplish what God willed in this family. But the consequences of the way it was brought about would have divided them as a family for the rest of their lives.
Just as this is done, Esau returns! The deceit is discovered. Esau believes Jacob has cheated him twice. I think the first time was Esau's own fault. In fact, on this second reading, it seems that both Esau and Isaac got what God intended. Esau is still not taking responsibility for his previous actions.
Isaac fishes around and tries to find something, anything, to bless his favorite son with, and he comes up with this:
40 By your sword you shall live, and you shall serve your brother; but when you grow restless you shall break his yoke from your neck." [Gen 27:40 ESV]
Isaac makes one last bitter mistake. The blessing he gives to Esau promises violence and division between his sons for the rest of their lives.
Esau begins to hate Jacob and plots to kill him. Note that Esau's plans are for the short term. They all believe Isaac is about to die. But Isaac lives, for decades yet, and with Jacob gone to Laban, that rage dissipates, and Esau never carries out his plans.
Rebekah urges Jacob to run away and go Laban's house until Esau cools off. Then she tells Isaac that she did not want Jacob to marry a Hittite woman.