Viability of isaac’s blessing

[Michelina]

So, Jacob tricked his father into getting Esau’s blessing. What was the significance of this blessing and how would either Jacob or Esau benefited from it? After all, Isaac is just a mortal man and the power of blessings actually come from God right? Esau was really distraught as if something very tangible was taken from him. What am I missing here?

 

[Luminous_Rose]

This is a fun topic. A lot of deception here, right?

Jacob in a way guaranteed the blessing would be his, not only by deceiving his father, but also because Esau traded his birthright for a serving of stew. Esau also didn't have full appreciation for his birthright.

"...When Jacob had cooked stew, Esau came in from the field and he was famished; and Esau said to Jacob, 'Please let me have a swallow of that red stuff there, for I am famished.' Therefore his name was called Edom. But Jacob said, 'First sell me your birthright.' Esau said, 'Behold, I am about to die; so of what use then is the birthright to me?' And Jacob said, 'First swear to me"; so he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew; and he ate and drank, and rose and went on his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright." (Genesis 25:29-34).

Birthrights such as this belonged to the first born. This was a blessing to lead his people and a blessing from God as well. Birthrights also usually guaranteed a generous inheritance. Jacob wanted to guarantee that birthright was his and his mother was even in on it. Isaac was poor of eyesight and ecen though he questioned this a few times, he ended of blessing Jacob.

Genesis 27:27-29 tells that blessing from Isaac:

27 He went over and gave him a kiss. When Isaac smelled his clothes, he blessed him and said,

“The smell of my son
is like the smell of open country
that the Lord has blessed.
28 May God give you dew from the sky,
fertile fields on the earth,
and plenty of fresh grain and new wine.
29 May nations serve you.
May people bow down to you.
Be the master of your brothers,
and may the sons of your mother bow down to you.
May those who curse you be cursed.
May those who bless you be blessed.”


We also see what he said to Esau when he found out in Genesis 27:38-40 :

38 Esau asked, “Do you have only one blessing, Father? Bless me too, Father!” And Esau sobbed loudly.

39 His father Isaac answered him,

“The place where you live will lack the fertile fields of the earth
and the dew from the sky above.
40 You will use your sword to live,
and you will serve your brother.
But eventually you will gain your freedom
and break his yoke off your neck.”


Yes, only God can fulfill the blessings that Isaac had given to Jacob. As you can see, much was taken from Esau and he would have to work harder and serve hia brother. His birthright was taken, but Esau before also gave it away and didn't appreciate it. We all have a spiritual inheritance in Heaven one day waiting for us and it shows us here how Esau mishandled and didn't appreciate his physical inheritance and hoe devastating that was. How much more devastating would it be to lose our spiritual inheritance? To me this shows us to be grateful with what we have and to be wise with what God entrusts us with. I hope this answers some of your questions.

 

[Michelina]

This is a fun topic. A lot of deception here, right?

Jacob in a way guaranteed the blessing would be his, not only by deceiving his father, but also because Esau traded his birthright for a serving of stew. Esau also didn't have full appreciation for his birthright.

"...When Jacob had cooked stew, Esau came in from the field and he was famished; and Esau said to Jacob, 'Please let me have a swallow of that red stuff there, for I am famished.' Therefore his name was called Edom. But Jacob said, 'First sell me your birthright.' Esau said, 'Behold, I am about to die; so of what use then is the birthright to me?' And Jacob said, 'First swear to me"; so he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew; and he ate and drank, and rose and went on his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright." (Genesis 25:29-34).

Birthrights such as this belonged to the first born. This was a blessing to lead his people and a blessing from God as well. Birthrights also usually guaranteed a generous inheritance. Jacob wanted to guarantee that birthright was his and his mother was even in on it. Isaac was poor of eyesight and ecen though he questioned this a few times, he ended of blessing Jacob.

Genesis 27:27-29 tells that blessing from Isaac:

27 He went over and gave him a kiss. When Isaac smelled his clothes, he blessed him and said,

“The smell of my son
is like the smell of open country
that the Lord has blessed.
28 May God give you dew from the sky,
fertile fields on the earth,
and plenty of fresh grain and new wine.
29 May nations serve you.
May people bow down to you.
Be the master of your brothers,
and may the sons of your mother bow down to you.
May those who curse you be cursed.
May those who bless you be blessed.”


We also see what he said to Esau when he found out in Genesis 27:38-40 :

38 Esau asked, “Do you have only one blessing, Father? Bless me too, Father!” And Esau sobbed loudly.

39 His father Isaac answered him,

“The place where you live will lack the fertile fields of the earth
and the dew from the sky above.
40 You will use your sword to live,
and you will serve your brother.
But eventually you will gain your freedom
and break his yoke off your neck.”


Yes, only God can fulfill the blessings that Isaac had given to Jacob. As you can see, much was taken from Esau and he would have to work harder and serve hia brother. His birthright was taken, but Esau before also gave it away and didn't appreciate it. We all have a spiritual inheritance in Heaven one day waiting for us and it shows us here how Esau mishandled and didn't appreciate his physical inheritance and hoe devastating that was. How much more devastating would it be to lose our spiritual inheritance? To me this shows us to be grateful with what we have and to be wise with what God entrusts us with. I hope this answers some of your questions.

At first it seemed as if Jacob had an attitude. I mean who tells their own brother sell me your birthright for some food? I kind of see it like he was being mean. Starve or give me your birthright. Could it be though that Jacob saw that Esau was unappreciative?

 

[Luminous_Rose]

At first it seemed as if Jacob had an attitude. I mean who tells their own brother sell me your birthright for some food? I kind of see it like he was being mean. Starve or give me your birthright. Could it be though that Jacob saw that Esau was unappreciative?

These are questions that I don't think we will ever have a 100% sure answer.

I can totally believe that Jacob had some attitude and wits about him since he seemed to know how to get Esau's birthright. Esau may not have been starving to death for all we know, he just might have felt hungry and didn't want to eat what was served for everyone that night, you know? =P I mean, The Holy Bible does not exactly say those specifics. It is possible that Jacob thought Esau wasn't maybe patient or thankful or something and thought he was the better fit or he just wanted the blessing and maybe inheritance. Once again, we wouldn't know unless we were there.

These are all wonderful questions that can't be answeres with certainty. They are fun to ponder upon.

 

[for_his_glory]

God sees through our faults and knows the humility that we can not see in others. It is He who calls us as a servant as He knows our beginning from our end.

Noah was a drunk
Abraham was too old
Isaac was a daydreamer
Jacob was a liar
Leah was ugly
Joseph was abused
Moses had a stuttering problem
Gideon was afraid
Samson had long hair and was a womanizer
Rahab was a prostitute
Jeremiah and Timothy were too young
David had an affair and was a murderer
Elijah was suicidal
Isaiah preached naked
Jonah ran from God
Naomi was a widow
Job went bankrupt
Peter denied Christ
The Disciples fell asleep while praying
Martha worried about everything
Mary Magdalene was, well you know
The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once
Zaccheus was too small
Paul was too religious (and as Saul was a murderer?)
Timothy had an ulcer...........
Lazarus was dead!

 

[Prycejosh1987]

So, Jacob tricked his father into getting Esau’s blessing. What was the significance of this blessing and how would either Jacob or Esau benefited from it? After all, Isaac is just a mortal man and the power of blessings actually come from God right? Esau was really distraught as if something very tangible was taken from him. What am I missing here?

I think the lineage of Jesus would be different if Jacob didnt steal the blessing, the most important part of the blessing was to give birth to the Christ. The firstborn was the one supposed to be served, but Esau descendants served Jacobs, because of the stolen blessing. Gods blessing would be on the first born and it established 'Israel' The stories in bible would be different if Israel was not born from Jacob but Esau, but everything happens for a reason, i think it shows us that also that we can change our destiny by taking action. I would not advise on stealing blessings though because there is a downside to that.

 

[Quantrill]

So, Jacob tricked his father into getting Esau’s blessing. What was the significance of this blessing and how would either Jacob or Esau benefited from it? After all, Isaac is just a mortal man and the power of blessings actually come from God right? Esau was really distraught as if something very tangible was taken from him. What am I missing here?

I believe this blessing was the passing down of the Abrahamic Covenant found in (Gen. 12:1-2) All the promises of a land, seed, and blessing were passed down to the one who was blessed. It was first made with Abraham. Then passed on to Isaac. (Gen. 17:19)

God had already revealed to Rebekah that the blessing would go to Jacob. (Gen. 25:23) "the elder shall serve the younger) When Jacob and Esau were born, they were twins. And even at their birth, the future conflict was evident as Esau came out first but then Jacob had hold of his heel. (Gen. 25:26) It is hard to imagine Rebekah not telling Isaac of God's promise that Jacob was the one to whom the blessing should go.

So why would Isaac attempt to bless Esau in the first place? Because Isaac loved Esau. (Gen. 25:28) The problem was, God didn't love Esau. (Malachi 1:1-3) Isaac is going against the will of God in his attempt to bless Esau.

Rebekah loved Jacob. (Gen. 25:28) And the blessing was promised to Jacob already. And Jacob certainly knew it as he already got Esau to sell his birthright to him. (Gen. 25:29-34) No doubt Rebekah had discussed this blessing with Jacob and the problem of the birthright with him. It's possible this subject may have been the cause of many a family argument over the years.

Once Isaac shows his will is to bless Esau, then Rebekah enters into her own deception with Jacob. And of course, as we know, it worked. (Gen. 27:1-29) And, God honers it. From Jacob would come 12 sons who would be the 12 tribes of Israel, and from who would come Christ.

So, God's will was done. But what a maze of human wills it passed through in it's accomplishment. But, praise God, He can do that and does do that. Isaac and Esau's will were in opposition to God. Rebekah and Jacob's will were in harmony with God. But deception was used on their part to fulfill that promise.

Did God need their deception? No. He could have killed Esau any time and solved the problem. But, He lets the human story play out. Isaac, and Rebekah, and Jacob, are not walking as spiritual giants. They are walking as the people of God, affected by all the things that affect every man and woman. Struggling at times with wrong decisions and right decisions. I praise God that He has written down their shortcomings and sins. And that we can know, His will, will be done irregardless.

Quantrill